for the love of bikes

Greek goodness @ SOUVLAKI GR

2012-01-20T21:25:00.000-05:00

Food + bike combined! Loved spotting this glowing '79 Schwinn last night in front of SOUVLAKI GR's Lower East Side brick and mortar outpost. I always find it nice to see little white lights still up post-Christmas.

+ if you've never tried their Greek Fries... they are AMAZZZZING!

pencil it in... 2012 Bike Rides in/around NYC

2012-01-19T08:10:00.006-05:00

one beautiful bike calendar

The list below was originally compiled by Glen, from NYC Bicycle Shows, of 2012 popular recreational rides in the NYC area... I've added a bit to it and plan to keep updating. Let me know if you know of anything that should be added below!

♥ 2012 BIKE RIDES IN/AROUND NYC ♥

February 26

SPIN-FOR-SIGHT

http://usheriii.org/index.php

Spin-a-thon, exclusively benefiting research for Usher Syndrome Type III hosted by Rebecca Alexander at The Sports Club/LA Upper East Side

May 5

The 14th Annual Blessing of the Bikes

www.bicycleshows.us

Ride to this FREE EVENT at St. John the Divine in NYC

May 6

BIKE NEW YORK/The Five Boro Bicycle Tour

www.bikenewyork.org

40 mile, all five boroughs + traffic-free ride for 32,000 cyclists

May 12

2nd Annual Tour de Staten Island
http://tourdestatenisland.org

18 mile ride by Transportation Alternatives

May 20

The Bloomin’ Metric

http://www.soundcyclists.com/BloominMetric.htm

25 - 62 mile ride options along scenic roads of Fairfield County Connecticut

May 20

Bike MS: Traffic Free Ride

www.nmssli.org

13 mile ride through the Massapequa Preserve

June 3

8th Annual Tour de Brooklyn
http://tourdebrooklyn.org

18 - 20 mile ride by Transportation Alternatives

June 3

6th Annual Ride the Ridge Bike Challenge

http://www.ridetheridge.org

5 - 50 mile ride options in Stone Ridge, NY benefiting the new High Meadow Performing Arts Center

June 3

Bike Boat Bike

www.sbraweb.org

25, 50, 65, 106 and 137 mile options ending in Long Island's East End

June 3

Tour de Cure NYC

http://tinyurl.com/7zsc8e9

7 - 100 mile ride options, 100 mile ride ends at Bear Mountain benefitting the American Diabetes Association

June 8

Bike to the Beach NY

www.biketothebeach.org

100+ mile ride benefitting Autism Speaks from Union Square, NYC to Westhampton Beach, NY

June 8, 9, 10

Get Your Guts In Gear

http://www.ibdride.org

150 mile ride through the Hudson River Valley to raise funds and awareness for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

June 16

Ride to Montauk

www.bicycleshows.us

30, 70, 100, 145 mile ride options

June 24

Discover Hudson Valley

www.bikenewyork.org

15 to 100 mile ride options in the Hudson Valley

June 24

Nassau to Suffolk Bicycle Challenge

www.n2sbc.org

25, 50, 62 mile ride options on North Shore's Western Long Island benefitting the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center

July 8

5th Annual Tour de Queens
http://www.tourdequeens.org
18 to 20 mile ride exploring northeastern Queens organized by Transportation Alternatives

July 15

Mansion Ride for Autism

www.MansionRide.com

16, 40, 62 mile ride options only Long Island's North Shore

July 22

Harlem Valley Rail Ride

http://Harlemvalleyrailride.com

25, 50, 75, 100 mile options

July 27, 28, 29

The Farm Ride(s)

www.thefarmride.com

In and around Amherst, MA

August 18

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée

http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/randonnee.html

64 - 160K ride options celebrating 300 years of carriage roads in Franklin County, MA

August 26

The Ninth Annual North Fork Century

www.northforkcentury.com

25, 50, 70, 100 mile options on Long Island

September 2

The Golden Apple

http://www.westchestercycleclub.org

In and around Westchester, NY

September 9

23rd Annual NYC Century Bike Tour

http://www.nyccentury.org/
15 - 100 mile ride options -- the only "urban" century tour in the U.S., the NYC Century is Transportation Alternatives' premier annual bike-event.

September 9

Bike MS: East End Ride

www.nmssli.org

25, 50, 75 and 100 mile route options ending in Southampton, NY

September 21, 22, 23

Braking the Cycle -- Boston to New York

www.brakingthecycle.org

10th anniversary of Braking the Cycle, benefiting the HIV/AIDS services of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Fully-supported, 3-day ride from Boston to New York City

September 22

ESCAPE NEW YORK

enyinfo@nycc.org

50, 65 or 100 mile ride options from Manhattan into Bergen and Rockland counties hosted by the New York Cycle Club

September 23

Cycle For Life

http://manhattan.cff.org/cycleforlife

32 - 62 mile ride options around Brooklyn benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

September 23

Tour of the Hamptons

www.massparkbikeclub.org

25, 50, 70, 100 mile options fundraising for Make-A-Wish Foundation

September 29 @ 11:59PM

Bike the Night -- The Night Ride

www.bikethenight.com

Evening long ride on the Long Island Sound ending at the beach -- at dawn!

September 30

Bike New York Twin Lights Rides

www.bikenewyork.org

30 - 100 miles tour through the back roads of Monmouth County, NJ

September 30

Bike MS New York City

bikeMS@msnyc.org

30, 50 or 100 miles including the FDR and West Side Highway

October 5

Seagull Century

www.seagullcentury.org

100 mile ride along the scenic roads of Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties benefitting Women Supporting Women, Habitat for Humanity and the Alzheimer’s Association

October 14

Bike the River Valley

www.biketherivervalley.com

30, 70, 100 mile options in Hudson River Valley

October 21 (TENTATIVE)

Tour de Bronx

http://tourdebronx.org

Organized by Transportation Alternatives


Cycle EXIF Bicycle Calendar 2012 ... thirteen of the world’s most beautiful custom bicycles, from builders including Bishop Bikes, Feather Cycles, Icarus Frames, Fast Boy Cycles, Pereira Cycles and Stanridge Speed.

chest of drawers by Raphaëlle Bonamy

2012-01-18T07:19:00.000-05:00

French designer Raphaëlle Bonamy created this column of drawers which integrates the ♥ bicycle-chain ♥ as the pulley mechanism to open and close each compartment. I also love how this totally evokes an image of a tall jewlery box overflowing with necklaces. Check out the video below...

via Daily Tonic

Fyxation Pedal and Strap review

2012-01-12T07:23:00.001-05:00

I did a review of Fyxation's Gates Pedals and Straps for the website Commute By Bike... here's the link!

lovely links

2012-01-11T14:00:00.003-05:00

In time for Valentine's Day... this nice little design comes as a set of two (temporary) tattoos. Available at Tattly and designed by Jennifer Daniel. via SwissMiss

Downton Abbey's bicycles in 1917

2012-01-10T21:51:00.005-05:00

I was pretty thrilled to finally watch the beginning of Downton Abbey's second season last night -- along with many many others on this side of the pond! It was equally nice to see bicycles making an appearance in daily life in England during WWI... from the postman to Lady Edith.

how to/how not to lock up your bike

2012-01-09T08:18:00.004-05:00

"auxiliary cable" mistake

It never ceases to amaze me how often you can spot an improperly locked up bicycle in NYC... or the remnants of a bicycle theft. I spotted that cut Kryptonite cable above in SoHo right after hearing about the same thing happened in Union Square from a friend.

I love this video from Streetfilms in which Hal from Bicycle Habitat does a hilarious -- and very good job -- at running through how to properly lock up. He's been a bike mechanic in NYC since the 70's and knows all the tricks of the trade including one of my favorites, strategically epoxying ball bearings...

Hal Grades Your Bike Locking 3: The Final Warning!

lovely bike friendly knit gifts

2012-01-04T08:12:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a very sweet and crafty friend, this holiday I received this wonderful set... a knit cable headband (perfect under my bike helmet) and crochet cotton washcloth accompanied with lavender face + body wipes (to use once I arrive to the office). What perfect gifts for cyclist!

♥ Merci, Evelyne ♥

bike light writing

2012-01-02T15:07:00.001-05:00

Check out this nice holiday greeting from San Fran-based Mission Bicycle Co. -- created with none other than a bike light!
Simple yet so magical... also here's a little history on light drawings including more beautiful and inspiring images by Man Ray and Picasso.

Thanks, Jefferson!

wishing you a lovely holiday

2011-12-23T22:06:00.000-05:00

What an awesome year it has been! Alas I'll return in 2012 with more cycling love... until then you can get psyched about the new year (and as of today register for the next D2R2 among other rides)!

City Bakery's Holiday Cheer

2011-12-19T08:09:00.001-05:00

The City Bakery's 'bicycle-powered rickshaw' fleet got into the spirit of the holidays with these tiny Christmas trees. Note the ornaments include their famous pretzel croissants!!! Spotted these two parked on 18th Street yesterday.

+ NYC cyclists (and skateboarders), don't forget to show the cashier your helmet at City Bakery/Birdbath Bakery to get a 20% discount! A beautiful bike friendly business model ♥

sweet little holiday packages

2011-12-19T07:38:00.001-05:00

A colleague gave a couple of us in the office who bike these beautiful little bird adorned bike-centric packages. So sweet!

Thanks, Laren!

Fifth Avenue's Holiday Windows + bicycles (naturally!)

2011-12-10T13:41:00.003-05:00

David Byrne's high heel bike rack at 5 Ave. and 48th St.

Last Wednesday, after watching a screening of the new and fantastic French silent film The Artist at The Paris Theatre, the holiday window displays along 5th Ave were awaiting me. If anything, the heavy wind and rain that evening made for even more beautiful reflections and no crowds!

First off, Saks Fifth Avenue's windows never disappoint. This year their kinetic installation features a spiky stiletto wearing mannequin pealing her way seamlessly from window to window on a high wheel style bicycle!!! So super awesome. I simply don't know why I didn't take advantage of my phone's video function?!?

In the window at Gucci an Italian bicycle and (high) fashion brand collaboration... the single-speed leather and chrome detailed "Bianchi by Gucci"...

Okay, so while not bicycle related, a few others... Bergdorf Goodman's life sized animal themed windows which are so incredibly detailed they are worth a lengthy visit to take it all in. Here is just a snippet...

Louis Vuitton opted for a non-holiday circus theme while taking advantage of their two story vitrines...

And the fabulous carousel theme at Tiffany's - so incredibly dreamy and well executed...

shoe covers to the rescue

2011-12-07T08:10:00.000-05:00

Last night's rainfall had me pulling out my wind/water proof Louis Garneau shoe covers... though designed to fit over cycling shoes, I'm continually amazed how well they work on top of just about any shoe in my closet!

