The State Of MEAT, May 4th, 2026
Everything MEATengines is way behind this week, plus probably next week, and so is The Clairebarian’s entrepreneurship project for school, and let’s not even talk about choring and half-finished bike projects. We’re using today’s school pro-dev-day as an excuse to turn some wheels and visit Gramma. Long story short, I’m not certain when I’ll be back on track. I did manage to put my ArctuHawk Voyager back together, though in a new and different form. Bicycle LEGO. The static head tube angle is now ~63° instead of <62°, and the wheelbase has shrunk a little bit in both directions. That’s all I’m saying for the moment.
Sunday morning we had an opportunity to hike into the woods with our friend Penny and harvest some trail-blocking cedar blowdown. Not just any blowdown, this was most likely burned in a massive 1400-hectare forest fire in 1925. It was Claire’s first time splitting rungs, and I wanted her to learn from someone who really knows what they’re doing. Sure, I’ve knocked out a few slats in my years of helping out in the woods, but nothing like the hours Penny has put into her craft. The wood was perfect for a first experience, and what a great skill to have. It was a lovely day in the forest, and busy with riders and runners, but it was also a reminder that we only have so many hours in the day and we have a selection of trail maintenance projects we’ve committed to taking on this year.
On top of my work & Claire’s school schedule, and riding bicycles, Claire and I have signed up to volunteer at some stops on the NSMBA’s race series this year. For the North Shore adjacent folks, maybe see you out there? Claire is also signed up to lead some of Essential Cycles’ Chill Shop Rides this spring & summer, maybe see you there too? Lots of cool stuff going on in the local cycling community.
{Photo: MEATengines}
Enough about me, what about the MEAT? I was not successful in replying to everyone who submitted an About a Single Speed entry. Sorry. Up to submissions from the weekend, you’ll hear from me tonight. The number of submissions has slowed somewhat, so I’ll probably go back to posting them once a week. I’ll also gently remind folks who were keen to put together a Bicycle Valentine that I’d love to share them. Other ideas? We love community submissions, fire me an e-mail.
Speaking of Love’s, ice cream that is, on Saturday after our choring, Claire and I were already talking about hitting Love’s during Cumberlandworx. Anyway, out into the world, she pedaled her ’92 Equipe, and I my Omnium, up to Krave, an ‘artisanal yogurteria’ for the best, and certainly least sweet, frozen-‘gurt’ swirl I’ve experienced. If you find yourself in Edgemont Village, there’s a long {quick moving} line for a good reason. A really good reason. Tart, tangy even, the chocolate & vanilla swirl I had was quite pleasant. Bicycles, coffee, and apparently ice cream are sustaining me at the moment.
Yeah, so. The state of MEATengines, more busy in the real world and less busy on the bikernet at least for a few weeks and possibly until July. Sorry.
Welcome to MEATengines! Whichever way you rolled here, I hope you enjoyed this piece. If you did, buying me a coffee is always appreciated but never expected. Any questions, concerns, or comments; feel encouraged to drop me an e-mail, or join us at r/MEATengines.