Last month, reader Bethany made a delightful comment on my Velorbis Dannebrog review, sharing the tale of her new Velorbis, which she labeled her "mid-life cri-cycle." I responded that if she wanted to send a photo, I would love to share it with everyone here. Today I checked my email and there it was, "Bethany's Velorbis," totally brightening up my morning.
Bethany's original comment:
Mine just came in and I love it! My 50th birthday present, I call it my mid-life cri-cycle. I chose the Velorbis over a...
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I know I'm spoiled by Chicago's collection of bike shops and unique bicycles. The least I can do is take full advantage and share my experiences through this blog.
In that spirit, below is a photo of me saying goodbye to a Pilen this afternoon, after a three day test ride. I'll provide a full review here soon, but spoiler alert: I loved it!
(As an aside, today was 90 degrees and a black t-shirt is great for disguising sweat spots. I'm going to regret saying this in a few months, but - damn, who else ...
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Sun, women, bikes, brunch, sangria, fresh mown grass = a perfect Sunday morning. This month's women-who-bike brunch was a picnic on the lakefront, with everyone bringing a dish to share - and boy were there some delicious baked goods! Although Chicago has scores of great brunch restaurants, the picnic was so much better than being cooped up indoors. After about 8 months of cold, Chicagoans know how to enjoy the summer!
I'll let the photos speak for themselves now.
...
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I'm back from Trishaville, aka Nashville. Although I lived there for only three years and moved away four years ago, Nashville is my favorite city to return to again and again, simply because of Trisha and other friends. And there's something about the South that calls to me, although I spent my youth hatching escape plans.
My three days with Trisha were full of awesomeness, of course: used bookstores, a British sitcom marathon, a discount designer warehouse, French breakfast, fancy ice cream, duck fat tater tot...
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While having Betty Foy serviced last week, I borrowed a Gouden Leeuw Oma from J.C. Lind Bikes (a sponsor of LGRAB) for a couple of days.
Although the Gouden Leeuw may look a lot like my Workcycles Oma, the two are very different bikes. My Oma is a full luxury brick house, while the GL Oma is relatively diminutive, much lighter and $700 less. Also, the GL Oma is a single speed with coaster brakes.
Aside from those factors, there are many similarities. The GL Oma has a powder coated steel frame and all of...
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As I mentioned yesterday, I recently test rode a Yuba Mundo from J.C. Lind Bikes for 24 hours. Yuba is a utility bike company based in California and the Mundo can carry up to 450 pounds of cargo on the back while riding like a regular bike. As some of my co-workers noted today, this is the station wagon of bikes (as opposed to Oma, which they've called my Cadillac).
The bike is not super heavy for its size and is equipped with 21 gears on a derailleur system to help make any load do-able.
You cha...
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Regardless of the actual season, my mind is determined to spring forward. I know because spring feistiness is slowly replacing winter fortitude.
As I mentioned calmly this morning:
THE SNOW IS MELTING!
THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMING!!
THE SPRING IS COMING!!!
After publishing that optimistic message, I swaggered outside in a dress, tights and windbreaker - and the air promptly greeted me with a frosty 27F embrace. Reality rolled her eyes at me.
That's what happens when my head gets stuck in the clo...
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Because of the icy weather, I have not been riding Coco, my Velorbis Studine Balloon, as much as I desperately want to, choosing instead my studded-tire bike. I can count the substantial rides I've taken with her on one hand - not enough for a real review, but enough to talk a bit here and there as I get to know her better.
After my first work commute with Coco a couple of weeks ago, I talked about her ride. In that post, I mentioned how Coco's geometry is different from Oma's, even though the two look like si...
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As winter glides along, I continue to enjoy the beauty of the snow and the invigorating freshness of the cold air. One thing that begins to feel oppressive about the season, however, is the heft of my usual winter wear. As I wrap the same wool scarf around my neck, pull the same clomping snow boots on, and zip the same puffy vest up for the hundredth time, I heave a bitter sigh. That's when I know it's time to get creative.
If you're getting tired of all the bulky accessories that go with winter ...
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On a very cold Saturday evening, a group of fun-loving city cyclists came together for a midwinter celebration at local Chicago shop, Dutch Bike Co. A time to recharge batteries, talk with cool people and drink lots of wine out of a cargo bike. :)
Among the cool people there (I wish I'd taken even more pictures!) was Janet, a writer and illustrator who rides an Oma and blogs at Tuttle Tattle.
And Steve, who just returned from a whirlwind European trip, including stops in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. ...
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