They've been so versatile that I've been keeping them tucked away in my bag -- along with my gloves and tool/patch kit.

via DC: (coloured) paper clip bike racks

2011-12-06T22:01:00.003-05:00

My friend, brewer extraordinaire, Nathan sent this over to me -- new bike racks at the corner of 21st and L in DC! Can't help but love these racks which reminded me of these around here.

All this ample bike parking would make most NYers super jealous (there's even a naked standard city rack in the distance). People - take advantage of downtown parking and get riding!

via Turin: cheerful flowers

2011-12-06T08:06:00.001-05:00

Especially with Winter Solstice around the corner, I can't help but smile whenever spotting a flowering bike basket. A reader from Turin, Italy shared this photo of a bike they pass by everyday. So seasonally unappropriated - love it!

Grazie, Simone.

sparkle on: glitter and cycling unite

2011-11-29T07:51:00.002-05:00

'Tis the season for... SPARKLES! I just adore the abundance of little lights and glitter during the holiday season and thought I'd share a few items which caught my eye:

Nutcase Street Helmet in Silver or Gold Sparkle via PUBLIC Bikes / Glitter Handlebar Grips from LightenUpBikes / Vintage Vinyl Glitter Bicycle Tool Bag on EBay /and my current obsession with glitter nail lacquer... chunky and micro glitter in one by OPI for SEPHORA

going local: 718 Cyclery

2011-11-23T22:44:00.002-05:00

If you haven't yet visited 718 Cyclery's new home in Brooklyn (3rd Ave. corner of Union) you simply MUST! Not only is Joe an incredibly nice guy (along with his friendly staff) but his new shop is HUGE, well stocked, includes a nice sitting area, has rental bikes, is open until 8pm most days of the week, and continues to offer collaborative builds. The new space also home to maintenance and safety classes, a Do It Yourself (DIY) Bench, and bike boarding if you are lacking indoor winter storage. You can even rent out the space for your own event... umm, if I hadn't eloped years ago I would totally entertain the idea of getting married here!

Seriously, could you ask any more from a bike shop?!

And... with Black Friday almost upon us, don't underestimate how important is it to SHOP LOCAL and support brick and mortars like 718.

While I was incredibly sad when he moved the shop out of his original Park Slope spot (around the corner from my place) -- it was totally for the best.

daytripping: Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

2011-11-20T19:01:00.001-05:00

Prospect Park West

These sunny and mild-weathered weekends have been simply amazing. Couldn't believe I had yet to discover something in Prospect Park (having lived in Park Slope for over 7 years) -- but, alas there was! Last weekend we stumbled upon the Lefferts Historic House Museum just off the road/bike path loop, tucked away near the carousel near the Flatbush/Ocean Ave. entrance. If your ever looking for a pit stop while on a leisure ride in Prospect Park, I recommend...

The Lefferts Historic House is one of the few remaining Dutch settlement period farmhouses in Brooklyn. Built in 1783 the house serves as a museum which has furnished period rooms and activities that reflect daily life in the 18th and 19th century. The grounds outside the house includes brick oven, a garden with common crops, and this awesome traditional Wigwam which the Lenape Tribe would use to house 1-2 families (from 900-1700). This one was built by students using local saplings...

Being a fan of quilting, it was serendipity that our visit to the Lefferts House coincided with their 20 year anniversary quilt exhibition...

You can also check out these quilts, along with many more, when they move to Prospect Park's Audubon Center Boathouse for a reception and raffle on Saturday, December 10th from 4-6pm.

While there, we just had to pop in to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (across the street) to check in on the magnificent bonsai trees...

i heart my winter commute: a guide

2011-11-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

Check out my post Sucking It Up in Winter on Commute By Bike... and BRING ON winter!

A note to those you may be intimidated and feel they have to get all geared out to cycle through it all... you shouldn't! Try different things out on short trips to see what works for you. And while I personally opt to wear mostly "performance" apparel/gear in cold climate, you def. can get along without. When I started commuting year-round as a university student I just had a pair of ski gloves, waterproof rain jacket, army surplus rain pants, and wore plastic bags on over socks in my shoes. Really.

And for those of you who have a system down, it would be great to hear about it!

yet another reason why I love my Ortlieb (in the rain)

2011-11-17T08:29:00.000-05:00

In last night's downpour I had no place to add a second rear light (due to my detachable fender and rain jacket) but ended up keeping the light on *inside* the bag and it surprisingly shined right through! Granted my Knog Boomer Wearable was not as bright as it is on its own (though it had a great diffused effect) and it would be preferable that the backpack had a little tag on the outside so you can just clip on a light...

But while on the topic of my Ortlieb Velocity Backpack... it really is a utilitarian dream. Reliably waterproof, durable, comfortable, comes in that screaming yellow (though I so want one in white, mine was a hand-me-down), has a super high capacity, and comes with a great little snap in pouch inside to help keep you organized. Can you tell how much I love my "Banana Bag" -- a name it inherited from my co-workers?!

sidewalk smash up

2011-11-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

A sad, yet common, sight... evidence of why not to lock up on the outside of a street pole.

Stumbled upon this bike in SoHo but it happened to a co-worker last month in front of our office by a UPS truck. Its pretty safe to say that it is worth going out of your way to always park on the inside (sidewalk side) of poles.

deconstructed: Jacques Tati

2011-11-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

I love little (bike-centric) surprises... like this post card from the Museum of the Moving Image of French film director Jacques Tati. Thanks to my husband!

one fall day: bikes in SoHo

2011-11-08T08:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was one beautifully perfect crisp fall day -- a few snap shots while on my lunch break...

nice waterproof Amsterdam-stylin' panniers

love seeing a personal touch on this Kryptonite NY Chain cover

a Nantucket (pet) Bike Basket which they attached in reverse -- I'm guessing so they can easily hinge it open while on the bike rather then getting in front of the bike.

Also, couldn't resist these two wheelers...

... a single glove left behind

design hearts bikes: Charge Bikes @ The Conran Shop THIS Wednesday in NYC

2011-11-07T08:26:00.007-05:00

If your in NYC, join the preview party for Charge Bike's 2012 line of bicycles including their collaboration with Sir Terence Conran...

Wednesday, November 9th
Preview from 10am-6pm
The Conran Shop NYC -- lower level of the lovely ABC Carpet & Home
888 Broadway, between 18th and 19th Street

Charge's Creative Director/Brand Manager, Nick Larsen, who previously worked for Pashley Cycles, had the good design sense to do a collaboration with Sir Terence Conran (yes, Conran of The Conran Shop) on two "simple, practical, low maintenance, and affordable" bikes... the Conran X Charge Bikes Hob and Plug

... 2 bicycles which closely echo Conran's philosophy that good design gives you pleasure and improves the quality of all of our lives through products that work well, are affordable and look beautiful.

With a classic steel frame and 3 speed Sturmey Archer internally hubbed gears the ladies and mens bikes are design classics with an understated yet contemporary style . Fitted with Charge's multi-award winning saddles and with an upright riding position, the bikes are not only comfortable but practical and allow great control and visibility in urban environments.

While Charge Bikes has been around for a few years (mostly distributed widely in the UK, Japan, Korea, Europe, Australia and New Zealand) they just recently signed up with a major US retailer who will be selling a range of their city, single-speed, mountain, and cyclocross bikes -- so your likely to be seeing much more of them soon!

images via Charge Bikes

Oh, and did you see this great little peice about Sir Terence Conran's extraordinary 60 year career in the NYTimes T Magazine this weekend?!

at home: bike storage using IKEA and DELTA racks

2011-11-04T10:03:00.010-04:00

Over the years we've had a number of bikes come and go in our apartment but all in all there have never been fewer then five at a time -- hence the need for super compact bike storage. I am finally getting around to posting some photos of the set up in our living room for three of our nicest (as well as lightest)...

Fortunately we have a doorway we don't ever use which turned out to fit three of those super minimal Delta Leonardo Single-Bike Racks side by side! As for the assembly... using a 1.5" thick board which spanned the entire door frame, I screwed each hook 15" apart (center-to-center) which is the closest you'll likely get away with -- though partly depends on your handle bar style/width. Once the hooks were in place on the board, I pre-drilled the holes into the board, and used 4" long screws to anchor it into the wood framing of the door. Drilling directly into the wood door framing created a super secure attachment.

And to deal with the all the bike tools which were previously spread amongst two different toolboxes and under the sink storage bins -- I was able to consolidate almost everything into one of IKEA's "ALEX" drawer unit! It has six shallow drawers and comes with casters so you can easily wheel over your tools to wherever you please. Little enhancements I made included lining some of the drawers with industrial felt padding to help keep them in place and used some old petri dishes to keeps tiny parts organized. One thing I'm considering doing is reinforcing some of the drawer bottoms which are holding lots of tools since they began to bow a bit.

Spending the $161 ($14 (x 3) on hooks + $119 on drawers) was well worth it for space saving benefits!!! If you've come up with a crafty indoor bike storage option - do share!

For those of you who know me well, I know what your thinking... what happened to the Bike Utility Bench you designed? What can I say, there is really that much stuff to store at home -- and use the bench for larger items like extra helmets, gloves, accessories!

tuft love - DARGELOS' new reflective tassel

2011-11-01T21:46:00.000-04:00

DARGELOS (my awesome sister) recently added the sweetest accessory to their inventory... reflective Tufts which come in Antique Brass, Gunmetal or Rhodium hardware! They measure 3" in length and would make any zipper pull - be it on your jacket, sweatshirt, bag or purse - that much more special ♥

a transportation theme Hall-o-ween

2011-11-01T08:20:00.001-04:00

Last night's Annual Park Slope Civic Council Children’s Halloween Parade was packed with super adorableness and (kid friendly) fabulousness -- but I particularly loved all the transportation related costumes! Travel by land, air and water... from the kid as the Roosevelt Island Tram, to the terrifying ghosts on roller blades (who were moving too fast to take a photo) and those ghosts soaring above our heads, and the gigantic ship float, however... 'Best in Show' would go to the Brooklyn Bike Lane guy!!! Awesome - even the white lines appeared to be reflective!

happy (white-ish) halloween

2011-10-31T18:24:00.001-04:00

image via Mission Bicycles

A few timely mentions...

San Fransisco-based Mission Bicycles did a sweet post on a few ways to dress up the ol' two wheels for the occasion. Their website includes directions on a few tricks, including crafting wheel disc above.

Team Estrogen, one of my go to places for (womens) cycling apparel, is have a 'SPOOKY SALE' until midnight TONIGHT... 20% off any one item! What a good opp. to grab a pair of lobster gloves, shoe covers or even windproof thermal layer before it starts getting seriously cold.

