I don’t care how long your Mundo Cargo is.  Carrying a piano on your bike is a bitch.

That’s why it’s important for cycling pianists to find another instrument to accompany them on their adventures.  I auditioned five:

Kalimba: A sweet sound and rugged as can be – steel tines on a wood box.  It only measures around 4x6x1 inches and weighs nothing.  I bought the Treble version with a built in pick-up mic from Paul Tracey.  This is a wonderfully companionable instrument, but I just can’t get into it.  No matter what I try, I can’t find a style or tuning that really feels expressive to me.  Also, I’m not sure that I like the hand position when you play it.   It kind-of looks like you are thumb-typing on your Blackberry.  Is this cool?  I dunno.

Ukulele: Officially back in style for today’s crooners, the Uke can be very inexpensive.  We got one for $twenty-five at Buckdancer’s Choice.  They are a little large and fragile, however.  I’m not sure how long they will last in your pannier.  Or strapped under the saddle.

Melodica: A natural extension of the piano keyboard, these things are great fun.  Expressive and intuitive.  Honer makes a student version that cost $50 back in 2007 or so.  The sinking dollar may have changed that.  It comes with a case that measures around 12x6x2.  The only problem- no matter how many hipster bands use them, I can’t stop thinking about The Hooters.

Casio SK-1: The world’s first accessible sampler, this thing was everywhere circa 1982.  Now, thanks to Comrade Circuit Bender, they are really difficult to get.  I got lucky on ebay and landed one for $forty.  Now, I’m afraid to break it.  But really, any small table-hooter will do the trick.  Personally, I can’t get into playing synthesisers outdoors.  It just feels wrong.  Maybe I’m too old..

So, I am getting serious about my Harmonica again.  A favorite of hobos and superstars, this humble instrument packs a ton of emotion into a steel box the size of a stick of gum.  It’s comfortable at a campfire or in a bar-room.  Famously thrifty, for $thirty you can get a very good instrument and you will be picking out diatonic tunes instantly.  More money or more practice (your pick!) and you can bring additional musical keys into reach.

More Harmonica madness to follow…

Riverbend Smelting Camp

We caught seven smelts.  And we ate them up there and then.

Through an unfortunate confluence of events, it happens that this was the first time in my life that I had reeled in a fish.  And, it boggled my mind…

Do you mean to tell me that, wherever you are, you can literally drop a line in the water and you might pull up a fish?  It turns out that, stripped of all its arcane knowledge and endless equipment, fishing is simple and beautiful!  Maybe not successful, but that depends on how on measure success, right?

For those hardy enough to ride a bike in the deep, dark, Maine winter, a smelting camp would be a great destination for a ride.  They provide everything you need for fishing -  lines and bait all housed in a wood-heated, sauna-like shack.  The fishing hole is inside the shack.  Like Mark says, “It’s a little like fishing from your living room.”

Let’s get small. These guys believe that everything you need to catch a fish fits in an Altoid Tin.  Or smaller.

Another goal for 2009.  Drop more lines.

Like some sort of inverted road map, the Maine Interconnected Trail System gets more dense as it heads North!

I’ll admit, I don’t have a lot of experience with this network of trails.  My most recent attempt to ride from Standish to Denmark was a total disaster complete with mechanical failures, sibling arguments, mosquito madness and heat stroke.

But the thought of an entire web of trails that could take me all the way from my doorstep to the Canadian border is irresistible.  If anyone out there has real advice about these trails, let me know!

Curious?  Close to Portland, the Standish Sno-Seekers, Grey Snow Wolves, and Gorham SnoGoers have generously posted their local maps online.  And the Sebago Branch Duckers and Falmouth Snow Voyagers will send you a map for a few bucks!

When I casually mention this epic bicycling feat, most people ask, “How did you get out of Boston without getting squashed?”

Like many cities, the major arteries in and out of Boston are not very bicycle friendly.  Luckily, Rubell’s fantastic “Boston Bike Map” has the answer.

On the back of the map, in the bottom corner, surrounded by advertisements and seemingly drawn by hand are the basic directions for how to get out of Boston to the North, South, East and West.  This map was indispensable.  The route was scenic and the traffic was minimal – at least on a Sunday morning.

For the numerically curious, here are some stats about our trip:

• Number of riders:  5
• Average age of rider:  31 years
• Average age of bicycle:  15 years
• Quantity of Sweet and Salty’s consumed:  12
• Average speed:  A mighty 9 mph

The philosophically curious might wonder if this ride allowed me to further understand the interconnectedness of all things.  The short answer is, “No.”

This ride was a stretch for me.  It was my first century.  The farthest I had ever gone on a bike was around 50 miles.  In order to prepare for the distance, I had to mentally break it up into manageable chunks.  That meant no continuity.  And no interconnectedness.  Frankly, a real zen bummer.

Like all Lookabout rides, this one is a bit conceptual.  The idea?  Get from Boston to Portland, Maine in one day.  I had seen a couple of multi-day routes, but none that we could manage in a single day.

Here is a Printer Friendly PDF of the route!   It features:

• Italian Neighborhoods - Everett vs. Malden
• Honky-Tonk Beaches - Hotdogs and Harleys.
• Lenticular Moraines – You know.  Like a Great Boar’s Head?
• Fabulous Mansions – See how the other half lives.
• WWII Base End Stations - Defending our freedom since 1942.
• Endless Antique Shops – Welcome to Maine.  Ugh.
• Old Mill Towns - On the mighty Saco River.  Mother of Waters.
• A Salt Marsh – The Eastern Trail bridge over the Scarborough Marsh.
• A Draw Bridge with a Bike Lane – Finally!  The Casco Bay Bridge.

