Chic Cyclists

Bicycle Adventure Photos

2012-02-02T09:05:00.002-05:00

Sadly we missed this exposition, but these bicycle adventure photos and posters make me ready to hop on and go!

This one makes me smile as I am shopping for a front-mounted child seat now. The more things change...

Guerre 1939-1945. Circulation à bicyclette dans Paris en mars 1941.

Cycle Skating in Paris 1923

2012-02-01T05:51:00.001-05:00

A friend sent me this link, looks like a possible addition to the Tweed Rides!

Handsome Doggie Porteur in the 18ème

2012-01-31T07:17:00.002-05:00

This is a handsome bike. I think it might be a Pista from before they started clear coating over the labels, so there are no labels. The components are mostly Campy, that saddle is the Brooks with the hammered rivets. Everything about this bike is thoughtful, which is why it is so odd that it hasn't moved from this parking space in three weeks, apparently forgotten. It has rained almost every day, on to that beautiful saddle.

In three weeks no one has even touched this frame pump!

The bag is a Rixen & Kaul doggie bag.

Vanmoof City Bike

2012-01-30T07:40:00.001-05:00

We spotted an interesting bike down by the Louvre. I should have gotten full-bike photos, but you can see some of those at the Vanmoof website.

It looked to me like the headlight was integrated into the top tube, but we can't find a power source, or a switch.

Taken to remember the manufacturer, you can also see their welds.

I would have expected a red tail light.

From the manufacturer's website they explain:

These LEDS not only charge themselves by sunlight, but in addition you can charge these LED lights with the micro USB cable of your phone. You simply turn the lights on by pushing the small black button on the side of the LED. They only work in the dark so they can never waste energy! These indestructible bulbs are also used for airport landing strips. They are strong and hater-proof.

OK, that's admittedly pretty cool...

It looks like this bike became available in the States just three days ago, but the price is much better in Europe.

FYI, these are the same folks who make the Strida bikes!

DIY French Porteur

2012-01-26T09:04:00.002-05:00

Spotted in the 10ème, this bike amused me with its custom front and rear racks. I'm not certain how either of them are used, but there's no doubt they're custom made for SOMETHING!

The general view of the bike

Do the pushpins say ART.CASS?

Here's how the rear rack attaches to the seat stays. The blue bungies are just on one side.

Steering Wheel?

2012-01-20T07:06:00.003-05:00

Here's a funny bike we spotted in London. I think the steering wheel came off a child's toy. I was staring at the bike and my father didn't even notice the steering wheel, he was so impressed by the lock!

Do you think this person is from New York?

London Bike Share

2012-01-11T06:55:00.001-05:00

How excited was I to see the Barclay's bikes all lined up by our hotel in London! I couldn't ride as much as I wanted because of the baby, but I did get two lovely rides in - one with my husband and one with my dad. I found riding on the left easier than driving on the left, perhaps because we were lane splitting and like a good dancer I just followed the car's lead.

The London system is identical to Boston's with the exception that the stations are installed to be year-round. I had my Hubway key with me, it was too bad I couldn't activate that to access the Barclay's bikes.

The only difference - look out for the LEFT hook!

Double Decker Bike Rack at King's Cross Station, London

2012-01-10T03:24:00.000-05:00

This isn't remarkable, we have these in Boston. What struck me though was how ordinary it is. The one I know of, at Alewife, has a cage with a locked door and an application and instructions. Here you just throw the bike up there.

What a month!

2012-01-06T19:17:00.001-05:00

I have to apologize for being so out of touch. I confess I've hardly even been thinking about bikes even!

Let's see, in the last month I've worked full-time while caring for a baby. That's normal, but I did it without my husband, who had started his new job. I also did it while couch-surfing, because we gave up our apartment but I still needed to work. I coordinated a domestic move, putting our things in storage, and an international move. Then in the midst of all this my sister lost her little girl.

So I haven't been missing without a good reason!

I owe you all a review of a Burley child trailer, which was wonderful and Burley has been beyond patient and understanding about all this. I also have to work out a direction for this blog. There is already a chic cycling blog in Paris... what would you all like to see here?

Missing you all....
-Charlotte

Waterproof Cycling Backpack Recommendation?

2011-11-03T14:26:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

Take pity on my poor husband who has not been on a bike in over a month(!) as he recovers from a big shoulder re-construction surgery.

His armchair cycling has got him shopping for a waterproof laptop-carrying backpack. I am particularly concerned with sight lines as he looks back, and he with it being a backpack because he really does need to keep his shoulders aligned for some time to come. He doesn't need a big bag, as he's actually carrying a very small netbook. It is too bad it doesn't have a solid-state drive.

He's considering this Chrome and this Ortleib, but we're somewhat overwhelmed with all the options out there. A few friends have weighed in with suggestions, PAC Designs looks actually really cool but I understand the messenger-style is a deal breaker in the context of his surgery. Readers, are there any others we should consider? Any comments for or against the two backpacks in contention?