And meanwhile on the East Coast, this past weekend's nor'easter left us a white coat... of snow! Little remained today but is was nearly a full on White Halloween in NYC -- meanwhile other parts of the country are still shoveling. Crazy. Sadly the wet heavy snow downed trees and branches all around here... including Prospect Park below. All this weather (tornado and hurricane) has really paid a toll on this city's trees.

Feats Per Minute spins... records

2011-10-28T09:01:00.001-04:00

Such a fun concept by group of Dutch designers -- who rigged up a record player onto a bicycle's rear wheel! Video below. As they point out, you need a steady cadence to have it properly play... oooh, they could partner up with BBOX Radio and broadcast a show with guests 'spinning' their favorite records!!!

More about the project via their website:

What if you would be able to generate music by the simple act of riding your bike? This project started with that question. We have build the first prototype and thanks to Jeffry Sol and Vincent Beijersbergen we were able to do so in a month. And yes it was pretty difficult, but loads of fun…. the idea is pretty simple; basically, a wheel and dynamo work the same way as a record player. But it was not as easy as it looks. First, we had to come up with a solution for the wheels; how can we change the records? The fork was blocking the wheel. That’s why we changed a 30 year old bike into a lefty bike; and build a construction that would still support the weight and would be strong enough for people to ride on it. The biggest challenge of all was to make sure that the needles would stick to the record and follow the grooves, without skipping too much. Therefor we bought two vertical record players and took them apart, to see how they worked. Also; we wanted our bike to be as low tech as possible; that’s why the only “extra” energy we used was a 9 volt battery to support the amplifier. In order for the records to run smoothly, we also had to change the crank of the bike and the chain. After that, we build our own horn, to have some extra volume, and we sprayed the whole bike black. We had some sponsors like bike stores, handy people and DJ’s and that’s how our dream in progress turned out to be real… Here’s to the crazy ones; thank you guys, you rock. - Merel, Pieter and Liat

video via Adverblog / image source of record player
THANKS, Michiyo!

gearing up for post-summer rain

2011-10-21T08:27:00.003-04:00

Ortlieb / Performance Ripstop Rain Pants / Loeffler Randall rain booties

Unlike warm summer rain falls, when one can dry off easily wearing shorts and sandals, last Wednesday's commute forced my rain gear favs out of the closet...

waterproof backpack by Ortlieb I never ever worry about water getting into my Ortlieb Velocity. No exterior pockets or zippers - just a simple top loading bag with a roll top (and a very convenient pouch that snaps inside for your cell phone and such).

rain paints from Performance (on sale right now for $29.99) There are few things worse then arriving to work after riding through the rain in completely drenched clothes - which is why rain pants rock. Yes, you can't care too much about what you look like in them but they are SO EASY to throw on top of whatever pants (or tights) your wearing that day and have articulated knees making it easier to pedal. I have a black version but love this version in HELLO yellow!
rain booties I was so excited when Loeffler Randall came out with these slip-on versions of their rain bootie. Reminds me of my father's galoshes. But these are so cute they can be worn even on a sunny day! The 35mm wedge also gives you a little lift. If the price tag scares you, Jeffrey Campbell makes a similar version I spotted on Refinery 29.

clear rain jacket by Louis Garneau An awesome option at about $24 -- made translucent to keep racers jersey sponsor logos visible, but also allows your rear red light on your belt loop to shine through! Since it's waterproof, if you perspire there will be condensation but the mesh sections help with ventilation. I have an older version made of PVC but these days they're made of EVA -- a waterproof material that contains neither cadmium nor lead.

And a rainy day item I have on my wish list...

helmet cover by Louis Garneau Visibility in the rain is difficult - whether your cycling, walking or driving THUS I try to always have my front and rear blinking lights on. The icing on the cake would be this bright helmet cover which would also keep my hair dry, like Matthew's!

happy riding - rain or shine

view from a Manhattan Bridge bike commute: UVA for The Creators Project

2011-10-18T08:31:00.001-04:00

This photo is one of the reasons why I bike - just can't get enough of magnificent views and serendipitous moments. For the past few evenings, while biking over the Manhattan Bridge's south side bike path, you've been able to get a glimpse of magnificence... not only of the glowing Brooklyn Bridge and Jane's Carousel (the glass jewel box housing the newly restored 1922 carousel), BUT what really took my breath away was that red glow to the right. It's the view into open air Tobacco Warehouse where the UK collaborative UnitedVisualArtists (UVA) installed a gigantic interactive LED cubic sculture sponsive LED cubic sculpture as part of The Creators Project -- which hosted a bunch of live concerts last weekend in DUMBO. The photo above doesn't it do it any justice so check out THIS video!

image via thecreatorsproject.com

a minimal Bicycle Purse Rack

2011-10-14T09:50:00.000-04:00

When it comes to women and biking in the city, it's difficult to escape the issue of what to do when carrying a purse. I recently wrote about this very topic on Oregon Manifest's blog... and was very excited to come across this super simple spring loaded rack to keep your bag safe and secure! The Bicycle Purse Rack is an exclusive product of CycleChic in the UK and their sister site The Bicycle Muse in the USofA. It attaches to your handlebar stem with just 2 screws and bolts and is chrome plated steel to prevent rust. Pretty simple.

Now I haven't tested it out myself but I wouldn't go overboard and throw on my largest/heaviest bag (after all the rack itself is W: 22cm, H: 21cm, D: 13cm) but a medium sized one with the necessities should do fine. Plus, carrying an extra little bungee cord would not hurt!

Tulip Fun Fun - the bendable bike rack

2011-10-12T21:23:00.004-04:00

images via Keha3'

Just cracked open this week's New York Magazine and came across Keha3's 'Tulip Fun Fun' designed by Margus Triibmann. Yeah, FUN! The Estoni-based designer developed the rack from metal cable, covered rubber hose, and hot galvanized metal plate -- allowing you more options when locking up while also protecting your frame with it's rubber coating. Love imagining tons of these racks installed in the city, bending like wheat in a field. You know?! Well, anyhow, while looking at some of Margus' other designs, I recognized the 'Sea Buoy' which I've admired in the past for it's cleverness, 'vandal-proof/impact-proof housing', possible indoor/outdoor applications, and after all it's waterproof. While not bike specific, it would be awesome to carry around in your bike basket (like so)!

images via Keha3'

a DYI bike light in a pinch

2011-10-12T07:46:00.000-04:00

When leaving the office last night I realized I had not one bike light with me! Panic I did. Sure, I could have ran to the nearest bike shop but with a drawer full of bike lights at home and honestly do not need to add to that collection. There are a few things that I REALLY hate doing and one of those is biking (at night/dusk/dawn or in the rain) without my bike lights -- thus I started combing through my filing cabinet of oddities and fortunately found... a small yet powerful LED flashlight!

One light is better then none and since my commute route is hardly speeding car free I decided to rig up a rear red light with supplies around the office...
1. small flashlight
2. red film (which I used, but you can also turn any piece of white paper bright red with a red Sharpie)
3. clear tape
4. electrical tape
5. scissors

The clear tape helped secure the red film and electrical tape to secure the light onto my frame. Would have been awesome if the flashlight had a blinking mode -- but I'll be returning to my fav light set up tonight.

Oregon Manifest's Utility Bike Design Challenge glory

2011-10-11T08:26:00.003-04:00

Love looking through the results of Oregon Manifest's Design Challenge -- all the features frame builders incorporated in making the ultimate utility bike to encourage more people then ever to... bike! Loads of great ideas were presented -- I particularity enjoyed spotting U-lock slots integrated in the frames or racks, use of (Halo Coatings) patented retro-reflective powdercoat finish, accompanying bag systems, lockable storage compartments, double kick stands galore, three wheels for load distribution, considerations for carrying kids, and a sweet lil' sidecar.

If you haven't already, check out bike portraits of the winners, the people's choice award, and all the entries on Oregon Manifest's site and Core77's chronicles. As previously posted, Oregon Manifest real-life factor competition didn't solely judge on looks, nor the fact they had to incorporate urban necessities: anti-theft devices, fenders, lights, load-carrying capability, and a stand while parked, BUT were also judged on PERFORMANCE carrying a predetermined baggage load (including a mailing tube!) -- on a 50 mile road (and trail) course that looked like serious fun...

photos above from Core77's photo gallery

this one via QuixoteCycles by S Mirk

Dekalb Market - open air market of all things Brooklyn

2011-10-10T12:04:00.004-04:00

An empty lot + salvaged shipping containers + food vendors + design goods + a radio station... in downtown Brooklyn. A few weeks ago I rolled up to Dekalb Market on a Friday afternoon just before the evening commuters filed in and was happily surprised to find a number of interesting activities and vendors in the currently undeveloped lot at the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Willoughby which (someday, post-crisis) is destined to become the home to a high-rise. The space is so large it's also hosting events, workshops, has a farm and your likely to ask yourself, "Am I still in Brooklyn?!"

My friend Helene helped found BBOX Radio located in the market - they built out a container, fit out the space with equipment, crafted furniture, selected 20+ radio shows from an open call, and started streaming pre-recorded shows on their website. Loved hearing a live broadcast and watching the DJs through the containers glass windows.

The Pratt Design Incubator has a Pop-up shop which recently featured DARGELOS cycling accessories -- including the cool minimal Trans//Porter convertible tote/backpack which comes in this super nice bright red colour combo.

And the ever popular... Lightning Vest!

3RD Ward's 'ShopBox' had a few cyclist friendly products on display including the Mopha Tool Roll and TOPO's mountain-meets-city street Klettersack -- both below.

Depending on your culinary mood, you'll find a cup of Joe, Sour Puss Pickles, 'international soul food' at Mazie's among the food vendors...

Pretty brilliant idea -- hope this becomes a trend with more vacant lots!

upcoming Montreal workshop... biking while pregnant/with small children!

2011-10-08T12:50:00.003-04:00

spotted parked in Florence (Italia!) last winter

At this point in my life I have lots of friends with small children who are working on figuring out the whole biking with toddlers set-up. If your in the same boat and in Montreal... your in luck!

Saturday October 22nd, 10am-12pm

"Biking while pregnant/Biking with small children"

a FREE workshop/skill-share

hosted by QPIRG Concordia

1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, suite 204 (metro Guy-Concordia)

Do you ride a bike?

Are you having, or have you recently had, a baby?

Do you want to keep on riding your bike just the same, despite the disapproving looks or comments you're getting when you say so?

(or you're just not sure what - if anything - you should do differently when you ride.)

