The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Related Content

• God and Man in Edina.
• Tweak Locally, Think Globally
• Nurses, diesels and douchiness
• How to Buy a New Car
• Holiday Trey: Too Much LeBron

...and in the same breath--the Prius, indisputably an automobile for ryhmes-with-wussies...

If only for the simple fact that buying "green" right now is just plain dumb. And please, before you cleanse your computer screen with Mommy's blood-decorated stole, consider these three logical points:

a) With a hybrid you are buying into a somewhat untested technology that is merely fashionable at the moment.

b) You are buying at a ridiculous premium.

c) If you buy a diesel you are still polluting more than a gas engine, and your Crocs just won't cut it at the average truck stop where you'll have to buy your gas (neither will your Mercedes E320 Bluetec*.)

If unassailable intelligence fails you, then realize by overpaying for "green" you are giving up a cool $5000.00 (at least) that you could use for these really hot bicycles:

1) The latest iteration of the Trek Madonne series.

2) The Specialized Robauix series.

3) Anything by Cervelo'.

4) Anything by Bianchi.

If you really want to fight global warming, then ride one of these to work.** They are available at Penn Cycle, Erik's, or Kenwood Cyclery, and now is the perfect time to buy 2007 close-outs.

Unless you weasel out of it.

*Valliant effort by Mercedes and I love the torque, but, as yet, unproven in the USA as they just don't drive that far in Europe.

**And buy a nice gas-only econobox with some style like the Honda Fit, the new Mistubishi Lancer Ralliart or the new SEMA Chevy HHR panel van (cooler than the Mini Clubman and much faster, hence cooler...).