These things

I was going to have a lovely post today about how I knit and knit and I know how things are with the scarf because it’s totally finished, but these things happened

1. Joe, completely and totally out of the blue, decided we should have company to dinner tonight, which is a wonderful idea and one I can fully support (especially since he’s committed to at least half of the cooking) despite the fact that you can’t cook and knit at the same time, which is a real bummer and probably the reason takeaway exists at all.

2. The sun came out – briefly.  I’ve been trying to get out for a ride for days and days now, but it’s been rainy and gross and cold and I don’t know if I’m cowardly or smart, but I don’t ride when it’s lousy like that.

3. The problem starts to be when it’s lousy all the time. Did I tell you that Jen and I decided, after we didn’t die on the Bike Rally, that we would increase our commitment? Have I mentioned (I don’t think I have, because I can barely believe it myself) that we decided to be Team Leaders? We have our very own team of 22 riders this year, and all the responsibilities that go with it.

4. I don’t know about you, but I think that Team “Leads” shouldn’t be trailing behind, and Jen and I are still middle-aged-slightly-dumpy-mothers, and there’s no way that we can just get out there and do this thing without some really, really significant training. and the weather has been so bad that I’m starting to hyperventilate when I look at the date.

5. Which means that when the sun came out today, I ran to my bedroom and stuffed myself into my (incredibly discouraging) spandex, and hit the road.  I got a quickie done, and that’s probably going to keep the panic at bay for another 24 hours.

6. I can’t believe that as a species, we’re thinking about a trip to Mars, but there’s no way to knit while you drive a bike.

7. In case you’re wondering, I sure am hoping to do Karmic Balancing gifts on the blog this year. I’m riding, Jen’s riding, Ken’s riding, Pato’s riding and (be still my little heart) Amanda, Megan and Sam are all riding.  That’s a super high number of knitters on a team. A record.  We’re so proud of making this a family affair this year.  Details next week.

50 thoughts on “These things

  1. I look forward to making donations to you and your team!

    I think my cycling commute is two months later this year than previous years. I am ready for cherry blossoms anytime. I would prefer not to be wearing wool scarves and gloves in May even if I enjoyed knitting those items …

  2. you could get one of those indoor trainers which allow you to attach your normal racing bike and ride. Without exposure to rain, although it can be slightly mindnumbing in combination with good TV and a focus on intervals it totally works for lousy weather or nighttime training.

    • Sure, but somebody has to look after the cat, right? Or maybe a real family effort would involve Millie, too…

      • Would love to see Millie fit out with tiny helmet and gear – perched on Steph’s handlebars, nose to the wind, she’d be a living fiber animal hood ornament. Onward, Intrepid Knitters! Of course that is only if one could survive getting a cat into spandex.

  3. Now you’ve got me thinking about how much knitting one could get done on the way to Mars. Except that of course you’d have to bring all the yarn with you, and I doubt crew allowances will be large enough to hold that much stash. But wool socks would be perfect for the trip, since you don’t need shoes on a spaceship…

  4. What about a bike trainer? Not sure what they call them officially, but those things that you hook the bike onto that allow you to ride it in the house. I read http://swimbikemom.com and she’s all about the trainer, which makes sense since she’s a mom of 2 small ones and lives one state above the surface of the sun (Georgia). Just an idea to get your training in, and potentially even knit at the same time! Good luck!
    http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=indoor+bicycle+trainers&tag=googhydr-20&index=sporting&hvadid=40045723687&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13445737856822921048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_78naqgvo08_b

  5. And I commend Joe for his steadfastness. Someone’s got to be there applauding at the finishing line and buying the first round (and carrying the triumphant on or, as it may be, slung over, his shoulders.)

  6. one certainly does ‘drive’ a bike. ‘ride’ a bike makes it seem like there is very little effort or attention involved. hence, the preclusion of knitting while doing it. the same could go for horses, though, in all honesty, i’d like to see someone try it.

  7. It’s “rainy,wet & gross”. It’s been hot,windy & miserable (in the 90’s) here in So/California, unable to knit at all, let alone read my new EZ books I just bought.
    Good idea about the bike bracket. I was just thinking about doing that myself this year. My friend can knit/crochet on her recumbant bike. I don’t know how anyone can do that on a bike let alone read.

  8. It was so easy to make a donation last year. Every little bit helps, and make a grand world of difference. We’re behind you all.

  9. Oh, how *awesome* that the 3 girls are riding this year, not to mention Pato, of course!! Be sure and post the link, again, please, for donations.

  10. I knit on my bike; the trick is having a stationary bike. A small project and the yarn in a project bag hanging from the handlebars is also a good idea. It’s the only thing that gets me on the bike, and I’m close to finishing the second pair of “bike socks”.