This workshop aims to:
-bust myths about the 'dangers' of biking through pregnancy
-share tips about biking safely, comfortably, and confidently throughout
your pregnancy
-discuss the ways to transport your little one(s) with you as you bike
-provide a space for parents & parents-to-be to connect and to chat about
biking with child

co-sponsored by: Right To Move/La voie libre, The People's Potato, Concordia University Student Parents Centre, QPIRG Concordia

Right To Move is a non-profit organization that was started in the spring of 1997 by a group from QPIRG-Concordia who believed bicycles are a form of transportation that should be available to all, regardless of gender, age, wealth or ethnicity. They were an awesome resource for me when I lived in Montreal in the late 90's and I'm so happy they are still going on strong!

flyin'

2011-10-04T21:53:00.000-04:00

While I don't sport much clothing that one may consider adventurous or daring... I do love dreaming. So when seeing this clog from Anthro (mighty reminiscent of Jeremy Scott's collaboration with Adidas last year) I couldn't help imagining cycling in them! They even have an ankle strap so they won't fly off.

Thanks, Rosie ♥

a bike's new life w/ a new rider

2011-10-04T21:23:00.001-04:00

Due to space constraints in our apartment and the recent increase in bike vandalism in my neighborhood, I forced myself to part with my Schwinn Suburban. It was difficult to say goodbye to the bike that got my through these past couple NYC winters -- but was thrilled to find it a perfect home!

Meet Nelly (above!)... she's a Brooklynite who hadn't rode a bike since childhood but wanted to start riding to her college campus and such. The moment she laid eyes on the Schwinn she said it was exactly what she had been looking for. Sweet! She was so excited that I threw in some essentials: helmet, bell, and rear red light. Nelly had a bunch of questions about staying safe, what's legal and not, good routes in Brooklyn... I also gave her the following advice -- two words little words that I think are key to cycling whether your on a bike path or city street:

be predictable.

Enjoy, Nelly!

Knog light bliss - a Boomer Rechargeable and Wearable review

2011-09-26T08:08:00.002-04:00

Knog, the Australian-based bicycle product company, sent me over some of their new bike lights to test out -- and they did not disappoint! Since it's (already) that time of year when the sun starts setting before I leave the office, I've been able to use them this entire month...

The Knog Boomer Rechargeable comes as both a front white light and a rear red light - and doesn't require a single battery, hence the name 'Rechargeable'. I just plugged it directly into a USB port -- more on that below. The lighting quality is superbly bright and was particularly impressed with the front light which reflected every street sign half way down the block on my commute home through Brooklyn ('up to 55 Lumens' as noted on their website). They also have 4 modes of lighting from HYPER blinking to solid. Although twice the price of their popular Frog Stobes you get more then twice the power ♥ hence more visibility ♥ and don't have to buy another bike light battery.

ready for my commute home

The Boomer comes in a silicone body which fits varying handle bars/seat tubes sizes and doesn't require permanent hardware -- once locked up I could easily grab them off my bike in seconds. The front light easily attached but I was a bit apprehensive with the way the rear light has a smaller fastener you have to make sure slides in - yet it never slipped off or loosened.

rear light recharging / lite up green when finished

So, more about the recharging process... these lights are smart little things. They have a built in warning system to let you when you are soon in need of a recharge and the USB plug is built into the light itself so you just have to slip off the silicon casing and plug it in vertically (I used my MAC desktop). I did notice that once plugged in, I had to push it side to side to make sure it maintained contact and make sure it was recharging. The rear light was easy to remove from the casing which peeled out like a banana while the front light took a little work to remove -- the best way was to push on the bottom to slide it up.

It just so happens that last year I bought another brand's rechargeable light but ended up pretty unhappy for two reasons: 1) in order to recharge it you needed to use a separate USB plug attachment that came with it but was so tiny I misplaced it for weeks; and 2) the bike attachment's Velcro strap, which I thought was nice and minimal, broke in half. I mention this since Knog's design doesn't have either of these issues. For weeks they've been reliable and easy to use + come in six colours so you can accessorize - and who doesn't like to have that option?! Silicone is a sticky material though I had no problem cleaning off grease (along with remnants from the bottom of my bag) by wiping them off with soap and water - after all, they're waterproof!

Also tested out their Boomer Wearable with an integrated clip ALONG with a removable magnetic plate which attaches to your clothing/bag (similar to my Flower Power reflectors) -- pretty freakin awesome! The magnetic strength was strong I was able to wear it on my canvas bag and would work great on a jacket. I actually ended up using the clip on my belt (mostly out of habit) but still found it to be one versatile light.

scenes from the Brooklyn Bike Jumble

2011-09-25T17:09:00.005-04:00

Yesterdays Jumble proved to be fun as always! DARGELOS was there with a nice new bright orange version of their belt/pouch (which I missed out on photographing). Some snap shots from the day...

found it hard to pass on this vintage saddlebag

Taliah Lempert's beautiful silkscreen (love that pattern with bike) / collection for Fishs Eddy / and a selection of her limited edition Japanese textiles

Cleverhood the new Rhode Island-based outerwear brand was on hand with a waterproof cape prototype - including nice reflective detailing on a woven version above

NYC's very own Flying Pigeon distributor

image via DARGELOS

some other spottings...

until the next Jumble... Spring 2012

a whole lot of BIKE LOVE happenings THIS WEEKEND

2011-09-23T11:09:00.025-04:00

An overview of this weekend's jam packed bicycle-centric agenda... yikes, rain is in the forecast -- do hope the weather holds out!

Brooklyn Bike Jumble
Saturday, Sept. 24th / 10am - 4pm
3rd-4th Street at 5th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn / Old Stone House at Washington/JJ Byrne Park
New York's only bi-annual cycling flea market with lots of bicycles, accessories and rare parts
Photos from the Fall 2010 and Spring 2010 Jumbles...

New York's Bike Share @ Fort Greene's Brooklyn Flea
Saturday, Sept. 24th / 12pm - 4pm
176 Lafayette Avenue / between Clermont + Vanderbilt
New York's Bike Share will have a model station set up on Lafayette where you can learn more about the concept, test ride, and grab some bike swag -- photos from last weekend's demo in DUMBO

Brooklyn Cruiser @ Williamsburg's SMORGASBURG
Saturday, Sept. 24th / 10am - 5pm
East River Waterfront (btw. North 6 + 7 St.)
New York's newest bike brand, Brooklyn Cruiser, will be on site with their Carroll Gardens Lady's Bike by Brooklyn Cruiser & Bedford Men's Bike by Brooklyn Cruiser for test rides and giveaways

NYCC's 17th Annual Escape New York
Saturday, Sept. 24th / day-of-registration opens 7am
An organized ride - straight out of Manhattan and into the beautiful West Hudson Highlands with 50, 65 or 100 miles routes, all beginning and ending at Sakura Park in Manhattan

DARGELOS @ DEKALB Market
Sunday, Sept. 25th / 11am - 7pm (but also open 7 days a week!)
Downtown Brooklyn / intersection of Flatbush Avenue Extension and Willoughby in Brooklyn -- here's a map
The new open air DEKALB Market is full of shipping containers-turned food vendors and shops... visit the Pratt Pop-Up! currently featuring cycling accessories by DARGELOS alongside designs by Alder & Shannon South
More about the DEKALB Market to come...

Am I missing anything?!

Lovin' the Sporting Life @ the Museum at FIT

2011-09-22T07:53:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of checking out not one but TWO fabulous fashion apparel/accessory exhibitions currently on view at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)...

Sporting Life (through November 5th) on the ground floor gallery, has over 100 garments on display demonstrating how "clothing for sporting activities has often influenced fashion -- and vice versa" from the Museum's permanent collection. Bicycling as a category is show along side sailing, swimming, golfing, skating, motoring, and hunting. It's always so cool when you come across designs from a century ago and they can look so contemporary!

from my sketch book (photo taking is not allowed)...
Bicycling Boots, 1898, USA -- with straps that buckled to prevent laces getting caught in the chain/gears and protect stocking from dirt while adding an element of modesty; and
Man's Cycling Shirt: red wool and Rhovyl 1971-72, France -- check out that collar(!), button details and front pocket

Secondly, though not bicycle/sport related, is the jaw dropping couture collection of Daphne Guinness on view through January 7th, 2012 on the lower level. The exhibition opened during NY Fashion Week and if your a fan of Alexander McQueen, Gareth Pugh, and daring fashion in general this is a MAJOR must see -- AND unlike the recent MET show, you won't have to wait in an insanely long line to get in to see McQueen masterpieces in person!

As always, the galleries at the Museum at FIT are free of charge to the public!

Sneak Peek... Test Riding the NYC Bike Share!

2011-09-20T08:19:00.006-04:00

This past weekend a spur of the moment visit to DUMBO proved to be VERY eventful with tasty treats at The Brooklyn Local, the opening of Jane's Carousel AND.... a demo of the newly announced NYC Bike Share system launching in Summer 2012!!!

Portland, Oregon-based Alta Bicycle Share, who will be operating the NYC Bike Share, was at the Manhattan Bridge Archway in DUMBO last Saturday with a sampling of their other successful city bike share bicycles from DC, Boston, Minneapolis, Toronto, Montreal, Melbourne, and London. The NYC DOT has not released the official look (colour/graphics) of the NYC bicycle as of yet, but the overall design/style/components will resemble other Alta models. These bikes are really sturdy machines with lots of great components built-in (and theft proof) and was totally excited to see for myself how the Toronto Bixi could handle DUMBO's cobble stone streets...

For starters, what to do with my purse? Easy! The bikes have these front racks with a built-in bungee cord which you can adjust using those little nubs. It was a perfect fit for my purse -- but not set up to bring home a load of groceries. Nor is there a rear rack - well at least currently!

While details have not been finalized, the NYC Bike Share (like other Alta city bike share systems) will just require a credit card which you can pay-as-you-go (for something like $6 a day) OR get an annual membership (for approx. $100) which would give you a key/card - that red thing above - and allow you to access any bike for 30-45 minutes easy-peasy. You'd just have to insert your key and the docking station releases the bike which you slide out and ride off -- and be just be charged for additional time.

Oh, and note those little red hexagons icons with a wrench... upon swiping your key and realizing you got a bike in need of a maintenance check of any kind you simply press the button on the docking station and it lets the system operators know it can be fixed -- it also keeps the bike locked into the docking station/rack so that someone else won't come along and get the pleasure of borrowing a problematic bike! In general, I was told at the demo that all the bikes get a maintenance about check every 5 weeks.

The moment I hopped onto the bike I totally felt like I was on a motorcycle - more then a bicycle! The handle bars had a lot to do with that -- they are wide and really easy to handle. It is also designed in such a way that it feels like you have a dashboard in front of you with a bell (!) on the left side and 3-gear (internal hub) shifters on the right side. The brakes could have been a little more responsive, but they did a fine job.

