Sweet Georgia Brown

Heels On Wheels Is My Kind Of Ride

2011-12-12T22:34:00.000-05:00

I'm using this photo taken by Cameron Adams because my camera ate all of my photos, but one. Besides, he takes awesome bike photos.

I purchased the yummy cranberry shortbread dipped in white chocolate (at bottom right) from these fellows. I had pictures of my other yummies that night, but I guess my camera was hungry too.

This most recent "Heels On Wheels" ride was called "Boots On Wheels" in tribute to the season and, while we enjoyed the festive holiday lights of Atlanta, there was no Jack Frost nipping at us. Saturday was a great night for a bike ride with a gorgeous moon in the sky and Santa's abounding in the streets. I can't blame my lack of street scene pictures on my poor photography skills this time; I was too busy talking to the other ladies. This ride is much more about recreation that perspiration so I had tons of reserve energy to run my mouth. Being my first HoW, there were many new folks to meet. I did remember Rachel from Mobile Social IX, but this was my first time meeting, Rebecca, Mathilde, Theresa, and Dionne. There were eight of us in the group, but I'm afraid the names of the other two chic cyclists escape me (I profusely apologize).

This ride had the best "pit stop" ever. As charming as I find Republic Social House and the Eliott Street Deli and Pub, the hospitality of Amalia and Scott Stephens has them both beat. We entered their beautiful home to find the roaring fire they started in the fireplace and snacks and they weren't even there! You know you've got social grace out the wahzoo when you entertain by proxy. Theresa did the hosting honors by providing us with tasty mulled wine, lemonade, fruit, and pita chips and dip. Everyone was chatty, cheery, and comfy at our cycle chic salon where talk ranged from the hunt for a new space to house ABC and Sopo Bikes, pretty bikes, cycling accessories, and growing cycling culture here and abroad.

Renewed with food, wine, and warmth, the ride back to Woodruff Park was no problem. I wanted to go on to the Atlanta Underground Market taking place at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, but I wasn't sure of the direction to take. Rebecca volunteered to lead me there and Dionne arranged to meet her husband there for the market. I actually met Dionne's whole family (!) as I was leaving and they offered to give me a ride to my truck so I could drive it to Betty. I was planning to ride Betty to my truck, but Dionne and her husband didn't think I was in the best area at the best time for a solo ride. (Her husband also seemed concerned by lack of a helmet, but he'll have to take that up with Mikael Coleville-Anderson; I'm not touching it).

Lovely Is The Night

2011-12-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

Bicycle Lights by PDW from PDW on Vimeo.

I was charmed by this pretty little video and didn't notice the placement of a particular brand of bicycle light. Strangely, I have an urge to decorate with paper lanterns. Also, I want to be sure not to miss the social rides coming up next week. (Mobile Social X is 12/9 and Boots on Wheels is 12/10).

Just in case Portland Design Works piqued your interest in their luminary craft, here's a link to a DIY holiday light made from a jar.

Female Cycling Pioneers

2011-12-01T00:43:00.001-05:00

Celebrating women cycling pioneers from goskyride on Vimeo.

I really like this little survey of woman who took to the bicycle for myriad reasons and shook things up. It includes Suffragettes, commuters, and racers. Victorians, Baby Boomers, and Millennials. I think what these women had when they lacked public acceptance or infrastructure was community. I applaud the idea behind the Breeze network--building a sense of community amongst women cyclists through relaxed, fun rides.

In Atlanta, there's a "Heels On Wheels" ride sponsored by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition in addition to two other social rides that occur monthly. Sopo Bicycle Cooperative offers a women's and trans bike clinic. However, I don' think that these organizations should be largely responsible for connecting female cyclists. In fact, the Breeze network trains women to be "Breeze champions" who can organize rides in their communities. That's the ticket. While we advocate for infrastructure improvements and educate the masses, banding together as women on bikes is a powerful way to encourage one another and grow our numbers. Women who want to race can train together and women who want to commute can pootle together and, hopefully, we can all get together for a ride like the Clitoral Mass that just dissipated into Atlanta's smoggy ether long ago.

Cyclette Cycle Chic

2011-11-23T21:52:00.001-05:00

Cyclette is "cycling couture" brought to us by the Australian designers behind Milicent Darling.

The detachable hood looks big enough to fit over a helmet.

Love the reflective back vent.

Roominess and reflective piping make this a very handy handlebar bag.

Cute off the bike as well.

There's a pocket for lights as well as one for your phone and it has a reflective back stripe.

This totally solves the problem of making your hand signals visible at night.

And,oh look, it's another houndstooth cycling accessory to add to your collection.

In my mind, the Cyclette look says, "I'm going to take the lane and you're going to like it." Or "You've been a naughty motorist and I think you need some discipline." I'm not saying you should break out the whips and chains on errant drivers, but if you need a little extra gumption and visibility, Cyclette seems to have what you're looking for.

Unfortunately, it's summer in Australia right now and Cyclette's breezy tops and tanks with reflective bows and piping aren't going to do those of us in the Northern Hemisphere much good. Still, it is pretty warm here in the southern US. Maybe I can fit some fingered gloves under those fingerless gloves (they are must haves in my opinion).

Hot Off The Press Release: The Cooper Oporto

2011-11-18T12:13:00.001-05:00

That's Cooper as in British racing legend John Cooper and the Mini Cooper. With great auto achievement under their collective belt, son Michael decided to focus the attention of John Cooper Works on bicycles. In fact he said

"The Cooper Car Company has always had a passion for bicycles and we have been thinking about diversifying the company for a while. We wanted to turn our engineering know how to making bicycles that offer the best possible components for the best possible price."

Y'all know that I know nothing about bicycle components, but you may recognize the name Reynolds Tubing and the words "lugged and brazed." I'm sure we're all familiar with Brooks and Sturney-Archer. All things fancy-dancy have been going into Cooper Bike's hand-built road bikes for the past two years and now they've launched a step-through model: the T250 Oporto.They didn't skimp on excellence or elegance with this model; it's designed to high standards with civilized cycling accessories and a luxurious touch of leather provided by Brooks saddle and handgrips. In the near future, you'll be able to add the rather fetching Ally Capellino X Cooper bag to your ride. For now, purchasing Cooper accessories online is in the works, but you can buy your Oporto for 1,700 USD here and geek out on the specs here. (Due to technical difficulties details are only on the UK site).

Facehunter Cycle Chic

2011-11-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

All photos by Yvan Rodic, Facehunter.

I'm so happy to see another fashion photographer chronicling the growing cycle chic phenomena.

Be Seen. Be Chic.

2011-11-14T15:20:00.001-05:00

I love this day-glo dirndle by Vespertine. Why oh why do I have such fabulous and expensive taste?

It's chic. It's tweed. It's reflective. What more could you ask for?

For guys and gals. Cinch your coat or your jeans and be stylishly visible to all.

I've seen the HR X CD sash in person and can say with confidence that you must do the "pageant wave" while wearing it. Better yet, you should sing, "There she is, Ms. Chic Cyclist." Tears of joy optional.

I think this trouser cuff is a gender neutral accessory the fellas could enjoy, but I wholeheartedly support any man who wants to be Mr. Chic Cyclist.

With the end of Daylight Savings Time and the beginning of some really early autumn evenings, I've had visibility on the brain lately. I have nice, bright front and rear lights, but lateral visibility is also really important. You can put all manner of glowing rope lights and reflective tape on your bike's frame. You can have a light show in your spokes, but why should your bike upstage you just because it's dark? It's an egregious violation of The Copenhagen Cycle Chic Manifesto you know.

Last week, I featured a video by the freshly Kickstarted company, We Flashy. They appear to have fulfilled their obligations to their backers recently and I hope this means they will have products available for the rest of us soon. Next with products in the offing, is Houndstooth Road. I have it on good authority that a showroom is arriving in Atlanta next year! The website will launch next year too. The Vespertine shop is live with new products coming soon. That's a whole reflective wardrobe on the horizon--make room in your closets.

Mobile Social IX

2011-11-12T21:38:00.001-05:00

Apparently, Atlanta is the new Hollywood and the stars decided to align over the Mobile Social starting point.

It doesn't get more mainstream than a Disney movie. Perhaps this is an auspicious sign for cycling.

I believe Mobile Social IX is the first Atlanta Bicycle Coalition ride I've completed. I got to Woodruff Park on time (!) and rode off with the group. It was quite elevating to see so many people out for a bicycle ride on a chilly fall evening in Atlanta. If I were a better photographer, I would've snapped a picture of the dozens of rear blinkies ahead of me sailing down the dark streets. I did well just to make it to keep up without stopping to take photos. The pace was moderate, but the hills were abundant. In fact, they all seemed to be clustered together in the last quarter mile. Or half mile. I'm not good at determining distances, especially when my lungs are burning. If Atlanta were a city of cyclists, there wouldn't be an iota of respiratory illness among us (or a heat dome above us). It's that hilly.

For all the perspiration--and you know I don't like perspiration--I still enjoyed the ride. I don't get to enjoy Marietta's suburban streets as a cyclist so I look forward to organized rides in the city. I like being around fellow cyclists--riding with them and talking about cyclist stuff--and stuff in general. On the ride, I talked with another female cyclist--Rachel--about cute helmets, bicycle bells, and the increasingly mainstream status of bikes. We also chatted about her cool Houndstooth Road X Cyclodelic reflective sash and restaurants. I talked about Betty to a couple of other cyclists. At Republic Social House, I discussed bike fashion and all the crazy people that I know with Hamzat. We also discussed our food--he ordered some really good fries served in a really big bowl and I got the Taco Trio. (Get two of the same and skip the chicken taco).

I finally met Jett who planned the Mobile Social route and started the blog, Atlanta Intown Cycling. Naturally, I mentioned the sweat-producing quality of the route. He suggested that the "Heels On Wheels" ride might be more my speed--slow. A group of us chatted about slow cycling, normalizing cycling (by biking in places like Marietta), the "Mary Poppins Effect," and Southern food. I wanted to hang out a bit more, but I had to be sure I would catch the bus home. My fellow cyclists are always good about helping me get to the nearest MARTA station--Rachel and her friend lead me directly to King Memorial on their way home. I still missed the 11 PM bus, but I met another cyclist named Vincent who treated me to a soda at a pizza place across from Arts Center Station. Atlanta cyclists definitely make the Mobile Social a great Friday night out on the town.

Bike Videos: Warm + Fuzzy And Flashy

2011-11-09T23:58:00.000-05:00

We-Flashy Kickstarter Video from Alex Vessels on Vimeo.

Rusty True Love

2011-11-04T20:27:00.001-04:00

Cruel (?) fate comes between a girl and her rusty true love. I gasped out loud. Twice. (A++ to whoever did the makeup. It was so chic and effective).

Mini Hybrid Fixies = Mixies

2011-11-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

"Mint" My hands-down favorite.

"Tinsel Town" reminds me of my 2010 New Year bike. If it were more metallic, it'd be a mini-ringer for sure.

"Mocca"

"Tux." The tires are a nice touch.

So this is a first: the bike as a cool gadget. The Mixie produced by Scratch Tracks, "a lifestyle design company for the retro-eclectic clickster," are "part fixed-gear, part urban commuter, part BMX, and all style." This is the first time I recall hearing of a bike made by a company that doesn't make bike or vehicles of any kind. The frames aren't described as male or female specific; they're simple labeled "Criss Cross" or "Straight Edge." The components are standardized, including the "flip-flop free-fix-wheel hub," so you can switch out parts with those of subsequent collections for a customized ride.

This is yet another two-wheeled offering from Urban Outfitters.The lightweight Mixie is easy to carry up to your small city apartment. Just in case you don't live in a tiny walk-up in Brooklyn, this might come in handy during a multi-modal commute. I can get Betty on buses and up escalators pretty well, but it could always be easier. I'm just not sure about the posture of the Mixie rider; I can't tell from their video if it's a comfortable upright ride or a more hunched over one.

