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Play Wheelset of Fortune

Play Wheelset of Fortune!

This is a game that's all about riding to places and taking pictures, it's similar to Tag-O-Rama, but it includes many bicyclists posting images of the tag instead of a single individual's tag. It works like this:


[After 428 posts on this thread, the players of this game clarified the original rules. The next several paragraphs show the new instructions for participation in this game. Not playing yet? All are welcome, please join us!]


Each round lasts about 2 weeks. At the start of a round, you get tag instructions from two tag-setters. Each tag-setter will name a location or create a theme for the round.


Examples of themes and locations include:

Your bike in front of your favorite mural

Your bike at a high vantage point

A photo with your bike in which symmetry is present

Your bike with a deciduous tree, or forest thereof, in its autumnal glory!


Find a place that fits the theme and take a photo of your bike there. Then post the photo in this thread.


When the round ends, the tag-setters randomly choose new setters from the list of people who posted a photo in that round.


Setting tags:


Let's say Albert and Becky each set a tag in round 7. Becky, Chuck, Darla, and Ed find Albert's tag. Darla and Frank find Becky's tag. After the last tag for the round expires, one of the tag-setters (say Albert) makes a list like this:


Becky

Chuck

Darla

Ed

Darla (again)

Frank


The tag-setter then goes to http://www.random.org (or equivalent) and uses the random number generator to pick two random numbers from 1 to 6. If both numbers refer to the same person, pick the second again. Let's say 2 and 3 come up. Then Chuck and Darla are the new Setters, and each posts a new location and time, using the format below. The new round ends when the last photo expires.


To set a tag, you can just describe the place, or post a link to a map, or post a photo of your bike there. But it should be easy to find even for people new to town. This game is not about interpreting clues, just about riding to interesting places.


.....................................................................................


Click here for the List of previous tags


.....................................................................................


steven
2011-02-23 21:30:58

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


steven
2011-02-23 21:32:55

Agnes Katz Plaza




jeg
2011-02-25 16:26:50

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!


jeg
2011-02-25 16:27:51

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?


steven
2011-02-26 14:52:50

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


dwillen
2011-02-26 16:09:45

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


stuinmccandless
2011-02-26 19:29:41

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.


jeg
2011-02-26 19:52:23

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-02-26 22:28:15

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.


jeg
2011-02-27 03:59:18

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


greasefoot
2011-02-27 04:26:21

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.


steven
2011-02-27 06:55:52

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


jeg
2011-02-27 11:42:11

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-02-27 13:25:53



And a beautiful day this was for a ride.


ahlir
2011-02-27 19:19:08

    


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.


dwillen
2011-02-28 02:00:24

Lovely day for a ride…





marko82
2011-02-28 03:02:47

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


stefb
2011-02-28 03:39:06

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-02-28 08:55:01

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.


ahlir
2011-02-28 13:49:44

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.


dwillen
2011-02-28 13:59:47

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.


jeg
2011-03-02 16:05:16

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


dwillen
2011-03-02 16:17:40

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.


ejwme
2011-03-02 16:52:31

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)


dwillen
2011-03-02 16:53:10

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


jeg
2011-03-02 17:06:46

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.


jeg
2011-03-02 17:08:15

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.


dwillen
2011-03-02 17:12:52

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...


ahlir
2011-03-02 18:51:52

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.


dwillen
2011-03-02 19:41:55

Round 3; tag 2

Posted: Wed Mar 2 15:45

Expires: Sun Mar 6 15:45

Phipps Conservatory

info


ahlir
2011-03-02 20:42:57

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!


pseudacris
2011-03-03 02:51:32


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


dwillen
2011-03-03 17:00:50



Bruced! Or Dwillened! or something....


pseudacris
2011-03-03 17:20:32

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!


jeg
2011-03-05 00:05:39

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


pseudacris
2011-03-05 19:57:02

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.


jeg
2011-03-05 22:23:51

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


dwillen
2011-03-06 23:57:40

Round 4, tag 1

Posted: Sunday, Mar 6, 8:20pm

Expires: Wednesday, Mar 9, 8:20pm


Children's Museum of Pittsburgh


pseudacris
2011-03-07 01:21:43

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.


pseudacris
2011-03-08 13:02:06

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!


jeg
2011-03-09 01:45:05

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).


ahlir
2011-03-09 02:19:18

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.


dwillen
2011-03-09 02:39:01

Rules... bah. Just like manuals.


Well then, jeg gets to pick the next tag!


ahlir
2011-03-09 03:40:51

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



Whew, got home just in time!


jeg
2011-03-10 01:01:43

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


jeg!


pseudacris
2011-03-10 01:04:21

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


pseudacris
2011-03-10 01:06:22

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!


jeg
2011-03-10 01:19:36

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!


jeg
2011-03-10 01:29:29

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


P3120001


nfranzen
2011-03-12 18:03:05

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).


pseudacris
2011-03-12 21:30:13

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.


jeg
2011-03-14 01:56:53

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...


ahlir
2011-03-14 02:12:00

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.


pseudacris
2011-03-14 03:05:40

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.


nfranzen
2011-03-14 14:47:44

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.)


ahlir
2011-03-15 02:22:51

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. :)


jeg
2011-03-16 23:28:57

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.


pseudacris
2011-03-17 02:19:18

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


ahlir
2011-03-17 03:11:57

+1 on that.


pseudacris
2011-03-17 03:50:41

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?


dwillen
2011-03-17 13:43:03

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?).


pseudacris
2011-03-17 16:28:07

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!


dwillen
2011-03-17 16:42:41

Oh, makes sense, thanks!


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


pseudacris
2011-03-17 17:24:19

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.


jeg
2011-03-17 18:39:39

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


pseudacris
2011-03-19 16:40:06

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?


steven
2011-03-20 16:21:00

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.


dwillen
2011-03-20 20:16:31



dwillen
2011-03-20 21:09:22

Lake Elizabeth Monument

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




jeg
2011-03-20 21:24:33

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.


jeg
2011-03-20 21:27:47

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."


pseudacris
2011-03-20 21:50:34

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-03-20 23:17:02

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.


steven
2011-03-21 01:00:44

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


jeg
2011-03-21 17:01:15

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.


dwillen
2011-03-21 17:27:52

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.


steven
2011-03-21 21:29:23

Monument to the Steelworkers sculpture




jeg
2011-03-25 15:39:24

Butler Street Entrance to Allegheny Cemetary



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


jeg
2011-03-25 15:40:22

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.


cdavey
2011-03-26 05:08:43


The Surly returns to whence it came.


dwillen
2011-03-26 23:54:49

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


dwillen
2011-03-28 03:30:27

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!


pseudacris
2011-03-28 03:59:24

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


jeg
2011-03-28 09:20:44

'Light Up' by Tony Smith




jeg
2011-03-28 23:34:06

Brian Holderman mural downtown.




pseudacris
2011-03-29 00:34:02

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.


jeg
2011-04-04 02:10:03

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!)


pseudacris
2011-04-04 02:41:27

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


0404011137


Yay! In this game at last!


stuinmccandless
2011-04-04 20:20:01

:-D


pseudacris
2011-04-04 20:26:13

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.


edmonds59
2011-04-04 20:30:19

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]


steven
2011-04-06 03:43:37

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!


jeg
2011-04-06 14:22:43

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


steven
2011-04-06 15:54:55

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.




teamdecafweekend
2011-04-08 01:07:42

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.


jeg
2011-04-11 09:21:26

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


pseudacris
2011-04-11 11:40:26

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)


stuinmccandless
2011-04-11 19:45:10

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


Denver Street steps off Gold Way


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-04-12 15:28:25


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-14 00:22:16


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-14 00:49:49

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.


jeg
2011-04-14 02:48:51

Gallatin Street



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


jeg
2011-04-17 02:03:04

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?)


stuinmccandless
2011-04-19 00:37:34

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.


jeg
2011-04-19 01:35:23

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-19 02:03:53

0420011322


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-04-20 17:58:13

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


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


stuinmccandless
2011-04-21 19:41:36

@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!


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-21 21:00:54

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-04-21 21:18:33

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. :-)


steven
2011-04-21 22:33:42

Too nice a day to not pick up a tag :-)




marko82
2011-04-22 00:40:29

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-22 01:15:41


In the water - just downriver from Marko82


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-22 02:12:30

Nice pics!


ka_jun
2011-04-22 03:05:09

Morning Glory Inn




jeg
2011-04-25 23:33:34


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-26 01:12:01

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.


jeg
2011-04-26 13:14:43

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-27 03:05:13

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.


marko82
2011-04-27 12:21:21

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!


pseudacris
2011-04-27 19:01:51

@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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-27 22:50:55

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.


rubberfactory
2011-04-27 23:16:23

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


pseudacris
2011-04-27 23:30:40

@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



teamdecafweekend
2011-04-28 00:25:29

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...


pseudacris
2011-04-28 00:47:51

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-28 02:46:16

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-04-28 02:59:04

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.


salty
2011-04-28 05:26:00

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


rubberfactory
2011-04-28 08:07:53

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




marko82
2011-04-29 00:26:58

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


police_bike2


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

Police Bike 2


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-01 14:04:30

I stop here a lot!




marko82
2011-05-01 19:35:00

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.


jeg
2011-05-05 13:42:50

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.


pseudacris
2011-05-05 14:17:06

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):



teamdecafweekend
2011-05-05 21:10:14


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-06 01:35:25

Dippy




jeg
2011-05-06 20:43:15

That's a great photo, jeg!


pseudacris
2011-05-06 21:00:57

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


jeg
2011-05-07 00:04:33

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


stuinmccandless
2011-05-07 03:02:43

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-05-07 19:49:20

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-05-07 21:24:01

@ Stu

Thanks - I enjoy your insightful and informative posts.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-09 01:49:45

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...




marko82
2011-05-09 02:01:51

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



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


pseudacris
2011-05-09 02:08:05

@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?


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-09 02:42:23

New Trail




jeg
2011-05-09 22:56:59

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.


jeg
2011-05-12 19:10:49

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.


jeg
2011-05-12 19:19:56

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


Leaves of three...let them be.


pseudacris
2011-05-12 21:33:03

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)


pseudacris
2011-05-12 21:35:02

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


Poison ivy


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-05-12 22:14:29


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-13 21:03:20

Sure, it counts!


pseudacris
2011-05-14 13:27:04

Haha, most definitely!


jeg
2011-05-14 19:46:30

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-15 21:15:41

I think I'm 46 feet above Perrymont Road.


stuinmccandless
2011-05-16 00:37:29


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-16 02:09:23


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


Mmmmm, cofffffeeeeeee.


pseudacris
2011-05-17 00:45:45

Who won?


stuinmccandless
2011-05-21 22:49:07

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?


pseudacris
2011-05-22 01:27:36

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!


jeg
2011-05-22 02:13:06

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!


Azalea & Sarah's bike


Round 16, Tag 1

Posted: 09:30, Sunday, May 22

Expires: 9:30, Sunday, May 29


stuinmccandless
2011-05-22 13:33:01

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-22 14:02:44

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...




jeg
2011-05-22 23:48:19

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.


Fernwald over 376


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-23 00:41:42

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-05-23 01:11:50

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


pseudacris
2011-05-23 01:13:35

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.


jeg
2011-05-24 14:08:16

Federal at Lafayette


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-05-26 17:08:55

High Places Garden - Hill


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-27 02:05:58


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.


steven
2011-05-29 03:36:52

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-05-30 01:01:07

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. :-)


steven
2011-05-30 01:25:09

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.


jeg
2011-05-30 10:56:47

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


jeg
2011-05-30 11:00:31

40thStreet-Prison


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-05-30 20:36:16

Great photo!


steven
2011-05-30 23:27:03



Mexico City restaurant on Smithfield




Duquesne Incline to



PA American Water blockage on Baldwin Borough Trail


steven
2011-06-04 04:34:43

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.

North Shore Trail goose


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

North Shore Trail by old jail


stuinmccandless
2011-06-04 15:23:58

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?)


jeg
2011-06-07 12:16:06

Sure, another week sounds fine.


steven
2011-06-07 12:32:58

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. ???


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-07 16:06:09

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




marko82
2011-06-07 23:02:28

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!


jeg
2011-06-12 16:31:20

Western end of the GAP-gap trail:


Eastern end of the GAP-gap trail:



ahlir
2011-06-12 19:56:50

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.


ahlir
2011-06-12 20:49:37

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!


jeg
2011-06-12 22:50:20

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!


dwillen
2011-06-13 01:25:11

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.


jeg
2011-06-13 09:18:16

@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.


swalfoort
2011-06-13 13:23:07

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!


ahlir
2011-06-13 14:52:18

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. :(


jeg
2011-06-13 18:24:54

2011-05-26 18.57.26


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-13 22:13:05

Riverview Park entrance

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-06-14 09:45:19

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


tabby
2011-06-14 15:46:57

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?


swalfoort
2011-06-14 17:33:52

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).


stuinmccandless
2011-06-14 18:30:32


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-14 22:10:11

Garden Theater, North and Federal


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-06-16 03:35:23


"Birds Eye View" in Regent Square


tabby
2011-06-17 01:56:18

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-17 02:10:05

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


tabby
2011-06-17 12:41:31

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.




jeg
2011-06-19 15:40:43

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.


steven
2011-06-20 19:28:18

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-20 20:54:04

Schenley Park


Another favorite, Schenley Park.


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-22 23:53:30

I wish I hadn't lost my camera :(

this game is so playable and fun-looking.


rubberfactory
2011-06-23 00:16:14

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!


jeg
2011-06-25 21:04:00

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?


stuinmccandless
2011-06-25 21:31:58

PNC Park


PNC Park


teamdecafweekend
2011-06-25 21:32:12

new round? what's next?


tabby
2011-06-29 00:16:44

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-06-29 01:56:39

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.)


steven
2011-06-29 03:26:25

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).


jeg
2011-06-30 08:38:57

ConventionCenter


Convention Center, yep, LEED-certified.


teamdecafweekend
2011-07-01 01:39:49

FunHouseNorthSide


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-07-01 01:42:07

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

Buena Vista Coffeehouse bike rack


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


Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-07-01 13:37:38

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.


tabby
2011-07-01 13:41:21

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


sgtjonson
2011-07-01 13:44:50


a hasty picture, sorry.


tabby
2011-07-12 02:34:06

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


Stu and Tabby should set a new tag


sgtjonson
2011-07-17 03:26:56

someone should for sure.


rubberfactory
2011-07-17 03:34:38

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


tabby
2011-07-17 14:15:02

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.




tabby
2011-07-17 19:45:43

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-07-17 21:36:27

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-07-18 20:35:02

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

Complete Street

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-07-22 13:29:09

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.


tabby
2011-07-22 14:34:48

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-07-22 17:28:35

Streets


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-07-25 01:44:28

Point Park Fountain


@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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-07-25 01:52:35

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.


Katz plaza downtown


swalfoort
2011-07-26 01:48:10

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!


steven
2011-07-26 04:53:39

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


swalfoort
2011-07-26 13:51:30

My Streets tag:


IMAG0478


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.


swalfoort
2011-07-26 13:53:38

Here is my drinking fountain tag:


IMAG0479


@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.


swalfoort
2011-07-26 13:55:48

I found a protractor! #259!

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

Protractor #259


stuinmccandless
2011-07-28 02:30:42

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:




jeg
2011-07-28 09:22:51

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

Water fountain, DQ, Perrysville


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-07-28 20:21:50

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!


jeg
2011-08-01 14:16:16

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


swalfoort
2011-08-01 15:00:21

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.


swalfoort
2011-08-01 16:29:22

Tag 2. I couldn't resist!




jeg
2011-08-02 20:09:29

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.......


IMAG0485


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.


swalfoort
2011-08-04 19:40:28

WashingtonsIsland


Washington's Island:

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-05 01:44:55


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


steven
2011-08-05 05:12:18

Wow, that's beautiful.


swalfoort
2011-08-05 13:17:38

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


edmonds59
2011-08-05 13:43:56


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-06 21:34:19


...and looking the opposite direction.


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-06 21:36:53

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


swalfoort
2011-08-07 13:27:05

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.




marko82
2011-08-08 02:43:47

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


steven
2011-08-08 05:21:51

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

N end of Washington's Landing, looking upstream


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.

Edgerton Avenue at Dallas, looking west


stuinmccandless
2011-08-08 11:32:12

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…’


marko82
2011-08-08 12:20:22

Top.

OK, who's next?


stuinmccandless
2011-08-10 12:11:21

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.


swalfoort
2011-08-10 13:05:13

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.


steven
2011-08-10 15:41:01

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.


marko82
2011-08-10 18:06:20

@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.


swalfoort
2011-08-10 19:54:00

nanananaNanananananananaNa - Tag One!

Cranes in front of Mellon Institute

Batman filming cranes in front of Mellon Institute.


Tag, um, three? two?

Pond, West Park

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


stuinmccandless
2011-08-11 01:03:03

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.


swalfoort
2011-08-11 13:17:28

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


richw
2011-08-11 15:21:46

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


swalfoort
2011-08-11 16:14:14

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.


steven
2011-08-12 06:54:47

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.


edmonds59
2011-08-12 14:38:49

@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:


IMAG0492


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.


swalfoort
2011-08-13 23:46:34

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)


steven
2011-08-14 01:04:01

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-14 01:12:52

@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...


ahlir
2011-08-14 02:01:39

@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?


humblesage
2011-08-14 02:04:43

@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.


steven
2011-08-14 03:47:11

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


humblesage
2011-08-14 16:18:29

Bridge tag:


IMAG0497


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!


swalfoort
2011-08-14 17:01:08

BatmanStuff


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-14 19:37:34

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




marko82
2011-08-15 00:58:41

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.


ahlir
2011-08-15 02:54:34

Bridge of Sighs



ahlir
2011-08-15 03:03:27

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.


dwillen
2011-08-15 04:31:05

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.


pseudacris
2011-08-15 05:10:04

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-16 01:38:44

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


stuinmccandless
2011-08-18 20:14:52

@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)


sgtjonson
2011-08-19 21:01:36

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):


jeg
2011-08-19 22:50:46

Whoa, cool waterfall at 2nd Ave.


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-20 00:59:58

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.


steven
2011-08-20 03:33:33

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!


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-20 12:11:23

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


swalfoort
2011-08-22 02:57:53



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


edmonds59
2011-08-23 00:22:26

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.


Bike-locking techniques


stuinmccandless
2011-08-23 18:38:20

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!


jeg
2011-08-23 20:50:38

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.


jeg
2011-08-23 20:53:48

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)


sgtjonson
2011-08-23 21:32:49

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...


jeg
2011-08-23 21:42:06


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-08-27 18:43:41

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).


tabby
2011-08-29 01:16:59

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.


tabby
2011-08-29 01:20:39

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


jeg
2011-08-29 09:11:01

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.


jeg
2011-08-29 20:17:34

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.


tabby
2011-08-29 20:18:32

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.)


stuinmccandless
2011-08-29 21:18:31

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


tabby
2011-08-29 21:54:36


church brew works.

glad to be in the game!


rubberfactory
2011-09-04 22:21:48

^ 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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-09-04 22:26:05

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


rubberfactory
2011-09-04 22:28:59

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.


jeg
2011-09-05 17:49:36

Tag 1, repurposed church: Garfield Community Activity Center, N. Pacific at Dearborn.Re-purposed church in Garfield


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!

former Reizenstein school


stuinmccandless
2011-09-08 00:50:56

jeg? Tabby?


stuinmccandless
2011-09-13 02:12:38

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.


steven
2011-09-13 08:43:35

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.


jeg
2011-09-13 14:16:25

crap, I totally forgot to play last round :/


tabby
2011-09-13 14:29:05

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?


rubberfactory
2011-09-13 22:28:48

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

Western end: West Park bridge, western end


stuinmccandless
2011-09-14 17:29:03

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.


rubberfactory
2011-09-16 08:14:12

Great post, RubberFactory!


jeg
2011-09-16 10:32:53



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.


edmonds59
2011-09-17 19:54:41

Wood St or smithfield?


rubberfactory
2011-09-17 22:24:15

Pic was at Wood st.


edmonds59
2011-09-18 00:49:59

FtPittBridgeUnder


Under my favorite bridge - Ft Pitt.


FtPittBridgeAbove


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!


teamdecafweekend
2011-09-18 03:42:40

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.






jeg
2011-09-19 20:14:37

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.





steven
2011-09-20 04:56:07

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".


salty
2011-09-20 05:00:26

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


edmonds59
2011-09-20 10:21:38

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-09-20 11:01:56

IMAG0539


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.


swalfoort
2011-09-21 15:29:57

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!


swalfoort
2011-09-22 15:30:06

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. :-)


steven
2011-09-22 18:56:06

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-09-22 19:46:19

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.


Bikes September 2010 085


swalfoort
2011-09-23 13:48:29

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


stuinmccandless
2011-09-24 13:25:14

2011-09-27 18.42.03


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-09-29 02:37:57

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!)


jeg
2011-09-29 18:29:54

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 :P


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


sgtjonson
2011-09-29 18:31:26

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!


jeg
2011-09-29 18:59:22

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.


salty
2011-09-30 17:31:04

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

A rainbow of flowers!

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-09-30 23:50:55

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.


swalfoort
2011-10-01 13:14:48

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.


edmonds59
2011-10-01 14:41:18

+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?


swalfoort
2011-10-01 16:42:34

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-10-01 19:50:48

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.


swalfoort
2011-10-06 18:52:51

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?


stuinmccandless
2011-10-06 20:11:23

2011-10-06 16.33.47


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-07 01:16:33

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


swalfoort
2011-10-07 01:41:46

@Sara ^


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


Shot that a week ago.


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-07 02:26:08

Oops, my bad.


swalfoort
2011-10-07 02:43:25

::crickets::


stuinmccandless
2011-10-09 13:13:53

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


swalfoort
2011-10-09 15:32:08

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-10-09 17:42:36

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!)


stuinmccandless
2011-10-09 17:46:14

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


Tag expires: Sunday October 23, 2011. Midnight.


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-10 01:28:09



pseudacris
2011-10-12 02:39:09

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-12 02:53:18

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.




steven
2011-10-13 15:26:34

Tag 1, Deciduous tree




jeg
2011-10-13 21:58:39

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 :)


rubberfactory
2011-10-14 00:29:15

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


steven
2011-10-14 09:58:56


Halloween on Mt Washington. Greenleaf Street.


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-15 23:53:23


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


Awesome fall day!


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-16 00:00:09

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

Bav3


edmonds59
2011-10-16 18:38:57

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


swalfoort
2011-10-16 19:21:17

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


IMAG0010


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!


swalfoort
2011-10-17 13:49:40

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


IMAG0014


swalfoort
2011-10-17 13:50:40

Tag 1, tree: Perry Hwy near CCAC North.

Autumnal colors and a fire bush


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.

Ghosts around the tree


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-10-18 17:00:56

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-10-18 22:31:00


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 :)


dwillen
2011-10-22 20:46:19

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-10-22 21:04:29

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


marko82
2011-10-23 00:57:10

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)


swalfoort
2011-10-26 15:11:29

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)


dwillen
2011-10-26 16:26:19

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!


pseudacris
2011-10-27 02:24:02

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.


IMAG0058


swalfoort
2011-10-30 01:20:51

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


stuinmccandless
2011-11-02 17:54:28

Tag #2, Farmers' Market.


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




jeg
2011-11-02 20:08:29

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!)


pseudacris
2011-11-02 20:12:15

Symmetry! Ooooh!



pseudacris
2011-11-02 20:20:25

Love it!


dwillen
2011-11-02 21:37:19

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




pseudacris
2011-11-02 21:49:48

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


steven
2011-11-03 02:27:20

^ Agreed - nice images Pseudacris, real nice!


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-03 02:31:13

^ :)


edmonds59
2011-11-03 10:19:12

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!


pseudacris
2011-11-03 10:47:58

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:




rubberfactory
2011-11-05 00:43:43

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.




marko82
2011-11-05 04:34:00

symetry


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-06 23:28:06

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!


swalfoort
2011-11-06 23:44:56

^ What Swalfort said to Dan, ditto.


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-06 23:47:05

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


jeg
2011-11-07 15:46:03

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

Your bike in or on a BIG PILE OF LEAVES!


pseudacris
2011-11-07 18:44:18

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).


rubberfactory
2011-11-07 22:11:49

leaves


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-09 00:29:21

^ nice!


Here's a skyline view of downtown:


And a "skyline" shot of Occupy Pittsburgh:


Great morning for riding!


pseudacris
2011-11-09 15:26:01

@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?


swalfoort
2011-11-09 15:40:27

@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)


pseudacris
2011-11-09 16:45:40

skyline


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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-10 00:50:16

HillDistrict


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-11 01:46:43

Nice shots @TDW!


pseudacris
2011-11-11 12:26:43

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.


jeg
2011-11-11 21:59:57

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).


dwillen
2011-11-12 18:57:43

^ Nice shot. No hills there?


Here's another late photo:




pseudacris
2011-11-12 22:42:24

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.


pseudacris
2011-11-12 22:53:53

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!


dwillen
2011-11-12 23:20:11

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-13 14:18:39

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.


rubberfactory
2011-11-13 16:36:55

Tag #2 Graves

Creepy_grave


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!


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-14 00:32:33

Tag #2 Graves

headless_gravestone


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-14 00:35:55

Tag #1 Bike Parking

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-14 00:39:59

Woah, nice find with the bird nest!


pseudacris
2011-11-14 03:20:58

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.


helen-s
2011-11-14 18:13:33

#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.



edmonds59
2011-11-14 19:09:47

My bike usually lives in one of these two places:



in my beaten up living room or



In front of The Big Idea


rubberfactory
2011-11-14 21:38:47

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-14 21:45:24

I'm cool with whatever :)


rubberfactory
2011-11-14 21:50:24

+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.


stuinmccandless
2011-11-15 03:03:07

Those changes are fine by me.


pseudacris
2011-11-15 04:26:22

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


marko82
2011-11-15 04:50:34

Welcome to the Slow Wheelset movement, Marko!


pseudacris
2011-11-15 04:56:43

Yeah, feeling kinda lazy lately.


marko82
2011-11-15 04:58:59

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!


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-17 03:30:17

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.


jeg
2011-11-18 01:09:45

Summer Parking at home:


IMAG0101

Year Round Parking downtown:


IMAG0099


swalfoort
2011-11-18 01:11:03

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.


Smithfield bike rack


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.

Christopher Cowen grave, Downtown Pittsburgh


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:

Cowen marker


Cowen full gravestone


stuinmccandless
2011-11-21 01:51:33

@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?


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-21 04:16:50

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...


salty
2011-11-21 04:45:26

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.


steven
2011-11-21 06:09:10

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-11-21 08:53:40

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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-21 13:57:27

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.


IMAG0119


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


swalfoort
2011-11-26 00:03:49

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.




dwillen
2011-11-27 00:10:57

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.


jeg
2011-11-27 14:51:00

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


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


stuinmccandless
2011-11-27 15:25:23

I second your suggestion! More clarity!


jeg
2011-11-27 15:54:31

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.


jeg
2011-11-27 22:42:18

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.


jeg
2011-11-27 22:43:59

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-11-29 03:46:02

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.


dwillen
2011-11-29 04:09:32

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.


swalfoort
2011-11-29 12:53:44

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


stuinmccandless
2011-11-29 13:57:08

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


swalfoort
2011-11-29 14:39:08

north-shore


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-04 15:17:25

holly


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-04 15:19:47

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!


swalfoort
2011-12-04 19:44:37

StillBlooming12-4-11


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.


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-04 21:17:00

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


atleastmykidsloveme
2011-12-04 21:37:55

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.


ahlir
2011-12-04 23:08:07

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!


IMAG0159


swalfoort
2011-12-05 15:09:02


The landscaping kale(?) is still blooming.


dwillen
2011-12-09 07:02:12

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.


swalfoort
2011-12-09 15:33:47

Is that edible kale?!


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


jeg
2011-12-09 18:02:43

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.


dwillen
2011-12-09 19:03:58

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...


jeg
2011-12-09 19:33:14

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!

Dandelion puff


stuinmccandless
2011-12-10 18:16:26

Tag 1, off-limits



No bikes on I-376!


jeg
2011-12-11 16:49:02

Tag 2, plants' last hurrah



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


jeg
2011-12-11 16:50:38

^ Mums, I think. (chrysanthemums)


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-11 21:28:40

Kale? What about Kallé?

Also, this.


ahlir
2011-12-12 00:33:06

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?)


jeg
2011-12-12 00:44:14

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


ahlir
2011-12-12 00:48:04

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.


swalfoort
2011-12-12 01:48:04

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.


ahlir
2011-12-12 02:05:26

Tag 2, I think.


Some of these roses are still in bloom!


some are dying, though :(


rubberfactory
2011-12-13 01:17:06

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-13 03:27:25

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-12-14 02:58:58

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.


jeg
2011-12-14 22:37:02


:)

just kidding, I'll go outside tomorrow!


rubberfactory
2011-12-14 23:17:17


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.


dwillen
2011-12-15 00:00:24

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.


swalfoort
2011-12-15 14:07:59

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!


dwillen
2011-12-17 01:55:59

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

Christmas lights at 2516 Perrysville


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

PPG Ice Rink


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.


stuinmccandless
2011-12-22 03:50:24

^ 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:



rubberfactory
2011-12-22 21:23:03

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


marko82
2011-12-22 22:02:25

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


rubberfactory
2011-12-22 22:08:38

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.


jeg
2011-12-23 19:50:42

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.


jeg
2011-12-23 19:52:08

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

1

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

3

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

2

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


edmonds59
2011-12-24 22:04:02

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


teamdecafweekend
2011-12-25 00:59:29


SouthSide temp rink - from a different angle.


marko82
2011-12-26 21:45:02

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!


stuinmccandless
2011-12-28 23:06:48

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?


IMAG0188


swalfoort
2011-12-30 16:06:03

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


IMAG0191


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


swalfoort
2011-12-30 16:07:59

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!


swalfoort
2011-12-30 16:09:42

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-12-30 17:41:07

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.


dwillen
2011-12-30 18:24:27

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.


stuinmccandless
2011-12-30 19:02:10

Tag #1, Up high.

James St steps

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


stuinmccandless
2012-01-01 23:31:04

Tag 1 - High Up


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


IMAG0192


swalfoort
2012-01-03 15:05:49

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).


IMAG0198


swalfoort
2012-01-06 19:11:18

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)


rubberfactory
2012-01-06 19:59:29

Tag #2, Lighting.

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

Image033


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.

Image029


stuinmccandless
2012-01-11 14:09:46

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.


rubberfactory
2012-01-12 22:43:57

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!)


jeg
2012-01-13 10:17:47

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


edmonds59
2012-01-13 11:37:42

@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?


swalfoort
2012-01-13 14:46:27

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.


edmonds59
2012-01-13 15:40:07

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-01-13 16:59:58

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.


swalfoort
2012-01-13 18:42:33

tag 1



the big tracks are mine, obviously.


outside my house, 3:30am


rubberfactory
2012-01-14 22:38:05

Tag 2



Arsenal Park


rubberfactory
2012-01-19 20:00:08

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.


rubberfactory
2012-01-19 22:50:36

Photobucket


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


dannyduck
2012-01-20 01:17:38

Photobucket


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


dannyduck
2012-01-20 01:25:52

@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.


swalfoort
2012-01-20 12:41:42

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.


helen-s
2012-01-20 15:24:17

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


rubberfactory
2012-01-20 20:28:59

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!


dannyduck
2012-01-20 21:12:17

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.

Image028


Image029(1)


Image031


stuinmccandless
2012-01-21 22:07:34

Wow! hard going in the snow yesterday!


IMAG0226


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


swalfoort
2012-01-23 18:37:52

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.


IMAG0231


swalfoort
2012-01-24 15:44:32

Same gun, different angle.

Image034


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.


stuinmccandless
2012-01-24 16:34:07


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


dwillen
2012-01-26 15:59:18

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?


swalfoort
2012-01-26 17:14:52

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


dwillen
2012-01-26 17:24:11

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.


jeg
2012-01-30 01:18:49

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!


dannyduck
2012-01-30 02:30:12

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!


swalfoort
2012-01-30 16:08:23

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


rubberfactory
2012-01-31 00:58:22

SharrowAtEllsworth


Bike Lane at Ellsworth and Neville, Oakland.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-02 00:18:10

neon_wheels


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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-02 00:21:04

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


rubberfactory
2012-02-03 19:55:27

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.


IMAG0242


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.


IMAG0244


swalfoort
2012-02-03 21:20:34

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


stuinmccandless
2012-02-03 22:21:27

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


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


swalfoort
2012-02-04 16:10:45

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


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


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-05 03:51:33

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.



edmonds59
2012-02-07 16:21:33

Wow! Yes they did!


swalfoort
2012-02-07 17:01:06

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

Image044


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.


stuinmccandless
2012-02-09 14:54:09

@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?


swalfoort
2012-02-09 15:57:45

@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


dannyduck
2012-02-09 18:43:50

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.


edmonds59
2012-02-09 19:11:23

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.




marko82
2012-02-09 19:51:23

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


tabby
2012-02-09 20:02:55

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

Image045


stuinmccandless
2012-02-10 00:10:34

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


edmonds59
2012-02-10 00:46:42

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.