The bikes are fully loaded with features that make cycling in the city easy rain or shine... fenders, chain guard, grippy pedals for all types of shoes, skirt guard, and really wide knobby tires that could handle our cities largest pot holes with lovely reflective sidewalls! I've also heard that they'll have integrated front and rear lights - serious essentials.

I have to say, it was a smooth ride. Next time I'd like to have more time and test ride the bike over the Manhattan Bridge - but the three gears seem to give you a good range even if most of the city is flat as a pancake. If you missed last Saturday's DUMBO demo, there are many more demonstrations, open houses and workshops scheduled to take place this fall so you can test them out yourself!

More about the system via NYCityBikeShare.com...

NYC Bike Share will consist of 600 stations, 10,000 bikes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, potentially stretching to Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. It will be privately sponsored, privately launched and privately operated, with no public funding.

It’s more than just a different way to get to work. 54% of all trips New Yorkers make are less than two miles. Bike sharing is a great mobility choice for short trips that are too far to walk, but too short for a cab or subway ride.

The idea is really to help you out from point A to B. The bikes do not come with a lock which means you'd have to find a docking station to both pick up and drop off the bike -- hence the idea that there will be 600 stations in the city and the DOT is taking your suggestion for station locations. While there will be no doubt some growing pains associated with such a large scale addition to the city streets -- I CAN NOT WAIT for more NYers to open their eyes to the world on two wheels...

gold sprintin' / chevron stylin'

2011-09-18T18:07:00.003-04:00

"GOLD SPRINTIN' ", 24x18", black and metallic gold ink on white paper, 2011

Nice screen print by Sandra Fettingis for the recent ARTCRANK Denver 2011. So love how it reminds me of my chevron shoe covers...

And check out this ARTCRANK video -- about their awesome mission of throwing poster parties to raise funds for an organization that uses bicycles to make a difference in communities, help people live better lives, or just make the world a better place...

Thanks for sharing, Sandra!

Tour de Fashion IS ON: free bike share during NY Fashion Week

2011-09-10T12:11:00.023-04:00

So you've got until this Thursday, Sept. 15th (yeah, that's five more days, including today) to...

1) pick up a Tour de Fashion bicycle from one of two locations (just look for the bright yellow tents) -- you just show a drivers license and credit card but its free of charge at either locations (weekends 11am-6pm, weekdays 10am-6pm):
> Fashion District Station @ 40th + Broadway
> Meatpacking District Station @ W14th St. + 9th Avenue

2) ride the city streets on a one-of-a kind bicycle customized by a NYC fashion designer of your choice...

3) return the bike - after an hour of enjoyment and attention getting - to either the Fashion District or Meatpacking District Station!

This is such a fantastic project - at the very least stop by and check them out. I was in the garment district yesterday (sadly, having missed Betsy Johnson's roses-galore-bike, along with some others being borrowed) but got to take these snap shots...
(Oh, and if you re-publish, please let me know!)

Rebecca Taylor's fashionable freshness... flower box, sequin spoke flare, and python detailing...

Gretchen Jones' wood veneer lovers dream - crafted by Ben Wilkinson-Raemer - accessorized with an incredible arrow basket and pedals to accommodate your stilettos...

George (owner of Hudson Urban Bicycle shop + manager of the Tour de Fashion bike share operations) with Lela Rose's friendship bracelet-esque embellished frame (can't help but imagine it in reflective rope!)....

Elie Tahari's full on python skin...

Prabal Gurung's painterly floral...

Kaelen's handlebar plumage...

Nanette Lepore's dayglo, peacocky fender, spoke branding, and awesome big bow basket being ridden off...

Juicy Couture's bling bling (and cutest charm accessories)...

And to protect that noggin, you also get supplied with a helmet painted by Danielle Baskin...

for the love of kids (and parenting)

2011-09-07T08:19:00.001-04:00

photo I took of my friends kid ♥ trying on her father's helmet

Naturally most parents (and communities) aim to do the best they can to raise an independent, intelligent and compassionate kid. But, WOW, this recent article about a 'Tennessee Mom Threatened With Arrest For Letting Daughter Bike to School' on DC Streets Blog (via Treehugger) is pretty outrageous.

Funny timing since this past weekend Freakonomics Radio broadcasted 'The Economist’s Guide to Parenting'. Half way through the broadcast they dicuss how humans are terrible risk assessors. Sure parents want to keep their kids safe from most accidents, like being struck by lightening, getting kidnapped or even hit by a car -- even though the odds of these happening are unlikely. I just LOVE the advice given by Bryan Caplan on the broadcast where he says "if you find you worry about it, even though you know its not sensible... I recommend you go reading about how to cure yourself of anxiety problems rather then trying to take action to reduce this illusory risk"!

Also just recently, and randomly, came across the following article: Is Cycling Dangerous? on Ken Kifer's Bike Pages... here are some viable points it makes on Why Fear is Dangerous:

To some extent, this fear of cycling actually leads to additional deaths. For instance, parents do not instruct their children how to ride in the street, but instead they just tell them to "watch for cars" and "to get off the road." However, the day comes when these primitive rules aren't good enough, and the traffic report reads something like this: "The child was riding after dark without a light, on the wrong side of the road, and failed to stop for a stop sign. The motorist couldn't stop quickly enough." In fact, the majority of cycling deaths are accidents like this one; that is, the behavior of the bike rider made no sense at all.

Teaching the rules of the road, etiquette, and bicycle handling skills may be the best steps a parent can take to keep their kids riding... happily ever after.

change of season, in the air

2011-09-06T07:49:00.001-04:00

Marimekko Autumn/Winter 08/09

Labor Day in NYC yesterday had a very Fall feel to it... think it was the way the light hit more so then the temperature.

While going through some old magazines yesterday, I came across this photo from Marimekko's Autumn/Winter 08/09 catalog which really got me excited for all-things-Fall to come... woolens, gloves, boots and bikes. Amazing what a difference a day can make.

Bike the Night gets cancelled (another post-Hurricane Irene post)

2011-09-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

via nycbicycleshow.com

Just as I was all ready to share with you details on the upcoming Bike the Night ride, I sadly got the news the ride had to be canceled. The North Fork of Long Island is still dealing with clean up efforts due to ~~Hurricane~~ Tropical Storm Irene and is not permitting large organized bike rides since the streets won't be cleared in time... hence the photo below taken this week along the ride's route. Glen, the ride organizer had the following to say:

Believe me if you think that you're bummed out about the cancellations and I'm bummed out, imagine the crew at the Greenport Fire Department, who we hire to prepare our post-ride meal. They took the largest financial hit of everyone, and you know they would have moved forward with this if they could.


via nycbicycleshow.com

While Bike the Night (organized by the same nice people who host the North Fork Century and Ride to Montauk) won't be rescheduled this year, here's more about the ride just to ensure you get excited for next year's 72 or 50 mile route options which start at the traditional 11:59 pm(!)...

We’ll be in Orient NY out on the North Fork of Long Island. This is what the Hamptons must have once looked like -- farms, vineyards, small towns... start riding just before midnight and pedal under the stars on roads lit by a full moon. These are quiet back roads lined by trees and marsh grass. There’s a beautiful old lighthouse. Several beaches. Some special views of the water. By dawn we’ll be out at the beach where we’ll have breakfast (included in the price of the ride) before finishing our ride.

'til next year, North Fork...

by Steve Jones via bikethenight.com

Rockaway Beach post-Hurricane Irene

2011-08-31T08:18:00.002-04:00

Manhattan off in the distance

the bike path - covered

you can see that trucks have started to clean up

Rode down to the Rockaways, Queens (which had been partially evacuated) on Monday and took these pics. The beach itself appears to have lost an incredible about of sand and the bike path/boardwalk areas were covered making portions of it impossible to bike through. Even though the Rockaways is one of the most vulnerable areas in the city they weren't hit as hard from the Hurricane as predicted yet have a lot of clean up work and flooding to deal with. If you head down, your will likely come across some downed trees in the path...

on the way down - along side the Belt Parkway

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée, a.k.a. D2R2

2011-08-29T22:37:00.053-04:00

{UPDATE/STORM REPORT: August 31st}
Details below, but if you would rather make a donation to the "Green River Restoration Fund" electronically [here] by Sept. 11th. I just did.

{UPDATE/STORM REPORT: August 30th}
My original post is below, but I wanted to share the following message from D2R2 creator and manager, Sandy Whittlesey. Hurricane Irene sadly did a number on the roads, bridges, and beautiful land we cycled through. Please take a minute and consider making a donation in the rebuilding effort of this very special community - whether you rode or not...

All those pretty stretches of road along the water look like the rugged Maine seacoast, nothing but the biggest boulders and stones. We will post pictures in the coming days. The locals are already taking matters into their own hands, using their tractors to push fill into place. Entire families are on the river bed tossing stones up by hand to rebuild the roadbed!

The good news is that the Colrain Covered Bridge is intact, and the Green River Covered Bridge at the lunch stop still stands. Incredibly, (just imagine this picture) the water there came within two feet of the bridge deck, and the force of the water on the abutments made the whole bridge shake! But it held fast. Not bad for a stone and wooden structure built during the Civil War!

The park we use at lunch did not fare so well. It's under a foot of mud. The fences and retaining walls have been knocked down, the fish ladder is mucked up, and all the fill between the fish ladder and the side of the dam is gone. All told, it's about ten grand in damage.

I am thus appealing to riders to contribute to the reconstruction of the park. The neighborhood maintains everything with money out of their own pockets, and they just paid to have the dam area dredged last year. Even if you only send ten bucks, there were a thousand of you out there, I know we can do this!!

Please send donations to:
Green River Village Preservation Trust
Kim Hamilton, Treasurer
2014 Carpenter Hill Road
Guilford, VT 05301

shadow of Thule rack + frame while on the road

morning mist at 7:30am before starting the ride

Last Saturday this year's D2R2 ride took place as Hurricane Irene slowly headed up the East coast. It was my first trek up to Western Massachusetts for the ride so I would have been mighty sad had the weather infringed on the randonneuring fun! In case you not familiar with the ride...

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée was conceived in the 1990's as just a favorite dirt-road loop in the hilltowns of Franklin County, Massachusetts. Since its birth as an organized event in 2005, many have hailed D2R2 as the hardest, most beautiful, most fun, most traffic-free, most unique, and overall best ride that they have ever done. However, D2R2 will continue to maintain its original character as just a bike ride –
The courses will use the narrowest, oldest, twistiest, quietest, and most-scenic roads available.
A range of courses will provide access to novices as well as challenge the world's strongest riders.
D2R2 will never offer prizes for anything other than gags, nor will finish results ever be presented like it was a race.
Riders shall cover the course in a self-sufficient manner, without motorized crew vehicles.
The organization will put as much effort into its food offerings as it does the ride itself.
The event is a key fundraiser for the Franklin Land Trust's efforts to preserve land in the region, but the route sheets will always be available on its website for free.

iconic New England covered bridge at the lunch stop

the reason why I didn't ride with my 23cm/road bike tires -- flats!

