BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Let's start with some easy tags.

Round 1, tag 1

Posted Wednesday Feb 23, 4:30 PM

Expires Friday Feb 25, 4:30 PM

Agnes Katz Plaza, downtown

Round 1, tag 2

Posted Wednesday Feb 23, 4:35 PM

Expires Friday Feb 25, 4:35 PM

Friendship Parklet

Agnes Katz Plaza

Friendship Parklet ("A Passive Park")

What a lovely day for riding. Rain on the way downtown, hail on the way to Friendship, and snow on the way home!

I think you won that round, Jeg, so you get to pick the next location(s), if you want.

Perhaps 48 hours isn't enough time when there's bad weather? Or maybe this is just the wrong time of year to start a new game?

I would have played. Combination of bad weather and being stuck at work 32 of the 48 hours. Next round I'm down.

I might jump into this game in March. Less the weather, more the schedule.

Yeah, it's more schedule inflexibility than anything for me, too, which is why I'm glad someone started this new game! This is a great excuse to get out for a ride and learn my way around the city. I had Friday morning off this week, but almost changed my mind about going to Friendship because of the weather (and my indecisiveness).

How long to I have to post the new tags? I probably won't get out and ride anywhere tonight, but I can do Google Maps links.

Two thoughts: A, knowing when 48 hours starts and ends. B, allowing some slop time for those of us without Internet on our phones.

On the first, at the beginning of each round, it would help to post the date/time for when the next round ends. Or say 9am after the next sunrise after 48 hours, so we can pick up a tag on the way to work.

On the second, I can't post directly from my phone; I have to send it to Gmail first, then upload to Flickr, then log on to the board.

So if the round started at 7:45 some morning, I'm suggesting a little slop time past the 48 hours. But, hey, this isn't the Olympic downhill slaloms, I guess I'm just blathering on about nothing.

I can't post from my phone either, and really have no inclination to do so. I take a camera and then upload when I'm near a computer again.

In the example, Steven explicitly gave a start and end time--are you saying this should continue, or requesting something additional, Stu?

48 hours did seem short. Maybe something longer (3 days? 5 days? a week?) would increase participation, or maybe the fast turnover is better for keeping people's interest. Thoughts? As I said, I'm interested in an external challenge to ride to new places, not a contest, so that wouldn't reduce the appeal for me personally, and a guarantee there will be many 48-hour stretches when I can't get out to look for tags.

Also, I plan to get my own tags, if they're Google Map-ped, with some sort of disclaimer so I don't end up setting twice in a row.

I'm going to need a flow chart or can we schedule a webex?

I suggest that the tag-setter decides how long his tag lasts. Maybe 2 days minimum, for when the weather's decent and one of the days is a weekend, but give a bit more time during the week or when there's snow predicted, or if the tag is particularly hard to reach?

I think the goal should be to give virtually all the people who really want the tag enough time to go get it.

I didn't suggest any time limit on setting a tag, since you can do it just by describing a place, with no riding or photos or even being in Pittsburgh at the time. Or if you want to include a photo, it's fine to take one in advance. So it should normally be possible to post a new tag pretty quickly after a round ends.

Seems fine to go get your own tags if you initially set them without a photo, just because it's fun. But they don't earn you a shot at being a setter again in the next round.

Let's try three days and some bridges!

Round 2, tag 1

Posted: Sunday Feb 27, 6:45 AM

Expires: Wednesday Mar 2, 6:45 AM

Homestead Grays Bridge

Round 2, tag 2

Posted: Sunday Feb 27, 6:45 AM

Expires: Wednesday Mar 2, 6:45 AM

16th Street Bridge

That works for me, having an explicit expire time. (Sorry, missed that earlier.) No further questions.

I should be able to get at least one of these by W morning.

And a beautiful day this was for a ride.

Agreed.. It was fantastic! I made it down the hill before I had to remove all my layers and continued the rest of the day in a t-shirt.

I hope my Homestead Grays shot makes the cut. My bike was technically leaning on the bridge. Duck Hollow seemed more appealing than Old Browns Hill Road. I counted about 20 people on the trail between Hazelwood and the bridge here. Everyone was out enjoying the weather.

Lovely day for a ride…

Note the better composition and quality of these pics now that there isn't a race to upload from a smart phone camera.

I'm enjoying all the different angles the shots are taken from. I'm hoping to get a 16SB shot (not sure I'll make it over to HGB) and so I'm already trying to figure out how to do something different.

Ironically, I used a smartphone for my pics. It helps a lot if it's a sunny day.

@dwillen: that's a great shot of the Grays bridge. I almost went for an underesides theme but got distracted by the plaque on the 16th bridge.

Thanks. If anyone else has the inclination to try it, be careful. My new shoes stayed clean for about 4 hours after the purchase. I was sliding around in ~2 inch deep mud. I'm sure it is even worse after today.

1. Ahir - 16th Street

2. Ahir - Homestead Grays

3. dwillen - 16th Street

4. dwillen - Homestead Grays

5. Marko - 16th Street

6. Marko - Homestead Grays

Random numbers, courtesy of random.org: 4, 3. Next round, both tags spots go to dwillen!

Interesting trend that everyone who has played so far has gotten both tags.

From the rules: If both numbers refer to the same person, pick the second again.

I didn't realize this was a game, thought it referred to something else and ignored the thread. Having clicked, I'd say 3 days is a little short - I'd play if it included a weekend, but if it didn't I don't have a chance.

Three days seemed to work pretty well, but all the tags were from this weekend. I'm going to make mine three and a half-ish, so folks have a full Saturday to go out and grab a photo (and have a new tag for Sunday!). Plus I'll be out of town so I won't have a chance to pick a new tagger until Saturday evening anyway.

Round 3, tag 1

Posted: Wednesday, Mar 2, noon

Expires: Saturday, Mar 5, 8pm

USS Requin (wiki)

Apologies, I didn't read the rules carefully (and the last two rounds have only had one setter, which threw me off).

New tag #2 goes to: #2, Ahir

Perhaps all tags should last a week? It would move slower, but always include a weekend (or whatever your day off is, assuming you get at least 1 in 7), and perhaps get more participants.

I think letting the tag setter pick the time limit is great. The time limits should shrink and grow with regards to weather predictions and the amount of daylight for the time of year. If it is bikefest, 78 and sunny I don't think we would have a problem getting people to play even with a one day window. The beauty of the game is, there should always be a tag, so everyone should be able to grab one on their day off, without having to worry about getting every single tag.

I would go for having the duration span a weekend, at least until evening light gets long enough to allow people to play after work. Given that there's two tags each cycle, the pace should be reasonable.

Note: It's currently forecast to rain Fri-Sun...

I don't have much faith in the forecast three days out. When I posted my tag it said sunny and 60 for Saturday.

In any case Ahlir, post your tag with your own time window, and I will go along with that for mine too.

Round 3; tag 2

Posted: Wed Mar 2 15:45

Expires: Sun Mar 6 15:45

Phipps Conservatory

info

USS Requin:

It was fun and a little bit scary to ride the trail back (eastward) along the river bank. Due to the heavy rains, the river is almost up to the level of the sidewalk & there's a strange, fine, mystery mud. It wasn't dangerous at all: it just felt like you could casually pedal right into the Ohio. The Canadian Geese were lovin it. Fun tag!

We'll have to redo this tag in May when all the flowers are in full bloom

Bruced! Or Dwillened! or something....

USS Requin

Pseudacris: while I was taking this picture, there were some workers (independent contractors?) using fire hoses to clean the mud off the trail and lawn.

And then it rained again on the way home!

That mud was strange: more like silt. Hooray for full fenders with long mud flaps!

Phipps Conservatory

More rain! I actually really enjoy this weather: not cold enough to be miserable, not hot enough to be miserable. I've been told I'd do well in Seattle.

I flipped a coin. Pseudacris gets a to pick a tag in the next round.

Round 4, tag 1

Posted: Sunday, Mar 6, 8:20pm

Expires: Wednesday, Mar 9, 8:20pm

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

It's a beautiful day for a ride.

Ahlir, I believe your tag has expired and you now get to randomly choose the next tag setter from the people who picked up your Phipps Tag.

A beautiful day indeed, too bad I was pretty much stuck inside until after 8 pm, and it was a bus kind of day, schedule-wise

Hopefully it won't be too rainy and dark after work tomorrow and I'll get to the tag!

oops sorry about that. Here it is:

Round 4, tag 2

Posted: Tuesday, Mar 8, 9:20pm

Expires: Friday, Mar 11, 9:20pm

National Aviary (to go with the Conservatory; my pick for the best pic thereof being the one by jeg).

I think you were supposed to choose someone who grabbed your tag, not post another tag I'm out of town anyway, so I'll forfeit my Phipps entry.

Rules... bah. Just like manuals.

Well then, jeg gets to pick the next tag!

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, formerly a post office (who knew?).

Whew, got home just in time!

Nice work. I have randomized all of the entries for this tag and the next tag setter gets to be (drumroll......)

jeg!

Actually, jeg, I think you get to set both of the new tags! From the dry comfort of your own home!

National Aviary

Thanks, whoever made these last two tags all of three blocks from each other!

After posting I realized that the aviary was set by mistake? Oh well, I just doubly claimed my right to set the next one!

Pseudacris tells me I have two tags to set. I haven't had dinner yet, and I'm hungry! So....

Tag 1

Posted: Wednesday, Mar 9, 8:30 PM

Expires: Sunday Mar 13, 8:30 PM

Reyna Foods for some delicious homemade tortillas and guacamole.

Tag 2

Posted: Wednesday, Mar 9, 8:30 PM

Expires: Sunday Mar 13, 8:30 PM

Young's Oriental Grocery for all kinds of tasty Asian foods.

Nom nom nom!

We didn't want to mess with all the green drunk paraders in the strip, so here's half:

Nice day for a LOOP!

Young's

Reyna

Nate, you were wise to avoid the revelers. My bike is covered in confetti (or, my helmet was for a while there).

Next setters (Round 6?):

Tag 1 - Nate (flipped a coin-oid object)

Tag 2 - Pseudacris

If I'm reading the rules correctly, since there were only two tag getters, they would each get to set one regardless.

Nyaargh... Too late.

I guess this makes up for that Aviary thing.

The Picasa collage doo-dad seems to have cropped out my bike (just to the right of the frame in the Young's).

One of those days...

Round 6, tag 2

Posted: Sunday, Mar 13, 10:57pm

Expires: Wednesday, Mar 16, 8:00pm

The Mellon Institute

4400 5th Avenue

Easy to find. Looking forward to seeing some interesting photos.

Round 6, tag 1

Posted 2011/03/14 10:45

Expires I don't know what are the rules again? Let's just make it the same time, Wednesday dusk.

Lake Elizabeth, the Civil War Monument

Read the inscriptions, don't fall in the water. If it's warm enough (hah) get a lemon ice.

Ok, so I'm determined to get it right this time.

Sadly, it seems that I don't really understand the collage thing in Picasa (it autocrops your pics and I haven't figured out how to override it). My current plan is to look into what Photoshop can do (but not tonight). So apologies for the (maybe) oversized pics:

I also got this. It looks like some kind of improvised communal dog run, but I wasn't about to ride through it.

(No bike in this crop.)

The Mellon Institute

Not gonna get to the other tag by the deadline, unfortunately, but I'll be there on Sunday if you give it an extension.

Coin flip time.

heads = ahlir

tails = jeg

and the next tag setter is.......................................................................................................

Ahlir!

Thanks to you both for 2 views of the Mellon Institute I had not seen before. I doubt either of you had to look it up on street view, but I did it just for fun and was surprised to see a cyclist working on a flat or a loose chain or something.

just for the record, I really like jeg's pic. Nice composition.

+1 on that.

So where are the new tags? should I bring my camera to work or not?

It looks like both Ahlir and Jeg got one in the previous round, and nobody else. They should pick the next tags, yea?

I think Nate gets to randomize the setter for the other tag, but since there's only one person who got it, looks like Ahlir might have two to set. (unless Ahlir wants to give one to jeg?).

According to the instructions in the first post, by Steven, it doesn't make a difference which tag you get, it goes by rounds. If you get both tags, you have two chances for the next round, but each person can only get selected once (unless nobody else plays, of course). Round 6 was:

Ahlir

Ahlir (again)

Jeg

Each tag setter from round 6 should randomly select 1-3 from the above list, and pick again if they select the same person. I'll save you the trouble of rolling your 3 sided die a bunch of times, it will end up being Ahlir and Jeg.

In any case, just post new tags.. I am back, with my bike, and a camera!

Oh, makes sense, thanks!

Ahlir, Jeg, time to toss us a new round. Crickets!

Well, the rounds concept only works if both tags have a similar time frame.

I'm playing this particular game because I DON'T have a smartphone and 24/7 internet access. Patience, folks!

Round 7, Tag 1

Posted: Thursday, March 17th, 2:40 PM

Expires: Sunday, March 20th, 2:40 PM

Highland Park Pool

In honor of the warming, sunny weather, Pittsburgh's 50 meter outdoor public pool, sadly empty both in streetview and today.

topping this in case anyone is looking for a sunny-day destination

Highland Park Pool

I'm thinking this game might benefit from some rule changes (or replacement by a revised game), to address a lack of ready-to-go tags and make it simpler. Roughly, every time you post a photo in a round, you can set a destination for the next round. All destinations set in round N are available in round N+1, so there can be many active tags. And each round lasts a week, through Friday 3 PM say, so there's always a weekend in it. Sound reasonable?

Yea. It needs something. We only had one tag this round. If everyone getting a tag gets to set a tag right then, then I see two problems: we get an exponential growth of tags, and people can start to get tags early, before the previous round is over.

That said. There is no new tag and it is a nice day. I'm riding over to highland park.

Lake Elizabeth Monument

(Better late than never--this tag already expired!)

It definitely needs some tweaking. The exponential growth of tags seems like it would quickly become unmanageable, though I like the standard round time and agree that lack of active tags at a given moment is a problem now.

For now, Steven gets to set the next tag.

Here's one more idea of how to tweak this:

Tag 1: Expires Saturdays at midnight. First volunteer who feels like it "randomizes" all the entrants for that tag & picks the next tagger. This would probably happen some time on a Sunday morning.

Tag 2: same thing, except the tag expires Tuesdays at midnight.

Maybe these could have separate threads? "Wednesday–Tuesday Wheelset of Fortune" and "Sunday–Saturday Wheelset of Fortune."

That, but keep the same thread, for now. I like only having to hunt for the one thread. I'd've been in this game already were it not for a combo of income tax & bad weather.

Having a Saturday and a Tuesday tag helps some, but doesn't address the problem of a player getting the right to set a tag, but not returning to do so, as happened in round 7. I think it's better if the game doesn't require that person X will return to a thread before time T, as much as possible. Instead, get people to post a new location with their photo. Then the issue becomes limiting the number of new locations, so it doesn't get unwieldy.

How about this: If you're one of the first two or three players to post a photo in a given round, you should post a location with your photos. Maximum of one new tag per person per round. If we don't get a sufficient number of new tags in a week (two? one?), the round continues for another week.

So say dwillen and Pseudacris have already posted two photos apiece in round 47. Per the proposed rules, each supplied one new location for round 48 with his or her photos. Then when jeg posts his photo, he has the option of adding a third tag for round 48, or not.

While we're discussing this, though, it's time for new tags!

Round 8, Tag 1

Posted 8:30 PM Sunday.

Expires midnight Saturday March 26th.

Butler Street entrance to Allegheny Cemetery

Round 8, Tag 2

Posted 8:30 PM Sunday.

Expires midnight Saturday March 26th.

"Monument to the Steelworkers" sculpture at the south end of the Hot Metal Bridge

(Trying a week to see how much a longer period helps.)

I was just checking out that sculpture during a run this weekend. Should definitely have time to get both of these by Saturday!

I like that idea Steven, though having the "first person" thing makes it more like tag-o-rama though, and creates a sense of a race. That combined with knowing the tags a week in advance will make a mess of the game. It won't be a bike race, it will be a race to post your archived photo.

How about anyone can post one new tag per round with one of their photos, only if they choose to do so. I propose that the round doesn't end until the time limit is reached AND all the tags have been grabbed at least one time (I think this was part of the original trophy bike idea?). This should keep the peer pressure on people not to post overly difficult tags, or posting the 15th tag in the round, but everyone who wants to post a tag will have at least one person who rides there. Anyone checking the thread should do a housekeeping post when the round ends, summarizing the tags for the next round.

Yea, you'll still know the tags in advance of the next round, but without people checking back in, or some scripting magic, I don't see a way around that.

I agree about the racing issue.

An alternative that addresses it (at the price of a bit more complication):

The first two people who post a photo must also suggest a tag for the next round (maximum one per person, not per photo). Suggesting a tag is optional but encouraged once there are at least two proposed tags for the next round.

After the round ends, anyone may post a housekeeping message: List all the proposed tags for the new round, randomly draw 2 of them (as in Pseudacris's proposal), and declare the start of the new round. If your proposed tag wasn't picked, you can propose it again later.

