On wine labels, that is. Because Alabama has nothing more pressing to worry about than nekkid women. Especially nekkid French women. Won't someone think of the children (who, I'll point out, don't buy wine)? As NPR points out, "Fat Bastard" on a label is still A-OK. (thanks to my bro and Dottie for a heads-up on this home state controversy.)
read moreI've long been a fan of The Guardian, so when they launched a bike blog over the summer that collates all their cycling coverage, I signed up to receive updates. So far, I've not been disappointed. It covers a broad range of cycling culture and news. There are women contributors who write about everything from harassment to riding in a skirt. The show's current podcast, second in what's to be a monthly series, included an interview with cyclist and Olympic medal winner Victoria Pendleton, who said that while she enj...
read moreI'm in love with this recent article from The Guardian, "We wouldn't be seen dead in lycra shorts." The article profiles real London cyclists from different sub-tribes who all cycle for transportation. Their stories are presented simply, relying largely on the cyclists' own words. The writer does not wander into cliched presentations of danger or car-bike wars. "Bromptons have this whole personality," Andrew Alleyne explains. "I hate to say this, because I don't like smug Mac users, but people love their Brompt...
read moreI had a lovely ride this morning on the lakefront trail and a lovely ride this evening on the city streets. My heart always thumps wildly when I ride in the Loop (the core of downtown Chicago) during rush hour, but that must be good for the cardiovascular system. A special thanks to the SUV that honked at me in a good way - to let me know he was stopping so I could go around the car that nearly ran me over to parallel park. I took the city streets today because suddenly I was so bored of the lakefront p...
read moreDear ActionWipes, Good news first: you work! you really work. Better than the old damp paper-towel routine. Better than a washcloth and soap (no need to rinse). You're reuseable. You do your best to make your packaging environmentally friendly. You're convenient. You included a nice little handwritten note on my order slip. Thank you for all of those things. But do you have to smell like a hippie eating a cough drop? Herbal, I can live with, but smelling like the herb, I cannot. Can we pretty please have the c...
read moreFew magazines are both fun and intelligent: Bust, Bitch, Paste and Lula are my favorites. Sure, all magazines are selling something, but at least these are fresh, smart, fashionable and mostly free of body hate. Imagine my pleasure when I saw that the new issue of BUST has a photo spread of "Bike Fashion." The particular fashions showcased don't quite ring my bell - a bit too hip(ster) and young for me, but I appreciate anything that presents cycling as a normal activity. Hopefully this spread and others like i...
read moreHello, I am back. 
This is the second in a series of slightly shaky videos documenting my commute. Not sure the full fun of whizzing across the crosswalk and ducking beneath the magnolia was captured here, but I had to give it a shot! This is the closest nature enroaches on my fairly urban route. How about you?
During the summer, Chicago's Lakefront Trail is the most popular destination in the city. People come to jog, walk, cycle, play volleyball, lounge on the beach and people-watch. The trail is a multi-use path, not simply a bike path. Some cyclists sneer at commuters who use the path in the summer because it is so crowded. (To get an idea of how contentious Chicagoans are over the path, check out the comments from a post in the Chicago Tribune's blog.) I love taking the path because the surroundings are so beauti...
read moreThe bicycle is an aesthetically perfect creature. So simple and beautiful. Lately I've been noticing a lot of bicycle inspiration floating around, particularly in the design, style and fashion world. I started collecting gorgeous bicycle pictures this past month from some of my favorite inspiration blogs. A sign of the times. Spread the bicycle beauty... les brumes via Oh Hello Friend The Jewels of New York via Design Sponge and The Paris Apartment Thomas Prior via Daydream Lily The Cherry Blossom ...
read moreThere are some milestones that every cyclist experiences: first time riding to work, first time riding in the rain, first time yelling at a driver, etc. Warm and fuzzy memories. Today, Melissa experienced her first time yelling at a driver: "Thanks for almost hitting me!!!!" He totally deserved it for nearly side-swiping her. This is generally a positive development, I think. It means the cyclist is becoming confident with her skills and space on the road: she knows who's at fault. My first time yelling at a d...
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