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-02-10 00:58:10

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

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-02-10 01:00:10

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)


pseudacris
2012-02-10 02:08:30

@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.


stuinmccandless
2012-02-10 07:41:16

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


edmonds59
2012-02-10 11:52:24

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!


dannyduck
2012-02-10 14:30:54

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!)


edmonds59
2012-02-10 15:01:56

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-02-10 17:01:08

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


stuinmccandless
2012-02-10 23:32:47

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!


jeg
2012-02-14 20:14:27

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


dannyduck
2012-02-16 16:20:20

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-02-16 17:09:27

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.


jeg
2012-02-16 18:40:49

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).


swalfoort
2012-02-16 20:49:19

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.


rubberfactory
2012-02-16 21:38:11

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.

Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App


dannyduck
2012-02-17 00:03:54

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!

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-02-17 22:25:16

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


edmonds59
2012-02-18 05:26:51

CorkFactory


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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-18 21:13:25

#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
2012-02-18 23:35:23

@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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-19 15:33:06

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-02-19 15:42:57

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.

Image049

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.

Image050


stuinmccandless
2012-02-23 00:24:27

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.


IMAG0258


swalfoort
2012-02-24 14:26:21

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.


IMAG0255


swalfoort
2012-02-24 14:28:26

2012-02-23 15.18.23


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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-24 23:10:47

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


dmtroyer
2012-02-25 02:00:06

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!


stuinmccandless
2012-02-25 04:14:18

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!


stuinmccandless
2012-02-25 19:37:18

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.


swalfoort
2012-02-25 19:39:53

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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-02-25 21:20:07

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.


edmonds59
2012-02-25 21:45:48

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.)


ieverhart
2012-02-28 20:27:27

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.


tabby
2012-02-29 14:58:05

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.


edmonds59
2012-02-29 15:37:32

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!



pseudacris
2012-03-01 15:52:12

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


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-02 01:03:11

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


pseudacris
2012-03-02 01:55:14

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.




marko82
2012-03-04 00:22:11

This seasonally normal weather is killing me.

Marko your seat looks very small.


edmonds59
2012-03-05 12:45:37

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


marko82
2012-03-05 14:41:17

:D


edmonds59
2012-03-05 14:53:44

Tag #2, tropics-or-I-wish:

Palm trees, N. Shore Saloon, Federal St @ W Gen Robinson St.

Image043


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.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-06 17:53:39

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.




pinky
2012-03-07 14:04:33

Favorite bathroom break, always clean and nice. Camp. Climb. Cycle. Poop.



Pinky you bruced me on Liberty Travel!



edmonds59
2012-03-07 16:42:40

@pinky - nice to have a new player!


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-07 19:53:15

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.


marko82
2012-03-08 18:03:31

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.


steven
2012-03-09 06:17:25

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.


Image038


stuinmccandless
2012-03-09 16:23:06

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?


edmonds59
2012-03-11 11:52:49

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.


pseudacris
2012-03-11 16:20:29

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


marko82
2012-03-12 01:24:56

If you're gonna post your favorite sheetz, the photo better be good.

Every Sheetz is my favorite Sheetz.


reddan
2012-03-12 01:29:27

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.



pinky
2012-03-15 13:18:13

With this ridiculously beautiful weather, many things have conspired to prevent me from riding this week. Bleh. Hope to catch up though.


edmonds59
2012-03-15 13:50:02

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~WAVY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




pseudacris
2012-03-18 11:56:04

@Pseudacris - when you posted this^, you were just a few cranks away from getting the Tag-O-Rama tag under the 6th Street Bridge.


NewAmsterdam


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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-18 18:25:59

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.


A wavy sidewalk and someplace to eat.


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.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-18 20:38:11

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:



edmonds59
2012-03-19 01:06:55

new bike @edmonds?


pseudacris
2012-03-19 01:11:37

Not really. Got it new in 1983. Just don't ride it much. Yes, older than some people on here.


edmonds59
2012-03-19 01:19:35

Stu, does Adzema's still have milkshakes? That was a staple of my teen years.


pinky
2012-03-19 12:52:23

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-19 16:35:05

@edmonds59 - great ideas and really nice shots, especially Point Park Overpass and Smithfield Street Bridge. Well described: "the city was encrusted with jewels."


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-20 00:51:07

Update on Adzema: There's a railing along the downhill side you can lock a bunch of bikes to.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-20 11:04:24

Better wavy: Expansion joint on the Perrysville Ave bridge over I-279.

Expansion joint on the Perrysville Ave bridge over I-279.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-21 11:44:34

^ 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.




pseudacris
2012-03-21 12:24:58

Oh that sounds good. I would totally try the Porch.


edmonds59
2012-03-21 13:25:11

Seriously, they put "keep off the grass" signs in a park? Is that temporary? Otherwise, WTF?


salty
2012-03-21 13:40:41

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.


pinky
2012-03-21 14:13:37

@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.


pseudacris
2012-03-21 14:33:20

@Pinky I believe those are called "Passive Parks". The parklet along Friendship Ave is one of those.


pseudacris
2012-03-21 14:35:33

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.


swalfoort
2012-03-21 14:41:00

I don't see how it could be a noise issue, either: given the ambulances & helicopters in that area.


pseudacris
2012-03-21 14:47:58

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.


dwillen
2012-03-21 15:19:43

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...


salty
2012-03-21 15:57:51

> "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


melange396
2012-03-21 20:57:54

I ate there once. Food OK, but very high priced. Service impersonal and a bit forced feeling.


I liked the food trucks better.


mick
2012-03-21 21:15:53

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??


melange396
2012-03-21 21:29:28

^ 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.


pseudacris
2012-03-21 23:12:56

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




marko82
2012-03-22 21:28:11

This series of tags took a long time to get participants, but wow, they're rollin' in now.


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-23 00:38:45

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!!


pseudacris
2012-03-23 15:02:49

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-28 10:20:20

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 :)


pinky
2012-03-28 13:10:13

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!)


pseudacris
2012-03-28 19:45:38

Woah, coincidence - at the meeting I went to last night, we did a go around question, which was "What is your favorite Triangular object?"


rubberfactory
2012-03-28 20:01:34

RF, I'm still on the lookout for one of those blue-triangle reflectors for you.


stuinmccandless
2012-03-28 20:12:51

haha, I forgot about that! I scoured downtown when I noticed it was missing :-/


rubberfactory
2012-03-28 20:20:54

SpringBlossoms


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.


teamdecafweekend
2012-03-29 01:29:23

triangles


Tag 2,

Triangles - this shot taken while acquiring my Tag-O-Rama image today [Sunday, 4/1].


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-01 21:27:47

Tag #1, signs of spring: Knotweed shoots!

Knotweed sprouts

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.


stuinmccandless
2012-04-01 22:44:14

....said the viking to the knotweed... /rimshot/


pseudacris
2012-04-02 03:45:31

Triangles!



pseudacris
2012-04-02 17:42:20

Sign of spring!


Both the bus, and the green leaves on the tree across the street



rubberfactory
2012-04-02 20:57:19

Speaking of invasives, I have lately thought a strong case could be made that Homo sapeins is the most sucessful invasive species. So far.


helen-s
2012-04-02 22:39:22

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!:



edmonds59
2012-04-05 00:20:28

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


rubberfactory
2012-04-05 00:23:37

Triangles are hard to find in the wild;



Point of a triangle:



edmonds59
2012-04-05 20:11:23

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.


mick
2012-04-05 21:12:22

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 :)



pinky
2012-04-06 12:39:47

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

tags or onMouseOver & onMouseOut scripts. Oh well, we'll just go with the marked up photos.



Climbing the rocky bank on the other side is similar.

Creek crossing 9B


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.


stuinmccandless
2012-04-06 22:12:12

^ nice! Also makes me think of the string game "cat's cradle"


pseudacris
2012-04-07 15:41:05

Hey, wow, time to spin the Wheelset of Fortune:


Signs of Spring

1-TDW

2-Stu

3-RF

4-Edmonds

5-Pinky


Triangles

1-TDW

2-Pseuda

3-Edmonds

4-RF

5-Pinky

6-Stu


random .org says the new tag setters are


Tag 1: TeamDecafWeekend

Tag 2: Rubber Factory


pseudacris
2012-04-12 21:40:44

Oh boy, gotta think. I'll come up with something by tomorrow.


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-13 02:30:46

Won't be home til 3pm, but I'll have a tag ready by then.


rubberfactory
2012-04-13 08:59:21

Well, I'll set a tag.


Get a picture of your bike near a "welcome" sign in your favorite neighborhood.


rubberfactory
2012-04-14 00:02:40

Tag 2

I hope we haven't had this before. Statues. Any kind will do, from yard art to commercial buildings, churches to public parks. Statues.


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-14 00:16:22

Tag #1: Welcome to Larrytown! by 40th St Bridge.

Welcome to Larryville, by 40th St Bridge


Tag #2: "Le Magnifique" statue of Mario Lemieux, by Consol Energy Center.


Observation: The Hill District has no statues, at least none I could find. Neither did I see a "Welcome to the Hill" sign anywhere. Though I will admit not to doing an exhaustive search, I did bike around in the Hill for a half hour on Saturday.


stuinmccandless
2012-04-15 12:10:19





This game is fun to play while traveling. I hope dwillin will drop a few pics from Boston....


pseudacris
2012-04-15 14:08:23

Well it's less of a welcome than a directional sign, but it's nice to show West End some love:



And I have a love/hate relationship with this statue/sculpture. One one hand, it looks fab with my bike. On the other, it never fails to scare the bejesus out of me when I run on this trail :)




pinky
2012-04-17 18:51:40

@ pinky and anybody else who cares...


In the background of your welcome sign is a business called Artifacts. In their parking lot your image shows a white sculpture that you can see about halfway up the right-hand post (just to the right of your welcome sign post). That sculpture was seen in Tag-O-Rama, my post # 267 (August, 2011). I've reposted below. It was actually just a decorative way to say "New Tag" around another statue that is just a few feet behind the white sculpture.


Artifacts = awesome place, cool statues:


art_tag


rusted_ancient_babe


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-18 02:44:39

So, oh yeah, I got carried away describing the statues, but what I wanted to say was... pinky, your Welcome Sign counts as a Sculpture Tag in my book ;-)


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-18 02:50:51

And thanks, Psuedacris, for the distant posts. it's fun for us too!


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-18 02:56:24

Two for one!

I've always wanted to go into Artifacts but I fear places with fragile things - I'm not a terribly graceful person.


What's the vibe like inside? OK to wander around and look and leave, or is it more...formal and stuffy?


pinky
2012-04-18 11:21:35

My tag (Doesn't count!)


I love Bloomfield. Everything about it. Even the things I hate.


Tag 2:


In front of the church on Liberty in Bloomfield


rubberfactory
2012-04-18 14:31:05

Photobucket

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-04-19 02:53:20

Hey did anyone say when this expires? Been sick all week and haven't ridden at all.

Pinky, where's that cut-out figure?


edmonds59
2012-04-19 11:05:11

I should have added the expiration, sorry. Let's call it Sunday April 29, midnight.


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-19 14:14:44

It's called The Unkillable Human, and it's on the North Shore Trail. Half of it was stolen in 2009, but later recovered.


steven
2012-04-19 16:33:24

@pinky - sorry to respond so late. The vibe at Artifacts is somewhere between over-the-top gaudy rich man's place and weird, funky, fantastic designer eye-candy. You have to see it someday.


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-21 09:44:56

No problem - I've been MIA this week since I started a new job. Maybe I'll check out Artifacts next weekend since this weekend is booked up with family stuff.


pinky
2012-04-21 10:26:20

BedfordWelcome


Tag 1

A favorite place to take photos with great views. Breezy enough today for the flags to show their message.


teamdecafweekend
2012-04-23 00:23:35

Here's another Tag #1! How many welcome signs are there in a language other than English, in addition to this one?


Witamy do Polish Hill!


Under the Bloomfield Bridge on Melwood.


stuinmccandless
2012-04-26 02:24:40

There's a couple other 'Witamy do Polish Hill' signs, but those are the only ones in town I know of not in english.


Did anyone think to get any pictures with the 'Welcome to Highland Park' signs on the keg ride today? (I didn't...)


epanastrophe
2012-04-28 22:13:41

P1000744

Tag 1 Best to enjoy this neighborhood from a distance.


P1000772

Tag 2 A monument to fixedies.


renny
2012-04-30 18:49:50

^ tag 2 = awesome, Renny!


Time to set up another round - Round 41.

Tag-getters from round 40:


1.

StuInMcCandless

Pseudacris

pinky

TeamDecafWeekend

RubberFactory

Dan1981

Renny


2

StuInMcCandless

Pseudacris

pinky

TeamDecafWeekend

RubberFactory

Dan1981

Renny


Random number selection chooses the new tag setters as:

pinky and Dan1981


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-02 20:51:59

Round 41, Tag 1


Inspired by a bunch of other active threads, let's get animalistic. Take a picture of your bike with an animal or something reminiscent of an animal.


I'm thinking cat in a trailer, wild goose babies on the trails, sculptures, graffiti, zebra striped bikes, etc. Too bad I'm not setting this in June - Furries would count, too :)


pinky
2012-05-03 13:08:20



Piglets!!!


pseudacris
2012-05-04 11:24:55


My kitty at the Humane Society. He is not. Happy. Trying to push himself through his cage.


rubberfactory
2012-05-04 22:00:09


2012-05-05 00:23:08

steeld55, let me help. I assume you have an image URL that begins with http and ends with .jpg. Change the square brackets to angle brackets in this:


[img src="http://www.yourwebsite.com/path/to/your/picture.jpg"]

And then you can go back and edit that, if it isn't working.

stuinmccandless
2012-05-05 00:26:04

No it does not end in jpeg how do i convert it?


2012-05-05 01:16:46

@steeld55: most of what's on this page should help. If you go to wherever your picture is hosted, right click on the image, and select "Open Image", your browser should display the image link that ends in *.jpg in the url bar.


2012-05-05 01:29:24



I took this pic and tried to post just 3 min before Rubberfactory posted his humane society picture.

Thanks for all the help. I'm on my phone, no computer that's y it was so hard.


2012-05-05 01:46:04

There's no hurry in this game. In fact, since Dan1981 hasn't even posted what Tag 2 is yet, we don't even know how long this tag will be open. Usually a week or two. Lots of time to find a cool shot, maybe even take several and pick the best, or the best couple.


stuinmccandless
2012-05-05 02:38:13

Sorry for the delay folks.

Round 41, Tag 2: Fountain. Take a pic of your bike near a cool fountain or another type of water using structure (i.e. the water wall at Point Park). Happy riding everyone!

Deadline: May 19th at midnight


dannyduck
2012-05-05 08:54:17

^^^^^^^^ "... just 3 min before Rubberfactory posted his humane society..."


Hey RubberFactory, looks like you changed genders recently!


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-05 12:35:19

haha. My username is not gender-specific. And even on other boards where my username is just "Erica," most people still read it as "Eric" and assume I'm male.


Anyhow, I'm excited about the fountain tag. I don't suppose a pool counts, does it?


rubberfactory
2012-05-05 17:38:32

FWIW, I didn't know RF was female until after about 15 posts. Geez, that was a long time ago. We have some truly awesome people on this board; she's one of them. She gets laws changed and is 100% car-free. I wish I could say as much for myself.


For that matter, I don't know steeld55's gender, nor do I need to. We're all in this biking thing together.


stuinmccandless
2012-05-05 17:40:41

> I don't know steeld55's gender, nor do I need to. We're all in this biking thing together.


+1.


epanastrophe
2012-05-05 19:36:45

Sorry for mixup RF didn't get a chance to go thru the and introductions thread yet.


2012-05-05 22:15:39

went for a joy ride thru town and took this fountain pic.



2012-05-05 22:18:40

no worry on the mix up, I wouldn't expect anyone to go through the whole intro thread and remember who is who.


rubberfactory
2012-05-05 22:36:45

Untitled

Tag 2 A two-for-one on water features, of sorts. (I didn't want to put my bike on or in the memorial so the water doesn't really show.)


renny
2012-05-06 04:06:34

FountainOFish


Another double tag - both a fountain (of sorts) and animals. Big, colorful carp and goldfish just chillin'.


Most regular trail riders will recognize this location - about 2 miles from the point, on the Ohio River Trail


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-07 01:14:40

That is so neat. I would like to go there.


rubberfactory
2012-05-07 06:59:25

Isn't that by the boat docks? It's someone's pond its closer to the state pen.


2012-05-07 12:04:27

^ Yes, near some of the boat docks, but not as far from the Point as the state pen. If you know where the trail is squeezed down to a narrow opening by one of those yellow gates - it's right beyond there. You can see the gate in the background. It seems to be the boat dock manger's house/office.


Not shown in the pic is a copper stork watching over the pond. Sign says "don't feed the fish."


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-07 12:59:15

When I ride past this place I daydream about living there. I'd love to live by the river.


edmonds59
2012-05-07 13:30:41

Except when it floods- one of the houses along the trail was pushed off its foundation a few years ago.


helen-s
2012-05-07 16:34:21

Wow, @ TDW - I love your fish photo!


pseudacris
2012-05-08 16:11:18

The overfed birds in Market Square. They will even try to eat a cigarette butt (not mine) lol.

PhotobucketThe aformentioned, relatively new water wall at Point Park (no, I did not already have this pic when I set the tag).

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-05-08 20:57:36

Tag #2: Riverview Park water fountain. I post this because the obviously easy to find fountains out in front, by the playground, do not work. You have to go behind the building, towards the pool, to find this one, which runs 24/7.


Riverview Park fountain by pool


stuinmccandless
2012-05-09 02:45:16

Animals - geese and seagulls at the point. Nothin more Pgh than seagulls.



Although I think the seagulls followed me;



Fountain - two two two fountains in one, Gateway Plaza;



I feel a little bit guilty having so much fun on my commute, feel bad for those poor pissed folks in the cars. Oh wellz!


edmonds59
2012-05-09 13:13:18

Those statues are so creepy! I ran through Gateway this morning and it was like they were peering out of the bushes at me.


pinky
2012-05-09 13:37:35

jumping in with both wheels, er, feet:


lion-head sculpture on dead Magee fountain in front of Carnegie Library main branch in Oakland (does anyone know how long it's been since this thing was on?) Big Schenley fountain at Frick Arts building visible in background.


Bonus:



The aforementioned Schenley fountain. It's hard to tell here, but the sprayers around the circumference of the dish are all turtles. I think there might be some fish among the cavorting humanoids as well.


epanastrophe
2012-05-10 04:33:56


The pony ride at South Park, Corrigan Drive near Brownsville. No customers today; it was too cold I guess.


steven
2012-05-11 08:06:19

Tag #1: Critters!

Small groundhog


This little guy was chowing down on knotwood shoots as I crept up. Just off of Perrysville Ave is not where I expected to find groundhogs.


stuinmccandless
2012-05-12 01:20:44

P1000806

Tag 1 He's in there somewhere.


renny
2012-05-13 06:15:23

That must be in the "West End", ha, ha!


edmonds59
2012-05-13 13:17:51

Might be the Mexican War Streets.


reddan
2012-05-13 13:48:02

+!


edmonds59
2012-05-13 14:11:13

That is accurate for my pic, taken at the top of Buena Vista St, just up from my Tag-o-Rama tag photo.


stuinmccandless
2012-05-13 14:25:40

Tag 1: Pitt Panther outside the student union



Tag 2: Fountain (non-functioning, boo) in Schenley Park by the log cabin




marko82
2012-05-13 16:17:08

Tag 1: Animal(ish)


IMAG0417


swalfoort
2012-05-15 01:51:08

Tag 2: Fountain - the Waltzing Waters of Station Square!


IMAG0418


swalfoort
2012-05-15 01:52:19

Tag 1: Running the Goose Gauntlet on the North Shore



The geese will hiss and chase you if you get too close to their babies. Actually, they will hiss and chase you if the babies wander over towards you. Or if they just don't like the looks of you.


pinky
2012-05-15 12:40:50

@Pinky - better you than me, girl! I hate those dang geese!


swalfoort
2012-05-15 16:57:52

The baby geese are getting big. this one was taken not even a week ago.


2012-05-15 17:05:37

I know - they scare the crap out of me when I'm running. One actually chased me earlier this season when it decided that it owned the middle of the path. I'm fine giving them space, but when they stake out the entire trail, it's a little hard to get by.


pinky
2012-05-15 17:27:58

Yeaa on a nice day when your biking the trail, bikes are on both sides and they decide to stop everyone.


2012-05-15 18:11:18

Tag #2 Fountain (or wading pool - you pick)




pinky
2012-05-16 00:47:45

Is there an expiration date on the current tags? I'm visiting my hometown and they apparently have a new BIKE SHARE! I'm hoping to ride around tomorrow and get some pictures.


2012-05-16 22:38:51

Expiration is May 19th at midnight, per the message on the previous page of this thread that announced the second category. (I'm not sure if that's the start of May 19th or the end, though. Saying 11:59 PM or 12:01 AM is clearer.)


Tag 2: Fountain or water-using structure



Water feature at PNC Firstside


steven
2012-05-17 00:48:50

Yo Steven, that is an awesome gif! Nice!


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-17 01:55:48

Thanks! (Wish I'd brought a tripod though.)


steven
2012-05-17 04:15:59

^ How many shots?


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-17 12:54:16

Totally off topic—Jay, you're from East Tennessee? Me too! If only Chattanooga would teach Knoxville something about how to be nice to bikes...


2012-05-17 13:25:39

^ How many shots?


I used movie mode on my old Canon A530 camera, then used VirtualDubMod to crop, rotate, and select a run of frames in the middle that had no pedestrians. Then I used a web site to turn the .avi file into a gif.


steven
2012-05-17 15:36:45

^ Cool, Steven. Check out these outrageous gifs - part video, part still shots. Just some parts of each shot are animated gifs.


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-18 02:30:14

Sorry to be so OT, but this is cool...A gif from the site linked above.




teamdecafweekend
2012-05-18 03:19:19

@JaySherman5000

@Steven

Round expires 5/19 at 11:59pm


dannyduck
2012-05-18 14:05:38

So, I was all excited to use the bike share, but apparently it's not open yet because the city can't figure out how to make the rental kiosks work. Maybe I'll get in on the next round.


2012-05-20 04:27:07

New tag setters are RubberFactory and pinky!

Pseudacris

steeld55

steeld55

RubberFactory


Renny

Renny

TeamDecafWeekend

TeamDecafWeekend

Dan1981

Dan1981

StuInMcCandless

StuInMcCandless

edmonds59

edmonds59

buffalo buffalo

buffalo buffalo

Steven

Steven

Marko82

Marko82

Swalfoort

Swalfoort

pinky

pinky


dannyduck
2012-05-21 13:34:56

OK I'm having a hard time thinking of one, so let's do this:


Tag#1: Signs that don't make sense. They can be badly spelled, badly placed, or just confusing. I have one in particular that I'm thinking about - maybe some of you can help me make sense of it once I post it.


pinky
2012-05-21 14:51:39

I can think of a couple dozen bus stop signs that list a bunch of bus routes that no longer exist, and none that do. (Couple dozen is being conservative.) The bigger problem is getting both a bike and that outdated "blade" in the same shot.


stuinmccandless
2012-05-21 16:12:45

@pinky - great tag suggestion. I just saw one this morning that I question every time I see it. Now all I have to do is bike to it to get the tag (I usually see it from the bus).


swalfoort
2012-05-21 16:14:21

Considering I just ordered a hoagie for dinner, I'm gonna say to get a pic at your favorite place for a sandwich (this would be tough for me, because I'm instituting a one-picture-only rule, and there's a million great sandwich places in this town).


rubberfactory
2012-05-21 20:26:48

OK here's my pic for Tag#1. Main St in West End, part of the West End Circle.


Every time I see this, all I can think is, "Why?"


Am I supposed to dismount and walk the 25 yards to the traffic light? Dismount to cross Main where 51 comes in? The sidewalk is wider than many driveways until the trestle. If anyone knows the logic here, please share.



(Edited to add an img tag, rather than an imc tag.)


pinky
2012-05-22 00:34:01

I've never noticed that sign! I guess I'm usually in the far right lane hammering in traffic. Kind of tricky to dismount at 20 mph.


edmonds59
2012-05-22 02:23:34

P1000777

Tag 1 I actually took this a few weeks ago (is that illegal?), but it fits the theme, I think. Not sure if Texans are being encouraged to drive in a friendly manner or if Texas is driving friendly - possibly both.


renny
2012-05-26 13:39:53

^ Just about anything is legal on Wheelset, IMHO. I can't help but to think in a Texas/southern accent as I read your sign.


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-26 13:45:40

Tag 1 - This makes no sense at all. Why walk bikes here? Southside Trail. I also can't make sense out of the sideways post - I have no idea why it's not upright. Once posted, I decided to leave it sideways so that nothing makes sense.




teamdecafweekend
2012-05-26 19:10:00

Those are the signs I thought about putting up! I have never understood those. IMO they ought to come down.


edmonds59
2012-05-26 19:59:45

ditto what edmonds59 said


stuinmccandless
2012-05-26 20:22:55

Tag 2 -Sandwich - Mancini's in the strip. Pepperoni roll, $5 - this made a perfect reward for picking up a tag earlier this morning.


mancinis


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-27 19:12:17

Haha, you missed me by just a few hours! I worked until 10 this morning.


rubberfactory
2012-05-27 19:19:44

@RF - worked at Mancini's? It was my first visit.


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-27 19:55:47

Yeah, I've worked between the Strip District and Market Square locations since 2009


rubberfactory
2012-05-27 20:01:02

^ Great coincidence that I picked your place of work for your sandwich tag! I had no idea you worked there. Something unexplained pulled me in to Mancini's.


teamdecafweekend
2012-05-28 02:43:54

I just wanted to take a moment to show off about how I made all the fish and octopodes in the window out of bread. That is all.


rubberfactory
2012-05-28 04:38:24

I am particularly impressed with your use of the less frequently used plural version of octopus!


helen-s
2012-05-28 17:40:39

"Yard Limit" sign on the Montour Trail.

Photobucket


dannyduck
2012-05-29 16:24:38

This thread has made me aware that I don't actually have a favorite sandwich shop. Surprising.


edmonds59
2012-05-29 17:13:29

Mine would be a four-way tie between Spak, Peppi's in the strip, Angelo's on Liberty, and The Sandwich Shop on Liberty (I'm actually not a huge fan of their sandwiches, but I love eating there for their other food)


rubberfactory
2012-05-29 18:57:07

yeah, i have a feeling we might end up with a lot of spak pictures this round...


[photo dropped. crappy picture, and then i realized it was ineligible anyway. will try again later, maybe in daylight.]


epanastrophe
2012-05-29 20:25:13

Tag #2: Can a burrito be considered a sandwich? Chicken Latino, 21st Street in the Strip.

Chicken Latino


stuinmccandless
2012-05-30 10:48:50

I vote yes, burrito = sandwich. I'm pretty sure a taco is a sandwich also.


edmonds59
2012-05-30 11:25:16

So is a pizza :)


But basically, I'll accept anything that quick service, but not quite fast food (in my eyes, this includes all hoagie/pizza/mexican places) and is traditionally eaten with your hands (I've seen burgers that had to be eaten with a fork/knife, hence "traditionally")


rubberfactory
2012-05-30 12:45:32

Tag#2

OK it's not a sandwich, so this one shouldn't count when we tally up this round...but...OMG FESTIVAL FOOD IS COMING!


I love festival food!




pinky
2012-05-31 12:16:34

Did we ever set an expiration for this round?


stuinmccandless
2012-06-09 14:02:59

Doesn't look like it, so let's give everyone 24 more hours. Tag expires Monday, June 10 at 6:28 a.m.


pinky
2012-06-10 10:29:29

Nice just in time, I seen a nice oxymoron sign last night.


2012-06-10 12:55:31

I haven't been on a decent ride in 13 days, and today is looking to suck as well, so I don't think I'll be contributing.


edmonds59
2012-06-10 13:27:14

TAG 1



I seen this is new At my local mcD's and do the mess up that often to have you park to wait for your drive Thru? I just don't get it?


2012-06-11 03:12:25

Tag 2 PEPPIsubs



Love the phantom with egg onion and steak.


2012-06-11 03:15:29

I think "Drive Thru Parking" means "After you get your food at the drive-thru, park here to eat it." If some driver chooses to motor on down the expressway with one hand on a Big Mac and the other on a shake, don't blame McDonald's (or, much more importantly, sue them).


steven
2012-06-11 04:43:09

New tag setters are steeld55 and TeamDecafWeekend.


Here's the list of player for this round:

pinky

Renny

TeamDecafWeekend

TeamDecafWeekend

Dan1981

StuInMcCandless

steeld55

steeld55


*Edited to add that I hope I did this right.


pinky
2012-06-11 13:17:58

TAG #1 time for summer, and the longest day of the year. So this tag is the best way you would show summer.


2012-06-11 18:20:29

Tag #2 Hmmmm, we've sort of done this, but now with a slight variation... and this is a good chance for a double tag with steeld55.


Gardens - From urban vegetable gardens to country rows of corn, from flower plantings at homes to big public displays - Gardens.


Maybe a bonus if you find an urban chicken coop.


teamdecafweekend
2012-06-13 02:30:29

@TDW - are you suggesting people might want to participate in the urban chicken coop ride this weekend?


swalfoort
2012-06-13 13:12:24

Holy crap is the weather spectacular today! I finally got to ride in today after a long drought, and the city looked like a sparkling jewel. In HD. If I was the Guy In Charge of Everything I would declare that everyone take off work today. Unless someones life depends on it, you better have a darn good explanation for working. A person only gets a too finite number of days like this in a life, don't screw this one up.


edmonds59
2012-06-13 13:20:32

Dang, now I wish you WERE the Guy in Charge of Everything. And that you had ridden in and posted that message two hours ago!


swalfoort
2012-06-13 13:35:48

FWIW, I got a flat on my way in, but Love Bikes was closed when I got there, so oh gee darn, I have to sit in Crazy Mocha and use their WiFi to connect to the office. Kinda cool to see people amble by, gawking at my flat, while I putter away on my Linux server problem.


Meanwhile, Urban Chicken Coop Ride?! Where do we sign up / meet? Or is this just a Get Together and We'll Ride All Over Tarnation Until We FIND a Chicken Coop ride?


stuinmccandless
2012-06-13 15:10:26

Stu, I have some tools, patch kit and/or 26x 1 3/8 tube right upstairs, pm or cell me.

Do you have a son working in the building? I see a guy that looks just like young stu coming and going.

(edit, popped downstairs to see but I must have just missed.)


edmonds59
2012-06-13 15:26:35

@Swalfoort - well, sort of. I got the idea from the ride.


Some details:

CHICKS-IN-THE-HOOD

2nd Annual Pittsburgh Urban Chicken Coop Tour

Sunday, June 17, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


The 2nd Annual Chicks-in-the-Hood, Pittsburgh Urban Chicken Coop Tour, is a one-day, self-guided urban chicken coop tour comprised of volunteers who are enthusiastic about showing how chickens and urban agriculture are thriving in the North Side and East End neighborhoods of the City.


Two guided Bike Tour options are available: North Side tour starts at 9:15 a.m. at Thompson 0.08 Acres and the East End tour starts at 9:15 a.m. at Animal Nature in Regent Square.


Tickets ($10) will be available the day of the tour at (1) The Quiet Storm www.qspgh.com at 5430 Penn Avenue in Friendship/Garfield; (2) Tazza D’Oro www.tazzadoro.com at 1125 North Highland Avenue in Highland Park; (3) Animal Nature www.animalnature.net at 7610 Forbes Avenue in Regent Square; (4) Thompson 0.08 Acres at 1240 Resaca Place, Pittsburgh 15212; and (5) Choderwood at 7665 Lock Way West, Pittsburgh 15206, located at the Highland Park Dam at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Allegheny River Boulevard. Questions? Contact Jody via email noblechoder@aol.com.


teamdecafweekend
2012-06-13 16:27:51

Tag #2: Garden. This one is at the corner of Brighton and West Ohio on the North Side.


Flower garden


stuinmccandless
2012-06-14 20:59:28

This might be cheating, but here's MY garden!



Note the crazy tomato cages. I wanted to buy expensive ones from Burpee, but the hubby thought they were, well expensive. So he spent an afternoon with the nail gun and some cheap furring strips.


From this view, you get the tomatoes, peppers, luffa, beans, and just the edge of the zucchini. Oh and my road bike, rarely glimpsed in this game :)


pinky
2012-06-15 12:24:20

Nice, pinky, alright hubby!

Plant some marigolds and garlic in that perimeter too. They help repel nasty buggers w/o chemicals.


edmonds59
2012-06-15 12:56:35

Oh marigolds are a good idea! Where it's all dirt and weeds, that's a little slope that doesn't grow much. It had huge privet hedges on it when we moved in, and I think the soil ended up very acidic there. But marigolds are pretty tough buggers.