Bikes On The Cutting Edge of Culture

2011-11-03T00:59:00.001-04:00

What people with an eye can do with Post-it's! The story of how this started in France is cool and, even better, it looks like it's already spreading. The bike shop picture appears to take place in a Kalkhoff bike shop in Germany. Vive le Post-it War!

Advanced Cycle Chic

2011-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

Speaking of a diversity of images...

All images from Advanced Style

"...Dressing up is really a form of creativity. It's healing. Creativity is healing...when you become more yourself with a capital 's.' And it's not about possessing or obtaining objects, it's more about, as Tziporah said, becoming an art form and self expression"

Debra Rapoport

I love Advanced Style. The women profiled are so amazing. You really must watch the videos featuring Tziporah Salamon (second and third pictures) and Debra Rapoport (not pictured). Really the whole site is just inspiring. I hope that I can become more and more myself everyday without looking for anyone else's approval. That's the key to real style.

Making An Important Distinction About 'Cycle Chic'

2011-10-22T23:49:00.000-04:00

Too many people are conflating this


From morning bike porn. This is image #475. The images directly preceding and following this are more like regular porn, in my opinion, but you can decide for yourself.

...with this

"Style & Substance" is looking like an ironic tagline on this Esquire cover.

The first image says to me, "Chic people ride bikes." It doesn't say to me that you have to look chic in order to ride a bike. Upon further investigation, those curious will find that chic people ride bikes slowly in order to arrive at their destination still looking chic and actually enjoy the ride. The language of personal bests, cycling computers, carbon frames, and whatnot has been excised from the cycling conversation to emphasize looking and feeling good. Everybody can understand that. I think that's what cycle chic is all about--anybody can ride whatever bike they like in whatever clothing they think is cool. Style is personal. You don't have to ride with the peloton like the peloton to be cycle chic. Of course, this concept could be executed better with more diverse subjects--shorter people, heavier people, darker people, older people--but I think greater diversity is on the horizon as the movement grows. The images we'll see won't be predominantly from fashion houses selling the bike as the "it" accessory for their latest collection, but from women taking in their streets on their bikes.

Additionally, the first image is a realistic portrayal of using a bike. That couple could've been waiting at a red light that wouldn't change so they decided to walk their bikes through the crosswalk. (A totally advisable course of action). Moreover, they can cycle in these clothes. She's not wearing super-wedgie producing booty shorts and he's not naked. They don't look tired, dirty, or disheveled. They look like they could jump right back on those bikes and have a grand time. They appear to be dressed for a grand time. In fact, I want to be the woman who can convince her boyfriend to dress like that (and I wouldn't mind having a man who looked like that either). This is cycle chic bike porn. All of my happy buttons are being tweaked. I'm digging the clothes, the city streets, the bikes--the lifestyle. Yes, please. Gimme some of that cycle chic.

The second image is porn-porn. The woman on the bike is an object like the bike which you can't even see. The headline below her cleavage reassures readers that there are more pictures of her accompanying the feature about her because ogling her body is way more important than learning the slightest thing about her as a person. The only positive thing I can say about this picture is that at least it's not an image of just her butt or just her crotch. Let's just say that if a photo looks like it was taken by a creep hiding in some bushes waiting for women on bikes to have wardrobe malfunctions, it's not cycle chic. I would also propose that an image with a naked or half-naked woman and a bike that elicits the question, "What bike," is just porn; it's not bike porn. Another question to consider: does the woman look like she could enjoy the bike? If the composition of the photo doesn't lend itself to the possibility that the woman could enjoy the bike then it's definitely porn because that's the hallmark of regular porn--no female subjectivity.

I try not to get deep on this blog, but citygirlrides pointed out that the whole "girls on bikes" thing is being co-opted by folks who don't give a damn about girls or bikes. Then I saw the debate on Momentum Mag and I had to add my two cents. I think that cycle chic is about the way women want to live--it encompasses the way they want to dress and the fact that they want to ride in a seperated bike lane. At the bottom of it, cycle chic is also about normalizing cycling. It seems to have escaped the attention of Elly Blue and others that chic cycling is slow cycling. One doesn't have to be super fit or young or have the best bike to toodle into their city center for coffee. That sounds inclusive.What doesn't sound inclusive is this debate. We all want to ride our bikes, I don't see the point in dismissing anybody because they want to look a certain way while doing it.

A Minimal Bicycle Purse [Rack]

2011-10-19T11:46:00.001-04:00

Image from Free People where there is only one bag left.

I don't think I'd be comfortable hanging my $200-on-sale (!) bag from the saddle.


Two straps for securing the purse to your bike. No rack required.

I saw this bag a while ago on the Urban Outfitter's site, noted the cool pleated flap, and forgot about it as I'm pretty sure it was priced at $350. It was never depicted as a bag made specifically for a bicycle (totally undermining the clever title of "Moto Bag"). Somehow I came across pictures of it strapped to a bike which only increased my admiration. Collina Strada designer, Hillary Taymour describes her company as eco-conscious and making a bag suited for a woman's bike is certainly a creative way to be green. (This post on for the love of bikes prompted me to highlight this bit of cycle chic).

Adeline Adeline appears to have the leather bag above on sale for $198.00 and a canvas/leather version for $153.00. Kaight has the vegan leather version for $270. If any of you ladies out there pony up the money for this bag, I'd love to get some pictures of you living with it. The price says "precious," but the design says "practical."

Cycling Gents Are Chic Too

2011-10-17T23:38:00.000-04:00

You just can't get enough from Dominic Latham-Koenig on Vimeo.

Of course by now we've all heard about the rather rude GM ad aimed at college students (especially male ones). And you've seen the parody ads too. Perhaps GM execs and others don't realize that it's not just the ladies who look chic on bikes, but gentleman as well. Esquire magazine's blog recently featured two female bloggers expounding upon mens' fashion and one of them said this:

Trainers worn with formalwear make me think of city cyclists. In my book, there's nothing hotter than the fashion of a guy on his bike whizzing through the city. They're the male equivalent of off-duty supermodel style that many men love.

See there, fellas. With the addition of two wheels you're practically a male model--no crunches or powdery protein drinks required.

Topshop Cycle Chic

2011-10-05T22:51:00.000-04:00

Topshop Unique Spring/Summer 20102 - Photos via Fashion Odor

I'm probably most surprised that the fashion-forward Topshop is still showing jumpers for their Cleopatra-inspired 2012 SS collection. Not that I dislike jumpers--I'm glad I'll still be able to get use out of mine next summer. Of course, the cut-out bike shorts caught my eye. They're quite daring. What's covering your bum exactly? Plus, the sheer nude ones look like they'd give you some serious tan lines so let's not imagine the permanent zebra effect the black ones might create. On a more practical note, the last two ensembles look breezy and waterproof. I certainly hope so as a girl could use a bit of high street style during the soggy spring.

Gone But Not Forgotten

2011-10-04T18:16:00.000-04:00

From Lucky Magazine on Tumblr

There have been a lot of changes in the Globe Bikes lineup since Brown Betty and I got together. For one thing, they no longer make the Live Mixte 1. At least not for the American market? While watching this video about the Bobbin Bicycles x Globe shop in London, I spotted the discontinued Haul gussied up with a Brooks saddle. Bobbin Bicycles has certainly given their American additions the full monty, getting The Duke Spirit in on the act. So I guess this means the slow cycling lifestyle doesn't necessarily require a Dutch bike, even when one's in Europe.

Bike Book: The Outspokin' Cyclist

2011-10-04T17:38:00.000-04:00

My first book review. Thanks to Mr. Phillip Barron.

The first thing that struck me about this book was its origin. From 2004 to 2008, Phillip Barron wrote a cyclist column for the Durham Herald Sun. This book is a collection of those columns. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a Southern city paper thought so much of its cycling readership or considered cycling relevant enough for its own column. I'm also jealous. The Atlanta Journal Constitution does not have a cycling column. Even Creative Loafing--the "alternative" paper--lacks a bike column.

Jealousy aside, I appreciate the Zen nature of the book's first part "Why I Ride." The essays here convey the sentiment of taking time out for oneself and slowing down to smell the roses. Barron speaks to both the sports cyclist enjoying those rare moments of being in the zone and the commuter experiencing their city to a degree that only bicycles allow.

Now that Barron has wooed readers onto their bikes, he offers some support and advice in the next section, "Building A Bike Community." He passes along winter riding tips from Ottawa's bike messengers and provides a quick comparison of bike trailers for carrying kids. There are also cool-headed words for motorists and cyclists seeking to share the road.

Lastly, Barron celebrates cycling in many of its varieties and locales. He even rhapsodizes about falling. Taken as a life lesson and not just an accident, I find his parting words have staying power. "Where we fall and bounce back, where we risk and succeed, where we work through fear, that’s where we find meaning in life."

From Atlanta with Love

2011-09-22T00:31:00.003-04:00

The next prize drawing is the 23rd and the whole shebang ends on the 30th. Enter here for a chance to win a Public C7 or a V7 and get the hookup on local treasures. Scoutmob is an Atlanta company that's like Groupon, but with more mystery and mustaches. I think their website just provides a teaser and more is revealed when you download the Scoutmob app.

Ralph Lauren Goes All In On Cycle Chic

2011-09-21T09:18:00.017-04:00

So not only has Ralph Lauren appropriated the style, the bikes, and the mustaches of the Tweed Run/Ride, but he's the sponsor/owner (?) of the Rugby Ralph Lauren Tweed Run on October 15 in New York City. I can't help but think of the Peach Bowl which then became the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and is now just the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Of course, this is going to be a much more exclusive event with registration only available to the first 100 cyclists to sign up. What does that even mean? Maybe the registrants will be eligible to win prizes. Perhaps eager tweedy cyclists will be treated to a special runway show featuring Rugby Ralph Lauren plus fours and capes. Maybe someone will win one of the 50 limited edition Rugby Tweed Run Bikes produced by Pashley Cycles.

Today Is Car Free Day In Decatur

2011-09-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

(Strangely, it doesn't look like there's an observance of World Car Free Day on the horizon for Atlanta where folks could really use a break from cars.) Honestly, the Decatur event doesn't sound so car free as much as it seems to be alternative transportation intensive.

Wednesday, Sept. 21, is Car-Free Day in Decatur. The community is invited to gather at the Community Bandstand during the Blue Sky Concert, noon-1 p.m., for a special celebration. Decatur Active Living will give out special Car-Free Day stickers to those who walk, bike or carpool to the concert.

Other ways to participate in Car-Free Day: make a commitment to reduce your automobile use on Sept. 21. That might mean biking or riding MARTA to work, walking to the store or the Blue Sky Concert, sharing a ride with friends and neighbors, or riding the bus.

No mention of closed roads. At least you can register your bike with the Decatur police. There's also this thing.

The Mobile Social

2011-09-10T23:58:00.227-04:00

My starting point:

Savage Pizza. My favorite pizza place.

Action figures keep watch while you eat ensuring that your meal will be super.


While it's strange to say that one loves any particular restroom, I'll still say it: I love this lady's room.Of course, I should've taken a picture of my pizza, but that would just be too weird.

The happenings & meet-up:

This lady (with her boss' dog) was a vendor at some arty/fashion-y happening in Castleberry Hills.


These folks were here at the same time filming some ABC or NBC movie. I got the scoop from Bobby and Lisa who I met on the way to the endpoint of the ride.

Fini & fire:

I walked with Bobby and Lisa (from Sopo Bikes) from Castleberry Hill to the Iron Pour at Elliot Street Deli & Pub. They clued me in to the goings-on along the way.