I don't think knowing tags in advance will be a problem. The rules will just state that you can only use photos taken during the round, not old ones.

the round doesn't end until the time limit is reached AND all the tags have been grabbed at least one time

That could lead to two folks setting out on day 8, and only the first to post getting his photo in before the round ends. I think it's better to extend the round, if necessary, in fixed increments: a week, or maybe a day. (But it's good to have rounds always end on a particular day of the week.)

I suggest extending a round (by a week) if there aren't enough tags yet for the next one, but not just because one tag was neglected, so long as a sufficient number of people took pictures of the other. Maybe it was an ill-chosen tag. If the proposer is convinced it's a great tag, he can just propose it again in a later round. Extend the round only when there's an insufficient number of new tags.

Monument to the Steelworkers sculpture

Butler Street Entrance to Allegheny Cemetary

Sheesh it was cold out there this morning! I retired the baclava a bit too soon.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but can someone tell me if the Butler Street entrance to the cemetery is designed by Alexander Jackson Davis? The cemetery website doesn't say, and anything on line I found didn't either. The style looks like his and the date the cemetery website gives (1849) would be in the time period. Thanks.

The Surly returns to whence it came.

There were only two of us who grabbed tags the last round. I'll drop one and let Jeg drop another.

I park my bike by this yellow geometric thing everyday. Once a summer a few painter guys spend a week slapping a new coat of yellow on it. I'm not one for minimalist/abstract art, but I wanted to look up what it was. This description made me giggle. Next tag is:

Round 9, Tag 1

Posted 11:25 PM Sunday.

Expires midnight Saturday April 2nd.

'Light Up' by Tony Smith

His daughter is also a well-known artist.

I'm not a huge fan of minimalism either, but certain post-minimalists are among my favorite artists.

Jeers: Carl Andre's minimalist "Steel-Aluminum Plain" 1969

Cheers: Lynda Benglis' post-minimalist "For Carl Andre" 1970

Nonetheless, it will be fun to see bikes next to that Smith piece: good tag!

I'll stick with the art theme. This location isn't especially interesting, but I was walking downtown a few weeks ago and noticed this mural for the first time. It's worth a look, although after a quick online search, I'm not a big fan of his art in general.

Round 9, Tag 2

Posted: Monday, March 29 5:20 am

Expires: Sunday, April 2nd 12:00 am. (same time as dwillen's)

'Tomorrow's Future' mural by Pittsburgher Brian Holderman

Fun facts from 1985.

Fun facts from 2004.

'Light Up' by Tony Smith

Brian Holderman mural downtown.

Guess it's Pseudacris and I.

Round 10, Tag 1

Posted: Sunday, April 3rd, 22:00

Expires: Sunday, April 10th, 22:00

Memorial at Greenfield and McCaslin. The stone part seems to be missing on Google Streetview, so you'll have to go read it yourself. Tribute to a well-known Pittsburgh mayor and one of my favorite pastimes.

Round 10, Tag 2

Posted Sunday 4/3 10:36p

Expires 4/10 10:36p

Your Bike On a "Rack n Roll" PAT Bus. Photo taken from inside the bus, looking out the front window at your bike on the rack, your choice of route, bus in motion. (hopefully with an interesting view!)

On an 8 Perrysville, inbound at Vinceton. Mural on side of convenience store.

Yay! In this game at last!

Is that the convenience store that was in the tag-o-rama a couple tags back? Holy cow, if you had gotten a pic that fulfilled both games simultaneously, you would have to be crowned King of Everything in the Universe.

No, Stu's tag of Perrysville at Vinceton hasn't been in Tag-O-Rama. You're probably thinking of tag 160, Tom Friday's Market, in Brighton Heights. Too bad, because the Perrysville mural looks interesting, and Street View doesn't have a good shot of it.

Memorial at Greenfield and McCaslin

Closeup

It's a memorial to Richard D. Hough. He died running the Pittsburgh Marathon in 1990. The two people named at the base of the memorial, Ryan Hacke and Anthony Shipp-Smith, were children killed by gun violence in 1997.

On an outbound 61-something bus, Forbes at Bigelow.

[Edited to make it look nicer]

Crap, so that isn't the Bob O'Conner thing. (This is why setting tags from memory is a bad idea.) I'm pretty sure there's one somewhere in Greenfield.

I got the top part correct, but I actually had no idea about the names on the base of the monument. Thanks for all the info, Steven!

My pleasure. Thanks for picking the tag! I'd never been there.

My first tag, I aspire to Tag-O-Rama, but I'm happy to get on the board! This is the first day on my new bike too -happiness abounds.

Alas, this would have been an excellent excuse to finally use a bus bike rack, since I've never rack-and-rolled (and twice weekly take the bus in all directions for a trip that's very bikeable for 2/3 or 3/4 of the legs).

In my defense, I did wait for a bus with the intent of trying it, but the first bus that came was rack-less, and it was a nice day, and I had a bike so why was I just standing there?

Good tag.

Steven and Stu picked up the Rack n Roll tag.

Steven and TeamDecaf picked up the Richard Hough Memorial Tag.

Coin Flip Time:

Round 11 tag setters are...

Stu and Steven

Round 11, Tag 1

Posted: Monday, April 11, noon

Expires: Monday, April 18, noon

40th Street bridge, as seen from the Lawrenceville trail

This trail doesn't see much bike use; mostly it's walkers. The trail is a bit rustic.

Round 11, Tag 2

Posted: Monday, April 11, 3:45 p.m.

Expires: Monday, April 18, 3:45 p.m.

A staircase street, with your bike pictured. Hopefully of more steps than can be easily captured; props to you if camera angle can get the whole thing and there are a lot of them.

The bike can be the bottom, the top, or somewhere in between. If you have a story to tell about actually hauling your bike up or down it, even better. (hint hint)

Denver Street steps off Gold Way, near Pittsburgh Filmmakers and the Melwood Screening Room.

Brief story on this one. In the summer of 2006, this was impassable. Poison ivy leaves the size of my head, vines most of an inch thick, blocked these steps. Over the space of two mornings, I cleared this out myself. In the years since, I've revisited this one, cutting back the growth. This morning, the bush at the bottom got a haircut.

Middle Street Steps.

My story about the steps has nothing to do with hauling the bike up or down, but instead, how I found the location. Stu's clue gave me the idea to search for "Middle Steps." The search results included an image of the steps on flickr. The shot was taken by a local photographer, Dan Buczynski.

I emailed him and asked if he could help me with the location, he obliged with a Goole maps link. In return, here's a link to his photography site (and his wife's artwork) - all very cool. Check it out.

Tag 2 for today - the two places are within a few miles of each other.

Louisa Street

No fun story, although I did try to bike down this street once and abruptly realized it was stairs.

I have more interesting ones, but this one is right by my place of employment. Maybe more later.

Gallatin Street

Still no exciting or impressive story, but I carried my bike up these stairs yesterday!

Announcing the winners of Round 11!

We had, for Tag 1, only one entry, TeamDecafWeekend.

For Tag 2, we had three riders: myself, TeamDecafWeekend, and jeg. My reading of the rules says two of the same Tag only count as one (though the more photos the merrier!).

Thus, four entries:

1) TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1)

2) TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

3) jeg (Tag 2)

4) StuInMcCandless (Tag 2)

Going to random.org, my two rolls of the dice provide "1" and "3".

Thus, TeamDecafWeekend and jeg get to set the next tags!

(Did I do that right?)

Looks good, Stu.

Round 12, Tag 1

Posted: Monday, April 18, 21:30

Expires: Monday, April 25, 21:30

Your bike (or any part thereof) in a river. Not near, above, or next to, but IN.

Round 12, Tag 2

Posted: Monday, April 18, 22:00

Expires: Monday, April 25, 22:00

Did you know that it's only been about 15-18 years since Bed & Breakfasts were permitted in Pittsburgh? Morning Glory Inn is a gem among the few that have opened here.

In Mon just upstream of Hot Metal Bridge. Note the bubbles by the big rock. That's natural gas. Yer Marcellus & 'at. There were several vents of bubbles nearby.

The Inn on the Mexican War Streets, 604 W North Ave, North Side.

@Stu - If you are trying to get the Tag I created, sorry, you have the wrong Bed & Breakfast. If you're just showing other B&Bs - knock yourself out!

Hmmm, I misread the instructions. We've had so many "go get one of this class" tags, so I was just getting a B&B along my regular path. OK, if I get over towards M'side, I'll get that one.

Looks like it's on the S'side, not M'side, per TeamDecafWeekend's link, over on Sarah Street. Luckily in this game you can't lose points for being off Sides.

Too nice a day to not pick up a tag

Hmmm, my fault Stu. I see that you're correct about the "one-of-this-class" style of tagging. I made my tag more specific, while being ambiguous at the same time.

In the water - just downriver from Marko82

Nice pics!

Morning Glory Inn

I'm glad you picked up the tag, jeg. 2119 Sarah Street, Southside.

I couldn't help posting my own shot of Morning Glory Inn too. Check out the door - it looks ancient.

@jeg (or anyone else who knows the answer): Between my being new to the game and not being able to keep up with the game's rules, I'm not sure who selects the next tag setters.

If you are supposed to be selecting, please do. If I have any part in this, let me know.

Anyone can use a random-number generator to pick the next two setters out of everyone who participated in the last round. I'll do it.

1) StuInMcCandless (Tag 1)

2) Marko82 (Tag 1)

3) TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1)

4) jeg (Tag 2)

Random.org provides: 3 and 2, so tag setters for round 13 are Marko82 and TeamDecafWeekend.

Round 13, Tag 1

Posted: Monday, April 25, 23:00

Expires: Wed, May 4, Noon (Same date and time as Tag 2)

I'm in the Southside frame of mind, I guess. Or maybe it's because I'm hungry... The Pretzel Shop is a place where I ate 3 times/week when my office was nearby.

Round 13, Tag 2

Posted: Wed, April 27, Noon

Expires: Wed, May 4, Noon

I like the open-ended tags that allow creativity and the ability to travel as far or near as the poster wants to travel.

So the next tag is to get a picture of your bike with your favorite school crossing guard. There are a bunch of good ones out there, so go say hi and thank them for all they do.

Pretzel Nation:



I haven't had one of their pretzels in a long time. A sales rep from a nearby printing company used to bring bags of em to my old job. Good slathered with mustard!

@Marko82 - Great idea.

By coincidence, I was thinking about a similar tag - Pittsburgh Police on their bikes. The police just got new bikes about a week ago. I talked to a couple of them near the Science Center last weekend and they demonstrated how heavy the bikes are by letting me lift one - 65 pounds! They didn't seem too happy about it.

I'd have to go to my old apt for the crossing guard one....but she was the nicest lady ever, so it'd be worth it.

@TeamDecaf - wow, why on earth are their bikes that heavy?

@Pseudacris

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know. They had panniers, of a stiff structure, with who-knows-what inside. Many items on the handlebars, thick looking frame. I began to wonder if they had guns - I doubt it, since they let me handle the bike.

Unrelated, but a day later I saw a report with a taxi that crashed into a building in town. One of the new bikes responded to the call. These aren't the images I saw, but here are a couple others I could find.

And another

I saw one crossing the Smithfield Bridge today. Wish I saw him sooner so I could complain about the jagoff who heckled me on S 3rd street by the cement plant. Some kid in the kind of cheap red american sportscar you get for finishing high school if your parents are rich enough. grumble grumble...

So everyone knows, I have made an edit - I have changed the Tag 1 Expiration Date and Time to match Marko82's (Wed, May 4, Noon). I think most Wheelset players would agree that it's better to have the tags expire at the same time.

Does anybody else notice the weird behavior of the Wheelset thread...

Every time I click on the thread from the Message Board page, I go to page 1 of the Wheelset thread, instead of going to the post where I last left off. I should be going to page 3 at this point.

Also, the icons on the main Message Board page that indicate "new thread" or "new post since your last visit" don't work for me. The thread is stuck on a solid yellow icon as though I've never read it. Weird.

This thread is fine for me but what you describe happens to me on other threads periodically. So, it would appear to be some user/thread dependent bug.

that's been happening to me on this thread for a day or so...

My fav is also my cousin - Nell on Browsville road in Brentwood.

Not exactly a crossing guard, but the closest you can get on a weekend...

Furthering my post on the police bikes, here's a another view of the lights, siren and other stuff they haul around:

I stop here a lot!

A bit far to go, but this would be an excellent crossing guard to get a picture with... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11123/1143788-100.stm

I was out of town for a few days and then never got a chance to get these. Bummer, since I like pretzels and know many friendly Pittsburgh crossing guards! Anyway, I'll do the honors for the next round.

Tag-getters for round 13 were:

1. Pseudacris (Tag 1)

2. Marko82 (Tag 2)

3. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2) (if police == crossing guard)

4. Marko82 (Tag 1)

Thanks to random.org, tag setters for round 14 are: 3. TeamDecafWeekend and 1. Pseudacris.

Round 14, Tag 2

Posted: Thurs, May 5, 10:13

Expires: Wed, May 11, midnight

Destination: some kind of view of the NEW section of trail opening up behind American Eagle, next to the hot metal bridge. It's currently under construction, so if you can't get direct access, a view from the bridge is easy to get. I can't wait to use it.

Round 14, Tag 1

Posted: Thursday May, 5

Expires: Wednesday, May 11, midnight

I believe there are 100 dinosaur sculptures scattered around Pittsburgh. Shoot one (with your bike of course). Here's an example (The image shown is not my photo):

Yeah, a bad view of the new trail, but oh well. And me too, I can't wait for it to open. It looks unbelievable - nice walls, old-fashioned lanterns on posts, nice surface.

Dippy

That's a great photo, jeg!

Thanks! Half the fun of this game is trying to get interesting photos.

jeg's photo has my nomination for Bike-Pgh Photograph of the Year. Only in Pittsburgh can you get a picture like that!

Tag 1: Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Tag 2: From HMB



If I hadn't been bruced on the Tag-o-Rama game (by 1 hour!), this would've been a trifecta ride.

Sorry about the turned photo. The SSide library's PCs have an ancient version of Firefox that cannot handle rotating photos & I barely got there before closing time so had no time to fix it.

Oh well, it was fun getting to meet TeamDecafWeekend at the Keg Ride!

@ Stu

Thanks - I enjoy your insightful and informative posts.

Not too original of a pic, but the trail looks like it will be nice once it's open. Of course the AE sidewalk will still have it's own apeal...

Here's mine (forgot to upload it the other day):

This is probably going to be where people take their cigarette breaks.

@Pseudacris

Nice shot. I hope the "cigarette breaks" don't taint the good image

I was tempted to ride on the trail this evening - jump the fence or somethin' - I'm itching to get on it.

Does anyone know the opening date?

New Trail

Tag getters for round 14:

1. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

2. jeg (Tag 1)

3. StuInMcCandless (Tag 1)

4. StuInMcCandless (Tag 2)

5. Marko82 (Tag 2)

6. Pseudacris (Tag 2)

7. jeg (Tag 2)

Random.org provides: 7. jeg and 6. Pseudacris as setters for round 15.

Round 15, Tag 1

Posted: Thursday, May 12, 15:30

Expires: Thursday, May 19, 15:30

Take a picture of your bike NEAR (this time I discourage IN) some toxicodendron radicans. Or, if you can't find that, try a mango, cashew, or pistachio, all of which contain urushiol.

Interesting tag! Now I'll really have to learn to i.d. the stuff.

Leaves of three...let them be.

Round 15, Tag 2

Posted: Thursday, May 12, 15:33

Expires: Thursday, May 19, 15:33

in front of Swoon's window display at Fleeting Pages (@ the old Borders Bookstore in Shady Liberty)

This one was too easy. Here's my favorite stream crossing, 90 seconds from my house.

The bright green stuff isn't toxicodendron radicans. Look at the darker green leaves on either side of that oak leaf above the "H" in Raleigh. There is a LOT of that in this view.

I'm not sure if this counts... it's not my bike, and it's not in Pittsburgh... I couldn't resist. I rented the bike today on the beach in Wilmington, NC!

Couldn't find the plant-life so I opted for the 99¢ Planters pistachios.

Sure, it counts!

Haha, most definitely!

It was hilariously fun riding that bike - silly.

I logged the ride on my phone app - 22 miles, no higher elevation than 46 ft. above sea level, total climb during the ride was only 151 ft. The scenery was fantastic, but it's actually kinda dull without hills.

I think I'm 46 feet above Perrymont Road.

I didn't understand what the name "Fleeting Pages" meant until I arrived at the tag. In the spirit of the tag, the image of my bike is fleeting too. After reviewing all of the shots I took, I chose to post one that shows only the reflection of my bike. I'm hoping this one counts too, especially after the the Lyle-got-the-Brucing-of his-Life debacle! Ha!

Thanks for the cool post, Pseudacris. It's worth going there. For anyone who doesn't know what it is... Their website describes it like this... the idea behind the project is to take a former big-box book store, and create, for a month, a place where independently published books, magazine and works of art can flourish.

I think they have tazza d'oro coffee in there now. Sign out front said something about "manual coffee bar."

Mmmmm, cofffffeeeeeee.

Who won?

Oh, I kind of forgot about this.

Maybe jeg did, too?

