I’ve decided that Jeff is a bad influence. He’s corrupted me into two late-night bike ride/pub crawls recently. Then on Saturday we did a big ride up to Parkville to partake of some awesomeness at the Power Plant Brewery. The beer was especially welcome after the crazy ride from Downtown to Parkville, including some time wandering around lost on the bluffs above Riverside. John utilized his four-wheeled conveyance and met us at the brewery, slowing down to heckle us on the Heart of America Bridge.

The ride itself was quite an experience. It’s well known that crossing the Missouri River on a bicycle is quite challenging. We opted for the Heart of America Bridge and survived unscathed. Route 9 is also a bit of challenge, with lots of broken shoulder, ramps, and a giant cloverleaf. Hopefully by this time next year we’ll be seeing some progress on Platte County’s riverfront trail from the Downtown Airport to Riverside, Parkville, and Weston.

Here’s my route from Midtown to Parkville, a 30 mile round trip.

Dear Blogosphere,

I’m looking for a good and affordable wedding photographer in the KC area. We’d like someone who subscribes to the photojournalism/documentary school of wedding photography. They also have to not suck.

Your Pal,
Eric

P.S. - Yes, this means that we’re getting married. The big day is at the end of October.

Good rides this weekend! Friday was an awesome pub crawl/ride with Jeff. We started off riding down to Waldo and hitting 75th Street Brewery and Fin’s. Then it was up to Charlie Hoopers in Brooside to mingle with a pretty crowd was probably bussed in from Leawood. Heading to Midtown the sky’s opened and we got completely drenched, which was a blast to be riding in the rain at night. We ducked into Fric and Frac for one last beer while the rain peterd out and then it was off to Munchiez for a quick breakfast before heading hom.

Saturday I had a great ride to the City Market, followed by today’s haul out to the Independence Square. Out there I discovered a great to pizza place, Square Pizza. It’s on Maple a block west of the Square, and worth checking out.

Here’s a cool collection of photographs of bicycles in Japan

In Japan, the bicycle is as ordinary as the dawn: almost everybody rides in every weather, from bank presidents to housewives with a kid or two, in ordinary clothes on bikes that epitomize ordinariness. Large housing blocks and metro stops have bicycle parking structures, and busy shopping districts may even have pay parking lots for bikes.