This year's R2D2 offered three routes (180K, 115K, and 100K) which entailed lots of dirt, stony washouts, fast descents on some incredible 300 yr old carriage roads in Western Mass. and Southern Vermont. As a first timer I stuck with the 115K route and rather then riding my road bike, I opted to borrowed a cyclocross bike - a Ridely X-Bow which made for a comfortable ride and with 700c X 32 tires I had much better handling power on the steep dirt ascents as well as rocky descents. I would say that my gear ratio of 48/34 in the front and a 12/25 cassette in the back was a little tough - in particular on Patten Road that starts paved at 20% grade I would have loved to have been able to downshift, but still made it (but can't say the same on those jeep track portions!). If I were to do the 180K next year, I would def. want to go with a lower gear ratio. Also, I left my road shoes behind and used mountain biking shoes w/ SPDs.

I rode with Ted and who had his Garmin computer so you can take a look at all the cool stats like elevation, temperature, and his heart rate! In just under 6.5 hours we climbed 6,273' over the course of 74 miles...

Another element of the D2R2 is the mighty cue sheet. The courses are unmarked thus one wrong turn is very easy to do and can really set you back (we came very close to having that happen). A couple weeks ago, I had posted photos of Ted's awesome mini clip board cue sheet holder SO I was thrilled to spot this guys' cue sheet holder (above). YES, that's a trusty mouse trap and C-clamp!!! Note that you can download the GPS route to your computer but some reason the 115K loop was not working!

It was truly one spectacular ride. Had my iPhone battery not died on me mid-ride, you would be seeing documentation of lots of exquisite randonneur bikes complete with fenders and saddlebags(!), hilly landscapes, dirt roads through the forest, the Little Big House Gallery at the last rest stop, and lots of livestock! If you are asking yourself 'What Makes a Good Randonneur Bike?' check out this PDF via Bicycle Quarterly.

Thanks Uncle Ted for all your help leading up to the ride - and on the day of!

But alas it was time to get moving since the rain started as we scarfed down BBQ ribs and mac'n'cheese and headed home... as we approached NYC that night, we had a glimpse of something that we'll likely never-ever see again... not a single other car on the Triborough Bridge, thanks to Irene:

extra sweet bike memories / then and now

2011-08-28T17:05:00.001-04:00

Eric, who took those great photographs at Meet Your (Bike) Match, sent over this incredibly sweet clipping his landlady gave him! The article is from the October 1999 issue of Reminisce magazine. Proves if you treat something right, it will last a lifetime ♥

beer meats bike love @ The Cannibal

2011-08-23T22:00:00.000-04:00

photograph via NYTimes

My friend and talented artisanal beer brewer, Nathan, sent over this NYTimes article about the recent opening of The Cannibal... named after Eddy Merckx! This new brewcafe on East 29th serves up sandwiches and fresh meats by day but come night serves small plates and whole pig, lamb and goat alongside a selection of 350 beers. And to carry over the cycling theme, they'll be sell bicycling gear - how irresistible! While I can't recall the last time I was on East 29th Street - I will so be making a point to head over soon...

Food Truck Rally by bike - save the date for September

2011-08-22T21:32:00.002-04:00

Wafels and Dinges' staff outfitted in Flandria cycling caps


since lobster rolls in NYC have become all the rage, the line appeared to be the longest at The Red Hook Lobster Pound

that truck is not going anywhere without that bike (or vice versa!)

Sixteen NYC food trucks convened onto Grand Army Plaza for August's Food Truck Rally yesterday! The lobster roll from The Red Hook Lobster Pound was tempting since I've heard great things, but ended up sampling edamame dumplings from Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, the most amazing pita ever from Souvlaki GR, and the incredibly unique flavor of Lemon Grass ice cream (as well a tasty bite of Basil+Black Pepper) from VanLeeuwen ♥

The next Rally is scheduled for Sunday, September 18th (11am- 5pm). And once your fueled up, you can take a lovely ride along the Prospect Park West bike path!

afternoon on Governors Island w/ Bikes, Jazz Age Lawn Party and Bill Cunningham

2011-08-21T09:04:00.009-04:00

Was such a nice breezy sunny day yesterday that on a whim we hopped onto the free 10 minute ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park over to Governors Island with our bikes. Checked out Mark di Suvero's vibrant orange sculptures which are currently on loan from Storm King and savored an ice cream from Blue Marble Brooklyn's custom Workman Cycles, which are at Picnic Point again this year!

And by complete serendipity the annual Jazz Age Lawn Party - the 1920's dance party which is well attended by many dressed to the nines who've practiced the Charleston - is taking place this weekend! How have I ended up on the island at the same time as this party for three years in a row, I do not know?! OH, but the party continues today...

would love to see the prints from this old school photography shoot

So nice running into Katy in white lace who rode up on her banana seat cruiser... with a pearl purse in her bike basket!

♥ ♥ ♥ What completely stole my heart at the event was spotting Bill Cunningham (above) in total work mode in his blue french workmen shirt, though sans bike ♥ ♥ ♥

Same as last year, the ferry to Governors Island from Brooklyn departs from Pier 6 (at the foot of Atlantic Ave.) in the new extension of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you bike you'll be able to check out the bike path that keeps improving along the waterfront and have a drink or bite at along the strip - I particularly like the view from the outdoor Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar at Pier 1 and the rooftop of BARK at Pier 6, both are open until midnight on weekends!

And if you are without bike, you can always rent a Townie once you arrive - which are free on Fridays...

Oregon Manifest + a female voice

2011-08-19T07:50:00.000-04:00

Oregon Manifest - the bike design build challenge currently taking place - asked me to share a women's perspective on integrating bicycles into daily life on their blog... which you can read [here] Thanks Michiyo for modeling and wearing such a cheerful dress!

two pre-Labor Day rides: North Fork Century & D2R2

2011-08-18T21:47:00.003-04:00

I was torn. August 28-29th, the last weekend before Labor Day. The North Fork Century, a gorgeous 100 mile ride along quaint and quiet Long Island and the epic Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée (D2R2) are taking place that same weekend!

Having done the North Fork last summer with my friend Sara and totally enjoyed it and highly recommend it, I decided to try something new. These two rides couldn't be more different but here are some comparisons: The North Fork starts/ends in Greenport (with a nearby campground) is on the furthest north eastern part of Long Island, a slice of NY paradise with beautiful beaches, vineyards, farm stands. It's also virtually all flat and paved for fast smooth riding! The D2R2 starting/ending in Deerfield is nestled in the hills of western Massachusetts and almost entirely off road, steep, and high up there in the list of demanding rides. Navigating the course is also a dividing point - unlike the well indicated route on the North Fork, the D2R2 (from what I hear) is VERY easy to get lost on and is all about keeping an eye on your cue sheet. It was suggested that I print out and laminate my cue sheet - I did two weeks before the ride feeling like a responsible and well prepared geek even taking a highlighter to every other line...
And then Ted, who's done the ride before, sent me a photo of his cue sheet...

OMG - forget laminating and highlighting, this has freakin geek cool written all over it!!! I'll report back after the 27th with photos and no doubt stories. If your not familiar with the D2R2, you can read up about the course and it's creator, Sandy Whittlesey [here] on the Rapha site. Even better, see you there?!

glow in the dark jeans, yes, you read correctly

2011-08-16T22:41:00.000-04:00

How amazing would it be to be spotted riding at night in these Glow In the Dark Jeans! Spotted on Cool Hunting, Naked & Famous Denim uses only the most unique and rare denim fabrics from Japan - and they really went all out with these newly launched line. You can check them out in person at Barneys New York and Barneys COOP nationwide, and here's a bit more about them...

The jeans work because we apply a phosphorescent coating to the fabric in Japan. This coating is baked into the fabric and will absorb light and slowly release that light with an emanating green glow, just like those Glow in the Dark stickers we had on our ceiling as a kid. Just charge them up in the light (can be natural sunlight or artificial bulb light) and then shut the lights and watch ‘em glow! The jeans will also glow intensely under UV light (aka Blacklight), so if you wear the jeans in a club with a blacklight, your pants will appear neon green!

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Burt Bunyan RULES!

2011-08-16T21:57:00.007-04:00

Justice Burt Bunyan ruled in the city’s favor today, following an Article 78 challenge filed by two neighborhood groups against Brooklyn's PPW Bike Path. Via the New York Observer...

“This decision results in a hands-down victory for communities across the city,” Transportation czarina Janette Sadik-Khan said in a release. “The plaintiffs have been dead wrong in their unsupported claims about the bike path and DOT’s practices. This project was requested by the community, they voted repeatedly to support it, and their support has registered in several opinion polls. Merely not liking a change is no basis for a frivolous lawsuit to reverse it.”

Thanks, Kim Burgus for sharing the breaking news!

from July 2010 when the path was first installed

You can read about the birth of the PPW bike path [here]

bikes at sea... Block Island

2011-08-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sweet logo spotted on a recent visit to Block Island, RI. The island is a mere 10 square miles and filled with rolling hills, ocean views, and awesome beaches -- a little vacation land where bicycles (and mopeds) are the transportation of choice. If you don't bring your own, you can rent a bike just steps from the ferry landings and you'll be good to go!

SO BRIGHT - Cambridge Satchel Co.'s S/S 2011 Collection

2011-08-08T16:53:00.017-04:00

bag images via Cambridge Satchel Company

Loving this florescent trend in fashion... and what do you know the Cambridge Satchel Company now makes their traditional British school satchels in BRIGHT 'Fluro' colours! How nice would one of these be in your bike basket - or on your back! And if you worried about converting pounds to dollars, JCrew is carrying a selection in their CREWCUT section.

Hasn't been this easy to shop to be this highly visible since the '80s!

via Refinery29

via SHEfinds

lady bloggers unite @ Adeline Adeline

2011-08-05T10:33:00.002-04:00

Adeline Adeline and Kate Spade New York's one beauty of a collaboration

Last night Adeline Adeline hosted one fun cyclist happy hour/meet up with the urban bicycle lady bloggers Dottie (from Chicago) and Trisha (from Nashville, TN) of Let's Go Ride A Bike - who are visiting our fair city! Such a pleasure to meet them both as well as some fellow NYC bloggers... A Packable Feast, Amandasproject26272829.com, The Bike Writer... fun bonding over how strong our legs get commuting by bike on vintage steal frames! And great seeing you, Julie (of the TheJulieBlog) and DARGELOS! I didn't even take my camera out -- was so busy mingling!

