The New York Times recently published an article about Cormac McCarthy's Olivetti typewriter which he bought for $50 in 1963 in a Tennessee pawnshop. He has written Pulizer Prize winning books and many other manuscripts on this simple machine. His original Olivetti will be auctioned at Christie's and he has replaced it with another Olivetti for $11 plus $19.95 shipping and handling.
Like McCarthy's Olivetti, so much of what is produced by a bike comes directly from the user without making overly technological demands or chaining us to expensive and destructive forces. For instance, the bicycle is simple enough (and yet incredibly efficient) to be worked on by everyone--albeit some slower than others, but still...you don't need a PhD or a ton of money to maintain a bike. And it is a truly democratic machine in that it to ride and maintain a bike does not cause the owner to go broke and it does not make life unbearable for other people in either local or distant places (i.e, pollution, war, traffic congestion, debt, etc).
Long live low tech!
Hey lady! I just wanted to let you know that my surgery and subsequent reduction in internet access left me unable to respond to most of your posts but I'm still reading and loving your blog!
ReplyDeleteHey RJ! I have been keeping up with your healing process--it's good to know you are doing well. I have been inspired with these topics lately....maybe it is the winter riding?! :-D
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