I also want to add that I rode my bike to/from work, and took this picture when I got home. So it's not like I just wheeled my bike out of the garage to the garden :) I was legitimately sweating when I took this one.


pinky
2012-06-15 13:11:31

pinky, I think that pic legitimately counts for both tags. A, it's a garden; B, it's what you do for summer fun. That, and riding the bike.


Edit: Given that the last time I saw you in person you were on crutches, I'd say you're doing quite well this year so far!


stuinmccandless
2012-06-15 13:40:22

I agree with stu that can count as both tags. Do you get any groundhogs around your garden pinky?


2012-06-15 14:41:28

Thanks everyone - I'm sure I'll find signs of summer all around anyway. Though the picture is really 2 of my favorite things.


Stu, the ankle is coming along. It can still be touchy, but the crutches are happily gathering dust.


steeld - no dirt pigs yet (fingers crossed). No deer in prior years, but the warm winter may change that for this summer. The little plastic fence is mostly for the teenagers.


(Totally hijacking the thread now) I've heard great things about motion-activated sprinklers for groundhogs. My sister trap/releases them but that only goes so far.


My biggest problem is bugs since I don't use sprays or chemicals. Cutworms took out the baby asparagus this year.


pinky
2012-06-15 15:56:31

Google "companion planting", all kinds of info. Ooh, get some coriander (cilantro) in there, helpful and delicious.


edmonds59
2012-06-15 16:05:00

Pool-SignOSummer


Tag #1 - Sign of Summer - Pools Open. I was here too early in the day to catch suit-clad swimmers.


teamdecafweekend
2012-06-17 17:51:03

Garden-Northside


Redonkulously beautiful garden in Northside - Tag #2


teamdecafweekend
2012-06-17 17:53:00

Signs of Summer tag:


summer tag 2


Fountain diving near Heinz Field


swalfoort
2012-06-18 13:36:38

This is in response to an outdated tag. I just had to post it even though the tag has expired. Parking for Steeler Stadium construction only? Really? Is there something going on at Heinz Field that I don't know about, or are there a bunch of construction workers out there really milking this free parking on the North Side thing?


signs tag


Edited to add: I have nothing against construction workers, of course.....


swalfoort
2012-06-18 13:41:25



Garden on Northside's Perry south in a old baseball lot I grew up playing in.


2012-06-18 19:47:30

I was looking for something different so...

tree garden on South Side trail



marko82
2012-06-18 20:22:21

Summer - ya gotta regatta! Apologies to the runner I caught in the pic, though if you look farther back to the right, it looks like they're getting ready to make the giant sandcastle.




pinky
2012-06-20 12:31:56

I dont think a end time was set so how about wednesday the 27th at 4pm.


2012-06-20 13:11:16

Some garden shots, Oakland neighborhood:


1) The Kraus Campo.


2) Awesome spot behind the Carnegie Library lecture hall. I think it may be plants that the bees @ the museum enjoy. If someone here can identify the giant plant (ulock included for scale), I'd love to know what it is!






pseudacris
2012-06-20 18:59:32

Sign of summer BOATS, BOATS, more BOATS.


2012-06-27 02:31:56

@Steeld - and not a kayak in sight? That's just plain WRONG!


swalfoort
2012-06-27 12:55:50

@hyla - no flowers on the tall plant? I would have guessed datura of some form, but most that I have seen recently have been in full bloom with large trumpet shaped flowers.


Datura are herbaceous, leafy annuals and short-lived perennials which can reach up to 2 meters in height. The leaves are alternate, 10–20 cm long and 5–18 cm broad, with a lobed or toothed margin. The flowers are erect or spreading (not pendulous like those of the closely allied Brugmansia), trumpet-shaped, 5–20 cm long and 4–12 cm broad at the mouth; colors vary from white to yellow, pink, and pale purple. The fruit is a spiny capsule 4–10 cm long and 2–6 cm broad, splitting open when ripe to release the numerous seeds. The seeds disperse freely over pastures, fields and even wasteland locations.


Datura belongs to the classic "witches' weeds," along with deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake. Most parts of the plants contain toxic hallucinogens, and datura has a long history of use for causing delirious states and death. It was well known as an essential ingredient of love potions and witches' brews.[2]


The word datura comes from the Hindi dhat?r? ("thorn apple"); record of this name dates back to 1662 (OED). Nathaniel Hawthorne refers to one type in The Scarlet Letter as apple-Peru. In Mexico its common name is toloache.


The larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species, including Hypercompe indecisa, eat some datura species.


swalfoort
2012-06-27 12:59:32

At 10am there was nothing in the water.


2012-06-27 13:45:11

Wow, that description makes me want to study such things.


edmonds59
2012-06-27 13:55:24

Note that if this is datura, all elements of the plant are extremely toxic. Ingestion of a relatively small number of seeds can be deadly. Cattle seems to know to stay away from it, but will yound students? Hopefully, it's not datura at all....


swalfoort
2012-06-27 14:22:08

@ Swalfoort, I think these are way out of the height range for datura. I may have missed the flowers this year and last. Also, I don't recall the spiky balls.


In the past, I have noticed a mighty datura growing out of the flower box in front of the hairdresser shop at S. Dallas & Forbes Ave.


[edit] the plants in my photo get 10 ft + tall. They are really nice shade.


pseudacris
2012-06-27 17:46:03

New tag setters! #8 Marko #7Pinky

#1 Stu

#2 Pinky

#3 TDW

#4 TDW

#5 Swalfoort

#6 Steeld

#7 Marko

#8 Pinky

#9 Pseudacris

#10 Steeld


2012-06-27 21:20:36

Tag 1:


I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Get a pic in front of your favorite ice cream or Italian ice stand. Bonus points for getting the cone in the shot too.


marko82
2012-06-28 02:39:32

Tag 2:


There's this manhole thing on Noblestown Rd. Every day that I ride my bike, I hit it. No matter how many times I say, "I have to remember that manhole," my next time through, WHAM I nail it.


Post the pothole, manhole cover, sewer grate, or poor road surface that is the bane of your existence. The one you hit every. single. time.


Tags expire in two weeks - Thursday 7/12/12 at 10:00 a.m.


pinky
2012-06-28 12:33:18


The ice cream store - second building from beach - Rehoboth Beach, DE.


One hundred two degrees here today! Hot.


teamdecafweekend
2012-06-30 00:52:44

Ice cream, Klavons, love this place, but I was a little early for ice cream

Poor road surface, expansion joints on the Fort Pitt Bridge sidewalk, I hate these things, I'm afraid I'm going to get a snakebite flat every time,


edmonds59
2012-07-02 11:20:19

^I see youre sporting drops again, does that mean youre feeling sporty? Thinking of Paris?


marko82
2012-07-02 12:04:58

That's the Sunday sundae morning bike! :)


edmonds59
2012-07-02 12:31:44

Here's mine - the manhole thing. It's sunken into the ground, so you don't see it until you're on top of it. And it's right in the line you'd want to take on the bend coming down into West End.


I didn't hit it today since I stopped to take a picture :)




pinky
2012-07-02 12:53:22

Tag #1: Kool Cones, Perry Hwy, McCandless. With a dripping twist cone in my right hand!

This place is walking distance from my house, so it's THE place to go to cool off.

Kool Cones, Perry Hwy, McCandless


I first took this shot. It turned out pretty well, too! Meanwhile, look how quickly the cone melted in two minutes.

Kool Cones alternate shot


stuinmccandless
2012-07-03 03:24:00

Tag #2: Things I have trouble avoiding. Perry Highway northbound near the Ross-McCandless border has at least three bad drain grates. The grates themselves are OK, but have shifted sideways just far enough to eat a road tire, exactly where one's tire should be. There may be more north of Perrymont Road, but I'm not up there that often.

These first two are either side of the traffic light at the north end of Pines Plaza.

Grate #1 of 3:

Grate #1 of 3, Perry Hwy by Pines Plaza


Grate #2 of 3:

Just north of Pines Plaza.


Grate #3 of 3:

Grate #3 of 3


stuinmccandless
2012-07-03 03:51:15

Tag 2:

There are a lot of washouts in Schenley Park on the path down to the lake!



pseudacris
2012-07-04 21:57:35

Tag 1:

I also chose Klavon's, since it's right on the way home. I ate my ice cream cone inside, but I got a banana phosphate to go!




rubberfactory
2012-07-05 22:11:54

We're past the closing date on this round, and the thread has fallen off the first page, so I'll do the honors. Participants were:

1. TDW (tag 1)

2. edmonds59 (tag 1)

3. edmonds59 (tag 2)

4. Stu (tag 1)

5. Stu (tag 2)

6. Pseudacris (tag 2)

7. RF (tag 1)

Pinky's tag 2 doesn't count since she set the tag.

Spinning the Wheelset of Fortune (random.org) gives us 6 and 1, so Pseudacris and TeamDecafWeekend get to set the tags for next round!


[Side note: My wipeout last night (see my Facebook or Twitter pages) happened just feet away from my third drain-grate shot. I had just crossed this grate square-on, then got brushed, which sent me into the curb just past the top edge of the picture.]


stuinmccandless
2012-07-14 11:01:29

Tag 2

Animals!

Your bike with an animal or with an animal-themed location or decoration.

Deadline: Friday July 27, midnight.


pseudacris
2012-07-14 13:56:23

I've got one in mind for tag two that I don't think anyone else will have :)


rubberfactory
2012-07-14 15:09:19


Tag 1

I'm not sure if tagging your own tag is supposed to count, but I saw these cool doors and decided to shoot them. It's not so much the doors that are unique, but the paint job around them.


W North Street, north side.


teamdecafweekend
2012-07-16 00:19:00


Tag 2

This stiff parrot guards the parking lot at the National Aviary. A different shot of him was played on Tag-O-Rama earlier today.


That's my perch on the bottom right - ha!


teamdecafweekend
2012-07-16 00:30:00

Door. This is a significant door, the old house of the artist Henry Koerner, on Negley. Henry used to ride an ancient bike all over the 'burgh for inspiration wayyy before it was hip. He was killed riding his bike in Austria at 75.



Detail ;)



I saw no animals all day, other than boring dogs, except flat and dead.


edmonds59
2012-07-16 11:14:39

^ Henry was an instructor of mine at Art Institute. He carried his dog, piglet (a chihuahua), in a basket on his bike. The dog went everywhere on the bike too. Sadly, the dog was thrown in a bike accident and was killed. I think the accident was on Negley, but I'm not sure. This happened around 1980 or so.


I still talk about Henry - a crazy, amusing, talented instructor.


teamdecafweekend
2012-07-16 12:59:43

Tag 2, a small bunny kept me company as I left the house this morning.


Bike & bunny


stuinmccandless
2012-07-18 20:21:59

Nice to see you back on your bike again, Stu!


Starting to see some healing yet?


swalfoort
2012-07-18 20:32:48

Tags and tags of fun - but boy was it hot out there today.


Tag 1 - doors. Doesn't this part of the south side sculpture look like a door? Also in the pic, my husband. Cute!



Animals:




pinky
2012-07-22 20:25:01

I think I saw you and hubby downtown yesterday. The city was crawling with bikes. Pretty cool.


edmonds59
2012-07-23 11:31:58

Yep, we were all about downtown/north shore/south side yesterday. It was great to see everyone out. We rode in from home and rode around on the various trails and roads and, well, flat spots.


We thought about heading up north to ride out there, but neither of us wanted to drive out bikes out.


pinky
2012-07-23 15:04:35

Doors Tag:


A door you probably would prefer to never have to use:


doors tag


As an aside, when I turned the corner around SCI-Pittsburgh to head to the trail, I noticed that there were at least a dozen bikes parked just off the parking lot. They need more formalized bike parking, but the number of bikes was nice to see.


swalfoort
2012-07-26 13:34:44

Animals tag (2)


Bird Bath in my backyard


bird bath tag


Since taking a photo in my own backyard seemed like cheating, I also took one on my way in to work this morning. I think most of you will recognize the scene, and the location!


geese


swalfoort
2012-07-26 13:39:06

So.... Anyone can post pictures of their bikes with the current theme, the the winner will be chosen randomly? Do you have to do both tags?


italianblend
2012-07-26 21:58:49

yes and no.


rubberfactory
2012-07-26 23:43:06

The idea is to be creative. Myself, I've contributed one fuzzy pic toward one tag, and am looking for a good example of the other. The nice thing about this game is you can take your time, and those of us without portable Internet need not worry about being bruced.


stuinmccandless
2012-07-27 02:20:48

I also like this game because 1) I don't ride every single day and 2) I live and work outside of the areas where many tag-o-rama tags are set.


pinky
2012-07-27 12:43:29

I also am interested in joining this game, seems like a nice relaxed game. I just need to go back and read how you play.


marvelousm3
2012-07-27 12:46:19

The rules are pretty simple.


There are two active tags at any given time. Tags are topical, not necessarily locational. So, the themes that are currently active are animals and doors.


Your challenge is to get a photo of your bike with an animal or a door also in the shot. You may participate in Tag A or Tag B, or both. Sometimes one photo will be deemed appropriate for both Tag A and Tag B.


The current set of tags expires tonight at midnight. At that time, someone will use a program like random.org to pick the tagsetters for the next round from the names of current tag getters. The person to set the second of the two tags will also specify the expiration time and date for this round.


Obviously, some of tags are quite simple. In this current round, in thinking of animals, I used the bird bath in my own backyard as my tag. But, I spent 10 days riding around looking at doors before I found one that I thought was interesting enough to use as for my submission for that tag.


This is a much slower game than tag o rama. Perhaps too slow for some. But, it is great for those of us who don't ride all day every day, and for those of us who don't ride in the east end (tag o rama central) on a regular basis.


We'd love some fresh participants. Still plenty of time to join in on this set of tags.


swalfoort
2012-07-27 13:09:57

So would I need to get a pic of an animal and a door together?


marvelousm3
2012-07-27 13:21:58

If you participate you win.

Here is your trophy.



Don't taste it.

edit - If you get a picture of an animal going through a door I will buy you a beer. Edit edit, not a dog. Bears preferred.


edmonds59
2012-07-27 13:26:07

@mr marv. Nope. There are two separate tags. One is a door. One is animals. You can participate on one tag (a door) by taking a photo of your bike in front of a door (preferably an interesting one, of course), or participate in the other tag (animal) by taking a photo of your bike with an animal, or something that might be associated with an animal. Two tags, two photos. And, you can always choose to do only one of the tags......


It is sometimes possible, but totally not necessary, to get both subjects in a single shot. (A cat on your front doorstep, maybe)


swalfoort
2012-07-27 13:32:22

I'm going to try to get a pic of a pony walking in a door.


marvelousm3
2012-07-27 13:44:08

What kind of beer do you like?


edmonds59
2012-07-27 13:46:03

@marv - Can the pony be riding your bike? The bike needs to be in the photo too!


swalfoort
2012-07-27 13:52:26

@swalfoort I'm working on it but the pony keeps dropping the chain.


marvelousm3
2012-07-27 13:58:04

You can also play this game while you're traveling.




pseudacris
2012-07-27 14:10:10

If someone had gotten a picture of their bike with the bear in the doorway at Pittsburgh Mills Mall last week, that would have been just perfect.


Lacking perfection, we have this for the door tag. I believe this is the only motorized revolving door in the area, and it is big enough that you can roll your bike through it, which is my second pic. This is at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, Downtown (formerly the Hilton).


Wyndham revolving door


Me going through the revolving door:

Revolving door #2


I verified with the bell captain and the uniformed employee outside that bikes may be taken into the hotel and up to your room if you are staying there. This is not a plug, but that is good to know if you're coming into town with a bike and want to keep it with you.


stuinmccandless
2012-07-27 14:23:54

Not a current game photo, but still,



The little bitch loves riding.


edmonds59
2012-07-27 17:28:12

And why not a current game photo? She's an animal, certainly. Or are you simply suggesting that you had already submitted an animal tag this round?


swalfoort
2012-07-27 18:19:47

It's just a 2 year old photo. Didn't seem right.


edmonds59
2012-07-27 18:34:29

There is a very large motorized revolving door at the Hillman Cancer Clinic on Center. Most pleasant blood donation I ever did was in the back of their lobby.


helen-s
2012-07-27 19:48:33

Mercy hospital & Shadyside hospitals have the large motorized revolving doors too - though I don't think they would let you bring a bike in with you :(


marko82
2012-07-27 20:05:52

is it still doors?


Photobucket


2012-07-27 20:41:39

Still doors, so you are a legit tag getter for this round.


And, you still have time to get another tag on the other theme - animals (or anything that brings animals to mind).


swalfoort
2012-07-27 20:52:31

Oh man that's a darn nice door.


edmonds59
2012-07-27 21:12:30

this one may not count, i had to bribe them into the pic with treats, and then they ate them too fast so one left before i could grab the phone.


Photobucket


2012-07-27 21:16:27

that red door is actually a set of 6 doors, some school on top of troy hill. about a block up the hill & around the corner from the painted retaining wall.


2012-07-27 21:17:50

Totally counts. Looks like you captured cat #2's tail on the left side.


pseudacris
2012-07-27 21:17:55

^ Yeah, pbeaver, nice door shot!


teamdecafweekend
2012-07-28 01:13:22

Ty, I grabbed like 5 on todays ride, but that had the "impact". So I rolled with it.


2012-07-28 02:38:33

Tag 1 - Doors

I use these doors quite often.


Tag 2 - Animals

Whenever I cross the 10th st bridge, I notice the graffiti on the top of this thing. They're either dinosaurs, or giant birds



Better view (no bike in the photo, though)



rubberfactory
2012-07-28 03:32:12

i always thought they were dinosaurs, but i think Mook intended for them to be geese.


parvipica
2012-07-28 11:13:10

I was thinking maybe ostrich, or emu.


rubberfactory
2012-07-28 13:15:48

By my calculation, we just concluded Round 44, with Tag #1 being doors, Tag#2 being animals.


Contributors were:


Doors:

TDW(doesn't count, he set the tag)

Edmonds

Pinky

Swalfoort

Stu

PBeaver

RubberFactory


Tag#2 Animals

TeamDecafWeekend

Stu

Pinky

Swalfoort

Edmonds

PBeaver

RubberFactory


Using random.org, I generated numbers 1 (Edmonds) and 7 (RubberFactory) as the next tagsetters.


Go out and set 'em, folks. Second person to set the tag sets the end date.


Perhaps since we are in good riding weather, we could shorten it to less than two weeks? Just a suggestion!


swalfoort
2012-07-29 14:49:09



(Not a tag retrieval, but a tag setting)


Tag 1: Mysteries. Something mysterious, confusing, unexplained, or bizarre. This could be a famous mystery, like the one above, or just something simple you see all the time that doesn't seem to be explainable. I think pretty much anything can work for this tag, so long as there's a good story to back it up. And someone might even have the answer once it's posted!


rubberfactory
2012-07-29 15:39:48

Tag #2 - I kind of had this in mind, and I think it goes along with RF's, as in kind of mysterious. Or maybe just arty. Get a picture of yourself with your bike, reflected in something, a window, water, a shiny fender, a yard ball. Make it cool.

Do I set the expiration? If so, and since the weather this week looks rather nice, and since the next week is BikeFest!!, this round expires Sat 8/4/12 at midnight. Go!


edmonds59
2012-07-29 20:54:05

"In the United States, tiles have officially been sighted as far west as Kansas City, Missouri,"


I saw one in Portland when I was out there- do not remember if I photographed it or not, but do remember writitng down where it was. I will have to look for that note....


helen-s
2012-07-29 22:35:58

Whatever happened to Mook? Did he end up having to do time? Is he still in town?


ahlir
2012-07-29 23:45:47

Mystery; Old imprints on the sides of buildings like this always get me wondering, what was there, how long ago was it, when did it go away??



I came up with the tag so this is my own, the reflectiest place in town;



edmonds59
2012-07-30 17:23:52

I wasn't going to ride today, but then I wanted to play with these tags. So I did and had an amazing morning commute - the kind that reminds me why I love being out there on my bike. Gorgeous morning, people. Just gorgeous.


Anywho. Tag 1: Where does this water come from on Noblestown Road? How was the water still there even at the height of our hottest drought days this summer?


And..WHY is it white?!


Tag 2: I tried a few along the north shore trail, but these two are the ones that came out. Carnegie Science Center (bottom middle pane of glass):


And puddle by PNC Park's sprinklers:


And just for fun, here are some other shots I took of the morning.





pinky
2012-07-31 11:37:22

Whoa! cool shots.


edmonds59
2012-07-31 11:44:07

Thanks! The light quality was just beautiful this morning. I think the last two from the West End Bridge qualify as "beautiful sights you can't see from a car."


pinky
2012-07-31 11:47:31

@Pinky, that would be an awesome tag theme sometime.....!


swalfoort
2012-07-31 13:04:38

You know, I thought that was a thread awhile back, but I couldn't remember if it was a tag.


pinky
2012-07-31 17:32:38

not sure if this is mysterious or just plain disturbing.

northside, federal street, elevated train tracks right before post office.

these "fluids" have been dripping for 15 years.

waht the heck is it? i dont know, but dont let it touch you, ever.


Photobucket


2012-08-02 21:16:54

Tag #1: Mystery. One thing that's certain, you won't get hit by a train here. Where did the tracks go? How long have they not been there?


Crossing by Millvale Industrial Park.


Where did the tracks go?


stuinmccandless
2012-08-02 21:58:33

Another entry for Tag #1: When did Babcock Blvd get moved? Here is a vestige of when Babcock Boulevard was brick! This is just a bit southeast of the corner with Peoples Plank Road; corner of Church Street. There are a couple of places where the old brick show up, if you look hard. The current pavement is about 50 feet to the right of the picture.

Former Babcock Blvd brick


stuinmccandless
2012-08-02 22:05:13

Tag is expired, but here are a couple of photos for it anyway:


Tag 1: Mysterious, the Carnegie Library in East Liberty, before the Bike to the Buccos event. Never know what I am going to find in the local library. A mystery? A thriller? Maybe some non-fiction, a biography or a how to guide? One of my faviorite places (libraries in general, not just this branch).


mysteriou tag


And reflections from the same location:


reflactions tag


swalfoort
2012-08-07 14:15:30

Ok, we'll call that round disrupted by the events of the past week, which kept some people off their bikes for a few days.


This is what I come up with as tag getters:


Tag 1, Mysteries


1. Edmonds

2. Pinky

3. Pbeaver

4. Stu

5 (late submission - Swalfoort -aka me)


Random.org generates No.3, so PBeaver is our next tag setter.


For Tag 2, Reflections, we had only three entrants:


0. Edmonds (but he set the tag)

1. Pinky

2. (Late submission - Swalfoort - aka me)


Random.org generates number 2. That would be me.


Since no other tags had been set by the time I submitted mine, I am assuming they are valild submissions, and that PBeaver and I are the next tagsetters. Any objections?


Edited to correct the number sequence/reference. Sorry, started mixing up the two different tags.


swalfoort
2012-08-07 18:18:26

Yay! Bring on the next round!


pinky
2012-08-07 20:09:01

Oh, snap. Now I have to think of one of these things.

Hmm, hopefully a post-work ride will shine inspiration.


2012-08-07 20:26:21

Here's the new Tag 2 - Unusual lighting or lighting fixtures:


I was saving this location in the hopes of one day being permitted to set a tag in tag o rama. But, I figure this location may disappear before I get that chance, so I'll use it here.


I wish I knew more about it, but it appears to be where old municipal light fixtures go to die.


lighting or lighting fixture tag


swalfoort
2012-08-07 20:41:38

Isn't that off woods run where that big warehouse burned down?


2012-08-07 21:29:45

That's the place. Know anything about it?


swalfoort
2012-08-08 00:08:09

^ there were city of Pgh trucks parked in that lot on Thursday afternoon unloading more light poles. So I guess it's city storage.


marko82
2012-08-08 00:42:51

ok, due to the untimely demise of earbuds, i had a few free mental processes as i did my evening ride. so here we go....


Tag #1: Single Star Chinese Food Restaurants!

(note, this does not describe the food, only the building / decor. The location in my pic is extremely affordable, and uber-tasty.)


Photobucket


2012-08-08 01:13:13

Wow! Lots of those around! Picking the best one will be the challenge!


swalfoort
2012-08-08 12:40:22

@Swalfoort - Uncle whatsitcalled in Bellevue is yours if I don't get to it first.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-08 20:32:19

My first tag! Did I do this right?

Tag 1: food trucks by CMU



EDIT: These mobile culinary entrepreneurs can be found on the southeastern edge of CMU's campus on Margaret Morrison St. Indian, Greek, and several flavors of Asian cuisine can be purchased with minimal impact to the student's wallet. The food quality varies between trucks, typically within the range of "meh" to "ok." Whenever classes are not in session, some of the trucks are closed. Like mildly broken clockwork, they reopen once the student population returns.


2012-08-08 23:12:31

@MJ - looks like it posted OK. A bit more description (its name, where is it, is the food any good, do they disappear after 2pm, etc.) would be helpful.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-08 23:18:11

Stu, post updated per your request. Thanks for the tip!


2012-08-08 23:50:47

I like the commentary on the CMU food trucks.


swalfoort
2012-08-09 00:26:03

^ Ditto Swalfort and welcome mattjackets.


teamdecafweekend
2012-08-09 01:14:08

I'd call it a legit tag, nice one. (although it may be bordering closer to a half than a single star ;P )


2012-08-09 01:22:42

I don't really know what "single star" means. Just an ugly facade?

Though admittedly, the food truck looks pretty awesome to me.


rubberfactory
2012-08-09 01:27:54

Single Star as in 1 out of 4.

4 star being a highly rated (probly a blurb in a foodie guide) and 1 star being... questionably reputable (probly a blurb turned down by Craigslist).

The kind of place the average parents wouldn't dream of taking the family to, but in general is good value food.


2012-08-09 02:42:29

I'm not sure where I'd even find those ratings. I was just going to look for a little hole-in-the-wall, ma & pa shop. I was in such a place in 1985 in San Fran's Chinatown called Sam Woh's Noodle Palace, where, on entering, you had to walk *through* the kitchen and up a flight of steps, sat down, and ordered using a sheet of paper and a dumbwaiter on a rope, which you operated yourself. Pittsburgh doesn't have anything like that, I'm figuring.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-09 10:52:04

Tag 1: Fu Lai on 5th and Penn downtown. I've never eaten here, though I used to work a block away. Nobody from my office would go there. Does anyone know if it's scary or secretly good?



*edited to correct the cross streets.


pinky
2012-08-09 13:44:21

I used to eat @ Fu Lai all the time when the Art Institute was still on Penn Ave (hmm, guess im dating myself a bit there.)

Its pretty good. Reasonable pricing, decent quality. You probably wont find Ming Tsai placing an order, but its not going to give you food poisoning.


2012-08-09 14:09:29

^this


cburch
2012-08-09 14:23:38

I ate at Fu Lai back in 2007 (I was also attending the art institute), and I thought it was terrible. The soup tasted like fat, not broth, and everything had that raw meat smell to it. Maybe I just had it on a bad night, though.


rubberfactory
2012-08-09 19:03:05

Tag #1: Uncle Chen, Bellevue


Uncle Chen Chinese Restaurant, Bellevue, PA


Tag #2: Unusual lights. How about a train, and a railroad crossing signal?


Diesel locomotive


Rail crossing, lights on


Full disclosure: Mild rule bending here. I drove to some point near these points, and then rode the rest. This was a scouting mission to try to locate a spot where I could see the steam locomotive. I figured parking would be inadvisable or unavailable, but if I could get a half mile away and ride the rest, I might get close enough to snap a pic of the steamer. The railroad pics here are at the Emsworth Lock and Dam.


I'll make another trip out in a bit when the steamer again approaches the city.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-11 17:55:17

^good ones, stu! Did you make any audio recordings of the steam engine that came through town?


If anyone finds themselves in NYC looking for interesting stuff to do, I highly recommend the Museum of Chinese in America. The first time I went, they had a great exhibit about the history of "Chinese Food" in the US, which is very much tied to the Gold Rush out west & somewhat to railroad building. Excellent museum worth repeat visits.


pseudacris
2012-08-11 19:53:08

Re-do on the locomotive, this time with the steamer!

Steam locomotive at Emsworth lock & dam


No, sorry, no sound. But let me just say that sitting on the ground, 10 feet away from a screaming steam locomotive moving 45 mph, was an experience that ranked right up there with witnessing childbirth and leaning out over a canyon wall to get a picture straight down.


EDIT: Yes! Video! I posted this on the locomotive thread, but since you asked here, here it is! This was taken by another cycling friend up along PA65 at Osborne, just outside of Sewickley. And yes, that's me ducking out of the way when I realized the train was on the track RIGHT NEXT to me.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-11 21:36:33

Is it time for a new round? Or are we going back to 2-week rounds?


pinky
2012-08-15 12:10:34

Pinky; we never set a deadline for that tag, so why dont't you take the lead in setting a new tag.


swalfoort
2012-08-15 12:46:48

Hmm - only five players this round. Does everyone want to leave this up another week? Or should we move on?


I know I didn't get a chance to grab the lights tag but might tomorrow.


Thoughts?


pinky
2012-08-15 14:35:44

@pinky - no thumbscrews to tighten but I'd like to keep the game moving, so I'd say if you have a pic, post it, then tie off the round, spin the wheel, and let's get the next round rolling.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-15 17:18:07

OK work caught up to me yesterday, but here's your crazy light - stoplight house number (on the right) on the house with the craziest yard in Pittsburgh.


I've been dying to use this place as a tag forever. I just wish I could get a better shot. There is a giant Gumby, a woman in a dress with a flower pot for a head, and some creepy dolls having tea on the sidewalk.




pinky
2012-08-16 11:43:49

WHEELSET...OF...FORTUNE!

(Envision the sound of the spinning wheel.)


Our new tag setters are me (pinky) and StuInMcCandless.


This was suggested earlier, so I'm running with it.


Tag #1 is views that you can't see from a car. Views of the city, views of the rivers views of something interesting.


I'll let Stu set the expiration when he posts his tag.


pinky
2012-08-16 11:48:49

Pinky I love/am scared to death of that place! Would love to find out if it's some crazy artist or something but don't want to end up in a basement.

I just havent been up for getting tags this week, feeling crappy in the head.


edmonds59
2012-08-16 12:01:36

I wanted to get closer but I'm afraid of the dolls on the sidewalk. The flower pot woman reminds me of the tortured toys in Toy Story. I really should try to get a better shot with a real camera.


pinky
2012-08-16 12:20:47

@pinky, I rode past that last week on my way out to Robinson. Weird!


marko82
2012-08-16 12:57:52

Tag #2: Unusual things painted on the street. Something out of the ordinary. Toynbee tiles are a good example, but there are others. Pothole markings. Feet showing the Marathon route. Something other than lane markers, ped xing markers, stripes down the center. One creepy one I can think of is the police spray paint where the first cyclist got hit on Penn by Lexington. You get the idea. Now go get 'em!


We have a couple of good weekends in here, so I'll use both! Tag expires 23:59 Sunday August 26.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-16 16:41:52

Ah, 2 good tags to chase after... I'm hoping to get back into photographing and posting on Wheeelset. Been busy at other stuff.


teamdecafweekend
2012-08-16 22:44:19

Here's Tag#1 - a place you can drive over in a car, but never see. This is the combined walkway under the West End Bridge. It always feels like a hamster Habitrail cage to me.




pinky
2012-08-17 11:59:12

Pinky, that spot is fun, too bad it always seems to be full of broken bottles. :(


2012-08-17 13:43:55

Yeah you just reminded me I want to 311 the walkway on the West End Bridge. It's always covered in glass, but it was a hundred times worse than usual yesterday.


pinky
2012-08-17 14:03:54

I used to work in the Cardello Building, and used the approach from Ridge/Western Aves on a daily basis. I used to keep an old broom hidden in the weeds, just for this purpose.


TMI alert: It's not the glass I'm worried about stepping in. (That broom got a lot of use.)


stuinmccandless
2012-08-17 14:06:39

Ewwwwww!

I'm envisioning a 311 request for that - I bet they'd love that one.


pinky
2012-08-17 14:39:14

Tag #2: entrance to Burimingham Bridge, just off carson.


Photobucket


(no riders were injured in the taking of this pic.)


2012-08-18 17:10:02



Took me awhile to figure out how to post the photo... this is on the North Shore trail (heading toward the Bastille).


2012-08-18 20:36:33

This one is for something you won't see in a car. From what I understand there was a rash of these last year and this past week I've seen two new ones. Both lavender and both have numbers on them. Did anyone ever figure out what that was all about? I took this on the Hot Metal Bridge, but saw another one on the bumpy concrete bridge on the North Shore (heading toward Millvale).



2012-08-18 21:22:58

I might know something, but I may or may not be allowed to say more than that. I just like to brag that I might know something. I also might not know anything at all ever. Nope.


rubberfactory
2012-08-18 21:35:08

Very cryptic. Guess that means you won't be dropping any hints?


