Al's Blog-o-Sphere

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I’ve added a set of panniers (luggage bags) to my trike. I hope to go off and do some camping/touring with it. Along with the bags, I picked up some camping gear.

The panniers are made by a company called Arkel. They’re in Quebec, but have a U.S. office in Vermont. I ordered them online and they arrived in just a few days. The model I chose are specifically tailored for recumbents and are lower and wider than traditional panniers. They are also angled to fit behind the slope of the recumbent seat. With only a couple minor adjustments, they fit perfectly and very securely on my rear rack on the trike.

I hated to have to buy them, but I got a tent and sleeping bag. I already have a tent and we have a closet full of sleeping bags. I have one I really like that I bought a number of years ago, but is still in great shape, but it’s just too big and heavy to put on the bike. Same thing goes for the tent, a 3 or 4 person tent that I’ve used both alone and along with the pop-up camper we have.

Touring on a bike, recumbent or regular, is like ultralight backpacking. There is a limit to how much you can carry. The backpacker just has a smaller number, but the same principles and a lot of the same equipment apply. I’ve been doing a lot of research and reading online about it in preparation. Continue Reading…

An absolutely stellar week for local bands and homecomings for some Buffalo ex-pats.

Buffalo native Willie Nile plays at Artpark, plus a homecoming show for Peter Case (Wikipedia bio) at the Sportsmen’s Tavern on Friday, Aug. 13 makes it a week for reunions. The Sportsmen’s show is neither an outdoor festival or free, but should be on any local music fan’s wish list. Read the bios on these two guys and look at the names they’ve worked with and you’ll see if they’re not musical royalty, they’re at least in the King’s Court!

Top that off with some local bands playing with histories going back into the ’70s and you’ve got a local music week that’s hard to top.

Tues: Artpark: Doobie Brothers, Mick Hayes Band
Wed: Artpark: Willie Nile (Wikipedia bio), Alison Pipitone
Wed: Gateway Harbor: Fat Brat, Weekend Party of Nine
Thurs: Lafayette Square: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hit and Run
Fri: Lockport Canal Concert: Tears For Fears, Missing Star, 
                The Pillagers
Fri: Gateway Harbor: Naughty Dawg

Continue Reading…

The Joys – Outta My Head

The Joys | MySpace Music Videos

Tuesday: Artpark - Litle Feat, Jamie Holka Trio
Wednesday: Artpark - The Sadies, The Joys
Wednesday: Gateway Harbor - Mick Hayes & the Reinhardts and Joyryde 
Thursday: Lafayette Square - Los Lobos, JJ Grey & Mofro
Friday: Lockport Canal - Kansas, Reign of Kindo
Friday: Gateway Harbor - Urban Renewal
Saturday: Hard Rock Cafe NF - Tonic, Ryan Star, More Than Me, 
Ten Cent Howl, Thriving Ivory

Okay, I’m really late in writing this, so I’m going to cut the commentary really short. I can add some later, but right now want to get the schedule up. Continue Reading…

What are these signs? I can see they are some kind of bike route, but who put them there? Where can I find out more about them. Are there maps showing the routes somewhere?

Both of these signs are within two blocks of my home. I’m not surprised to know a bike route has been planned there, after all, it is the historic Erie Canal. The Adventure Cycling Association’s Northern Tier Route comes through here as does the NY Erie Canal Bikeway.

But, I see these little green signs all over the place, and no one seems to pay them any attention or know their significance.

If you know any more about them, please let me know!
Continue Reading…