Sight #1: This is a 2-seater motorcycle. It has the the top10 answers to questions asked the owner posted on the window--but just the answers--which left us with more questions.

Information on the scratch blocks made during the iron pouring event (available for purchase and made to order).


Folks gathered for the iron pour.

Sight #2: There were intermittent sparks, flames, and smoke before the iron was ready to pour. There was also a suspicion among the crowd that iron core smells like Luden's cherry cough drops until we realized a woman up front was eating cherry cough drops.

The artists prepare to move the bucket o' flames.

The artists pour the iron into the scratch block molds.

I missed the Mobile Social at its starting point which was Woodruff Park. I'd almost caught up with the tail end of the group when I got caught at a red light with a motorcycle cop right next to me! I definitely couldn't run that light. I thought I could catch up with the group on the Freedom Park Trail by taking the train to Inman Park, but I didn't know which direction the group would be coming from. After riding around Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands a bit, I decided to break for some dinner at Savage Pizza. The Pizza Buttafuco certainly put a positive spin on things. Plus, I had a pleasant ride the entire night--no motorists or n'er-do-well's bothered me.

I'd enjoyed the mobile part, but I was looking forward to the social part too. I was glad that there were still some cyclists from the ride at the pub when I arrived. I met a bunch of folks from the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition: Andy, Tara, Hamzat, Sophie, and Drew. Betty also benefited from all the attention and compliments. A guy asked me if he could lift Betty (because I couldn't tell him how much she weighs) and, when he saw that she wasn't heavy, he yelled to his girlfriend, "Honey, you gotta get one of these!" Naturally, Betty got "nice rack" from many observers as well. Sophie and Drew were nice enough to let me tag along with them on their ride home since it approached the Arts Center station. I got to ride in a group after all!

Tour de Fashion Bikes

2011-09-07T00:28:00.000-04:00

Thom Browne, of course. Check out his collaboration with Moncler here. The models rolled down the runway to Queen's "Bicycle Race."

Diane von Furstenberg

Carlos Falchi

Kaelen. I think riding this would be a unique tactile experience.

Nicole Miller. Surprising.

Restore Clothing, designer/manufacturer of "eco-active aparrel." I like the sweetness of this bike.

Stephen Burrows. I like the tail feathers.

Christian Cota.

Tumi, the luggage company. They make some cycling-appropriate bags, but not bike bags. At least, not yet? I wonder if they made the bags as one-off's or are they testing the waters for new products.

Rebecca Taylor. Another sweet bike.

Oh to say I owned a Rebecca Minkoff "Morning After" bag for even an hour.

These are just a few of the thirty bikes designed by "fashion royalty" for the Tour de Fashion. Created by the Fashion Center Business Improvement District, this temporary bike rental scheme is viewed as "a spectacular and innovative celebration of the Fashion District as the home of American fashion.” The bikes were built in NYC and were purchased from Bowery Lane Bicycles. They will be available at stations in the Fashion and Meatpacking Districts September 8-15. You can pick up your designer original wheels for free and ride for an hour after you volunteer your credit card and driver's license information, naturally. More details--bike pictures, hours of operation, etc.--are available at tourdefashion.com.

Bikes At Fashion's Night Out

2011-09-06T22:54:00.001-04:00

Proximity to the fashion industry is the only thing I truly envy the New Yorker. This very night Phillip Lim will be hosting a cycling themed cocktail party at his boutique. According to the Village Voice, the scene will be "kind of like a biker bar/truck stop but with better clothes." There will also be a drawing for a Linus bike and a FW 'Pashli' handbag. Sigh.

My Multi-Modal Artbike Ride

2011-09-03T23:00:00.000-04:00

Michael, chic pedestrian. Outside of the Marie Antoinette I saw at Dragon*Con this was "best outfit of the day".

We stop for free stuff. Cold Red Bull's.

The bike is a found object that hangs in Java Lords all the time.

This frame is a part of Art Bikes.

This frame is displayed at Elliott Street Deli & Pub.

I was very happy to take a break and enjoy a fontina sandwich.

This was my favorite.

Lisa took this picture of me at the end of the ride. I was happy to have spent the day amongst cyclists.

Public transit and I have a tumultuous relationship. Once I get into the routine of taking a certain route we're pretty good, but when I try a new route it's quite ugly. Getting to the Decatur Book Festival in the early afternoon required me to take an unfamiliar CCT bus. I missed two of them before I actually boarded a bus. I thought I missed the first bus because I read the schedule wrong, but it was running late. When I decided that I couldn't take the ungodly heat anymore (even shaded by my umbrella), I took air-conditioned refuge in a nearby business. While I was chatting with the store associate the bus showed up. The second time around, I feared that I didn't have a fare on my Breeze Card so I needed to find wifi to add trips as I had no cash. While I was scanning the area around an apartment building, the other bus showed up. This time I caught up with it, but it drove away as I approached headed up a hill and I couldn't pull the hill fast enough to meet it at the next stop. I wasn't going to let this bus beat me so I decided to regroup at an IHOP at the top of the hill and it was excellent timing on my part as I just then spotted blood oozing out of two gashes on my heel. Betty's shoe-gripping pedals really dug into me as I anxiously tried to catch that second bus. Providentially, I'd felt compelled to pack some Pochacco bandages in my purse. Nothing can hurt that much when covered with a super kawaii bandage and I chalked the whole experience up to rolling with the punches because I knew I would have fun once I got into the city.

When I finally arrived in Decatur, I was too late for the workshop I registered for. I rode around to see if there was anything else going on. Finding zilch, I decided to get on a MARTA bus and head over to the social ride that saw on ABC's Mobile Social page. Unfortunately, my transfer had expired. I thought I was going to miss yet another bus when one entrance to the Decatur station was mysteriously blocked of with police tape. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I ran to the other side, bought fares at the vending machine, and made it to the other side to catch a bus. I showed up at the Plaza Theater late, but not too late for what turned out to be an art bike ride put together by Sopo Bikes. A dozen of us headed off to see frames displayed at Java Lords in Little Five Points, Elliott Street Deli & Pub in Castleberry Hills, and Octane Coffee in West Midtown. We also took a nice lil' detour to check out the folks attending Dragon*Con. (Forgive my lack of Dragon*Con photos. I'm not that quick on the draw and I keep forgetting to put a memory card into my camera).

It was really amazing getting around Atlanta on a bike. When I lived in the city, I pretty much stuck to L5P, Virginia Highlands, and Druid Hills. It was so cool to be downtown and see motorists be cool about it too. We only got one honk and that was from a lady who wanted us to all get in the bike lane and out of her way (I'm guessing). We got shouts of encouragement from some women in an SUV with a bike on the back and some Tech (?) students wished us a "Happy Friday." At Octane, a lady asked me about the ride from the passenger seat of a car. I must admit I was doubly thrilled because she was also a black lady.

The company and the bikes along for the ride were equally cheery. Bobby and Lisa from Sopo Bikes were great hosts and there were some ABC volunteers from Starter Bikes there also. (Starter Bikes could use more volunteers as a lot of people are showing up to work on bikes). One of the riders had a Bamboo Bike built during a weekend in Brooklyn. Some riders weren't very experienced and some had been riding for some time. Just about all said that I had a "nice rack." I knew that they were referring to Betty's accoutrement, not my anatomy. However, that gives me an idea for an ironic tee shirt.

Alice Temperley Bike

2011-08-31T16:49:00.000-04:00

I only know Temperley's work from her collaboration with Target so I wasn't expecting this. Maybe you're feeling it, maybe you're not. Either way this bike is part of a lending program from August 11- October 29 at London's W Hotel in Leicester Square. After that, it'll be auctioned off to benefit Elton John's AIDS Foundation.

Overdue Bike Shorts Appreciation

2011-08-30T23:40:00.000-04:00

From the SS 2011/12 collection of New Zealand brand, Nom*d.


I don't know if this is a dress or a shirt, but I'd wear it.

It shatters those pesky fashion rules which say that wearing bike pants under dresses is exclusively for the prepubescent.

--Ingrid Kesa, Pedestrian TV

Missoni Cycle Chic

2011-08-30T20:03:00.003-04:00


If you'd like to try your luck, you can enter to win one of these on InStyle magazine's FB page.

I have tons of blog housekeeping--I still have to sing the praises of the many fine products and gracious sponsors from my contests of almost a year ago--but this Missoni bike is just jumping out at me and I have to say something. It comes with so much slow cycling accoutrement--the skirtguard, the basket, that chainguard. Oh my! What also makes this Missoni bike so striking is that it will be zig-zagging its way onto Target.com on September 13. I hope that its quality matches its style.

I won't be purchasing a Missoni bike, but I might pick up some fingerless gloves a la Karl Lagerfeld. I think they'd suit Betty and me nicely. In fact, I could make a trip to Macy's for this whole outfit. (Kudos to Karl for using often-overlooked navy blue).

Making A Good Case For A Saddle Bag

2011-08-24T20:02:00.000-04:00

I ran an errand today with this purse fairly certain that my belongings were secure.

Somehow my lil' tire repair kit got out of the bag. I didn't detect its absence at all--probably because I was paying such close attention to the traffic. On my way back home I saw it all beat up in a crosswalk.

Even though the packaging is jacked up, the patch kit survived sans the included tire levers. I'm glad I bought those extra pink ones!

My takeaway: I need more purses or Betty could use a bag of her own.

Now I Am Here

2011-08-04T17:31:00.000-04:00

Here would be Portsmouth, VA were I'm visiting family and friends and escaping the torturous Georgia heat. It actually stays below ninety degrees at 11AM! Beside its temperate climate, Tidewater also offers wondrous flatness for cyclists to enjoy. I noticed the other day that I could just ride and ride without encountering any hills which is pretty sweet for commuting. It's like a little piece of Denmark stateside. Happily, I don't seem to be alone in that opinion because I've seen several cyclists since I've been back. One had panniers on his bike (yes!). Unfortunately, it seems that trails are designed with recreational cyclists in mind. As I checked on the progress of trails in my part of the Commonwealth, I found that most of the projects in progress seem to be much farther inland.

There is a complete 5 mile trail in Jamestown which is a part of the Virginia Capital Trail which is also a part of the East Coast Greenway. Jamestown is in Tidewater (it used to be Tidewater), but it's not close to me. Maybe in another two years the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail will be finished and I'll have something other than subdivisions and Chik-fil-a's to look at when I pedal through my old environs.

Too soon I'll be back in hilly, hot Georgia. I was sick my entire first week of vacation and, now, my second and final week home is flying by. I hope to get an actual cycling-related picture before I leave. Remind me to actually bring my camera with me next time I go for a ride.

Kudos To Wolfpack Hustle

2011-07-17T13:46:00.002-04:00

I appreciate your [wolfpack] hustle.

1). You made me actually care about something being reported on Twitter. That takes some doing.

2). You beat an airplane.

3). You're making people truly consider bikes as a feasible mode of transportation. For real. You guys are awesome!

I Am Here

2011-07-16T11:57:00.015-04:00

Mostly recovered from making the second longest transition from one residence to another in the entire recorded history of moving house, I'm ready to jump back in the blogging saddle again. (Only the Israelites took longer to get to where they were going). Now I live in Marietta which isn't that far from Acworth, but is a totally different world as far as traffic is concerned. I live right off of Windy Hill Road which is super busy with cars racing towards 75 or "old 41." When I first arrived at my building I didn't notice any cyclists, but I did see pedestrians so I walked around the area a bit. The sidewalks are pretty extensive--they go all the way to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area except for the last few hundred yards. Betty's slender tires do not handle gravel well so those are some rough final yards and I don't bother to ride her in the park because its paths are also strewn with gravel. I just lock her up at the entrance, walk a little bit, and look at the cranes.

The Hooch.

[The picture from] the one time I rode Betty down by the river.

The gravel-ly path.

The crane.

