Bike rack in the land of Oz

Thanks to Delta Airlines, I got "stuck" in Sydney recently for an extended layover - something in the neighborhood of 15+ hours.  (I'll give them credit - they gave me a bunch of free miles for the inconvenience without me even asking.)  Which ended up being an unexpected way to see Australia.  I'll take it!

So, armed with zero knowledge of Sydney, I set out on a search for their major sightseeing spots to cover my bases, and naturally I ran into some bike rack along the way.  I told you this stuff is everywhere!

First up - bike rack, flying solo in front of the world famous Sydney Opera House.  I would have dragged the bike rack into a better shot, but truthfully I was already getting some really hilarious looks from tourists and locals alike for being crouched down on my stomach, trying to get both items into the photo.  See?  I do have some shame somewhere.

Then, I hit the mother load of bike rack rack in Darling Harbour, and fortunately this was already positioned to have the greatest bike rack to scenery ratio possible.  Perfect placement - the harbor and downtown Sydney loom spectacularly over this bunch of barricade, projecting its majesty in strong silence.  Like someone KNEW I was coming, camera in hand, needing calendar-worthy pictures.

Calendar!  Why didn't I think of that before - now I know what to get y'all for Christmas next year.

I digress.  I will say that it took me the better part of an hour to get up and take this shot, as it was oddly surrounded by a ton of locals and a few construction workers using it as a Barcalounger on their lunch break.  While I may be bold enough to have a blog that literally focuses on steel tubing in foreign countries, I am not so stupid as to come between a man and his lunch.  (You can see the construction worker to the far right of the photo.)

Bike rack in a beautiful city - and Sydney is really stunning - probably garners four bicycles, but I'm gonna knock it down one for my inability to drag bike rack into a better shot.

THREE bicycles out of four.  Suck it up next time, Iskandar.

Patriotic and stately in Scranton, PA

Well, it's January - and while there may not be any major national holidays happening right now, I think we could all use a little bit of patriotism to brighten up the day.

Via some seriously blinding lights.  C.Welker certainly knows how to make a political event feel like a rock concert.  Add flags, blue P/D and

Anyway, this is in Scranton, PA, home of the fictional Dundler Mifflin, the not-so-fictional Poor Richard's Pub and those Lackawanna Mines.***

Pretty awesome, no?  Bike rack, at it's stately best.
Easily FOUR bicycles out of four.

***I'm still annoyed that the tours for the mines were closed when I last visited.  One day, my dreams will come true. 

Old-world bike rack Jerusalem-style

Well, happy new year people.  Sorry it's been awhile for all five of you who read this blog, but I'm still working off that NYE hangover (it was a doozy).  So, back to business.  The business of bike rack.

Time to get over my slacker start.  First up on deck - S. Thomas has sent a veritable plethora of photos of the various bike rack from Jerusalem.  Lots of variety, and lots of interesting features!  And, lots of old-world charm, right down to the Hebrew lettering and the dark-gray patina as seen on the bike rack above.  I realize that no, this form of barricade hasn't been around since the Old Testament, but it certainly doesn't feel out of place in this photo. 

One observation - in a majority of the photos sent in by S., the bike rack is riding solo or maybe with one other buddy to hang out with.  Kind of weird? 

Anyway, back to the weathering of this bike rack.  It's not exactly new or shiny, and it has this feel to it.  Sort of like John Wayne - tough, grizzled and world-weary.  Like it's saying "I've seen some stuff."  And being in Israel, I'd believe it.  

A few more photos to begin the new year - I wasn't kidding about the variety here. 

A little more Hebrew - anyone care to translate? - and check out the fancy kickstands on these babies.  It's almost decorative and architectural at the same time. 

And, another lone star here (I'm really stretching out the John Wayne today, sorry).  And in blue!  And with a weird panel thing on it!  And, maybe even made of plastic!  This, folks, is a BRATW firstie.   

Seriously, this place has more kinds of bike rack than religions claiming a base in the Holy Land.  That's a LOT of bike rack.

Old-world bike rack with a possible new-world plastic spin: THREE bicycles out of four.

Up next: bike rack down under!