Earth Day 2024, Lubbock: Let's Talk Plastics & Recycling (and a spoon)

 The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet versus Plastic. And it is a significant and worthy theme for a year where we've become immensely more aware of how pervasive plastic pollution has become in our oceans, our foods, and even our bodies. It's also a year when another study has revealed how deeply we've been led astray with our hopes in plastic recycling.

My favorite infographic ever - Find it here.

Let's get practical and to the point. Plastic recycling is not a viable approach as a long-term solution. Plastic is deeply embedded in almost everything we produce and consume. Continuing to rely heavily on plastic will continue to make the environment in which we live more toxic and will make it continually harder for humans to live.

Please take a minute, look around you, and see what in your immediate surroundings contains plastic. (It can be a little overwhelming.)

Now, look over that list and see where you could use another (more sustainable) material/item.

Our spoon infographic is a great place to start. We already have a plethora of non-plastic spoons in the world. How can we move forward with our existing spoons? For starters, you can carry one with you. Then you can refuse the plastic spoon you'll be offered with your next meal or beverage. Or you can take it further. You can seek out places that will offer you a non-plastic spoon to use. You can use it and leave it behind for them to wash and serve to another customer.

Is this a sustainable solution? Yes, but it has to become consistent and widespread. So teach/encourage  your children, your parents, your friends, your co-workers, and even the well-meaning people who try to give you a plastic spoon to try a similar approach.

And explain why you're doing it.

Be specific in telling them why. To get personal, I started Mesquite Hugger because I love nature and wanted to promote a healthy environment; however, I consider people to be part of that environment. So, I can look people in the eye and truthfully tell them I carry my own spoon (or whatever thing I'm encouraging) because I love people and want them to thrive.

For some reason, it's a lot easier to argue with a tree hugger than it is with a people hugger. I guess it's because we have a lot more in common with people than trees. 

To be truthful, I hug a whole lot more people than I do mesquite trees. If you're reading this, I love you more than any tree. Period. That's it. So, try to cut back on plastic. It's killing us!

A few more places to you can start:

• Carry your own: cup, grocery bag, water bottle, etc.
• Recycle plastic yourself! If you have a toaster oven or heat press, you can recycle #2 plastic at home - but please be careful (and share pics of your success)
• Buy recycled products!

PS. Recycled toilet paper is not recycled toilet paper. It's regular paper recycled into toilet paper. (People get grossed out when I encourage them to purchase recycled toilet paper.)

PPS. Please continue to recycle items like paper, cardboard, tin metal, and aluminum. Let's keep using what we have in the system rather than digging up more minerals or cutting down more trees.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Please know that I am praying for you to be well and better!

(and give yourself a hug from me ;-)

EarthDayLbk 2024: Stealthy & Low $ e-Bikes

If you're interested in making Lubbock a healthier place to live, please attend. (earthdaylbk.com)

So, let's say that you are e-bike curious, but you're struggling with the whole idea of being seen as an e-cyclist, or you just think e-bikes are hideous. (Some of them really are.)

Maybe you've heard it said that e-bikes are a form of cheating, and you can maybe see the point. And, yes, if you are competing with people on non-e-bikes, you probably are cheating. Stop being a jerk. Just go find some e-bikers and compete with them. Problem solved.

On the other hand, if you're riding an e-bike to (work, school, errands, hang out, etc.), you really are cheating. Here's a short list of the groups you are cheating:

• the petroleum industry
• the automobile industry
• cardiologists
• endocrinologists
• the DMV
• that voice in the back of your head that says you'll never go anywhere

I don't know about you, but I think I can justify that kind of cheating and sleep well (even better) at night.

Or maybe you just love the simple aesthetic of a non-electric bicycle and can't stand the thought of the extra bulk and overall clunkiness getting in the way of your idyllic riding experience.

Well, regardless of your reason for not wanting to be seen on an e-bike, I have an eye-opening list for you! This is a list of (reasonably attainable) e-bikes that look like regular bikes. I don't know if riding them will make you feel like a cheater, but you sure won't look like one. (And you know how vain we cyclists are.)

Click on each pic to visit that bike on the web.

Bikes under $1500

I've seen this bike in person and it's impressive. If you're looking for simple, light (Only 33 pounds!), cheap, stealthy, and super-low maintenance, this thing is amazing. More advanced riders may want to look for a bike with more gear choices, but this thing is rock-solid for uncomplicated commuting on a budget.