Thank you ever so much!
-Charlotte

Little Green Shopper

2011-10-26T12:08:00.000-04:00

I saw this shopper of ambiguous vintage in the South End and thought of you Velouria: Green frame, cream tires... It would be cuter if the fenders were green too, don't you think? :)

Sometimes you just need a car?

2011-10-19T11:10:00.002-04:00

I have a new commute. My friend watches Future Cyclist two days a week. She's in Arlington just off the Minuteman. At first I drove to her and then rode my bike to work, because that's what we knew. I quickly realized how miserable it is to have my baby in the backseat while I'm stuck driving, so now we take the subway to Alewife, walk a ways to my friend's house, and then I bike to work... Some people make think we just need a car but these mornings together are the highlight of my day.

All this leadup to explain why I was on the subway and saw this Zipcar advertisement:

OK, I agree, sometimes you might just need a car. That's true. But the example given in the photo? That's just not the case there. Sometime you just need SOME BIKE RACKS people! For the $60 annual Zipcar subscription you could get a decent set of front and rear racks, solving the problem posed in the photo for more than just one year.

My HandleBar

2011-10-16T19:47:00.000-04:00

I finally have half a moment to post a photo from my brother's wedding this summer. We were enjoying a sunny afternoon in downtown Boulder when MyHandleBar rolled into town. This thing looked like so much fun I went running over with my niece and her grandpa (my sister's father-in-law, is there a name for our relationship?) Here they are for scale as we checked this thing out:

It is a mobile bicycle bar, with one driver and everyone else literally saddled up to the bar.

The geometry of the cockpit is "relaxed", to say the least. They need 3 people minimum, if I remember correctly, and can take on more than will have pedals. The slope of your hill can't exceed 5 or 6%, but given those constraints it looked like a blast. Maybe someday Harpoon will have one of these and we won't have to ride Brewery to Brewery, we can just bring the beer along!

Boots in the South End

2011-09-22T09:20:00.004-04:00

Submitted by my friend J.

Freebie Friday

2011-09-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

Wow, it has been a LONG time since this blog has had a freebie friday.

In hopes of making up for all that lost time, I would like to offer someone in the Boston area my custom-reinforced Cyclist-themed Bike Rack Wine Box.

For information about the box please see this post with the details and this post with more photos. This box will work best for you if you have a Blackburn rear rack, but should be customizable for another rack. Email me to discuss picking this up for free. *CLAIMED*

Happy Friday everyone!!!

The Things We'll Do

2011-09-15T21:23:00.000-04:00

Yes, this man is crossing the double yellow line. Yet he looks so handsome doing it, and I happen to know that he was crossing over to go to Flour Bakery. So you see, there were mitigating circumstances to his traffic infraction. I know people (in my family!) who fly across the country to go to Flour Bakery...

Wooden Rack Box

2011-09-12T19:29:00.000-04:00

Awesome rack-mounted box spotted on Mass Ave. I peeked inside it and the owner had a bike helmet in there at the time of these photos. I particularly liked the wide leather straps, this was clearly a DIY project.

Whoa there stranger!

2011-09-06T09:13:00.003-04:00

I am sure there is a treasure trove out there on the internet, but a quick Google search did not turn it up...

So this morning I left Future Cyclist with his nanny and got on my bike to head to work. Very first stoplight a cyclist pulls in about 2 cm from my shoulder. YIKES! I startled, and all I could think to say was "oh, hi." Later he passed me at the next red light, and then I very loudly said "On your left!" as I dropped him on the bridge.

Always too late at this sort of thing I thought later that what I wished I'd said was something more like "I don't usually let a man get this close to me 'till I've got his phone number" or something like that.

Witty people, or people with better Googling skills, what could we be saying in these situations, something that indicates no-harm-done but next time say something!?

Coolest thing I saw today

2011-08-31T22:34:00.000-04:00

Someone was moving their apartment via pedicab! Lots of boxes labeled "kitchen" and stuff. No photos though, my hands were full.

Stay safe out there, lots of inexperienced drivers at the wheel of very large moving trucks.

New Mixte on the Block

2011-08-25T11:49:00.000-04:00

This mixte has moved into my neighborhood. I'm loving all the chrome, the VO double-hammered fenders in particular, and the stitched leather handgrips. I'm definitely doing that next time I re-wrap my bars.

The cloth tape protection is a nice touch!

I'm tempted to leave a note saying this bike is too sexy to spend the night outside. We've had a lot of bike thefts recently. My husband commented that he hopes it's not another of those "boyfriend builds his girlfriend the perfect bike but she doesn't fully appreciate the effort" stories. Hmmmm.

