Rockaway Beach post-Hurricane Irene

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

beer meats bike love @ The Cannibal

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...

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

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...

lady bloggers unite @ Adeline Adeline

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

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

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...

NYC Bike Girl - from streets to TV - casting call

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.

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

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.)

 

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!

Bikes + Skirts + NYC = Celebrating Freedom + Fashion

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

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!

Meet Your (bike) Match & Garden Party - Bike Portraits

Last Saturday's Meet Your (bike) Match & Garden Party was a sun-shining fun-filled success. There was lots of test riding and posing with bikes (along with hysterical laughter) which photographer Eric Wolfe did one outstanding job capturing. THANK YOU, ERIC!!! (That's Nona and me up above!)

We had the pleasure of having a few special guests - like the couple who had just gotten married (seriously) and jumped into the photo shoot, the girls on roller blades who got in on the action, and those riding by on their own bikes with nice little accents including a iced-coffee in a bottle cage and cute little dog in a basket.  I was also thrilled that three of my friends stopped by and left with new bikes (Linus, Biria, and a vintage Schwinn) of their very own!!!

The event was the brainchild of cycling fashion designer Nona Varnado, as part of the The Bird Wheel Collective's Bike Month Ladies Program, and put together this nice description of the very first Meet Your (bike) Match...

The idea behind the Meet Your (bike) Match parties is to get people who don’t own a bike – to come down to a bike shop and check out a wide range of options. Since we (The Bird Wheel: a group of passionate women cyclists) were at Hudson Urban Bicycle (The HUB) on Charles Street in the West Village – that meant a great range of classic used Schwinns & Raleighs to brand new Linus (USA), ABICI (IT) and Batavus (DK) upright and commuter bikes. And have a party! The HUB is fortunate to be on a lovely block right next to the Hudson river with a lovely outdoor space that has been transformed into a garden area. It was just waiting to be turned into a photo shoot & party!

So that’s what we did. The first step was to invite anyone who wants a bike but doesn’t have one. Then invite friends who already have bikes… but you know,  you want another one.

If you want to be sure to hear about future Meet Your (bike) Match parties in NYC -- and. yes, more are in the works -- shot an email to: email@fortheloveofbikes.com to be added to the mailing list!

In the meantime, enjoy and ride on...