As part of the new LGRAB, every Tuesday we will profile an inspiring everyday cyclist - a weekly series called "Roll Models."
This week's Roll Model is Karen from She Rides a Bike. In 2008, Karen began bicycling for transportation in Flagstaff, Arizona and now blogs about her move toward a simpler and more satisfying lifestyle.
Describe your bicycling style in three words. In 3 words, my bicycling style would be responsible, assertive and well-organized. I wish I could say stylish but it's m...
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Today was another lovely bike ride home. A little windy and chilly, but sunny and relaxing. Refreshing. I was grateful for the escape after a day at the office.
Nothing helps me unwind and appreciate my place in life like time on the bike.
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We've been talking a lot about dealing with unruly skirts and dresses recently. I shared my experiences of tying my skirt and stapling my dress. To avoid such a faux pas in the future, I decided to wear my old Nike spandex shorts (no padding) under suspicious new dresses.
Such was the case with a dress I thrifted last week (ahem, new with Nordstrom tags, I gotta brag). The skirt was full and the fabric light, making the dress a candidate for floating-up-with-the-wind syndrome, so I threw my spandex ...
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Today was a beautiful day. One of the most beautiful of the year. The sunshine and blue skies and flowers and fresh air all made me remember how wonderful living in this world can be, on the right kind of day.
I rode my bike more than usual and I was thankful for the opportunity. In the morning I had to be far downtown for a seminar, so I took the Lakefront Trail for 45 refreshing minutes. A few hours later in the early afternoon, I got to enjoy the outdoors again as I biked from there to my office. Whil...
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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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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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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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The shining sun this morning lured me out to the Lakefront Trail, away from my usual route to work. Once I got onto the trail, I realized that there was an extremely strong headwind, the kind that slows me down by half.
I started to feel grumpy (this was pre-coffee, people!) but I stopped myself and decided to focus on all the good. My path was clear, the sky had a subtle pink tint, and the spindly trees looked cool. I could turn my face up to the sun and feel the slight warmth on my skin.
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My week has been filled with lovely bike commutes, mild weather (50 degrees today!), and only a couple of ridiculously stupid drivers.
As I write this quick post while sipping a homemade cocktail (1 part vodka, 1 part St. Germain, splash of champagne), I'm officially beginning my three-day weekend, thanks to presidents. I have a stack of to-be-read books and an overflowing Netflix queue, but I may slip out for a ride or two to prevent moss from growing on me in a sloth-like manner.
{via}
I wish the sam...
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As the mild weather continues, I've been dressing for spring and removing my light jacket during rides. This weather really feels like April.
The warm weather also makes it a good time to ride with friends and take the long way home, instead of the usual winter feeling of "Get me home as soon as possible, Ms. Bike!"
After work on Tuesday, I met up with my friend Sara downtown and we meandered home up the Lakefront Trail, riding side-by-side and chatting.
But not before fueling up on cupcakes at Sprinkles.
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