+ thanks to Julie from Adeline Adeline for hosting in her beautiful bicycle boutique!

an exciting Tour de Fashion @ NYC Fashion Week

2011-08-04T22:07:00.006-04:00

Illustration by Sidewalk Catwalk designer Emily Saunders

During NYC Fashion Week next month... you'll be able to take one of 30 Bowery Lane Bicycles out for a spin! This fleet of bikes aren't no Plain Janes -- each bike will be personalized by a New York designer including... Diane von Furstenberg, Betsey Johnson, Isaac Mizrahi, Patricia Underwood, Elie Tahari, to name just a few.

They'll be available from...
The Fashion Center Tour de Fashion
Thursday, September 8 – Thursday, September 15
Weekdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm; Weekends 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tented bike stations will be located on the Broadway Plazas at 40th Street

and free of charge. Fun project, though not very fun to bike around midtown -- hope they lend them long enough to hit up the west or east greenways or Central Park!

Nanette Lepore


hat by Patricia Underwood

as if she needs an introduction

Humm, wonder what they plan to do with bikes after the 15th?!

Manhattan Bridge bike commute - for the next 6 months

2011-08-01T07:36:00.007-04:00

my new morning commute view - of the Brooklyn Bridge (also going through repairs)

This past week (a number of) DOT staff standing at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge directing us on bikes to take a detour over the SOUTH side path. Yes, the south side, usually designated as the pedestrian side, while the north side usually for cyclists use. So confusing. But a quick Google search, Gothamist explained it all...

Turns out that due to a massive amount of cable repairs on the bridge, all 3,000+ daily cyclists heading over the Manhattan bridge are solely to use the south side for (at least) the next 6 months, until January 2012. The DOT put this together to help navigate:

From Brooklyn heading to Manhattan, it's quite nice. I'm enjoying mixing up my routine, the views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Governors Island off in the distance, as well as not having to deal that terrible intersection at Forsyth. And after taking the new route this past week, here's my opinion of how to deal (in pink):

I'll do anything to get out of taking those stairs with amount of stuff I lug on my bike - if you continue up Jay St. it's a tight turn but just take it easy!

It's my personal route and seems way more straightforward, again, as long as you take it easy at the turns

Come January, I'll be missing many of these south side (much smoother) metal joint covers...

NON (overtly) GIRLY spandex for women by Twin Six

2011-07-31T16:55:00.006-04:00

images via realcyclist.com

If your a women who's ever shopped for cycling apparel you know how difficult it is to find jerseys (and cycling shorts) that aren't outwardly feminine in pattern and colour scheme. And while I LOVE my floral patterns, as well pink, I'm always eying the men's selection which tends to be way more sporty, serious, and comes in way better colour schemes. So... was greatly relieved to see Minneapolis-based Twin Six's current selection for women. I hadn't been on their site in at least a year and was happy to see they continue to do an awesome job at cranking out cool cycling clothes + gear with a twist of cute.

Oh, and a little rant on the abundance of reputable news sources publishing articles these days about the current and growing cycling culture which negatively use the description of "spandex-clad riders". It irks me every time. As if every cyclist in spandex is racing and reckless as commonly portrayed -- it's a stereo type that saddens me. If your riding 30, 50, or 120 miles in a given day and have to cross through the city to get to the park or outer boroughs, you surely would favor spandex and padded cycling bibs. While you likely won't don your spandex for an urban commute - "spandex-clad riders" should be included in the family of urban cycling along with families with cargo bikes ♥

Mt. Washington bicycle hillclimb (finally)

2011-07-30T10:29:00.003-04:00

my setup for riding up: triple crank on the front (with only the 30T) and Ultegra 9 speed 12-27 cassette

Recap from the climb along with some background...
Nested in the New Hampshire's White Mountains is Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6288 ft (1917 m). It's been named the "home of the world's worst weather" and on average, hurricane force winds are present 100 days a year. The Mt. Washington Auto Road is 4,727" of vertical feet of loveliness. Though a mere 7.6 mi (12.2 km) in length, it's freakin steep. The road is mostly paved with an average grade of 12% with extended sections at18% and the last 50 yards 22% grade - and no flat or downhill sections whatsoever. And naturally since there's an auto road to the summit, there's is a bike race to the top! Steeper than any of the famous climbs in the Tour de France.... and has the reputation of one of the toughest bicycle climbs in the world!!!

Some visual context...

images via North East Cycling

My non-abbreviated back story...
In 2004 I was all geared up for the climb. Had trained, been doing local road races, and was feeling totally psyched and ready to TAKE IT ON. That morning at the base I ran around finding a ride to hitch back down with -- it's illegal to ride down on a bike due to the steepness. As the road was closing to car traffic, I quickly threw in my bag of warm clothes and food into the truck so I'd have them once I reached the top, got back to my bike to start warming up and then... looked down to realize I was still wearing my flip flops. My heart sank. My bike shoes were left in my bag which was already making its way up to the summit. Big OOPS.

So, a couple months back when my uncle-in-law, Ted, told us he was signed for Newton's Revenge (currently one of two annual bike races up the Mt. Washington Auto Road) I was SO DOWN. The whole 2004 incident had put such a damper on the thought - but having taken a good dose of Kettlebell and Spin classes throughout the winter (thanks to Joanna!), along with long rides and a hell of a lot of hill repeats... thought it was about time to tackle that Mt. Washington.


kept getting caught in super heavy downpours in New Hampshire the week prior - thus kept drying out my shoes

my awesome husband helping to clean off and prep my bike

During and post ascent...

top photo by Leo Kenney

The race:

EPIC and completely awesome. Indeed, the road starts off steep and my body went into survival mode. At the start I didn't recognize my own breathing and wasn't sure if I was going to keel over hyperventilating - but our human bodies are amazing - and soon found a rhythm and just didn't stop. For the first 3 miles there was little else then heat and lack of air flow until getting above treeline... realized then that I'd never biked so high up - so surreal - and all worth it just for that experience alone. Looking down onto the slopes of Wildcat (love skiing there) simply blew my mind. And as unpredictable as the weather on Mt. Washington can be, on July 9th it was predictably dramatic and ever changing. Had it been perfect and mild the entire way, it really wouldn't have been a true Mt. Washington inaugural ride. At the base it was warm in the 70's and sunny, at the summit, Ted noted gusts of 60mph with steady winds of 40, fog/mist so thick that visibility (seemed like it at times) to be basically zero and 42 degrees temperature with wind chills in the 20's. I did notice that once in the clouds, about half a mile from the finish line, frost was forming on my handlebars where the sweat of my hands had held on... but as a rider you are so pumped and over heated from exertion that it felt 100% better then having the sun roasting you. That said, I def. felt the side wind gusts and did my best to not get knocked down since that would be most challenging to even attempt to get back on bike on that road. I was happy to have made it up the entire way -- on my bike -- especially after hearing horror stories of chain issues, derailleurs malfunctioning, and the myriad of possible weather inflictions. I made it up in 1:37:41. (Tom Danielson holds the record with an outstanding time of 0:49:24 from 2002 - love comparing my time with the 2011 Tour de France 9th placer!)

Oh, and about that very last portion at 22% grade... I was totally anticipating it once I was in the clouds and thinking once I see a bunch of people at the top, that'll be it. Well, with the visibility the way it was I found myself right at the bottom of that portion and almost came to a complete stop realizing I wasn't in my lowest gear! Somehow I thought I would be able to see it clearer but instead ended up feeling like I was in front of a wall while still on my bike. A soon I heard my husband yelling "YOUR ALMOST THERE" to me and the crowd cheering so I focused on the task at hand and (very roundaboutly - trying to do a little switch back) biked up the steepest portion of ground I have likely ever biked up and crossed the finish line.

Ted got a time of 1:31 -- which was awesome, almost 15 minutes faster than his previous time

Shots taken from the car on our way back down -- from the clouds above treeline to below...

the slopes of Wildcat

Seriously a fun time - so much so that once we made it back down to the base I suggested the we all hike up Mt. Washington after lunch. Umm, that was likely the adrenaline talking - but wouldn't it be awesome to bike up AND hike up all in the same day?! Maybe next year!

NYC Bike Girl - from streets to TV - casting call

2011-07-28T21:11:00.003-04:00

Back in 2004 Jason Oliver Goodman took to the streets of NYC and photographed women on their bikes - mostly as he found them. Within a few months he had taken close to 200 portraits that he compiled into a photography project called A Girl's Bike... which was since published by Partners & Spade.

I mention this for two reasons, 1.) this is really a lovely collection of photographs and 2.) Jason has partnered up for an upcoming TV series casting "REAL GIRLS—not just actors" which is still in the in the process of casting. Therefore, if your a women in NYC who loves your bike(s) email {girlbikecasting@gmail.com} to get the scoop on dates, times and details. While I'm looking forward to the outcome of this project - it's my honest hope that they pick some awesome women in NYC who are helmet wearers and traffic obey-ers!

Oh, and another (cool yet random) thing about Jason Oliver Goodman... he created that nice animated intro for Mad Men.

Oregon Manifest's ultimate modern utility bikes...

2011-07-27T08:27:00.000-04:00

Oregon Manifest, the design build challenge which has engaged a number of super interesting designers and constructors, just put out this lil' promotional video (via Treehugger). This is one fun real-life factor competition seeing that the judging is not solely based on looks NOR just performance -- the criteria for entries includes urban necessities like anti-theft devices, fenders, lights, load-carrying capability, and some sort of stand while parked!

And in case you haven't already been following the action, Core 77 has been, and continues to, document three team's design process -- IDEO X Rock Lobster Cycles / Fuseproject X SyCip Design / Ziba Design X Signal Cycles.

Looking forward to the road testing 'race' in September - when each entry is put to challenge and ridden 50 miles of all crazy types of terrain!

the beauty of Carmageddon 2011

2011-07-20T01:13:00.000-04:00

photos above via LATimes

While I've never personally experienced LA's I-405 in all its many-lane-wide glory... still can't get enough of these photos of one of America's busiest highways which closed last weekend for (gasp) widening. One fabulous way of forcing people to attempt to think outside their car!

via NYTimes

This weekend's lineup with... Community Bookstore & Bicycle Habitat, 718 Cyclery & The Bird Wheel + a Century Ride

2011-07-14T23:12:00.002-04:00

via Community Bookstore

It's looking to be one jam packed weekend of bike-loving activities for your bike-loving self to enjoy...

