Spinlister catching my attention

This bike in SoHo caught my attention for two reasons... (1) the bike's awesome colour scheme - especially like the yellow pedals matching the Ulock and (2) the seat cover ad by Spinlister, a new online marketplace where you can rent/rent out a bike...

via Spinlister

Doing a few quick searches I found a real range of bikes (even one with a kids seat), per day prices (ranging from $10 to $60) with per week options, pick-up locations, though found the majority listed as fitting 5'6" or taller. It was also interesting to see that along with individuals listing their bikes, I spotted a couple rental companies like Bike and Roll on there...

via Spinlister

Before considering renting out on of my bikes, I'm going to spend some time reading through their Terms & Conditions. But it does seem like this site is a pretty brillant way of scoring some wheels for a few days -- especially if your an out of towner - or - making some extra $$ from a bike collecting dust in your tight living quarters. I just know if I were renting, I would be mighty careful locking up! 

If you've used Spinlister, do share your thoughts!!! 

is that seat talking to me?

Its not the first time seeing a company giving away free waterproof bike seat covers as a form of advertising, but I spotted this one in Brooklyn -- not Europe! With the increase in cycling and thus bikes parked outdoors - bike seats appear to be the next available (mini) billboards in waiting.

Timbuk2's Soggybuns campaign (above) is offering 20% off your next purchase on their website and is hilariously collecting your "photos of clever alternate uses for your bike seat cover" which so far includes a shower cap, beret, and a fruit bowl. Too funny!

redefining age + totally inspiring

photograph by Aaron P. Bernstein for The New York Times
Philippa Raschker age 65

photograph by Aaron P. Bernstein for The New York Times
Jeanne Daprano age 75 

Michael Appleton for The New York Times
Kathy Martin age 60

I loved this article about Kathy Martin and other 'master' athletes from yesterday's NYTimes Sports section. Kathy, who started running as an adult, broke more than a dozen American Running records in her 50's. Jeanne Daprano (top) began entering masters track meets in her late 40s and became the first woman to run a seven-minute mile (6:47.91) in her 70's! Such inspiring stories about strong women -- regardless of age.

On a more personal note, I feel fortunate to having grown up with a wonderful female role model: my mother. She has kept active her entire life, keeping her yoga practice an essential part of each day, and at 69 continues to join hikers half her age to climb the Adirondack Peaks. It is wonderfully refreshing to let go of preconceived notions of 'getting older'!

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

thank you, Bicycling magazine

At a NYC Bike Coalition meeting at Transportation Alternatives last night, I was surrounded by fabulous NYC cycling ladies including Adeline Adeline, Nona, Susi, Liz, Julie, Anita, Kim of Biketrain -- more to come on that!, and Caroline of TA.

It was also at the meeting where I got my hands on the March issue of Bicycling magazine! Awesome seeing a strong woman grace the cover + to top it off I was TOTALLY flattered to have been included in their 'LOVE' Venn diagram...

deconstructed: Jacques Tati

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!

gold sprintin' / chevron stylin'

"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!

change of season, in the air

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.

extra sweet bike memories / then and now

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 ♥

bikes at sea... Block Island

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! 

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.

Bianchi's Celeste #227

 

Got a kick out of looking down the other day and realizing I was totally sporting Bianchi turquoise. Even better was coming across this ad from 1984 about the legendary Celeste #227...

José Guadalupe Posada love

Ran into Diego at this past weekend's Bicycle Fetish Day festivities -- and got to check out his latest tribute to José Guadalupe Posada + love of bicycles.

Maid Marian Muffins' ride

Jessica Vander Salm is an educator and baker extraordinaire, who happens to ride a (not so ordinary) bicycle in NYC. Jessica has managed to combine her love of bicycles, teaching children, baking, and business savviness -- and recently launched her self-published ebook Maid Marian Muffins. Earlier this year I caught up with Jessica on her bike promoting the book in Brooklyn with delicious muffins in tow!

First off, how did you get started selling baked goods by bike?

I spent my junior year abroad in Paris - primarily walking and eating. Years later as an elementary school teacher in Manhattan I started baking for fun and bringing in muffins into school for the kids. The muffins were a hit. One day my assistant and I brainstormed about my baking hobby and thought.. 'now wouldn't be cute to sell muffins from my bike'?! And that's exactly what I started doing.

