Here's a short video from my morning ride last Thursday. In summer my ride takes place much earlier, and I love the sounds of the birds and the quiet of the street when I am on the road before anyone else (at least, that's what it feels like). Of course, it all seems much nicer when you can't feel the humidity! Other than the sweat factor, does your commute change in the summer?
read moreJJ sure looks happy, with good reason! She is the proud owner of the first Sweetpea Mixte, which has taken its place in Sweetpea's Love Line as the JJ Fantastic. What a gorgeous bicycle! And how fabulous to have a badass bike like this handmade in Portland by a woman! Natalie Ramsland, the builder, and her husband Austin operate Sweetpea Bicycles to "build bikes for women" with the idea that "Every woman is different. Every bike should be too." By the look of their finished products, that line easily could be "E...
read moreThose were the words of the SUV driver who cut me off on Thursday. Really?? And whales speak French at the bottom of the sea, I'm sure. I was riding Oma in broad daylight with no sun glare. The narrow one-way street was ending and I was preparing to take a right. While I was moving over to take the lane, an old SUV started to pull around and squeeze by. I did the "back off" signal that Adrienne mentioned in an earlier comment - left hand out and pushing back with fingers splayed. Completely ignored. After h...
read moreSomehow I'd missed seeing this movie until last year—this is one of my favorite scenes. It's amazing how effortless the puppeteers make this look. If Kermit were a regular bike rider, his legs would have been even more drool-worthy for Charles Durning and his customers. And then there's the bike's geometry, which looks a little off. Perhaps Schwinn designed a special "frog" model?
read moreI've long believed that if everyone spent some time living in a country other than their own, the world would be a much better place. But I never thought about the fact that it could also get people on bikes. My friend Jessica has been studying in Germany for the past few months. Though she sometimes rode a bike to the university here in Nashville, living there has given her a different perspective on city cycling that she shared in a blog post today. As always, Jessica provides interesting insights on German cult...
read moreYesterday morning I was stopped at a red light downtown behind a couple of cars. A police car stopped next to me in the left lane. This may seem like a foreboding beginning, but my experiences with the police while on my bike have always been pleasant (as opposed to when I drove a car and never interacted with the police unless I was getting a ticket for expired plates). Three police guys were in the car and one called out, "Hey, how many miles do you get per..." I thought he was going to say "gallon," making a b...
read moreChicago's bike-to-work week is turning into a soggy mess, but I was out there as usual. Riding through the pouring and chilly rain on my way home, wearing a short skirt and sandals, I was miffed about my circumstance until I saw this guy out on Lake Michigan. Good to remember that there's always someone else who has it worse than you. Who knows, he could have been having a grand ol' time, but I have no evidence of such. This is probably what I look like to drivers as I cycle by in rain and snow storms! ...
read moreThe best thing about this blog is hearing from other cyclists through comments and emails. Recently, we got an email from Sarah about her new and very cool bike Sapphire. Sarah's husband recently bought her this bike on Craigslist, made by Aarios in Switzerland. Does anybody know anything else about this bike or Aarios? The frame is Swiss-made, by Aarios. The only identifying information on the bike itself is the sticker on the seat tube that says "Special Tube Guarantee Hand-Made by Aarios Switzerland" and th...
read moreNow that I've had my Batavus Entrada Spirit for nearly a month, it's time for the review. The short and sweet version: I love it. Buying a bike I'd never ridden was a risk that paid off. My Batavus is sturdy and well-designed. The gears change easily and smoothly. Roller brakes do take a bit of getting used to—you have to grip them much harder to get the same stopping power that you have with a rim brake—but so far, so good, even on the bigger hills around here. Le Peug is upright, but the Bat is even more...
read moreAround here every week is bike-to-work week, but Chicago's official festivities start today, led by the Active Transportation Alliance. A variety of bike commuter stations will be set up along different routes. Two celebrations book-end the week: a bike away from work party on Monday and the Mayor's rally on Friday. For those new to city cycling, Chicago or both, the city has lots of helpful information here. Team Dottie/Oma and Melissa/Smurfette (and Mr. Dottie/un-named male bike) are ready! I'll be eager t...
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