I've gotten to set quite a few of these....maybe Stu + TeamDecafWeekend should pick the next 2?

Gah, I was slacking. Last week was terribly unproductive in a whole host of ways. Sounds good to me, though. Just don't kill this game, I like it!

OK, let's bike with that!

It's springtime, and the flowers are in all their gorgeous beauty. How about take a pic of your bike in front of some gorgeous flowers.

This azalea is in my front yard. I think I rode the bike all of 85 feet to get here, but some of it was on the public street, so I hope that counts.

If you know of a public display of flora, so much the better!

Round 16, Tag 1

Posted: 09:30, Sunday, May 22

Expires: 9:30, Sunday, May 29

Round 16, Tag 2

Posted 10:00, Sunday, May 22

Expires 10:00, Sunday May 29

High Vantage Points in the City, like this one...

And yeah, I admit, this image is from a couple weeks ago, so consider it a sample. I'll get a new one within the week.

@Stu, great idea.

To all others who read this thread - I wish we could get a few more interested in this game - it's so easy and it gives me a purpose when I get on the bike. Better than wondering "where am I going to ride today?" Plus there's no pressure to be quick about it. Stu - I saw your attempt on Tag-o-Rama - was hoping that would pull in a few. hmmmm.

The azalea (correct?) in my front yard! All of 10 feet from my front door. In fact, riding the bike wasn't even necessary, just rolling it out the door and carrying it down a few steps. I will try to do better before next Sunday...

This image doesn't provide as dramatic a view as Mt Washington, but it's a cool overlook. That's the Parkway East in the left-center of the image.

Location: Fernwald Street (off Beechwood) just a block or 2 before arriving at Forward Ave.

Taking my azalea shot made me realize another cool aspect of this game: Since the pic was so close to the house (as was the poison ivy one last week), I had my choice of bicycles to try out. I figured Sarah's blue bike would look better in front of pink flowers than my rusty old Raleigh.

I'm hoping to pick up a high places photo with a bunch of flowers in it sometime this week. That would be cool!

Amazing colors in that photo, Stu! My peonies & poppies are getting ready to open.

Overlook Drive in Schenley Park

Not the highest, but offers an excellent view of both Downtown and Oakland. This picture doesn't do it justice. I sometimes take people visiting Pittsburgh on a run or walk up here to see the view.

Two tags in one! From corner of Federal at Lafayette on North Side, 320 feet above North Avenue, looking over someone's beautiful rose bush.

High Vantage Point + Garden = 2 TAGs

This awesome location is maybe 50-75 yards from a previous Tag-O-Rama tag that I picked up in April. Tag 173 - Andrew - Construction damaged cliffside house in the Hill District.

Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield.

I had hoped to take a photo at a garden in South Park, but I won't be able to get there before the deadline. They have great flowers. Oh well.

Tag getters for round 16:

1. StuInMcCandless (Tag 1)

2. jeg (Tag 1)

3. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1)

4. Steven (Tag 1)

5. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

6. jeg (Tag 2)

7. StuInMcCandless (Tag 2)

Random.org provides: 6. jeg and 4. Steven as setters for round 17.

Round 17, Tag 1

Posted: 9:30 PM, Sunday, May 29

Expires: 9:30 PM, Sunday, June 5

Ride from one end to the other of one of our longer riverfront trails, taking a photo at each end.

Pick either the North Shore trail from the prison to Millvale, or the South Side trail from past Station Square to Hays (or as far as you can get with the construction).

If you're feeling particularly ambitious, substituting an even longer trail is fine. But no points for the Jail or Strip District trails; they're too short.

Round 17, Tag 2

Posted: 06:30, Monday May 30th

Expires: 21:30 Sunday, June 5th (to match the first one)

A potentially shorter tag to complement Steven's. Find something in Pittsburgh (street, building, business, restaurant, etc.) that is named after a foreign city. For example, this store on Murray Ave, which gave me the idea.

Any word when the South Side trail construction is going to be completed?

The Friends of the Riverfront trail status page just says early summer (previous, they said early spring).

I see Pennsylvania American Water has a Facebook page where they seem to respond to inquiries. Maybe they'd have more current info.

North Shore Trail, 40th street (left image), Prison scene (right image).

Great photo!

Mexico City restaurant on Smithfield

Duquesne Incline to



PA American Water blockage on Baldwin Borough Trail

Stupid me, I was too busy tweeting my position to think about taking a picture when I got to Millvale. It occurred to me about ten minutes later, somewhere between 31SB and the Heinz Lofts, so I took a picture of this goose instead.

On my way out of town, I had my wits about me a bit more. The old jail is off-photo to the left.

Anyone else up for letting these tags sit another week?

(I should have time to get it this week! But me aside, maybe get more people into the game?)

Sure, another week sounds fine.

Yeah, I wish we could get a few more in on the game, but I'm not sure if more time is the answer. Maybe another thread that says something like "Tag-o-Rama wanna bees, try this game!" and link the new thread to Wheelset of Fortune. ???

West Penn/Glenwood bridge. I took these on Saturday and forgot to post.

One end of the trail was dry...

... and the other end of the trail was quite wet (although you can't really tell in the picture).

Lovely morning for a ride, with a nice refreshing downpour in the middle!

Western end of the GAP-gap trail:

Eastern end of the GAP-gap trail:

I got caught by the rain in Oakland and ducked into the big tent in Schenley Plaza. Some guy at the merry-go-round shouts at me: "HEY! get that bike out of there! Use a bike-rack!" (I replied, saying something unkind. But maybe I shouldn't have; after all, it could reflect badly on bikers...)

Yeesh.

Oh man, I actually didn't go far enough. I've (shamefully) apparently never been to the end of that trail! And I'm always complaining about lack of long-run routes in the city!

Ahlir, they have security guards at the plaza that routinely tell cyclists to leave. They do have it posted that bicycles (or maybe just bike riding?) are not allowed in the plaza. Playing in the grass is against the rules too, but laying in the grass half naked seems to be a-ok. Schenley Beach!

Tag getters for round 17 were:

1. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

2. Steven (tag 1)

3. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

4. Marko82 (tag 1)

5. jeg (tag 1)

6. Ahir (tag 1)

7. Steven (tag 2)

random.org provides 1. TeamDecafWeekend and 3. StuInMcCandless as setters for round 18.

@teamdecaf - More time definitely helps for me. I actually ALMOST made this set of tags. Well, I did get them, just couldn't find the camera cable in time to upload them by the deadline. Still can't do that remotely from either the phone or the camera. Maybe this week, now that my schedule has calmed down a little.

jeg: From Hot Metal Bridge to McKee's Point is about 13 miles. The only "slow" stretch is the limestone path along the Waterfront; you can probably just stick to the pavement for that segment. Oh, and that bit of ballast from Baldwin to Sandcastle.

Millvale -- Penitentiary -- McKees Point should give you the longest mostly- flat mostly-trails route in the city. Definitely the makings of a enjoyable Sunday ride. Thank you again, SVT!

Ahir: I was talking about running, not riding (different qualifications--I seek out that limestone!). Good information anyway, though!

Swalfoort: Same issues here, bummer you were so close this time.

Round 18, Tag 1

Posted 6:00, Monday, June 13

Expires 6:00, Monday, June 27 (Giving this 2 weeks, let me know if you would rather go back to one week)

This is easy - Your Favorite City Mural.

Your mural doesn't have to be the same as mine, pick your own favorite. I've selected mine for the bright colors. Forbes Ave near the Birmingham Bridge.

Round 18, Tag 2

Posted 5:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 14

Expires 6:00, Monday, June 27 (to match Tag 1)

Also easy - Your favorite city park. I picked an entrance, but whatever turns you on!

cool, these are easy to do without going out of my way, I may just be able to jump in

Stu, why are you posting at 5:30 a.m.? Aren't you unemployed, and therefore able to sleep in? How'd the interview go, any way?

I took the shot on my way into the city for the Ciclovia presentation, but was too wiped after getting home last night to post then. I wanted to make sure I posted it as early as possible to keep the game going. I'm also pet sitting, so had to take care of critters early. Job or not, I'm up at 5 or so anyway.

Two interviews went well last week, but I could still use a few more leads.

Hoping to get a mural shot on my way to the ACTC meeting Wednesday evening. I might try to bring my real camera with me, as it takes much better photos (see azalea shot, above).

Highland Park entrance. So back in the day, I guess naked was okay for parks, eh? Even in Kennywood, I've seen naked statues on kids rides.

OK, this isn't the snazziest mural in the city, but it's a helluvan improvement over what was there before. This is the building next to the Garden Theater, by North and Federal. Both buildings used to be part of the porn theater complex.

"Birds Eye View" in Regent Square

Tabby - great to have you join Wheelset. Nice mural, I haven't seen that one.

thanks for the welcome, Decaf. I'm going to try to make time for the park tag next.

Tabby - That's one of my favorites too!

Here's another favorite, found on the side of a bank at Murray Avenue and Loretta Street, and not appearing on Streetview. Always reminds me of Escher.

I like the colors on this one, on Forbes near Duquesne (at Chatham Square). It's called Elevate, and it's by Gerry

Tonti (who also did a great mural in East Pittsburgh that was mentioned in Tag-O-Rama #56).

FYI, jeg's mural is by Will Schlough, and is called Connected. The Sprout Fund commissioned it in 2007. His website shows he's done a lot of interesting pieces. I like this one he finished last week:

The city has so many great murals. Here's a PDF brochure of a "walking tour" of 31 of the Sprout Fund ones in the region, including small images of each with title and artist, and a map.

Elevate is awesome. Pay Phone is so fun. Thanks for the pdf link too.

Another favorite, Schenley Park.

I wish I hadn't lost my camera

this game is so playable and fun-looking.

Schenley Park

It's right by my house, it has many non-asphalt trails for running, a track, disc golf, a pool, and, most importantly, a year-round water fountain and porta-potty!

Last week's Flock ride hit two parks, this and Highland. At least. Anyone on the ride who snapped a pic at one of them who hasn't posted here yet?

PNC Park

new round? what's next?

OK, I'll push the buttons.

Tag getters for round 18 were:

1. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

2. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

3. Tabby (tag 1)

4. jeg (tag 1)

5. Steven (tag 1)

6. StuInMcCandless (tag 2)

7. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 2)

8. jeg (tag 2)

random.org provides 4. jeg and 5. Steven as setters for round 19.

Round 19, Tag 1

Posted 11:30 PM, Tuesday, June 28

Expires 11:30 PM, Tuesday, July 12

Jacksonia Street on the North Side (between Arch and Monterrey) has lots of interesting art. Pick one, but let's not all pick the same one. You have to pick something that hasn't been used in this round already by someone else. (So you might want to take a few different shots, in case somebody posts your #1 building first.)

Round 19, Tag 2

Posted 4:30 AM, Thursday, June 30 (Sorry for the delay!)

Expires 11:30 PM, Tuesday, July 12

According to the City of Pittsburgh, there are 39 LEED Certified buildings in the city. Sources vary, but that puts us well within the top 10 cities in the US for "green buildings" (I've always wanted to paint my house safety green, but that's another matter...).

Take a picture of your bike in front of a LEED-certified building, and take a picture of the plaque, together if possible (some are indoors).

Convention Center, yep, LEED-certified.

Jacksonia Fun House - I've left lots of views of this house for others to photograph.

Tag 1: I like this artistic bike rack at the Buena Vista Coffeehouse.

Tag 2: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh. The LEED plaque must be inside.

If you get over here, take note of the little rollercoaster on the roof. You can see it by the "C" of "Children's", just beginning its ascent. There are three cars, and at least one is a flowerpot.

EDIT: Well, three tags, really.

good one, I was considering getting 2 in one trip too using the children's museum. just to the left of your picture is the edible garden.

Ah, even I could potentially get this one being that a semi-work in a LEED building on Tuesday

a hasty picture, sorry.

I don't know how this works, but out of complete randomness,

Stu and Tabby should set a new tag

someone should for sure.

ok, I'm on it thanks for topping this Pierce.

Round 20, Tag 1

Posted 3:30 PM, Sunday, July 17

Expires 11:30 PM, Sunday, July 31 (if everyone still wants to do 2 weeks per round?)

this tag requires posting a picture of your bike at a street sign with a name that has some other meaning to you and tell us what that is. It's the NAME of the street that I'm going for here. Don't post the street you used to live on or something. Got it?

Mine is Peoria Way because I used to live in a city by that name in another state.

Eeep, I don't know that I'll get something up tonight, more likely by late Monday. Hang in there, I'll have something soon enough.

Yeah, better make it two weeks. You'll then have 14 days on Tabby's, 13 on mine. Ought to be plenty.

Round 20, Tag 2

Posted 4:30 p.m. Monday July 18

Expires 11:30 PM, Sunday, July 31

Protractors! While we still have them!

Sorry, I can't get out this afternoon to take an initial photo; I have unexpected company. But there are enough of these around, as documented on the protractor thread and elsewhere, that it shouldn't be too hard to find at least one where you can get a pic of it and your bike.

Here's Tag #1, Complete Street, off of Shadeland Ave near Brighton Heights.



If you are not already familiar with the National Complete Streets Coalition, it would be wise to do so. This national effort seeks to make our street system safe and effective for all users, not just cars.

It's ironic that our Complete Street ends in a staircase. Even at that, at the base of the staircase (Geyer Ave), if you can manage to make your way through the snarl of japanese knotweed, you will find a low-hanging wire.

As to Tag #2, better act fast. They're disappearing. If I don't find one myself on the way home, I will set a new tag.

Complete Street, cool!

thanks for playing my tag Stu.

I got very excited about this game though I was late to discover it. Setting the tag last weekend worked perfectly as an excuse to go for a ride and I ended up getting mr tabby to ride along and we went down through the strip and to the craft fair on the ss too before heading back home. It was a nice ride, and not having to go out for the game we probably would have just stayed around the house.

I biked through 10 miles of city streets this morning and did not see a single protractor. Several which I knew were there a mere week ago have vanished. Since this game is supposed to be fun, not frustrating, let's try that again.

Round 20, Tag 3

Posted 1:30 p.m. Friday July 22

Expires 11:30 PM, Sunday, July 31

Water fountains! It's hot out there! Where can you tank up on good ol' H2O? I know there's a map, but since we all need to know where these are anyway, and are stopping there anyway, take a picture!

If you can still find a protractor, great!

Street names that mean something to me...

Progress (left image). Yeah, I want to continually make progress in my life.

Friendship (right image). Ditto the Progress description, swap the street names.

@Stu, I misread your description for the new tag. I thought it simply said to shoot your favorite fountain. I just blew through the part about it being a "drinking fountain" and shot a favorite fountain anyhow. I decided to post my favorite fountain regardless of whether it fit the tag. Sadly, this fountain is under construction and not for drinking.

I am going to play by the Team Decaf rules. I spent the first 25 years of my life calling a drinking fountain a "bubbler." It's a colloquial term used mostly in Milwaukee/Wisconsin and the Boston area. It then took me another 10 years to learn to call them drinking fountains. Water fountains are large pieces of art ---- not a refreshment stand. So, here is my favorite fountain. I'll get a shot of a drinking fountain tomorrow, when I get a meaningful road sign.

Here's a fountain totally suitable for drinking.

Sadly, it's not too conveniently located for a quick stop during a jaunt about town. It's on the Montour Trail at Galati Road, mile 21.4, near Southview PA (and just north of where they're adding the Westland spur trail -- lots of evidence of construction for the new trail and railroad line).

I'm not sure it counts, though, as I used the T to get out onto the trail.

The fountain was on my way to Hickory PA, a few miles west of the trail. When in Hickory, be sure to check out the sculpture of a farmer cradling his pig, a tribute to local farmers. You won't find one of those in Katz Plaza!

You were riding. Rack and Roll a part of the way is legit....

My Streets tag:

This was not the first street that came to mind in finding a location for this tag, but in the end it was the perfect location for me. I was intimindated by the hills in Pittsburgh when I started riding here. Then I found that there are routes that help flatten some of the hills. At the intersection of Brighton and Shadeland, I can opt for excitement, and hills on Brighton, or a bridge that spans the Woods Run valley on nearby Shadeland. Today, it was Shadeland for the commute in.

Here is my drinking fountain tag:

@Stu -- it really is a COMPLETE street. This is Young Field, just opposite 1308 Complete Street.

The field is a Brighton Woods Athletic Assn baseball field. It is located a half block west of Shadeland, and is accessible from Bland Street or Complete Street.

The fountain was working, but not terribly cold, when I tried it briefly at about 8 this morning.

I found a protractor! #259!

On Federal near North. Not at all hidden, and on a major street.

For Stu's tag, how about a drinking fountain and a protractor within sight of each other?

The fountain at the 2nd Avenue park-and-ride/Jail Trail entrance is one of my favorite fountains...

...because it doubles as a shower!

And the protractor:

24-hour access, outside water fountain, Dairy Queen, Rt 19 Perry Hwy in Perrysville, Ross Twp.

I don't think it's refrigerated, but it does put up a nice high stream, so you can fill any water bottle, and being off to the (left) side of the building, you're not in anyone's way while refilling.

