ONE AWESOME fundraiser THIS Saturday

Want an amazing (cycling) workout to help others...
at Chelsea Piers' new state-of-the-art Cycle Studio with views of the Hudson?

THIS Saturday, the incredible kick-ass Joanna Paterson (a native New Zealander) is leading an indoor cycling class at Chelsea Piers to raise funds for the recent New Zealand earthquake disaster through the American Red Cross Relief for Countless Crises. This class is going to be great - whether you love spinning out or are into trying something new. Joanna will even be guiding the class up and down hills with video footage of New Zealand's beautiful landscape ♥

The low-down...
Chelsea Piers Cycle Studio: New Zealand Ride
Pier 60, 23rd St / Hudson River, Manhattan

- Saturday, April 30th / 12:00-2:00pm
- minimum suggested donation of $25 / no additional day pass fee (!)
- class is first-come, first-served

About the bikes...
Chelsea Piers' new Cycle Studio features Keiser indoor cycling bikes, state-of-the-art Suunto heart rate monitor system, AND use the Triple Link Pedal System -- allowing for LOOK, SPD clips, or use the cages for sneakers / non-cycle shoes.

And now for some spectacular glimpses of New Zealand...

1 / 2  /3  /  4

goodbye winter, hello spring... animated

This past winter presented us New Yorkers with a record snow fall - which spurred me to document my commuter in all its glory. A little belated but none the less I present to you... my first GIF! Thank you to Nesli for showing me the ropes... I think I'm officially hooked.

Speaking of GIF animations, you have GOT TO CHECK OUT these incredible ones by photographer Jamie Beck which Joy posted about yesterday. Real beauties.

support your local bike shop + ride on

via NYC Bicycle Show

Biking long distances is hands down one of the great pleasures in my life. And while I've done a few organized Century rides, Glen's (a.k.a. NYC Bicycle Show) Montauk ride in June and North Fork Century in August out on Long Island are just a couple spectacular ways to spend a summer day in my opinion. His rides are organized, routes nicely indicated, well stocked rest stops with tons of delicious calories to refuel with, and at the end you are greeted with hot showers and meal (+ depending on the ride, beer) ♥ Yeah, pure bliss.

Why am going on and on about these rides?
Well, if you're a New Yorker + plan to spend $750+ (on new bike, upgrade, accessories, clothing, labor, rental, whatever-whatever) in ONE DAY in ONE SHOP by ONE person - you my friend will... 
get to ride any of Glen's rides for FREE
A value of about $80! The only catch is that you have to spend this $750 a local NYC bike shop. Details are {HERE}

And a reminder of how buying local makes a difference.

at the 2010 North Fork Century - might very well be the best slice of pie I've ever had

welcome back mid-70°s

You've been dearly missed.

The weather in NYC yesterday was F-F-FABULOUS. While running errands I opted to take a detour and rode south of Chambers on the West Side. Since there is still construction along the West Side Highway, next to the World Trade Center site, the bike path makes a detour along the Hudson with some beautiful + well kept spots in Battery Park City along the way...


Note that most of this ride is on a path shared with pedestrians - it's more of a leisure sightseeing tour then cycle speedway. Also, be aware that further north on the West Side Greenway, you are not allowed to bike in some pedestrian paths which runs parallel to the bike lanes but closer to the water. Just read the signs - I do know people who have been ticketed by park police!

Goldman Sachs global headquarters @ 200 West Street laid down these elegant bike lanes running in front of the main entrance

it was so warm - jackets were off at lunch time

after turning on left onto Vesey Street, you get a great view of the The Irish Hunger Memorial - a beautiful portion of cantilevered grassy landscape which incorporates stones from all of the different counties of Ireland

you can also enter this outdoor memorial through this passageway

a duck filled pond to cool off by

loved spotting this 'Little Lady' pulling up to the ferry terminal

the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center - which likely houses the largest palm trees in NYC

the Statue of Liberty off in the distance

the weeping trees in front of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

 

 

wrapping around the tip of Manhattan the bike bath - the underside of the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge 

north of the South Street Seaport - just before turning off for either the Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridge

this was the route - if you are looking for more, check out NYC Bike Maps

RIDE THE LANES on PPW -- this Sunday

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY
Come out and join your fellow supporters to celebrate the best thing to happen to Park Slope Brooklyn -- and a great example of how a city street can be shared by all forms of transportation {a.k.a. the Prospect Park West bike lanes} at:

We Ride the Lanes/Prospect Park West
Sunday April 10, 2011

♥ 10:30 am  gather at Grand Army Plaza -- where they will be giving away free t-shirts
♥ 11:00 am  ride/walk the bike path -- along the entire length of the PPW path) to the Bartel-Pritchard Circle entrance of Prospect Park @ 15th Street


And topping it off -- at the end of the ride there will be free hot dogs from Bark, cupcakes from Blue Sky Bakery and more from Bicycle Habitat and Ride Brooklyn ♥

Olek's crochet @ the Brooklyn Bridge

Snapped by a friend... an Olek - the crochet addicted artist - bike sighting at the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge walkway entrance in DUMBO. Its been there for at least a couple weeks now - which makes me think that yarn must be getting pretty gritty, nonetheless an unexpected sighting.

More of Olek's work...

via Illusion/Scene 360

via Freshness Mag

via Kill The Krankies

DESIGNER BIKES: Tziporah Salamon, Stylist + Dresser Extraordinaire

image via Advanced Style

Armed with an incredible wardrobe (filled with vintage and designer finds), her bicycle and a lust for life - Tziporah Salamon might very well be the most attention grabbing cyclist riding in NYC. You may recognize her from the NYTimes Style pages (through Bill Cunningham's lens) or Advanced Style which documents 'the most stylish and creative older folks'. 

Tziporah recently shared with for the LOVE of bikes how she ended up riding a Bianchi in garments from the l800's...

via Racked / NYTimes Bill Cunningham / Anon.

I've been riding in the NYC for:
around 15 years

What I love most riding is: 
the freedom of getting around quickly - the being out with the elements especially exhilarating when I am cycling down the bike path along the Hudson River on the West side of Manhattan, with the river, the sky, the birds, the trees, the sun or the moon and stars - there's nothing like it - sheer joy!

I ride a Bianchi Milano since (that color scheme must have been a factor!):
I saw my first one parked in the streets on Madison Avenue and left a note in the basket asking the owner where she got it - I knew I had to have it - it was love at first sight - based entirely on what it looked like - the color, the red on the tires - it was just the coolest bike I had ever seen. As a bonus, it rides like a dream!

Other bikes I've owned:
Growing up in Israel, I always had a bike. In NY, my first bike came about when my friend Graziella moved to California from NY and asked me if I wanted her bike - a great old Schwin - I had it for years before I started to ride it because I was afraid of riding in the city. Then one day, I just got on it - and I've been riding ever since. I've had 2 Schwinns stolen and one Binachi, - but it doesn't stop me. I love riding!

Favorite clothes to cycle in:
All my outfits - from my l800's Chinese embroidered coats to my Victorian whites to my contemporary designer garb. It doesn't matter because I make it work - I am always in pants so it's not a problem. I must confess, I have ruined some of my coats by having them get tangled in the wheel - but I keep on doing it. I try hiking them up if need be.

Words of wisdom for any apprehensive/new cyclists:
Just do it - once you get on the bike and experience the freedom and joy you'll never go back.

fabulous, at any age

from the Advanced Style: Age and Beauty video on Nowness.com

I adore the older set - particularly those who embrace colour, pattern, flamboyant accessories, and fun-loving attitude in their 'golden years'. The best place online for a daily fix of the sensational style of fearless older ladies is, hands down, Advanced Style. Thank you ChrisHabana for getting me hooked. The photo above is from this short documentary by Lina Plioplyte and Ari Seth Cohen... which is preceding a 'grand documentary' in the works!

'Bikelash' hits the newstands

this week's New York Magazine cover

Read about the "newest urban culture war" sensation: BIKE LANES
... in this week's New York Magazine article {link} written by Matthew Shae.

Nicely titled 'Not Quite Copenhagen' sums up the host of issues surrounding one touchy topic in NYC well before the Bedford Avenue lanes were laid down (and then removed). From business associations lobbing against them back in the 80's -- to the reality that bike lanes calm traffic making streets safer while infuriating drivers who don't want to be slowed down. A conclusion the writer comes to is noteworthy:

The DOT can put in bike lanes by the thousands, but the more important transformation will be internal: We are going to have to learn to accept a decrease, however minuscule, in our individual freedoms. For bike lanes to really work, New Yorkers are going to have to learn to share.

Sharing can mean a lot of things. It can mean stopping a red light. Signaling when making a turn. Giving pedestrians the right of way. Using a rear and front light at dawn, dusk and night. Staying to the right hand side. Passing on the left. Using a bike bell. Ahh, I know - know it is not fair to compare one city with the next, but having cycled in Copenhagen, these behaviors are second nature and they are doing one fine job keeping their bike lanes. Sure NYC has a huge learning curve ahead, but I have to say that as of late I haven't been the only one waiting for the street light to turn green -- and it feels great.