Family Cycling in Montreal

2011-08-15T09:14:00.001-04:00

No, it wasn't us, though I wish it were! My friend J sent this inspiring photo from her vacation. I am working on a longer post in this vein, but everything takes so much LONGER now.

Hope you're all having a great cycling summer!

Lace Tights and Platforms

2011-07-15T14:35:00.000-04:00

Submission from my friend J, this lady was spotted in the South End.

Advice Needed and Gratuitious Baby Photo

2011-07-13T12:31:00.001-04:00

We've enjoyed my friend E's photo submissions here on the blog, but now she needs some advice and I'm not sure I can help her. She'll be visiting home again and bringing her European-biking boyfriend with her. He's bringing his bicycle and wants to bike from Boston to Woods Hole.

I know it can be done, my husband has done it, but his route is less than ideal. He uses the Boston Brevet 200km route to begin, then hacks together the Cape portion of it. Navigation is a major hassle, and the bike path over the bridge is almost impossible to find, with access hidden behind a strip mall.

There must be a better way!

I know some people who have biked from Boston to Plymouth. I found this Boston-Plymouth bike route online, but am dismayed to see there are 606 cues over 80km! That strikes me as extremely complicated.

Does anyone have experience/advice for how to bike from Boston to Woods Hole. Thank you!!!

And just because I'm a doting mother, here's a photo of Future Cyclist practicing his chant "Allez les cyclists!":

Success!

2011-07-11T12:35:00.000-04:00

Now that Future Cyclist is strong enough we were able to get out for a short jaunt en famille yesterday. Our friends loaned us an old Burley trailer. We immobilized the car seat in it with a motorcycle tie-down cord (also on loan, I don't know what it's really called, but it's sure robust!) and off we went on a brand-new (and thus very smooth) rail trail.

FC prefers the bike trailer to riding in the car, and we had a few hours of bliss, but he also just doesn't like being by himself in a carseat away from his family so I can't claim that the whole afternoon was perfect. As far as we could tell his complaints were merely that he was lonely. Eventually Daddy rode alongside the baby and chatted with him until he fell asleep again.

My friend who loaned us the trailer said that once they got it life "went back to normal again". Even if it's imperfect, I know exactly what she means.

Weehoo Bicycle Trailer

2011-06-06T09:26:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my sister visiting we had time for a grown-up bike date yesterday so where did we go? The bike store of course!

While I was there the saleslady told me about a new child trailer, the Weehoo. Upsides are said to include the enclosed chain, the adjustable seat position, the fact that it *is* a seat (not a saddle) so the Future Cyclist could nod off without falling off, and it even has pockets for water bottles.

She showed me the video on the website and I instantly said "Wow, that looks like Colorado!" I was specifically thinking Lafayette, where my sister lives, but I wasn't surprised at all when I got to their Facebook page and see that they're based just down the road in Golden, CO. Now that Coors doesn't give out unlimited free beer at the end of the tour I don't know many people who go out there (except on a bike ride) but when we're home for another family wedding later this summer I may have to check out a Weehoo - it will be a while before we can use one, but once we can it looks like just the tool to resume our bicycle adventures!

Photo from the Weehoo Facebook page

SoWa Bike

2011-06-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

This bike was getting a lot of attention at the SoWa Open Market (Sundays in the South End). There was an Italian family touching it, I got to feeling a little bit uncomfortable with their enthusiastic appreciation - it seems that bike groping etiquette is different across cultures. Would you touch another person's bike? Most particularly, would you explore the firmness of their Brooks saddle?

The Burlington Bike

2011-05-19T17:41:00.000-04:00

How awesome is this bike? The owner must have found a stretchy cling map somewhere, I can't figure out how it came to be so perfectly and seamlessly attached to the bike.

Certainly there is some careful application involved.

The lugs are perfect for this sort of treatment.

This was the coolest bicycle we saw in Burlington, outside of the Old Spokes Home. When I was visiting their WONDERFUL museum upstairs in their shop I got a phone call that someone very dear to me had died, so I didn't get you any photos. You'll just have to go up and visit yourselves and I promise it's worth stopping in.

Family Cycling in Burlington, VT

2011-05-17T13:37:00.000-04:00

There were lots of families out cycling in Burlington, but this family, with kiddoes racing around and Dad on the wheelchair bike bringing up the rear, brought a tearful smile to my face. That's the most beautiful bike I think I've ever seen.

Sabertooth Bakery in Burlington, VT

2011-05-09T19:20:00.000-04:00

I recently made my first visit to Burlington VT which, as far as I can tell, is Boulder CO with a lake instead of the Flatirons.

There were many wonderful bikes there but my first photo is the Sabertooth Bakery, because not only is her bicycle-powered bakery cute but tasty as well! I only tried a donut but it was just the right size and sweetness for a little pick-me-up without sugar shock. Hurray for bicycle bakeries!

Life is Beautiful!