Tag-getters for round 20 (if we're still abiding by the "getting your own tag doesn't count" rule) were:

1. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

2. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

3. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 2)

4. Swalfoort (tag 2)

5. Steven (tag 2)

6. Swalfoort (tag 1)

7. jeg (tag 2)

Random.org provides 4. Swalfoort and 5. Steven as setters for round 21!

Awesome. Hope to have a new tag set later today.

Round 21, Tag 1

Posted noon, Monday August 1

Expires noon, Monday August 8

Get to the north end of Washington's Landing.

Since it is a beautiful day, and some people may want to ride, I can tell you the theme of the second Tag: PORTALS.

I've seen some crazy entryways in Pittsburgh, to buildings, stairways, gardens, nothingness, etc. Take a photo of your bike in front of an interesting portal.

While there are other definitions of portal, I am thinking of PORTAL as a noun, and as a physical structure. The majority will rule on the use of portals using alternate definitions.

I'll be posting mine later today.

Tag 2. I couldn't resist!

This is not the portal I had in mind when I set this tag originally. But, it is certainly one I look for often when I am riding.......

The entrance to Eckert Street (the road that gets you from the North Shore/Chateau Trail to the Bottom of Riverview Park - via Woods Run, or into Brighton Heights - via mcClure.)

The rounded arch of the highway superstructure is what makes this seem like a "portal" to me, rather than just a highway underpass.

Washington's Island:

Left image looking south, right image looking north to the 40th Street Bridge.

Allegheny County's garden at the entrance to South Park Theatre.

Wow, that's beautiful.

Yeah, wow. I had no idea anything like that was there. I thought South Park was just kind of, a road.

It's a big park, with lots of facilities of various sorts. Here are some more photos of the garden, from 2008, when it was looking particularly good. (Check out the bees in #6 and #7!)

Portal from the city to the river walkway. Yeah, easy, but a great spot to be removed from the normal sensory stimuli. Waterfall under the Convention Center.

...and looking the opposite direction.

I love that second view. I recently rode through for the first time while the water was running. Very interesting, and cool experience.

Sorry for image quality. Portal (tunnel) under Bigalow in town. As kids we always use to go through this tunnel and parklet whenever we cut school and went dahntahn. It's just cool.

Also,North end of the island? (edit) upstream is East.

I think Washington's Landing runs NNE. In any case, the upstream end is indeed what I meant (call it north, east, whatever).

Looking upstream from the overlook. I didn't want to disturb the fishermen.

Edgerton Avenue at Dallas, looking west.

This is one of my favorite sidewalk streets. It doesn't quite line up with the drivable part of Edgerton east of Dallas, but does travel quite a ways west of here. You just have to know that it's there, and how to get to it.

Steven, I knew what you meant, I was just being smart-alecky. But that's the trouble with Pittsburgh, the rivers all travel in different compass directions. I think that's why most old timers give directions in terms of upriver/downriver and inbound/outbound rather than north/south/east/west. You know like, ‘go inbound on such&such street till you get to where the old A&P used to be…’

Top.

OK, who's next?

Here are the results that I see:

JEG (Tag 2)

SWalfoort (Tag 2)

Team Decaf (Tag 1)

Steven (Tag 2)

Team Decaf (Tag 1)

Marko (Tag 2)

Marko (Tag 1)

Stu (Tag 1)

Stu (Tag 2)

Using Random.org, I come up with 4 and 7.

That means the next tag setters are Steven and Marko.

Round 22, Tag 1

Posted noon, Wednesday August 10

Expires noon, Wednesday August 17

Batman! Take a picture of your bike near something related to the movie they're filming.

Round 22, Tag 3

Posted 2pm, Wednesday August 10

Expires noon, Wednesday August 17

According to pghbridges.com there are over 2,000 bridges in our area. How about taking a picture of your bike on/near a bridge that is NOT one of the big ones crossing our three rivers.

@Marko - That's funny. When I was setting up the last tag theme (portals) my second option was to have folks take photos of bridges FROM bridges. It would have resulted in the exact opposite of your tag, I suspect, where people (or I, at least) are likely to take pictures of big bridges from small bridges.... But I like it.

Also, look for a PM from me on another matter.

nanananaNanananananananaNa - Tag One!



Batman filming cranes in front of Mellon Institute.

Tag, um, three? two?



Ducks! on West Park pond, pedestrian bridge in background.

Oops! I made a bad. I took a photo for tag 1, then realized it was for the filming of Magnus Rex (also downtown). And are the support staff in the churchyard across from the Duquesne Club there for Batman, Steel Town or Magnus Rex?I guess I need to go out and verify, then shoot a BATMAN photo! OR I could just skip to Tag 2 - plenty of bridges on my way home.

Well, Magnus Rex is Batman - they are one and the same film.

Ummm, huh? Really? Silly me, I thought they were separate and distinct.....

Just before midnight this evening the Steel Plaza T station had become East 14th Street station. There were a bunch of guards patrolling the place, guarding the fake signs and the camera equipment scattered about.

A few more photos.

I would have had to make a concerted effort not to get this photo, or skip work. Smithfield and Third, this morning.



Oh, and I killed a nice pair of sunglasses hopping off to get the photo, so, that's like a $150 photo right there. Sunglasses into helmet, take photo, look at pedals, run over glasses. Gah. One of those mornings.

@Edmonds - sorry to hear about the shades. I force myself to buy cheap sunglasses these days, as I am too irresponsible to keep good ones for long.

Batman tag:

Lest anyone argue my bike is not in the photo, you can seen the pedal and top tube (with Bike Pgh sticker) at the far right edge.

Tag 2 or so

The Muse-Bishop bridge, carrying the Montour Trail above Muse-Bishop Road, 50 feet below. A narrow tunnel originally took the road beneath the railroad here, but in 2005 the road was daylighted and this bridge built. (PDF with historical photos)

@Swalfoort... The shadow of your bike qualifies it for me - nice shot.

@Steven: Awsome. Is that one of the ones that clatter as all heck when you ride across?

I never know whether to slow down to stop the clatter, or to speed up in case the bridge is about to fall down...

@Steven, that bridge is right near my house. Maybe I've passed you on the trail, I ride the trail in that direction from Imperial when I need to commute to Washington County for anything. Maybe I've see you out there?

@Ahlir: No, that one doesn't clatter. It's got a smooth, solid concrete deck.

I think the most clattery bridge on the Montour is at Quicksilver, around mile 14.6. (Muse-Bishop's at around mile 24.)

@Humblesage: Could be. I try to ride that section a few times a year. I'm on the Library to Route 19 section a little more often.

I don't think there's a section of that trail I don't use. I'll keep an eye out for you.

Bridge tag:

Bridge over Camp Horne Road in Emsworth. Off the BP map, but not by much, and part of my normal rides, as it is about 200 yards from home. Closest tag ever, so far!

Montage of Batman stuff from this morning's ride (8/14/11)

Unfortunately, this is about as exciting as it got while trying to see the filming. But the fake snow was cool.

Batman



You can see some snow and a couple of vehicles on the left hand side of the street. The police and production assistants (?) were a bit tense. I was told I wasn't supposed to take photos and was told to leave, but I snuck one in. The woman in the circle, on the left, crossed the street and was confronted by a policeman. He told her to get behind the barrier; she apparently didn't move fast enough, so the cop grabbed her and shoved her up against the wall, with her hands up. I got the heck out of there as fast as I could.

I'm not sure about the moral of this story.

Bridge of Sighs

Lovely. Who knew? all you need is some big hollywood bucks to pay off a few cops to harass people and violate some civil rights!

You can take as many photos as you want standing on the non-closed-off sidewalk. I'm sure the ACLU would be happy to provide a lawyer or two should these thugs disagree.

On the plus side, I'll save $12, because they just convinced me I don't need to go see their movie.

I'm not sure about the moral of this story.

Wow, I can hardly believe the woman in Ahlir's story deserved that.

On the Batride tonight, the cops on Blvd of the Allies were noticeably more hyper-vigilant than the ones on Wood St, though they seemed to be guarding the same filming site.

I was told to leave and no "flash" pictures... at the same Smithfield section of Alhir's picture. I pulled up and leaned my bike on the railing to take my pictures and a female gave me the first warning. I said I wasn't going to take a flash picture and just shot the image. I moved my bike a few feet to get a different view and a guy came up and said the same. I left.

The other pictures in my montage came from Seventh Ave, looking into Smithfield, I think. No harassment, I was kinda far back, zooming in.

That was Sunday at about 9:00-9:30.

::ding:: Time's up, put down your pencils.

@Dwillian

"Lovely. Who knew? all you need is some big hollywood bucks to pay off a few cops to harass people and violate some civil rights!"

They do that here for free (well, nothing more needed than their regular paycheck)

These are late, but I forgot how long the tag lasted and braved the hurricane to get them, so I'm posting them anyway!

Batman:

Bridge (actual picture from ON the bridge didn't turn out, but this one is pretty exciting):

Whoa, cool waterfall at 2nd Ave.

Round 22 Results

Stu (Tag 1)

Stu (Tag 2)

Steven (Tag 1)

Edmonds (Tag 1)

Swalfoort (Tag 1)

Steven (Tag 2)

Swalfoort (Tag 2)

TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1)

Marko (Tag 1)

Ahlir (Tag 1)

Ahlir (Tag 2)

Jeg (Tag 1)

Jeg (Tag 2)

Using random.org, the tag setters for round 23 will be Swalfoort and TeamDecafWeekend.

Round 23, Tag 1

Posted 8:00am, Saturday, August 20

Expires Sunday, midnight, August 28

I'm always looking for new places to eat. How about posting your favorite restaurant with a little description of the menu or your favorite dish. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

I have been struck by the recent news of multiple bike thefts, so my tag will be a little unusual. The tag is of a safe place (or way) to secure your bike. Anyone feeling particularly creative?

Edit:

Round 23, Tag 2

Posted 10:00 p.m. Sunday, August 21

Ends, Midnisght, Sunday, August 28

Easy. Noblestown road, back side of Greentree. Panang, no idea what's in it, but fragrant and curry-ish, mmm.

My bike has (a) a simple cable lock, and (b) my secret (?) weapon, a bungee cord through one wheel. The bungee won't keep the bike from getting stolen, but it will make it difficult to roll. The bungee normally just holds my lock to my rack.

The other bike on this rack has both a U-lock and a cable lock.

Tag 1, Restaurant

Korea Garden, on Semple Street in Oakland. I don't eat out very often and don't have a favorite restaurant, but this one is quite good. I've gone here with several Koreans who also think highly of it. In fact, I was there for lunch today with one of my ESL students. Everything I've had has been good, but some things are on the spicy side (I'm notoriously fond of bland food, though). The banchan are excellent!

Tag 2, How to secure your bike

Have a bike rack installed on your front porch (thanks, BikePGH!). Technically this was for the benefit of the upstairs tenants, who otherwise would have to carry their bikes up some treacherous stairs or keep them out in the weather.

To the less seasoned cyclists, if given the option between putting the bike on a porch or carrying them up stairs... I would go up the stairs.

That being said, to people who don't want to carry their bikes up stairs, this is a slightly better alternative (more so when it isn't freezing) Anyhow...

The best way to secure a bike is to put it in a secure place. As far as I know, nobody has ever messed with my bike here (although I do take off the blinkys)

I recall reading a story on here about someone's apartment getting burglarized and the bikes inside were stolen but not the ones locked outside. That being said, I keep my bike inside too...

Topo Gigo restaurant in Chicago's Old Town. I'm biking in the big city this weekend. Doing the Four Star Bike Tour.

Tag 1 east end food co-op vegetarian cafe

I end up here for their lunch bar pretty often. Weekends breakfast is really tasty, especially the buckwheat pancakes. Today I just had a Fantasy Island smoothie (banana, pineapple, coconut, with rice dream).

Tag 2, my dog keeping looky-loos away

so the dog isn't living in the garage, but when he's in there, he really does like to stay guard in the doorway. So, I like to count it as an extra layer of security. Also, I've noticed my bike is less stolen in my locked garage vs. unlocked on my front porch.

Round 23:

1. edmonds59 (tag 1)

2. StuInMcCandlesss (tag 2)

3. jeg (tag 1)

4. jeg (tag 2)

5. Pierce (tag 2)

6. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

7. Tabby (tag 1)

8. Tabby (tag 2)

random.org say the round 24 tag setters are: 8. Tabby and 3. jeg

Round 24, Tag 2

Posted: Monday, 29 August 2011 16:30

Expires: Monday, 5 September 2011 16:30

Back to School. It's that time of year again, for anyone on a traditional 9-month academic calendar. Find a school you have some affiliation with. I'm sure many people don't and didn't go to school here, so be creative!

So I waited until now to post this because I went to CCAC today, where I'm back in school (yes, again) taking a few classes, took a camera, and even wrote a note to myself reminding me to take a picture for the tag... but remembered about halfway home. Oops.

Round 24

Tag 1

Posted Monday, August 29

Expires Sunday, midnight, Sept 11

Post your picture of a church that's been repurposed for another use. School, business, whatever.

Can we please have the two tags expire the same time? (I see that you posted a minute apart, so likely didn't consult one another.)

sure, monday is fine, too late to edit now.

church brew works.

glad to be in the game!

^ Nice, RF. I had Church Brew Works on my list of rides/shots to take. Glad you topped this thread and joined the image posts too.

I might go on a ride tomorrow to get my school in here as well.

Tag 1, Repurposed Church

Greenfield Presbyterian Church is still a church, but they've had a shrinking congregation, so have begun renting the church to community members and hosting a weekly Community Coffeehouse (you could see it written on the sign if the picture weren't so terrible). Every Monday from 6-10pm they sell homemade food and drinks, people have meetings and socialize, and a regular group (most with no other affiliation to the church, hence my qualifying it as "repurposed") plays board games. If you like games you should stop by sometime!

I apologize for the abysmal picture (yes, I took a picture of my camera with my little camera on my laptop). None of the means I have to get the file from the camera to the computer are working at the moment.

Tag 1, repurposed church: Garfield Community Activity Center, N. Pacific at Dearborn.

Tag 2, school I have an affiliation with. Former Reizenstein Middle School, now Barack Obama Int'l Studies Academy. My connection: When I was Judge of Elections for Ward 4, District 8, this was where I picked up and dropped off my election material. Election night, this place is hopping!

jeg? Tabby?

How about from now on, the second person to pick a tag also picks the time frame for both tags, so they're always the same?

Round 24:

1. RubberFactory (tag 1)

2. Jeg (tag 1)

3. Stu (tag 1)

4. Stu (tag 2)

Random.org says the tag setters for round 25 are: RubberFactory and Jeg.

Sorry, I was out of town!

Steven, I like that new rule.

Round 25, Tag 1

Posted: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 10:00 AM

Expires: TBD

This article has been circulating recently: Pittsburgh metro area named one of nation's least diverse. (This was a bit surprising to me, until I read that the Pittsburgh metro area was defined as "Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.") Take a picture that somehow shows diversity in Pittsburgh.

crap, I totally forgot to play last round

Round 25, Tag 2

Posted: Tuesday, 13 September 2011 6:30 PM

Expires: Wednesday, 21 September 2011

(Is that too soon? I don't know how this game flows as well as the other)

Pittsburgh has 446 Bridges. Each is as unique as the people who walk/bike across them each day and night. Everyone has their favorite bridge - and I think that's something unique to Pittsburgh.

For this tag, get two pictures - one at each end of your favorite bridge. Be creative, get a great view!

Jeg, can I use a series of photos for your tag?

Tag 2, the West Park bridge over RR tracks. Eastern end:

Western end:

Tag 1:

I took three pictures, all with my bike in the same place.

Look up the hill, and there's bloomfield, Pittsburgh's Little Italy, where you'll find italian restaurants, thai food, hippie sandwich shops, a lefty bookstore (=]), and easy access to places like The Quiet Storm, Kraynick's, Spak, and Salt.

Over Herron Ave Bridge is Polish Hill, and while I don't spend any time there, I know that there are a crazy variety of people who live there, and a TON of community events happen there, more than most neighborhoods that I've been in.

And down here is the strip district, where in one trip, you can get sushi, tongue tacos, italian bread and pastries, coffee from three different roasters, popcorn, peruvian food, pho, and on saturdays, a great selection of organic meats and produce - and that's before you even get to the public market.

I always thought of this intersection (Liberty/Herron) as being kind of the crossroads of this part of town.

Great post, RubberFactory!

Mexico City restaurant, downtown. There's more going on here than just a restaurant. About time we got some more Latino culture all up in here.

Wood St or smithfield?

Pic was at Wood st.

Under my favorite bridge - Ft Pitt.

On top of my favorite bridge.

I shot the Ft Ptt Bridge, then I checked in on the Tag-O-Rama tag today. Luckily I was just a few miles from the City Theatre and was able to pick up the tag. Great day!

Tag 2, bridge

When it's finally done, this will be my favorite bridge, at least for awhile. Mostly because I've had the pleasure of biking, walking, and running that darn detour since they put it there.

My actual favorite bridge is the Library Trestle on the Montour Trail, but sadly, it doesn't count for this tag, since it's (1) not inside Pittsburgh city limits, and (2) not even close to open. But some day this railroad trestle will be converted to a trail bridge, and eliminate a steep hill that's not much fun to push a bike up.