2012-08-18 21:44:35

I have no idea what you're talking about.


rubberfactory
2012-08-18 21:59:29

And I may not know about any previous message thread or three other such math measuring tools that have been up there since last year.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-18 22:04:42

rubberfactory = tease!

Now that is something to smile about :D


marko82
2012-08-18 22:10:22

Something you don't see from a car (tag #1) - the construction of route 28 from the river side. It's been amazing to see the manpower behind this project - from the new raised trail between the 40th and 31st bridges through the new on-ramps. Right now, it looks unbelievable to me - the 31st st bridge missing in action. Gone.


Random, helmetless rider going by, proclaiming to me... "it looks crazy, doesn't it?" Yep, it does.


2012-08-19 17.30.06


teamdecafweekend
2012-08-20 01:12:32

Here's another view you don't get from a car, and a question. What the hell is the crazy silver/gray barge? Have you guys seen this? It looks like it has a stage in the middle and portals on the ends?



I'm tempted to take the real camera on a ride tomorrow to get some zoomed in shots. This thing is ca-razy looking.


*Edited to add: this is from the West End Bridge's walkway.


pinky
2012-08-20 12:13:48

Yay! I've been dying to know more about it for ages. Edmonds wins!


pinky
2012-08-20 12:48:53

The barge is often moored at the Point for shows.


teamdecafweekend
2012-08-20 14:51:08

Okay, I don't know how this game normally works, but here's a picture Marko and I took yesterday of an unusual pavement marking. This was a crosswalk in Monaca, PA on the three state ride. Now I'm seeing that Stu's exact words referred to unusual things painted on the street, and I don't think this was paint, but close enough?



Not only were these cool-looking, but they had magical ultra-calming effects on drivers. As we stood there waiting for cars to pass so we could take the picture, even though we were loitering a few feet back from the crosswalk with no apparent intention of going anywhere, at least a dozen cars casually stopped and tried to insist that we cross. (Am I exaggerating, Marko?) "Downtown" Monaca is some kind of bizarre pedestrian utopia.


2012-08-21 03:03:33

Sure, I'll take it. They could've put down simple paint lines for a crosswalk, but chose to do something unusual.


A wider interpretation of the tag would be, If you look down and see something other than pavement and lines and ordinary grates and plates and hole covers.


stuinmccandless
2012-08-21 03:14:28

Here's my unusual pavement marking - Pac Man on the stairs from the 9th St Bridge to the North Shore Trail.



Also, today's gratuitous sunrise scene:



pinky
2012-08-21 11:51:31

Re Monaca – as Sarah said it was well over a dozen cars that stopped or started to stop and I waved them on, this despite us being well back from the curb. It probably helps that the road is narrowed at the crosswalk by extending the sidewalk the width of a parked car on both sides, but I’ve seen similar road calming setups and not had the same reaction from drivers so it must be due to enforcement/ticketing. Interestingly, about a half mile down the street beyond the business district we got buzzed by a speeding driver. I guess they don’t enforce that.


The actual crosswalk was some kind of rough surface, like paint with sand in it. Do they make rough thermoplastic?


marko82
2012-08-21 12:03:07

Nice sunrise photo! It was an awesome morning to ride in, I haven't been able to in a couple weeks. My mood is just beaming.

I love this one, view you can't see from a car. On the Ft Pitt Bridge sidewalk you can see how you float over the river on bars of steel:



edmonds59
2012-08-21 13:22:38

Dang, Sprit got the same weird shamrocks I was planning to post! I'll have to find something else! Anyone know the story about the shamrocks?


swalfoort
2012-08-21 13:42:47

Tag #1: You can see these from a car, but you need a bicycle in order to see them up close like this. These adorn both sidewalks of the 40th Street Bridge.

40th Street Bridge state insignias


EDIT: I just noticed that through the bars of the bridge, you can see the lawn outside CMU's robot center, where from time to time you can see their little creations milling about. Something else you cannot see by car.


Tag #2 (doesn't count for the game, since I set the tag): Normally, you find huge arrows going along streets, not across them. This one is on Babcock Boulevard in Ross Twp, about a half mile from the corner with Three Degree Road.

Cross-ways arrow


stuinmccandless
2012-08-22 11:22:04

tag #1 mos def cant see this from a car.

(inside northshore subway station.)


Photobucket


2012-08-23 18:36:56

DrainsToRiver


^ Above - A little tough to see from a car - tag #1 and things painted on the street - tag #2. I've always liked the fish image on these roadside markings.


Below - No way you can see this from a car. I shot inside "Randyland" last week, posted them on another thread, but felt like they deserve to be here too...


2012-08-19 17.58.51


2012-08-19 17.57.19


teamdecafweekend
2012-08-25 19:50:25

fishies ftw!


2012-08-25 23:10:58

Top! I forgot to close out this round last week, so I'll extend it through the rest of today. One more chance before the rain moves in!


Tag now expires 23:59 tonight, Sunday Sept 2.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-02 14:41:57

Tag #1 is views that you can't see from a car, set by pinky.

Tag #2: Unusual things painted on the street, set by StuInMcCandless.

Each of us had a pic for our own tags, so those don't count. These do:

1. pbeaver (tag 2)

2. srpit (tag 2)

3. TeamDecaf (tag 1)

4. pearmask (tag 2)

5. pinky (tag 2)

6. edmonds59 (tag 1)

7. StuInMcCandless (tag 1)

8. pbeaver (tag 1)

9. TeamDecaf (tag 2)

Now we spin the Wheelset of Fortune, and we get tictictictictic.tic..tic...tick!

4 and 5

So pearmask and pinky get to pick the next two tags!


stuinmccandless
2012-09-03 20:25:10

Tag #1: Historical markers or explanations. I'm thinking signs at trail heads, the blue things like the image I'm sticking in below, or any other sign that teaches us about history.




pinky
2012-09-04 00:03:36

oh, crap. i don't know how this game works. in reality, that was a team tag (marko's idea, my phone camera)... so, marko, got any tag ideas? if not, i'll try to think of something (and will read the rules of this game, haha)


2012-09-04 00:09:36

Pearmask, it's easy. Just pick a theme that others can play. Past ones have been animals, signs of summer/spring/fall/winter, flowers, symmetry, repurposed churches, etc. So any theme that people can apply is fair game!


pinky
2012-09-04 00:17:02

(don't get too cerebral your first time out the gate. While I thought the idea of "One Star Chinese Restaurants" was fabulously brilliant considering the number of them in the area, that one didn't get much playback from the group.

Next time, I'm going with car doors.)


2012-09-04 00:29:29

The game has evolved since page 1. The idea of classes of things started as a misunderstanding somewhere around page 3, but the idea stuck. Unlike Tag-o-Rama, you have a week or so (to be determined by whoever posts second) to go find something interesting on a theme. Multiple pics are OK.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-04 01:09:01

Is there a list of previous tags anywhere? I started to look through old pages and got overwhelmed.


Anyway, Tag #2 is extremely adorable puppies. Full-grown dogs are also acceptable, as long as they are extremely adorable. Bonus points if the puppy is riding on the bike somehow, and you win forever if the puppy is riding the bike under its own power.


2012-09-04 03:01:26

I love the tags, now I just have to figure out how to get in close proximity to an adorable dog.


@pearmask - Closing time? I'd say Sunday night 9/16 at 23:59?


@Steven - I like it. Can you tweak it so as to better show multiple entries per person, even if it takes more than one line? It'd be nice to have a page number, too.


Also, I'd be willing to help with the data entry.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-04 13:06:36

Yeah, that closing time sounds good.


2012-09-04 13:11:03

I knew if I stayed on the sidelines pearmask would come up with something :-)


Now where can I find an historical marker about puppies??? FTW


marko82
2012-09-04 14:11:06

Here's a list, which might help if you're looking for a particular topic.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-04 14:59:23

Oo, oo, I know which one(s) I'm getting. Thanks for the list Stu!

Now all I need to do is ride.


edmonds59
2012-09-04 15:05:49

Can you tweak it so as to better show multiple entries per person, even if it takes more than one line? It'd be nice to have a page number, too.


I started adding links to the page of the original thread. I didn't bother trying to add more specific links to the actual message, based on my experience with the Tag-O-Rama data. (The page numbers seem to change over time, and IE just ignores the more specific links anyway.)


I don't understand your other proposal. Are you suggesting one column with all the tag names, so each round would take two lines, with the round number duplicated? Or entering info on who submitted photos for each round, not just who set the tags?


Also, I'd be willing to help with the data entry.


Cool. It should be open for anyone to edit.


steven
2012-09-04 16:12:06

I pass a historical marker on my way home from work every day.


rubberfactory
2012-09-04 16:24:53

The list of previous tags is now up to date. I'm planning to add a second sheet with an auto-updating list showing who's set the most tags at some point, but currently it looks like this:


14 jeg

13 TeamDecaf

10 Steven

10 Pseudacris

9 StuInMcCandless

7 Swalfoort

6 pinky

6 dwillen

5 Erica

4 Marko82

3 edmonds59

2 Tabby

2 Dan1981

2 Ahlir

1 steeld55

1 pearmask

1 pbeaver

1 Nate


This should also fairly closely reflect who's entered the most photos.


FYI, we're currently on round 49.


steven
2012-09-05 03:28:39

@Steven - great work creating the spreadsheet. Wow, I didn't realize I participated that much!


I've put Steven's link to the List of Previous Tags on the first post of this thread. That should help us all find the spreadsheet easily.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-06 02:03:03

Thanks TeamDecaf!


steven
2012-09-06 02:53:01

Love the spreadsheet! I actually scrolled all of the way back to make sure historical markers hadn't been set yet - the centralized location is really helpful.


pinky
2012-09-06 15:16:32

Tag #1 : History

I've used this place in a tag-0-rama shot, but didn't have the plackard.


Photobucket


2012-09-06 16:14:19

Oldest historic landmark in the area:



2012-09-06 17:09:06

Fences much? In 2005, I was able to walk around inside that building, look at real firearms on the wall, peer out through the holes, actually experience 1805. Now it's "yeah, there's a building back there, I think it's made of brick".


stuinmccandless
2012-09-06 20:16:47

Tag #2 - Cute Puppies.

Challenge Accepted.


Photobucket


Booyah!


2012-09-07 14:15:03

Squee!


pinky
2012-09-07 14:17:50

I rode past a couple of people walking their dogs last night. I considered stopping and asking for a photo op, but decided against it each time. None of the dogs were as cute as the one who lives next door. I just have to find Lily when she is out and about.


swalfoort
2012-09-07 15:29:55

I've wondered about the rules of this game for quite a while, but am only now motivated to ask my question:


Is there a prohibition against MULTIPLE entries by a single participant on a given tag? So, can I load only ONE historic marker photo? Can I submit more? If I do, do I increase my odds of being selected the next tagsetter? Or is the tag setting/random.org based on participant name, and not number of entries?


I'd like to see more activity in this game. I'd particularly like to see more of the historic markers.


What's the ruling? One submission per tag per participant, or are multiple submissions acceptable?


swalfoort
2012-09-07 16:01:53

afaik multi-subs are allowed, approved, and improve your odds are being able to set the next item.

but alas, i am a relative newb to all of this.


2012-09-07 16:09:33

Round 49, Tag 1: Historic Markers


Corner of Penn and Seventh opposite Katz Plaza and the Benedum.


World history made here in Pittsburgh!


Love this tag!


historic markers


swalfoort
2012-09-07 16:18:57

I have set multiple tags on a given theme. Often it takes me a while to find an example of something, but then once I see one they start popping out at me like whack-a-moles.


edmonds59
2012-09-07 17:12:05

My understanding of the rules, as the game has evolved, is that you can submit more than one photo for a tag, but it does not help your standing. It's more important to play at all. However, getting both tags does improve your odds of being able to set the next tag.


Look at the previous round, and how I figured out who got to set the next tags. Just on this page, pbeaver got one pic of Tag #1, and so got the 8th entry in the list. TeamDecaf took several pics. His fish-image-on-drain was OK for both Tags #1 and #2 (hard to see from a car, odd things painted on the street), but he already had an entry for Tag #1. So, yes, interesting, but didn't help his chances. Then he submitted a bunch of pics for Tag #2, all of which counted as one entry (along with the fish image) as the 9th entry in the list.


The main thing is, keep riding, keep looking for interesting stuff, and take and post pictures of it!


stuinmccandless
2012-09-07 17:13:14

2012-09-08 13.25.28


So I hear it's raining in the 'burg. Not here, Lewes, DE (10 miles north of Rehoboth Beach). 88 degrees, sunny and humid. 9/8/2012


Tag #1 - Historic markers

The sign on the far right isn't exactly a legit historic marker, but it is a historic town. Lewes is the first town in the first state of the US (the sign says so, anyhow).


Regarding rules - I say we follow very loose rules for this game, very loose. Anything goes - it makes Wheelset more fun and easier to post - IMO.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-08 22:20:13

I'm game for that.


edmonds59
2012-09-08 23:02:56

I've camped at Henlopen many times. Not many things are better than steamed crabs n corn around an open fire. Enjoy the sun - rain is on its way!


marko82
2012-09-08 23:23:18

Yeah, the rain already started.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-08 23:25:19

#1 historic markers, not one of the PA markers, but something. I still have others I want to get;

#2 Puppies; Pleasant pup under the Point Park Portal, this morning, incoming. Goes by the name "Buffy the Vampire Slayer";


edmonds59
2012-09-10 14:21:11

Bill, you're using a walker these days? Or am I not seeing a snippet of handlebar on the edge of the photo? (I've done that, too.)


stuinmccandless
2012-09-10 16:56:24

Ha, I neglected to get a piece of bike in either one! Been out too long. Was the dog owners walker. Buffy didn't seem interested in getting anywhere near the bike anyway.


edmonds59
2012-09-10 17:07:34

I think a walker counts as a mode of transport, especially considering the poster.

(sorry, low hanging fruit)


marko82
2012-09-10 17:11:11

Ha! Just lift me onto the bike.


edmonds59
2012-09-10 17:30:09

Bill's puppy is much cuter, but this one was having a blast playing in the water under the convention center:



She finished playing and ran up to us to shake off after but I missed that photo op.


2012-09-10 17:49:53

I've been by this sign a hundred times and never stopped to read it until I took this picture. Interesting. Never knew we even had a cotton factory in the 'Burgh.




2012-09-10 17:52:18

Not far from the last one......


marker tag


I was hoping this was more timely, after this weekend, I am not so optimistic....


swalfoort
2012-09-10 20:18:48

Edmonds: V2.0 of the Labor Day tour does pass the Cotton Mill marker (mile 5.7), though I forgot to actually, er, mark it on the map.


epanastrophe
2012-09-10 20:27:04

Vampire Slayer - haha! Great shot - ignoring the lack-o-bike.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-11 02:41:18

This combination of tags is cracking me up!


pseudacris
2012-09-11 05:19:44

I went to get the Presston Mill Strike historic marker, buuut, it's gone. End of the McKees Rocks bridge. I'm sure it's in some history buff's game room. I got the bike this time.



edmonds59
2012-09-11 10:59:10

It must have just disappeared, then. It was there on Saturday, Sept. 1, when I drove by there, as I do most Saturdays. (My wife made the weekly run to McKees Rocks last Saturday, 9/8.)


stuinmccandless
2012-09-11 11:28:46

Weird. Was I looking in the right place? N-W corner of the intersection at the S end of the bridge?


edmonds59
2012-09-11 12:11:19

Yep, that's where it was. Plain as day.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-11 14:18:48

Did anyone know the Republican party can trace its roots to 1856 Pittsburgh and an anti-slavery platform?

Fourth Avenue at Wood St, NW corner, Downtown.

Lafayette Hall marker, for wheelset game


Close-up:

Lafayette Hall marker


stuinmccandless
2012-09-11 14:24:44

Yep, it's in Google streetview. Gone. Jeepers. Maybe the Pressed Steel Car Company took it down.

BTW, pretty cool about the Repubs, but they sure have gone to hell.


edmonds59
2012-09-11 14:28:33

historical marker:


VFW foundation memorial, Schenley Hotel (now Wm Pitt Union), Bigelow at Fifth Ave, Oakland.


(Hmph. tried to slim it down, but imgur refuses to play along, and the board won't allow me to force a width (but does at least seem to enforce its own width limit, so at least y'all aren't forced to see that at its original 1200px width).)


epanastrophe
2012-09-12 00:04:34


Penn ave and 36th-ish


rubberfactory
2012-09-12 00:57:31

Meet "Taxi":




2012-09-12 20:15:48

Just 4 more posts and we reach 1,000!


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-13 01:34:35

Tag #2: Vincent Von Beagle (Vinnie for short), in my garage with the pink bike.


Vinnie is one of my 3 dogs. A friend found him as a stray in Bethlehem PA a few years ago and we did a cross-state transport after nobody claimed him.


He doesn't like camera flashes :)


Also I am bummed because I probably won't pick up my own historical marker tag. I jacked up my ankle again and am stuck in the house. Maybe next week.




pinky
2012-09-14 00:01:11

Is no one going to tag cowboy the shop puppy at thick? +20 adorablity.


cburch
2012-09-14 02:40:43

Been to Thick a couple of times, but I've never met Cowboy! Where does he hang out?


2012-09-14 08:56:20

In the back corner of the mechanics area where Anya's work area is. Cowboy is her new dog.


cburch
2012-09-14 11:04:22

1001


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-14 23:49:24

Haven't gotten a chance to get back to Thick to meet Cowboy, but ran into this little cutie on my ride today:




2012-09-15 20:27:33

awww puppy


2012-09-15 22:27:38

So I think I am gonna play this game now instead.


stefb
2012-09-15 22:55:05

I really hope you captured that puppy and left it in my house.


rubberfactory
2012-09-15 23:41:42

Puppies


And for you, pearmask... the elusive puppies - hard to find. These brothers were on the Allegheny River Trail near Heinz today.


Yay, stefb! You haven't played in awhile.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-16 18:48:50

PUPPIES


stefb
2012-09-16 18:55:36

I found this family having fun today on the southside trail. Ok, so my bike is not in the photo & the dog technically isn’t a puppy, but he was cute none the less.




marko82
2012-09-16 20:44:50

I can't get any dogs to sit still long enough for a picture (not that I've tried more than once). Best I got was a picture of a grasshopper with my bike in the background, haha


rubberfactory
2012-09-16 20:56:30

Historic Marker:


Say, did a deadline ever get set for this round?


I did not know that John Ford was a PPG founder til I read this plaque.


pseudacris
2012-09-23 01:03:09

Looks like closing time was Sunday night 9/16 at 23:59.


We totally missed that, so let's give everyone another 24 hours, and reset it to Monday, 9/24 at 8:30 a.m. I'll plan to spin the wheel when I get to work tomorrow.


pinky
2012-09-23 12:30:29

Our players were as follows:


Historical markers:

Pseudacris

Erica

buffalo buffalo

StuInMcCandless

Swalfoort

srpit

edmonds59

TeamDecaf


Cute pooches:

Marko82

TeamDecaf

srpit

pinky

edmonds59


Spin the wheel and we get...


Swalfoort

buffalo buffalo


...as our next tag setters.


pinky
2012-09-24 12:33:18

Umm, I had a puppy and a history pic.

#nowheellove


2012-09-24 14:11:58

Oh no! Sorry - let me redo. I suck.


pinky
2012-09-24 14:18:08

New winners! New winners! Sorry, Swalfoort :(


buffalo buffalo

pbeaver


pinky
2012-09-24 14:19:19

oh snap. I wasn't expecting to get a shot @ setting one, I was only bummed because I wasn't counted in the tally.

(And even aver my puppy pick got a squee!)


Well, down to business, since the last item I chose was a bit too off the charts, I'm going super simple.

/drumroll.....


SAMMICHES!!!!!!!!


Any kind of sandwich you'd like, Tuna, Cheese, Roast Beef, Ham, Bacon, Meatball, Avocado & Peppers, if its between bread, IT'S GOOD!!!


It doesn't even have to be your sandwich! Some guy on the street is eating lunch... BOOM!! Snapshot.


**Subs /Hoagies / Pizza / Burgers Do Not Count.**

Must be made of 2 slices of bread with some sammichy filling.


2012-09-25 00:52:07

but burritos.


rubberfactory
2012-09-25 12:17:14

No, no burritos, no taco's, no gyros, no mafungo, no fried rice, no noodles, no soup, no chilli.


Unless its between 2 slices of bread.

You want to use a burrito, slap some bread b on that sucker first.


The only exception will be for open-face sammiches, but those.bust be photographed in pairs.


2012-09-25 14:03:10

but those.bust be photographed in pairs


How Freudian. :-)


reddan
2012-09-25 14:07:30

Oops, did i let that slip?


2012-09-25 14:08:22

*not a tag* but would this count?



marko82
2012-09-25 14:11:33

holy crap, i don't check this thread enough. i'm a week late in pointing this out, but teamdecaf's puppies are some of the best puppies i've seen. and i am a true connoisseur of adorable puppy photos.


2012-09-25 14:19:21

Marko, Hella YES!!!!


While it may not be a sammich for human consumption, i never stated it couldn't be a human sammich.

(and i think a monster would find that quite delectible).


2012-09-25 14:25:50

@marko - the bread would count, but there's no bicycle in the picture.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-25 16:28:39

Now I want to see teamdecaf's puppies!


swalfoort
2012-09-25 16:31:28

aw crap.


in honor of Fanfare Ciocarlia's fabulous show last night (and the gypsy-music symposium in my building today), I was originally going to do foreign-language signs. But I think we did that one already, and not that long ago.


So, let's see your favourite music & performance venues. In the spirit of Quantum Theatre and Attack Theatre's current run, they need not be traditional bars/clubs/theatres...


A week seems to be traditional, so let's go with that. Deadline end-of-day 10/2.


epanastrophe
2012-09-25 16:40:55

Sammich Time!


My intention of this choice was for everyone to have some fun with this one. Here are some examples of what i will classify as a "sammich".


Peanut Butter Sammich

Photobucket


Noodle Sammich

Photobucket


Ramen Sammich

Photobucket


Clam Chowder Sammich

Photobucket


Playstation Sammich

Photobucket


Best TV Show EVER Sammich

Photobucket


There ya go.

So quit screwing around & SLAP SOME BREAD ON IT!!!!!


2012-09-26 01:06:24

does a cat count?


stefb
2012-09-26 01:13:56

if you can get bread on it long enough to snap a photo it does.


2012-09-26 01:14:56

haha, my puppies. I've never had an online discussion about my puppies before.


teamdecafweekend
2012-09-26 02:23:42

@pbeaver - that doesn't look like a game of thrones sammich!


cburch
2012-09-26 03:14:52

its not, It's a Wire Sammich, Much better quality.


2012-09-26 03:55:39

Still not as good as a Six Feet Under sammich.


reddan
2012-09-26 10:44:41

No, its better


There's less Cheese on it.


2012-09-26 10:57:47

Cheese is a Good Thing™.


reddan
2012-09-26 11:41:08

Tag #2: Stage AE, between the stadia. I saw The Monkees here, June 2011.

Stage AE on North Side


Heads-up to srpit about the mural on this side.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-26 14:34:16

well, I'm going to be getting both tags at the same intersection, it seems.


rubberfactory
2012-09-26 15:10:59

Venue Sammich?

Brilliant!


2012-09-26 16:17:29



Mr. Roboto Project, across the street from....



Spak brothers. Tried the put the building between two slices of bread, but alas, it's stuck in the ground. So I got a hoagie, and took a picture of it with 4 bikes:



EDIT: just scrolled up to see that hoagies don't count. Now I've been forced to eat this delicious sandwich for NOTHING.


rubberfactory
2012-09-26 21:14:28

you could have put some bread on the hoagie for a Hoagie Sammich.


2012-09-26 21:23:02

Dear Dan- I agree. Six feet under is the best series. Ended perfectly.


stefb
2012-09-26 21:29:28

Gave in and made a bike sandwich:



I sliced up some chocolate-cherry egg bread I made at work that I plan on using for bread pudding.


rubberfactory
2012-09-26 22:30:29

Tag #1: Sandwich

Tag #1: Sandwich


Cream cheese and apple butter on some sort of rye bread, on my back porch, with the "project bike", currently upside down, needing chain and cassette work.


stuinmccandless
2012-09-26 23:23:31

Finally!!!!!!


Bike sammich!?!?!


+8 Erica. :)


2012-09-27 01:13:50

Hope it counts if the picture was taken outside the city limits! About halfway through our 71 miles on the Little Miami Trail in Ohio yesterday. Sorry it's half eaten, but that was the point when I remembered I needed a sammich photo!



Peanut butter on a bagel. Does the bagel count???


2012-09-29 21:54:50

TeamDecaf - you're going to be hounded (pun intended) until you SHOW US THE PUPPIES!


please?


2012-09-29 22:03:53

Yeah!!!

Sammiches!!!!


2012-09-30 02:21:33

srpit - there's no rule that says you have to be in pittsburgh! a few people have gotten tags while on vacation in other states


rubberfactory
2012-09-30 09:02:51

In honor of the ongoing mural project, I'm going with the Byham theater for the other tag. They have a great mural on the back - along Ft Duquesne Blvd.

Here's the legit tag (taken today) but only showing a small section of the mural:



Here's a shot of most of the mural taken several weeks ago (in case anyone is interested who hasn't seen it):


And thanks, Stu. I was going to try to get that mural this afternoon but there was a Pirates game so I decided to leave it for another time.


2012-09-30 22:41:09

Looks like time is up, and I didn't pick up any tags. Anyone want to spin the wheel?


pinky
2012-10-04 13:16:01

Time is up, but I only count 3 of each. (Erica, Stu, and srpit all hit both tags.)


Should we let it go another weekend, or just roll it over now?


epanastrophe
2012-10-04 23:26:52

I think it needs to move along.


Still waiting to see TD's puppies! You can't tease us with cute puppy pics and not follow through!! That's considered cruel and unusual in some circles.


2012-10-05 11:18:20

^Oh boy [blushing]


Sorry I didn't participate in this round - just haven't found the time.


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-05 12:56:08

times up.

next.


2012-10-05 13:00:00

sandwiches

Erica

StuInMcCandless

srpit


venues

StuInMcCandless

Erica

srpit


random.org(1,3) twice gives... 1 and 3.

New tag setters are Erica and srpit.


epanastrophe
2012-10-05 14:29:38

OK, I checked the list and I didn't see this one... how about a Parking Chair?


2012-10-05 18:57:17

oooh, excellent choice.


2012-10-06 03:48:52

I'll spend the day at work thinking of a good one. New tag and end date will be set this afternoon.


rubberfactory
2012-10-06 09:01:12

Bonus for a really interesting or unique chair!


2012-10-06 23:21:37

I forgot about this all day. um...


Ever see some street art or graffiti in a really high up or awkward place, or somewhere that you really can't imagine how the artist got there, let alone managed to put art there? Get a picture of your bike near some!


Here's an example of one of my favorites:


Tag expires on October 20 at 11:59pm


rubberfactory
2012-10-06 23:36:26

How about this one next to the Southside trail:


Edit - Hmmm. Link isn't working. I'll have to re-upload the photo and try this again.



2012-10-09 13:43:19

Second try:


ratsnfratsn#&*$*!!! I'll try this again later. Something is wrong with the link.


2012-10-09 13:47:17

i need to adjust my timing for hunting the elusive parking chair.


as i was tooling around it's natural habitat (sou'side) last night (sunday evening) it seemed that most of these itemes were not in use as cars were actually parked in all the spots.


i'll try again mid-day thursday on my day off, there should be a plethora of them at that time.


2012-10-09 13:50:15

Happy hunting, pbeaver!


2012-10-09 13:54:19

pbeaver, I'm not sure parking chairs are in season yet. Oh you might see the occasional one around a home improvement project or by an apartment being moved into/outof - but until you NEED to do the Eggle run for milk, bread and TP they just aren’t that prevalent.


marko82
2012-10-09 14:53:05

Hmmm. I saw a couple last week which is what made me pick that subject. Should I change it now? Is it too late? Defer this idea for when they're more "in season"? Who makes the ruling on this?


2012-10-09 14:59:10

I'd say since you picked it, and since nobody's actually entered for it, you should be able to change it if you want. but i'm relatively new here.


epanastrophe
2012-10-09 15:18:37

they are always in season.


it is just that there are more opportune times than others to observe them in their native habitat. ;)


2012-10-09 15:21:59

I saw one near a dumpster on Webster in the Hill one day last week when I was scouting a colorful fence for srpit. Don't know if it's still there, but I'm OK with changing what to hunt for.


stuinmccandless
2012-10-09 17:10:03

Is there a governing entity for this? Anyone who would make the decision or do we just go on consensus?


Trying to post that photo again:



2012-10-09 19:31:54

Just consensus. The rules have evolved a lot since page 1.


I'd say you can change it if you want, as long as nobody's posted a photo yet. But I also think your original parking chair choice was a good one, and people will get parking chair photos if you give them time.


Maybe instead of a completely new category, you could expand the category in some way, if you're concerned it's too hard? Last year Pseudacris proposed farmers' markets, then expanded it to include any photo of your bike with groceries when people had trouble finding farmers' markets in November.


steven
2012-10-09 21:04:39

That certainly qualifies. How did they get up there, anyway? Parked train?


I'd suggest extending it to weirdly parked cars: On the curb, taking up two or four spaces, diagonal over a bunch of spaces. Or odd things parked in parking spaces.


Myself, I am going to bike up Webster and see if that chair from last Thursday is still there. Lacking that, there was a dumpster in a parking space right next to it.


But I'll leave it to her to approve this and/or come up with another idea instead.


stuinmccandless
2012-10-09 21:06:36

Wow I sure didn't mean to diss the tag - parking chairs is a great idea! I was just pointing out that they mostly bloom when the snow starts flying. Now I feel like I need to go exploring the side streets to prove myself wrong...


marko82
2012-10-09 21:55:32

The graffiti isn't very clear, I don't think. Someone wanted to share his/her sentiment with someone named Steven on the Panther Hollow Bridge.




2012-10-10 00:25:09

Parking chair, Webster Avenue, Hill District, east of Herron. Complete with its own "No Parking" sign!

Parking chair


stuinmccandless
2012-10-10 00:55:55

^ hahah, it's own No Parking sign! Nice, Stu - a 'burgh classic.


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-10 01:25:04

I guess we let it ride then. Maybe a bit more challenging than intended, but they're apparently out there. Good job, Stu!


2012-10-10 11:07:46

OK so I can imagine how the graffiti people got up here, but I still think they're freaking crazy to be climbing around this heavily used rail line:



Railway bridge over the Allegheny at River Ave/North Shore Trail.


pinky
2012-10-11 11:51:52

Larkin Way, Sah'side. Next to a car with a freshly thwacked rear view mirror that someone politely set aside on the stoop.



pseudacris
2012-10-13 20:39:46

The stoop to the left of this house, that is.


pseudacris
2012-10-13 20:40:59

GraffitiFade


I generally don't like graffiti art, but this one is beautiful. Shot from Penn Ave, but best seen from the Veterans Bridge.


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-13 21:14:59

These are the ones I like, watching the trains go by, by the Terminal Buildings, they must find these things where they sleep;



edmonds59
2012-10-13 22:27:34

nice! mobile tag


rubberfactory
2012-10-13 23:53:13

Parking chair! They're not extinct!


2012-10-14 00:58:39

or hibernating! (which was my guess)


(is it still called hibernating if they sleep the summer away instead of the winter? /lazyweb)


epanastrophe
2012-10-14 20:02:57

I think that *might be called "aestivating".

Any Latin experts reading this?


pseudacris
2012-10-14 20:53:33

Top - since it's fallen off the page. Two more days!


pinky
2012-10-18 11:53:48

Thanks pinky. must. find. prkg. chr.


edmonds59
2012-10-18 14:33:31

i have a couple shots of parking buckets in Lawrenceville... will have to see if I can convince my phone to give 'em up.


epanastrophe
2012-10-18 14:37:53

ok, i need to grab some pics. been slakcing too long on this one.


glad its a spiffy day outside.

and better chance for a chair.


2012-10-18 16:07:14

I have the opposite problem. I can't find any graffiti, at least none I can get a pic of with bike.


stuinmccandless
2012-10-18 16:35:56

Stu, I noticed that a lot of the graffiti has been cleaned up/painted over lately.


pinky
2012-10-18 17:43:14

Gah, someone stiole all the chairs from Southside.

I saw 3 cones, a crate, 11 garbage cans, but no chairs. :(

Expanding search....


2012-10-18 17:47:01

I stopped by the library with my camera a few weeks ago to take a picture of one of my favorite graffiti- on the base of the lamp at the bottom of the steps it said: "How can I think in the shadow of the steel mills." Growing up in Gary, Indiana, I was going to send it to my brothers.

Even though it had been there at least a year, it was GONE!


helen-s
2012-10-18 17:50:29

Time's up! Who wants to spin the wheel? I can maybe do it over lunch time today.


pinky
2012-10-24 11:44:40

Go for it, Pinky.


2012-10-24 11:49:55

coulnd't find a chair.

couldnt find graffitti.

didnt post any pics.

cant win a spin.

maybe next round.