2011-05-05T10:09:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! First off, a HUGE thank you to you all for all the good wishes!

Spending time at home with the baby has been lovely and overwhelming and I'm just now catching up on things. I've got some photos of chic cyclists to share with you, though I'm slower on the draw these days, but first I wanted to share a little about my current favorite project...

Future Cyclist was born four days after those bike date photos were taken. My mother in law said he'd arrive with the full moon, just like his daddy, and he did. This year that day was also the spring equinox, which I think is a nice day to be born.

You can't see it in this photo but his eyes are the same blue as his bicycle hat (printed on the hat is a thought bubble with a bicycle in it!) He had dark hair which is falling out now. He is very strong, he lifted his head up the day he was born, and he has five fingers or toes on each hand or foot. In short, we're thrilled.

My labor was completely drug-free and relatively short - 6 hours of active labor - which I attribute to my mental game. I tried to welcome each contraction as my body doing what it needed to do, and so I wouldn't fight it, just keep moving. Cycling training was invaluable for both overall strength but also for breathing appropriately at each stage. I was just doing what I was supposed to but the hospital staff was impressed with me. It all seemed simple to me based on cycling but perhaps it isn't?

I was impressed with the hospital as well. We delivered with just a midwife and a baby nurse. Most of the time it was just us ladies chatting as I relaxed in a jacuzzi tub. Rather enjoyable, all things considered. But our boy arrived a whopping 8 lbs 13.4 oz (4011 g) with broad shoulders. At one point at the end they urgently called in a SWAT team of highly trained OBs and nurses who averted disaster and then left us to our privacy again. I respect what Giselle Bundchen is trying to do with her homebirth advocacy, but I'm very very grateful we had that SWAT team available to intervene only that one necessary minute.

I've been on the bike once since delivering, but will be riding more and more. I can't wait for the day when I get to bring him along. Until then we're just practicing pedaling his legs (best way to help with tummy gas!).

Oh, to put it into cycling terms, I had thought that labor couldn't be much worse than the Boston Brevet Series 400K (253.5 miles and 14,951' of climbing). In the end my labor was more like a 200K for which I hadn't adequately trained. Doable, but you certainly felt it the next morning! Yet we were walking around town by day three. Hurray for bicycle training!

Bicycle Date

2011-03-18T13:26:00.001-04:00

The single thing I will miss most in the coming months will be the wonderful times my husband and I have shared out adventuring on our bikes together. We'll get Future Cyclist on our bikes as soon as is practical but, in the absence of grandparents, it will be a little while before we get to venture out again together.

With this great weather we've been having we had to have one last bike-date, to Cambridge Flour in the morning (always delicious) and to dinner and a movie in the evening. I should probably blame my hormones, but I just absolutely loved seeing L'Illusionniste. There is far less cycling than Chomet's last film, The Triplets of Belleville, but if you're a girl who ever adored her father, or the father of a girl, you might enjoy it. There is very little speaking, it's more of a mime, like a ballet, which allows so much more for the viewer to add herself. The animations are gorgeous - it's one of the prettiest films I've ever seen. And it's good and French, so no saccharine Disney film here, though I think the ending is beautiful, sad in the same genre as The Giving Tree.

I'm hoping to get out on the bike this weekend, but this baby is nearly past due so if you don't hear from me for a little while you'll know why, ok? Have fun cycling out there!

Love her coat!

2011-03-17T11:22:00.000-04:00

I got to ride in earlier this week, but today I was sadly on the bus. I was happy that the bus driver passed this lady, in her cool coat, with respect and a safe distance. Not all bus drivers have been so courteous. But today is a good day!

Early Spring Elegance

2011-03-15T17:18:00.000-04:00

The heels are lovely but the grey sweater with the yellow gloves on a golden bike with a straw basket really tickled my early spring fancies.
So pretty!

Exciting Development

2011-03-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

There is a free newspaper, The Boston Courant, which is delivered to our apartment regularly, maybe weekly? I don't read it much, but this week a headline caught my eye:

Space for Bikes Not Cars at New Building

It seems there is a new residential development in the former Renaissance School building. It appears this is right downtown, near the Public Garden and Back Bay.

I don't know if the bike parking will be sufficient or not. The article states that they have 767 square feet of storage for up to 80 bicycles. The building will have 128 units, broken out as 76 two bedrooms, 29 one bedrooms, and 23 studios. Certainly that's less than one bike per unit, so my family would have trouble taking only our fair share. Of course we could keep doing what we're doing - parking some bikes in the apartment itself. In any case it would be fun to live in such a bike focused building.

I wonder if they'll release photos of the bike storage design? I'd love to see how they have it set up!

Speedy Townie

2011-03-03T11:42:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, he was going so quickly it was hard for me to get a good photo of him!