 

I've not seen this model in person, but I've seen some others and have been impressed with the finish and build quality. The owners have spoken highly of their bikes and have no buyer's remorse. For two hundred more than the Roadster V2 you give up the belt drive; however, you gain a seven-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. Not bad.

Fiido is a company I know very little about, but they have an impressive range of bikes and lots of techno-perks. (It's the first company that I've seen offer a fitness-tracking/bike-unlocking smartwatch as an optional accessory.) It does have hydraulic disc brakes and a 5-speed drivetrain. You can even order an external battery to extend your range. Definitely worth a look. It's very similar to the Aventon above and costs the same.

The first of 2 from Velotric. The T1 ST is also quite similar to the two above it. It costs $100 more and weighs a little less. Velotric has a good reputation and reviews. I really like the minimalist electronic controls. The lower top-bar should make this one a little easier to ride if you have a shorter inseam, and it comes in two different frame sizes. The drivetrain is an 8-speed Shimano setup. It is a very nice bike for the money.

The middle-child of Ride1Up's stealthy bike is a nicely upgraded version of the Roadster V2 that started this list. This one has wider/cushier gravel tires, slightly lower gearing, and mechanical disc brakes. The Gravel model still has the belt drive system and still weighs less than most of the bikes we've seen so far. The one drawback I see here is the lack of a multi-speed drivetrain. If you ride on mostly flat ground (like we do here in Lubbock) that should not be much of a problem, but if you live in a hilly area, you might consider a different bike.

Bikes Over $1500

The following bikes jump up at least $500 but are still considered inexpensive in the e-bike market - especially when you consider the materials, components, and design work that has gone into them. These are significantly different than the bikes above. 

Above all the other bikes here, this is the one I drool over. The Luna Stealth is the only one that has a mid-drive motor. The others all have rear hub motors. This is also the only bike that offers a belt drive and a multi-speed drivetrain. The frame is aluminum. In spite of all it has packed into it, The Fixed still weighs under 40 pounds. It comes in three sizes. It's fast, simple, and designed for super-low maintenance. Very few people will have any idea this bike is an-bike, but the rider will definitely feel the difference. It's just oh so cool!

This Velotric T1 is gorgeous! The designers put in a lot work keeping it stealthy and light. The frame is hydro-formed aluminun. The cables are all routed out of sight. The control panel blends into the frame. It only weighs 36 pounds. The components are higher quality than most on this page. If you want the classiest of the bunch, check this one out!

The most expensive bike on this page is one the least expensive bikes you will find with a carbon-fiber frame. At 28. pounds, this the lightest bike on the page, and most likely the fastest. The CF Racer1 is rated as a Class3 e-bike which means it can run up to 28mph with electric assist. Stronger riders should be able to pedal it to much higher speeds. It has an eleven-speed SRAM drivetrain and a very aggressive riding position. It probably doesn't belong on this list, but it is quite a bargain for such an exotic machine and it sure doesn't look like it's electric.

That's it - the end of the list of e-bikes that look like non e-bikes. It's not an exhaustive list, but it should be enough to start you off on a stealthy e-bike quest. Happy hunting and safe riding, my friend!

Earth Day Lubbock 2024: e-Bikes Locally Available

If you're interested in making Lubbock a healthier place to live, please attend. (earthdaylbk.com)

Hey everybody, with Earth Day 2024 so close, it seems like a great time to remind you that e-bikes are amazingly efficient and affordable tool for getting around, getting fit, and helping the earth to be a healthier and more livable place for all of us.

For those of you interested in electric vehicles, Earth Day LBK will be a really good opportunity to learn about what's available in our little corner of the world. 

I've been riding the same e-bike for six years now and have done very little maintenance on it. The only parts I've had to replace are tires and brake pads. The electric bike helps me to get to work and to run errands even when the West Texas wind is blowing. It allows me to leave the carbon-powered car at home in the driveway and to get some exercise while actually enjoying my commutes. Also, it costs less than two dollars per month to keep the battery charged. Finally, riding the e-bike has helped in keeping my weight and blood pressure under control - riding an e-bike can be pretty danged awesome!

Riding an e-bike has improved my physical and mental health, my financial situation, and my carbon footprint, and that is why I am encouraging you get out and try one this Earth month!

Where can you check out e-bikes here in Lubbock?

Local Bike Shops

We are lucky enough to have a few dealers in town that sell (AND SERVICE) some very nice e-bikes at prices competitive to most online companies. In some cases, they even allow you to order from their brands and have the bike delivered to the shop so they can assemble and tune them before you take it home. That is a HUGE bonus!