Contest #6 Winner

2011-01-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Elisa M!

Snowed In

2011-01-13T18:56:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the first day I got out of the house since Sunday. I went to work for a couple of hours. It was kind of a relief, but not that great. Today, is the first day I've ridden my bike since last week. It was pretty cool. Below are some crappy pictures I took with my web cam (because my digital camera is broken) of the snow that and ice (more like ice really) that are causing all the ruckus. And I do mean ruckus--we just started getting mail yesterday (!) and the trash ran three days late. I feel deprived of social interaction and the internet because my cousin has been hogging the ethernet connection, most likely to talk to some bugged-eyed she's been chasing since college or writing embarrassing single's ads. I am, if you can't tell, a bit grouchy.

That first step is a doozy.

Everything coated in very crunchy snow.

Backyard. No barbecues here.

Contest #5 Winner

2011-01-07T23:08:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, RC!

(I don't know if you're a lady or a gent so I used a picture of a lady in the tee shirt for the gents!) Please let me know which prize you're claiming at courtneecycleschic@gmail.com.

Contest #6

2011-01-06T17:27:00.001-05:00

If all had gone as planned dear readers, this contest would've coincided with the twelfth day of Christmas, but apparently that was yesterday, not today as I thought. I guess I can't win for losing with this giveaway. You, on the other hand, can win your choice of a tee and a tote from Dark Cycle Clothing. The "biking is for lovers" tee and the "white rabbit" tee are standouts for me, but there are many unique animal-on-bike tees to chose from.

Husband and wife team--Adam and Coryn--from sunny Tampa, FL are the designers of Dark Cycle Clothing. They screen print intriguing (and not at all menacing) tees and totes with a cycle chic flair. I don't know where the "darkness" comes in exactly--perhaps it's in the eye of the beholder. Leave your comments about Dark Cycle Clothing or your favorite tee/tote to enter to win some cool new gear. This contest will close on Sunday January 9th at 11:59 PM EST. I'll announce the winner chosen by me on Monday January 10th.

Eureka

2011-01-04T18:14:00.000-05:00

Comments are back up! It wasn't the numbering itself that was wrecking the comments feature, it was the fact that I chose the option to embed comments below posts. I will now write an angry e-mail to Blogger and resume my contests. PLEASE leave your comment on Contest #5 Redux to win a lovely tee shirt. Cheers and good luck!

Contest #4 Winner

2011-01-04T18:13:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the sharp-eyed Bryna--she's going to get this gorgeous Mello Velo bike seat cover.

Hey you other winners, I know that things have been a bit hinky on this blog, but my e-mail works just fine so contact me at courtneecycleschic@gmail.com by the end of the week to claim your prize. (I think you guys deserve an extension considering the technical difficulties I've been having).

On It

2010-12-30T17:44:00.002-05:00

Apparently, my new numbered comments code is still reeking havoc on this blog. I'm removing it and trying a different way of numbering comments so hit up the comments section tonight or e-mail me to let me know if I'm fixing the problem or not. Until I find the resolution I'm postponing my next contests, but only for a bit. In the meantime, e-mail me your comments about Mello Velo bicycle seat covers and I'll proceed with randomly choosing the winners. Okay everybody, let's all cross our fingers as I tinker with this blog.

Contest #5 Redux + A Discovery

2010-12-28T15:40:00.001-05:00

I was notified by readers of a problem leaving comments and I think (I hope) I've fixed it. Perhaps my settings for comments were altered when I added numbering to my comments section--in any case, I'll work to resolve any issues preventing folks from entering contests because I want you guys to win stuff! And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

According to Google Translate Zum Heimathafen means "home port" which seems awfully nautical for a bike blog, but the artist offers wonderful bike-related tees and whimisical assorted goodies.

Alex Hanke is the artist behind Zum Heimathafen and apparently he has an affinity for sailing, cycling, and seeing bears in flight--really adorable bears!

One of the prints you can view at the Zum Heimathafen Dawanda shop.

One of the prints you can view on the Zum Heimathafen Facebook page.

I like the way this man thinks and looking at many of his prints make me smile. That's what makes this contest so very cool--you get a chance to win some joyful, wearable art. Just leave a comment on this post about how cycling/your bicycle makes you happy.

A "melancholy" tee for the gents.

A "four wheels" tee for the ladies.

The contest will close on ~~Saturday, January 1st~~ Thursday, January 6th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be chosen by me and and announced on ~~Monday, January 3rd~~ Friday, January 7th.

Contest #4 Redux

2010-12-27T23:36:00.001-05:00

Do not miss the opportunity to win a warm and fuzzy seat for your seat! Browse the lovely, bright bike bum goodness in Mello Velo's shop and keep up with new additions to the line and new products (like matching basket liners!) on the blog.

Frangipani

Leave a comment on this post about which bicycle seat cover you like the best and you're in the running to win a tactile piece of sunshine to tide you over until the spring thaw! The contest closes on Friday, December 31st at 11:59PM EST. The winner will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG's integer generator and announced on Saturday, January 1st .

We Wish You The Merriest!

2010-12-24T13:32:00.000-05:00

Gone Shopping

2010-12-22T14:53:00.000-05:00

I guess there are more of you out shopping than in years past since 1.) I work in retail and I've seen ginormous amounts of people in the store almost all the time despite the insane 7AM-12PM store hours (now starting even earlier at 6AM) and 2.) the fact that y'all are too busy doing something to enter the latest contests in the Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway. Considering all of this, I'll resume the contests the Monday after Xmas beginning with Contest #4.

Contest #3 Winners!!!!

2010-12-22T14:41:00.001-05:00

This actually turned out to be a pretty simple draw since everybody had about the same number of entries. I had more comments than entrants so if more than one number corresponded to the same entrant, I just skipped to the next unique entrant. With that said, the winners are Elisa M, Bryna, VA_Goonie, and happyd!

Unfortunately, MollettaDesign hasn't hit 200 likes yet on Facebook so there's no special extras that could've perhaps been a consolation prize (sorry, Anne). Be sure to check out the other contests I'll be announcing after Xmas. If you're a winner be certain to e-mail me at courtneecycleschic@gmail.com in the next seven days (I know you're all busy, but come on)! Congratulations, everyone!

Contest #5

2010-12-17T14:42:00.001-05:00

Melt The Melancholy Away

Alex is ready to make some fine bike goods.

Alex is a very busy man making tons of cool cycling-related goodies and generally wonderful art for grateful clients and an adoring public. He has traveled many lands and flies many banners, selling goods on both Etsy and Dawanda (it's big in Europe), and he collaborates with other fantastic graphic designers. I feel lucky to have him sponsor this contest and I don't even get to win anything!

As a graphic designer with a slyvan spirit living in the big city, Alex creates works inspired by the glories of nature and sweet reveries aimed at inspiring your mind to wander happily. Some of my favorite pieces by Alex are his Paperplane tee shirt, Four Wheels bike tee shirt, and Melancholy bike tee shirt.

Both bike tees are products of a collaboration with Schindelhauer Bikes.

Blue definitely does not equal melancholy here.

I have actually tried to use a bicycle to launch flight using an umbrella, not birds. It didn't work, but bicycles make me quite happy nonetheless.

How does your bike/cycling make you happy? Just leave a comment on this post with your answer in order to win a Four Wheels tee (for the ladies) and a Melancholy tee (for the gents).

The contest will close ~~Tuesday, December 21st 11:59 PM EST~~ and the winner--chosen by me--will be announced on ~~Wednesday, December 22nd~~. In the meantime, like Alex on Facebook where he flies the Zum Heimathafen (translation: home port) banner. Arghh! Don't worry--you don't need to speak German or Pirate to understand the Facebook page!

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By entering this contest you can earn an additional entry to Contest #3 (the MolletaDesign giveaway). Just click this link and leave a comment on the post saying that you entered Contest #5.

Contest #4

2010-12-16T16:29:00.007-05:00

The Warm And Fuzzies!

After the week of Arctic weather most of us have experienced in the U.S. this is just what the doctor ordered. The bright colors and fun prints of Mellow Velo bicycle seat covers cheer my frostbitten little heart. One of my favorites is the one sporting palm trees--it's reassuring to know that even in the bitter cold your bum can be in Key West!

In true mellow fashion, custom terry cloth seat covers are available in a variety of patterns made to the dimensions of your saddle. Just send along the dimensions of your saddle and Mellow Velo's seamstress extraordinaire can stitch up a cushion-y cover for you with no problem. There are also some sweet matching basket liners available and on display on the Mellow Velo blog. When you get your seat cover, be sure to shoot a nice back figure picture of your satisfied bum and bicycle and add it to Mellow Velo's Facebook page! Now all you have to do to win a comfy bicycle seat cover of your choice is to check out Mellow Velo's wares and leave a comment on this post telling everyone which cover cheers you the most. The contest closes on ~~Monday, December 20th 11:59 EST~~. Winners will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG's sequence generator and announced on ~~Tuesday, December 21st~~.

****************

By entering this contest you can earn an additional entry to Contest #3 (the MolletaDesign giveaway). Just click this link and leave a comment on the post saying that you entered Contest #4.

More Stuff To Win

2010-12-15T13:45:00.001-05:00

Get Melissa + Ignacio's friendship for free and a chance to win more MollettaDesign swag.

Makers of such luxurious mustaches would naturally be so generous, no? Be sure to tell all of your friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and neighbors to like MollettaDesign on Facebook. If they reach 200 "likes" before Contest #3 ends, they'll add extra goodies to the already generous prize packages! That means four folks get extra winnings and 40+ people get the first look into new MollettaDesign design genius!

Contest #3

2010-12-06T18:27:00.003-05:00

Not totally sure this is them, but they look pretty darn cool with those 'staches.

The duo behind MolletaDesign are a couple of awesome bike-loving graphic designers who are also a couple. In their happy cycle chic home, Ignazio and Melissa hand-make bicicentric items that hip cyclists crave. And they would know would know what hip cyclists crave because coolness and bike riding are hereditary traits in both of their families. Also, Ignazio and Melissa are from the bike-friendly cities of Milan and San Francisco. Lucky ducks.

Because Ignazio and Melissa are so cool, there are tons of prizes for this contest. There are going to be four--count 'em people--FOUR winners. Two guys and two girls will receive a mustache, a set of Bicibands, a tee shirt, and a set of greeting cards. Not only will four winners be outfitted with uniquely chic, homemade cycling gear, but they will get formidable handlebar mustaches without the copious amounts of testosterone usually required for that much facial hair. To win this contest all you have to do is leave a comment--any comment you'd like, but preferably a nice one about MolletaDesign. In this comment include 1.) which mustache you'd like 2.) which set of Bicibands you'd like 3.) which tee you'd like, what size, and color 4.) which set of cards you'd like. If you really want to win you can earn extra entries several ways:

1 entry: Like MollettaDesign on Facebook (indicate this in your comment as I am not clairvoyant)

1 entry: Follow @MollettaDesign on Twitter (include your Twitter name in the comment)

1 entry: (per day) Tweet about this contest. Leave a comment for each tweet that includes a link to the tweet. Copy and paste the phrase below.

I just entered to win a bundle of @MollettaDesign super-chic cycling accessories from the Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway. http://bit.ly/hLTziV

1 entry: Follow Sweet Georgia Brown with Google Friend Connect.

5 entries: Blog about this contest. Include a link to the post in your comment.

I know that's a whole lotta instructions, but it's completely worth it! The contest will close on Tuesday, December 21 at 11:59 EST. Winners will be chosen using RANDOM.ORG's sequence generator. The lucky four winners have one week to contact me to claim their prize. As much as would like to keep some of this stuff for myself, any unclaimed prizes will go to the commenter with the next randomly generated integer to be drawn in the sequence. Keep your eyes on Sweet Georgia Brown for more chances to earn entries to this contest and even more contests! Good luck everyone!