Rainy Day Sorbet

2011-02-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

Seeing this sorbet-colored Brompton made me so happy the other day (though riding our Bromton 36+ weeks pregnant was not as much fun as I'd hoped - I felt ready for the clown car). Anyway, here's hoping this cheerful bike helps cheer your rainy day.

What do you think he has in that box?

Beacon Hill Elegance

2011-02-24T17:31:00.001-05:00

Loved her boots and red coat (which we now allow in Boston!) as she cycled onto the Common.

PS - It's a strange New England thing to leave Christmas decorations up until Easter. I've been here for a while now and I still don't understand it.

Fabulous Dutch Cycling Video

2011-02-23T11:35:00.000-05:00

My friend E sent this for us with the message:

I thought of you when I saw this video of bicycling in Holland in the 50s because:
loads of chic ladies (and gents!) on bikes
several shots of innovative transport methods using bicycle power
all kinds of interesting baby-transport baskets and wagons
plus, a nice little dutch ditty at the end.

She's right, and I think the flowers at the end are as fun as the space-pod baby trailer towards the beginning. What a cheerful way to start the day. Thanks E!

Helena Handbasket

2011-02-22T15:27:00.000-05:00

OK, terrible title, but it was the "drag queen" name my friend chose for her bachelorette party, and she was just married on Saturday. Hurray!
Happy honeymooning J!

Back to Boston cyclists...

This pretty cyclist braved the cold temps to bike down Charles Street with a blinkie attached to her basket-backpack.

While baskets of that type are a look that make me think summer and beach, it was refreshing and cheerful to see one in the depth of winter.

OK, I blame hormones

2011-02-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

But this is kinda cute, right?

Available from hellobanjobaby on Etsy.

Hope you all get to ride today with your Valentine!

love,
Charlotte, the possibly hormone-addled

Bike Lane Wall

2011-02-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

If you can't tell from the photo, the snow continues to just before the next intersection, where the bike lane area is plowed again. There's the snowy tree space all along this where, theoretically, the snow could go, if they were to plow it.

Is there a reason why they don't?

More than just Winter Quiet

2011-02-08T13:14:00.002-05:00

I apologize for the silence on this blog. I haven't been able to ride and have been finding it just unbearable to think about cycling when I can't get out on my bike.

I thought I could ride yesterday but heard that we were expecting snow in the evening so I reluctantly took the bus. It was warm and puddled all day. Today I waited for the bus for half an hour then gave up in disgust and went home for my bike. If snow was not actually falling from the sky I wasn't going to worry about it. Maybe I still won't be able to ride home. Whatever.

This morning I rode slowly and safely, walked when I was nervous, and have been grinning like a fool with the endorphins from actually getting to ride my bike for the first time in almost a month. I feel so much happier!

I also got to use my new bike accessory:

I am not the only cyclist with big news, and I have been spending a bit of this last bus-bound month reviewing Totcycle archives. I've been lucky that I have been able to ride so much during this pregnancy, with only one other three day obstacle in December. We're 34 weeks today (hurray!) and as a person who has had setbacks, this seems like a nice, safe, good time to finally announce!

My husband thought you would all have guessed our news when my Italian "baby-moon" photos featured more Moms on bikes than sexy Italian bicycles, but I guess it was subtle enough. Now you all now know why I was so obsessed with lights this autumn!

I fear this blog may divert a bit into mom-bike territory, as even the Dawes for my own mother is getting reworked as our family station wagon (for when Future Cyclist is big enough).

In the near term I hope the Future Cyclist and I will be able to snap some good cycling photos for you all when we're out on walks. I'll also be back on my bike ASAP after s/he joins us, which should coincide with the nice weather arriving. I'm trying not to think about missing brevet season (and a PBP year at that!) and focusing instead on perhaps volunteering at checkpoints. We already have a baby-sized cycling cap and are working on cheering... "Allez les cyclists!"

So please bear with me as time rolls along, the seasons change, a focus shifts, and my bicycle transforms to continue to reflect my needs at any given time... aren't bicycles awesome?

Not a bike

2011-02-03T15:09:00.000-05:00

Yet nonetheless essential for getting around Boston these days. It's hard to tell but these Original Muck Boot Company "Ice Pick" boots have metal spikes embedded in the sole to ensure good traction on ice. I'm very concerned about slipping these days so these boots have been a lifesaver (really!).

Cool Guy

2011-01-26T16:19:00.001-05:00

Got to give him credit - he was out riding today!

Crazy question for you all

2011-01-24T11:26:00.000-05:00

I got this email from a friend of mine, and am stumped by the "under bike shorts" part of it. I don't usually think of wearing underwear with bike shorts:

I have a very crazy question for you. My dad has decided that he is going to do the cross-country bike ride starting in March, and he was just over here asking my husband a lot of questions about gear etc. Dad mentioned that a few years ago my mom gave him some underwear that had a leather insert and those were the most comfortable underwear he ever had for wearing under bike shorts. He said they were like the same kind of underwear that horse jockeys wear or something. We had no idea what he was talking about, and I'm sure you can imagine what came up when I googled "leather underwear" and the results actually got worse when I added "horse jockey" to the search terms.

