Wow, it’s 2024.
Welcome to the long run!
In the event you had requested me once I was 16 yr previous what 2024 could be like, I’d have stated we’ll be residing in some kind of Orwellian dystopia wherein fact now not exists, omnipresent screens fill us with worry to be able to management our ideas and actions, and freedom is a grimy phrase. However thank Lob that’s not how issues have turned out:
Paradoxically, it seems all of the bands I listened to again then received it precisely proper, solely whereas they had been pointing and yelling in a single path all of the dystopian stuff really got here from the opposite path they usually by no means even noticed it coming:
Humorous how that works.
Nonetheless, I be ok with 2024 in the identical approach I do a few actually large sandwich: certain, generally it’s possible you’ll assume you’ll by no means end it, and it could even reduce up the roof of your mouth a bit of bit, however in the end it’s going to be tremendously satisfying, and it goes very well with coleslaw, pickles, and potato chips.
And even when you don’t purchase into New Yr’s resolutions and all that crap there’s a particular significance to the bicycle you select in your New Yr’s Day experience. It’s a image of your hopes, and your beliefs, and your expectations for the yr forward. This was the bike I selected:
I wish to assume it means I’m embracing each simplicity and the truth that I’m getting older, nevertheless it most likely simply means I’m changing into extra obstinate and contrarian because the years go by, and by New Yr’s Day 2040 I strongly suspect I’ll be using a pennyfarthing:
Other than the precise bicycle and possibly the crotchal bulge, if that rider had been to indicate up on the 2024 Nutmeg Nor’easter there’s nothing about him that anyone would discover outstanding in any approach.
However whereas total I’m optimistic about 2024, I’m not so certain that e-bikes are a vibrant spot:
Alas, what have we achieved to the poor bicycle? It’s a machine so astoundingly environment friendly that it even gave Steve Jobs a boner:
Whereas all of the little refinements over the previous century or so have been good it actually wanted little to nothing in the best way of precise enchancment. However, to be able to make bicycles barely simpler to experience we’re now strapping costly, simply stolen, and doubtlessly flammable batteries to them, which is right in a dense city atmosphere like New York Metropolis:
Little doubt some e-bikes are higher than others, however these Rad Energy ones certain appear particularly incredible. Sure, not solely can you employ a clean key to take away the battery from them:
However apparently you should utilize absolutely anything:
And the extra I examine them from happy house owners, the higher they sound:
After all, when you’re going to place a battery and a motor in your bike, you may as nicely put a automobile horn on there too:
After that, all you really want are a pair extra wheels, 4 doorways and a roof.
By 2050 the bicycle will simply be an electrical Mannequin T. I assume that’s the thought. Slowly section out vehicles whereas concurrently turning the bicycle right into a automobile. Nothing will really change, however not less than we’ll get to say our streets are lastly car-free.