Bicibands (Available in 14 colori)

My Favorite Tee

Cards (Holiday and Everyday)

Contest #2 Winner

2010-12-04T14:21:00.001-05:00

Congratulations Jonathan!

My heart goes out to everyone who works in a boring office environment because I've been there myself, but I'm going to go with the used bike shop volunteer, Jonathan. Praline is a used bike and my very first chic bike! Most of the little I know about bike mechanics has come from tinkering around with Praline's components, but only when I was forced to the task. Anyone who fixes up bikes (or facilitates those who fix up bikes) just because deserves some bike art. I hope it inspires you to keep up the good work, Jonathan!

Perhaps It Is Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2010-11-30T18:23:00.001-05:00

Image of Sydney Australia's Tree-Cycle via derrrenbrown.co.uk

I feel a lot better about this Xmas tree than the Xmas decorations that started popping up before Halloween (which isn't in the spirit of the holiday, it's just Xmasploitation).

Contest #2 Extended and A Deal Discovered !

2010-11-29T20:10:00.004-05:00

When I tried to win two Chalk Chalk prints on another blog and came up empty, I was quite disappointed so I'm extending this contest. The contest will now close on Friday with the winner announced on Saturday. I know there will be people who will surely kick themselves if they miss this opportunity to score some cool artwork. Despite the bonus time there will only be one winner, so if you don't win, take advantage of Chalk Chalk's great deal and get those stockings stuffed early!

Click for enlarged view.

Contest #2

2010-11-24T15:28:00.002-05:00

Hyggelig For The Holidays

See more Chalk Chalk prints.

For me, bicycles will be forever associated with the word, "hyggelig," because of the blog My Hyggelig and because Danish people always look so comfortable on their bikes. As a means of truly bringing bikes into the cozy atmosphere of your home, I give you Chalk Chalk. These wonderful chalkboard prints featuring "wheeled, human powered transportation devices" are handcrafted by Spencer Star. All the rage among lovers of chic decor, I was charmed by Mr. Starr's prints last year when he participated in a giveaway on the Bright Side Project. I didn't win and I can't win this one either, but you lucky folks out there have a chance to beautify your homes with 2 pieces of unique bike portraiture by answering one question.

Where will you put your prints if you win?

Bonus points for pictures or fine illustrations.

Contest closes Monday, November 29 at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 30.

Contest #1 Winner

2010-11-24T14:28:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Shenais!

My grandmother was a sweet potato devotee and she lived to 99-years-old (maybe older because she creatively adjusted her age at times). She ate sweet potatoes three ways: candied, souffled, and baked. It's great to see a really different way to enjoy this super healthy vegetable so that people can get a little bit more of it into their diets. Here's the recipe for Sweet Potato and Sage Gratin.

Contest winners have one week to contact me in order to claim their prize. Out of a desire to avoid confusion, I've dispensed with my blog nom de plume and made my e-mail easier to find so just drop me a line at courtneecycleschic@gmail.com.

I'm A Hungry Cyclist

2010-11-24T14:13:00.000-05:00

I like the unique recycled packing materials.

Shiny, new, and untested.


It put a nice sear on the roast.

It held a lot Chicken Tikka Masala.

I like the idea of being a pretty good cook because I want to eat good food as often as possible--after all I am the "engine" of my bicycle. The first thing standing between me and culinary proficiency was the terrible twosome of poor knife skills and dull knives. Once I got that taken care of, I started to look at stocking a functional kitchen (even if my very own kitchen only exists in my imagination). How providential is it then that I would get an e-mail from CSN Stores offering me a gift certificate in exchange for a product review? I bought (because I owed a little balance) the Emerilware Stainless 5 Quart Saute Pan because it looked like it could be a real workhorse in the kitchen. My review is here as well as additional information about the pan. This little adventure is also how I came about the idea for the Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway and a sponsor for contest #1. I hope the winner is as happy with his/her score as I am.

Style Will Save Us

2010-11-23T14:02:00.001-05:00

Another new lifestyle mag called Style Will Save Us is featuring cycling which comes as no surprise given the title and the fact that they're into all things super-stylish, organic, ethical, fairtrade, eco-friendly, vintage, recycled and sustainable. The current issue contains an article about the Brooks Select line of saddles launching in February 2011. Did I mention how much I like the turn of phrase "peachy green lifestyle"? I might have to borrow that.

The Sweet Georgia Brown Grand Giveaway

2010-11-19T18:16:00.001-05:00

I'm certainly not Oprah, but I figure I can host a giveaway too. And while companies compete to have Oprah giveaway their products, I've been pleasantly surprised by how many makers of cool bike-related items have agreed to participate in my little giveaway just because they appreciate what I'm doing at Sweet Georgia Brown. It's been quite the lovefest over the past few weeks. I hope that mutual admiration continues and even more crafty, chic folks decide to get in on this giveaway.

So let's get started with Contest #1

One Good Feast Deserves Another

sponsored by

CSN Stores is an online retailer made up of over 200 shopping sites that sell just about everything you need for your home--they even have a site to help you find the perfect suitacase for when you want to leave home! With the holidays upon us, I thought a $75 gift certificate from CSN Stores was a great way to begin my giveaway. That's a small kitchen appliance, or some nice serveware, or enough "good" towels to allow your family to use them even when you don't have company! Only those who will be celebrating Thanksgiving as a national holiday next Thursday and their maple-loving neighbors to the North are eligible for this contest. (Don't fret my international friends. Way more of my contests are global rather than not).

Now all you have to do to win this contest is to tell me what you plan on having for your special holiday meal(s). Bonus points for including actual recipes because sharing is awesome and blessed are those who actually do the cooking during the holidays! The contest will be closed on Tuesday, November 23* and the winner announced the next day. I'll also have prize claim details on Wednesday. Good luck everyone!

*That means you have until 11:59 PM EST Tuesday!

Bleep!

2010-11-15T20:58:00.005-05:00

@*%$#%

No, the title does not refer to the sound of a bicycle bell. That is the safe-for-work/children version of my sentiments when I accidentally deleted the original template for this blog (and all the colors I'd chosen for it) using Blogger's template designer. Who says I want to redesign my whole freakin' template? I just wanted to make the body of my blog wider without have to get down into the HTML of it like a spelunker, but the joke's on me because I had to do it anyway to get this baby halfway back to normal. I'm sure all of the colors aren't right and my bloglist is missing 20+ blogs. I'll be getting to the remaining repairs tomorrow. I've been sitting here for quite a while and, frankly, my butt hurts. Also, my feet are cold (I'm in the basement). It rained heavily all day so I didn't get to ride. I need a hot cup of tea and some cookies. Lots of cookies.

On the brighter side, I have a sweepstakes in the works for the holidays! It was around this time last year that I got a great gift--Brown Betty--and I want to give back to the biking blogosphere. So far many cool Etsy vendors have signed on; now I just have to reach out to some fat wallet wielding manufacturers. More details coming soon!

Will Shanghai Be Forever Cycle Chic?

2010-11-03T19:57:00.001-04:00

Despite all the nurturing and attention American bicycling culture needs, I can't forget that--from an environmental standpoint--cycling culture in places like China and India are hugely important to the world. I remember a bit of an article printed around the time of the Beijing Olympics that stated that particulate matter from Beijing (or it might have been Hong Kong) can be found in the air in Los Angeles. They certainly don't need any more pollutants in LA--and I say that as someone who's lived under the "heat dome [of smog]" over Atlanta. That's why I'm happy to see that cycling is making a comeback in Shanghai.

The iconic Shanghai bicycle manufacturer, Forever, has launch a new brand called Forever C. Apparently, Forever is one of China's oldest bicycle manufacturers producing "old tanks" much like the Flying Pigeon's available stateside. Under the Forever C brand, a bunch of young bike-loving designers have teamed with the company to create slick, modern bikes for their Shanghainese counterparts who have disregarded the bike culture of earlier generations.

The most popular model is based on a Chinese postal worker's bike. It has a simple elegance and is available in black, cream, mint, or red. Other models bring the fun with brightly colored frames or a touch of color from the rims.

Peishan

Wuyuan

Iho

Liuyin

Tanshui

Teddy gives his approval = one fun bike!

Karl Lagerfeld Does Cycle Chic for Italian Fashion Brand Hogan

2010-10-05T17:26:00.000-04:00

This short film entitled La Lettre was written and directed by Karl Lagerfeld to present his capsule collection for Hogan. In it, two lovers cycle through a day in Paris--one brooding over a mysterious letter. Personally, I find cycling helps me clear my head and prevents me from obsessing over stuff, but then again, I'm not Parisian.

When considering the film's theme, Largerfeld recounts his fondness for cycling in New York Magazine.

"Cycling is fun. It’s a young, fresh way of getting around, and it is perfectly suited to the boot I designed for Hogan,” he explained. “When I was young, I used to cycle eight kilometers to and from school every day. When I’m on vacation in the South of France I often ride a bike.”

The Slow Life Is The Life For Me

2010-10-04T20:07:00.000-04:00

I write letters to my friends. I aspire to refurbish romantic old furniture. I stalk sharp knives and saute pans in discount stores with plans to cook really impressive meals with them--once they get marked down.

I'm in serious nesting mode even though I don't have a nest of my own just yet. I've been browsing catalogs for bed sets, couches, bookshelves, rugs, etc. to put together rooms in my head or simply for decorating ideas. Since I don't actually have any room to store furniture, I've limited my purchases to linens and kitchen gadgets. In the "city life" I envision, I create a cozy existence for myself through a lot of DIY decorating projects, home-cooking, and slow cycling to points of interest. Apparently, I'm not alone in thinking that these things go together. I'm happy to see the new shelter (print!) magazine, Anthology, focus on slow living in its inaugural issue. I think when media outlets approach cycling as a part of a lifestyle, it lends urban/commuter cycling a sense of permanence that the fashion industry can't create because trendiness is a part of its trade.

As much as I love to see the next designer bike produced or cyclist-inspired fashion hit the catwalk, I'd also like to incorporate more "lifestyle" elements into this blog. Of course, it would really help if I had a life, but until then I do have a saute pan on the way and a bunch of cookbooks so be on the lookout for some recipe posts.

Chic Is As Chic Does

2010-10-04T19:00:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Lippman for The New York Times
Lela Rose avails herself of fun accessible transportation on her custom-built trike.


Fun acessible shootie designed by Lela Rose for Payless. (It is, of course, sold out online).

While some (more like one) may dispute the findings of this New York Times article on the upward tick in cycle chic in the street of NYC, I'm pleased to see such an article whether there's a mountain of data to back it up or not. One matter not up for debate: chic cyclists are obviously spreading chicness throughout thoroughfares everywhere.

The Seersucker Social Looked Like the Cycling Event of the Summer...

2010-09-06T20:59:00.000-04:00

And I missed it! Unfortunately, I am one of the poor souls that has to work on Saturdays and, even though I would've worn the exact same outfit as city councilman Kwanzaa Hall (above), I'm sure I would've had too much fun to brood over the fashion faux pas. I really, really hope that this event comes back next year (when I'll be living in the city). I'll be sure to assemble a unique seersucker outfit for the occasion.

Puma Gets Bigger and Bolder

2010-09-06T19:01:00.003-04:00

I've expressed my love for the bikes produced through Puma and Biomega's collaboration before. I looovvveeee the colors! I'm so glad to see them take their commitment to urban cycling to the next level and create a cargo bike, the Mopion. Not that they're doing this purely out of the goodness of their corporate hearts. I take this as a sign that urban cycling is steadily growing and getting chic-er everyday.

Here's a white one in the event that you're a minimalist or lack the swagger to pull off all of the colors of the bright model.

Here's a picture of Dottie from the previously-linked-to article about the increasing sexiness of cargo bikes. Dottie, did you know that you're a famous sexy cargo bike rider?