Of all the people in the world that might have an idea of this product that my dad is talking about which lives in the intersection of the Venn diagram for cycling, horse riding, and appropriate undergarments for all activities, you have to be one of the best :). So - any idea what he's thinking of?

So my cycling friends, any thoughts? Is Dad thinking of just old-school chamois or is there some other garment out there, hidden behind all those photos we don't really want to look at?

Thank you for any leads!

Tracking

2011-01-21T14:17:00.000-05:00

So, do you think there were bicycles here, or was it something less exciting?

Happy day but no photos

2011-01-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

Today I got to ride for the first time since the big snowfall last week. What a relief it was! I was in a much better mood all day and I honestly felt safer in the street - the plows and salt/sanding made the road surfaces much more consistent than the sidewalks and by avoiding rush hours I had no problem taking the lane when needed.

Beacon Street has a de facto bike lane. There's so much snow that the normal parking spaces are filled and the cars are parked in the travel lane, leaving a bike lane's worth of travel lane free and clear. It was perfect!

I can also confirm empirically that with my old metal pedals there is no problem wearing YakTrax while riding. Indeed in the few times I walked my bike for safety I was glad I didn't need to stop and put these on. They were there when I needed them and did not catch or snag on my pedals while I was riding.

My husband has the camera on a business trip, so I regret that we will continue to be light on photos here at Chic Cyclists, but I hope to soon be able to share images of some of the hardy souls I've been seeing out and about - and their extra-tough bikes!

Stay warm...

Snow Day and thoughts

2011-01-12T09:55:00.000-05:00

Today is a snow day, hurray! I'm warm at home with some tea and a little extra time to ramble on a blog.

Over the holidays, due to elaborate circumstances I won't get in to, I ended up driving to work for several days in a row. That was surprisingly an enormous gift I won't soon forget, and something I'd like to urge every cyclist to do from time to time. (Boston Biker did the same, but I can't find his post. Boo.)

There are lots of complaints about how poorly cyclists are treated by drivers of cars. I was driving during a low traffic period (between Christmas and New Year's) and let me tell you, between cars the lack of civility was much worse. I was thrilled to get back on my bike and the relative civility of the bike-car interaction. In a car the hostility, the jockeying for position, the never-ending competition of it all was exhausting.

In addition to showing me how uncivil drivers are to each other, my few days driving was a wonderful reminder of what it's like to share the road with a cyclist. I saw the same spots where I feel pinched each day from the driver's perspective and it helped me understand how the conflicts can arise.

I'm sure I'll complain about rude drivers again, but I hope to remember this surprise Christmas gift and to maintain a more expansive view of sharing the roads in Boston.

White Raleigh is very Orange

2011-01-07T15:21:00.001-05:00

As a Raleigh fan, of course this Carleton-made Reynolds 531 Gran Sport caught my eye as it was parked in Kendall Square. It's been updated in a manner consistent with my personal preferences to make an attractive, practical city bike.

I was particularly delighted to see such a functional front rack, and all the more happy when I got back to my desk and saw that there is currently a coupon available for exactly this rack: Velo Orange Porteur Rack

The whole bike seems to have been updated with Velo Orange parts - racks, grips, handlebars, saddle, bag, and I particularly like those chrome fenders.

I'm not sure about the bag though. It is looking a lot floppier here than my Giles Berthoud bag, on which it was modeled. I would be interested in speaking with the owner of this bike and learning how much exposure the bag has taken. It's all academic though, while one thing is certain - this bike will catch your eye, even if you're running late. Gotta go!

Link: How to talk about cycling with a Conservative

2011-01-06T10:05:00.001-05:00

This was sent to me by a liberal friend, and I'm finding it amusing enough, and general enough, to want to share it:
How to talk about cycling with a Conservative

These "across the aisle" arguments have worked for me in the past and, except for continuing to (lightly) include the climate change issue, I think I've largely embraced this more widely accepted set of points, and certainly moved into the national security as related to dependence on foreign oil realm when discussing the global implications of tiny choices at home.

I think my favorite line in the article might be:
"Note: Some business suits actually contain trace amounts of Lycra and Spandex."
Go read the article, you'll see...

Actually I'm wrong, my favorite line is:

"people who choose to ride should be able to do so safely, as taxpaying citizens worthy of full protection of their individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of that special kind of happiness one gets from riding a bike."

Amen!

(Note, I looked into the Edison video and it was FILMED by Edison, but he's not actually riding the bike)

Linus City Bike Spotted

2010-12-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

Saw this bike in the South End last week, and the black and white and leather color scheme caught my eye. Linus Bikes are based in Venice, California, but they now have dealers nationwide.

