FIVE THINGS WITH CYCLIST, MOM AND FOOD POLICY EXPERT ELISA MUÑOZ
FIVE THINGS is a weekly feature on the Banjo Brothers Blog. It’s a short interview about life and bicycles with a notable person. This week’s FIVE THINGS is with cyclist and food policy expert Elisa Muñoz. We first met Ms. Muñoz when she co-founded the Bici Bicycle Cooperative in Birmingham, Alabama and when she was the co-author of the popular (and since retired) cycling blog, Bikeskirt. Easy and equal access to cycling was and still is a goal of the co-op. A relatively new Mom, and now a New Orleans resident, Muñoz and her young son are starting to get back into cycling. We are pleased to present his week's edition of FIVE THINGS.
BANJO BROS: WHAT ARE YOU RIDING?
EM: Currently I’m mainly riding my commuter bike, a Schwinn Cream Cruiser I bought a few years ago to handle New Orleans roads after my favorite bike kept getting messed up. It’s not my favorite bike, but it gets the job done and didn’t cost much. My most favorite is my classic Bottechia named Freddy Mercury, but he has been sitting in the shed for a year, sadly.
BANJO BROS: WHERE ARE YOU RIDING?
EM: Right now, we are riding to Mardi Gras parades! We live close enough to the parade route that biking is perfect and makes for a quick and easy parking search and getaway. I carry our one year old, Rowan, on the Yepp front seat and the supplies in our trust Banjo Brothers panniers or backpacks. I hope to start biking with Rowan to daycare soon.
I’ve also been a little hopeful. I’m raising a white boy, so the opportunity to change the racism and patriarchy that is so pervasive is in my hands, at least in a small way. So we have to work hard. It’s hard work, but it’s meaningful and it’s hopeful.
BANJO BROS: WHAT LISTENING TO?
EM: I love podcasts and listen to them every day during office hours (I work from home, so it’s nice to have voices around!) and at night before bed. Currently really into Heaven's Gate. Some in everyday rotation are Invisibilia, Hidden Brain, The Splendid Table, and Death, Sex and Money. My reading has slowed since having a kid, but I try to stay into one book at all times. Recently read "The Hate U Give" and it was enjoyable and eye-opening.
BANJO BROS: WHAT ARE YOU COOKING/EATING/DRINKING?
EM: King Cake! And a lot of Instant Pot recipes because Mardi Gras + work + toddler doesn’t leave a ton of time for gourmet meals.
BANJO BROS: WHAT'S STUCK IN YOUR CRAW?
DM: Where to start? Honestly, I am operating with a constant underlying rage right now. Rage about the current administration who seems to not give a sh*t about humanity, rage about the patriarchy and the damage it has done, rage at the way women and mothers are treated, rage at how climate change is ruining Louisiana but we don’t seem to care, rage at the growing societal dismissal of facts, and on and on. I’ve also been a little hopeful. I’m raising a white boy, so the opportunity to change the racism and patriarchy that is so pervasive is in my hands, at least in a small way. So we have to work hard. It’s hard work, but it’s meaningful and it’s hopeful.
MORE ABOUT THE FIVE THINGS INTERVIEWS FROM BANJO BROTHERS
A big Banjo Bros. thank you to Elisa for participating in this week's edition of Banjo Brothers' Five Things. These short interviews about life and bicycles will appear every Friday on the Banjo Brothers Blog. If you liked this FIVE THINGS from Banjo Brothers you should check our our full series of past five things interviews.
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Use the contact form on our website to send us a note. See you next Friday. Also, since you're here, we do need to mention, Banjo Brothers makes a whole line of tough, practical and affordable gear for cyclists. Thanks for reading.