Creative Encounters: Bicycle "Self-help" Workshop

Located in the WUK center for workshops and culture in Vienna, the Fahrrad Selbsthilfe Werkstatt (Bicycle Self-Help Workshop), functions on a similar premise as co-ops like Bikes Not Bombs in the US: You pay a small fee for the afternoon, and one of the mechanics on staff helps you fix your bicycle or assemble an entirely new one using the parts available at the shop.

But the unique thing about the Fahrrad Selbsthilfe Werkstatt, is that here you are likely to see bicycles like this:

or like this:

or like this!

The workshop specialises in tall bikes and various other remarkable constructions, the likes of which you are not likely to see every day.

Though the floorspace is small, they make excellent use of the extremely high ceilings. Rows upon rows of frames, wheels, and partially assembled bicycles of different vintages, hang suspended above the visitors' heads. The resultant arrangements are quite beautiful.

Wheels and a station with tools...

forks...

cranks and pedals...

small parts...

Of course the majority of those who come in, are looking for help with "normal" bikes and are not assembling the sort of eccentric constructions shown above.

The mechanics are very helpful, and the atmosphere is mellow and friendly. A wonderful place to be, even just to watch. If you are a cycling enthusiast visiting Vienna, you will enjoy a visit to the Fahrrad Selbsthilfe Werkstatt.

Moose Meadows, Pigeon River

(Click the photo to view a larger version)

This photograph was made from the Pigeon River Helipad and Overlook on Otter Lake Forest Road in Northeast Minnesota. Ever since the forest service created this helipad and overlook, I've been stopping there whenever I'm in the area in the hopes of seeing a Moose down along the river. Being quite familiar with the river from the seat of a kayak, I knew that this bend in the river was quite popular with the Moose. However, I had never seen one from the overlook until today! I watched through my telephoto lens as the Moose moved throughout the shallows for several minutes. Eventually he turned and gave me a nice profile of his body. It was cool to finally see a Moose from this vantage point! This marks my 18th Moose sighting of this year!

The Trees We Found This Past Week

Just some of the trees we have come across while hiking.

Saying Goodbye to Peace River

Today we left Peace River and we said goodbye as this is our last visit this winter. We stayed in Florida two months longer this winter, and although we are excited to be heading out now, it wasn't hard to stay this long because of all the wonderful people we met. We met so many wonderful people through pickleball. I don't know what it is about that particular crowd, but they really are some of the best people we've ever met.



At this point, there are not too many of them left in Peace River. In fact, this morning there were only Rich and Donna, Bruce and Gena, Rich and Dee and I think maybe Faye and Ken. Although, maybe not Faye and Ken because surely Nathan would have snapped pictures of them also!



I don't think we got pictures of Jim and Jane either. This is their last winter here, after touring the US for eight years I believe. They are a great example of the wonderful people I'm talking about. As I hugged them goodbye, I was struck by how sad I felt at the thought of not seeing them next winter. I felt sad that Rich and Donna are staying in Florida and not heading out like most of us are, so I won't see them until next winter. I was excited to hear that so many others are staying east and we will see many of them in Chesapeake.



I really do adore so many of these people and am so glad that I did get out to play pickleball more this year so I could get to know them better!

Backup Kickstand?

Winter's first casualty: the Co-Habitant's Pletscher twin-legged kickstand broke.

These things have a spring inside that regulates the folding of the legs. A few days ago the spring snapped and the legs went limp, so he removed the contraption. The working theory is that the winter wind swayed the bike upon the kickstand back and forth and stressed out the spring.

Not sure that fixing it is possible, since it may be hard to find a replacement spring. Has anybody else had this happen to a Pletscher Twin Legger?

Believe it or not, the Co-Habitamt has a backup kickstand. (How many people can say that?) It's the original fold-down stand that came with his Pashley and which he never removed. He finds these annoying, but I think it looks great - especially with the lights!

Watermelon

We waited and watched and watered and waited and finally we had watermelon. It sure was good.
But the kitten couldn't figure out why we wanted to eat such a thing.

Back to Chesapeake

Today we headed back to Chesapeake. If it were not for our travel buddies, and wanting time with them, we'd be moving on because we've had our fill of the area already. After spending the winter in Florida, it is very hard for us to sit "still" and not be moving. It's well worth it to have family time with people we enjoy so much though.



We had a nice, short drive over to the park. We ended up in the same section that we were in last time, in fact our old spot was still open. I'm sure this will not be the case soon because this park is very busy in the summer. They have upgraded many of the sites in this section to 50 amps with makes it very nice when we want to run both air conditioners inside.

We're hoping the weather holds out for us and it nice here. A few days of rain has me feeling quite grumpy so I need some sun at this point.





Living the life in dreary Virginia.