Today I rode to Evanson, a city north of Chicago, to hang out with Holly (who writes the blog Dancing Gypsies), where we had a fun time looking through book shops and clothing boutiques. Since the distance was long and the streets totally clear of ice, I rode Betty Foy and took the most direct route along a major street. Things I learned on the 9-mile ride:
I miss riding Betty Foy.
I get a cardio workout riding Betty that I don't get on Oma.
I can sweat a lot even in freezing temperatures.
I was in b...
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In honor of Presidents Day, I'm blogging midday. Oooh, fun. Here are some pictures I took at Navy Pier last week. The wind was fierce and snow was heavy, so I was the only one outside there. This is my first roll of film from a * gasp * film camera. I love my DSLR and am still learning what all the controls do, but the simplicity of an old-fashioned camera attracted me - no batteries required. I bought an inexpensive Diana Mini after seeing the kind of pictures it can take at Daydream Lilly. I like the dreamy,...
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All the heart-shaped boxes of chocolate goodness will be half off tomorrow. Treat yourself.
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Here in Nashville, it's back to our regularly scheduled programming. Still cold and wintry, but the snow is all gone, so I've been able to ride again. The Bat was even talked into posing for a few photos to show off her new accessories -- which my brother brought back from Amsterdam as a Christmas present.
I'm still very jealous that he got to Amsterdam first, but these new "On the Road" panniers went a long way toward making me feel better about it. They can carry a lot and fit perfectly on the rack. Great for gr...
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After a two day bike hiatus while waiting out the snow storm, I was back with Oma today for a perfectly energizing commute in the bright, crisp air. The best winter cycling is a full day after a snow storm, when the skies are blue, the snow is clean and the trails are plowed (at least in Chicago - thanks again Parks Department!). The temperature was 12 F, but as I've said before, I prefer a super freezing sunny day over a marginally freezing gray day.
As if the sunny ...
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In the last 24 hours in Chicago, a foot of snow fell and a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit. The earthquake caused no major damage and I slept right through it. (Now I will have the song "Little Earthquakes" in my head the rest of the day.) My problem is the snow, which will keep me from riding my bike to work. Last year - my first winter cycling - I was more likely to trudge out in extreme weather. This year I feel like I have nothing to prove to myself and can concentrate on simply getting to work, which today mea...
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On Saturday I mentioned that I met a very interesting person during my commute along the Lakefront Trail. That person is Iosif. Iosif is originally from Siberia, but has lived in Chicago for 12 years. He was at the lakefront on Saturday morning looking for a spot to take a quick dip in Lake Michigan. He regularly swims in the winter. Only for a minute at a time, which makes him feel like "a glass of champagne." I love that - who doesn't want to feel like a glass of champagne?! He also informed me that winters ...
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Over the weekend, Jezebel posted about Women of Dirt, a new documentary about women who participate in the sport of Gravity Mountain Biking. In a word, it looks amazing. Though this is miles away from the type of riding we usually feature here, I think we can all agree with the statement at the end of the trailer: "Nothing will ever replace my bike."
Seriously, watch the trailer and tell me you aren't a little tempted to give off-road biking a try. I dare you.
According to the site, the film will b...
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I missed a couple of weeks of guitar bike photos. That's what happens when I'm in a rush. I managed to record today's departure for class.
My fingers are calloused, I have no natural talent and G is really hard. I'm still having fun, though, and cycling with a guitar on my back is starting to feel commonplace 
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Boy, did I have an adventure this morning! The day began like any other. I checked the forecast before heading to the office and read "25 F, sustained winds of 26 mph." Hmmm. Wind is not something I like to play with, but I really wanted to ride my bike. I clicked for more details: "wind direction north-northeast." Great! I was heading south to downtown, so the wind would push me merrily along. What about the return trip? Below it said "wind down to 10 mph by late afternoon." Decision made! Oma and I set o...
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