 There we were, leaning against our camper van in the alley behind our new home. We took a breath and sighed! Wow. Finally, the beautiful wife and I had become Vancouver residents.
Predictably we spent that first day monotonously humping all our stuff into the apartment. Trundling across the rippled concrete parkade, wait for the elevator, go up the elevator, roll down the corridor, drop off the boxes, roll back down the corridor, wait for the elevator, etc., etc. Thankfully we had no furniture at this point, having toured in an RV for a year. But what we did have was an awesome uninterrupted view of the mountains. In due course, I required a ‘medicinal’ beer, or two, for my aching back. You understand! So we went for our first neighbourhood walkabout. We chose this end of the city because it is walkable. Having come from a small market town in the UK, we were used to getting what we needed locally, be it beer, beef, or a bank. On our walk that first dusky evening, hand in hand, we were properly excited about our new city, our new life.
0 Comments
 When I first saw the spec on this cargobike way back sometime in 2018 I was blown away. This is maybe the perfect cargo bike, long-tail variety that is, for me. Dunno about you. I cannot see a time when I would transport a tiny child behind me where they can’t be seen, talked to and cared for when longjohns and box trikes exist? And I don’t even like kids!!!! But I do have a Chihuahua I carry most days on the front of my my bicycle if that counts!!!
Then I saw the photos. Oh wow. Looking sooooooo good. Solid, two batteries, big bags, big front basket, bloke riding it, chunky 20” wheels front and back (my favorite), and made by Tern! And haven’t they got the best PR pic ever with the kid giving a finger to the sky like they’re on a roller coaster. Genius. I have a Tern Cargo Node, its a factory edition cargobike collaboration between Tern and Xtracycle. Its the nicest bicycle I have EVER ridden (so far!), so I was stoked when they announced the GSD. But what does GSD stand for? So far, from my research, and this isn’t from Tern, it means Get Shit Done. Funny if it’s true. Either way, it does, and then some.  I remember the very first time I came across Velopalooza, I was cycling with my wife one afternoon in East Vancouver. It was late autumn 2015, pleasantly warm, and I was trying to decide which brewery Linzi would enjoy the most. This lifestyle cyclist requires decent bicycle parking that I can see from my table, THEN the beer has to be good, right? There was less choice back then and Linzi has a very specific requirements as she’s not a natural born beer drinker.
We were stopped at a light. Adanac and Clark I think. My gaze resting in the mid-distance as I pondered our local adult beverage options. As deafening semi-trucks sped by Linzi spotted a very artistic mini-poster taped at a jaunty angle around the light pole. It had a bicycle on it. Naturally we had a closer look. “What’s Velopalooza” we wondered. It also stated ‘Two weeks of bike fun’ with dates in June just past. Shame! We missed it. Two weeks of bike fun sounds perfect. So I took a picture of it to look-up online later when we got home.  Brilliant! Saw this on Craigslist a while ago, funniest thing I ever saw. Probably selling as didnt ride quite right!! Ha Ha!!
 Always wonderful to roll past here. At Christmas they cover the bikes with Xmas lights and at Halloween pumpkins and orange lights.
 That's over 50lbs of wine on the back of a bicycle.
I've never clenched so much nor rode the brakes down hill so much than with this precious load. The relief when I got home was incredible, so I opened one to celebrate as much as to calm my nerves. Any excuse, eh!  From a few years ago. My beach picnic rig.
In the front is the dog bag, 2ltr growler of beer, water and coffee making kit. In the panniers is the food, tarp and plates, etc. and the Firebox BBQ and charcoal. In the trailer are two camp chairs, stool, tarp pole and table. All we need for a Sunday on the beach.  Found on the internet ages ago. I so want to make this but as a working bike trailer. This is clearly being used as a kennel. It's brilliant, eh!
sorry no credit, let me know  Shame! If they had only spent the extra $3 on another Dollarstore 'lock' they may have saved $150+ on a new wheel.
 We see this person all the time, love the outfit, but PLEASE lady, lights are cheap!!!
|
AuthorThis is my playground. So it's always 'work in progress'. I like to create all sorts that doesn't fit into one 'niche'! Mainly cartoon robots, bicycle culture and other 'bits' that occur to me like coffee, cooking on a camp stove and stormtroopers. Categories
All
Archives
October 2026
|
RSS Feed