So instead I picked the Millvale Avenue bridge.

Looking north:

Looking south:

It was my favorite bridge the day I took these photos, mostly by virtue of being right on my way to the Melwood Screening Room.

But it has some other things going for it:

It's got bike lanes (though granted they've just about completely worn away), and it's nice and flat for cycling. Notice the cyclists in the above photo, right in the suggestion of a bike lane.

It's got mysterious steps going down toward the former West Penn Hospital research facility below. These were originally more awesome than most steps due to being fenced in and locked up. But now that they're overgrown with vegetation, and some helpful miscreant has busted the lock, they're somehow even more awesome.

Hm, I would hate to accidentally not go down those steps sometime, I never noticed them. Although I am slightly worried that the lock was actually broken by a goat-man hybrid that escaped from the aforementioned "research facility".

Whoa, those steps are cool, reminds me of the steps in the Pterodactyl cage in "Jurassic Park".

When I posted my bridge photos, I was looking for some info about it. Finally found it, from this 2009 P-G article.

Short version, this would be a wonderful connection between the separated pieces of Allegheny Commons Park (a.k.a., West Park). Finding a couple million to replace it? Not bloody likely. The city and RR are already at odds over fixing or replacing all the street bridges in that part of town, all of which are falling apart, too low, or already closed.

Your failing infrastructure dollars not at work.

Where I grew up in the midwest, the onion domes of the ortodox religions were "exotic." They still remind me of religious diversity, even though they may not truly represent a "diverse" Pittsburgh. This is St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church on California Avenue, in Brighton Heights.

There's some good riding days coming up, and I want to keep this going (as I am terrible at the "other" game.

The results from the last round (Round 25):

Stu (Tag 2)

RubberFactory (Tag 1)

RubberFactory (Partial credit for Tag 2)

Edmonds (Tag 1)

TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

JEG (Tag 2)

Steven (Tag 2)

Swalfoort (Tag 1)

Random.org selects Steven and TeamDecafWeekend as the next tag setters.

Remember, new rules says the second person to pick a tag also picks the time frame for both tags, so they're always the same.

We are awaiting your inspiration, gentlemen!

Round 26, tag 1

Posted: Thursday, September 22 2011, 3 PM

Expires: TBD

Find a rainbow!

It could be a mural featuring a rainbow, or one of the stores by that name all over the city, or an actual rainbow.

Rainbow stickers already on your bike only count if you bike to get to your rainbow bike.

Round 26, tag 2

Posted: Thursday September 22 2011, 4 PM

Expires: Thursday October 6 2011, 4PM

Your bike with a boat on the river(s), lake, dry-docked, whatever, as long as it floats, it counts.

This is a pre-tag. I took this photo last fall (so it doesn't count here...) but I love that I happened to catch a barge ferrying a van over to Brunots Island. I managed to get a couple shots of it, and one had my bike in it. I was somewhere on the Chateau Trail. I have no idea where the van was loaded on to the barge, but it looked like they were doing a straight shot across the river.

Tag 2, looking upstream from the 40th Street Bridge.

Ala Stu's tag...

Looking upstream from the 31st St. Bridge.

This shot was taken during the Team Decaf Tuesday night ride. We had a rider break a spoke so I had a stop on the bridge. I quickly decided to shoot the boats - not a great shot, but hey it works.

I've been workin' on rainbow bars, nothing to show for it yet.

Tag 2, Boats!

(And whoever says you only have to roll up one pant leg, I listened and my pants broke my water bottle cage!)

Hmmm, I wonder if I'm partially responsible for that...

Did your rolled up pant leg or your non-rolled up pant leg break the water bottle cage?

I looks like you can bend that back. Also, it might be less likely to catch your pants if it had a water bottle in it

On another note, gah, this was my idea for that tag too

The non-rolled up pant leg got stuck. Considering I rarely carry a water bottle there (since I always have a pannier or a backpack), I'll probably just take it off.

There's no rule against similar/same tags!

Yeah, I had that happen too and now I secure both pantlegs. I wasn't able to bend mine back, it was substantially weakened by being bent and wouldn't hold the bottle securely.

Tag 1: A rainbow of flowers! Schenley Plaza, i.e. along Forbes just before Dippy (in background).



This tag was a little tougher than I thought it would be. It got me to dig around and explore lots of little side streets and neighborhoods, in search of some sort of rainbow. I guess that's the point of the game, though!

There's a Rainbow (retail store) on Fifth between Smithfield and Wood downtown. I bet you passed within blocks of it several times this week.

I was hoping to get something for both of these this weekend but this weather is looking xtra crappy. Will try to make this an opportunity to try out gear for these xtra crappy conditions.

+1 for gear testing....

But, on a lighter note, perhaps all this rain will bring out some "real" rainbows.

Just how far would I have to ride for a rainbow visible from my front porch to be eligible for a wheelset tag?

To get a rainbow, you need falling water or a mist, and a bright light source, usually the sun. I'm surprised nobody (including me) thought to set up a mist from a garden hose backlit by the sun to generate a rainbow. Distance? I once grabbed a Wheelset tag in my own front yard. Not much sun today, though, and it has to be both low in the sky and raining east (at sunset) to get a natural one.

Since the unsolicited/undesired update of my phone, I've lost flikr. Just found out yesterday. Phone wants me to establish new account, won't link to old account. Weird. End result - I am out of this round of wof..... Never got a rainbow picture, anyway. Oh well.

Flickr is an offshoot of Yahoo. Shouldn't have anything to do with the phone. Probably just a matter of getting the two to play nicely. Can you get into Flickr from your PC?

TAG 1

"Rainbow" in the Strip - Cruze Bar - with a copy of this week's "OUT" magazine.

Yeah, this round expired at 4PM, just a few hours ago, but that's about the time I took the pic.

Hey Dan, where's your boat photo? You got that before 4 p.m. too.

@Sara ^

My boat photo is 13 posts up^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Shot that a week ago.

Oops, my bad.

::crickets::

Go ahead and randomize, Stu.....or someone. I did it last time.

The results from the last round (Round 26):

1. Stu (Tag 2)

2. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

3. jeg (Tag 2)

4. Stu (Tag 1)

5. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1)

Random.org selects 4 (Stu) and 2 (TeamDecafWeekend) as the next tag setters.

Remember, new rule says the second person to pick a tag also picks the timeframe for both tags, so they're always the same.

Round 27, Tag #1: A deciduous tree, or forest thereof, in its autumnal glory!

Trees are only beginning to turn, so this tag should get easier over the next week or so. Let's see if we can get 10 in this round.

If you truly cannot find a picturesque deciduous tree, I suppose you can use an evergreen or one that hasn't changed yet.

What would be cool is to see a backdrop of an entire hillside of trees lit up, like this. (OK, that StreetView is green. Imagine 180 degrees of orange hillside with nothing else on it!)

Round 27, Tag #2: Something Halloween - outside decor, creepy characters, anything Halloween.

Tag expires: Sunday October 23, 2011. Midnight.

Whoa! Psuedacris, that is a nice shot. I saw your Mattress Factory installation- congrats on a cool film.

I checked the QR code too, I'm impressed.

Tag 1: The Nine Mile Run trail, from Parkview Blvd in Summerset.

Tag 2: A scary house on Atlantic Avenue in McKeesport, on the Montour Connector.

Tag 1, Deciduous tree

I have half a mind to take a picture of my bike in front of a decked-out suburban house for tag #2, since I'm in Ohio right now

Go for it. There's no rule that says a found tag has to be local.

Halloween on Mt Washington. Greenleaf Street.

Fall trees, 9th Street Bridge overlooking the North Shore Trail.

Awesome fall day!

Bavington. The foliage is pretty subdued. The trees seem to be just losing leaves before they turn. What gives?

I agree generally, but situation has not been helped by big winds in the past week.

Beautiful tree, catching the late afternoon sun. Located on the Millvale Trail, not far from the Heinz Lofts.

Note the new step through "girlie bike" purchased from Golden Triangle Bike Rentals fleet this weekend. It's maiden voyage. I was glad to have a reason to document it as "mine." Am still looking for distinguishing marks in the event of a theft or loss. May have to use the Helmet Hair is Sexy sticker I got with my most recent BP membership!

Well decorated house (and yard), fully in the Halloweed spirit. Located on Shadeland Avenue in Brighton Heights.

Tag 1, tree: Perry Hwy near CCAC North.

Tag 2, Hallowe'en (or maybe Samhain): Yard on Perrymont in McCandless not far from my house. This family always has the dancing ghosts around the tree. Homemade is trés cool.

For once, I'd like to think this low-end camera actually helped with an image. It seems to have blurred the ghosts a little bit, which adds to their effect.

@SIM - before I read your post, ^ I had the same thought - the out-of-focus flavor of these images enhances both of them.

Sort of Fall/Halloweenish. Went on a bike ride along the MA-NH boarder. Stopped along the road at this cemetery for a snack. A lady came out of a nearby house and told us that it is their family cemetery. Everyone from their family since 1766 (and nobody else) has been buried here. Kind of neat! There was a beautiful oak tree right in the middle of it, but after she came out and told me that they just buried someone a couple weeks ago, I decided taking more photos probably wouldn't be appropriate

Counts for both, in my book. Trees in color is tag 1, tombstones is tag 2. Get a night view with the full moon and some clouds scudding across the sky through those branches and you have the perfect spooky scene!

^^ Dan it's awsome that you can play from afar!

Nice days are a'wasting....... these tags ended at midnight on Sunday.

Random.org says the next tag setters are Pseudocris and Dwillen.

Second person to set the new tag establishes the expiration date/time for both tags.

Ready, set......go!

(Edited to correct spelling in Dan's name)

This game has morphed into into a very neat free-form thing, less dependent on location and instead has more to do with creativity and imagination. Given that, the next tag is:

Round 28, Tag #1: Symmetry. Capture a photo with your bike in which symmetry is present. (some inspiration, sans bicycles)

Sorry folks, ' been out of town...

Round 28, Tag #2:

Your bike at a farmer's market (or, with a load of groceries on it, since not everyone can ride during farmer's market hours).

Deadline: Sunday, November 5. Midnight.

@dwillen: nice to have you in the game still!

My bike and I at my local farmers market (in Emsworth).

Given the snow, the vendors did not seem all that dismayed at the thought that this was the end of a long season of farmers market days.

I have not been able to find a farmer's market anywhere. Can we have a Tag #3 for the duration of the week?

I have not been able to find a farmer's market anywhere.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11131/1145733-34.stm

The Citiparks-sponsored ones seem to end after Thanksgiving.

Tag #2, Farmers' Market.

Well, the one I tried to go to had ended for the season, so what about a CSA instead?

Your bike at a farmer's market >>>>>>>>(or, with a load of groceries on it, since not everyone can ride during farmer's market hours).

[edit] CSA totally counts. Any load o' groceries will do (though that kale looks very tasty!)

Symmetry! Ooooh!

Love it!

//blush// thanks! here's an alternate...

Wow! Your "alternate" would be most people's "best picture I've ever taken".

^ Agreed - nice images Pseudacris, real nice!

^

Props to Nate for showing me how to find that lake. I've mostly never explored the lovely paths inside Schenley park: what a treasure!

Tag 2: at Shur-save

Actually, it's outside of my building, but I got all that from shur-save. Here's an alternate view:

North Side Farmers market. I had already filled one pannier in the strip, so my purchase consisted of some banana peppers (to stuff with Parma hot sausage) and some salad greens. Gorgeous day.

Black and Silver Symmetry. Not quite Pseudacris quality, but symmetry it is.

With just a few hours left before the close of this round, it is apparent that I won't be getting the second tag - symmetry. I blame that on a particularly nasty cold that kept me housebound for several days. But, I want to thank Dan for coming up with the tag concept. It's had me looking for symmetry everywhere. At times I felt almost like a tourist in my own town, striving to see ordinary things in a new way. It's been enlightening.

Although, I have to confess that I did give a thought to "sim(ulating) a tree" for this round. I couldn't decide how to "sim a tree" into a picture with my bike, through my cough syrup addled brain, however.

I love this game!

^ What Swalfort said to Dan, ditto.

...Oh, and ditto the "I love this game!"

Tag getters for round 28 were:

1. Swalfoort (tag 2)

2. jeg (tag 2)

3. Pseudacris (tag 1)

4. RubberFactory (tag 2)

5. Marko82 (tag 2)

6. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

Setters for round 29 will be: 3. Pseudacris and 4. RubberFactory, courtesy of random.org

Round 29, Tag #1: (variation on a previous theme)

Your bike in or on a BIG PILE OF LEAVES!

Round 29, Tag #2:

get a great skyline shot! (of any city you might be in)

points for creativity in bike placement, and just to add a touch of difficulty and even more creativity, I'm going to discourage people from using the view from the Hot Metal Bridge.

Expires November 11th, 2am (to make extra time for night time shots).

"I've fallen, and I can't get up." Actually, I don't want to get up.

^ nice!

Here's a skyline view of downtown:

And a "skyline" shot of Occupy Pittsburgh:

Great morning for riding!

@Dan, Love you shot, but get up out of those leaves already. Someone's likely to run you over..... (I think that's what my mother used to say was the danger of large piles of leaves)

@Pseudacris, I can't figure out the angle on your skyline shot. Where'd you take it from?

@Swalfort - the top image is the back corner of the UPMC park n ride lot above Second Avenue (near the Eliza Furnace Trail Head).

The Bottom image is Sixth Ave ~ Grant.

One's from yesterday & one's from this morning (that's why 2 different bikes)

Skyline as seen from the "Neighborhood," a Wheelset post and Tag-O-Rama clue.

I shot this yesterday, so this skyline post is a bit behind. I had never been in the Hill District, but thanks to my very first Tag-O-Rama tag pick up in April of this year, I've found the views to be fantastic. This one overlooks The Strip District, and the 16th Street and Veteran's Bridges.

Nice shots @TDW!

Thank you, BikePGH, for encouraging me to finally clean up the yard!

It's dark already, whine whine, and I'm already at home, so I probably won't get a skyline shot.

Figured there was at least one weekend for these tags, oh well. Better late than never, and since there aren't any new tags: city skyline!

Boston, from Cambridge (North side of the Charles River).

^ Nice shot. No hills there?

Here's another late photo:

Tag getters for round 29 were Pseudacris, TeamDecafWeekend, jeg, and dwillen. Using random.org's list randomizer the

Tag setters for round 30 are:

Team Decaf Weekend and

Dwillen!

I hope no one minds I included dwillen's slightly late entry in the randomizer. It will be fun to see what tag he sets from Boston that is gettable in Pgh.

Not many hills, no.. There were a bunch of kids (volunteers or court ordered?) raking up piles of leaves along the river trail, but I didn't really want to stop and bug them for a photo op.

Round 30, Tag #1

Parking Places Unless you're superhuman, your bike sits idle more hours than not. Show us how your bike spends most of its time. If you have a cool place to hang it at home or work, or you have some other awesome parking spot (a unique bike rack??) show it off!

Round 30, Tag #2

I'm about to go dormant for a few months - I don't ride much during the winter. With that in mind, a restful, more-than-dormant place for Tag #2... We've had a few cemetery images creep into this thread, but we haven't had a specific directive to post images of Favorite Cemeteries or Favorite Graves.

Also, we've bounced around on the time we've allotted for each round - sometimes one week, sometimes 2 weeks (and even as few as 2 days when this thread started). I'm going to make the deadline 2 weeks since I think the number of riders will be smaller as the weather gets colder.

Tags expire November 27, Midnight

Sorry about the short tag time - I was going by the first post, which said 48 hours. I'm still trying to figure the timing thing out. that said, I'll get the first tag tonight, maybe post it tomorrow.

Tag #2 Graves

One of the creepiest graves around. This one is in St. Mary's Cemetery, right next to Children's Hospital. From what I could tell, it was built in 1849 for the Donnelly Family.

Still quite a few trees holding their leaves in the cemeteries (especially maple and ginko), nice!

Tag #2 Graves

This grave just became a new favorite, The female is headless and handless, but she now has 2 birds' nests to replace her head. 1863, Allegheny Cemetery.

And check it out, another yellow tree in the background, hangin' on to it's leaves.

Tag #1 Bike Parking

Ceiling mount. Raise and lower the bike with a yank on the chord that comes down on an angle at the back. Cheap, and it helps keep bike #2 out of the way.

Woah, nice find with the bird nest!

Less people riding in the wintertime? Why? Is it it the darkness, the cold, or the snow? These can be easily overcome except deep snow.

#1, partial shot of the top secret bat cave. I had a nice clean setup with ceiling hooks for like 5 bikes. Then I realized that if I alternately flipped the bikes, I could put hooks between the hooks. So I got more bikes.

My bike usually lives in one of these two places:

in my beaten up living room or

In front of The Big Idea

To All Wheelset of Fortune players and wannabe players:

Please respond to the following...

As many of you know, the rules of this game have been flexible - sometimes we set a tag for 2 weeks, sometimes 1 week. At the onset of the game, a rule was created to set a tag for just 2 days (believe it or not).

