I missed the past couple of Critical Lass rides, so I was happy to catch up with the group for May's ride. Coolest bicycling group in Chicago, for sure, including a couple of baby-bicyclists. We started in Roscoe Village and enjoyed a leisurely ride through Lakeview and Lincoln Park, ending at a Mexican restaurant for margaritas.
Many thanks to our fearless leader Ash, pictured first below.
We got rained on a little during the ride, but hail and lightening waited until we were safely...
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Our friend Melissa (the one who put together the first Critical Mass ride in her old suburban town) is settling into life in Denver, where she moved partly to make living an active life easier.
Recently, BikeDenver put together a photo booth event, We Bike This Town: Portraits of Bicycling in Denver, "to create a collection of portraits of our bicycling community to help us show our elected officials and decision makers who their decisions are affecting." What a great idea!
Attendees were given a word bubbl...
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On Sunday, the Chicago Women-Who-Bike gathered for our April brunch. Although we had to cancel a planned picnic at the last minute due to the weather (never trust a Chicago forecast), a great group of both regulars and first-timers gathered at the back-up location.
Beth (on the left below), a first-timer, is preparing for a charity century ride in June and learning how to use clipless pedals. My hat is off to her! Those are two bikey things that I have never tried before. I love how her Fuji manages to be ...
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Chicago's annual Bike Winter Fashion Show will take place this Friday, as part of the closing party of the Bike Winter Art Show.
I will be participating in the fashion show for vintage shop Lucite Box, owned by bicycling-and-brunching lady Holly. Last week, the group got together for a dress rehearsal, complete with hair and makeup magic by Christopher Conner. Then we had a photoshoot by bicycle style photographer Martha Williams of Bike Fancy fame. She is the best!
I'm in love with the Pashley Prince...
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Two weeks ago, Kermit Allegra and I were invited to take part in a photo shoot for Metro's latest "Share the Road" campaign -- an initiative created through a collaboration between the Mayor's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and Metro Public Health. Funding came from Communities Putting Prevention to Work, a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (so Nashville cyclists, don't say the stimulus package never did anything for you.).
They shot two types of cyclists: me on my bike in a ...
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Seeing a bike on the road in Nashville is still a relatively rare occurrence. One of the most frequent comments I get from people when they find out I cycle for transportation is that they just don't know what to do when they encounter a bike on the road. Generally I'll mention a few of the most frequent car offenses (veering ahead of me just to turn right; dooring), and say that an easy rule of thumb is that they should behave as they would if the bike were another car—or a tractor or other slow-moving vehicle.
...
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Last week I had to go to a friend's house that I couldn't bike to after work. There was a drizzle, it was rush hour and the maybe 10-mile drive took more than half an hour. By the time I got there I was doubly ready for that glass of wine (and I know a lot of people have longer commutes than that). It made me grateful to have the option of cycling or even walking to work, and sad that it's something so many people don't have. This feeling was only intensified by reading an article on Time's website (via), th...
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A couple of weeks ago, I shared photos of my bike ride through Chicago's first protected lane on Kinzie Avenue. I love this lane, so now I'm sharing the experience with all of you. Sorry for the jumpy video - the ride is more peaceful than it looks, but Chicago's streets are bumpy and I was holding the camera in my hand.
Enjoy!
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Does Critical Mass help or hurt the cause of bicyclists? This question is as rife with tension as the big helmet question. Neither is a debate I'm interested in dredging up here. Personally, I think Critical Mass in Chicago is great, but I can understand and respect arguments to the contrary, subject to the same caveat I have for any argument: that it be thoughtful and intelligent.
This week, some guy who wants to sell his book on "urban cycling" wrote a highly inflammatory post against Critical Mass, using ...
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I recently biked along the city's first protected bike lane. It happened to be the most direct route to get from work to the bar where I was meeting Ash for drinks. And it was amazing - all I hoped for and more.
These pictures really don't do the lane justice. Most of the lane is next to the curb and separated from moving car traffic by flexible bollards and parked cars. It is wide and comfortable and felt totally safe. Not having to worry about how close drivers were passing on my left or watch out for open...
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