You do have an adorable set of wheels!

I happened to find this vintage English bike called the 'Robin Hood' and it was perfect. When I was looking to name my baking venture I thought 'Robin Hood' would make a great name but it was already taken by a flour company. I then thought of bridging the literary world and naming it after Robin Hood's female companion... Maid Marian.

 
How did you adapt your bike to store all these muffins?

This is where my brother, Jamie, comes in. He studied furniture making in Rockport, Maine and designed and built the carrier. I had initially pictured a front basket but we ended up with a rear compartment which better suited the bike. 

Where have you set up your bike for business?

Since I'm a teacher I am used to waking up early - even on the weekend. Last summer I would bake trays of muffins, load up Robin Hood and head out to greet the morning dog walkers in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. It was really important to me that the muffins were just out of the oven - they just have to be fresh.

Piping hot baked goods in the morning! You must have had a really good reaction from passer-byers.

Yes, people were very receptive. Children in particular. I think the whole concept of me on my bicycle selling muffins was very fairy tail-ish which is where the idea for the Maid Marian Muffins children's book came about. The book really reflects all the trials and tribulations I went through when getting by baking business rolling.

Where can people find you and your bicycle?

For Bike Month, I've been cycling the streets passing out free mini-muffins... next month, on June 18, I'll be joining Recess New York on Governor's Island for a day of food and games. You can also follow Maid Marian Muffins' whereabouts on Facebook!

You can download the fun + interactive Maid Marian Muffins children's book {here} for your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

happy customers enjoying a blueberry muffin

book love: Tillie The Terrible Swede

photograph via TillieAnderson.com

Oh, how my heart stopped a beat when I came across Tillie The Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History in the NYTimes Book Review this morning! This beautifully illustrated children's book tells the super inspiring life story of Tillie Anderson - "the female bicycling champion of the world" from 1897 to 1902 during a time when women were not exactly welcomed in athletic circles.

Some historical context about Tillie...

Although Women's Bicycle Racing began in 1879, during the high wheel era, it was considered more a novelty than a sport until the advent of the diamond-framed safety bicycle in 1890.

Perhaps no one made a greater contribution to the acknowledgment of women as serious competitors in bicycle racing than Tillie Anderson.

Tillie, who from the years 1897 to 1902 was known as "female bicycling champion of the world," was born in Skane, Sweden on April 23, 1875. She was the fourth of five siblings. Tillie's reputation for having a strong will and perseverance began early.

After her father died when she was eight years old, she began working for a neighboring farmer during haying and harvesting to help support her mother, brother and three sisters.
In 1891, Tillie and her brother August emigrated to America, joining their older sister Hanna in Chicago. The rest of the family came to America the following year.

Tillie found work as a seamstress in a tailor's shop. In two years, she had saved enough money for a bicycle. Newspapers of that era like to say that she was thin and weak when she first came to America, but she was quoted as saying "I did not take to the wheel for my health, particularly. I suppose it was more for the reason that bicycles were being used by women and I wanted to try the fad."...

By Heather Drieth
Published in "The Wheelmen"

Excerpt from the book's Author's Note:

Today, we celebrate women athletes, but in the 1890s, many people thought a women's body couldn't handle the strain of athletic competition and that muscles made a woman look manly and therefore not attractive to men. Tillie was an early and pioneering example of a woman who chose to work out and develop her body for a sport.

This book may very well become my most favorite gift idea for children (of all ages) -- a gift of the love of bicycles + sweet dreams + strong women!!!!

image via NYTimes

it was love at first sight

Available on Amazon.

seal it with a kiss

and throw on one of these "Go Green" stamps - available as of April 14th just in time for Bike Month. The USPS also has an animated screen saver you can download {here}...

'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.

when in rome...

Packing our bags for a voyage to Italia. Any cycle-centric suggestions for Roma? Or Firenze?
Loved spotting this Alitalia ad last week - complete with bicycle theme...

honest bike love card

Fellow cyclists, one perfect V Day card from the makers of the Bicibands. Thanks, Molletta Design!

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.