You can see more photos here and here.  And further description here.

Bicycles and trains have been best pals since way back.  If you want to get farther faster than your pedals can take you, a train is the easiest way to go.

No looping routes.  No car-spotting.  You can ride from one station to another and return by rail, easily doubling your range.

Maine has never been known for its mass transit, but here are two trains able to transport the cyclist in the classic tradition:

• Amtrak’s Downeaster line runs from Boston’s North Station to Portland, Maine.  For a $5 reservation, they allow bicycles on and off at the stops in Boston, Wells and Portland.  Back in May, we took the trip from Portland to Boston.  It was really easy.  The bikes traveled in the lounge car.  So did we.
• The Maine Eastern Railroad is a seasonal train that runs from Brunswick to Rockland.  They accept bicycles at no additional charge.  We haven’t tried this line yet, but I hope to before the season ends.

If you need further inspiration to introduce your bike to a train, check out this fantastic promotional video from 1950′s British Railways – Part1 and Part 2.

Download a Printer-Friendly PDF of the map HERE!

Hot Damn!  The first complete Lookabout bike ride!  Featuring:

• Portland’s Back Cove: The worlds best tidal pool.
• Baxter Woods: Old Growth!  Both deep and dark.
• Evergreen Cemetery: Spooky graves.
• Nason’s Corner:  Charming bungalows.
• Jewell Falls: Yup.  A waterfall.  For real.
• Capisic Pond: Birds.  Bees.
• Railroad tracks: For that hobo vibe.
• Wooden bridges: To test your riding skills.
• A psychedelic boat: Whoa.
• All on a two-hour ride within the city limits of Portland, Maine!  Hey!

Although there are plenty of “off-road” sections to this ride, you don’t need a mountain bike.  Almost all the chosen trails are friendly for a road bike.  I took my old 10-speed and only needed to walk it in a couple of spots.

Need to see more?  Additional photos here and here.  

This bike route relies heavily on the work of the folks at Portland Trails.  If you ride it, and like it, consider supporting them with a donation or purchase.  They deserve it.

I admit it.   I covet my neighbor’s saddlebag.    Brooks, Carridice, Gilles Berthoud - it doesn’t matter.   I want one.

Seriously.  A saddlebag would make my commute way more awesome.  They are just the right size for lunch and a toolkit.  Maybe even a raincape.  I don’t like messenger bags.  They can be sweaty and clumsy.  And panniers, no matter how useful, make even the sleekest bike look stodgy.  Trunk bags?  Uh-huh.  No-way.  I need a saddlebag.

Supposably, these olde bags are poised for a comeback.  Like the triumphant handlebar basket, saddlebags are classic, simple and stylish.  Why have they fallen so far out of fashion?  Why are they only sold by “retro” bike shops in the US?   Why are they all made in the UK?  Why am I so cheap that I can’t pony up the $100 to buy one?

Bah.  I’ll make my own out of the junk in my basement.

It starts with this bag.  Perry gave it to me years ago.  It was a factory reject.  It is stamped “Banana Republic”.  I assume that it’s from Honduras.  I chose this bag because the leather straps on the top flap provide a nice place to hang the bag.

Most saddles don’t come with bag loops anymore, so we have to get creative.  I found a couple of long eyebolts and fastened them to the saddle rails with Jubilee clips.  (Those are hose clamps to you and me.)

The nice thing about this arrangement is that you can angle and position the bolts anywhere to fit the bag you want to use.  A couple of nuts and an oversized washer acts as a stop at the end of the bolts.

Here’s what it looks like from the side.  The large rear pocket stores the shoulder strap.  It also is accessible while riding, so it’s perfect for maps and snacks.  Not too bad!

UPDATE:

Lou found this link to another DIY saddlebag conversion.  More complicated, but also more attractive.

We have been out on the roads exploring our small world and designing new bike routes.  You know?

Ride #1:  Get Circumnavigated

Forget about “bike loops”.  Circumnavigation is it, baby!  How better to explore a place then to see it from 360 degrees?

Portland’s downtown is on a hill.  On a peninsula.  It’s practically surrounded by stunning views.  Not to mention the cool little details and unique architecture you can see streetside.

These guys did a lap around in a canoe.  We do it on bikes.

Ride #2:  The Water Treatment

Featuring a secluded waterfall, a quiet island, a rushing tidal pool, a delicate salt marsh, and inescapable ocean views.

Oh yeah, and a stinky treatment plant, too.

 Ride #3:  The Heart Attack

 A loving survey of the fried foods that keep our pedals turning.  Starting with Tony’s Donuts, pausing for Pier Fries, and culminating with fried clams.  Bon Appétite!

This weekend, I got a chance to check out the new Eastern Trail bike bridge over the Scarborough Marsh.  This bridge was built, of course, to allow Portland cyclists easier access to the Pier Fries at Old Orchard Beach.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, Pier Fries are thick cut french fries.  They are served in a cardboard tray and with a little wooden fork.  You add your own salt and vinegar from the shakers chained to the counter.  They are seriously earthy.  And greasy.  The way fries should be.

Verdict is out over who makes the best.  You can get them at Lisa’s Pizza, Bill’s Pizza, and at a stand on the pier called “Pier Pizza”.  Why not collect them all?

Keep in mind:  The precious calories lost while pedaling to Old Orchard Beach and back can be re-claimed by enjoying a box of Pier Fries and a beer.  Don’t worry about it.

I have posted a route map on Bikely.  It’s not the most scenic bike tour in southern Maine, but it’s not bad.  And it is the fastest route to “the oob”.

UPDATE:

Not in a hurry?  There’s a better route.  Here’s a new map in the ultra-contemporary Lookabout style.