The singlespeed with coaster brake and kickstand seemed quite practical for Boston:

Photos from the Somerville Illuminations Bicycle Tour

2010-12-20T16:40:00.001-05:00

Freezing cold but so much fun! Please enjoy some photos here from the Somerville Illuminations Bicycle Tour. Click through for a larger version.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Brainstorm light mounting with me?

2010-12-15T10:09:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone,
I've been pushing a dynamo hub since last summer, with all the best intentions of getting a headlight mounted. Now it's nearly the darkest time of the year and still no dynamo headlight. I'm having a hard time deciding how to get something on there. All these photos should click through to enormous ones if that's at all helpful...

I have a vintage Blackburn front rack, which I love for the consistent aesthetics to my frame and it's match to my rear rack. Also my 1977 frame just doesn't have mounting points for a Nitto rack (or a headlight!).

The rack has stays at two different positions, narrower in front and wider at the middle. I'm not committed to using a particular stay for the mounting point, but I would love to nestle the light as best as possible inside the protection of the rack's platform, just for help preserving the light while parked next to bikes who might be careless, etc. This is a city bike and I'll still be parking it and leaving it for a bit.

I have the headlight my husband took off his Brompton, upside of using it is that it's currently just taking up space, downside is that it's unclear how to mount it on my bike. I'd prefer to mount my eventual headlight to the front rack and not the fork, to keep my fork as blemish-free as possible. I'm open to the idea of buying a different headlight, but I'm wondering if you folks have any ideas for getting this (or any other one) mounted on my somewhat narrow-gauge Blackburn front rack?

This light's mounting bracket can easily be removed, leaving us with a plastic housing with a bolt going through it. I can certainly get a longer bolt and any number of washers.

What I can't do is invert the light, as there are wires on the underside that must rely on the top of the light for some added rain protection.

Here is where I imagine mounting the light, allowing it to be easily seen by other road users, and allowing my rack to continue to be functional. The mounting needs to be secure enough that it stays pointed forward and doesn't slide down the rack's stay.

Edited to Add:

Here are my clamps from Harris, as well as some spacers which had come from the mounting bracket on my second tail light set. If I go the p-clamp route it would be ideal to find one smaller than this one, I'd be wrapping a whole lot of padding to get it to a good clamp on the thin tubing. I went to the hardware store hoping to find something like that and they guy there suggested hose clamps, which I understand can be smaller and certainly very adjustable. He also suggested this pre-drilled metal tape stuff, the idea being that one band of it would go around the stay, and a vertical band would go up and over the rack platform for vertical stability. That sounded like it would rattle, and I could probably do something similar with zip ties (and less rattle). I'm liking the VO bracket suggested below for stability reasons, but I think it would also have a challenge in getting it on to my rack (maybe someone could solder it on?)

Vu à Amsterdam

2010-12-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

My French friend J was just at a conference in Amsterdam and sent this photo for our enjoyment. This is certainly a decked-out and cheerful bike!

Have you seen the Camioncyclette?

2010-12-10T14:37:00.000-05:00

What fun, a bicycle where the frame IS the basket, and vice versa:

More photos here and here.

Somerville Illuminations Bicycle Tour

2010-12-09T14:52:00.000-05:00

Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee on Saturday evening, Dec 18, to celebrate the coming of winter and year round cycling. We will enjoy a casual bike tour to see some of the city’s homes warmly lit for the holidays.

We will meet at the Somerville High School entrance at 6:50pm, departing promptly at 7:15 pm.
We will tour the city in coordination with the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations Holiday Tour. The start of our ride is scheduled halfway between two trolley departures, so we will not interfere with the trolley tour.

This is a winter evening ride, so please dress warmly and use bike lights. Holiday lights, costumes & festive cheer encouraged. Heavy rain, wind, snow or ice cancels bike tour.

Handsome Bob Jackson

2010-12-03T14:08:00.001-05:00

Spotted on Cambridge Street the other night, this Bob Jackson is a beautiful city bike.

A handsome bike, but not one that our non-cyclist friend picked out from the many left casually locked along the street.

The bell is nicely mounted on the stem, the handlebars partially wrapped with ends made from some wine bottle's cork.

That is a well-loved Brooks saddle!

And what pretty lugs and paintwork!

Rainy Day Giveaway - one pair chrome fenders

2010-12-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

They don't look like much above, but what you have here are a pair of new-in-packaging chrome fenders sized for Schwinn 26" wheels, in their packaging, covered with dust. Note that this size is different from 26" mountain bike wheels and also 26" Raleigh/English wheels... Sheldon has a 26" wheel size cheat sheet here.

It is entirely possible that these fenders will fit another 26" wheeled bike, but I'm thinking that since Schwinns don't get much love, these free fenders should go to a Boston/Cambridge area Schwinn.