"I'm Gonna Ride My Bike Until I Get Home"

2010-09-06T17:20:00.008-04:00

First, Mark Ronson does an awesome job re-imagining one of my favorite Radiohead songs and now he gives us "The Bike Song." This man and I might have to have some children together.

Kudos to The Bike Blog Book for being so incredibly hip and alerting the world to the existence of this video.

My Atlanta Biking Experience

2010-08-15T17:25:00.000-04:00

On my first day of work in Atlanta, this is the Creative Loafing I saw all around Ansley; I was very pleased. In the month that's followed, I've seen a number of cyclists--mostly men, mostly riding on the sidewalk--as I pass by on the bus. That's right, I said the bus. Unfortunately, my experience of cycling in Atlanta has been restricted to observing other cyclists. Perhaps there are morning people who could get up at 5 AM (or later-- since they're morning people and probably wake up with the energy to shower, dress, and eat breakfast faster than me) and ride leisurely to the Park-n-Ride in time to catch the 6:30 AM bus, but I am not one of those people.

I'm also hesitant to hoist my bike onto the bike rack in my nice office attire. I don't have any assurance that I could change into my office attire later, even though I get to work about fifteen minutes early everyday, because the office isn't always opened early enough for me to change clothes in the bathroom that is absolutely not purposed for such a thing in the first place. Still, I have often wished that I had a folding bike--it would be easy for me to carry it in the truck to the Park-n-Ride and stow it on the bus in the seat next to me. (It seems everybody has any empty seat next to them which really makes no sense when think about how stressful driving in Atlanta morning traffic can be).

I must be complimentary about Cobb Community Transit; the bus drivers do all in their power to be on time and are very professional. My wishes for a folding bike are due primarily to the lateness or absence of the MARTA buses. My office isn't that far from the MARTA station where I catch the CCT bus so I could avoid the anxiety of waiting on a late MARTA bus that gets me to the station just in the nick of time to get the CCT bus. Because of budget shortfalls, neither system has buses running very often on the routes that I take. If I miss one or if one is really late, I am seriously screwed. A folding bike would offer me piece of mind in that regard. So would moving to the city, but that goal must be delayed. My job isn't as steady as I thought it was going to be so I can't move yet.

I hope that I can get into the city and set up digs some time next month. I would hate to miss the Seersucker Social!

Peugot High Fashion Fixies

2010-07-03T15:57:00.000-04:00

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Kenzo Takada

Jerome L'Huillier

Antik Batik

Our French friends helped us fianance our war for indepence and gave us the Statue of Liberty. Now they're giving us high fashion means of independence. French and international designers have designed Peugot fixies that will be displayed at the premiere of the Cannes Film Festival and then be aunctioned off to benefit ACT Responsible. Happy Independence Day, everybody! And bon weekend!

Preppy Bike

2010-07-02T17:14:00.000-04:00

via Bike Rumor

I'm not a Lilly Pulitzer fan, but I'm glad to see that fashion is still smitten with cycling. The Lilly Pulitzer x Van Dessel cruiser is available on the Pulitzer website for $450.

Lessons Learned: Juicy Details from the Maintenance Clinic

2010-07-02T13:27:00.004-04:00

Okay I promised more educational matter to people linking from my Globe blog. So here it is: I learned how to evaluate inner tube damage. "Snake bites" refer to two slashes found in the tube where the rim has pierced/slashed it upon impact. This is common when you hit a pothole really hard. I don't have it in my notes, but I'm pretty certain that you ain't gonna fix snake bites with a patch. This is the moment where you're really going to wish you had a spare tube with you.

Small puncture holes could indicate a puncture cause by friction with the rim. Check the soundness of your rim tape. If you don't replace worn rim tape, don't think that a patch is going to do you much good for any significant length of time. You run the risk of another puncture until you get new rim tape.

A ragged hole that looks like it was caused by an explosion could have occurred because you ran over a nail (or something else sharp like that). *Always check the tire for debris. Run your hand around the inside of the tire casing. If you keep the tube lined up with the tire while removing it, it's easier to locate the problem area on the tire. Josh, the mechanic teaching the clinic, did this by removing the tube beginning at the valve area and keeping the valve area of the tube and the tire parallel the whole time that he was evaluating the tube and the tire.

This is all that I know, for now, that I know how to explain. I fixed my rear brake the other day (it's a linear pull brake). It was rubbing against the rim and making a loud noise, but I don't know how I fixed it. I just did what I thought I saw Josh do at the clinic. Sometimes you just have to have someone show you how to do things in order to learn. I hope that there is someone out there with bike wisdom that can teach everything that you'd like to know. Happy riding!

The Silver Lining of Bicyle Repairs

2010-07-01T13:27:00.000-04:00

Since the Beginner's Maintenance Clinic, I have learned a lot about bikes. Not just from attending the clinic, but by applying what I've learned. After having Josh, the bike mechanic who assembled BB II, walk me through the hub assembly, I felt much more confident about understanding how my bike works. This confidence couldn't have come at a better time because when I got BB home she started acting funny again. (She must have been on her best behavior for Josh earlier at the shop). Betty ran perfectly as I rode her through parking lots behind Out Spokin' Bikes, but back at the house the shifting problems began anew. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened on the ride outside of the fact that I put my "sister", the chunky Yorshire Terrier, in the basket. I called Josh and he confirmed my suspicion that it wasn't Button's fault. I looked over BB II from the hub assembly to the cable adjustment bolt where I found the issue--there was a tear in the cable. That's my fault--when I was blindly trying to fix my bike before the clinic I tightened the cable adjustment bolt as much as I possibly could and the tension must have ripped it once everything else was in working order. Now I must have the cable replaced, but that gave me the idea to get all the cables replaced with blue ones (as seen below). Do you think they come in sky blue? Do you think I could get a white paint pen and put polka dots all over them (except where the cable feed into the gear shifter, of course)?

Photo of a bike by Public Bikes that I probably got in a press release and forgot about. I think it's the D3.

An Education

2010-06-21T16:10:00.001-04:00

I thought I was going to be writing about my discriminating taste in bicycle pumps in my next post, but twas not to be. You can't get too picky when there are only two or three to choose from and only one of them is the foot pump style you're looking for. I might've exercised patience and searched the boundless variety of pumps offered by the internet if Praline's rear tire hadn't also gone flat. At the library, to make matters worse! I had to walk/ride her back to the house which made me nervous every time I went downhill. I didn't want to have to replace a whole wheel!

Mad with desperation, I headed to my nearest purveyor of bike supplies--Walmart. I bought a Bell foot pump, went home, and hoped some friend with a Y chromosome would happen by. I think two days later a friend of my aunt's came by and he just happened to have a ratchet set in his car. He was able to remove the hex bolts applied with superhuman-bike-mechanic-strength to Brown Betty. I already had an inner tube for Betty's skinny tires. After that, I though replacing the tube would be a simple job. I thought I'd learn so much from changing Praline's inner tube and the Mr. Lavender mishap. Apparently not. Somehow I messed up the cassette joint/hub gear assembly/gear shifting thingy and now I only have first gear.

Frustrated and confused, I called the bike mechanic who assembled Brown Betty, but he said it was difficult understanding the problem without being able to see the bike. He suggested that I e-mail him pictures so I did. While waiting on a response from him, I decided to also look for information at the library. After searching two library systems (always have more than one library card, if you can) for books on bicycle repair, I located the rather generic-sounding, "Bicycle Repair Manual," published in 2008. Surely, I would find some answers here. I found bubkes.

Now, with a week of coasting behind me--because I can only really pedal uphill--I'm anxious to take the monthly basic maintenance clinic at Out Spokin' Bikes. I literally could not wait for the third Monday of the month to arrive. I've never been to an event like this so I wasn't sure if it was kosher to bring your own bike. After all, when you go to a cooking class you don't bring your own food. I called to ask if it was okay and the guy on the phone told me that it was fine. Maybe I'll be able to get a walk-through of Betty's hub assembly if I show up early. I hope that I learn enough to avoid this sort of situation the next time I change a tire on any bike. I plan on taking notes and, possibly pictures. Wish me luck.

I Can't Believe It...

2010-06-06T00:04:00.004-04:00

It's June, already! I'm finally (hopefully) closing in on a job. It's easy to get to via bus even though I have to transfer from Cobb County's transit system to Atlanta's. Both systems accommodate bikes on their buses and bikes are allowed on MARTA trains. All this is great for me--if I get the job--and what's better is that it will be an easy bike commute once I move into the city. The office is near the relatively calm and cyclist-friendly neighborhood called Morningside.

Finding a job is a job even when you're open to just about any position. I just need to make enough money in the near future to get me out of the sticks and back into the city. It boggles my mind to know how close I currently to shopping, banking, dining, etc. that I can't get to because it's all stretched along a highway. There's one bank in the "downtown" area of Acworth--Regions, the one that features bicycles in all of their commercials. They were also the only bank located in "downtown" Cartersville. I may have to switch banks.

It's really difficult to live a car-minimalist, organic/farmer's market shopping, vintage store browsing, recycling existence in a rural area. This is quite uncanny and irritating when you're surrounded by the beauty of nature and constantly reminded of how it should be cherished and protected.

On a completely different note, I've also been dealing with some technological issues that have deterred me from blogging. my computer is dying one component at a time; my ethernet port no longer functions and I have to get online by hooking up to the modem in the basement with a very short USB cable. The basement is cold; I hate the cold. My CD drive died first. I'm running out of disk space and I have malware that I just can't seem to get rid of slowing down my browser. I'm a hot computing mess and I've been entering computer contests at the library computer lab and praying feverish prayers for some divine intervention regarding this matter. To this end, I must share with you that a blog called The Fashionable Housewife is giving away an HP Touchsmart tm2 here and there. Yes, it's inappropriate, but I'll be so much more prolific in my blogging if I have WiFi and a warm place to sit.

On a cycling note, I've been riding a lot and I've even seen some other cyclists. I've been riding Praline for the past few weeks because Betty has a flat and, even though I have the replacement tube, I can't fix her because the hex bolts were applied with the superhuman strength of a bike mechanic and I can't remove them. (I guess Monty Python was on to something). Getting on Praline after riding Betty for so long felt really funky at first--I felt scrunched up--and I didn't look forward to standing up to pedal up big hills. The next day, however, it felt like I'd never ridden another bike.

I'll recruit someone brawnier than myself to get the bolts off. In the meantime, I'll be looking for a bicycle pump. I had one of those air compressors you plug into the car, but it was borrowed and broken. I'm sure it's a lot more practical to have a bicycle pump when you're planning on living in an apartment so expect some pump related posts soon.

Too Late But Still Cool

2010-03-25T19:44:00.000-04:00

Cross Cultual Race... On a Bike from Jim Kellett on Vimeo.

I've actually had this bookmarked since February and it was supposed to be posted for Black History Month, but technical difficulties and my chronic procrastination got in the way. Still, I think this is a cool image and the snippet of documentary is pretty interesting. I'd hesitate to say that the apparent higher status of these folks represents the quality of life for African-Americans in Denver at the time because I don't have anything but this picture to go on. I will say that these folks have obviously got it going on, especially the dude with the major swagger and knickers!

I Thought Those Showers Were Supposed to Come In April

2010-03-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

Actually, I don't mind riding when it's damp. A little drizzle doesn't bother me. Just about anything is preferable to staying in the house all day (especially when the temperament of a housemate is more miserable than any overcast day).

I also love the opportunity to wear my lipstick-pink, kitten-heel rainbooties.

I just wanted to write a long-overdue post to show y'all that I'm still riding, just not blogging very often. My computer is slowly dying--one failing component at a time--and I just figured out a work-around for the ethernet port that went to the "great beyond" last week. I hope this fix will last until I get a new computer. Until something else goes wrong, I will return to my regular blogging schedule.