Saturday, July 16th

Stage 14 of the Tour de France (streamed live)
9am-noon(ish)
Community Bookstore
143 Seventh Avenue, b/w Carroll and Garfield, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
[map]

Bicycle Habitat & Community Bookstore in Park Slope hosts with coffee, croissants - and climbs! And in case you are having bike issues, bring it with you for a complimentary consult with a Bicycle Habitat's expert mechanic.

Sunday, July 17th

Bike the Hudson Valley 2011 Century Ride (with 40 and 70 mile options)
7-8:30am start
start/finish in Highland, NY (about a 1.5 drive north of NYC)
[map]

With truly spectacular architectural sites along the route... FDR’s home, the Vanderbilt Mansion and Gardens, the Mills Mansion, Frank Gehry's theater at Bard College, and over the car-free Walkway Over the Hudson bridge. And an, fyi, the same people are organizing a Farm Ride in August!

Meet Your (Bike) Match & Summer Party
12noon-4pm
718 Cyclery
461 Seventh Avenue, corner 16th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
[map]

South Slope's newest bike shop, 718 Cyclery & The Bird Wheel hosts bike portraits, test rides... and check out free seminars on the finer points of bike care, maintenance and repair presented by the 718 staff!

+++ if you just can't get enough, next Saturday Brooklyn Skillshare hosts a HOW TO PLAN FOR & ENJOY A MULTI-DAY BIKE TRIP class

morning cup of jo (w/ TA + Brooklyn Roasting Co.)

2011-07-14T08:22:00.000-04:00

Nice spotting Transportation Alternatives yesterday morning on the Manhattan Bridge with complimentary coffee from Brooklyn Roasting Company!

TA is greeting morning commuters on the bike path once a week at either the Williamsburg or Manhattan Bridge bike paths. If you see them, stop by, sign a petition and check out Brooklyn Roasting Company's coffee-transporting machine -- a Bullitt cargo bike!

Levi's shows their bike love

2011-07-12T07:57:00.001-04:00

The good old American blue jean co. is rolling out a bike friendly line this week! Spotted on Refinery 29, these 'Commuter Skinnies' comes with a utility waist band designed to store your bike lock' (above) complete with Cordarounds Bike To Work Pants-esk detailing...

via CRAVE

Happy belated July 4th + back home after 10 days

2011-07-10T22:11:00.010-04:00

patriotic bike love at the Nordic Skier Sports Shop in downtown Wolfeboro, NH

Indeed I've finally downloaded the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone. (They simply make photos with my damaged camera lens look so much freakin better!) Admittedly I got hooked using it while in New Hampshire for the past week+ so you'll be seeing a lot more analog-styled documentation from my trip up north... that primarily being my first time cycling up the Mt. Washington Auto Road yesterday!

In the meantime, a little re-cap from recent bike-centric news/happens that I'm just now catching up with...

photos from the Skirts on Bikes Ride
DARGELOS joins the Pratt Incubator + adds the UtiliTEE to their line of cycling accessories
the opening of another new bike shop in Brooklyn! - this time in Fort Green
NYTimes' article about women not feeling NYC is safe enough to ride in and Janette Sadik-Khan's response
PUBLIC's One-Year Anniversary photo contest with spectacular prizes
and the exciting proposal for a velodrome in the abandoned Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx ♥

vintage Schwinn Breeze as planter on Rt 109 / Governor Wentworth Hwy

and what a New England trip just wouldn't be complete without

Bikes + Skirts + NYC = Celebrating Freedom + Fashion

2011-06-29T08:37:00.001-04:00

Ladies and gents... don't you forget the Skirts On Bikes is tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 30th. You've very likely already heard about Jasmijn Rijcken's story, but just in case, you can read A Long Explanation of Why the Biking-While-Sexy Story Is No Hoax

FYI, I'll be taking a little break from this lil' ol' blog for the next couple weeks but will return... in the meantime happy riding!

Julie's pink fyxation

2011-06-27T21:35:00.005-04:00

grips / bar end plugs / pedals / tires by Fyxation

via The Julie Blog

The sweet and charming Julie - from The Julie Blog - recently found herself in need of a new bike when finding her Schwinn sadly manged beyond repair earlier this month. Without hesitation she picked out a new Linus... but this ain't no typical Linus with those bright treads!

Fyxation offers bike accessories in ultra bright pop-y colours - not just hot pink, but really the pink is just SO HOT. Visit Julie's site {here} for a special Fyxation treat... until the end of June!

saddling up - bike seat meets furniture

2011-06-27T06:59:00.001-04:00

Mishmash (2011) by Jeremy Petrus in collaboration with Selle Royal
via DesignMilk

Bike Bench (2005) by Sebastian Errazurizh

Tokyo Design Week (2009) by Hiroshige Koike of Scarabikes
via DesignBoom

"Chair for Janez Suhadolc"(2011) by Bruno Urh
via Core77

Hiroshige Koike / Jeremy Petrus / Bruno Urh

... four designers decide to keep the bike seat from going outdoors. Just a guess, but Mishmash may win in the comfort category.

via the Alps: 4 days touring

2011-06-25T08:55:00.001-04:00

Cycling is a bit of a family affair. That's my cousin Victor who arrived last week in Venice by ferry (wearing a FTLOB Tee ♥) after crossing the Eastern Alps... Victor, who lives in Geneva, met up with his brother-in-law, who lives in Sweden, for four days of touring through Austria, a detour into Slovenia, to end in Italia! Here's their Google Maps itinerary which begins in Linz, Austria and ends in Venezia (Venice!) by ferry. While the weather forecast just before departure was dim:

it was fortunately neither prohibitive nor correct! Oh, and about the ascents...

we climbed a total of 2700m on the first day, some 1400 on the second and probably about 2000 on the third - the 4th day was flat: we were riding at 35km/h like maniacs across southern Italy. also tried to get it calculated using veloroutes.org... but it wasn't working.

A totally dreamy trip. The photos are so beautiful - makes it mighty tempting to buy an airplane ticket + bike shipping case!

off to a good start!

Entering Slovenia soon..

Arrivati in Udine! (After crossing 2 passes in Slovenia, 2000m climb. Over with the Alps!)

happy summer solstice

2011-06-21T08:22:00.008-04:00

at the campground the night before the 2010 North Fork Century

A little shout out to SUMMER - yeah! In honor of this most wonderful day (+ season) -- a couple photos from one of my favorite seasonal activities: century rides. I snapped these (before and after) last summer's annual North Fork Century which begins in Greenport, Long Island (where you can camp ♥ out the night before) and winds through vineyards and alongside sandy beaches ♥ ♥ ♥

at a rest stop, which served us the most amazing slices of fresh out of the oven pies

my friend Sara post ride - who doesn't love a ride that ends at a Brewery + w/ an ice cream truck

that evening's sunset

This summer's North Fork Century ride takes place... Sunday, August 28th + pencil in these other rides by the same great organizers:

Bike the River
A nice day of cycling along the Hudson

July 17th, 2011

The Farm Ride

Departing from Amherst, MA-- ride one day or all three!

August 12th-14th, 2011

{Oh, and don't forget that you RIDE FOR FREE if you spend $750+ at a local NYC bike shop this summer -- details here!}

for the love of bikes

Greek goodness @ SOUVLAKI GR

pencil it in... 2012 Bike Rides in/around NYC

Cycle EXIF Bicycle Calendar 2012

chest of drawers by Raphaëlle Bonamy

Fyxation Pedal and Strap review

lovely links

Downton Abbey's bicycles in 1917

how to/how not to lock up your bike

lovely bike friendly knit gifts

bike light writing

wishing you a lovely holiday

City Bakery's Holiday Cheer

sweet little holiday packages

Fifth Avenue's Holiday Windows + bicycles (naturally!)

shoe covers to the rescue

via DC: (coloured) paper clip bike racks

via Turin: cheerful flowers

sparkle on: glitter and cycling unite

going local: 718 Cyclery

daytripping: Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

i heart my winter commute: a guide

yet another reason why I love my Ortlieb (in the rain)

sidewalk smash up

deconstructed: Jacques Tati

one fall day: bikes in SoHo

design hearts bikes: Charge Bikes @ The Conran Shop THIS Wednesday in NYC

at home: bike storage using IKEA and DELTA racks

tuft love - DARGELOS' new reflective tassel

a transportation theme Hall-o-ween

happy (white-ish) halloween

Feats Per Minute spins... records

gearing up for post-summer rain

view from a Manhattan Bridge bike commute: UVA for The Creators Project

a minimal Bicycle Purse Rack

Tulip Fun Fun - the bendable bike rack

a DYI bike light in a pinch

Oregon Manifest's Utility Bike Design Challenge glory

Dekalb Market - open air market of all things Brooklyn

upcoming Montreal workshop... biking while pregnant/with small children!

flyin'

a bike's new life w/ a new rider

Knog light bliss - a Boomer Rechargeable and Wearable review

scenes from the Brooklyn Bike Jumble

a whole lot of BIKE LOVE happenings THIS WEEKEND

Lovin' the Sporting Life @ the Museum at FIT

Sneak Peek... Test Riding the NYC Bike Share!

gold sprintin' / chevron stylin'

Tour de Fashion IS ON: free bike share during NY Fashion Week

for the love of kids (and parenting)

change of season, in the air

Bike the Night gets cancelled (another post-Hurricane Irene post)

Rockaway Beach post-Hurricane Irene

The Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnée, a.k.a. D2R2

extra sweet bike memories / then and now

beer meats bike love @ The Cannibal

Food Truck Rally by bike - save the date for September

afternoon on Governors Island w/ Bikes, Jazz Age Lawn Party and Bill Cunningham

Oregon Manifest + a female voice

two pre-Labor Day rides: North Fork Century & D2R2

glow in the dark jeans, yes, you read correctly

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Burt Bunyan RULES!

bikes at sea... Block Island

SO BRIGHT - Cambridge Satchel Co.'s S/S 2011 Collection

lady bloggers unite @ Adeline Adeline

an exciting Tour de Fashion @ NYC Fashion Week

Manhattan Bridge bike commute - for the next 6 months

NON (overtly) GIRLY spandex for women by Twin Six

Mt. Washington bicycle hillclimb (finally)

NYC Bike Girl - from streets to TV - casting call

Oregon Manifest's ultimate modern utility bikes...

the beauty of Carmageddon 2011

This weekend's lineup with... Community Bookstore & Bicycle Habitat, 718 Cyclery & The Bird Wheel + a Century Ride

morning cup of jo (w/ TA + Brooklyn Roasting Co.)

Levi's shows their bike love

Happy belated July 4th + back home after 10 days

Bikes + Skirts + NYC = Celebrating Freedom + Fashion

Julie's pink fyxation

saddling up - bike seat meets furniture

via the Alps: 4 days touring