Chicago spring is still a bit chilly but overall chill (see how I word-played there?). Most of my rides have been nice and calm on the side-streets and I've been taking time to hang out with friends, read books, drink cocktails, and just enjoy life with Mr. Dottie.
I need to get working on spring cleaning, including taking Betty Foy in for a much-needed tune-up (am I the only one who totally destroys her bike during fall and winter??). But, you know, whenever...
I hope everyone else is enjoying the spring...
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Last week, Trisha visited Chicago for her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!). We were together again!
We biked down the lakefront and stopped by the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Coco and Oma got to be together, too, outside of the garage for once.
While there, we enjoyed a high-quality exhibit, called Bikes! The Green Revolution, that happens to be at the Nature Museum until September 9.
There was a display of cool vintage bikes.
Art work with the theme "bike monsters."
Photo ops with ...
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Saturday morning, I met up with my friend Araidia for a brunch and thrift shop expedition. Of course, we biked, which was half the fun!
There are so many beautiful spring flowers in bloom, we each found one to match our helmets.
Araidia's a purple Bern...
...and mine a pink Nutcase.
We chatted freely along the way, either riding side-by-side or dropping back into single-file when a car approached. The route and area were new to me, so Araidia led the way. Since she took us along a very quite path, t...
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Spring is such a beautiful time of year for riding a bike! Oma enjoyed very much spotting so many of her homeland's flowers during the ride home this evening.
I put her flowered basket back on for now. I could feel a substantial weight difference with the front rack and basket today, versus strapping my bag to the rear rack, but the basket set-up is worth it for the convenience and aesthetics.
The back street route I traveled was car-free for much of the time. Such a rarity in Chicago, which i...
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In a recent comment, LC of Naturally Cycling: Manchester made a great point, saying:
I have made a conscious decision of buying less but buying good quality and ethically made. So I would be happy to pay more for an item of clothing if I know (and it's certified) that it's made ethically, for example the workers are paid a fair living wage, the materials are of certified origins (i.e. organic cotton, fair trade etc).
If the price tag is high just because it's 'fashion', then no, I am not willing to shell out so m...
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Last week, I went to the post office and here is the obligatory cargo photo. :)
Seriously, my bike was the perfect way to go because the place was only four blocks away, but the packages would have been a bit much to carry in my arms. I continue to be impressed by the do-anything straps that came with my Oma, although after 3.5 years in the elements, they're starting to look dry and corroded. I should replace them soon before they snap at an inopportune moment!
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The other day, I wore a full pleated skirt to work, one I had worn while bicycling many times in the past with no problem. I must have been riding Betty Foy and not Oma those previous times (like here), because this time the skirt kept ballooning up with wind and blowing back. While the slightly leaned-forward positioning of Betty Foy causes the wind to push skirts down more securely against my thighs, Oma's laid-back positioning can have the opposite effect.
For a while, I biked one-handed while using the...
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One of my favorite things to do on a weekend is get out of my jammies, bike to the bookstore, and return home to my jammies and a day of reading new books. (I'm a wild woman, I know.) The ride to my favorite bookstore is about 3.5 miles roundtrip - the perfect distance for an easy ride that nevertheless allows me to feel like I've accomplished enough physical activity for the day.
As much as I love this bookstore, I would shop there less often if I could not ride my bicycle, because 3.5 miles is a bit much to ...
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After mentioning that I have not put my studded tires on Oma yet, I missed them this weekend. Some mild precipitation on Friday night caused patches of black ice to form all around the city.
I had to walk Oma over black ice several times while getting around on Saturday - biking to Logan Square to try on vintage outfits from Holly's Lucite Box for the upcoming Bike Winter Fashion Show (found a gorgeous blue velvet dress), back to Lakeview for Heritage Bicycles' grand opening party (crowded!), and to Wicker Par...
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I consider winter to be more than half-way over around this time, late January/early February. February is usually brutal, but at least I know spring is around the corner. This year, November, December, and now January have passed with only a few super freezing days and two noteworthy snowfalls that melted quickly. I haven't even put studded tires on Oma yet.
By enjoying this extremely mild winter, I feel like I've gotten away with something major, like a jewelry heist. I almost don't want to write this ...
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