I like the game to be loose, with little pressure to race out and get a shot. I often need a couple weeks and now, with winter coming, I'm sure I'll be in need of more time. So Steven (creator of the game) and I are polling all of you about the time allotment for each tag. Personally, I'm for 2 weeks between tags (or more during winter) as I think it gives us all more time to get tags and allows more players to casually step in and participate.

Your thoughts about the time allotment would be appreciated. I will amend the rules on page one so new entrants to can make sense of the game. Steven has also suggested that we rename the thread to "Play Wheelset of Fortune." I vote for that too.

Respond on this thread or PM me, I'll try to get everyone's input before I make any changes.

I'm cool with whatever

+1 on two weeks. I didn't ride much in Oct & likely won't ride much in Nov, but the game gives me a reason to ride.

+1 also on the rename.

Those changes are fine by me.

No no no no no... Well, ok.

Welcome to the Slow Wheelset movement, Marko!

Yeah, feeling kinda lazy lately.

I've changed the instructions on page one of this thread. If anyone cares to... please feel free to review and suggest other edits/changes.

As you may have seen, I've changed the name of this thread too - from Wheelset of Fortune to Play Wheelset of Fortune. May it have a long life with many more posts!

New rules look good!

One comment: I think 2 weeks will be good for the colder months when the weather is questionable and fewer people are riding, but we might want to go back to 1 week again in the spring. I find the 2-week tags kind of long, and I forget about the game when they get too long.

Summer Parking at home:

Year Round Parking downtown:

Tag #1: My usual parking place Downtown. Liberty/Smithfield/9th Street Garage. There are three sets of racks here; I usually use this set, most easily accessed from the Liberty/9th St entrance since that's the direction I'm usually coming from.

This set of five 3 Rivers racks is busy during the week. This pic taken on a rainy Sunday night.

Tag #2: Christopher Cowen's grave in the historic First Presbyterian Church cemetery, Sixth Avenue, Downtown. This particular one is labeled as being the only grave in the area all of whose numbers are in Roman numerals.

Most of the graves here date to pre-1850. Many of original stones have little modern markers like this one which make it easier to read the inscriptions, along with a short biography of the deceased and their importance in early Pittsburgh history.

Among others buried here are the Sarah and Jane who had streets on the South Side named after them, as well as General Robinson and a couple of guys named Butler who got a county named after them. Also someone named Smithfield. I could (and should) come back here in daytime.

Here are a couple alternate takes of Cowen's grave and marker:

I don't think this one about the graves is a good idea - or at least I don't think it's a good idea to have a bike in the picture. One of the rules when they allowed riding in Allegheny Cemetery was "ride only on paved roads" and I don't think pictures of bikes leaning against graves would sit well with everyone.

http://bike-pgh.org/blog/2010/06/24/allegheny-cemetery-in-lawrenceville-now-allowing-bicycles/

@salty - since it was my idea to make cemeteries and graves a tag, I thought I should respond to your comments...

Maybe you are correct. I admit, I hadn't even thought about it being a problem. Instead, since I find the cemeteries to be interesting places that give visitors things to reflect upon, provide visually stimulating views, and allow us to look into the past in a unique way, I thought posting images would be a great idea. Now, I'm beginning to wonder.

As for respect, I certainly respect the private property and I don't ride around in the grass. I have walked my bike to the grave stones for the photos, mostly because it's hard to ride in the grass, but I see your point (and the article's directive) about staying on the road.

You might know that I have had a ride during Bike Fest called "Zoom the Tombs." We've done it for the last 2 years, attracting 30-40 riders each year. The first year Allegheny Cemetery opened it's property to us, I called them and told them my plans - I received a permit. I visited both Homewood and Calvary Cemeteries and personally asked if they would be okay with the ride on their property too. All were fine with the ride.

From my understanding, there are tours in Allegheny Cemetery that visit significant graves and discuss interesting stats about the property. So, I kinda feel like this is just a digital tour.

The article you linked does say to ride only on the road, but it also has this quote…

"While you’re there, you may want to visit many of the great spots inside the Cemetery, which was incorporated in 1844 — back when there were only 26 states in the Union governed by President John Tyler."

So, hmmm, now I'm not sure what to think. Anybody else care to give an opinion?

i think riding through the cemetery and leaning a bike against a monument are pretty different things.

doesn't really matter to me (keith richards can snort my ashes for all i care) but i just don't want to see the "no bikes in the cemetery" crowd (which i'm sure exists, unfortunately) using these photos as ammunition - "look, they're playing GAMES with BIKES on the GRAVES!"

but, just my opinion, maybe i'm paranoid. well, i mean, i'm probably paranoid but...

Out of respect, I'd say try to avoid leaning your bike against a gravestone, and (as per the signage) if you move your bike off the road and onto the grass, walk, don't ride.

But I think the mere fact that there's a game involved doesn't turn permitted, respectful behavior (biking on the roads, taking photos) into disrespectful behavior. Just like it would be OK for a photographer to submit a gravestone photo to a contest, competing against other photographers.

Not only am I not leaning the bike on a grave, in my pic there is actually an iron fence between my bike and the gravestone. The bike never left pavement, and I was never on it after I left the sidewalk.

But I can see your concern; it's valid. I just think we're grown-up enough not to cause any sort of damage, disgrace or desecration to occur while in anyone's cemetery, bikeable or not.

I think you're right about the no-bikes-in-the-cemetery crowd. Somebody out there is always looking for ammo to use against cyclists.

Here's my cemetery photo.

I am off the path, but just barely.

No disrespect to any graves, actual or intended.

It was actually a nice stop this morning.

Oh, Uniondale Cemetery, Brighton Road at Marshall Avenue. Section J, I believe.

Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA. It was beautiful, even in the fall when all the flowers are dead. Unfortunately, they don't allow bicycles on their 175 acres. They've got a really nice bike rack right inside the front gates under video surveillance though. I had to walk around to look at all the headstones. This was the most interesting headstone I found; there is just so much stuff going on. The winged angel has a basket of flowers, two flowers in her hand, and some sort of crazy looking belt. There is a giant tree trunk with a cross and a vine growing on it, and some random boat anchor and rope too.

(click for a full view)

Text reads:

"Safe in the Arms of Jesus

LEVI P. WYMAN

DEC, 26. 1832 -- DEC, 29 1896.

HIS WIFE LOIS J.

AUG, 10. 1837 -- MAY 9. 1918."

This is our bike parking in the basement. Door right to the driveway directly behind the camera.

Question: does "Tags expire November 27, Midnight" mean 10 hours ago, or the end of the day on Sunday? (I know it really means the former, but this question is not uncommon, and the bane of distance-learning students everywhere!)

I can get both tags today if I go a bit out of my way, so just wondering.

I suggest we use "00:01" or "23:59" instead of "midnight".

I'm OK with continuing it through end of day today/Sunday.

I second your suggestion! More clarity!

Cemetery:

The cemetery itself isn't especially interesting, but the church amuses me because it calls itself "The Church with the Bright Red Fence" and has a website with the following address: http://www.brightredfence.org/ You can see part of the fence in the picture.

Parking spot:

My bike is often parked here, in the parking garage under the JCC. I once did the math, and if someone used the JCC facilities a few times a week for about an hour each time, the cost of parking in this garage would quickly exceed the cost of a yearly membership, which is not cheap. Yet the garage is nearly always full...

BTW, the cable secures my pannier to the frame of my bike. Someone could cut it if they really wanted, but I figure snatching a worn pannier is probably a crime of opportunity.

Hope you don't mind me doing the next selection of tag-setters...

Using random.org with the Tags as follows:

Tag 1, Parking Places

jeg

StuInMcCandless

dwillen

Swalfoort

TeamDecafWeekend

RubberFactory

edmonds59

Tag 2, Cemeteries/Graves

jeg

StuInMcCandless

dwillen

Swalfoort

TeamDecafWeekend

The NEW Tag-Setters:

dwillen and Swalfoort

I feel like I've been setting an awful lot of tags!

Round 31, Tag #1

Off limits. You can ride your bike almost anywhere, but there are some places you just shouldn't go. Snap a photo with your bike in front of or near one of those dreaded "no bikes" signs, or near some other locale where it is known two wheeled contraptions are not welcome. Note that I am not encouraging anyone to put or ride their bike where it doesn't belong. Please be smart about it.

Round 31, Tag #2

Last hurrah!

Take a picture of your bike with a plant that is still blooming. I noticed a few in my garden this weekend, and have looked around and have seen many others, so this is still doable. Enjoy those last blooms of the season! For those who chase this tag late, yes, potted mums are acceptable.

Tags good through Sunday, Dec 11 at 23:59?

Oops, I forgot that setting the close time was my responsibility as the second tag setter.

Tags good until Sunday, December 11 at 23:59

Also, fruit or veggies still on the vine/stem/branch qualify as a "bloom" for the second tag. I

Tag 1

North Shore trail apartments entrance. So, I'm stretching the "no bikes allowed" directive. No mention of bikes here, but I'm guessing the "no trespassing" covers riders too.

Tag 2

I barely moved my bike, less than 2 feet from Tag 1 to get this shot. It may not be considered "still blooming," but it's seasonal and sorta blooming.

Fruit and veggies (and berries) clearly acceptable as per the addendum to my tag set. That reminds me, I found some blooming vinca on my back hill when I mowed my lawn earlier. I should go grab this tag NOW!

Tag 2

Riding in Aspinwall today, I saw a woman tending to her garden and asked if she wouldn't mind if I took a few shoots. Yep, stuff is still blooming!

Many happy people outdoors today.

Aspinwall IS lovely this time of year (shameless plug, I know, but still true).

A long time ago, maybe 20 yrs, when we lived in Regent Square, I had a planting of violas whose flowers kept blooming through the entire winter. They were up against a fence, with sun from midday onward (so generally warm), and it was probably a mild winter. Still, it was amazing to behold.

I am LOVING this tag! This morning, riding in to work, I saw flowers in red, pink, yellow, orange and purple. I don't think I had noticed any of them in recent weeks, until I started looking for a tag.

We've already got roses and strawflowers (which I also photographed this morning), so I am posting the vinca from my back yard.

If you get out Avalon way, check out the gorgeous rose bush in the courtyard of the Greenstone Church, on California. It's over 6 feet tall, and probably almost as wide. The blooms are well past peak, but there are probably a hundred or more still on the bush. FABULOUS!

The landscaping kale(?) is still blooming.

Kale was one of the other items that I had photographed and was considering as my tag. It's really quite pretty this time of year.

Is that edible kale?!

(Neon pink and purple salad, nom nom nom.)

All kale is edible, but stuff that is decorative is probably treated with different chemicals than one would use on food plants. I've seen purple kale in the store and received it in CSA boxes though.

Yeah, I've seen the purple kale (like purple lettuce and other greens) but never that crazy pink color!

And I'm not sure I really want to be eating most of the chemicals that are routinely put on (conventional) food plants either...

Tag #2: Dandelions never say die! I missed the bloom, but here's the puff still trying to get started. This one's in my front yard, but they're everywhere!

Tag 1, off-limits

No bikes on I-376!

Tag 2, plants' last hurrah

Marigolds (?) in Squirrel Hill. It looks warm and sunny outside today, but it doesn't feel it!

^ Mums, I think. (chrysanthemums)

Kale? What about Kallé?

Also, this.

Thanks, TeamDecafWeekend! My plant-identification skills are pretty much nonexistent, which makes me think of this:

, which is just sad.

(what is the crocodile on the left?)

Isod. Is that a poorly drawn maple next to it? (Just above the oak.)

alligator(?) crocodile(?) is the logo of chemise lacoste. Remember the preppy days of upright collars on bright colored "golf" shirts? A good percentage of those bore a small embroidered alligator (or croc) on the left chest.

oops,sorry. Lacoste licensed their brand to Izod 1952-1993. I guess it's been a while since I bought those shirts...

But I think I got the leaf stuff right.

Tag 2, I think.

Some of these roses are still in bloom!

some are dying, though

Ah, RubberFactory, those images make me feel like summer!

Round 31 results!

Tag #1: Off limits

Tag #2: Last hurrah!

1. TDW (tag 1)

2. TDW (tag 2)

3. Swalfoort (tag 2)

4. dwillen (tag 2)

5. Stu (tag 2)

6. jeg (tag 1)

7. jeg (tag 2)

8. RF (tag 2)

Rolling the dice on random.org twice provides a 6 and a 3. So, jeg and Swalfoort get to set the tags for Round 32. Let's give it two full weeks from right now, so Round 32 closes 23:59 on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Round 32, Tag #1

Holiday lights! Between now and two weeks from now, Christmas, Hanukkah, the WInter Solstice, and the beginning of Kwanzaa will occur! And quite possibly some other holidays I don't know about or am forgetting! Take a picture of your bike with any sort of decorative or festive lights.

just kidding, I'll go outside tomorrow!

Now that I haven't been selected as tag setter for the dozenth time in a row, here is my deferred tag for off limits. In Cambridge, at pretty much every curb cut, they have some form of "no bike" stenciled on the sidewalk. Fortunately, they also have bike lanes just about everywhere in Cambridge too, so nobody should be tempted to ride on the sidewalk.

Hey Dan! We skipped you a round or two (as tagsetter).

This between seasons stuff is starting to annoy me. The summer toys are put away, but the winter toys are still in the attic (other than the bike, of course).

So, for this tag, let's focus on a winter sport.....specifically, ice skating.

Take a picture of your bike at a location where people are (or could, under the right weather conditions) ice skate. Facilities closed for the night are acceptable, to accommodate you "off hours" cyclists!

Round 32, Tag 2 closes at 23:59 on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

Tag 1: Complete with what looks to be about a 30-foot Santa.

If I'm feeling ambitious, and these 50 degree temps hold out, I'll bike back there with a real camera. They had so many lights!

Tag #1, Lights. This is 2516 Perrysville on the North Side.

Tag #2, Skaters. Obligatory PPG Ice Rink picture.

My old LG VX5500 phone died, so I have moved on to an even older Samsung A670 (with a pull-out antenna!) which takes 320x240 pics. Someday, I'll get a decent, modern phone.

^ if it helps, I have never owned a phone that even had a camera.

don't know if this counts as a real "lights" tag, but it's definitely christmassy!

I also got the PPG skating rink:

RF, love the bucket panniers - much nicer looking than my cat litter ones. Did you make them?

no, bought them. I'm not handy or crafty enough to make things. But I got about 40% off the set!

Tag 1, Holiday lights (I set this tag, so it doesn't count.)

I love the car menorahs. Unfortunately, I juuuust missed the Squirrel Hill Hanukkah parade this year.

I used to have colored lights on the roof rack of my old car year-round, and they got great reactions, especially on highways during the holidays. My new car doesn't have a roof rack, unfortunately.

Tag 2, Ice skating

Rink in Schenley Park. Before I knew there was an ice skating rink there, I was constantly confused by the big piles of snow along Overlook Drive during otherwise warm or dry weather.

A two-fer! Hanuchrismaska, S.Side wirks.



also, this was pretty cool so had to put it up, James Gallery, West End;



Lastly, skating. I snapped this right before this fellow tasted plexiglass, Penguins Pond, S.Side works also;



Went out on my brand new beater bike, calling him, Blackbird, 199x Trek mtn bike set up for...anything. Beautiful day!

Cool shot - the James Gallery iron-work. Likey.

SouthSide temp rink - from a different angle.

Since I cannot read a calendar, this round closes TONIGHT, that would be WEDNESDAY, 12/28, at 23:59.

Last chance to get some skaters and/or lights pics with your bike!

Crap! My (apparently bad) memory had the tag close at 23:59 tonight.

Here are my tags anyway.....

Ms. Claus apparently has company at the North Pole while Santa is away....Penguins. Never made the connection between penguins and Christmas until I saw the North Pole sign(s) at this home on Shadeland Avenue. With two north pole signs among the flock of seven or more penguins, do you think they might have been marking true north and magentic north?

Tag 2, An ice skating location.....

Lake Elizabeth in West Park, on the north side. Once the site of fabulous winter skating parties, if historical accounts are to be believed.

Now home to a bunch of very contented ducks, happy to have ice free water this late into December

Since I was late for that tag, I don't want to be responsible for selecting the next tage setters. Can someone else do that? Let's get the new tags set while we are still in 2011!

Not to worry, Sara, we'll get you in.

I'll do the honors again, and maybe this time I can line up a date and a day of the week correctly.

Round 32 results!

Tag #1: Holiday lights, set by jeg

Tag #2: Ice skating, set by Swalfoort

1. dwillen (tag 1)

2. Stu (tag 1)

3. Stu (tag 2)

4. RF (tag 1)

5. RF (tag 2)

6. jeg (tag 2)

7. edmonds59 (tag 1)

8. edmonds59 (tag 2)

9. Marko82 (tag 2)

10. Swalfoort (tag 1)

jeg's lights photo and Swalfoort's skating pics don't count because they set the tag. Still, we made it into double digits for this round, so I guess the game is doing OK!

Rolling the dice on random.org twice provides a 1 and a 3. So, dwillen and I get to set the tags for Round 33.

Round 33, Tag #1

Up High.

