Author Archives: 16incheswestofpeoria

About 16incheswestofpeoria

Former bicycle mechanic, current peruser of books, feeder of birds.

What’s your line?

Posted on January 19, 2023 by 16incheswestofpeoria

Ride around the block and you soon find yourself retracing your journey. Not exactly, of course: a single-track vehicle cannot help but make two tracks in the snow, the track of the rear tire crossing and recrossing the track of … Continue reading →

Posted in Report from the road | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

This essay has way too many exclamation points. Go ride your bike!

Posted on September 2, 2022 by 16incheswestofpeoria

People on television put a lot of effort into selling prescription drugs—and their side effects. Go ride your bike! In the United States, some believe there are two sides to any issue. Others disagree. Go ride your bike! Serious people … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, Read and roll | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Today’s Unsorted Top 10 List That, Once Again, is a Bit Too Long

Posted on August 16, 2022 by 16incheswestofpeoria

Bananas before all they’re good for is banana bread Candied cucumbers, because Russ refuses to employ the phrase “sweet pickles” The bicycle you’re riding today The bicycle you’d like to ride The idea that this list could be of any … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, Off topic, Report from the road, Trek | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Uses of the past

Posted on July 9, 2022 by 16incheswestofpeoria

Nostalgia is nonsense, the past rearranged to suit a fantasy of the way things were. Nostalgia is discarded farm implements left in the weather to rust, solidify, and decay in the service of decoration. Memory, on the other hand, when … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Off topic, Other bicycles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reading trees along the way

Posted on June 4, 2022 by 16incheswestofpeoria

Trees along the way are signs that everything will be all right, even though you know everything will not be all right because everything is everything that is and isn’t right. But as the trees and miles multiply, the signs … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Off topic, Read and roll, Report from the road | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment