But perhaps my pictures could include actual bars I pass?
Sure could, Matt! And...you could expand the theme to include "barred" things of all sorts --
• Bar codes (UPC)
• Zebra-striped pedestrian street crossings
• Security bars on doors and windows
• Vertical supports on hand railings
• Shadow patterns of trees on pavement
• (Some) nation's flags
• Striped jerseys
I suppose the list could go on. The thing is, "riding to a theme" opens one's eyes to the surroundings and you begin to see a bit differently, noticing things that would otherwise pass by without note. There's lots of possibilities that are Thorn-related, for example, or colors, flags, or animals. A teller at my bank used to collect frog-themed items (probably still does, but she's retired now) and could find them -- or photos of them -- in the most amazing places. I never gave it a thought till I saw her collection.
Lots of cyclists (and more than a few motorcyclists) carry Stuffos (small stuffed animals) as ride mascots. There's a photo in the Nomad brochure (
http://www.sjscycles.com/thornpdf/ThornRavenNomadBroHiRes.pdf . pg. 3) of Thorn designer Andy Blance with one on his handlebars; people have spun blog and travel themes around such things, be they toy soldiers, Stuffos, or small garden gnomes.
Or key off your bike's name. In 1960, the late American author John Steinbeck traveled around the country with his standard poodle and ended up writing a book on the experience named
Travels with Charley, named after the dog. When I traveled round trip through 17 states to a year-long position in Oxford, Mississippi, I named my travel journals, "Travels with Sparky" after Steinbeck's effort. "Sparky" was my 1985 Honda Civic, named along the way by a petrol station attendant who reminded me the car needed a name: "Name it, and it'll never turn on you". He may well have been right, as the car never truly let me down. It is the same with bikes, which reminds me I must name the Nomad something better than "The Nomad". Andy and Fiona's bikes are named Hector and Bertha and have been known to enjoy grand adventures with their human friends. Joshua Rothery did it with "William of".
So, Matt, let your imagination run wild. Give "Matt's Old Bird" a flight of fancy, and see what you can dream up. I'm guessing it will be at least as good as an orange-themed bike and trip that has kept us all entertained!
Best,
Dan.