I stopped by two local shops this week and snapped a few pics to let you see what's out there. These are not all the e-bikes they had in stock, but they should give you a good idea of what they have. If you visit, please tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you!

Velocity Bike Shop - 3829 50th Street

The Specialized Haul (cargo bike) had me drooling - who needs a car?

(I also dig the Haro next to it! I want a Haro Johnny 5 e-bike.)

Velocity had a great selection of both electric commuters and electric mountain bikes.  I was also excited to see an Aventon cargo e-bike (a brand that they do not sell) being tuned up in their service department. (In case you haven't been around here much, I adore cargo bikes, and seeing two of them in the same shop made me extremely happy!)

 

Electric mountain bikes from Specialized, Giant, and Santa Cruz

DFC Cycles and Fitness - 6701 Indiana Ave (+ South Plains Cycles - 6602 Slide Road)

DFC had a great selection just inside the front door and several more scattered around the shop. Lots of great bikes (and some great sales!)

DFC also has an impressive stock of electric bikes to check out from some very well-known names. The owner there told me know they have even more inventory on-site and at their sister location, South Plains Cycles.

This Marin cruiser/commuter really caught my eye - look at that sale price!

Where else can you see e-bikes in town?

Big Box Stores

I've seen electric bikes on display here in Lubbock at Target, Walmart, Costco, and Best Buy; and I'm sure there are other places in town that have them. It's unusual to see more than one on display and often they are still in the box. The most impressive examples have been at Best Buy. If you find any that interest you, pay close attention to online reviews videos to see if that/those bikes will fit your needs and will be dependable or easy to service.

Local Seller Websites

It's not rare to find used electric bikes for sale on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Offerup. I've seen some tremendous bargains and some impressive nightmares. Again, do your research before you do any buying.

I guess that's about it for this post. Thanks for reading along! I pray that you (and the earth) are well and constantly better, friends!

Embracing Guerilla Stewardship and Trash Talk: Clapp Park

I learned a long time ago that any day can be made better with a little time outside. And we are fortunate to have lots of sunny days around here.

I spend most of my working time inside under fluorescent lights, so I try to experience some outside therapy whenever I can.

This week, some of that outside therapy came in the form of a lunchtime spent at my favorite park. I'm trying to get back into an old habit that I've let slip - trash walking, guerilla garbage gathering. (Going for a walk and picking trash up along the way.) You don't need any real skills. You don't need to gather a bunch of people or start a movement. You just need to get out there and gather up some trash.

Guerilla Lunch-Hour Trash Picker-Upper near the infamous hole in the tree

I was fortunate to get to see the touring version of Whose Line It Anyway? here in Lubbock recently. One thing the comedians did well was research local-to-Lubbock references to work into their improv. There were lots of Buddy Holly, Guns Up, and Patrick Mahomes references. There were also lots of references to disturbing local flora that they had observed - hundreds of plastic bags on the roadside. The comedians (especially Ryan Stiles) were stunned at the amount of trash they saw here. It was a running joke through the evening.

Whose Trash Is It Anyway?

And it stung a little bit.

Yes, I know that I'm not the czar of all blown trash, and I know that Lubbock does not have a reputation for being beautiful, but I am a guy who encourages people to seek out the places here in town where natural beauty can be found. And it stung because it was honest and true - their trash talk was legitimate trash talk.

Yes, Lubbock has a trash problem.

How many pieces of trash can you spot in this pic?

How about this one?

The Whose Line troupe turned out to be a fresh set of eyes pointing out something we are so accustomed to seeing that we don't even notice anymore.

Tool of the trade: Guerilla Picker-Upper on the left

It's given me even more encouragement to go trash walking on a more regular basis. It's not a huge thing and it won't make a great impact, but it's nice to think that someone will see the area and marvel at the beauty rather than shake their head at the mess.

Under where?

Sure, it would be vastly nicer if we just created less trash and chose cleaner ways to live, but that is not the society we choose to be.

Solo sandal

Yes, sir, yes, sir - two bags full!

With our semi-arid climate, we have it a little worse out here. Plastic bags and wrappers blow in the wind and there is little to stop them other than the occasional plant or fence.

It looks like the local kids have been busy building a dam bridge.

 The Lubbock parks with playa lakes get more than their fair share of trash and pollution because they are part of our drainage system. Whenever we get a decent rain, the rainwater carries whatever trash and chemicals happen to be on the roads directly to the parks.