Take a photo with your bike up high. You don't have to climb Mount Washington or climb at all if you don't want to. The top of a hill, on a bridge, on the top floor of a parking ramp, etc.

Round 33, Tag #2.

Lighting.

Since we have over 14 hours of darkness, and what light we do have is dim, show us how you trick out your bike and/or your helmet with ways to make you visible to others on the roads and paths. Reflectors and reflecting material count, too!

Round 33 expires 23:59 Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Tag #1, Up high.



This is the top of the James Street steps, above Allegheny General Hospital.

Tag 1 - High Up

From the Hot Metal Bridge en route to the Icycle Bycycle Ride.....

Tag # 2, Lighting

This was a hard tag to get. I don't ride a lot at night, so this is my standard winter riding set up:

Knog lights set to flash on front and back (repositioned in photo for visibility) and 5 LED small headlight (also usually set to flash, unless I am riding in the dawn/dusk murkiness.

You can also see the sleeve of my hi-vis orange jacket (a sonic-lite running jacket that I love for cycling).

Tag 2: lighting and such

since most of my riding is done when it's dark out, and I'm usually dressed in black, I try to be as visible as possible.

Handlebars:

a Tri-LED light that's not the brightest, but had a noticable flashing pattern, and a cat eye that is really, really bright and blinks normally.

Rear facing:

a planet bike flashing light

Extras:

a reflective leg strap thing, reflective dots on my bike, giant reflective stickers facing to the front and rear of my panniers, another planet bike light for my bag, a hanging light/reflector that is also attached to my bag, and lights for my helmet also (front facing white light, rear facing red)

Tag #2, Lighting.

This is me from the back. Smaller one blinking on the helmet, larger one on solid on my coat collar.

Front of bike, I have a simple Planet Bike light. It's OK, but I'd like to add a 2nd.

The reflector from 1977 is still there, too, but I don't put much faith in that.

Pearl St, at the top of liberty Ave

Picture is of poor quality because my camera lens fogged up a bit, so I might take another tomorrow if I'm over there.

The tag-getters for round 33 were as follows:

1. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

2. Swalfoort (tag 1)

3. Swalfoort (tag 2)

4. RubberFactory (tag 2)

(StuInMcCandless' tag 2 was his own, so doesn't count.)

5. RubberFactory (tag 1)

Thanks to random.org, the tag-setters for round 34 will be 1. StuInMcCandless and 2. Swalfoort.

(Rant: I missed this tag because I was in Europe (Gdansk, Poland and Berlin, Germany to be exact) being envious of their bike (and transportation in general) infrastructure. Not fair. Next week I start a job in McCandless a few days a week, and I'm looking at a 2 hour bike ride each way, a 1:45 bus ride each way, or driving. I'll be driving, but I won't be happy about it. Why oh why is there not light rail to the northern suburbs!)

I had some nice ideas for the "high" one, but I loafed.

@Edmonds - yeah, yeah, but the tag was "up high" not just high....!

I thought about posting the photo of you on the 16th Street bridge during IBR as a tag, but never got around to it.

P.S. Using Edmonds' new math, I am at 1 for the year. You?

If you mean commuting in, no, I haven't gotten to 1 yet. We had some nice days, but sunrise is not yet where I'd like it to be for the suburban crap I have to traverse.

Round 34, Tag #1: Tire tracks.

Now that we have some snow, show your bike connected to some bicycle tire tracks in the snow. Ideally your own. Props to you if you rode the bike to make them. But I won't mind if you invoke a "Discretion is the better part of valor" philosophy, desiring not to get injured.

Round 34, Tag #2: Cannons!

I've been noticing that there are cannons all over pittbsurgh, for all sorts of reasons. Since Stu posted a "can do anywhere" sort of tag, I wanted to do more of a destination tag. So, take a picture of your bike next to a cannon, or a photo of a cannon. As I am not a military munitions expert, or even close, I'm willing to accept pretty much any large gun. And it can even be a picture or a logo of a cannon.

Likely places to find a cannon in Pittsburgh? Cemeteries, VFW Halls, parks, etc. I know of at least four locations where I can fulfill this tag, and there must be dozens more out there.

Dan, you should have no trouble participating in this tag!

Tag closes at 23:59 on January 26th.

tag 1

the big tracks are mine, obviously.

outside my house, 3:30am

Tag 2

Arsenal Park

It's really pretty out right now - a great opportunity to get tag #1, before pittsburgh weather destroys the snow, as it's done all of January.

In front of the Fort Pitt Museum. Love the cannon idea Swalfoort.

Sorry I didn't get my bike in this pic. I will try to do better next time.

@Dan, glad you like the cannon tag. I have to admit I had forgotten there were cannons at the Ft. Pitt museum....

P.s. your snow tag looks like you were having fun. Is that possible? Fun, in the snow, on a bike? Usually mildly terrifying, for me.

fun in the snow- I fell 5 times on a morning commuter a number of years ago, but since the snow was about 8 inches deep, it was fun.

I always have fun on a bike in the snow. Unless it's snowmageddon and they haven't plowed yet.

Yes, it was definately fun. I have to admit though I got caught in the snow yesterday. I usually don't bike when there's snow on the road for mild fear of a car sliding into me. It was perfect in the morning (I usually just stick me head out the door rather than listen to the news glorified weather forecasts). Good ol' rack n' roll for the win!

These don't count for the game since I set the tag, but I'll post them anyway. This is my driveway. Would have loved to actually go somewhere, but I needed to shovel this straightaway.

Note 2nd pic: The snow was deep enough for my feet to leave pedal marks.

Wow! hard going in the snow yesterday!

I was hoping to ride today, but it was too sloppy to even want to walk. I couldn't imagine riding in today!

Cannon tag:

US Maine Memorial in West Park (North Side)

Not technically a cannon, but I forget what it really is. But I think it meets the criteria for a really big gun, which was identified as an option when I set the tag.

Same gun, different angle.

The sheer size of the diameter gives an idea just how much hell these guns could/can raise. And this is the technology of 120 years ago. "Remember the Maine!" was the battle cry of the War of 1898.

From some sort of military advocacy organization down the street. Cannons pointing into the street, to clear the traffic jams.

Wow! when I think of cannons and boston, I think old historic stuff. Not fancy newfangled artillery in hig vis white. I guess I shouldn't stereotype a city in that way, huh?

I'm sure I could find some older stuff, but time is in short supply and I pass by these ones everyday.

I fractured my elbow a few weeks ago and still can't ride my bike, so I'm playing vicariously through everyone else! Tag getters for Round 34 were:

1. RubberFactory (tag 1)

2. RubberFactory (tag 2)

3. Spiritmonger (tag 2)

4. Spiritmonger (tag 1)

5. Swalfoort (tag 1)

6. Swalfoort (tag 2)

7. StuInMcCandless (tag 2)

8. dwillen (tag 2)

Random.org gives us 6. Swalfoort and 4. Spiritmonger as setters for Round 35.

Round 35, Tag #1: Bike Lane

Show your bike near a bike lane somewhere. Bike-Pgh has done a great job expanding our visibility on the roads. I know there a few of these somewhere haha. Being from the South Hills, I don't get to see/use these, I am curious where they are. I am looking forward to the day these will be on Washington Road. In the absence of a bike lane, a pic of your bike near sharrows is accepted too!

I've been saving this tag concept for "the dark dreary winter days of January and February" but it seems all wrong for a beautiful day like today.

Anyway, Round 35, Tag 2 is OBNOXIOUSLY BRIGHT

I was pedaling into town the other day and noticed a house that had trim that was so brightly painted that it was like day-glo. I've seen similarly bright obnoxious colors on whole houses, store fronts, etc. So, this tag is:

Go out and take a photo of your bike in front of something painted so bright it would be hard to miss.....

There was a recent tag in Tag a Rama that had a blue house that totally stood out in the photo, even though the photo was taken from a half mile or more away.

I realize the intensity of the color might not be clear if the photo is taken after dark, so we'll take you at your word for dark shots!

I've got a good one tag 2 tomorrow morning...and also tag 1!

Bike Lane at Ellsworth and Neville, Oakland.

I love these wheels. There are several obnoxiously bright tricked out cars parked here all the time - one I've seen with a female driver. Alder St, Shadyside.

[Edit] Note the roll bar inside, the metal hook coming out of the hood and the oddly positioned pipe under the front spoiler. Excuse my lack of carology lingo.

Tag 1:



Penn ave in the strip sharrows. I chose to take the picture there so that I could also send in the faded sharrows to 311.

Tag 2:

This is on penn ave in lawrenceville, and was once used in tag-o-rama

I love that blue sky mural!

Mine are less fun.....

Round 35, Tag 1:

Bike Sharrows on Brighton Road, just outside of West Park (that's my brake cable in the lower left corner.)

The great news is that on that ride I discovered that there are now sharrows on Merchant/Scotland as well (that's the connection to the North Side from behind the Trib Review/Clark Building.

Round 35, Tag 2 (my tag)

The downtown bike center meets my definition of BRIGHT. This was a second choice for this tag, but the one I had in mind was hard to get with my bike in the frame. This is bright, and is always a welcome site upon arrival in the morning.

When does Round 35 expire? I'm guessing 2 weeks from 23:59 on Jan 26, so, probably Feb 9 at 23:59?

Sorry, Stu! Setting the expiration for Round 35 was my responsibility.

Yes, Round 35 expires at 23:59 on February 9th.

@ Swalfoort - ("that's my brake cable in the lower left corner.")

I think that brake cable is in your "other" lower left corner (right?).

This was a little tough for be because I love color, so bright and obnoxious don't necesarily connect as directly. But someone in Crafton came through for me.

Wow! Yes they did!

Tag #2: Bright! Nola in Market Square, with the sun shining right on it.

Frankly, I'm having trouble finding a bike lane or sharrow between home and work. Precious few Downtown, none in the suburbs. Sure, I could wiggle over through the Strip or Brighton Ave, but when I'm in a hurry (before work) or it's dark (after work), I just don't feel like exploring.

@stu- I understand your dilemma. I had to come in on Brighton to get my tag. They come all the way down to the park, and include Scotland and Merchant now, if that helps. And, I've tried the shortcut from there that we discussed a few weeks ago, and it works, and is FABULOUS. The time savings might justify the small wiggle.

Or, what about the shared use sign on the Smithfield Street Bridge? That's (about) the equivalent of a bike lane, isn't it?

@stu - i am having trouble with both these tags (and i set one!). i may have to take a picture of this house down the street that's always lit up like a christmas tree.

@swalfoort - i will deem that shared use sign acceptable

Oh man, I completely crapped out on the bike lane part. Could have gotten something.

Didn't someone mention on here a while ago that bike lanes had been put down somewhere in Moon Twp? Couldn't find it.

In an alley half way up 18th street. I love the contrast between fence and house. Their dog doesn’t sound too friendly though, so it was a quick shot.

these houses are great. pittsburgh needs more garish colored houses to brighten up the grey and gloom.

eta: actually the Pepto pink is a little too much for me, but a different pink or other color could be fun

Tag #1, sharrows/signs/etc.: The aforementioned sign on the Smithfield Street Bridge.

One of my fav Pgh houses is the red/yellow/green cube house on the S.Side hill. Love that thing.

Tag #1, sharrows/signs/etc.: The aforementioned sign on the other side of the Smithfield Street Bridge. I had planned to get a pic of the sharrows over by the Aviary, but never got around to it.

Tag #2, Obnoxiously Bright: that's one bright jersey, gotta be obnoxiously bright to alert those texting drivers!

Bright in the low winter sun!

This sign looked new to me. Too bad they lead to crappy old toaster-racks in the bowels of the parking garage.



(@ the pathway between the rear of the oakland library & museums)

@edmonds59 - from my desk, I can see that house over on Mt Washington. I had planned on trying to get that for the color tag, and think I figured out where it is. It's not on StreetView. Somewhere off of Bailey & William, I think. But, alas, I settled for MktSq.

One of these days I'm going to ride up there and find it.

New tag setters, using Excel's =RANDBETWEEN(1,13) function yielded 1 and 9:

1 Edmonds59

2 Marko82

3 Pseudacris

4 Rubberfactory

5 Rubberfactory

6 Spiritmonger

7 Spiritmonger

8 StuInMcCandless

9 StuInMcCandless

10 Swalfoort

11 Swalfoort

12 TeamDecafWeekend

13 TeamDecafWeekend

Happy riding everyone!

Oh man, now I have to think. Ok.

Dang, that was easy. Tag 1; Since Pgh is losing it's stodgy smokey image and becoming "hip" (and since I are a architek), take a picture in front of a non-traditional new Pgh house. Modern, Post-modern, neo-modern, industrial. There are some great examples out there.

(out-of-towners, same criteria, don't want to exclude!)

And I will take the opposite approach. Tag #2: Old & refurbished in a grand way. Not just old, not just maintained well, but something that's 100ish years old and put to a new use, but still using the same structure. Some examples that come to mind: Church Brew Works, The Priory on the North Side, maybe a B&B in a renovated building like the one I took on page 3 of this thread.

Oh, how about if I set an expiration for this tag? Round 36 expires Friday, Feb. 24 at 23:59.

Still not back on the bike for that last round (okay, I could be by now, but the snow came back, and I'm really a crappy rider, and the last thing I need is to fall on my still-fractured-but-mostly-better elbow and hurt it again), but speaking of "bright", my house needs (to be) painted (if you get close enough, it's 3 different colors, and the siding and gutters leak), and I've been thinking either Safety Green or Blaze Orange. Mostly just for variety and obnoxiousness, but maybe it will also reduce the chance of a car hitting it.

Okay, assuming the snow and/or freezing rain stops sometime in the next 10 days, I'm back in the game for this round!

tried to post it at work, but it didn't work, so i will try again later

I've been doing it the long, hard way: Take picture with my cell phone, send it to my Gmail, log in to a sit-down-at-it computer, download the pic, upload it to Flickr, grab the code, paste it here, and trim off all but the IMG tag. This works pretty well for Wheelset. Tag-o-Rama, less so; I've been bruced a couple of times.

I take my camera with me, take pictures, go home, put the memory card into a card reader, put that into a computer, upload them to Picasaweb, then copy and post the image URL. Works for me, but it was way too slow for Tag-o-Rama, even when I had the free time to attempt to participate.

I've figured out how to streamline the process a bit, but it is still at least three steps from the time I take the photo: a) take photo with phone, b) upload from phone to Flickr, c) move to PC and get share link from Flicker d) copy to BP thread.

I can't get my phone to work in such a way that I can eliminate step c).

take camera and laptop with me (because even though I have a fancy phone now, I don't know how to use it), snap pic, find wifi signal, put card into laptop, upload, usually to tinypic or facebook, and post.

Tag 2: Old and Refurbished. The Landmark Building in Station Square, the P&LERR sign is still at the top. Formerly the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad Terminal Station, built in 1900, it was renovated to be an office building in 1984.

Tag 1: Non-traditional Pgh house. This is the one mentioned but not gotten last round (it's easier for me since I commute over Mt. Washington). It's off William Street in case anyone else is trying to get to it. I never noticed the sloped roof until today, pretty cool!

Very cool. But now I'm going to have to go higher up the hill for mine.

Another well known refurb, the Cork Factory, as seen from the Allegheny River Trail side of the building. Now apartments, was once a... cork factory, what else?

The rider going by was one of 17 Major Taylor riders - out for a great day in the city.

#1, 207 Bailey on Mt. Washingtron. I was in this house at a party once, it's sick cool. Non-traditional in more than one way.



Climbed up Greenleaf St on the back of Mt. Wash to get this pic. Then rode over and did Flowers/Tesla just for chuckles. 41 miles today.

#2 old/reuse: Morse apartments on Sarah St, S.Side. Was an old school house, converted. A very nice job.

@edmonds59. Greenfield... pretty impressive climb... and house. Morse Garden apartments - when I started my business, my first office was directly across the street in the second floor of a photography studio. I was there 8 years. It's a senior citizen apartment building. An ambulance showed up in that parking lot practically everyday - keeping the city paramedics busy.

edmonds59 - Drat! That's the one I was going to get. I was at its housewarming party! I worked for Pete & Steve for many years; Pete was my direct manager for a couple of them. Steve trained me in my job on Day 1. I guess you could say I helped them make the money that helped pay for that house. Yeah, wow, what a house.

This is why I get right in the faces of right-wingers about gay marriage and job creation. This pair of gents created 220 good paying jobs in metro Pittsburgh, and put food on my table for seven years.

Tag #1: New.

Two structures, the brand-new canopy or whateveryoucallit next to Hofbrauhaus on the South Side, looking across the Mon to one of the business buildings on Technology Drive on the old J&L Steel site.



Frankly, I'm not fond of the picture, but I was running out of light and riding with only one arm, so this was what I could do in a hurry. No guarantees I'll get an actual new-ish house between now and Friday, but I'll try.

Tag #2: Old.

This is a re-purposed church on Sidney St at South 21st Street on the South Side, now a law office.

Tag 2: The old is reborn as new.....

Sorry for the dark photo. Will try to get a better shot this weekend.

Former Ben Avon Methodist Church, now a private residence.

Tag 1: New housing in the 'burgh.....

