Riding Mower

Another flat tire on the bike. This 5-week old set of Continentals has had 3 flats so far. Best time to work on the Vespa this week is 12 minutes. Best ever time on the bike was 13 minutes. The only downside to the Vespa is that is sounds like a lawn mower.

Summer Elegy

I really think it's official - summer 2009 is a complete bust. Here it is July 8, and the skies refuse to clear, the rain will not stop, the temperature is 63.

I was on Boylston Street the other morning and a big disheveled guy with a mammoth gray beard yelled to me "Riding a bike with one gear is like playing a harp with one string!"

June stats are in from the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory:

It was tenth coldest June on record.

The consistently cool temperatures were due to the persistently low sunshine all month, which measured just 27 percent, or half of the 55 percent typically observed in June. This is the second lowest sunshine ever recorded in June, behind only 25 percent measured in 1903, and this ties for the fourth lowest sunshine (in percent) for any month of the year.

Although not generally heavy, the rainfall was frequent with measurable precipitation occurring on 19 of the 30 days, which is the second highest total for any June.

Got soaked on this morning's bike ride to work. Had broken spoke repaired at Community Bike yesterday. Was told I need new chain ring.