happy bike to work day

A snap shot taken on a recent evening commute along the Hudson/West Side Greenway -- where the sail boats have started to appear. Oh, how I adore bike commuting.

New Yorkers... don't forget, today until 10am, Transportation Alternatives is serving up free iced coffee, Clif Bars and fresh fruit to cyclists at the following spots:

• On the Brooklyn Bridge
• Manhattan Bridge (Manhattan side bike path exit)
• Bronx - Joyce Kilmer Park (161st & Grand Concourse)
• Williamsburg Bridge (Brooklyn side, entrance to bike path)
• Queensboro/59th St. Bridge (Queens side, entrance to bike path)
• Staten Island Ferry (St. George Terminal)
• Upper West Side - Hudson Greenway (Upper West Side Streets Renaissance)

Enjoy this most perfect cycling weather today!

Hello Kitty bicycle mania in SoHo

Last Friday SoHo experienced cuteness overload. In honor of Sephora's Big Pink Bow fragrance launch, Broadway was lined with models in pink tulle skits, Hello Kitty herself, and a row of Hello Kitty bicycles which they were raffling off that afternoon!

This was happening around the corner from my office, and lo and behold, but not one BUT TWO of my colleagues each won one of these Hello Kitty beach cruiser style bike (which came with a helmet, front brake and bell)! I still couldn't help but wish they had been giving away a bike better suited for city riding...

THE LITTLE BIKE SHOP @ The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show THIS WEEKEND

via DARGELOS

DARGELOS's lightning vest, belt pouch and awesome convertible backpack/tote (above) will be among other accessories for sale at THE LITTLE BIKE SHOP - a pop up shop at The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show THIS weekend!

The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show is taking place 10am - 7pm this Saturday and Sunday at the Skylight SoHo, 275 Hudson Street between Spring and Canal. This year their hosting a slew of bike centric exhibitors (over 50!), offering a chance to win some incredible door prizes including a trip to the Netherlands or a new bike, beer, and valet bike parking.

THE LITTLE BIKE SHOP is a collaborative by Adeline Adeline and Velojoy which looks like they'll have some well curated and mighty attractive offerings...

custom designed saddle by Kara Ginther / Poka Cycles Chainguard via Adeline Adeline 

Hollywood Rides in NYC @ Adeline Adeline

This Wednesday Adeline Adeline, "a very nice bicycle shop" indeed!, is hosting the author Steven Rea with his first East Coast presentation about the book Hollywood Rides A Bike...

Wednesday, March 7th, 6-8pm
Adeline Adeline
147 Reade Street
(between Greenwich & Hudson)
Tribeca, NYC

Looks like we're in for lots of beautiful monochrome bike love featuring Bardot, Bogart, Hayworth, Novak, and many more ♥

image via Adeline Adeline

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

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...

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

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?!

a transportation theme Hall-o-ween

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!

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

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

Oregon Manifest's Utility Bike Design Challenge glory

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

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

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!

scenes from the Brooklyn Bike Jumble

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