:(


2012-10-24 17:35:35

GRAFFITI

Erica

srpit

joanne

pinky

TeamDecaf

edmonds59


PARKING CHAIR

StuInMcCandless

Pseudacris


ALL PLAYERS LIST

Erica

srpit

joanne

pinky

TeamDecaf

edmonds59

StuInMcCandless

Pseudacris


WINNERS

joanne

StuInMcCandless


New tag time!


(Edited because my lists looked like crap, and still do, but we're going for function, not style on this post.)


pinky
2012-10-24 19:52:24

YAY!!! Do I need to post my own tag of the new picture to kick things off?


Edit: I mean, my own picture of the new tag--strike that, reverse it!


2012-10-24 22:35:11

No, in this game, it can be a verbal description, description with picture, vague concept, whatever you come up with. But should include a bike in whatever. Yay!


edmonds59
2012-10-24 23:05:13

Initial post doesn't even have to have a picture. Just pick a topic, then let everyone go out and find pics of it. If you can find a suitable pic for your own tag, it won't count anyway, so be sure to also get a pic for the other tag so you can stay in the game.


Second winner to post gets to pick the closing time. Usually 7 full days, ending at 23:59 of that day.


Wow, I haven't won in a while. Gotta think about this a bit. Joanne, go ahead and pick something. I'll jump back on in a bit with an idea when I think of one.


stuinmccandless
2012-10-25 01:54:06

Okay, how about this:


Tag #1: something that makes you smile/laugh every time you see it when you're out and about.


2012-10-25 02:27:30

Ah, time to get the creative juices flowing. In keeping with this being the week of Halloween, as well as peak colors for the trees, I'll keep this one easy.


Tag #2: Halloween and/or leaves. Either decorate your bike with a Halloween theme, or get a pic next to a huge pile of leaves, perhaps a colorful tree or deciduous bush.


Round 52 ends on Thursday, November 1, at 23:59.


stuinmccandless
2012-10-25 07:50:50

quote: [perhaps a colorful tree or deciduous bush.]


I read that as ridiculous bush & was about to google Clown Topiary.


2012-10-25 22:52:36

Tag 1: I can't help myself - I absolutely love to ride through the tunnel at the Convention Center when the water is on! It's the one thing that I absolutely know will make me smile (if not laugh out loud) every time!



2012-10-26 00:33:39

^Me too!


2012-10-26 11:29:22

Tag 2 - I think we're past peak here now, but I found this on the way through Sandcastle this morning:




2012-10-27 02:39:20

This is a local st. I just went by and thought of fall.



2012-10-27 03:36:36

steeld55 - That's a beautiful scene!


2012-10-27 11:08:10

Gah, can't this to turn properly for some reason; also, I lose the photo contest




sgtjonson
2012-10-27 15:38:33

Halloween at the East End Food Co-Op!

Hybrid Vigor FTW!



pseudacris
2012-10-27 17:58:41

Halloween and or leaves, this should cover it, St. Phillip cemetery, Steuby Pike, Crafton;



Something that makes me smile, this whacky house on Noblestown Road has been in other threads, it's on my way home from town, and the little turtle on the bike cheers me up the hill every time;



edmonds59
2012-10-27 18:22:09

That turtle on the bike makes me happy right through my computer screen!


2012-10-28 14:56:30

Makes-Me-Happy tag:

Crummy photo of a gorgeous fluffy white rooster with bright blue and black waddles. He lives in the window of the pet food store @ Forbes Ave & Floatilla Way. He spends his days scratching and preening. Today I heard him crow through the glass for the first time.

Animal Nature are great neighbors: I live nearby and they have helped several lost pets find their homes.



pseudacris
2012-10-28 15:39:01

GoneFishin


Group bike rides make me happy. Click the image for the video of the Reverse Keg Ride


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-28 16:11:05

Very cool, TD! I was trying to figure out how to post a video here... How'd you do that?


2012-10-28 17:22:09

@srpit...


It's not a video that's posted, it's just a photo that's linked to a youtube video. You can't post videos on the message board.


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-28 17:35:52

Hmmm. Ok, it's been a lot of years since I did any serious HTML. Please forgive me for pestering you, TD, but how precisely did you accomplish that linkage?


And I have not yet forgotten the puppy pics BTW.


2012-10-28 18:24:45

Screen shot 2012-10-28 at 2.34.53 PM


Above is a screen capture of the actual code.


The first line has the link to the youtube video.


The second line is the Gone Fishin' image - it's a link to flickr, where I uploaded the photo.


I added the fake "play" button to the image in Photoshop so it would look like a video.


Edit: Hope that helps!


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-28 18:41:35

yup, he cheated. ;)


2012-10-28 19:47:55

Thanks, TeamDecaf!


2012-10-28 20:25:58

Tag 2: Pink bike parked down from OTB after the Reverse Keg Ride because...the bike corrals were FULL! You can see a lame tree in there, but the sign of Halloween really is the group ride.




pinky
2012-10-29 12:09:57

Experiment to see if I can link to a video successfully here. I didn't take the time to put the "play" button on the photo though.




2012-10-29 15:17:15

That worked! I thought I'd messed it up at first, but when I looked back at TD's example it actually did work the same. Very cool. Thanks again, TD. I originally thought having the video of that particular tag was way more effective but couldn't figure out how to post it.


2012-10-29 15:18:51

It doesn't work if I click it, permission denied - probably it's limited to your friends or something?


salty
2012-10-29 15:22:50

Just went in and changed the access. Try it again please, Salty and let me know?


2012-10-29 15:25:03

Still no luck. It's possible when you changed the permissions it changed the URL as well.


This content is currently unavailable

The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

Return home


salty
2012-10-29 15:29:14

#*$^% The link is the same, but I've noticed with FB that sometimes the link does change right after you post something. Initially it's really long, but if you go back after several minutes it's a more reasonable length. I don't think that was the issue this time though. I originally edited it at the album it was stored in to change the access. After your last post I went back to look and on the Timeline page it was still showing restricted access, so I changed it again. I'm hoping it'll work now. If not I'm out of ideas.


2012-10-29 15:47:36

works for me now...


salty
2012-10-29 15:55:43

Cool! Thanks for checking it, Salty.


I also just noticed that the original photo post is now missing the photo... Does that mean that you can only link to a photo in one place on the message board?


2012-10-29 15:57:39

Tried changing out the experimental link photo to see if the original post would re-appear, but no luck. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong or why that photo disappeared?


2012-10-29 16:04:53

I believe I agree with that assessment, Salty.


I only started using FB less than a year ago - mostly to post photos so I didn't have to email them to 20 different people. I may need to explore some other options.


2012-10-29 16:19:36

Srpit-- Flickr and Imgur are common options (i.e., the two I use most). Tumblr, Twitter have their own imagehosts.


epanastrophe
2012-10-29 17:06:49

Thanks, buffalo buffalo. Is there one that you find easier to use?


2012-10-29 18:17:36

@srpit - nice work! I love riding through the waterfall too.


If you decide to use flickr (or some other photo drop) you can give me the image link and I'll edit your original post.


teamdecafweekend
2012-10-29 19:27:53

For something like this, I'd use imgur. It's fast and simple and good at spitting out the information you need to post a photo in a variety of formats. I use Flickr to upload larger quantities of photos when I want to share them with people who aren't on Facebook and things like that, but unless you pay for a Pro account, there are significant limitations on how much you can upload and what you can do. imgur is also much easier to use from a smartphone.


2012-10-29 20:51:43

Imgur is definitely easier to deal with. For one thing, you don't even technically need an account (though it does make things easier); you can just email photos to the service and they'll send back a link to them.


(Though for what it's worth, now that I think about it, Flickr also gives you an email address to send your pictures to for uploads, so if you've a phone that can email photos off, you don't necessarily need to care that their m. site blows.)


epanastrophe
2012-10-30 14:39:29

Another thought: If you've got any interest in Creative-Commons, uncopyright, and the like, Flickr makes it very easy to mark what kind of licensing you want to give your photos, en masse or individually. Imgur doesn't give you the option at all.


Flickr no longer mandates a Yahoo account; while it's definitely preferred, you can now log in with Google or Facebook accounts. Imgur takes G, F, Y, or Twitter accounts, as well as its own local accounts.


epanastrophe
2012-10-30 14:47:50

Thanks, all. I'm still working on this. Looked at Flickr, Imgur and Picasa. I know a good photographer and a very, very computer savy friend who both use Picasa. The photo guy told me he likes the editing features and I know the computer guru uses it for his blog links. Right now I'm trying to get a feel for them all and see what will work best for me. I really appreciate the advice. I definitely need to stop using FB for this stuff.


2012-10-30 19:42:57


2012-10-30 20:27:14

Next! I believe we're past the end time.


2012-11-03 11:09:47

I'll close us out. Too bad the weather was so rotten the past few days, or I might've gotten in on my own tag.


Tag #1: something that makes you smile/laugh.

1. srpit

2. edmonds59

3. pseudacris

4. Team Decaf


Tag #2: Halloween and/or leaves.

5. srpit

6. steeld55

7. pierce

8. pseudacris

9. edmonds59

10. pinky


Now we spin the Wheelset of Fortune ...

TTTTTTTtttttttctctctctctctictictic.tic..tic... tic.... TICK!

10 and 7

So, Pierce and pinky get to be our tag setters for Round 53!


stuinmccandless
2012-11-03 14:05:27

Because I'm craving it right now - breakfast!


Post a pic of your bike at your favorite breakfast joint.


pinky
2012-11-04 16:23:26

And because I came across one accidently earlier today - abandoned paths (including roads, stairs)


sgtjonson
2012-11-05 02:21:01

Pierce, you get to decide when the round ends.


steven
2012-11-05 03:40:50

Two weeks from today; Monday the 19th


sgtjonson
2012-11-05 11:45:15

Aw, man. Guess I'll have to go back to Deluca's, since I didn't see this in time for my trip there yesterday morning.


epanastrophe
2012-11-05 16:15:42

I know, buffalo buffalo, it's rough.


pinky
2012-11-05 16:28:42

Tag#1 - abandoned road. Kearns St in Green Tree with hubby.




pinky
2012-11-06 23:59:29

mmm, deluca's was the best.


2012-11-07 00:59:52

pamela's is better.


rubberfactory
2012-11-07 01:23:54

pamela's does not have sausage biscuts & gravy.

:)


2012-11-07 15:44:18

Does anywhere in the city have SOS? Hubby loves it but it is hard to find this far north/west.


pinky
2012-11-07 16:57:00

SOS?


stuinmccandless
2012-11-08 11:34:36

**** On A Shingle?

not sure if that is the dish Pinky is referring too.

But I dont know of any local places that feature the dish, perhaps a diner has it somewhere.


2012-11-08 12:53:47

Creamed chipped beef over toast - Shit on a Shingle. I personally find the stuff revolting.


pinky
2012-11-08 12:55:28

I think this is more of a chipped ham kind of region. SOS is chipped beef. My mom used to make a tuna version which my brothers gave the same name (minus the asterisks!)


pseudacris
2012-11-08 12:56:00

Tag #1: Breakfast at the pharmacy! Who does that anymore? Well...


Adzema Pharmacy has a breakfast counter

8169 Perry Hwy in McCandless, a mere 0.36 mile from my house. For y'uns northbound riders, they're open through lunch, too, to 9-12:30 on Sunday, usually 8-2 (I think) the rest of the week.


stuinmccandless
2012-11-08 15:04:16

Breakfast - Apollo Cafe, 429 Forbes, Dahntahn. They have a spinach & feta omelette that's heaven. And it's just an elevator ride from work.


edmonds59
2012-11-08 16:31:26

Tag #2: Abandoned paths. This is the right-of-way for the Harmony Trolley where it crosses Perrymont Road. The trolley lived from about 1910 to about 1930, and connected Pittsburgh with Butler, Zelienople, and Harmony. Equitable Gas has a pipeline that runs along it, and a minimal two-tracker road runs between Perrymont and Babcock Blvd, thus making it a viable way for me to bike into town. The biggest problem for biking is the absence of a bridge over a small stream about 150 feet off of Perrymont, which I pictured on page 13 of this thread.

Abandoned trolley line


stuinmccandless
2012-11-09 13:01:38

Knew you'd use that one, Stu! It's the only abandoned road/path I've been able to think of so far, but I figured that you showed it to me and it's so close to you that you sort of have "ownership" rights on that one.


2012-11-09 17:46:17

I think it's OK to tag the same place in Wheelset. I'm OK with it at least.


pinky
2012-11-09 18:05:45

Aye, I'd certainly enjoy some more photos along that path


sgtjonson
2012-11-09 18:24:41

This is a great tag idea!


srpit - You could bike up to the car wash and get the other end.


There must be plenty of other former trolley rights of way around, too. One piece I can think of is about a half mile north of the Ross bus garage on Perrysville Ave, at the top of the hill above the HOV Lane entrance, just a few feet east of the street. Also, right at the city line, a piece of trolley track peels off of Perrysville into the weeds.


Lots of places along River Ave where there's a bit of old siding that used to connect to the railroad on what is now the trail. Not to mention the abandoned rail bridge by the yacht club.


Inclines: There used to be 20 in town. Here and there a pillar or a wall are all that remain.


Plenty of paper streets. The story yesterday about Rock Alley pointed me to several former or potential streets I didn't know existed.


Former tunnels. You might have to do a bit of research here, but old abandoned mine entrances abound in the city. I'm told there's one up by the top of the Mon Incline, if you know where to look. (I don't.) There is a former tunnel just upstream from the Corliss Tunnel, but it might be easier to find its other end near the corner of Chartiers and Corliss. This sub-topic needs its own thread, and probably not here, but wow, if you hit on the right research resource, you could go nuts here.


stuinmccandless
2012-11-09 18:27:33

Wow! Lots of ideas that never entered my mind. I kept trying to think of a road. Never considered remnants of an old incline as qualifying. Cool. I like the idea of heading out to the car wash. If I get a chance I'll probably do that - unless I stumble on one of those other ideas. Thanks, guys!


2012-11-09 22:54:44

I noticed a couple options as I was heading from Oakland to downtown this afternoon. Uphill from the Birmingham Bridge there are a road/drive and a set of stairs that seem to go nowhere. And then just off of Robinson there are three or four streets that, um, seemed to end prematurely.


swalfoort
2012-11-09 23:57:16


Abandoned road in Riverview park



I don't eat breakfast, unless you consider 2 cups of coffee to be breakfast. Tazza, my favorite ride starting point.


teamdecafweekend
2012-11-10 20:29:11

OK, now that Stu opened my mind up to something other than an old road I was finding stuff all over town today. How about these:



Found the tracks to nowhere next to the northshore trail. Then I noticed the old overgrown road off to the side of the Steel Valley trail.

Not only is this game good for giving me a destination to ride to/for, but it sure opens my eyes to stuff I wasn't even noticing before. Cool.


2012-11-10 21:55:54

pinky - my mom used to make sos. her version was just cream of mushroom soup and a hamburger patty on toast. Even though it was a really-bad-for-you pile of salt, I kind of miss it.


rubberfactory
2012-11-10 21:58:25

Four Mile Run


The end of Saline Street in Four Mile Run--I assume this was closed off when the Parkway was built?


2012-11-10 22:09:36

Hey,Team Decaf, did you enter that Tazo D'oro photo in the coffeeneering challenge as well?


swalfoort
2012-11-11 00:07:21

^No, I haven't been following that thread. I don't know what it's about.


teamdecafweekend
2012-11-11 15:27:31

Breakfast at Pamela's in the Strip:



Bonus shot of a jewelery vendor blocking the bike rack right next door.



I was going to say something, but I was already hungry and cranky. I didn't feel like putting up a fight.


pinky
2012-11-11 21:17:41

Breakfast at the very impressive Oakmont Bakery. Wow - what a selection of so-not-good-for-you delicious looking stuff! Should have snapped a shot of the display cases full of treats, but I was too focused on eating my bearclaw and french donut. :)



Plus, a cozy spot to eat those treats:



2012-11-11 23:25:22

Closed Road....

This used to be part of the road into the Dixmont State Hospital. When WalMart was going in at that site, it became the back access road. When the landslide happened, it became a heavy vehicle access road. Now? It might still be used for that, but mostly it is just closed.


Walmart/Dixmont Access Road


swalfoort
2012-11-11 23:57:18

Swalfoort, do you know anything about plans for that site? Are they still stabilizing the hillside? I was just wondering the other day when we were crossing the Ohio on 79 and I could see the hill.


Cool spot to pick.


pinky
2012-11-12 12:54:17

@pinky; I think the slope is *almost* stabilized, or at least shifting only minimally, if that makes sense. But, they continue to monitor it. Locally, there was hope that the municipality would turn it into a park, but they say they can't afford to have that much land sit idle, not generating any tax revenue. I think they still hope some sort of development will happen on the site.


swalfoort
2012-11-12 13:35:37



YES! Los Cabos has a BREAKFAST MENU!

This is a few doors up from Brillobox & across from Children's Hospital. Call ahead to check hours...


pseudacris
2012-11-12 22:15:09

Bump - three more days! Get yer breakfast and abandoned roads on!


pinky
2012-11-16 18:18:19

Time up?


2012-11-21 00:22:38

dang, i forgot to nab any of these, does it count if i grab a shot of my bike & a poptart?


2012-11-21 02:10:50

I think it would count if it was in front of the convenience store where you bought the pop tart :-)


pseudacris
2012-11-21 02:29:01

So is this game done for the winter?


2012-11-27 14:23:51

My late bid for this round:



On Spring Ave, http://goo.gl/maps/l2rf4 , notice the street light


sgtjonson
2012-11-27 14:38:35

I was being lazy about organizing the tags and generating the numbers, but alas, I was feeling even more lazy about doing something else, so here we are:


Tag #1: breakfast!

1. stu

2. edmonds59

3. teamdecaf

4. pinky

5. srpit

6. pseudacris


Tag #2: abandoned paths (I wish I added an exclamation point to mine :(

7. pinky

8. stu

9. teamdecaf

10. sprit

11. joanne

12. swalfoort


Now we spin the Wheelset of Fortune ...

TTTTTTTtttttttctctctctctctictictic.tic..tic... tic.... TICK!

8 and 2


So, Stu and Edmonds get to be our tag setters for Round 54!


sgtjonson
2012-11-27 14:47:42

Yay! I was hoping someone would spin the wheel. I've been crushed at work and so haven't had time to take it on myself. Thanks, Pierce!


pinky
2012-11-28 13:25:43

Tag #1: Timepieces

This one might be a bit elusive. Try to find the time of day while you are biking around, and get a pic of your bike in front of it. Anything goes: Digital, analog, sundials, whatever. If you can figure out (or should be able to figure out) the time of day by looking at it, great!


I can think of two clocks in Millvale facing the street. Probably many others, too. But not as many as there could or should be!


Since there are not that many, multiple entries are encouraged. (You still only get one entry for participating, though.)


stuinmccandless
2012-11-28 14:52:45

what if it's a clock inside a building that's visible from outside? I have a knack for finding those, after many instances of trying to see how late for work I am :)


rubberfactory
2012-11-28 14:57:50

Thinking. How difficult do you want to go?

How about getting a pic of your bike with some holiday decoration or symbol that is NOT Christmas. Obviously could be something non-Christian, but could also be a decoration or something from a passed holiday that has simply not been taken down, or expired. I would ask that it not be from the Menorah ride, too easy.

This round to expire 12/16/2012 at 11:59 pm. O.K.?


edmonds59
2012-11-28 15:33:32

@Stu - great choice. I can think of at least 3 clocks on (or potentially on)my route into work, so maybe this will inpsire me to ride one of these days, given the beautiful weather.


@Edmonds - I was just thinking of this the other day. I must have seen something that reminded me that the time for Christmas decorations is upon us! Oh, I know! It was when I opened my front door and my "welcome" hanging swung wide. It was then that I realized that I never even hung the halloween wreath, and that the welcome hanging that was still in place cas loosely designed around a shamrock motif. (I call it my summer hanging......)


Time to swap that baby out, but get a photo first!


swalfoort
2012-11-28 17:38:19

Hey Pierce, I've been meaning to ask you something about your abandoned roads tag. You said you set it as your tag because you came across one that day. Is that the one you used for your tag, or did you find another, different one for that? And, more importantly, when you came across that first one, did you follow it? Or did you just let it roll around in your brain for a bit?


I am just curious because part of me says "oh, I certainly would have followed it, to see where it went..." then the more pragmatic side of me says "oh, you so wouldn't because it would make you late, or it might be trespassing, or it might lead you to someplace scary, or, well, something." I like to think the free spirit in me would have won that battle, but I can't say with any certainty.


Maybe that's a resolution for the new year; to follow a few more of those less travelled roads.


swalfoort
2012-11-28 17:42:49

Swalfoort- When I used to run one of my favorite things to do when running in new locations was to just head up towards the closest wooded area then take any path leading off the road- deer trails, old roads, single tracks. They are all over if you look! Usually not ridable though.


helen-s
2012-11-28 18:43:50

@Erica - Sure, if you can see it from the outside and can get a photo with your bike, it counts.


My inspiration for this was my continued frustration with not being able to tell what time it is. I haven't had a wristwatch in almost 10 years, and I cannot easily pull my cell out of my pocket from either bicycle or motorcycle (which I was on this morning). And T and busway stops generally have no clocks, either, or if they do it's a recent development.


stuinmccandless
2012-11-28 18:54:18

nice, there's one on my way home from the bookstore that I use often (because sometimes I have to pick stuff up from the store super early before work, and I always worry that I'm late)


rubberfactory
2012-11-28 19:04:45

@Swalfoort


Unfortunately, the one I used and the one I came across that day were the same. It wasn't an official entry; moreso showing the inspiration for the tag.


That particular path didn't lead to anything too interesting; a field/road on one end and slightly peculiar apartment complex on the other. (by Biddles)


sgtjonson
2012-11-28 20:38:28

Tag #2: Leftover Halloween & Thanksgiving. It's a scarecrow & various pumpkins.

Lindisfarne Drive, on the Ross/McCandless border.

Leftover Halloween


I'll try to get a better picture later, probably of another tag, but I at least wanted to get in the game.


stuinmccandless
2012-11-30 14:43:01

Update: I found the missing historical sign!


Back on Page 19, edmonds59 noted that the 1909 McKees Rocks Strike sign had disappeared. Well, it moved. It's in The Bottoms, approximately here.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-01 17:00:24

Cool, I'll have to check that out.

Good one on the Halloween decs too, exactly what I had in mind.


edmonds59
2012-12-01 17:49:12

Timepiece. This is it, the one, the big chrono. Kaufman's clock. Doesn't matter what passing venture goes inside the walls, this will always be the Kaufman's clock:



Non-Christmas holiday - Not a tag, since this was my pick, but this is what prompted me to come up with it. Unless this building is demolished, this poster will be there until next October:



edmonds59
2012-12-01 22:59:15

Given what's going on down the street, that sign will be lucky to make it to New Year's.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-01 23:33:53

TimePiece-WyomingStreet


Not a very glamorous timepiece. The time reads 2:31, sort of. On Wyoming Street (I think) in Mt Washington.


Was it really 62 degrees today (Dec 1)? Jeez.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-01 23:46:43

Clock at Emsworth Municipal Building, Center Avenue, Emsworth.


municipal building clock, emsworth, pa


swalfoort
2012-12-02 17:09:10

When I went looking for the "belated seasons" tag, I thought it would be tough to find. I was wrong. From my front porch I could see a pumpkin in a neighbor's yard. In a 1.3 mile out and back ride along Center Avenue in Emsworth, I counted no fewer than 17 homes that still have a pumpkin or other "seasonal" decorations that celebrated autumn, thanksgiving or ??? That included flags, wreaths, cornstalks and lots and lots of pumpkins: carved, painted, undecorated, real and artificial. I could make quite a pie with all those pumpkins.


I chose this one for the variety and quantity of decorations (4) and the dressing (pun intended) of the (holiday?) goose.


halloween in december


swalfoort
2012-12-02 17:14:42

found a thanksgiving flag on my way home the other day



rubberfactory
2012-12-02 23:29:26

Halloween decorations on the Southside:



2012-12-02 23:56:34

Edmonds59 got THE iconic Pittsburgh clock, so I had to go for the second most well known clock:



2012-12-02 23:58:34

Obama_Biden


I'm stretching edmonds59's description a bit...


Depending on your perspective, you might consider this a non-Christmas holiday decoration. I must have seen 8-10 Obama-Biden signs on Beechwood today.


PenguinsWindow


And stretching edmonds59's description even further, I've redefined "holiday" into a "season" instead. I'm a Pens fan and the season looks like it's over. ;-(


The driver of the car showed up while I was standing there. I said, "Sad thing, the Pens." he said "Don't get me started."


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-04 23:24:29

It's my own tag, so this doesn't count for the game, but here's a nice timepiece to look for when riding out north:


Clock in Perrysville


Southbound US19 in Perrysville, Ross Twp., near the fire station.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-06 22:23:00

Dang, I go by that like four times a week and I don't think I've ever noticed it


sgtjonson
2012-12-06 23:33:59

Is the thing on top of the History Center a clock? I couldn't decide. If it isn't, don't count this tag.




pinky
2012-12-12 12:42:52

Look closely - on the railing of this house, there is a witch and some Halloween stuff. Though given the state of this place, I probably could have found earlier holidays' decor if I looked harder.




pinky
2012-12-13 13:10:12

Ha, that is the go-to place for many unusual things.


edmonds59
2012-12-13 13:17:38

This is actually the place next door to the one with the Gumby yard. It's like a competition to see who can have more stuff outside.


Have you seen the creepy elves on the stairs of the Gumby yard place for xmas? They are a new holiday addition.


pinky
2012-12-13 13:50:19

@pinky - are those bunny rabbit ears sticking out from behind the concrete planter? (Next to the blue cooler, below the porch)


swalfoort
2012-12-13 14:06:41

I zoomed in on my phone, and it turns out to be a butterfly. I got excited for a minute that this was like a double tag or something :)


pinky
2012-12-13 14:56:22

Looks like bunny ears to me. Just saying.....!


swalfoort
2012-12-13 15:01:57



clock on the cut @ cmu. it was too easy to pass up ;)


melange396
2012-12-14 20:00:01

I've already tagged the clock in my municipality, but the tag setter said the more the better, so here goes:


Top of Brigton Road, at Termon (Brighton Heights)


brighton hts clock


Bank clocks (2) in Bellevue, both on Lincoln Avenue:


bellevue bank


bellevue near Kuhns


Pizza Milano Clock, Bellevue, also on Lincoln Ave

pizza milano clock bellevue


swalfoort
2012-12-16 21:03:07

Municipal Clocks in Ben Avon and Avalon (both on the same street which may be called either Lincoln ior Church, depending on the Boro.


This route is a great alternative to nearby Ohio River Boulevard, exending to within a mile or so of I-79.


Only the southfacing side of the Avaolon Clock gives the correct time:


Avalon Boro clock


The north facing side seems stuck:


wrong side avalon clock


Both sides of ben avon clock seem to be working:


ben avon clock


swalfoort
2012-12-16 21:08:02

Timepieces and Seasons Past tags have expired.


Weather is warm, world ends on Friday! We have time for one more round.


Timepieces tag getters are Emdonds, TeamDecaf, me, Srpit, Pinky and Melange.


Seasons past tag getters are Stu, me, Erica, Srpit and Pinky.


Random.org generates no. 1 and no. 1


Next tag getters are Edmonds and Stu.


Wow, it's a repeat of the last round!


swalfoort
2012-12-17 15:15:21

Splendid collection of timepieces, Swalfoort.

Now I need to think (oww). I'll get on this shortly.


edmonds59
2012-12-17 16:08:57

OK, I'll go first. Let's assume we are not getting a monster snowstorm between now and the end of the round.


Tag #1: Find something cool & groovy that is no higher than the front wheel of your bike. Extra 20 Internetz points if you can get a pic through the spokes.


I have been waiting to grab the Tag-o-Rama tag since September with a specific one in mind, which I will post here if I haven't grabbed it by the time the round ends.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-17 18:36:05

I don't think we have done this one before, but let me know.

Locking - since locking, or the failure thereof, is a recurring theme on here, get a pic of a bike that is locked up in a particularly poor, sad, or notably good and creative way.

Round ends at 11:59 pm on 1/30/12.


edmonds59
2012-12-18 11:21:45

JTV - That'd be 11:59 pm on 30 December 2012, Bill?


stuinmccandless
2012-12-18 12:45:57

Doh! Yes.

Too early.


edmonds59
2012-12-18 13:00:38

Locking.


4 bikes, 1 street sign, 1 good idea.


Photobucket


2012-12-22 14:48:37

Tag #2: Bike locks

Sometimes, you have to use what's available.

Pines Plaza Shop & Save, Ross Twp.

shopping cart bike locking


Tag #1, Close-to-the-ground (does not count for the game, my tag)

Diamond Bank logo, Liberty Ave, Downtown.

Tag drop


I used this in Tag-o-Rama, but I had already picked it out for this game.


* * *

Late entry for last round: P&G Diner in Millvale. This was the clock that inspired the tag.

P&G Diner, Millvale


stuinmccandless
2012-12-23 23:51:29

FrancoImmaculateReception


Tag #1 Lower than the wheel of my bike, Franco's Immaculate Reception newly-christened Memorial (not sure it should be called a memorial, hmmmm)... through the spokes, flat on the ground.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-24 20:01:51

2012-12-24 13.10.32


The rest of it looks like this^


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-24 20:04:21

Tag 1, something interesting close to the ground.


It seems that a beaver has been busy along the south side trail. Very fresh chips too, so make sure you use a light after dark.




marko82
2012-12-24 20:06:19

hey now, i only ride on the trail, i got no beef with those trees.


2012-12-24 20:37:34

Ha! I saw that too John. The ones that are pointy in the middle (like a pencil) are the cutest


sgtjonson
2012-12-24 21:43:20

Sorry to invade the thread with this, but I just tried to post on the soupaneuring thread three times without success. Had to try here to see if it would work.


2012-12-24 22:02:30

Hmmm. Worked here, but not there. Guess it isn't my connection.


2012-12-24 22:03:13

In my experience, when that happens, it's because of a problem with the photo link. Copy/paste your post into Notepad or something, then post the text alone to make sure it's OK, then go back and edit, adding the photo link.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-24 22:20:50

Thanks, Stu. Actually the first two attempts I made I didn't even try to include the photo. I tried it in the iPad and on the desktop. The third try was with a photo. After I posted here I tried one last time and it finally worked. Can't figure out the problem, but whatever it was apparently fixed itself.


2012-12-24 23:18:22

OT: Now we have a memorial to a single play in a football game (a non-championship game, no less) that happened 40 years ago?


You know, my late neighborhood historian once told me that Dan Marino used to hang out with the kids who lived in my house, and was once seen peeing in our alley...if he had been a Steeler, should we have erected a monument there as well?


2012-12-26 23:14:45

I am surprised to see that I am the first person to post this for Tag 1: Something groovy or cool that close to the ground.....Untitled


Snow, obviously, and thankfully very low to the ground.


swalfoort
2012-12-27 00:52:22

^ Hey Sarah, check Marko82 and my posts way up there for #1 Tags^^^^^^^^^^^^ - 2 days old - ha!


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-27 02:30:05

@TeamDecaf - So, I didn't mean I was the first person to post for Tag #1, but that I was the first person to post SNOW for Tag #1. It seemed so logical!


But, i loved your tag! We'll put up a memorial for just about anything, it seems!


swalfoort
2012-12-28 23:03:50

@Swalfort - duh, whoops, I didn't get it/totally misread it.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-29 01:54:58

^I loved your tag too--I hope my post-travel grumpy rant didn't appear to be aimed at you, TD! It was not in the spirit of Wheelset of Fortune anyway. Should have kept my Franco Harris ranty rants out of here--I'm sorry! :)


2012-12-29 13:42:02

Making fun of Pittsburgh's sports obsession is always in order. Welcome to Pittsburgh International, where we honor the founder of our country and a guy who caught a ball once.


steven
2012-12-29 14:15:47

^no offense taken, joanne. It's all cool. I too, am amazed at how much football means to so many people. I'm a fan, but not a fanatic.


teamdecafweekend
2012-12-29 14:18:22

:) Phew--thanks guys!


2012-12-29 16:48:23

Ding! Time's up on Round 55. Participants were:

Tag #1: Close to the ground

1. Team Decaf

2. marko82

3. Swalfoort


Tag #2: Bike locking

4. pbeaver

5. StuInMcCandless


Spinning the wheel, I get 2 and 4, so marko82 and pbeaver get to set the tags for Round 56.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-31 11:20:21

Ok, I’m going to resurrect one of srpit’s suggestions from earlier this fall – a parking chair. ‘Tis the season that the city’s parking chairs are in full bloom, so find an unusual one, find a snow covered one, or find one in a really odd or attractive location. Bonus points for getting multiple chairs in the same photo.


pbeav, you can set the closing date/time.


marko82
2012-12-31 19:51:41

Cool!


swalfoort
2012-12-31 22:13:17

Ok, second.item for photo choice,.. holiday trees in the refuse pile. Tis the season for abandoned trees

Item #2: Xmas.in the dumps. Trees.in the trash.


