In front of

Payback.

But after three days of highs within a couple of degrees of 50 and LOTS of rain May has returned. I have been following the average high temperature of the day as published in the local newspaper and today for the first time the average is 70. Today almost made that, I think it is 68 out there right now. So a tiny bit below average but an enormous relief. Bicycling was once again possible.

But no silver lining comes without a dark cloud and today it was windy. I headed into the wind and rode mostly west. I found myself exploring the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis. I have ridden there before and the other times it was quiet streets without much traffic.

Today, however, turned out to be Seward garage sale day and they were everywhere. There was a garage or a yard sale in virtually every block and often more than one. Yard sales mean lots of cars and lots of pedestrians. I decided to turn back.

I had just ridden past something that I thought was really interesting looking so I stopped to get another look. I took the opportunity to make some costume adjustments. The temperature was rising and I was about to turn from head wind to tail wind, I needed one less layer.

I was folding my jacket when a young man on a fixed gear slowed dramatically as he rode past. From behind me he tossed a comment over his shoulder. "Gorgeous bike", says he. "Thank you", says me.

I have ridden a lot of miles on this new bicycle, more than most bicycles sold in the USA get ridden in the entire life time of the bike. It still has lots of things to prove to me. It fits just fine and the ride is comfortable. I have ordered the replacement for my bent derailer hanger and once that persistent rattle is cured I will be able to decide if this is going to be my new favorite bicycle. It isn't there yet.

One thing is completely not in doubt, however. It is, as today's admirer noted, a gorgeous bike.

The series is not quite over after all although today's comparison goes in a new direction. Today I post a couple of things in front of things.

I have posted a picture of this before. It is one of the sculptures from the 2006 Minnesota Rocks workshop. What is different about this picture is that this time the sculpture (Constructing Friendship by Michael Sinesio) is pictured in front of the Como west entry gate.I passed briefly though the Fairgrounds. I have no idea what this is but I did ride past it today. It is some sort of "art" made from junk. It is located in front of, or perhaps behind, the DNR building.So those both seem like pretty interesting things in front of things, right?

Not nearly as interesting as this one.That's "l'Ecoute" (The Listener), a 1986 work by Henri de Miller. It is a giant head with a hand in front of it. And both are in the plaza in front of L’église Saint-Eustache, the church of Saint Eustache. The church is nearly as large as Notre Dame and is famous for having what is reputed to be the largest pipe organ in France (8,000 pipes).