Looking for an exotic new vegetable? How about trying RUBARB: Rusted Up Beyond All Recognition Bikes.

I like the idea of a place where anybody can go to learn how to \”tinker\” a bicycle. I know that I have 99.9% of how-to-work-on-a-bike to learn; so RUBARB ought to be a good place for me.

In the book, Every Woman\’s Guide to Cycling, there\’s a chapter entitled, \”Get Your Hands Dirty\”. A couple of visits to RUBARB would be a great opportunity to do just that; and with somebody on hand (no pun intended) to talk me through things — and to come to the rescue if I goof up.

Our local RUBARB is in an area of town unfamiliar to me; and it\’s far enough from home and work that I\’ve never tried to go there. I also am still not comfortable riding alongside heavy traffic, which I\’d probably be doing if I tried to go to RUBARB.

According to the directions I found on Google Maps, it would take the better part of an hour to get there by bicycle. The distance itself is quite manageable; but as I just said, dodging traffic gets quite nerve-wracking.

I\’m sure New Orleans doesn\’t have a monopoly on such programs. Maybe your home town has something similar to RUBARB.  Indianapolis, for example. Or Seattle.

So have a look around your local \”garden\”, and see what\’s out there. You might find an exotic new vegetable!