  11. All the girls riding with you?! What an awesome mother’s day gift. Every time you ride, I follow along (cyber-ly, of course) and just marvel over it all. At the same time a VERY SMALL part of me wonders… what if, one day.. But then you start describing the training it takes and then I know I will remain an avid cheerleader and not a rider.

  12. So I wore sandals yesterday, disgust at the weather and did not want to waste my prettily painted toenails. Then I came home and cast on a second pair of socks, somehow Summer Lovin Socks did not fit the “cold front”, so now my standard 2×2 rib out of very warm sock yarn.
    BTW: looking forward to helping with the fundraiser and glad to add to Karmic Balancing Gifts.

  13. You also can’t knit and…
    1. Mow the lawn
    2. Do housework
    Though, there are people who have run marathons and knit.

    Looking forward to the return of Yarn Harlot, cyclist!

  14. When you mentioned the trip to Mars, I immediately thought to myself, “How does one plan their knitting for such a trip? I’m sure that there is an allotment of space for personal belongings, but really, how many skeins can a person fit on board and not have the other astronauts question your presence on the trip?”

  15. I read the title of the post and in my head started singing
    Sweet dreams are made of these
    Who am I to disagree
    Travel the world and the seven seas
    Everybody’s looking for something

  16. Oh my gosh – can you knit spandex? And it sounds like you need knit banners/bunting (you know, triangles with string in between) on bikes, tents, etc.

  17. Wow! What a great team of riders. I was thinking could you knit on a tandem bike? Joe could drive and you could pedal and knit :).

  18. I just have to say, every time that I start to get discouraged about people as a whole, all you good folks remind me about the best of humanity. The MSF/DWB totals, the money raised for this ride, everyone’s generosity at Christmas,… all of it. It makes me proud to call myself a knitter and be part of a community that brings a little more light and love into other peoples lives. Carry on my friends, let’s show them what we can do.

  19. Maybe I’m wrong, but I didn’t think team leaders ride. Aren’t you in the ‘support’ car, ready with encouragement, band-aids, water, etc.? Plenty of knitting time there if you alternate drivers!

    • Nope, Team Leads on the Rally ride! We have support crews that do the job you’re thinking of.

  20. Greetings Steph…. My son is a cyclist ( and a serious one at that)… he has a nifty trainer for indoors when the weather is uncooperative…… He puts a lot of hours on said trainer….would that help you on stormy days? And you couldn’t rain at any time and perhaps even knit!!!!
    Best of luck…you are one fabulous multitasker….
    Maria

  21. Steph, I truely cannot believe that you are riding again this year! I don’t know how you do it. It would scare the living bajeses out of me to ride/train/inthetraffic like you do…go girl!!!!

  22. I’m super excited about the Rally. I have an offer to make that I already made to Jenn, but I thought I’d open it up to anyone on your team:

    I have a dear friend who is helping me out so much right now, and she wants a comic that will only be available at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (it is the “naughty parts” of E. K. Weaver’s webcomic, “The Less Than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal”).

    I will donate $200 to the Rally participant that gets that comic and sends it to me. My friend will reimburse the obtainer of the comic for the comic (I think it’s ten dollars), for shipping, and a small amount for any trauma caused by buying, well, porn. 🙂 The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is free, happening on May 10th and 11th, and looks like a lot of fun. It’s happening at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street.

    I emailed with Jenn about this already, so she can give someone on the Team Jenn/Harlot my contact info, if someone else is interested in helping me out.

    Thanks a million, whoever helps me out with this. My friend has been trying to figure out how to justify flying to Toronto for a $10 comic book. If I can get this for her, it will make her day, and possibly her year.

  23. Every bike rally should have a team of knitters!

    After reading in your book about how hard your first ride was, I can’t believe you ever wanted o do another. Kudos to you!

  24. My friend Paul suggests that you could ride AND knit, if you cycled on the back of a tandem bicycle… 😉
    (But I see that someone else has already suggested that!…maybe you and Jen could trade-off, and each get some knitting time in?)

  25. Oops, don’t know why I spelled Jenn with two “n” s throughout. So, um, apologies. 🙂 I was a little too excited about getting the comic for my friend…

  26. the phrase `got a quickie in`usually implies a more interesting activity that bike riding. but you also can`t knit while you do that, at least not if you`re doing it right.

  27. Perhaps the ability to knit while riding a bike should be an aptitude test for any and all who want to go in to politic – I bet there’d be something invented to enable it in no time at all if that were the case!

  28. Go Steph, you can do it but please don’t knit and ride.
    I had two falls because i was thinking about knitting while riding my bike. Apparently, you need to concentrate on the road.

  29. Pingback: Cycling towards a pluralist ethos | Fit Is a Feminist Issue

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