I ended the year on Saturday with a ride downtown along the Lakefront Trail with my friend Elizabeth. Here's a little video of cycling the Lakefront Trail heading south. I'm riding my Betty Foy and Elizabeth occasionally pops up with a santa hat on her helmet. The video is sped up by 150% and the song is by The Moonlighters from Free Music Archive.
You can see that the car-free trail is a very nice route, especially when it's not crowded. I would take this route to work every day if it were a little more ...
read more
Bright red seems like the best color for city cycling, getting drivers' attention while still looking stylish off the bike. Chic, classic, and bold.
For this reason, I've been searching for the perfect red coat for two years, especially since seeing this post on Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Yesterday, the miraculous happened: I finally found "my" red coat. I was walking through Anthropologie during my lunch break, which I often do to torture myself because I usually can't afford their beautiful clothes, when I spott...
read more
The past two days have been rainy and super windy, so I've taken public transportation. The L train is no fun compared to my bikes, but I'm grateful for its convenience when needed. The combination of bicycling and access to great public transportation is what allows me to live without a car
Happily, today is sunny and dry, although 39 degrees - brrr.
I'll not complain about fall weather too much, because I know what's coming.
Gotta remember to appreciate the present. Happy Friday!
read more
So for the past month, after the car accident I mentioned in my last post, I've been car-free here in Nashville.
Living in a city that makes only the barest of nods to public transportation, I'd always assumed that being without a car would be a terrible hardship, even though I already rely on my bicycle for most neighborhood trips. Some of my fears turned out to be true and others, not as much. Here's how a few of my preconceptions ended up playing out in reality.
I'd be limited on what I could do and ...
read more
The weather is warm and sunny, the flowers are blossoming, and the traffic is calm on my quiet side street route. Riding my bike is so much nicer than squeezing onto the L train or being trapped in a car.
Even if the rest of my day is not so great, at least I know that I will enjoy my commute to and from work. (Even if I cut my head off with my self-timed photos 
) That's why I ride my bike. Most assume it's an environmental or health statement, but those factors are secondary to having a happy co...
read more
The summer heat has (temporarily?) given way to cooler air - 61 degrees this morning! It's the perfect time to enjoy a refreshing ride on Chicago's Lakefront Trail.
The fresh air off Lake Michigan, scenic views of the skyline, and escape from city traffic combine to make the trail the most pleasant way to get downtown.
As summer winds down, don't forget to stop to smell the roses and take the long way home.
If you are lucky enough to have such a beautiful route option, why would you not...
read more
Last week was Bike to Work Week in Chicago. We celebrate it later than the rest of the country, waiting until June to make sure it does not snow.
I volunteered at an Active Transportation Alliance commuter pit stop one morning. The stop offered free coffee and Clif bars, various swag, tune-ups and general encouragement. I mostly just stood around chatting with friends, though.
This particular pit stop was co-hosted by The Chainlink and REI.
Julie of The Chainlink worked the megaphone with...
read more
Earlier this week, Greg and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary in a typical way for us: eating, drinking and bicycling. I ended up working late and took the fastest and most direct route from downtown to Lincoln Square. By the time I got to the restaurant (Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro) I was sweaty and amped from all the traffic, but after freshening up quickly in the ladies' room, I felt great. Although for the life of me, I could not find my comb (don't you hate it when that happens?). Having a da...
read more
Now that flowers are finally blooming everywhere in Chicago, I'm totally enjoying the gorgeous springtime scenery during my bike commutes. Although winter scenery is beautiful in its own weird way and autumn leaves are striking, spring wins the scenery contest hands down. As long as its not raining.
Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, I have allergies in the form of a terribly scratchy throat and itchy sinuses. I never had allergies before last year. But I'm still happy to be surrounde...
read more
My bike commutes this week have been lovely, happy and above-freezing. Spring is around the corner! I can feel it in my bones, this morning's flurries notwithstanding.
On the way home today, Betty Foy made me stop for cupcakes in celebration of the season. She is bossy. 
I then munched an entire fairy cake whilst standing outside.
Cupcake attack!
At $2.25 each, these sweet treats are a bargain compared to oil. What's your fuel of choice?
read more