Prospect Park West: showing support

It was so nice to see how many of last night's Community Board 6's Public Hearing on Safety Improvements to Prospect Park West attendees wore the brightly coloured stickers in support of keeping the current PPW (Class I) bike lanes. Transportation Alternatives, thanks for making and distributing them!

The hearing's format allowed attendees to give 3 minute testimonies and the two groups who have filed a lawsuit against the city to have the street return PPW to a three-lane road without bike lane, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety, took there turn to speak. I can't say that every single point they made was not valid but most of it was absurd. (That said the only points I personally agree with is simply better signage and light placements for both peds and cyclists - but more on that later.) Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes feels that "the historic character of the street is being threatened" with the inclusion "historically inaccurate traffic signals and streets signs" and such safety improvements as the white/reflective buffers placed near Grand Army Plaza and pedestrian crossings. Umm, what about the "historic character" of having Fresh Direct trucks parked idling their engines and the fact that we don't ride around on horses anymore -- as their flyer at the event depicts. Don't get me wrong, how lovely would it be to have cobblestone streets without cars all together - but is not a city a constantly evolving and growing nebulous of people and activity? Supports cited how bike lanes improve the liveablity and quality of life for all residents while the fantastic NYC Councilmember Brad Lander made the point of how the bike lanes "extends the park". And what a wonderful addition that is indeed.

Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes flyer at hearing
- click to enlarge -

I found it impossible not to notice was how many young families (with babies and kids in tow - esp. during an evening time slot) showed up in support of the lanes. This might very well be a sign of Park Slope's youthful renaissance.

(pre) valentine “token of love”

Yesterday morning my commute was filled with a surprising amount of bike love. Cheerful members of Time's Up were out in full force handing out chocolates and 'tokens of love' to cyclists making their way over the Manhattan Bridge. Pretty awesome way to start the day - thanks Time's Up!

Event press release...

“Token of Love” Ticketing Blitz 

NEW YORK, NY - On Monday, 1/31, at 9:00 a.m., members of Time’s Up! Environmental Group, dressed as officers of the New York Peace Department (N.Y.P.D.), will be on the Manhattan Bridge handing out “Token of Love” tickets with chocolate coins and chocolate kisses to cyclists, thanking them with appreciation hugs for braving the cold and continuing to commute through the winter.  This event is to counter NYPD’s ticketing blitz targeting cyclists, which has resulted in over 1400 tickets issued in the first 2 weeks of January.  Many of these tickets, with a fine of $250 or more, have been issued by untrained police officers who are unfamiliar with the traffic laws pertaining to cyclists.  On Monday morning, cyclists will be rewarded for the economic and environmental benefits they give back to the City, turning the bike backlash into bike loving. 

+ if you want to get in on the action {here} are details on Time's Up Valentine's LOVE YOUR LANE RIDE & AFTER PARTY on Friday, February 11th

full suspension

Prince Street lock-up - taken by for the LOVE of bikes

In a city with such limited bike parking options (and fewer due to the disappearing parking meter) - I  appreciated spotting this fully suspended/elevated technique in SoHo last week. However I would like to note that locking up the scaffolding is traditionally a no-no. It was not that long ago that some would go around with a wrench and remove enough bolts to slide off and steal bikes. 

The PUBLIC Blog did a recent post on outwitting thieves using unconventional storage/locking techniques. Mentioned in their post + on the top of my list of what ever bike friendly city needs... bicycle corrals. I loved using them in Portland while visiting in 2009. Strategically placed and typically found in public gathering spots such as in front of cafes - they provide a convenient and secure option to lock up. Here's hoping more cities (hello,  NYC DOT) will catch on!

a dusting

Tuesday's commute.

DOT + MTA's bikable ads

On my way over the Manhattan Bridge last Thursday morning I encountered this gaggle of cyclists gathering together outfitted with bikes + mini billboards (on nice little trailers). Turns out the DOT and MTA teamed up and hired this media company to bring their message to the streets.

Cute campaign but it leaves me wondering if motorists paid attention and read the signs - since as a cyclist in NYC more often then not I feel invisible. I think the billboards would be super great if they were targeting pedestrians with slogans like:

COST ANALYSIS:
I saved $89 in subway fare biking to work this month / $1,068 this year

-- though you wouldn't find the MTA helping to fund that one.