Let's give and end to the round of Fri Jan 11th. 11:59pm.


2013-01-01 21:46:01

Tag #1: Parking chair, Highwood at Stayton, North Side, off Brighton Rd.

Parking chair, Highwood at Stayton, off Brighton Rd


After I left the Icycle Bicycle Ride, I rode a combination of buses and the wheel into Bellevue. I had earlier snapped a pic right on Brighton, but managed to delete it prior to uploading. This resulted in looking in and riding through neighborhood streets until I found a chair. There were several to choose from, so there should be no problem finding them, if you keep your eyes open.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-01 22:42:44

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos


Very top of 43rd in Larryville before it dead ends.


2013-01-02 19:32:02

hoping its not too cold tomororow, i need to get some miles logged, might as well be taking pictures while doing it.


2013-01-03 02:33:50

Today was garbage day in my neighborhood. I went for an hour long walk last night, and in that time I saw at least 5 families dragging their ornament/decoration free trees to the curb. I wish I had ridden, rather than walked, so I could have grabbed this tag. Fortunately, other trees will be out next week for the getting of this tag. Chairs are proving to be more eluxive in my part of town.


swalfoort
2013-01-03 16:11:13

Last year the city adveritsed a tree pickup week, but I did not hear anything about it this year- they were composting them, which makes a lot more sense than discarding. I hate seeing things go to the landfill that should not. Bicycles especially.


helen-s
2013-01-03 18:24:12

Item 1: Parking chair...

Photobucket


item 2: rubbished holiday tree...

Photobucket


2013-01-03 21:36:03

helen s, city's not attempting tree pick up this year, those wishing to recycle them will have to bring them in. don't see too many bikes getting landfilled of late, scrappers get to them first, a shame, really.


ka_jun
2013-01-04 01:19:31

Salty- thanks for the tip on #'s 6 & 7- I missed that notice. In the picture above, I am not sure that printer will get taken- I thought I read somewhere they were not taking electronic devices. At one time I think I had 4 functional microwaves in my basement that all eventually got given away.


helen-s
2013-01-04 01:35:55

When did all the out-of-towners take over the South Side? No self-respecting Pittsburgher would be reserving a parking space with an orange cone for gosh sakes! Up and down the streets today and we saw about 7 cones, one parking crate, one parking garbage can, and this parking stool - which may or may not actually qualify as a backless chair. Kind of sort of. I'm throwing it up here anyway, but I plan to continue my hunt for the illusive parking chair tomorrow. I was obviously hunting in the wrong habitat today.



2013-01-06 00:07:05

The photo for soupaneuring wouldn't post, but I'm going to attempt to post one here anyway. 15 miles around the city neighborhoods today and not a single parking chair in sight. I was surprised, however, to actually find a Christmas tree at the curb! Didn't expect to get that one.



2013-01-07 01:50:40

PARKING CHAIR! Just when I had given up I stumbled on this one in Lawrenceville. Of course I saw another one later on the Southside too.



2013-01-09 13:49:17

Christmas tree tag: I saw many Christmas trees on the local curbs this morning (it is garbage day in my community), but this was the most curious. It has NO needles. Is there a use for them that I don't know about? Or just a truly miserable cleaning task awaiting inside the home? It does, however, have tinsel remnants. Is this waht a Charlie Brown tree looks like a week AFTER Christmas?


needles needed


swalfoort
2013-01-09 14:43:04

My guess is that they threw it in their yard last year, and then realized it doesn't magically biodegrade in a year.


I'm bummed - I might miss this round, too. Trash day was yesterday, and most of the parking spots are melting.


pinky
2013-01-09 15:34:15

@pinky, I am hoping they somehow dried the needles then collected them for mulch. But you may be right, tinsel and all.


swalfoort
2013-01-09 16:46:03

Put your pencils down and close your books! Time's up on Round 56. Participants were:


Tag #1: Parking chair

1. StuInMcCandless (possibly the first time a unicycle was used in a WoF tag)

2. Andrew S.

3. pbeaver

4. srpit


Tag #2: Abandoned Christmas trees

5. pbeaver

6. srpit

7. Swalfoort


Spinning the wheel, I get 2 and 7, so Andrew S. and Swalfoort get to set the tags for Round 57.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-13 15:08:15

Going all creative here......


I was looking for a theme for Martin Luther King., Jr., Day, which falls in this Round. What I kept coming back to was the "I have Dream" speech.


So, Tag 2 for Round 57 is SPEECH.


Can you take a photo of your bike with something that makes SPEECH visible? Or represents speech in some way?


I've got a range of ideas in my head. If the response to this tag is slow, I'll post some ideas, but feel free to use your creativity. For example, does Toastmasters have a sign or placard that they post anywhere, Stu?


Andrew, you'll be responsible for setting the closing time/date of this Round. We usually go with two weeks per round...


swalfoort
2013-01-14 14:50:38

I can't think of a sign that any Toastmasters group posts. We tend to be web based. But I would consider valid any placard or statue historical marker that has a speech on it, or refers to one being given. There are quite a few of those around.


I suppose if you happened upon somebody actually giving a live speech outside, that would count. Do the Ducky Boat Tours run in the winter? If you were lucky enough to see one coming and snapped a pic of your bike as one went past, seems that might work.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-14 15:42:13

Wow! I hadn't thought of Ducky Tours, but that would be a great one. I mentioned Toastmasters only to get the creative juices flowing. The more I thought about it, the wider my range of options became. I am hoping people get really creative here!


swalfoort
2013-01-14 15:45:55

My bike is tied up on the City-County Bldg portico, which is often the site of some politician holding press conferences, or some such. Possibly less likely in 30-degree weather, but not impossible.


I think luck is going to be a factor in this tag, just being in the right place at the right time. But of course, the whole purpose of the game is to be on the bike and watching out for things, so yeah, this one could be fun!


Edit: Another idea: Capturing a news reporter making a report, standing next to the van. Off-TV-camera, and not being obtrusive. Often, when I'm taking the bike off the rack, some reporter is doing a news story in the lot across from City-County.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-14 15:50:16

If I am not mistaken, there would be a good shot just outside the Bike-Pgh offices that would be available any time. But, I may be misremembering....


I thought it would be really cool to try to catch someone SIGNING (ASL) during a speech, but that might be too much to ask for!


swalfoort
2013-01-14 16:20:18

Cool idea Swalfoort!

Speech. Giant telecommunications tower above Noblestown Road. Just imagine all the yakking running through this thing!;



edmonds59
2013-01-15 14:40:21

Tag #1: Speech.

If I had framed this better, I would have shown the trifecta: Channels 2, 4, and 11, all in the lot across from City-County. (One of the vans is off-view to the left.)


Someone is on camera, just beyond the far van, so this is speech, in process.

Tuesday, 15 January, 6pm.

TV news reporters


stuinmccandless
2013-01-15 23:58:24

Nice catch, Stu.


And, since we are three days into this round with no second tag, do you want to spin the wheel again to identify a second tag setter?


Or do we just want to poke Andrew?


swalfoort
2013-01-16 00:20:02

Andrew is new, IIRC. Do we have some way to contact him, other than through the board? I'm guessing he only logs in occasionally, and/or does not read every post like some of us.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-16 00:36:18

Speech!

I don't know what these things are, but I imagine them to be giant Dr. Seuss megaphones, though which some crazy Seusical creature can shout across the river. (Welcome to my head, which also plays the Zelda theme song as I travel on Noblestown Rd.)




pinky
2013-01-17 12:54:11

I'll reach out to andrew today and let him know he's on deck for an item.


@pinky - theme songs are the best, i mentally rock out to the tetris theme whenever i have to pack anything. :D


2013-01-17 13:50:31

Thanks! I already had one annoying song running through my head. Now I have three. And I love Pinky's assessment of what these things are/might be. I'll look at them in a whole new way, now.


swalfoort
2013-01-17 13:53:09

Ha Tetris is also good for loading the dishwasher.


And I almost don't want to know what they are really for, because I like to imagine them with the Lorax.


pinky
2013-01-17 14:10:04

Hey guys, sorry about the delay. Hadn't been on the board in a few days.


After a (little) bit of thought, I'm going to go with "Clubs" for Tag 1. I initially thought ethnic/social clubs but if you get creative, by all means go for it.


There are so many relics of the past around this city, most of which I've never even heard of. If the organization is no longer active, a picture of the former building will suffice.


2013-01-17 17:22:28

Oh and let's call this round on Sunday, January 27th. Cut a few days off the customary two weeks because the other tag has been in effect for a few days.


2013-01-17 17:27:11

No way - I could have picked that up for the clocks tag! I had no idea.