Models Sure Love Bicycles

2010-03-09T11:11:00.000-05:00

via Fashion, What?

By now, we've all seen pictures of Agyness Deyn on a bike. I did a little post about Lily Cole's bike being stolen. Now, Jessica Stam and company on Velib's. Maybe fashion's love affair with the bicycle won't end suddenly as most trends do. The models certainly find them useful and that's pretty chic in and of itself.

Brilliantly Cycle Chic

2010-03-08T18:31:00.012-05:00

This popped up in my Google alerts from the Santa Cruz edition of Craigslist:

I know it's tiny; click for a bigger image.

Stylists, estheticians, support your local bike mechanic!

The Plastic Fantastic Eneloop Bike from Sanyo

2010-03-04T01:36:00.002-05:00

They don't fit my aesthetic, but could these bikes (and bikes like them) fit the bill for moms wary of abandoning their SUV's to run errands and pick up kids? A comment on the Sanyo Eneloop got me thinking:

This is what the Japanese call the "Mama-chari". Its a purely commuter bicycle, designed for housewives and grannies that go to the grocery and run errands.

The Japanese still run errands using bicycles instead of SUVs, its a generally closer urban environment, so the bicycles aren't completely a recreational purchase like in the US where less people use the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. So a large basket up front, ease of riding for more elder consumers are important, and a mountain bike won't do.

Also, the 'hybrid' electric system is designed so that going up-and-down inclines are effortless for that 'housewife', its not designed for 'sport' but rather for functionality.

At $1800, this electric bike is a lot more economical than the Velorbis Elechic and all that plastic belies it's fancy-schmanciness and innovative technology. Maybe e-bikes like these could nudge moms into the bike lanes (or streets more than likely) because they'd know that the pedal assist was there for back-up if they were a little tired at the end of the day or if they had a heavy load or a massive hill or any combination of those things. I know that there are moms (and dads) who conquer hills and carry kids without a motor, but they're aren't a lot of them and that poses a big problem for utilitarian cycling.

With my new perspective on e-bikes, I must say that I hope to see more like this--just prettier. I'd hate to lose any potential cyclists to the Vespa (not that I have anything against Vespas, but they don't exactly further the cause of better bike infrastructure).

Electric Velorbis

2010-03-04T00:14:00.001-05:00

Velorbis Scrap Deluxe-Elechic gents bicycle

Lithium-Ion battery pack enclosed in waterproof case.

High quality brushless induction hub motor fitted to the front wheel. (Whatever that means).

Display monitor "cockpit" shown with iButton activation key

The electric bike concept gets a chic shot in the arm thanks to the new Velorbis range called, "Elechic" (a portmanteau of "electric" and "chic'). The Danish designers of classic, coveted bicycles have included several ladies and gents models in the new range: in addition to the Scrap Deluxe, there's the Victoria Classic and Dannebrog for the ladies and the Churchill Classic and Churchill Balloon for the gents. Velorbis is also offering an Elechic version of their Mobii tricycle.

Perhaps Velorbis was inspired by the Copenhagen Wheel to make a simple electric motor that would attach to their bikes without ugly-ing them in any way. The bike isn't designed around the motor or designed to look like an e-bike, it's just a slick bike with a motor on it. The only hitch is that, even though the motor is priced separately from the frame, it doesn't look like you can have the motor added to the Velorbis you already own. Elechic bikes are built to order. I think that's a significant hiccup since you probably need to be deeply in love with your Velorbis to plunk down another three grand to motorize it.

Honestly, I'm a little fuzzy on the concept of an electric bike at this price point. According to Velorbis, "the pedal assisted electric motor system brings added convenience and opens cycling up to a wider audience; to those who may view cycling as a physical struggle, those who have steep hills to navigate, and those who simply need an extra energy boost on their journey." Of course, the Elechic bikes are still green methods of transportation and as pretty as regular Velorbis bikes. If cycling is that difficult for these newbies, aren't they just as likely to take their $4,800 (?!!) to a scooter store to buy a Vespa?

Toodling Style

2010-03-02T15:34:00.001-05:00

Republic Bike Plato

Add another word to your vocabulary folks: toodling. (I wrote about it at my Globe blog earlier). Sometimes you're not riding anywhere in particular; you're just out and about for fun. You're not commuting, you're toodling. I've been looking for this word for a while. Previously, I've used "cruising" but I think that word is too loaded with car imagery.

Bike commuters can toodle and toodlers can be bike commuters. Maybe toodling is a pre-commuting form of cycling. Of course, it can also be nothing more than getting out on the bike to toodle around the neighborhood. Any way you look at it, I think toodling represents the disconnect some cyclists feel with the bicycle's role in the fashion world. Neither the bikes nor the cyclists seem serious enough.

How am I going to get to work on a one-speed Dutch bike--there are hills on my commute?! Bike in a dress and heels, you must be kidding? I doubt anyone at Vogue was thinking about your commute when they chose to put a model on a bicycle. They were thinking about looking chic on a bicycle. And they very seriously considered the heels and the dress that the model is toodling about in. No one said you had to go far to be cycle chic or that the trip had to be one of necessity. Toodling pretty much represents the high- fashion take on cycling.

Until recently the symbol of toodling has been an expensive, imported Dutch bike available in your nicer bike shops in your larger American cities. But now I believe we'll be seeing fast, cheap, alluring bikes available to the masses in chain stores like Target and Urban Outfitters. Those adjectives seem incongruous with an activity as slow as toodling, but I think these kinds of bikes will cultivate tons of toodlers who--if they don't become bike commuters--will probably become respectful motorists outside of the saddle. Moreover, more seats in saddles encourages those who do want to commute and pushes the big-time bike makers to create bikes with civilized accessories/bells and whistles that commuters and toodlers will find attractive instead of focusing their energies on sporty bikes.

On a personal note, I applaud any American bike company that makes a bike with a skirt guard! That looks like really stepping out on faith when there's only one American retailer even selling skirt guards (that I know of). I hope that millions of people leave the malls of America this spring with new bikes. Chances are they won't be able to reach the mall on their bikes, but that's okay, I'm sure they'll discover new, local places to patronize.

More Liberty of London Bike Pics

2010-02-23T22:26:00.003-05:00

via Comfort & Luxury

I wasn't the first to post pictures of the Liberty of London for Target bikes. I saw one of those fuchsia, floral affairs on for the love of bikes first. However, I was hanging out in the library one day perusing the magazines when I spotted a photo not-seen-on-the-internet of a Liberty of London bike in O Magazine. Unfortunately, my local branch doesn't have a scanner. That's why I'm so appreciative of Tracy at Comfort & Luxury's scans of the new bike. She did a good job at getting those tiny graphic details and you can clearly see how much the bike is and when it'll be in stores.

At $200, these bikes are priced similarly to the simple, white Muji bike, but where Muji is known for strong design and aesthetics Target is known for low prices. I haven't found any manufacturer information on the web so I can't surmise anything about the quality of these bikes. With Liberty of London's brand on the line, I don't think they would collaborate with Target on a crappy bike, do you?

Wardrobe Malfunctions Avoided

2010-02-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

Beatrice Holiday's Wheel Cute Couture

Here's a preventative measure for the unfortunate gender-bending effects of the nude bicycle + mini skirt photo that has been making its way around cycling blogs galore: funky old fabric seat covers; matching bag optional.

First Day in the Year of the Tiger

2010-02-15T23:45:00.001-05:00

From theurbancountry.com.

From Riding Pretty.

This cyclist has certainly been getting around, as well he should. This is the year of tiger so we need to get our mojo going and get out there. I had a nice long ride this evening in the "cold." Grrrr!

Hope You Had a Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T23:42:00.000-05:00

Seen at Good Mail via dumpsterdiversanonymous.

A Celebrity In Need of Some Cycling Diva Tips

2010-01-27T16:09:00.000-05:00

Clearly, Kate Hudson needs to check out the San Fransico Bicycle Coalition's "Diva's Guide to Biking" (which I have cited on this blog before) to find a more elegant way of keeping her dress in place. Or rather, the wardrobe staff on the set of her new film Earthbound need to read it. They can't have Ms. Hudson flummoxed by the wind up her skirt when she has a kissing scene with Gael Garcia Bernal! (He is a pretty pretty man).

Slow Recognition

2010-01-27T15:01:00.000-05:00

Did I miss it earlier or has the Canadian bicycle company, Jorg & Olif, recently rebranded itself The Slow Life Company™? Their website features short articles on slow food, slow travel, and something they call "slow beauty." Certain sections of their site encourage reflection and thoughtfulness. I like two of their affirmations: The Slow Life Company™ is health and wellbeing without the spandex/ design and culture without pretensiousness.

I don't think there is another North American bicycle manufacturer that claims the Slow Movement to this degree, if at all. After recently finishing the book, "Deep Economy," I feel that--on the one hand--this is a shrewd bit of marketing selling a sense of membership to a community/movement to folks increasingly weary of the hyper-individualistic lifestyle of the past couple of decades. To me, their last affirmation--eco-consciousness without extensive activism--pretty much says, "All you have to do is buy this bike and you're in." Otherwise, why put any limit on the environmental activism that might arise from becoming a cyclist?

On the other hand, the sport of cycling has tons of corporate sponsorship so should I begrudge urban/utility cycling its corporate champion? Perhaps this could be a symbiotic relationship: Jorg & Olif make chic bikes that they sell as symbols of a slow life which may help keep people on their bikes after the concurrently active high fashion love affair with bikes is over.

In other slow developments, Blogger had finally named Copenhagen Cycle Chic one of its "Blogs of Note." Congrats! (In true slow fashion I'm just noticing this now, twelve days after the fact. There was also a road bike blog recognized on January 4th).

More Skirtguard Help

2010-01-16T21:12:00.001-05:00

On Friday, I received a package from Michael, the warehouse manager at Morgan Imports. He sent me the plastic skirtguards he recommended to me for free! I snapped one onto Praline in about 25 seconds. Feeling confident, I was ready try them on Brown Betty, but her brakes made installation slightly more involved. After loosening the brakes, I slipped the skirtguard on easily; nothing popped loose so I didn't think I would need the zip ties they sent me. The other skirtguard was a different story, but when I finally got it on there it turns out it didn't matter. The fenders on Betty are a Mona Lisa smile--slightly curved at the ends--compared to the half moon shape of Praline's fenders. The shorter sides of Betty's fenders had the skirtguards up against the tire so tightly that it barely rolled! Initially, I thought the second skirtguard was the problem because it was slightly bent. I decided to take that skirtguard off the bike and ride with the other one to check out its durability.

Unfortunately, the one skirtguard was still too close to the tire and in the course of my ride it actually removed rubber from it (that white dust on the stay and kickstand). Like I said, it's the spare design of Betty's rear fender that's the problem. The skirtguards fit well on Praline, but that bent second guard still rubs a bit. I think I can unbend it if I heat it up and bend it in the opposite direction.

If you have narrow fenders on your bike, a DIY option might be your best bet. I wanted to call Michael on Friday afternoon after running into my issues, but I my cousin was hogging our internet access at the time. Morgan Imports has a metal skirtguard that might require extra zip ties, but fit Betty better. I still intend to call and ask about it and get any tips about the plastic skirtguards that he or Charles might have. When I get a set of skirtguards on Praline or Betty for good, I'll definitely let y'all know.