Gratuitous turtle pic

It's amazing how resilient the parks are. Natural beauty abounds in spite of our overwhelmingly negative impact. Even so, the next time you feel like going for a walk, why not pick up a plastic bag and fill it with other plastic bags, bottles, wrappers, and such? Try leaving each place better than you found it. Just a little effort can yield surprising results.

Photogenic log

Who knows? You might find yourself feeling a little better about the state of the world and your role in it. You might find that more hope and more health can be found in your new role as a suburban garbage guerilla. You may even find that making a difference in the world can make a difference in you.  

I like this guy! He's always smiling.

Really photogenic log

I pray you are well and striving to be better. I also pray that your works are a blessing to those around you.

Thanks for joining in!

The (Unofficial) Mesquite Hugger First Lizard of Spring!

I'm always thrilled to see the first lizard of Spring - but this one happened to be 300 miles east. I'll let you know when I see the first official lizard (of Lubbock) in Spring 2024.

Carolina Anole sunning on an AC compressor in Rockwall, TX

A P-Series Vespa Scooter on Lowest Greenville in Dallas, TX

Another P-Series Vespa a block from the first

Yes, I love Vespas. Yes, I am very much against promoting the use of gasoline-powered vehicles, especially with 2-stroke engines. My heart leapt to see these two in the wild! My heart sunk when I thought of firing one up and riding around.

Where does your weakness lie?

May your heart leap for healthy things and may unhealthy things not foster conflict in your heart.

May you be well, thankful, and thriving. And may you breathe clean air!

A Few Pics and an Update on Blog Posts in the Works

It's very spring-y around here, so I'm trying to get out with the camera as much as possible.

seeking wisdom

Here on Mesquite Hugger three posts are in the works: my religious evolution, guerilla stewardship, and the importance of getting out of your normal places.

My non-electric car under spring blooms

Over at 2WheelsMaybe I'm working on a post about whether or not electric cars are welcome in my town (or yours).

Speaking of wheels, Greg and Mark dropped off a stack of underappreciated BMX bikes that need some tuning up and minor repairs. I'm hoping to fix them up and find them homes where they'll be used and enjoyed. I'm thinking of doing a post or video about one of those.

On Youtube I'm recording a lot of nature b-roll without bicycles. (I fell off my mountain bike and bruised a rib - taking a little bike break.) Hopefully the b-roll will turn into a few more local favorite parks videos. I'm also working on some third place video to supplement the blog post.

That's about it for now. Thanks for checking in! As always, I am praying that you are well, you are joyful, and your eyes are open to the beauty that exists around you!

Man, those northern shovellers are cool!

Bits of Phenology: Spring 2024 (Don't Blink!)

Weeds, Birds, Wind, and a Happy Hound

Outside my office door this morning

This weekend I was pedaling down an alley and spotted my first robin of 2024. I remembered years ago sitting in a summer Spanish class and learning that robins are called primaveras in Spanish. Primavera is also the Spanish word for spring. I've been watching the signs of spring becoming more evident for a few weeks, but the robin cemented the deal in my mind. Spring is here, people!

Patches of green here and there

I've seen several bird changes lately. Lots of cormorants have arrived. They've become much more numerous in our local parks as the Canadian geese have flown away. There were white-crowned sparrows and some unfamiliar larks in the mesquites at Mae Simmons Park on Saturday. Great blue herons are much more numerous this week. The egrets haven't started showing up, but I'm watching for them. Northern shovelers are still hanging out in most of the playa lakes. I'm seeing (and hearing) more mockingbirds, and the starlings are starting to display their breeding plumage. This time of year makes me want bigger lenses and more patience for photography.

The little brown dots on the elms will soon be leaves.

I am spending more time outside, more time riding, and more time picking up trash. Yesterday the jeans got to skip the dryer. The little black Ford never left the house. I am so very thankful for time outside.

Click the pic to see a little Lubbock, Texas breeze.

This morning I did not need a coat or anything to keep my ears warm as I rode to work. It was almost sixty when I left the house this morning. It'll be a little tougher on the ride home - a forecast of 87 and 25 mile per hour winds. (And I'll be smiling the whole way!)

All those little yellow flowers at Mae Simmons

This pic has nothing to do with spring, but Phoebe loves free publicity.

May you be enthralled with the beauty around you, may you be delighted with all the seasonal changes, and may you nap like a hound!

I pray you are joyful and well, and I sincerely thank you for checking in.