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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It’s too bad that so many New Yorkers still complain about the bike lanes’ contribution to the inconvenience of urban driving instead of promoting them for their obvious role in helping solve the city’s transportation miseries, and for their aesthetic possibilities. I don’t mean they’re great to look at. I mean that for users they offer a different way of taking in the city, its streets and architecture, the fine-grained fabric of its neighborhoods...On a bike time bends. Space expands and contracts.
Check...
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This is all that's going on chez Dottie the last couple of weekends.
Plus books and old TV shows on Netflix. At least I biked a little bit - to get the cupcakes.
And yes, I am a cat person, why do you ask?
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Ride to eat cupcakes, eat cupcakes to ride.
On Saturday, that's exactly what a celebratory group of 18 bicyclists did, navigating 8 miles to visit 3 bakeries and consume countless cupcakes. All in the best summer finery, of course.
After setting off from Wicker Park, we stopped first at Alliance Bakery, my personal favorite of the day. Such delicious and beautiful confections!
The group got a little sidetracked by a very pink sidewalk sale at a boutique next door...
But...
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Recently, I talked about my goal to take a few substantial joyrides this summer. I got lots of great suggestions in the comments, but so far I have not mustered the energy to do anything about it.
My most ambitious ride last weekend involved ambling on Coco to the movie theater to see Midnight in Paris (love Woody Allen!) and stopping for a couple of cupcakes on the way home.
Hey, I know: this was a training ride! I'm deep in preparation for this Saturday's Cupcake Ride. I take this kind of stu...
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Mark your calendar! Together with Sara of This Little Bike of Mine, I will be leading a cupcake ride this Saturday, June 25, at 1:00 p.m.
The ride will be a leisurely 6-7 miles, starting at the Polish Triangle and ending at Oz Park.
We plan on visiting 3 bakeries - Alliance, Bleeding Heart, and Sweet Mandy B's. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat 3 cupcakes (although Sara and I are up for the challenge!). You can always share with a friend. We'll be stopping in a couple of parks to enjoy our tr...
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I know I blog about cupcakes a lot - here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here! - but this is an extra special cupcake bike story.
Last Friday, I stepped out of my office at the end of the day and right before my eyes was a cupcake van parked in front of Oma.
I did not know where the magical cupcake van came from, but of course I immediately made a purchase.
When I got home, I googled the company, Flirty Cupcakes on Wheels, and discovered that it's quite the thing in Chicago. The van drive...
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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?
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I've talked before about how bicycling can help you to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and boost your body confidence. Put the two together and what do you get? Cupcakes, of course! Also, cookies, gelato and whatever sweet treat you like best.
That's right - a major benefit of riding a bike is enjoying the sweetness of life. Many people tend to live in a never-ending state of stifling guilt, wherein they eat something decadent, feel bad about it, hate their body and berate their lack of willpower. Whethe...
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Happy April First!
Chicago's temperature climbed to a high of 83 degrees today! While cycling the Lakefront Trail for my morning commute, I was compelled to pull over, awestruck by the gentle sunrise. Work could wait ten minutes.
I spent my lunch hour on a park bench reading War and Peace and eating the most fabulous cupcake. (Now that I've discovered the cupcake boutique More not far from my office, my addiction can only get worse.)
All of this beauty really warms my hea...
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