Bike Friendly Media

2010-01-05T19:35:00.000-05:00

via Coco, Le Freak, C'est Chic

I've been wanting to document a few of the new blogs popping up that are about utility cycling of feature it as a part of one's lifestyle, but frankly, I've had a difficult time keeping up with all of my Google Alerts. A couple are already in my sidebar-- I Dream of Cycling is representing the ATL and Gatas de Roda is representing Sao Paulo, Brazil. And I can't forget the new (less than three weeks old) Buenos Aires Cycle Chic. Apparently, I'm not a moment too soon in my ambitions because we cyclists need this positive [digital] print to offset the backlash reported by the old media. I found this amusing account in an article from SF Appeal:

"If you didn't know, bicyclists are, along with vegans, atheists, gays, ACORN, the French and, let's just admit it publicly, the international Jewish banking cabal, a threat to the very way of life every American is entitled to by an angry, vengeful baby Jesus.

Haven't you read the chapter of Das Kapital where Karl Marx demands painted bike lanes, ample bike parking, and the freedom -- erm, sorry, tyranny -- of bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs? No, you probably didn't, because as a real American you don't actually read, and because you've never, ever committed any traffic violations while driving. So, continue to fight for God and country and never give an inch to those damn pinkos demanding that you "share" the road!"

Bwahh ha ha! I hope you found that as funny as I did even though I've seen a site where the blogger ends each post "Yours in Christ" and documents the depravity of cyclists, like those riding in the World Naked Bike Ride or riding with their children. It seems this blogger hit a cyclist, was found at fault, and had to pay for the damage she did to her car herself which means that all cyclists everywhere are a menace to drivers and the American way of life because it is, of course, inextricably linked to the automobile. I'm not even going to link to this woman's blog; she doesn't deserve the traffic.

Luckily, people are still blogging about cycling--better yet, cycling with their kids! Two moms receiving Xtracycle sponsorships are blogging about their two-wheeled adventures. One mom is committed to a year of transportation using less than 25% of the vehicle miles traveled of the average American. The other mom is a teacher living in Virginia ( yeah, Old Dominion!).

I've also found bikes featured on style blogs like this one and this one where the blogger's bike was pictured in Italian Vogue (shown at the top of this post)! For the longest time, I've been meaning to mention the lifestyle/decor blog, Lovely Velo, written by a travel planner who specializes in cycling trips (!). Lastly, I want to mention the personal/cycling blog, church of the granny bike. I like seeing blogs where bicycles are integrated into the blogger's sense of style or daily life and I hope that these few are the forerunners to many more like them.

We Bike Bon Temps

2010-01-05T13:53:00.002-05:00

Anna Pacquin on a Nirve Hello Kitty Cruiser via zimbio

I really like the show "True Blood" so I had to post about its two cycling stars. There are a few photos of Anna Pacquin on a bike around the web, but Ryan Kwanten has an interesting tale of cycling which I excerpted from a lengthy interview. Kwanten plays Jason Stackhouse, brother of Sookie Stackhouse, the show's heroine. Before he got this big break he experienced some lean times while trying to find a steady gig. Regarding the frenzied search for work, he says

“In pilot season, sometimes you’re going to three auditions a day. So I got to know the bus routes back to front, and I’d take my bike on the bus and cycle the last few kilometres. For about six months, I was doing that every day.

One day, my last audition was at DreamWorks. So I got my three buses and rode to the building. It’s like Fort Knox trying to get in, so I get through the three or four layers of security and make it to the office, and I chain my bike up outside, on a log, and rush in. I’m in the waiting room, and suddenly this assistant comes running in sweating and says, ‘Someone’s parked in Mr Spielberg’s spot! Someone’s parked in Mr Spielberg’s spot!’ I’m looking around at all the other guys, thinking, ‘Wow, someone’s really in trouble.’ A minute later he reappears and shouts, ‘It’s a bicycle! Does anyone here have a bicycle?!’ So I go out, and Spielberg’s waiting there in his huge SUV, and my bike is literally lying across the ‘S. Spielberg’ sign on the log.”

Perhaps the Spielberg crew doesn't appreciate alternatives modes of transportation because he didn't get the part.

Supermodel Loses Her Super Cool Bike

2010-01-04T16:20:00.002-05:00

At right, bike parking in Cambridge. At left: supermodel/student, Lily Cole, in happier times on her Pashley Princess Sovereign. Pictures via the Daily Mail

Despite her attempts at cycle security, British supermodel, Lily Cole, had her bike stolen somewhere on the Cambridge University campus. Said Cole, "I don't park it at the station. The station is like a cesspit of cycles. It's a bit ugly, so I don't take my bike there. I don't think it's nice to put it in so much danger."

It's bad enough to have one's bike stolen, but to add insult to injury the thief ripped the cute wicker basket off the bike and threw it to the ground before taking off with Ms. Cole's bike. The model/student regards that as, "the most hurtful part of the ordeal." "I bought the bike because it had a nice basket and they just left it there," she said.

I recognize the fact that Lily Cole is in the unusual position of not being a desperately poor undergrad and can easily purchase another bike, but it still sucks enormously to have your bike stolen.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T21:22:00.011-05:00

1966 Hercules via old three-speed gallery

Cyclodelic bike via bliink photography

Everything old will be new again as far as cycling goes--people will continue primping old bikes for new commutes and bike companies will continue borrowing aesthetics and designs from old bikes. In fact the whole idea of utility cycling is a return to something fun and wholesome that we've lost as a society/continent/hemisphere. As people start to recognize what's good about cycling, they need to be reminded that streets weren't built for cars. It's a shame to ride such pretty bikes on the sidewalk as if they were unfit for the road. Someone out there is literally pining for some cycling infrastructure (and a few fellow cyclists to share it with)--let's see if we can get our fair share in 2010.

I Got Skirt Guard Help (!)

2009-12-23T21:03:00.003-05:00

the skirtguard of Filigree's Raleigh DL-1

Thanks to everyone who gave me suggestions and links regarding my skirtguard needs. Since I have two bikes I guess I'll try both of my options. First, I think I could manage making a skirtguard for BBII out of strings. If I pull the strings tightly over the fender, they shouldn't move around (much, if at all) and I don't have to worry about my brakes getting covered up or drilling holes in the fender or putting binder clips on the fender. I don't want to make any drastic cosmetic alterations to BBII because I'm not that handy (yet) and I'm not sure if I require a skirtguard on her. I feel that I'm sitting up so high that my skirts aren't really that close to getting caught in the wheel. Praline is a different story--I've already had one skirt caught in the wheel and since I'm sitting lower I feel that it's a definite possibility in the future. My second option is a plastic clip-on skirtguard from Morgan Imports.

I wasn't sure about ordering anything from the website because I'd never heard of the company before and they have such a wide selection of non-bike related stuff so I called them up (gotta love that Google Voice). It turns out that Morgan Imports is a legitimate business and even though they're not a bike shop they do know their bikes. They also knew about my skirtguard problem because Michael, the warehouse manager, reads this blog. (What a small world). Charles, the store manager, recommended the plastic skirtguard because it clipped on easily to his bike and acted as a splash guard. Michael suggested that I drill somes holes in them near my seat stays and bind them to the bike with zip ties for extra security. Charles said that they'd even send me some zip ties (even though he said he's never had a problem with his un-zip tied skirtguards).

Now I have two solutions for my un-skirted bikes. All that is left to do is the shopping.

Eau de Velo

2009-12-21T23:58:00.004-05:00

This is the most unique corporate fashion/cycle chic tie-in that I've seen so far.

Photos via Experience PARISIENNE

Yves Saint Laurent invited several popular bloggers to explore the values of the Parisienne (also the namesake of their latest fragrance) in different cities around the US and write about their experiences. One astute blogger noticed the affection French women exhibit for bicycles and looked for a bit of that in New York City. (Then again, she would notice that since she was born in Paris).

Win A New Bike for Xmas!

2009-12-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

I feel like Xmas came early for me this year because I got a new bike in November gratis. Now everyone has a chance to win a sweet new ride courtesy of Viva Bikes. Just guess the number of different bikes on display on their website. They even provide a hint--it's more than 100. Contest ends December 23rd.

Beating the Mean Streets Through the Legal System

2009-12-16T12:59:00.002-05:00

Ignore the fact that this is an NYC ambulance. Consider the fact that this image is from a personal injury attorney's blog.

Los Angelenos should appreciate this, especially Bike Girl: according to cycelio.us, "the Los Angeles City Council Transportation Committee considered a bicyclist anti-harassment ordinance and moved to add this ordinance to the city council agenda for the full council to consider, probably in January." While this ordinance could be a significant measure of protection for cyclists, it appears that it's the personal injury lawyers who are highly excited about the law.

New In Urban Mobility: The Copenhagen Wheel

2009-12-16T11:26:00.001-05:00

Besides providing a "bit of a boost" of energy, the information on traffic and smog levels provided by the Copenhagen Wheel could make commuting a little more pleasant for all and attractive to those who have yet to try utility cycling. It certainly diminishes the idea the a person must be ultra-fit to be a cyclist. This could be good for the elderly too, but I'm not sure about how they'd handle the remote access via smart phone. Honestly, I'm not especially keen on the smart phone access because I usually leave my phone at home when I'm out riding. Maybe MIT should develop a remote to go with the device (a simple one, for the Seniors' sakes).

I Need Skirt Guard Help!

2009-12-15T18:50:00.005-05:00

It looks good from this distance...

...but then you get closer.

However, it passed the skirt test...

...and the coat test, as you can see from the basket cam.

The whole shebang is being held together by packing tape, fingernail polish, and a couple of zip ties. Does anyone know how to make a skirt-guard or know a reputable seller of such things?

A Positive Spin on Hipsters

2009-12-10T16:56:00.002-05:00

via by bicycle

They're all riding bikes on rainbows so they can't be that bad or maybe cycling is just that magical.

Hipsters Change. Cycling Remains The Same.

2009-12-09T01:04:00.006-05:00

via Paste Magazine

I'm so happy to see Decatur, Georgia's own Paste Magazine publish something that is causing such a stir around the Web. The connection between hipsters and bicycles really resonated with people as I saw the article first mentioned on The Bike Blog Book and then spotted an article in the school newspaper of the University of Idaho. According to UIA's Argonaut, even if the hipsters are just riding their fixies for fashion, they are dedicated enough to their carefully cultivated images to keep riding in the cold. Filigree also has her own hipster analysis accompanied by a Paste graphic she spotted on Bike Snob NYC. Despite the poor reputation of hipsters as shiftless poseurs, I think this could be positive for cycling. Seeing all those fixies chained up outside the pub on a cold winter evening might make the average person believe that they have the physical and mental wherewithal to ride year-round too.

Cycling Makes You Smarter and Nicer

2009-12-03T15:00:00.001-05:00

via Treehugger/NYT

First, I spotted Anna's post about a Swedish study entitled, "Cardiovascular fitness is associated with cognition in young adulthood." Then, I saw a link to an article (I can't remember where) about a study that showed the negative effects of gasoline fumes on the brains of rats. The Wired article I read says that researcher Amal Kinawy of Cairo University found exposure to gasoline fumes made rats more aggressive and anxious. Moreover, some of the changes in the brain are described as "damage."

“Rats exposed to unleaded gasoline showed indications of increased damage caused by free radicals and altered levels of neurotransmitters in the brain cortex region, in comparison with the control or leaded-gasoline groups. Furthermore, inhalation of both fuels induced significant fluctuations in neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and cerebellum.”

Brain damage?! The health benefits of cycling just reached a whole new level. Perhaps, in the interest of public health, the CDC should revive the "Is your trip necessary?" posters from WWII. Of course, they would need to change the imagery to suit the times--one person sitting in a huge SUV amongst a smoggy sea of other solitary drivers in SUV's ought to do it.

Le Freak C'est Chic

2009-12-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

The Hell-a-Copter Bike

Okay Miami, apparently you like to get freaky with bikes. Ryan Doyle is giving a three-part "freak bike culture" exhibition at Art Basel on December 3-6.

Here's a little taste of one of the exhibitions, Tall Bike Jousting, and here's an interview with the artist at Bike Blog NYC.