pinky
2013-01-17 21:04:20
Hmmm.  Obviously I screwed that up, but there's no way to edit it now.  Plus I couldn't log on.  Told me my user name was no good so I had to register over again.  Anyone else have that problem?
srpit
2013-01-29 19:56:55
My ID was OK, but it looks like Andrew S. somehow became  "Anonymous". I wonder how many others that happened to. What say we extend this round for another week? Any objections to going through 23:59 this Sunday, February 3?
stuinmccandless
2013-01-29 20:15:18
I think another week is appropriate given the board inavailabiliyy and the terrible weather...
swalfoort
2013-01-29 20:33:37
When the tag came up for "clubs" I wasn't sure whether the intent was a search for music venues or fraternal organization, so I decided to combine the two. BPOE/Elks Club on the North Side. Also home of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club and their fabulous Wednesday Night banjo extranvaganza! Untitled
swalfoort
2013-01-30 12:23:40
The intent of this tag is to display speech being made visual. It was not my first choice for this tag, but I had sort of held it in reserve in case my ridding was constrained during the tag window, which it was. The actual speech balloon that I had in mind for my back up tag was, of course, the Bike Pgh logo! But, here's another, from Three Guys Optical on Fifth Avenue downtown: Untitled
swalfoort
2013-01-30 12:26:22
Up in the clubs, drinking that bubbly. Where the 0.1% hangs out; Duquesne Club, Sixth Ave, Harvard/Yale/Allegheny Club, you can just feel the 19th century hanging around this place,
edmonds59
2013-01-30 13:15:05
Sorry to be OT, but I'm testing... Whoa! So you can upload an image directly now?
teamdecafweekend
2013-01-30 19:31:26
Time's up! I have meetings all morning but wanted to top the thread.
pinky
2013-02-04 08:54:23
Ok, for Round 57, I get the following results: For Tag: Speech, we get Edmonds, Stu, Pinky and Srpit (I don't count as it was my tag). For Tag: Clubs, we get Srpit, me and Edmonds (No clubs from Stu? Hmm, seems odd!) Spinning the wheel at random.org I get 1 and 5, which means that the tagsetters for Round 58 are EDMONDS and SRPIT. With all the glitches in the system, let's say that if I missed crediting a tag for anyone this round they should let us know here, and they get an automatic entry next round (in addition to anything earned for getting tags in this current round). So, Edmonds and Srpit, we await your next tag setting efforts!
swalfoort
2013-02-04 11:03:35
Oooh, not sure when I'm going to be able to set a tag. I'm at Shadyside hospital, the boy is getting knee surgery, tore his acl skiing. Going to be an interesting week. Someone else can feel free to take it.
edmonds59
2013-02-04 11:30:38
Hey, sorry to hear about your son. Take it easy (both of you!) Pinky, do you want to set a tag on this round? You were the one to bump it to the top.....
swalfoort
2013-02-04 12:04:21
OK sure, I'll set the tag. Edmonds, I hope your son is OK. I have a major case of the winter blahs, so let's brighten things up. Post a pic of your bike with something bright. Bright can be literal, like a street light or sign, or figurative, like a cheerful something. Srpit can set the expiration.
pinky
2013-02-04 17:48:09
Please let us know how your son is doing, Edmonds? OK, how about an interesting or unusual gate or fence? Set the end date for midnight on the 19th.
srpit
2013-02-05 08:56:49
Thx. He is a badass. Had surgery less than 24 hrs ago and as soon as he woke up this morning he is on the range-of-motion machine, asking for a specific checklist and schedule of what to do. Unbelievable. Silver lining - probably a lot more cycling than soccer for the next 6 months.
edmonds59
2013-02-05 09:11:06
Sounds like he's pretty tough. Glad to hear it went well and he's on his way back.
srpit
2013-02-05 17:37:51
Tag #1: Bright! This is outside Vater's Hardware, on Perry Highway in the hamlet of (obviously) Perrysville, at 8 a.m. Bright! outside Vater's Hardware Tag #2: Gate. This is the entrance to the HOV lane by the Perrysville park & ride lot. Gate to HOV lane, I-279 You're not supposed to ride your bike on the HOV lane, but it's been done.
stuinmccandless
2013-02-06 09:32:14
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Dwillen, when did you get back into town? Off topic, but, a long time ago we talked about car talk and you were like "I'd listen to car talk if it were about bikes." Have you ever heard of StarTalk? http://www.startalkradio.net/ It's pretty good
sgtjonson
2013-02-06 18:38:11
Fence: Hot Metal Bridge. (the fence itself isn't super awesome, i jsut like the way the city was framed in this.)  photo IMAG0864_zpsf9ffa881.jpg
pbeaver
2013-02-07 17:02:00
Very creative, Stu. I hadn't thought of the HOV gates at all. Something Bright! Although I sort of blocked his face with the bike mirror. I was too busy trying to make sure the bike lights and camera flash were lighting him up since they have him tucked underneath the overhang on the building right now. This is Philiposaurus from the Carnegie Museum's DinoMite Days. BTW - we're looking for the other dinosaurs from that project. Just the ones that are still out there as "Public Art". So far we've found this one, Mr Dig, Ketchuposaurus, (those three at PPG Place), Alphabetasaurus (across from Carnegie Library, Oakland, the one behind the Science Center, and Prehistoric Printasaurus (Herr's Island). If anyone knows where others are we'd appreciate the info. Thanks.
srpit
2013-02-08 11:59:41
Oh, we also have the Art Institute's Creation Rex.
srpit
2013-02-08 12:01:42
Dwillen's not back in town :( I just got confused because of the silly way the forums no longer keep track of where you were in a thread from computer to computer
sgtjonson
2013-02-08 12:06:25
@srpit, a few other dino locations... -WQED Fred Rogersaur -Tucked slightly out of sight on Center Ave near a physical therapy/rehab surgery place of some kind (I think Lyle used it in Tag O rama once)...just a few blocks downstream from Whole Foods -Shady Lane School @ Forbes & Braddock (also in the Tag game)
pseudacris
2013-02-08 12:12:55
There's one in the Steel Plaza T station. I'm not sure which of these are still there: At the Children's Institute on Shady Avenue in Squirrel Hill. At Children's Hospital (see Tag-O-Rama #45). In Aspinwall (Tag-O-Rama #285).
steven
2013-02-08 13:16:55
I tagged one on Freeport rd in Aspinwall for TOR
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-08 20:34:49
Thanks so much! Pbeaves, I think those were the original locations, but once the auction ended the Dinos relocated to new homes - some private, some public. A few stayed put (as their sponsors purchased them), but I don't think there's a current list of where they all are. Someone was tracking them on FB, but I think that's out of date too. This is great. We'll be heading out to find these soon! Really appreciate the help.
srpit
2013-02-10 07:23:53
@srpit Info on the Aspinwall resident... Dino Link to Tag-O-Rama page geographic coordinates: 40.490215,-79.905617
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-10 08:19:48
Nice, TD! He's on the short list now. We need to ride to Blawnox for a mural so he should be on the way. Thanks!!
srpit
2013-02-10 09:08:15
@srpit, there's also that dino along Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg--a pink piggybank. And, farther afield, there is a dino in someone's yard in Oakmont on Pennsylvania Avenue. I'll be riding up there during lunch this week--I'll try to get the address. Edit: And Edmonds, I hope your son continues to do well!
joanne
2013-02-10 13:29:59
Interesting fence (at least for those who may have plans to use the trail by the convention center): Something bright (in the sense of "[roll eyes at self] Ignoring that fence back there. That was a bright idea.")
joanne
2013-02-10 17:10:57
And one more potentially interesting fence--the Northeast Passage is no more.
joanne
2013-02-10 17:14:36
Another for you srpit... I've never noticed this one before today. Located at The Children's Institute on Shady and North Umberland.
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-10 17:20:28
Something Bright
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-10 17:24:32
Gate C - Heinz Stadium
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-10 17:28:02
Something bright - new stadium lights in Station Square: And I've been dying to use this one for something - a homemade DeeFence on Noblestown Rd:
pinky
2013-02-11 08:04:53
And wow - Joanne - was that yesterday? We were biking by Station Square when the trail went icy, so we ended up going downtown and then trying the North Shore instead because it gets more sun. There was definitely some iffy spots!
pinky
2013-02-11 08:06:36
It was yesterday! I was surprised--I figured someone had just forgotten to take down the fence/sign. After that I thought the Jail Trail and Junction Hollow were going to be a mess on the way home, but they were fine. Weird.
joanne
2013-02-11 20:07:54
Tag1: Good gate = dog park in South Side park Bad gate = Western Penitentiary
marko82
2013-02-11 21:00:52
Tag 2: Bright. Flag at Point State Blockhouse
marko82
2013-02-11 21:03:51
Bright Tag: I am posting 2, because yesterday was such an incredible day to be outisde, and EVERYTHING seemed bright. Scene 1: The local view, including lots of blue scky and bright sunshine! bright sunshine Scene 2: Signs of things to come - a vine covered hill near the house, glowing in the sunshine bright tag
swalfoort
2013-02-12 09:16:39
As far as fences go, this is as close to a "compound" as we get in my neighborhood: I am pretty sure the driveway gate is electric, or can be remotely operated! fence tag
swalfoort
2013-02-12 09:18:35
Time's up. OK, this is the first time I did this part and here's what happened... Made the lists: Something Bright 1)Stu 2)srpit 3)Joanne 4)TD 5)Pinky 6)Marco 7)Swalfoort Gate/Fence 1)Stu 2)PBeaves 3)Joanne 4)TD 5)Pinky 6)Marco 7)Swalfoort Did the random number generator and got 2 and 2. Felt a bit guilty for picking myself and when I looked at it again I realized that I had included Pinky in the 'Bright' category and I shouldn't have, so I re-did that one with just six entries and that time it came up 4. So... If I screwed that up, apologies to all. The new tag setters are: Team Decaf and PBeaves. Extra points to Pinky, BTW - that was just the sort of fence I had in mind when I picked that! Update on the Dino search: We got all of the ones you gave us here with the exceptions of the Oakmont and Center Ave ones. Couldn't find one at Steel Plaza either. We have all the others though, so thanks very much. If you see any more we'd appreciate the info.
srpit
2013-02-15 16:23:17
Tag 1 I have lots of favorite on-my-bike places. Show me yours. It can be anything... an unusual house, garden, park, bridge, business, restaurant, public art, back road - post your favorite (or one of your many favorites).
teamdecafweekend
2013-02-16 17:02:21
The way I do the picking is to continue the numbering from the first list, so the second bunch would be numbered 8 to 15. Then spin the wheel twice and pick two differing numbers.
stuinmccandless
2013-02-16 17:17:12
Topping this. We only have one tag right now - favorite on-bike places. This is the West End Bridge on my way to work:
pinky
2013-02-25 08:05:28
Great pic.
edmonds59
2013-02-25 08:11:23
Love that photo, Pinky! OK, trails are too soft to go to a really favorite place (way out on the GAP), but I do like this spot on the North Shore trail at the Dockmaster's house:
srpit
2013-02-25 10:40:25
Thanks! As much as I gripe about the bad infrastructure west of the city, it does give me some damn beautiful sunrises on my way to work :) And srpit - I also love that waterfall/koi pond/house place on the trail. Have you ever noticed, just past there heading towards the city, there is a camper suspended on I-beams hanging out from the trail? I can't figure out for the life of me how the heck it got up there/stays up there. I'll try to snag a pic next time.
pinky
2013-02-25 11:07:43
Perry Traditional Academy, a.k.a. Perry High School, on Perrysville Ave at East St on the North Side. I like this spot because, when I bike the whole way in, like I did this morning, this is a bit more than half way, and it's about at the highest point on the trip in terms of elevation. Perry Trad Academy
stuinmccandless
2013-02-25 11:55:56
This is the camper - I was mixed up and it's right past the pond heading away from downtown. You can't really tell from my pic, but it's resting on these crazy supports out over the drop-off going down to the river. Whose idea was that?
pinky
2013-02-25 19:29:31
@pinky , given how often I've seen the dock area under that camper flooded, I'm not surprised that the owner decided to have at least one structure that's likely to stay dry...
reddan
2013-02-25 21:18:22
Top. We only had one tag this time and no expiration date, but it's over two weeks now. How about a new round? Weather should be improving - maybe some more folks will be ready to resume (or start) play.
srpit
2013-03-05 05:41:33
One tag, only three participants; I'd say let's give it a couple more days, but set an end time. We have a snowstorm coming, so that's going to keep a damper on people getting out, but Thursday and Friday are supposed to be very nice. How about let's cut it off Friday night, March 8, 23:59. Maybe we can drum up some interest at Friday's lunch meet-ups. Then spin the wheel overnight and get a fresh start over the weekend.
stuinmccandless
2013-03-05 06:53:02
Yeah, I sure hope this is the last snowstorm coming through. Yoi.
edmonds59
2013-03-05 06:53:13
Agreed. I have mad cabin fever lately.
pinky
2013-03-05 09:48:17
I think all in all this has been apretty mild winter- not as nice as last year, but there were only a few (maybe 3 or 4) days where I hesitated to ride. Over the last 12 years there were often a few weeks worth of days that I felt I had to drive to work because cycling was too dangerous.
helen-s
2013-03-05 12:57:33
Let's tie up Round 59 and get rolling on the next one. We had only one tag, "Favorite Places", and only three pics: 1) Pinky 2) srpit 3) myself TeamDecaf set the tag, so all three count. I will exclude myself, so Pinky and srpit can set the tags for Round 60. Second person gets to set the closing date and time, which is usually a minute before midnight on whatever day, usually two weeks out.
stuinmccandless
2013-03-09 19:24:09
Lions. Stone lions, cement lions, cardboard lions, real lions... I've seen some cool, old guardian lions around town. Show me some more! (NO mountain lions, please - different species)
srpit
2013-03-11 05:48:50
It's that time of year again - signs of spring! There aren't many right this second, but I bet you can find them if you look carefully. I'll put in two weekends to give people a chance. Tags expire at midnight on Sunday, 3/25.
pinky
2013-03-12 07:14:14
RAWR! Lions! This is one of my favorite of the old gorgeous Crafton houses. Here's a better, less crooked view:
pinky
2013-03-14 07:58:00
Excellent, Pinky! Just what I was looking for. :)
srpit
2013-03-14 09:48:33
That's fabulous! Is that on Prospect? There is one on Prospect toward Windgap that is just mind boggling.
edmonds59
2013-03-14 10:20:18
It's on East Crafton Ave, between Noble and Grace. This part of the borough has a number of the original Craft houses designed by/for Charles Craft and his family. I'm not sure if this is a Craft house, but it's gorgeous and well maintained. If you ever want to check it out, hang a right on E. Crafton off of Noblestown (hard, hard right onto something that looks like an alley). Swing left at the T onto Grace, then bear right to stay on E. Crafton. It's about halfway down the hill on the left.
pinky
2013-03-14 12:58:59
Lions are everywhere out in the burbs... Edit: I'm also glad none of them ate any of my groceries!
marko82
2013-03-14 17:23:30
Wow - Marko found an entire pride! I love it :)
srpit
2013-03-14 19:20:07
Tag #1, Lion, Fifth Avenue at Wood Street Fifth at Wood lion
stuinmccandless
2013-03-14 23:50:07
Tag 1 Two-man tag on this drizzly day. Pras' bike on the right. Morewood Avenue, Oakland
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-16 16:38:20
I have walked by these lions a million times, yet it took Teamdecaf's trained eyes to spot them! Thanks for the pic Teamdecaf!
pras
2013-03-16 18:27:59
Tag #2 Sign of Spring - Corner of Ellsworth & Devonshire. First flowers I've seen. 3-17-2013.
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-17 16:29:34
Stu found the lion that inspired it all. I love the symmetry with TD & Pras! TD, is that Dino in the background in someone's yard? We don't want to map any that might encourage people to trespass, but if it were right by the street we'd include it.
srpit
2013-03-17 19:01:17
@srpit - yes, the dino is in someone's yard. It's visible from Devonshire (where this shot is taken), tough to see on the Ellsworth side. Ellsworth is on the right side of my shot.
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-17 20:19:13
Tag #2, signs of spring: Buds poking out through the snow and fallen leaves Sign of spring: buds! This is right outside my back door. They're a little difficult to see, but they're almost dead center in the photo, just a couple of green shoots sticking up barely an inch.
stuinmccandless
2013-03-21 11:30:34
Signs of Spring: Saw this right after we split from the Viking ride, at the 9th St Bridge.
srpit
2013-03-23 19:30:58
Ooooo, TULIPS!!! Here's one of the lions flanking the entrance of Linden Elementary--I've heard they're modeled on the lions outside the NY Public Library.
joanne
2013-03-24 15:36:44
Just noticed the discrepancy on the date. Are we ending this in six hours or 30? In other words, Sunday at 23:59, or the 25th at 23:59? EDIT: Grrr. Couldn't get the link to work. I must have tried that 10 times before I could make it link back to the post on the prior page.
stuinmccandless
2013-03-24 16:53:25
Oh sorry. Let's end tonight (Monday 3/25) at 11:59 PM. See if you can find signs of spring out there today!
pinky
2013-03-25 07:44:16
DING DING - time is up! Lions: pinky Marko82 StuInMcCandless TeamDecaf Spring: TeamDecaf StuInMcCandless srpit joanne And the winners are... TeamDecaf StuInMcCandless
pinky
2013-03-26 08:52:51
@pinky: You missed me! My bike was tagged with TeamDecaf's in front of the Lions...
pras
2013-03-26 10:19:00
I defer my winning tag to pras. I have plenty of fun just participating!
stuinmccandless
2013-03-26 11:36:49
Tag one: Sports places. Football and baseball fields, stadiums (big and little), hockey rinks, soccer fields, roller rinks or bowling, more. Shoot it. Post it.
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-26 18:23:46
@Stu : I had no intention of robbing the winning tag owner :S I am just happy to finally get into the game, thats all!
pras
2013-03-26 21:00:35
Ah crap, pras, I'm sorry. That's the second time I've done that. I blame it on the cold/plague thing that's fogging my head. I can rerun it for the second tag, or you can take Stu's. Your call.
pinky
2013-03-27 08:04:38
@pinky: No prob. I think rolling the dice again is a great idea!
pras
2013-03-27 08:48:05
Sure, go ahead. I'm cool with it, either way.
stuinmccandless
2013-03-27 09:02:46
Clicka clicka clicka clicka - the wheel has been respun and selected: TeamDecaf!
pinky
2013-03-27 10:47:54
Okay, so I already created tag one, pinky. Should I go ahead and create a tag 2 as well ? (Oh, the stress, the head fog, etc! ;-)
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-27 12:09:58
Oh for the love! Let me try again. Joanne! You're up. And will somebody deliver me some DayQuil? Or a place to nap?
pinky
2013-03-27 12:36:15
Haha! I feel for you--I just emerged from more than a month of head/throat/chest gunk and fog myself. To continue the spring theme, with the hope that it will someday arrive, how about birds? Have we done birds before? Let's set Sunday, April 7 at 11:59 pm for the end of this round. And if on that day, in this city, there is snow on the ground, I will henceforth refer to our 'burgh as Fairbanks East. (I hope you feel better soon, Pinky!)
joanne
2013-03-27 20:07:27
An EAGLE! How cool is that?
srpit
2013-03-29 18:26:08
Steelers' practice field on the Southside.
srpit
2013-03-29 18:27:15
Me too - eagle! Tag 2 - Birds Yes, this is nearly impossible to see, but circled in white, the little white spec in the middle is one of the eagles that everyone is talking about. campV and I rode by there today, hung out for awhile with the riders from the fish fry ride, and didn't see anything. Then we split up. After we split up from the fish fry ride, campV and I stopped about 100 yards away and decided to take a last look. That's when we saw the white head bobbing up and down in the nest. I had binoculars, so my cell phone image kinda sucks, but, yeah, it's the real thing. On 3 previous visits, we saw nothing. Circled in pink on the right is a disgusting plastic bag that's been stuck in the trees for weeks - yeesh!
teamdecafweekend
2013-03-29 18:34:38
We saw that eagle post fish-fry also. I really didn't think we would since someone that was standing there said one flew off about 10 minutes before, but we were happily surprised. This was what I was going to post if I hadn't had such good luck getting the eagle:
srpit
2013-03-29 19:12:16
I seem to have finally shaken the plague, and the hubby and I made it out for a terrific ride this afternoon. Sports: I was hoping to be more inspired by birds, but here are some (of course) geese. I may or may not pick up a different one. This pic showcases my new (not so sure if I like it) saddle, whose initials are A.R.S., and whose new name is "arse."
pinky
2013-03-30 17:26:31
Glad to hear you're feeling better, Pinky. Just in time to enjoy a beautiful day (finally).
srpit
2013-03-30 18:03:25
Tag #1, Paul Manion field, Olympia Park, Mount Washington, off Virginia Ave. Two pics, one from above, on Olympia Rd in Chatham Village, the second from the entrance to the playing field. This is where your neighborhood team, your workplace team, your local saloon's team, might go to play baseball on a summer evening. And yes, I was out for a ride on the wheel, so that's what's in both pics. Paul Manion field, Mt Washington Paul Manion field, Mt Washington
stuinmccandless
2013-03-31 05:17:11
Tag #2 - Birds. Rubber duckies at Klavon's! Rubber duckies in the window at Klavon's
stuinmccandless
2013-04-06 19:14:01
Time is up! Hopefully I don't screw this up again. Birds srpit TeamDecaf pinky StuInMcCandless Sports srpit pinky StuInMcCandless New tag setters! StuInMcCandless pinky Go ahead, Stu. I'll set the end time/date once inspiration strikes.
pinky
2013-04-08 17:27:38
Let's try something a bit different. Pictures are passive things; it's sometimes hard to tell what's going on in a scene simply because you can't hear or smell what the photographer sees when the image was captured. So, let's try to photograph something LOUD. Think of things that either actually are loud, like a train at a crossing, or which evoke the idea of noise, like a crowd at a stadium -- not that you'd haul your bike up to the nosebleed seats of Heinz Field, but you get the idea. Without putting yourself in danger, photograph your bike next to something really loud! Like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56cy2jhCwo0
stuinmccandless
2013-04-08 20:59:00
And now for something completely different. Or not, but Stu's intro reminded me of that line. My tag is going to be fish! I made this a lot harder by waiting until after all of the fish fries ended, but there are plenty of places to tag fish in Pittsburgh. Tags close Sunday 4/21 at 11:59 PM to give everyone two weekends. Side note - as the weather gets nicer, do we want to start bumping up the frequency of the wheel spin? Thoughts?
pinky
2013-04-09 06:52:42
Circumstance had kept me from playing the last few rounds, but I am back on the bike now, and hope to remember to post. I think we might be at the point weatherwise where we can go back to weekly wheel spins. After this round, of course! Hmmm, now to figure out if I can find LOUD FISH somewhere in the region!
swalfoort
2013-04-09 08:28:40
Charlie the Tuna!
pinky
2013-04-11 16:40:48
Tag #1 - LOUD: A 5900-series Gillig bus Explanation: While nearly every 40-foot bus Port Authority owns is manufactured by Gillig, this last purchase, labeled 59xx, has a feature I find irritating. While idling -- and every bus ever made does this, even trolleys dating back to the 1930s -- periodically an air tank releases a blast of air. On the 5900s, this sound is a particularly sharp little report that can be heard about four blocks away. If you happen to be waiting to board one of these buses and this tank does its little release while you are standing next to it, it will scare the heck out of you.
stuinmccandless
2013-04-12 22:42:57
Tag #2 - Fish! There are a bunch of these around West View next to storm drains.
stuinmccandless
2013-04-14 14:24:42
One of the cooling towers at the nuclear reactor at Shippingport. The falling water on the side is soothing to hear on a tiring ride.
pras
2013-04-14 19:13:39
Loud! A Cobra helicopter at Butler County Airport. Well, it's not loud now, but I imagine it was.
pinky
2013-04-14 19:20:54
helen-s
2013-04-16 19:50:33
Bump! Last day, folks - and it's gorgeous out.
pinky
2013-04-21 07:15:40
"Just Keep Swimming" mural by Stevo Sadvary: Bike in front of mosaic of swimming fish.
srpit
2013-04-21 19:13:28
As much as I hate using something I've used before (something that made me smile tag), I'm going with the waterfall beneath the convention center for the Loud tag: Bike in front of waterfall tunnel at the convention center.
srpit
2013-04-21 19:15:43
Helen - It looks like a cat is watching in the background (and I really liked that), but then I enlarged the photo and realized it's not real. Cool though!
srpit
2013-04-21 19:16:57
These sirens on Chateau Street were pretty loud. So was the thunder that was crashing all around me. I couldn't capture the lightening, so you'll have to settle for the lights on the squad car. I was about a block away. When I checked the police blotter the next day, this showed up as a traffic violation, plus posession, plus intent to deliver. I think I am glad they got stopped a block south of me! Untitled
swalfoort
2013-04-21 19:51:50
Someting loud: I ran into srpit & V on the trail, couldn't resist.
marko82
2013-04-21 20:13:53
Fish: I'm sure Pisces is up there somewhere...
marko82
2013-04-21 20:15:47
Not sure what you thought was a cat- was it just below and behind the 520 on the bike? I had some other bike/fish pix, but they did not come out like I had hoped, so I did not post them. Might in another application sometime though.
helen-s
2013-04-21 20:15:54
Ding ding ding - time's up! Loud StuInMcCandless pras pinky srpit Swalfoort Marko82 Fish pinky StuInMcCandless helen s srpit Marko82 Congratulations to our new tag setters! helen s Swalfoort (And as always, please feel free to check my list. I sometimes have problems counting.)
pinky
2013-04-22 07:01:13
Cool! I get my first tag in a while, and I get to be tagsetter for the next round! I know what I want my tag to be, but am having trouble classifying it. So, I am going to go with "crazy, creative, inventive parking spaces" Can be bike parking, car parking, boat parking, whatever. But, it should make you do a double take when you see it. I'll have mine posted later today. Helen, that makes you the time setter.
swalfoort
2013-04-22 08:25:47
I'm just happy that we had seven participants in that round. It was getting lonely when the weather was less pleasant. Hoping for 10+ on this round!
stuinmccandless
2013-04-22 08:47:50
Hopefully my riding will start increasing. I just couldn't move this morning, felt like lead. Bleh.
edmonds59
2013-04-22 08:58:10
P.S. I am really pissed that I missed fish. I had a photo, just never remembered to post it!
swalfoort
2013-04-22 08:58:22
Hm, didn't get a picture of it, but there was a tv van parked on the sidewalk across from the School Board earlier this evening. (& w/ 3/4 of the legal spots wide open, too...)
epanastrophe
2013-04-22 19:43:38
Good think I checked email as I am out of town for the week! As it is Earth Day, and bikes are a very earth friendly form of transportation, my tag choice will be other Earth Friendly things- no excuse for not coming up with something for this one. Put on your creative thinking caps and come up with some good ones here- even if you have to explain what makes your photo subject earth friendly. Two weeks seems like a standard amount of time - so round ends, let see, 30 days has September, April.......you know the rest, Monday, May 6th. I have a good one in mind, but will not be able to post it until this weekend, unless I see a bicycle posing for me somewhere.
helen-s
2013-04-22 20:47:10
Bellevue, PA I stumbled across this when a Port Authority bus was detoured around an accident scene, and I had to walk a few blocks to my final destination. The garage doors were open, but no one in sight at the time I took the photo. I wanted to know more. I'll just have to take that road less travelled more often. parking tag
swalfoort
2013-04-23 08:20:19
Earth friendly solar panels on the West End Bridge (in a ton of fog):
pinky
2013-04-26 07:05:42
Tag #1: Weird parking. I love this. Someone apparently cannot park, whether a truck or not I do not know, but I giggle at this every time I ride by it. In a lot across from the end of Thompson Run Rd, on Babcock Blvd, Ross Twp. Tag #2: Of or pertaining to Earth Day. Reminiscent of wind and solar power, and also marking a flower garden. On Penn Ave in Garfield, a couple spaces up from Spak Pizza, across from Roboto.
stuinmccandless
2013-04-27 17:18:27
Crazy bad parking space: Crappiest. Bike parking. Ever. North Shore trail by the casino.
pinky
2013-05-02 10:11:04
What's earth day without a lot of community based recycling? earth day Note: I am NOT recycling my bike in this photo. Promise!
swalfoort
2013-05-03 13:41:33
Parking.  photo parking_zps23d7b35c.jpg
pbeaver
2013-05-03 14:45:55
Ding ding - time's up! Parking Swalfoort StuInMcCandless Pinky pbeaves Earth Friendly pinky StuInMcCandless Swalfoort New tag setters! Pinky StuInMcCandless I want to mull mine over for a few minutes, so Stu, if you have one ready, go for it.
pinky
2013-05-06 08:25:43
Every time I pull into the garage off of Cherry Way, I smell pizza emanating from some eatery. I haven't figured out which one yet, but it always gets my mouth watering. So, Tag #1 will be ... PIZZA!! Your favorite shop, a slice of homemade on a picnic table in the yard, somehow managing to eat a slice while astride a bike, a pizza box strapped to the back of a bike, whatever. Be creative!
stuinmccandless
2013-05-06 10:24:02
Oh, we need Ben to play this round! He mentioned to me late last week that his "new" panniers might "solve his pizza pick up problem!" I'm heading to DC late this week. Maybe I can find time while I am there to take Bike Share to get pizza!
swalfoort
2013-05-06 11:27:40
Ok, so this is lame - but so am I at the moment - and I always have the basic food groups on hand too. (parked bike in spare bedroom)
marko82
2013-05-06 11:35:29
Marko, you should get extra points for playing while injured. You've also inspired me for tag 2 (please don't take it personally). Tag 2: Things that prevent or make it harder to ride a bike. I'm talking cars blocking trails, portapotties blocking sidewalk, injuries, bad weather, broken bike, flat tire, etc. Try not to be angry when posting, but I think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes there are obstacles. Tags expire at 11:59 on Sunday, May 19 (sticking with 2 weeks for now).
pinky
2013-05-06 12:20:43
the last time i carried a pizza box on my bike i lost my front blinkie. i'll stick with slices.
pbeaver
2013-05-06 15:13:23
Nicola Pizza, Rehobeth Beach, DE. A nice flat trail ride from nearby Lewes.... nicola pizza
swalfoort
2013-05-13 21:20:17
@swalfoort: ive ridden that lewes-rehoboth trail several times, it is very nice... i never ended up at the pizza joint, though, just the dogfish head brewing restaurant :)
melange396
2013-05-14 15:11:46
My contribution to Tag #2: Flat tire on the bicycle. As an added bonus, three of my unicycles are in the background. To some, they too can be considered things that make riding difficult.
stuinmccandless
2013-05-14 19:58:21
I thought I had posted this earlier. Instructions are to walk bike on sidewalk (while crossing bridge). Given my flat tire, I was happy to comply. Each of these was a disincentive to "ride" my bike. disincentives to ride
swalfoort
2013-05-16 13:18:34
Did we forget about this game? How about we extend the tag until 23:59 on Sunday, May 26? That will still give us one holiday weekend day to get started on the next tag, too.
stuinmccandless
2013-05-24 17:09:15
Good call, Stu. I kept thinking of it and then forgetting again. It's been a busy couple of weeks for me.
pinky
2013-05-25 06:38:06
OK my contribution (keep passing the pizza joint and forgetting to grab a pic). What is a hindrance to cycling? The West End Circle! Though it does provide a pretty view through the chain link fence. And now I'm going to spin the wheel.
pinky
2013-05-29 07:06:13
Pizza Marko82 Swalfoort Obstacles StuInMcCandless Swalfoort Pinky Since there were so few of us, I kept the tag setters in the results list. Winners: StuInMcCandless Swalfoort Hopefully we can get this moving again. I don't know what my problem was on this round - it's not lack of biking.
pinky
2013-05-29 07:11:22
I'll go first. I just spent a half hour clearing out some underbrush that obstructed travel. Although it was on a staircase, I actually hauled the bike down and up it before/after I did the work. So the tag is: Undergrowth, shrubbery, particularly any that obstruct your path of travel. Japanese knotweed sticking out into a trail? Someone's stupid wild rose bush trying to rake your shirt to pieces as you ride by? Really tall grass along a narrow bit of shoulder? A low branch on a street? If you feel like bringing a chopping device with you and taking a set of before-and-after set of pics, I'm not going to try to stop you.
stuinmccandless
2013-05-29 20:18:36
I need to re-take this shot if it is going to count as my entry for this tag, but the theme is: Celebrate a great place to ride! The right lane of Rte 65 (Ohio River Boulevard) was closed to traffic, and when they milled the lane they left about a 30 inch wide strip that was both protected from traffic and still had a pretty rideable surface. I felt like I was on my own personal cycle track! It was lovely! And, if you look closely at this photo, you can see that I was the second rider through this protected area. Untitled
swalfoort
2013-05-29 21:26:51
Japanese knotweed on just opened sand Castle portion of GAP:
mikhail
2013-05-30 14:41:19
Undergrowth - this is a serious problem and I'm going to 311 this next, but, at the foot of the Fort Pitt bridge sidewalk outbound, the Japanese knotweed is blocking the sidewalk and forcing pedestrians and bikes dangerously close to flying traffic: A great place to ride - Noblestown Road from the West End to Crafton, this is only 2 miles from the point, but it is a wide, sweeping, verdant downhill on my commute into town, and a long gradual climb out. This is actually amazing, I have only seen a handful of cyclists on this route in 2 years, but when I stopped to take a pic, I heard a whirring on my left and another cyclist rode perfectly into the shot!!! Karmic. I was giddy all the way in.
edmonds59
2013-05-31 09:17:49
This stuff is knotweed? I thought it was Audrey. On the ped walkway/bike path/rampy thing that goes under the ramp that connects Steuben St and Main St in West End. I don't know how else to describe it. By Artifacts. I'm busy the next couple of weeks, but I'm totally going out with a machete soon. Hopefully I won't be arrested for looking scary.
pinky
2013-06-04 08:40:41
Tag #2, great place to ride. This is one of my intermediate destinations, the Perry Park & Ride lot, about four miles from the house. From here, I can (and in this instance, am about to) mount my bike on the front of an O1 Ross Flyer and zoom into town at 50+ mph. In the background is the entrance to the I-279 HOV Lane, which has big gates across it after mid-morning to make sure nobody drives down it. It is open outbound in the afternoon, evening, and all weekend, which you cannot determine from the Ross end. ... Gahhh... How did it get sideways? Isn't there a way to correct this after it gets uploaded? It's right in the email, it's right in the download, but uploaded, it gets sideways.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-04 11:02:49
@pinky - No need for a machete, just yank them out. The real problem is the root structure. They spread via a rhiozome, and if you gently yank on a stalk at the outside of the group, you will note that they spread sideways. You might be surprised at how many you can pull out in a minute. You will be equally surprised at how many there are to pull. Wikipedia page. The key to not having them spread farther is to ensure that the plant material dies off altogether without re-rooting. Ideally you'd have to dig up the entire rhiozome, but for right now, I'm just happy with ridding the trail of overgrowing stalks.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-04 11:12:04
Aw, c'mon Stu - I was getting excited to bike with a machete strapped to my belt. I think people might think twice about passing me too closely.
pinky
2013-06-04 12:34:44
Overgrown:
joanne
2013-06-04 18:28:42
Great place to ride: Calvary Cemetary in Hazelwood.
joanne
2013-06-04 18:32:24
^Pinky, that was my other choice, but I went with the Fort Pitt Bridge sidewalk. I'm always afraid I'm going to run face-first into another rider on that WEC bypass.
edmonds59
2013-06-04 19:06:14
Edmonds, I once almost ran head on into a motorcycle cop there in the middle of the winter. It scared the shit out of me because it was dark, and all of a sudden there was a BIG headlight. We both kind of stopped and said "Whoa!" and then both shrugged it off to continue on our ways. That was the only time I've ever seen another person on the rampy thing at all. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who uses it in the winter, based on tire tracks.
pinky
2013-06-05 07:58:48
For my own Tag #1, a pair of photos, a before and after view of my efforts the evening of Memorial Day, on the old trolley line trail between Perrymont and Babcock. Before: ...and after, just to the left of that pic. That's about a half-hour's work. The remaining plants in the left foreground of the "after" pic are stinging nettle. Quite unpleasant.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-05 09:41:47
I haven't played Wheelset of Fortune for about a year and a half, and I've since moved out of Pittsburgh, but I've been exploring my new city on bike and want to play again! Do the tags still last 2 weeks?
jeg
2013-06-10 03:33:51
They do, typically. I see Sara didn't set an end time when she set Tag #2. Two weeks would be Wednesday, June 12. Can we go with that? Let's just say we close the tag at 23:59 Pittsburgh time on Wednesday. All y'uns in various other time zones (@drewbacca/@headloss in Chicago, @brybot in SF, @jeg in Germany), you know the offset to EDT better than I do. I would love to see four time zones represented in WOF tags!
stuinmccandless
2013-06-10 11:08:27
I am sorry. I forgot it was my responsibility to set the end time for the current round. Yes, Wednesday, June 12th, at 23:59 EDT (also known as local Pittsburgh time).
swalfoort
2013-06-10 11:16:29
Tag #1 Undergrowth, shrubbery: This isn't really blocking my path, but it's making going through the park on bike or foot occasionally unpleasant because it's stinging nettle and it's everywhere here! (The fact that poison ivy does NOT grow here more than makes up for it, though!)
jeg
2013-06-12 06:31:48
Tag #2 Great place to ride: Complete streets! Many of the major roads here look like this. (Red brick is bike lane, grey stone is sidewalk, in the middle is two directions of traffic separated by streetcar tracks and some grass.) Yay! Right before I took this picture I actually got stuck in bike traffic at an intersection.
jeg
2013-06-12 06:33:40
OK you win.
edmonds59
2013-06-12 08:44:14
Tags expired, spin the wheel!
jeg
2013-06-15 03:23:46
Things are hectic for me right now. Can someone else please spin?
pinky
2013-06-15 05:09:26
I'll do the honors. After subtracting the tag setters' pics from the list, we have: Tag #1: Undergrowth that obstructs travel. (me) 1 Mikhail 2 edmonds59 3 pinky 4 joanne 5 jeg Tag #2: Celebrate a great place to ride! (Sara) 6 Stu 7 edmonds59 8 jeg So, spinning the wheel, I get 3 and 1. Pinky and Mikhail, you're up!
stuinmccandless
2013-06-16 08:24:52
Because I was looking for one the other day, tag #1 is a place to refill your water bottle for free with minimal hassle. (Water fountains, bike friendly places, etc.) I don't know if I'll be able to check in over the next couple of weeks, so Mikhail can set the expiration.
pinky
2013-06-18 09:25:09
pinky wrote: I don’t know if I’ll be able to check in over the next couple of weeks, so Mikhail can set the expiration.
Standard two weeks? I propose wild animals in the city. :)
mikhail
2013-06-18 09:34:42
Tag closes 23:59 on Tuesday, July 2. Go get 'em, folks! I know exactly where I'm going to nab Tag #1, as I found a new-to-me one just yesterday.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-18 16:25:10
Tag #1 - Water! Marmaduke Park, just off California at Benton, in Brighton Heights. This isn't where I originally planned (a playground off North Charles), but it is a favorite. Tag #2 - Critters in the city Bunny on the North Shore Trail, somewhere near where you can access West North Avenue.
stuinmccandless
2013-06-24 21:26:11
"wild animals in the city" Fox sculpture made from bicycle parts at the intersection of the Fox River Trail and Great Western Trail along the Fox River. St. Charles, IL.
headloss
2013-06-25 12:02:36
^ Waaaay cool!
marko82
2013-06-25 13:22:20
Yes, this is really cool!
mikhail
2013-06-25 16:10:11
Hey, that looks like Rusty, the wandering red koala at the Washington (D.C.) zoo!
swalfoort
2013-06-25 19:44:00
Water fountain (much needed today!) at the back side (Colorado Street side) of the Marshall Parklet, intersection of Marshall and California on the north side/Brighton Heights. This is where the climb on California starts, so it was great to verify that there is a nice cool water fountain at the playground. marshall parklet P.S. This is my new "almost" bike. Dan's been gracious enough to let me try it out for a couple of days before I buy it. If I can work out a few kinks, it might become my next go to bike, rather than my new back up bike. It's a pretty sweet ride!
swalfoort
2013-06-25 19:47:20
I had to google, Rusty... but, I'm forced to agree with that observation. The Bianchi is a sweet bike, although I'm at a loss as to why Dan thought it was possibly a 56?!?! Glad yinz appreciated the Fox, I just discovered it yesterday and immediately thought of Wheelset of Fortune! :)
headloss
2013-06-25 23:14:24
Drewbacca wrote:The Bianchi is a sweet bike, although I’m at a loss as to why Dan thought it was possibly a 56?!?!
'Cause Dan's not always the best-tensioned spoke in the wheel. :-)
reddan
2013-06-26 07:03:29
Tag #1 free water: These pumps are sprinkled around the city. I'm not entirely sure if I should be drinking this water, though, since some (but not all) of them have this warning: (translation "NO DRINKING WATER!" and, I assume, the same in Turkish)
jeg
2013-07-01 01:41:49
I'm in Greeley, Colorado at an annual meeting of Quakers. This is from my workshop, Biking in the Light. It is the Thursday 20 mile group.
jonawebb
2013-07-04 14:54:41
Tag #1 is is a place to refill your water bottle for free with minimal hassle: StuInMcCandless Swalfoort jeg Tag #2 is wild animals in the city: Drewbacca StuInMcCandless Hm, 3 and 2 – I have to borrow dice from my daughter (one is enough). And results are jeg and Drewbacca.
mikhail
2013-07-04 15:50:48
In compiling results, I number the two sets together, so there would be five total, numbered 1 to 5, then I select two from that. (I will not contend the results, though, just pointing out methodology.) I also like how the two winners this round are our two regulars who aren't in Pittsburgh!
stuinmccandless
2013-07-04 17:35:39
StuInMcCandless wrote: I also like how the two winners this round are our two regulars who aren’t in Pittsburgh!
Which leads to the first tag... Home Away From Home. ;) Kinda bummed that I missed the free water tag, as I took a great shot of a fountain with four bikes at the Adirondack shelters, off the GAP, in Connellsville... I misplaced my camera somewhere between Hancock, MD. and Cumberland... hopefully I left it at my cousin's. :( Anywho, I'll post my home-away-from-home pic tomorrow as I have the perfect location in mind.
headloss
2013-07-04 21:37:31
Tag number two: playgrounds/jungle gyms, the more interesting the better! I've been noticing many of these tucked into in city parks here. Most of them seem to be well-used by kids and families, and when they're not I sometimes try them out myself! Someone should really build adult-scale jungle gyms. Two weeks gives us Friday, July 19th at 6 am Pittsburgh time (10 am UTC).
jeg
2013-07-05 05:14:56
Tag#1 Charles M. Schwab's home away from home. "Immergrün" (evergreen) in Loretto, PA. The former Schwab (summer) estate is now home to the Mount Assisi Franciscan Friary.
headloss
2013-07-05 16:46:00
(doesn't count because Tag #2 is my tag) Here's a neat playground I saw on the way home from swimming today:
jeg
2013-07-10 05:01:09
Playground.....Bellevue elementary school. I chose this one, with the X's and O's to illustrate how I feel about the new bike..... Untitled
swalfoort
2013-07-10 09:24:25
One week down, one week to go! Just to be clear, I meant for the whole "home away from home" thing to be taken as figuratively as possible. Get creative! :D guest-house, visiting team dugout, a college dorm, or someone sleeping in their car?
headloss
2013-07-13 09:21:17
I'm back! Work has let up a tiny bit and my travel schedule settled down. I celebrated by cruising down the GAP a ways today. Playground - steamboat looking thing in McKeesport. Sadly, it was pretty neglected and smelled like pee. And home away from home: Lowes. The back story here is that my husband and I are redoing our old ass (1890) house in Crafton. We got to Lowes a lot. Fun fact: I'm pretty sure all Lowes stores adhere to one of three layouts. Hardware on the left, hardware on the right, or hardware in the back. All other things can then be located by their proximity to the hardware aisle.
pinky
2013-07-14 14:22:51
I hope you are aware of the 10% off Lowes coupon that comes with a change-of-address package that you can pick up at the post-office. ;)
headloss
2013-07-14 19:45:24
My submission for Interesting Playground... A playground for the dead? St. Mary's Cemetery 4000 Mt Troy Rd, Pittsburgh, PA It was way too hot out there today...
headloss
2013-07-14 19:53:21
Thanks - yep I know about that one. Also if you are doing a big job and buy everything at once (like all fixtures for a bathroom, plus the copper pipe and tile and blah blah), you can go to their customer service and have them treat you like a contractor for a price break. Lastly, they have a store credit card that gives you 5% off at the register, which only works if you pay it off each month because the interest rate is so high it should be illegal.
pinky
2013-07-15 06:53:10
pinky wrote: Playground – steamboat looking thing in McKeesport. Sadly, it was pretty neglected and smelled like pee.
Oh, that's the the boat my Uncle McWizzy served on, the S.S. Urinal!
rustyred
2013-07-15 08:15:11
Here's my 'home away from home'... my office at work. I wish it were some secluded vacation getaway, but this is where I spend the majority of my time when not at home... I've made it as comfortable as I can. I can even fit my bike in there when I'm too lazy to lock it up on the loading docks of the building. Having the bike in there also prevents annoying co-workers from plopping in the seat across from my desk and blabbing on-and-on about something I'd rather not hear about....
rustyred
2013-07-15 18:04:21