New is relative, no?

downtown apartment living is still sort of new, isn't it? Here's the Encore, downtown.

Tag #1 - New House (not sure if I like it - even though I generally like contemporary stuff). After leaving the neighborhood, Shadyside, I wished I had taken a shot of other houses to show how incongruous this one is.

is that a house or a doctor's office? cripes.

I think this has been my favorite tag pair in a long time. Just wish more folks had contributed. There is so much cool stuff in this town!

Tags for Round 36 were #1 New architecture (edmonds59) and #2 Old refurbished architecture (StuInMcCandless). Contestants are:

1. Dan1981 (Tag 1)

2. Dan1981 (Tag 2)

3. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 2)

4. edmonds59 (Tag 2; his Tag 1 doesn't count since he set it)

5. StuInMcCandless (Tag 1; my Tag 2 doesn't count since I set it)

6. Swalfoort (Tag 2)

7. Swalfoort (Tag 1)

8. TeamDecafWeekend (Tag 1).

Random.org gives answers of 3 and 4, so TDW and edmonds59 get to be the tag setters for Round 37!

I agree, Stu. I had about 5 places in mind for the "old as new" tag. I had hoped to get over to the Warhol to get that tag, but the wind picked up on the day that I intended to go, so I picked something closer to home. My options included churches, schools, gas stations, office buildings, bars, theaters and firehouses that had been converted to new uses. That was cool. Not much in the way of new housing in my area, or at least in the areas where I bike out here. So, had to settle for downtown.

Round 37 Tag #1:

This may be a bit of a turn-off, but it's useful info. Tag the places us cyclists can stop for a bathroom break. It could be outhouses, restaurants, park bathrooms, nature, whatever.

Rnd 37, Tag #2:

Since this is on my mind as I look outside, get a pic in front of a travel agency, or other travel related feature. The more balmy sunny posters in the window, the better. (If someone was ambitious, that airport would be travel related, now that there's a trail )

Expires, I'm gonna say Friday, March 9, 11:59 pm.

is that a house or a doctor's office? cripes.

It's better than a vacant lot/construction site/big mess, which is what it was for most of the last couple years. Not saying it's not an eyesore in its own way, but a different kind of eyesore. (Also, when it was a construction site, it had a port-a-potty out front which was a convenient amenity.)

I like that house. I do think it's better to integrate into the neighborhood architecture though and not just plop down your dream house blueprints anywhere.

After seeing the "Emerald Glass" house in person, I felt that it integrates into its location very well, especially for as wacky as it is.

Tag 1, Bathroom Break: Huntington Beach with restrooms to the right & fire pits in the background to the left. A paved running/biking path runs along the wall in from of the white van. I don't know if this counts, though, as it was closed for the "season." Wimps.

Tag 2, Travel Related: Huntington Beach. This is basically the 'burbs, but all the arterials had bike lanes & easy beach access!

@Pseudachris - I'm sooooo jealous! I want to be there. I have the urge to "go" right now!

Do it! This is the off-season and the academy awards are over.

Tag 2: Travel? The closest I can get to that is the Cacti Room at Phipps

Tag 1: It’s not fancy, but the porta-potty at the end of the jail trail sure comes in handy

Honorable mention for Tag 2: Paige’s dairy opened today! Summer can’t be too far away.

This seasonally normal weather is killing me.

Marko your seat looks very small.

@edmonds, some of us can get away with that (pdomp bomp).

Tag #2, tropics-or-I-wish:

Palm trees, N. Shore Saloon, Federal St @ W Gen Robinson St.

Tag #1, no picture yet but I'll mention three:

a) The Shop & Save in Pines Plaza, Perry Hwy, Ross Twp

b) Giant Eagle, West View Plaza.

c) K-Mart, West View Plaza.

I just rode past all three on my way in this morning, and it never occurred to me to stop for a picture. I'll try to get one in before Friday.

EDIT: Over the weekend, I met in person a Twitter connection, a man from Seattle who was on vacation. He stopped in Pittsburgh on his way to Tampa. It would've been cool to get a pic of a live plane ticket from Pittsburgh to Florida. Oh well.

OK I'm gonna start playing this, I've decided. Please be patient while I remember how to post pictures.

Tag 1 - Not pretty or clean, but the port-a-johns in Point State Park are a good last resort.

Tag 2 - Liberty Travel on 5th Ave downtown.

Favorite bathroom break, always clean and nice. Camp. Climb. Cycle. Poop.



Pinky you bruced me on Liberty Travel!

@pinky - nice to have a new player!

Tag #2: It was such a nice day, I biked from Neville Island out to Pittsburgh International via the new Montour Trail Airport Connector.

More photos of the connector and other stuff.

Steven, thanks for posting the pics, it looks like a pretty good route. I'll have to ride out there sometime soon to check this out in person. I'm not sure that it meets Stu's pop-cicle criteria, but I'm glade they at lest did this for more mature/experienced cyclists.

My pleasure. Yes, the current route fails the popsicle test due to the Clinton Road segment. The bad part's short though. Most of the route is almost traffic-free.

The route is also not rail-trail-flat, but I'm sure most cyclists could manage it OK. There were two spots (including Clinton Road) where more signs would have been reassuring, so printing out the map is a good idea (though they may still be adding signs; not sure).

It's an interesting route.

Tag #1: Public restroom. As mentioned above, the public can use the restrooms in this Shop & Save. Pines Plaza, Perry Highway (US 19), Ross Twp. They're not real easy to find, so here are directions: Go past produce, turn right into the "back area" (normally employees only), restrooms on the right. Just act as if you belong there, nobody will ask any questions. Also a good place to pick up any supplies, generally cheaper than the Sheetz a mile up the road, too.

Round #38: WHoo! It's going to be a spectacular day, too nice to let this lull. There were 7 players last round, after running through the randomizer, new tag setters are

Marko and

Pseudacris

Did everyone spring forward?

Round 38 Tag #1:

I wanted to do a picnic-theme, but it looks like the weather's not going to be so conducive, except for today. Here's a slight variation on the theme.

BIKE-FRIENDLY BITES. Show us your favorite place to grab a bite to eat while out riding your bike. Maybe its a take-out window, maybe it's a favorite dumpster behind a bagel shop, maybe its a destination restaurant on a great ride with easy bike parking and flexible dress code. Bonus karma points for mini food reviews. If you're gonna post your favorite sheetz, the photo better be good.

Sorry I didn’t leave this earlier, but it was a good day to wake up early and stand in a stream waving a stick (i.e. I went fishing).

Round 38 Tag #2:

Last week I took a picture of my bike down at the point with that great big 13 star flag waving over the blockhouse. How about for this tag you get a picture of your bike with something waving or something wavy. Creative license is strongly encouraged.

Tags expire Sunday, March 25, 11:59 pm

If you're gonna post your favorite sheetz, the photo better be good.

Every Sheetz is my favorite Sheetz.

So my pictures suck because of the dark, but here we go.

Tag 1 Restaurant: Circle Inn in Crafton, 2 blocks from home so great after a ride. Here's my mini review: This is a classic Pittsburgh neighborhood dive corner bar. It's smoky, the bathrooms are weird, and they have IC Light on tap. But the people who run it are awesome, they have decent bar food, and they always throw parties for football games and holidays. Expect people in costume for Halloween, shamrock decorations this time of year, and a Christmas tree in December. Great down-home place. Nowhere near to lock bikes except to street signs, or the busway at the end of the block. So it's only really bike friendly because it's close to my house

Tag 2 Something Wavy: Wavy sidewalk on Main Street in West End.

With this ridiculously beautiful weather, many things have conspired to prevent me from riding this week. Bleh. Hope to catch up though.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WAVY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@Pseudacris - when you posted this^, you were just a few cranks away from getting the Tag-O-Rama tag under the 6th Street Bridge.

Tag 1 - Bike Friendly Bites: New Amsterdam, Lawrenceville, as seen with barkeep doin' the sweep. Try the Double Yoi Burger with ham cheese and a well-done dip egg on top.

Both tags in one picture! Less than 1/4 mile from my house, too!

Tag #1, restaurant: Adzema Pharmacy, 8100 Perry Highway in McCandless, has a full-service restaurant, open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

Tag #2, wavy: The sidewalk directly across the street at 8105 Perry, the building known as "The Executive", has another one of these wavy sidewalks recently in vogue.

Adzema could be a bit more bike-friendly, as there is no bike rack. If I bothered to lock up the bike (which I generally don't), I'd just use the gas meter in front. Elsewise just park on the downhill side of the parking lot. The lot is empty at the moment since it's 4:30 on a Sunday and they close at 2. The lunch counter is open to 2p most days.

Snack, this is probably my favorite place when I ride in on a Sat or Sunday morning. The carrot at the end of my stick is a latte and croissant:

Waves. Nothin wavier than waves. Though the waves were rather small:

But once I started looking for waves I couldn't stop. Concrete waves:

Radio waves. They're there. Trust me:

Steel waves. What a spectacular evening, it was as if the city was encrusted with jewels:

new bike @edmonds?

Not really. Got it new in 1983. Just don't ride it much. Yes, older than some people on here.

Stu, does Adzema's still have milkshakes? That was a staple of my teen years.

Here's the WQED OnQ story about the place.

From my son, who works there: "I think so. People don't order them often, but I've seen it done."

Here's the WQED OnQ story about the place.

@edmonds59 - great ideas and really nice shots, especially Point Park Overpass and Smithfield Street Bridge. Well described: "the city was encrusted with jewels."

Update on Adzema: There's a railing along the downhill side you can lock a bunch of bikes to.

Better wavy: Expansion joint on the Perrysville Ave bridge over I-279.

^ Good one, Stu!

Bike Friendly Eats - The Porch is a new Parkhurst restaurant on Schenley Plaza. I tried the "Harvest" pizza with butternut squash - it was goooood! Pizza & Beer before/after Flock rides, anyone? Draft selections available through the opening visible behind my stem. Plenty of indoor & outdoor seating & bike parking options surrounding the Plaza. Total disregard for the "keep off the grass" signs by hundreds of Pitt students yesterday.

Oh that sounds good. I would totally try the Porch.

Seriously, they put "keep off the grass" signs in a park? Is that temporary? Otherwise, WTF?

There's a park outside of Allentown called Trexler Memorial Park, where you are not permitted to play games, be on the grass, or do anything other than walk or jog around an asphalt sidewalk that loops around the entire park.

I always called it the no-fun-allowed park. I still just don't get the concept.

@salty: seriously! The entire lawn of schenley plaza is roped off (you can see the [ed-]waist-high rope in the foreground of my photo) and festooned with little signs that say 'keep off the grass'. The lawn was COVERED with small gatherings of scantily clad pedants...with many more stepping over or under the ropes the whole time I was there. There's also a sign with lengthy list of park rules set in ~24 pt type. I looked at the whole thing & shrugged. I guess they don't care what happens there so long as G20 is not being questioned.

@Pinky I believe those are called "Passive Parks". The parklet along Friendship Ave is one of those.

Actually, most of Point State Park is a "passive park" or used to be. I never understood the value. Ok, while I think Friednship Park would be a great place for games of tag, spud, flag football and the like, I understand that the noise might not be appreciated by the nearby hospital and patients. But not permitting a game of frisbee or a game of catch with your kid? Really? Do that many people need a green space in which to walk in circles (around the oval circumferance) or in which to sit and chat? Those seem to be the only permitted activities.

I don't see how it could be a noise issue, either: given the ambulances & helicopters in that area.

Re: the plaza.. they put the "keep off grass" signs up every winter, and take them down in the spring. I suppose the dormant grass + (usual) spring melt + troves of coeds quickly destroy their expensive sod.

They probably don't have a security guard yet, but in the summer he is there almost all the time. I've seen him yell at people for playing catch, frisbee, etc. on the plaza lawn. Laying around, soaking up the caner rays with your butt hanging out is perfectly acceptable though.

dan - ok, that makes sense, i was hoping this wasn't some new stupid rule now that eat & park has moved in.

as far as not playing catch, etc... i don't think that's too bad, at least not for that (relatively small and often crowded) space. there's plenty of room to play at flagstaff, the cathedral lawn, etc...

> "Pizza & Beer before/after Flock rides, anyone? Draft selections available through the opening visible behind my stem."

@pseudacris: a friend and i tried to sit outside at that bar window last week... after being ignored for 5ish minutes, we went inside and asked about service. they told us theyd send someone out. at least 10 minutes later, a waiter came up and told us that where we were was "not a functioning bar" (despite a countertop, barstools, and of course, tap handles in plain view) and that we would need to go inside to the host to get ourselves a seat. we left in disappointment.

i gotta admit, though, the location is great and i like the architecture and layout

I ate there once. Food OK, but very high priced. Service impersonal and a bit forced feeling.

I liked the food trucks better.

the greenspace thats there now is great, but the trucks were awesome -- good thing most of them moved up bigelow blvd a few blocks. has 'food truck' been a wheelset topic yet??

^ not specifically, but it does fit under "bike friendly bites" for this tag....

I miss the trucks, too. I'll have to look for the new location - sometimes I use the ones @ CMU. Weird about the bar / bad presumption on my part. I ordered inside, sat outside with a numbered tag and got food promptly. I like the food & seating better than the options presented at the permanent kiosks.

Taking off on Edmonds observations, I found these today:

Back in the day you could get a ‘permanent wave’ here

This is what a ‘post-crime-wave’ should look like

You can ‘do the wave’ here in the fall

Some of these heros might have been lost in the ‘first wave of battle’

…and I just stumbled upon this one

This series of tags took a long time to get participants, but wow, they're rollin' in now.

wave theme = awesome!

[edit] haha marko - the comment about being lost in the first wave of battle could be a caption for the image above or below!!

Round 38 results (tag 1=restaurant, tag 2=wavy):

1. Pinky (tag 1)

2. Pinky (tag 2)

3. Pseudacris (tag 2)

4. TeamDecafWeekend (tag 1)

5. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

6. StuInMcCandless (tag 2)

7. edmonds59 (tag 1)

8. edmonds59 (tag 2)

9. Pseudacris (tag 1)

10. Marko82 (tag 1)

11. Marko82 (tag 2)

Random.org gives results of 3 and 2, so Pseudacris and Pinky get to choose the tags for Round 39.

Round #39, Tag 1:

Since they're all around us and I like to look at pretty things, how about sending pics that show signs of spring? I like how everyone got creative with the wavy tag, so feel free to stretch your imaginations

Round #39, Tag 2:

TRIANGLES! triangular food, vanishing points, things leaning on other things on a horizontal plane, tabby's folding bike, etc.

Deadline: midnight, Wednesday April 11.

[edit: the triangles in your bike frame, of course. be creative!)

Woah, coincidence - at the meeting I went to last night, we did a go around question, which was "What is your favorite Triangular object?"

RF, I'm still on the lookout for one of those blue-triangle reflectors for you.

haha, I forgot about that! I scoured downtown when I noticed it was missing

Tag 1

Spring's version of snow - soooo much more comfortable to ride in than the frozen variety. Photo taken on Mt. Royal near Forward Ave.

@pinky - Great idea for Wheeelset, I was thinking about a similar tag idea had it been my turn. Lots of great looking signs of spring abound, happiness too.

Tag 2,

Triangles - this shot taken while acquiring my Tag-O-Rama image today [Sunday, 4/1].

Tag #1, signs of spring: Knotweed shoots!



This was taken in Riverfront Park during the Viking Ride picnic.

By July, these things will be taller than we are, an inch across at the base, poking out into the street, blocking trails, and generally making life miserable.

I hate invasives.

....said the viking to the knotweed... /rimshot/

Triangles!

Sign of spring!

Both the bus, and the green leaves on the tree across the street

Speaking of invasives, I have lately thought a strong case could be made that Homo sapeins is the most sucessful invasive species. So far.

I haven't spied too many "signs of Spring", maybe since I rode thru most of this winter, and it kind of felt like winter never really hit. But:

Mayapples in my back yard, distinctly spring, since these things only last very briefly:



Robin eggs under my deck, Springy:



Got some new Spring biking socks:



Lastly, my vastus mediali are coming back, woohoo!:

Triangles!

The best triangles are the ones on bikes.

a co-worker said that he learned to draw a bike because a bike is just two triangles that each have a wheel

Triangles are hard to find in the wild;



Point of a triangle:

that Homo sapeins is the most sucessful invasive species. So far.

+1

And not simply because they aid and abet most other species transfers that are invasive.

Triangles on the bottom deck of the Ft Pitt:

Signs of spring - my road bike out (yellow wheel on the far left) and fancy tri bikes and large amounts of spandex

Work with me on this one: How to cross a stream is an exercise in triangles. (Holding a bike. With a laptop slung over a shoulder. At night.)

The task at hand is to go from being properly grounded with both feet in one place to being properly grounded with one of those feet in another place. Sometimes the same foot moves twice, shifting weight a bit with the other but not moving.

EDIT: Crap, can't do

Climbing the rocky bank on the other side is similar.

Complications:

* Some of those rocks are wobbly.

* Sometimes water is higher.

* If water is high enough, the triangles involve placing both bike wheels in the water and vaulting from one shore to the other, with enough momentum to pull the bike along after making it across, i.e., not topple back into the stream.