Reactions to our bike commuting can come in two extremes. Some act like we are superwomen or daredevils for riding everywhere, even in winter. Others act like we are frivolous and silly for riding in skirts with Dutch bikes. Neither of these extremes are accurate.
My gut reactions to these two viewpoints vary just as wildly. I want to assure the "superwoman" group that riding a bike is a simple and fun act that requires little more than sitting and pedaling, while I want to curtly inform the "silly" group t...
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Another Sunday ride for alone time, now with my new tripod. 10 degrees F (-12 C) was no reason to sloth around indoors. I took city streets to work every day last week, and hadn't been to the lakefront since last Sunday. I love to be one with frozen Lake Michigan during the winter. Contemplating the horizon makes city living much more interesting.
It's really not that cold. Humans are made to withstand temperature differences. I was totally warm, except for my fingers as always....
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Teen Witch! I was obsessed with that movie for a bit in 1990, carrying around a pink-papered, heart-shaped notebook in which I wrote all the spells. Somehow I had forgotten all about it, until I saw on Lily and the Muse that Teen Vogue posted a remake of the iconic Top That "rap" scene. The two girls happen to be riding bicycles in awesome preppy 80's outfits.
The Original:
Good stuff. I'm really feeling their outfits and definitely the bikes. The music, not so much. 
You can watch the remake here...
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Sometimes snow is a magical winter wonderland, and sometimes snow is simply bad weather. When I need to get to work and 7 inches of snow have fallen in the last 24 hours - that is bad weather.
I wanted to ride the wonderlandy Lakefront Trail this morning, but even if it were plowed that early - and there's no way of knowing - the side streets that lead there were impassible.
I almost turned around immediately after setting out, until I saw that the major street I take was perfectly clear. For mos...
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It's been several weeks since the Jango Flik T8 arrived at my door. Overall, my time with this fleet, flirty folding bike has been a real pleasure. Cute as a button, the Flik is something of a social butterfly, with the ability to attract stares and start conversations.
This is a ride that's sporty yet practical, with 8 speeds, a rear suspension and an eye-catching design. With an MSRP of $1199, this is no bargain bicycle, but the smoothness of the ride and the ease of the fold demonstrate real quality. My f...
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I embarked on a new adventure this year by enrolling in a guitar class. I was worried about transporting the guitar for two miles, but turns out it's easy peasy.
Cycling with a guitar on your back is the kind of simple trick that only looks difficult. The case fits on like a backpack and the guitar is pretty light. The bottom of the guitar stops at the top of my saddle, so there's no interference. The top of the guitar is slim, so it does not obstruct my view looking back.
I already get looks simply for bein...
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The Waltz of the Bikes is already making the rounds in the bike blogosphere, but I feel compelled to post it here. The video is mesmerizing and literally put a smile on my face. Although I have seen countless pictures on Amsterdamize, watching video of cyclists in Amsterdam is powerful.
The Waltz of the Bikes from mike rubbo on Vimeo.
This video also made me a bit sad. It drives home how far Chicago is from the ideal - and Chicago is one of the most evolved cycling cities in North America. I so rarely s...
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My new year of bike commuting is starting out very well. I've been taking city streets and feeling zen about everything. At least 10 other riders traveled my route this morning, a high number for winter. I even ran into another rider I know at a stoplight. The weather is dry and cold-but-not-too-cold (teens F). A few simple changes have improved my winter commute even more: ditching the coat and scarf and bringing along hot coffee to sip. This may sound goofy to some, but it works for me.
I've been hot in my...
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Here at LGRAB, we have a strong appreciation for the beauty of bicycles. So it was with some consternation that I read this paragraph in a post on Wisebread:
number of people who owned very expensive bikes were doing their level best to make them look like $20 Craigslist rejects. It's a simple enough idea. You take your wonderful $1000 bike, and proceed to repaint it, badly, apply stickers and scratches and scuff marks, bits of old tape, dirt, grime, in fact anything you can think of, and hey presto - one expensive...
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