Tag #1: Home away from home. West View Dunkin Donuts, where I am sitting as I type this! It was either here or one of the Crazy Mochas. I can often be found in the Allegheny Building, Liberty at Tito, or the North Side. (The bike really is in this picture. My white pannier can be seen better than the bike itself.) Tag #2: Playgrounds - Martorelli Stadium, where North Hills High School plays its football games. A playground for bigger kids, so to speak. When I went past, there were a dozen or so joggers running laps.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-15 20:00:04
A kids' playground inside an adult playground! @PNC Park.
rustyred
2013-07-17 08:03:27
Tag #2 Home away from home: Not at all creative, but this is my home for the next 2 years at least, fourth floor (translation: fifth floor, because Germans, like much of Europe and computer scientists, like to start counting at 0) on the right (because apartments don't usually have numbers here). My kitchen and bathroom window are actually behind the leaves, fail! I did lay on the ground on the sidewalk in the middle of the day to get this picture, so that counts for something. EDIT: and I technically missed the deadline, so double fail!
jeg
2013-07-20 14:55:09
Tag-setters removed from respective pictures, yielding: Tag #1:Home Away From Home (me) 1 pinky 2 RustyRed 3 StuInMcCandless 4 jeg (better late than never) Tag #2: Playgrounds & Jungle-gyms (jeg) 5 Swalfoort 6 pinky 7 Drewbacca 8 StuInMcCandless 9 RustyRed 6&9 pinky & RustyRed
headloss
2013-07-20 21:50:08
Tag #1: Places to cool off Since we've talked on another thread about places to swim or cool off, let's tag some. I'll let RustyRed set the end time and date.
pinky
2013-07-22 07:25:40
Tag #2 *Emergency!* I got a nice shot this morning of my bike in front of some rainbow graffiti and nearly pulled a rookie move of using a previously used tag. Ooops. Thankfully I got a back up: End date: August 5th... sometime in the AM. :)
rustyred
2013-07-22 07:52:37
End time is usually 23:59 of that day, just to make it simple.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-22 10:32:03
Since I don't know of any good place to *legally* swim/cool off, I will have to trust the judgement of the geese I saw while riding yesterday. Altoona Reservoir, near the HorseShoe Curve. Tag#1 Places to cool off...
headloss
2013-07-24 10:28:31
Here's the waterfall sculpture on the North Shore. There are signs posted that you shouldn't, but I see folks like these kids wading in it all the time...even on a 'chilly' day like today.
rustyred
2013-07-24 12:15:08
Tag #2: Emergency: A Pittsburgh city police car. The evening of July 26, three of us (@buffalobuffalo, @pbeaves and I) were on a bike ride through the East End, and found ourselves on the receiving end of a negative interaction with a nasty motorist. We called 911, and in a few minutes had a pleasant conversation with the driver of this car. Thus, a real, bicycling related emergency call.
stuinmccandless
2013-07-27 22:15:50
A place to cool off. Leslie Park Pool Well, it used to be, anyway. (Ok, here's a real one, the spray fountain in the same park:  Leslie Park Spray )
epanastrophe
2013-07-30 19:23:04
Tag one a good place to cool of i sa . This in marmaduke park when i picked up the tag for tag-o-rama the other day.
steeld55
2013-07-31 13:10:24
This sign cracks me up because, well, does it look visible from any road? So if it's really a snow emergency, you're never going to see this one.
pinky
2013-08-02 06:36:56
Tag #1 - Cooling off. Evergreen Park, Ross Twp. They don't let you swim, but there is shade and you can dangle your toes in the water.
stuinmccandless
2013-08-02 18:03:48
Some time ago here was a theme of "animal and bikes". It's "a little bit too late" but I still put some pictures of racing cat:
mikhail
2013-08-03 13:46:43
^ That's ridiculous, Mikhail, but ridiculously funny, hahaa!
teamdecafweekend
2013-08-03 22:35:18
Tag #2: Emergency... fortunately, there was no emergency. Tour of Elk Grove, Elk Grove Village, IL.
headloss
2013-08-04 00:16:45
Tag #1 Place to cool off: U-Bahn (Subway) Station. I've definitely "missed" a connection in some of the cooler, more underground stations just to enjoy the temperature, which is especially refreshing when the temperatures hit 100°F here in the land of no A/C.
jeg
2013-08-05 12:42:24
Tag #2 Emergency!: I tried to get a picture of one of the really brightly colored ambulances, but didn't succeed. Here is the garage of the closest volunteer and professional fire department.
jeg
2013-08-05 12:48:51
good call on the subway... there's this one spot along the Ghost Town Trail that I love because the cut-out through rocks on either side feels like nature's air-conditioning due to the mineral water dripping down on both sides of the rock face and cooling the breeze as it bottle-necks through.
headloss
2013-08-05 12:59:06
Tag # 1 Places to cool off 1 Drewbacca 2 RustyRed 3 buffalo buffalo 4 steeld55 5 Stu 6 jeg Tag# 2 Emergency! 7 RustyRed 8 Stu 9 Pinky 10 Drewbacca 11 Jeg Next up: Stu and Steeld55!
rustyred
2013-08-06 08:33:11
RustyRed wrote:7 RustyRed
Didn't you set that tag? Not that it matters, since the two randomly selected numbers came before 7...
headloss
2013-08-06 08:37:33
Drewbacca wrote:
RustyRed wrote:7 RustyRed
Didn’t you set that tag? Not that it matters, since the two randomly selected numbers came before 7…
Crap, did I do it wrong? Am I supposed to pick a # between 1 and 6 and then 7 and 11? EDIT: oh, wait... I see what I did wrong! I was supposed to kick myself off of the tag I set... gotcha. Sorry... *slinks off in shame*
rustyred
2013-08-06 08:45:20
RustyRed wrote:*slinks off in shame*
The only ones that should slink off in shame are those too afraid to try! This is a confusing game, and I know that keeps people away (I'm talking to YOU, mysterious person). I'm still getting a feel for the rules, myself.
headloss
2013-08-06 09:24:11
In the past week, I encountered the irritating issue of a parking garage removing and not replacing its bike rack. Simply put, we're not welcome there anymore. A couple of days later, I needed to tie up my bike in West View but there wasn't a rack anywhere in sight, so I U-locked it to a gas meter. So, Round 69, tag #1 is: Coping strategies. Where did you tie up your bike when you couldn't, close to where you needed or wanted to?
stuinmccandless
2013-08-08 04:19:50
TAG #2: entrance to nowhere There are many doors that lead to nothing even streets that do to so go forth and go nowhere.
steeld55
2013-08-08 10:27:40
Closing date and time?
pinky
2013-08-08 12:08:29
Oops 14th at midnight sound good stu?
steeld55
2013-08-08 12:23:52
Stairs to nowhere: These are the remnants of a path and stairway from Point State Park up to The Ft Duquensne Bridge. I had to get it from 3 angles.
rustyred
2013-08-14 17:51:49
I think we need to extend this a week. Let's say the new closing time is 23:59 on Wednesday, August 21.
stuinmccandless
2013-08-15 06:15:41
Rusty red I love your "cockpit", that is set up. I don't know if you give your bikes names, but that should be the Millennium Falcon.
edmonds59
2013-08-15 09:08:16
edmonds59 wrote:Rusty red I love your “cockpit”, that is set up. I don’t know if you give your bikes names, but that should be the Millennium Falcon.
Thanks! Actually, funny you should mention names...I've been thinking of naming her. I keep calling her The Purple Bike. *yawn* "Belles N Whistles"? Add a green question mark and call her "The Riddler"?
rustyred
2013-08-15 09:53:32
lilackadaisical... the easy rider (going for irony here).
headloss
2013-08-15 11:39:02
This is in a parking lot right by where i use too live in Bloomfield.
steeld55
2013-08-15 15:36:00
Tag#1 Lockup coping... When we go to Pirates games, I prefer to lockup at the Maz statue here: But with the upsurge in attendance lately, and the dozens of bikes I see locked up to trees (ACK!) and lampposts around the Park with the removal of the parking meters, I've scoped out a spot with a iron fence I can hook to:
rustyred
2013-08-16 11:51:44
Tag 1: Parking Coping Strategies. This jackwagon apparently couldn't find a place to park, so he/she drove across the trail and parked in the weeds. (And I understand if this doesn't count, but it made me laugh in a not so funny way yesterday.) Tag 2: Entrance to Nowhere. This entrance to a little room in the West End Bridge pillar was just recently fenced off. I was OK with that, since it was always a little sketchy to bike past.
pinky
2013-08-20 06:53:42
pinky wrote:Tag 1: Parking Coping Strategies. This jackwagon apparently couldn’t find a place to park, so he/she drove across the trail and parked in the weeds. (And I understand if this doesn’t count, but it made me laugh in a not so funny way yesterday.)
( RANT )Ugh, I'm about ready to fire off a letter to the Casino about these asshats. They kick up the lot's rocks all over the trail and the casino employees who park there use the trail as an exit/entrance and frequently don't LOOK TO SEE if there's pedestrians or cyclists on the trail first before driving on it. Sometimes they park with half the vehicle on the trail! ( /RANT )
rustyred
2013-08-20 08:46:50
^ I have called 911 (not 311) to report cars parked on the trail here a few times. I'm not sure how often they respond, but I did see them tow once, albeit on a steeler sunday. But I think reporting these vehicles creates a paper trail that might be useful down the road should trail issues arise with the casino.
marko82
2013-08-20 08:55:22
Um, pardon my ignorance, but isn't there a multi-story parking garage about 500 feet away? I find it hard to believe that it's filling anywhere near capacity on a commuter weekday.
stuinmccandless
2013-08-20 10:55:56
Also fun: the guys who park on the trail off the 10th St Bypass to fish the river.
epanastrophe
2013-08-20 17:30:26
Coping strategy: Still no bike racks at Kelly-O's diner, so we usually use the guard rail around the parking lot. I didn't actually put the lock on today - just leaned the bike in the usual spot for a quick photo:
srpit
2013-08-20 19:11:41
Door to nowhere - by the 16th St Bridge:
srpit
2013-08-20 19:12:56
Tag #1: Coping Strategies - The train station next to (and therefore also the area surrounding) this shopping center is under construction, which, combined with the usual (summer) large number of bikes, means there is absolutely no space left on the bike racks, so there's usually a (surprisingly orderly) line of bikes locked to this fence. Yesterday I wanted to get a picture of one of the annoying and prevalent toaster-plus-metal-thing-connected-with-chain bike racks which I don't entirely understand and which make it impossible to actually attach my bike securely without taking up three spaces, but my phone camera doesn't work in the dark. :(
jeg
2013-08-21 11:30:00
Tag #2: Door to Nowhere - This was supposed to be my Door to Nowhere, since it's always locked and leads to a very overgrown set of stairs that go to nowhere (there used to be train tracks down there, I think), but today is was OPENED! So now it's a door to somewhere tempting where I shouldn't go. (BTW, I'm really enjoying all the Pittsburgh doors to nowhere, and am bummed that I won't be able to check them out in person anytime soon!)
jeg
2013-08-21 11:33:30
I'm bummed that I'm not going to have a picture in it for Tag #2, since I ended up working from home today, but I will at least mention it, in case anyone else is still downtown. Lemon Way, off of Cherry Way between Forbes and Fourth Aves, is arguably the shortest street in the Golden Triangle. It is the width of any narrow alley in the city (think Spring Way), but only about four dumpsters long. Here it is on StreetView, unfortunately without my bike. I understand if this isn't acceptable as a tag entry.
stuinmccandless
2013-08-21 16:14:43
I thought each tag was supposed to have two weeks? This round started on the 8th... there should technically be two more days, no? Or do we mix it up sometimes?
headloss
2013-08-21 23:23:31
When the expiration was originally set, it was only a week, and very few photos were up by then, so I extended it a week. Since we're on a roll now, I'm OK with extending it two more days. Friday night, 23:59 OK with everyone?
stuinmccandless
2013-08-22 08:42:04
Im sorry when i played back a year ago during bikefest, alot of riding was going on so many pictures were taken. Thats why i shortened the time.
steeld55
2013-08-22 11:12:40
Anyway, here is a proper photo of the shortest street downtown. I was standing in the middle of Cherry Way when I took it. Yes, that is City-County Building in the background. My bike is up against the dumpster at the end of the street
stuinmccandless
2013-08-22 12:24:36
@Stu, Coffee Way is another of those short streets - plus it is made of wooden blocks (which some asshole paved over back in the early 90's). http://goo.gl/maps/dF1An
marko82
2013-08-22 12:56:13
a bit past the deadline, but.... #2, door to nowhere. not sure if this was once the entrance to the apartment building above, to the ground-floor storefront, or even to the basement (go up to go down?), but now it seems to be an emergency exit only. (side door, crystal bead bazaar, 46th at butler)
epanastrophe
2013-08-25 18:33:32
I think it's time to tie up this round. BikeFest is done, the kids are going back to school, and it's the start of a new week. You can look over the results over your Wheaties on Monday morning and think about what to do next. To recap, we had Tag #1, coping strategies, from me: 1. RustyRed 2. Pinky (sure, we'll take it) 3. srpit 4. jeg ...and Tag #2: entrance to nowhere, from steeld55, who supplied a picture of a Bloomfield doorway but that doesn't count since it's his tag: 5. RustyRed 6. srpit 7. jeg 8. StuInMcCandless 9. buffalo buffalo Spinning the wheel, I get 5 and 6, so srpit and RustyRed get to choose the next tags.
stuinmccandless
2013-08-25 22:43:36
How about an UNUSUAL planter, or unusual use of plants. Not just a pretty display - I'd like to see something creative and different. I've seen three things that fit this in the past week and was looking for some more for a blog, so I'm shamelessly using the game to help me find them! Is that fair?
srpit
2013-08-26 09:49:00
I'm going to use the unused part of the "Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?" question. Looks like we've had plenty of animal and vegetation themed tags, but no minerals. Tag #2: Minerals How does a Sept 10th deadline sound?
rustyred
2013-08-26 10:55:44
Tag #2 - How about a coal barge:
srpit
2013-08-30 16:31:34
Tag 1: The green art at PNC HQ: PNC green Tag 2: the rock wall/fountain at Point Park: Point Park fountain
joanne
2013-08-31 18:33:47
I picked up this two-some on the way home, then when I got home, my wife reminded me of the project she just completed on the side of the house. So I will post these now, and the other in the morning when there's some light. Tag #1, unusual planter: How about seven feet up on the concrete structure of the 40th Street bridge, for a place to have a tree start? Tag #2, minerals. How about a stone dog and stone books atop the dog? This would be just outside the brand-new-just-opened Millvale Community Library. If that looks familiar, it was Tag #393 in Tag-o-Rama, March 2012.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-03 21:43:28
Thank you, @srpit, for the info! I'd been looking at that statue every time I rode past for the past year and a half, but didn't notice the paint job until I photographed it last night. OK, on to the business of the morning. As mentioned above, my wife pointed out to me that her major project of the past couple of weeks satisfies both tags of this round. We had been getting lots of basement seepage after even moderate rains recently, so she dug an 18" trench in the yard, the length of the house, and installed a drainage pipe. This was backfilled with gravel (Minerals, Tag #2), but decorated with the flowers she just bought, that she hopes will spread over the gravel (Tag #1).
stuinmccandless
2013-09-04 06:42:35
Dang, Stu... do you know how much money she just saved? We had a major issue a few years ago with an underground spring that decided to re-route itself through our yard. We needed French drains in both the yard AND the basement. Pricey.
rustyred
2013-09-04 07:40:43
Oh, I know I married well. She rebuilt the foundation wall, put in a 72-foot brick sidewalk, double-beamed the first floor, and rewired the house. 20 years later, we haven't burned the place down yet, so I think we're OK. I hold the flashlight and pay the bills.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-04 10:20:08
tag 1 unusual planter My big fat finger an included bonus! Also, if you do want continued help looking for planter oddities, shoot me an inbox or start another thread... I'm now on the hunt. tag 2 salt is a mineral! Mid 90's today... great time for bicycle photo tags LOL
headloss
2013-09-09 23:06:43
Tag #1 KAYA- these planters are only unusual in that they serve two purposes: A: to be attractive B: create a barrier between the diners and traffic.
rustyred
2013-09-10 05:20:55
@Drewbacca, tried to PM you, but when the page opens to send the message it's addressed to "headloss"??? Figured something was messed up. Does that sound right to you?
srpit
2013-09-10 06:04:37
The board allows you to change your username, but the message system doesn't acknowledge it--PMs still use the original name.
epanastrophe
2013-09-10 06:22:30
#2 Minerals Here's some nude rock people. I didn't let the nekkid dude sit on my bike, though it looks like he's itching to have a seat.
rustyred
2013-09-10 07:55:02
buffalo buffalo wrote:The board allows you to change your username, but the message system doesn’t acknowledge it–PMs still use the original name.
^yup I originally registered under the name headloss... changed it b/c I got sick of meeting people on here and introducing my self as "headloss." I was inspired when Erica dropped the RubberFactory moniker.
headloss
2013-09-10 08:08:15
#2 minerals: A little rocky getting here Saturday... (Granite St., Hill District) #1, unusual planters: (Unnamed cemetery, Mount Troy Road--I've seen these in a couple different places. Have to admit, I don't get it...)
epanastrophe
2013-09-10 09:29:20
Tag #2: Minerals - This construction site next to one of the public swimming pools has going on for at least a year. Not much is being built, but there are always new piles of things, including various minerals. (Hm, Google/PicasaWeb seems to have changed some things around, and I'm not finding the URL for the larger image. Boo!) Unfortunately didn't find any interesting planters on the bike these past two weeks.
jeg
2013-09-10 12:19:14
Bummed I missed this round. Work has sucked lately.
pinky
2013-09-11 08:14:30
#1 1 joanne 2 Stu 3 Drewbacca 4 RustyRed 5 buffalo buffalo #2 6 srpit 7 joanne 8 Stu 9 Drewbacca 10 buffalo buffalo 11 jeg RANDOM spat out 2 and 10 at me: Stu and buffalo buffalo pick the next tags!
rustyred
2013-09-11 09:10:39
I'll go first. The kids are back in school, so let's try for a tag having something to do with schools or education, including but not limited to crossing guards, school buses, and not limited to K-12 education, either. Be creative! Tag #1: Education.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-11 09:43:46
Tag #1 Education! I work in the same building as Riverquest , but since I can't readily haul my bike up to the second floor and tag their offices, I went down to the Explorer's dock and took this shot. The boat was out on the rivers this afternoon.
rustyred
2013-09-11 11:55:06
Oddly enough, the last time I got to pick the tag was just about this time last year... Coffeeneuring is coming!--so let's get some inspiration: What are your favourite places to get coffee (or the warm beverage of your choice)? In line with the rules for coffeeneuring, need not be a "coffee shop", just a place that serves coffee (or the warm beverage of your choice). Standard two weeks gives us a deadline of the 25th.
epanastrophe
2013-09-11 18:08:08
Tag #2 Coffee! I rarely pay someone to make my coffee for me, they tend to make it too strong for my wimpy tastes... so here's Dunkin Donuts and Nicholas Coffee in Market Square... places I might buy beans and take them home to make my own weak brew.
rustyred
2013-09-12 07:42:10
StuInMcCandless wrote:Um, pardon my ignorance, but isn’t there a multi-story parking garage about 500 feet away? I find it hard to believe that it’s filling anywhere near capacity on a commuter weekday.
It seems employees aren't permitted to intermingle their cars with patrons. The Casino purchased a building next to the parking garage, tore it down to create a parking lot for employees (they WERE leasing spaces from the Cardello building before). I finally fired off a letter to both the Casino and cc'ed the Friends of the Riverfront after seeing a car parked on and blocking a third of the trail last evening. "Kindly refrain from allowing casino employees to drive on and park on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The trail surface cannot sustain the abuse of heavy vehicles on a regular basis, it is already damaged from the cars with cracks appearing. Cars parked on the trail pose a serious threat to the safety of cyclists and pedestrians when they block portions of the trail and kick up rocks onto the trail. Please see the following links for photos of just one occurrence." http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/9839683774_2537183f4e_c.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3676/9839788043_9fd1096f09.jpg
rustyred
2013-09-20 12:40:18
Plenty of transit options over thataway. Plenty of bike parking. Buy your employees bus passes, already.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-20 15:02:53
Tag #1: Education - The public library is always a great place for education, as well as entertainment. Here's the closest one to my apartment. I must admit, Pittsburgh's library system is better than the one here in Berlin.
jeg
2013-09-25 10:39:22
Tag #2: Coffee - I don't usually drink coffee because of stomach problems, and don't usually go to cafes unless it's especially cold or for some reason I need to meet someone in a public place. But, I love to drink tea at home, both run-of-the-mill grocery store tea, and fancier loose tea in exotic flavors. This quirky little gift shop, called Teeater, has a good selection of the latter. (P.S. Found the links to the full-size pictures again without much effort. Screw you, Google!)
jeg
2013-09-25 10:44:26
Day off today, so I did some errands in Crafton and picked up these tags along the way. Education: St Philips School. Also the location of my favorite fish fry in the spring. Coffee: Dunkin in Crafton. Our coffee choices around the borough were limited to gas station coffee for a long time. Dunkin was a very exciting addition.
pinky
2013-09-25 12:45:28
Tag #2: Coffee Darn it, I can't iPhone today. Or there's a website problem. I cannot figure out how to get this Perry Perk photo to upload. This worked fine last week when I got the Tag-o-Rama photo.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-25 14:37:39
This pic. The "Upload image" button wasn't there
stuinmccandless
2013-09-25 14:39:20
Coffee - I've used this local coffee house for multiple tags now. Sorry that it is a repeat. But first tag at this location with the new bike. The Fire Escape on Church Street in Ben Avon. Great biscotti, great reading library, so-so coffee. yummy biscotti coffee only fair
swalfoort
2013-09-25 18:17:07
All sorts of education happening at the Community Presbyterian Church in Ben Avon: Sunday School (large permanent sign in middle of lawn), Pre-School (colorful placard sign to the left in photo) and Youth Groups for multiple age ranges (corner of white sign saying "youth"). pre school and sunday school and youth.group
swalfoort
2013-09-25 18:20:18
By my estimation, the last tag (Education and Coffee) ended at midnight. It's too nice outside to not have new tags..... So, I spun the random.org wheel and came up with the new tag setters: Tag 1: Education Rusty Red Jeg Pinky Me Tag 2: Coffee RustyRed Jeg Pinky Stu Me Next tag setters are JEG and Pinky. Second person to set the next tag also sets the expiration of the round. On your marks, get set.......GO!
swalfoort
2013-09-26 11:18:20
StuInMcCandless wrote:The “Upload image” button wasn’t there
I suspect the upload function is blocked, or nonfunctional, in mobile browsers; it doesn't work on my Android phones, either. (Possibly it uses Flash, which to my understanding doesn't exist on either iOS or Android.)
epanastrophe
2013-09-26 11:24:31
...which is strange, as it worked fine a few days earlier, and again two minutes later. Just then, it wasn't there. Baffling.
stuinmccandless
2013-09-26 13:28:09
Tag #1: Pretzels (or things in the shape of pretzels) Why? Because they are delicious. I officially became a student again today (yay!) and the (fairly long) daily commute to the university includes a train transfer in a station that pretty much requires me to walk right past a stand that sells delicious, fresh-baked soft pretzels and seems to be (surprisingly for Germany) often open past the posted hours. I have a feeling my wallet and perhaps balanced eating will regret this in a few months.
jeg
2013-09-27 06:32:25
Sorry I'm late. Tag #2: Unofficial paths, trails, or roads Roads and trails don't always go where we need them. Tag an unofficial path or trail that gets you where you're going. Closing date: Tuesday 10/15 at 11:59 PM
pinky
2013-10-01 08:08:07
Tag #1, Pretzel - This was hard to find, so I found something "pretzelish" (sign) where I think they make things that come in pretzel shapes, or will if you ask the baker nicely! If I find a better tag, I'll repost. pretzelish
swalfoort
2013-10-02 08:24:52
Tag #2, Hidden Passages This was a great tag, as I recently discovered a new route into work from the north side...... The parking lot behind the Clark Building on the North Side lets out at a pedestrian gate on Federal and East General Robinson. Waiting for those stoplights on Tony Dorsett Way really used to annoy me. passages Technically yes, it is probably trespassing. But I can't quite tell against whom....City? PennDOT? Parking Authority? SEA? Steelers? Pirates?
swalfoort
2013-10-02 08:28:05
@swalfoort - You left out an important detail about that particular secret passage: It has a portajohn! I made use of that feature on a recent Sunday excursion, looking for a tag. OK, on with the program. Tag #1: Pretzel. Pretzel flavors do not normally include tar, but for this, I'll make an exception. Whoever was repairing Babcock Blvd near Thompson Run Rd, inbound, one day decided to make this curly-cue design on the road. It always did remind me of a pretzel. Tag #2: Secret passageways. This is my trolley trail stream crossing, just off Perrymont Road in McCandless. The Harmony interurban's tracks are still embedded in the concrete abutment just off-camera to the right. This mile of trail is almost driveable in spots, used by Equitable Gas as a transmission line, and comes out behind a car wash at the corner of Babcock and Three Degree Road in Ross.
stuinmccandless
2013-10-02 10:46:45
Hey, Stu! No one asked for a tag ID on portajohns......but, yes, is a notable feature for this particular shortcut. And I often continue to use those parking lots as I continue east along East General Robinson, past Federal. There are pedestrian access points at each corner. Just watch the transition to the ADA ramps at the corners. They can be tricky.
swalfoort
2013-10-02 10:55:58
Tag #1 Pretzels! I just rode through PNC Park since they have it open for folks to watch the NLDS game #2... lo and behold: Super Pretzels! I would have bought one for sure if they were open. *drool*
rustyred
2013-10-04 11:50:40
Dang, I looked all over that area for a pretzel, even checking the ground after a game for pretzel wrappers, but came up empty! Nice grab, RR!
swalfoort
2013-10-04 12:03:25
This unofficial path lets you cut through the fence from the West End Bridge stairs to the North Shore Trail, skipping the casino employee parking lot with its scary drivers and gaping potholes. Just look out for the suicidal bunnies, especially now that it's darker outside.
pinky
2013-10-14 07:35:58
Tag #2 Secret Passageways Here's a lesser used trail up the hill between the Science Center and the Fred Rogers memorial. I hadn't even noticed it until I saw another cyclist using it... probably best to use this when there are many oblivious walkers on the narrow paved portion.
rustyred
2013-10-14 11:55:09
I would love to have been able to use this for the pretzel tag, but it didn't really work for the game. From the air, and certainly on Google Maps, the southern interchange of McKnight Road and Babcock Blvd very much looks like a pretzel. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=mcKnight+road+at+babcock+blvd&hl=en&ll=40.514798,-80.003654&spn=0.003756,0.008256&sll=40.431368,-79.9805&sspn=0.240686,0.528374&hnear=McKnight+Rd+%26+Babcock+Blvd,+McCandless+Township,+Allegheny,+Pennsylvania+15237&t=m&z=18 Let's try embedding the map itself: View Larger Map The tar pretzel is about a quarter mile to the SE of this corner.
stuinmccandless
2013-10-14 16:31:24
I'm still looking for a pretzel, no luck and I've been on my bike a lot. :( I also thought about a highway interchange but have failed to find a good vista. I did find an OK Tag #2: Unofficial paths, trails, or roads... actually, I found a great one that I believe is only used by deer ;) but I had a hard time getting my bike in the picture along with the deer, so I'll got with my second choice.
headloss
2013-10-14 22:01:57
RustyRed - where do you pick up that path? I could always use shortcuts in that area. Also here's my pretzel - Max's Allegheny Tavern. Yummy German food, including stuffed pretzels:
pinky
2013-10-15 12:45:16
pinky wrote:RustyRed – where do you pick up that path? I could always use shortcuts in that area.
Sure, it's short but it helps looks like you'd bypass a few slow, clueless walkers who hog up the paved path. ... and judging by how short the grass is clipped, the grass is being eaten by geese... so for every pedestrian avoided, you might surprise an even slower goose.
rustyred
2013-10-15 14:29:00
One of my regular trails reminds me of a pretzel, that's good enough for me. ;)
headloss
2013-10-15 23:02:44
Ding ding ding - time's up! Pretzel Drewbacca pinky RustyRed StuInMcCandless Swalfoort Path Drewbacca RustyRed pinky StuInMcCandless Swalfoort And the winners are... StuInMcCandless Swalfoort
pinky
2013-10-16 07:37:37
OK, I'll go first. I look out my window on this drippy afternoon and wonder just how I plan to get home, especially if it's going to drizzle like this. As I do not plan to sleep under my desk, I know I will make do somehow. I'll tough it out and slog my way through the rain, or maybe I'll wimp out and take a bus. We all have moments like these, don't we? But we all know we'll overcome that hurdle. So Tag #1 is We Shall Overcome. How do you surmount that hurdle, whether physical or mental, and get you and your bike from A to B?
stuinmccandless
2013-10-17 14:37:25
I recently attended the Bike Pittsburgh annual meeting, where I ran into many of the Bike Pittsburgh members who have volunteered their time and energy to do bike counts for me over the years. To acknowledge my appreciation for the fine work that volunteers do in this City, I decided to make that my next tag. So, TAG #2 is your favorite LOCATION/PLACE to VOLUNTEER, or your favorite organization that uses VOLUNTEERS. Multiple entries are encouraged......but only the first one from any individual will count towards selection of the next tagsetter! This round closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday October 29th. Not quite two weeks, but permits time for a halloween related tag next round.....
swalfoort
2013-10-17 15:07:30
ahhhhh!!! I could have taken a sweet photo last night with a group that I volunteer with, a bike advocacy group, but amazingly I was the only one there via bike. I don't think there is another meeting before the photo deadline. :(
headloss
2013-10-17 15:12:22
Stu - Can we permit some latitude in the recording of your tag? By virtue of the fact that I will be focused on something that is already a challenge, I might not be able to/interested in taking a photo that includes my bike in the photo. The location that comes to mind immediately is that section of California Avenue that merges into something that might be Route 65. On my ride in, I think of it as the quarter mile of sheer terror. Stopping in the midst of merging traffic that wants to move at 50 mph to get off my bike to take a photo is probably not healthy. Could I take a photo from some angle, even if it means I can't get the bike in the picture? Or do I have to find another hurdle? Or take a photo of something NEAR the hurdle that I can get my bike in....?
swalfoort
2013-10-17 15:14:06
Seems like a reasonable request. I myself was thinking about using a staircase climb as an example, as I use the steps behind the West View McDonalds on a regular basis (to avoid climbing Horseshoe Curve on Rt 19), but to do the photography job properly, I may have to have someone take the shot of me holding the bike the way I do to go up the steps. Prior to now, we've had mainly solo shots, our own selves taking a pic of the bike in some spot. I don't see any reason why we can't have someone else take the picture. So yeah, if we need to bend or create rules a little bit to get a point across, sure, go for it!
stuinmccandless
2013-10-17 16:29:06
@Drewbacca; but is there a particular intersection or roadway you are hoping to improve? Get a shot there. Or of a fellow volunteer. We can acknowledge volunteerism in a lot of creative ways on this one.
swalfoort
2013-10-17 18:18:58
Swalfoort wrote:@Drewbacca; but is there a particular intersection or roadway you are hoping to improve? Get a shot there. Or of a fellow volunteer. We can acknowledge volunteerism in a lot of creative ways on this one.
I'm sure I'll come up with something, I'm just having a DOH! moment because I walked my bike right into the meeting room rather than lock it up outside, it would have made a great photo. I should have taken one regardless.
headloss
2013-10-17 19:47:43
TAG #2 your favorite LOCATION/PLACE to VOLUNTEER I love this tag! I've volunteered for many orgs like the Aviary, Central Blood Bank, BikePGH!, ZombieFest... ...but, I'm biased with this topic, having 3 relatives with MS and having been employed by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the past 11 years. I've met some amazing volunteers over the past decade at various events (like BikeMS *cough* *cough*) and at the office. In fact, I may have already met you if you've done 'Escape to the Lake' at one of the rest stops or the start/finish line. Please don't forget us next year when the weather turns warmer again! We'd love to have you ride in one of our bike rides and gladly accept volunteers for Walk and Bike events!
rustyred
2013-10-18 08:03:38
How I overcome the mental hurdle when it's crappy outside: This is a shot of my bike with my husband's. In the last year, we got these sweet bikes and added fenders, nice panniers, lights, and pretty much everything we need for inclement weather. When it's pouring rain (like Wednesday morning), and we look at each other and debate driving, I just think: "Fenders, pannier, bike." Why gear up if I'm only going to bike in sunshine and blue skies? It would be a huge waste of money. So here's to cost-per-use on crappy days:
pinky
2013-10-18 08:56:41
Volunteering:
srpit
2013-10-20 17:09:47
For my own tag, We Shall Overcome, which doesn't count but I'll throw it in anyway as an example. Stairways. I love steps, going both up and down. This is me taking a selfie while surmounting the steps of the West End Bridge. I have a good enough hold of the bike with one hand that I can control the camera with the other. I highly recommend becoming comfortable with staircases, as they are great for cutting out nasty hills or stretches of unpleasant streets.
stuinmccandless
2013-10-20 18:56:42
Work Around: This is a photo of my bike on the Shadeland Avenue Bridge. I still have a bit of a dislike for hills. It's both physical and mental. The availability of the Shadeland Bridge as a bypass to the large "dip" in Brighton Road at Woods Run is really a great work around for me. work around hills
swalfoort
2013-10-21 09:27:37
Tag 2: Volunteering. I set this tag, so am ineligible to post for this one, but I had an AWESOME time volunteering for Venture Outdoors yesterday on a kayak trip with their Women on the Water series. This is a photo of kayaks all set out for one of the last trips of the year. This was taken from the Seventh Street Bridge. volunteer
swalfoort
2013-10-21 09:31:17
About a week ago, Pinky posted the following, as it related to rainy days: When it’s pouring rain (like Wednesday morning), and we look at each other and debate driving, I just think: “Fenders, pannier, bike.” Why gear up if I’m only going to bike in sunshine and blue skies? It would be a huge waste of money. I've sort of adopted this checklist now as a "bike to work" mantra (still mostly in fine weather). My version is a little different, but with as few as 5 "check items" I can make myself be motivated to ride. I think my five are: lights, lock, pannier, work clothes suitable for day's schedule, and off site obligations (day or evening). There is actually a sixth check box, as I think about it. That has to be how my knees feel on a given day. Thanks to Pinky and her husband for making the decision making process this simple. Asked once at night (for packing work clothes) and once in the morning, and I can actually get myself on the bike more often. That's awesome!
swalfoort
2013-10-21 09:40:03
I agree - it really does help to pack the night before. Then I wake up, look outside and see crap, but then look at my neatly packed pannier. It makes me sad to unpack the pannier in order to drive.
pinky
2013-10-22 07:22:14
Hmmm. My photo for volunteering somehow disappeared. It was there right after I posted that, but when I looked at the thread again it was gone. Trying again:
srpit
2013-10-23 09:01:18
I don't know why that photo is clipped off on the right. Tried uploading it three times, two different ways and it's still not displaying right. I give up.
srpit
2013-10-23 09:03:35
Volunteering: I've taken it upon myself to rid the old trolley trail of a stand of invasive Japanese knotweed. I wish I would have thought to take a picture of the bike in front of it the other day in sunlight. Here is the best I could do before dawn this morning. Below are the "before" and "after" pictures I took on Sunday morning. Of course with the bike behind the camera. D'oh! Before. Note the gas line marker pipe in both pics. After. This involves pulling these up at the roots, then digging down below that to dig out the roots, too.
stuinmccandless
2013-10-29 08:32:59
Today is the last day for this tag....... New tag gets set after midnight tonight...
swalfoort
2013-10-29 08:39:02
Well, that was a poorly attended round! Maybe it was the change in the weather. By my calculations, we had only 5 participants (other than the original tagsetters). Tag 1: We shall overcome: Pinky and Swalfoort Tag 2: Volunteer: RustyRed, SRPIT and Stu Spinning the wheel, the next tagsetters are Pinky and RustyRed. Second person to identify their target also sets the end of the round (date and time).
swalfoort
2013-10-30 16:09:08
Tag #1 Art Deco!
rustyred
2013-10-30 16:32:05
Swalfoort wrote:Well, that was a poorly attended round! Maybe it was the change in the weather.
Most likely, I haven't spent a lot of time on my bike during this round. Part of that is weather and part of that is traveling (in my case).
headloss
2013-10-30 18:48:11
Some of it, I'm sorry to say, is decreased use of the message board in general. In a brief appearance at volunteer night at BP HQ, I mentioned that I had just (minutes before) picked up the Tag-o-Rama tag, and a bunch of people said they just didn't play the game anymore as they just weren't on the board very often. If they're not playing ToR, they're even less likely to play WoF. I think we're still suffering from the board's rebuild last winter, when several long time accounts were lost.
stuinmccandless
2013-10-30 19:12:05
Tag #2: Comfort food It's been cold and/or damp. My head hurts. It's almost lunchtime. Show me where to get some good comfort food. Tags close Thurdsay 11/14 at 11:59 PM.
pinky
2013-10-31 10:54:24
Tag #2: Comfort food Here's the Chateau Cafe and Cakery. Sweets for those who wish to find comfort for their sweet tooth, and savory sammiches for those who have a salt tooth. I'm heading down there for lunch later today for a cheese and pickle panini. I have to avoid the sweets unless I want my blood sugar to plummet and get a wicked case of the 'sweaty-sugar-shakes'.
rustyred
2013-11-01 10:02:19
RustyRed wrote: I’m heading down there for lunch later today for a cheese and pickle panini. I have to avoid the sweets unless I want my blood sugar to plummet and get a wicked case of the ‘sweaty-sugar-shakes’.
Post visit review: I grew up making myself cheese and pickle sandwiches. Somehow, I just discovered that I liked them, no one ever turned me on to them and my family thought they were weird. They’d say “Don’t you want some meat on there?” Meat just ruins the salty, vinegary, crunchy, cheesy-goeyness of the cheese and pickle combo. Today, for the first time in my adult life…I found a restaurant that has them on the menu. It was delicious, and frankly an improvement on my toasted white bread/white American/dill selections. They used whole wheat and cheddar and grilled them Panini style. Sweet jebus, that hit the spot. I come to find out that cheese and pickle sandwiches are a ‘quintessential British sandwich’ How about that?
rustyred
2013-11-01 12:31:17
RustyRed wrote:I grew up making myself cheese and pickle sandwiches.
I used to eat these all the time as a kid - both grilled and just cold with mayo. As an adult I usually swap out the pickle for some hot pepper rings and fancy cheese. Bon appetit!
marko82
2013-11-01 15:06:11
Tag #1: Art Deco. Salt of the Earth restaurant. To be honest, I am not certain that this is Art Deco. Even if it is not, I do like the door Tag #2: Comfort food. Spak Brothers Pizza!
stuinmccandless
2013-11-02 20:32:31
It's a new year, it's finally starting to look a bit like spring, so let's brush the dust off this thread, shall we? The current tags are #1 Art Deco, set by RustyRed, and #2 Comfort food, set by Pinky. Let's give this two full weekends to collect and post, and say 23:59 on Sunday, April 6.
stuinmccandless
2014-03-27 04:57:09
Don't count too much on me taking part. Due to work changes, my biking life is about to go right down the shitter. For the most part, I'm going to be forced to join the idiots on the parkways.
edmonds59
2014-03-27 05:31:41
@edmonds. Just remember to keep the folding bike in the trunk for those "I gotta get outa here" lunches.
marko82
2014-03-27 05:45:12
^+
edmonds59
2014-03-27 05:48:06
Cool. This might inspire me to get the bike out - finally!
swalfoort
2014-03-27 10:13:15
I'll play... Japanese grocery store (Arlington Heights, IL) filled with goodness (comfort food) art-deco... the initial plan was to stop by the nearby F.L.Wright museum but ended up grabbing something easier to get to. Gallagher building (commercial insurance, not the watermelon guy, sadly) Itasca, IL.
headloss
2014-04-06 21:36:34
Bikefest is almost here, so let's try Thread Dust-Off, Take 2. The current tags are #1 Art Deco, set by RustyRed, and #2 Comfort food, set by Pinky. Let's just tie it off right here with what we have, and start another round, shall we? In fact, since the last round was last year and itself had very few participants, let's pool that and this one together. Ten entries, six participants. Tag 1: We shall overcome: Pinky and Swalfoort Tag 2: Volunteer: RustyRed, SRPIT and Stu Tag 3: Art Deco: Stu, Drewbacca Tag 4: Comfort food: RustyRed, Stu, Drewbacca Rolling the random.org dice, I get 4 and 2, so Srpit and Swalfoort get to pick the next two tags, and the second to post should choose the end time, say two weeks from 23:59 of that day.
stuinmccandless
2014-08-03 22:21:03
I'm game! I missed this game :)
steeld55
2014-08-03 23:30:51
Ok, I am in....... I will have a post up tonight. If you want an early start, the tag will be: allergans, personal or known. Find something that you are allergic to, or know someone is allergic too, and post a photo of that. My photo will be loaded later today. This tag sponsored by ragweed........
swalfoort
2014-08-04 07:25:39
P.S. I think two weeks is too long in the summer. Let's make it one week through the end of September. It's not like adding the second week is generating new participants. Or, we need to start permitting multiple entries for each tag. Otherwise, I get a tag, maybe get the next one a couple of days later, and then have nothing to look for over the next 10 days. What's do you think, folks? SRPIT sets the other tag for this round. We should let them know of the decision on timing.
swalfoort
2014-08-04 07:28:37
Message sent, off-msgboard.
stuinmccandless
2014-08-04 08:18:49
Yay! I will try to be better about being responsive. I do love this game. Should we set some guidelines for who is responsible for spinning the wheel? That's where we've fallen down before - when the tag closes out and someone (like me) forgets to spin the wheel.
pinky
2014-08-04 08:57:34
Woo Hoo! I missed this too. Thought everyone had given up on it. One week seems like plenty of time to me too. OK - Hmmm... How about Fluffy? This round will close at midnight on Monday the 11th (unless further discussion seeks to change that). Also, when I click on the last post it still takes me to page one. Should we start a new thread instead of letting this one get really long again?
srpit
2014-08-04 16:26:16
I had not noticed the not-forwarding-to-page-41 problem until just now, but having seen it, I now see it every time. Maybe it's coincidence, maybe not, but this is the same spot where the first Tag-o-Rama thread broke. I suggest we try to make it through this round, and prepare to jump to a new one if it proves troublesome. Allergens and fluffy things. Closing at 23:59 on M8/11.
stuinmccandless
2014-08-04 21:26:59
Allergen:
srpit
2014-08-05 16:21:35
Tag #2: Allergen. Poison ivy *right* along my favorite path through the woods. (It's spread considerably since the time when @srpit went through here!) And Tag #1, just a few yards away on the other side of the stream, we have Joe-Pye weed, a native wildflower with a fluffy blossom. And yes, the grasses and other plants are taller than my handlebars along here!
stuinmccandless
2014-08-06 10:03:24
The tag pic is poor. Here's a different shot, minus the bike (which I am astride), from a couple days ago, in almost the same spot. You can also get a better idea just how tall the grass is here! (I won't call them weeds, even though Joe-Pye weed is called a weed by name.)
stuinmccandless
2014-08-06 11:18:15
Allergens: BEES! Bee tag Fluffy: Groundhog at the Pumphouse: DSC_0562 Honestly, there's a groundhog there! fluffy tag
rustyred
2014-08-09 23:53:25
Allergens: I'm sparing everyone the detailed angle here, but I had a bad run-in with poison ivy this week. Let's just say my wrist looks, well, awful. Fluffy: Well, she's not the fluffiest dog around, but all dogs have some fluff. Even this one (who happens to not really like bikes):
pinky
2014-08-11 18:56:18
Time's up. With a whopping four participants, I opted to not include myself for the spin. Stu & RustyRed are the setters if we decide to try to breath life back into this. I was going to set it up on a new thread, but wanted to see if there was going to be enough interest to keep playing. What would you all like to do?
srpit
2014-08-12 05:51:14
I think keep going, but start a new thread. This broken-at-page-41 thing is a real pain. I'd include @sarapgh2 in the results for this round, since her picture of the "fluffy" chicken has its own thread.
stuinmccandless
2014-08-12 09:27:22
I still love this game since I'm not fast enough for Tagorama. That said, I understand if it's retired. The hardest thing for me is remembering to spin the wheel again or check back in to see if I need to set the tag.
pinky
2014-08-12 17:24:23
New thread has been started. Please go to "Wheelset of Fortune - take 3".
srpit
2014-08-12 17:57:00

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