Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac

by Evan P. Schneider (Editor), Melissa Reeser Poulin (Contributor), Johnathon Allen (Contributor)

[Table of Features BA 43-300]

7 Record of the Cyclist
{for the enlisted, to be used in the field}

9 Preface: Your Bike Will Wait For You
{a brief note from the editors}

12 Letters to the Editor
{various voices sung near and far, plus a love letter}

20 Growing Pains
{Mr. Michael Bazzett’s poetry of wintry recollection}

22 Thomas and His Bicycle
{from Ms. Evaline Ness’s 1966 Sam, Bangs, & Moonshine}

23 More ABC’s of Bicycling
{a continuation of long-time two-wheeling advocate Mr. Mike Compton’s impressive cycling dictionary}

29 Bicycle Manual Mad Libs
{Ms. Susan Denning’s handlebar antlers and “threadless” deer}

35 Biking Abroad
{a lovely dispatch from the Netherlands by Ms. Katrina Emery}

40 Bicycling Commonplace Book
{Mr. Bill Poindexter’s meticulous collection of antique bicycling quotes}

46 You There
{Ms. Shea’la Finch wants to hear about your dreams}

48 “Surface Tension”
{behold the poetry of Mr. Mischa Willett}

50 To Have And Have Not: Part 1
{Ms. Alison Rutherford Krieger wonders about homelessness and bicycling}

52 Today’s Exercise
{Mr. Mike Bernhardt’s most uplifting ride imaginable}

55 Smidge & Space Go West…continued!
{part 3 of Ms. Maureen Foley’s drawn depiction of a vexing trip}

65 Bicycle Safety and Information Report
{a surprisingly relevant national study from 1978}

76 “Counter Argument”
{behold more poetry by Mr. Mischa Willett}

80 Getting Past the Dos and Don’ts
{shop owner Mr. Jacob English explains local bike shop etiquette}

84 What Was I Thinking?
{Ms. Alex Behr looks back on photos from her youth}

86 Hipster-Ass Bike for Hipsters
{a found posting on craigslist}

90 Book Review: Tillie the Terrible Swede
{plus a Q&A with author Ms. Sue Stauffacher}

96 L.S. Burbank Bicycle
{a patent for a rowing bicycle from1900}

101 DIY Chain Keeper
{Dr. Marc-Andre Chimonas shows you how to keep your chain on track}

109 An excerpt from Doppelganger Effect
by Mr. Johnathon Allen {a heart-pounding scene of bike messengers in Dallas}

115 Yendra Built Keg Trike
{Fort Collins’ own beautiful—and practical— bicycle invention}

118 Boneshaker’s 600-Word Review
{the Surly Big Dummy, an all-around wonderment}

“The full moon makes sense. When a cloud crosses it it becomes as eloquent as a bicycle leaning outside a drugstore…” ~ Billy Collins, from “Winter Syntax”

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Evan P. Schneider is the author of A Simple Machine, Like the Lever and the founding editor of Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac. He is a graduate of the English departments at Colorado State University and the University of Rhode Island and has received fellowships from KHN Center for the Arts and the Oregon Arts Commission. Born in New Mexico and raised in Colorado, Schneider now lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Jeremy Kamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

very great book of short stories and other miscellaneous bicycle tidbits. just wonderful.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book, too hip for its britches. 50% "this is a fascinating thing about bikes!" and 50% "this is so pretentious that it should never have been committed to writing."