Out of the packaging they should look like these above.

So here's the idea:
Comment below with a description of your Schwinn. Give me an email address (in comment or by email: chiccyclist at yahoo.com) where we can chat off the blog. We will arrange to meet someplace in the Boston/Cambridge area, I'll take a photo of your poor fenderless-Schwinn for the blog, and you pedal off with some free chrome fenders for a winter of splash-free cycling. Ideally you'd send an updated photo with the fenders mounted, but I won't hold you to it.

The fenders will have to go to the Schwinn whose schedule is closest to that of my Dawes, but I imagine I've already set so many limits here that there will be only a few folks even interested in these fenders... and, like dating, it only takes one match*.

* If you're a cute single heterosexual man with a 26" Schwinn, please note that in the comments too and I'll send a cute single female friend of mine in my place. I won't even tell her why. She's got an awesome pink singlespeed, so you'll at least have bikes in common.

Brown stockings and boots

2010-11-30T15:32:00.000-05:00

It's a beautiful day here in Boston, much warmer than expected.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

2010-11-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here's hoping you have a wonderful holiday filled with friends, delicious food, and bicycles!

Mild in Ma

2010-11-23T16:47:00.000-05:00

It was such a perfect day I was delighted to see so many other cyclists out enjoying it. Unfortunately my camera was not so perfect, we both seem to be lacking charge these days. Still, hurray for the lovely ladies out on Mass Ave this morning.

One handed, in heels.

Black and white and going places.

Yellow trees and yellow bikes make for an autumnal morning.

Unusual Frame spotted on Newbury Street

2010-11-18T10:11:00.000-05:00

I've seen frames where the seat tube hugs the outline of the rear wheel, but this was the first frame I'd seen where the seat tube straddles the wheel. Given the triangle formed there it almost looks like the lovechild of a mixte and GT.

French Reflective Scarves

2010-11-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

Ah, the French and their scarves, always wonderful, always novel.

A friend of mine sent a link to Rayon Jaune (in French), a new company north of Lyon, near the Swiss border, which offers these wonderful reflective scarves. As seen above, the idea is that there is a "normal" side one wears in town, and a reflective side that's meant for while one is on a bike.

The leaf print shown above is my favorite.

This dot option is my second-favorite, that's pretty wonderful.

However, I'm not sure either of them compare to these dragon vests, which may be my favorite safety-gear yet. Is it wrong to want a grown-up sized dragon safety vest? Yes, I'm a nerd.

Reflections: Preparing for Darkness

2010-11-04T14:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a test photo of my nighttime reflectiveness, as imperfectly demonstrated by a camera flash (rather than a car's headlights). It's easy to see that the wide strips of 3M Scotchlite on my Carradice bag and coat are much more effective than the smaller reflections created by my gloves and the sidewalls of my tires (though those certainly help in correctly identifying my bicycle as such). When riding long distance I add reflective ankle bands, but I usually forget when riding a couple of blocks in town.

Far more effective than reflectiveness is my own light source and you can clearly see that with my unbelievably bright Planet Bike Superflash. They say it can light up a small town. Seriously, this tail light is so bright my husband doesn't like to ride directly behind me. There are two other tail lights in this photo but you're unlikely to notice them. I have the main light and the helmet light blinking (when I'm riding in town) and leave the light on my fender on steadily, just for a change (and because it uses batteries less quickly than the brighter lights).

The clocks fall back this weekend, let's all be ready for the darkness!

Reflective badges

2010-11-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

A long-time reader alerted me to the fun badges being offered at Velorution.

Sadly, these fun badges are only available in the UK. In looking at the gallery, it appears an approximation could be made with 3M Scotchlite fabric and the Dritz button kits.

I'm thinking a lot about the time change this weekend and how to stay visible and safe when leaving work in the dark. Stay tuned for more ideas and questions.

Better Chevrons for Transportation

2010-11-02T08:16:00.000-04:00

Chevron's slogan may be "Human Energy", but this jacket displays the sort of chevrons I like seeing on my streets.

High Heels and Coffee

2010-11-01T18:15:00.000-04:00

It was early Saturday morning, she was riding slowly enough to not pose a hazard with her one-handed cycling. Love how those jeans fit with her classic black heels.

Why you need a front rack on your bike

2010-10-29T16:22:00.000-04:00

Carrying a dessert to a dinner party just isn't the same when you can't keep an eye on it, particularly if it's fragile and still hot from the oven.

(Yes Cycler, it's a tarte tatin, which I should not have made in a springform pan, but it tasted delicious anyway)

Independent Fabrications City Bike

2010-10-26T16:27:00.001-04:00

Spotted sometimes on Newbury Street, this bike always makes my husband stop for a second look. Those green and yellow rims are even the Indy Fab colors.

One thing that's made clear by this rusting steel washer and nut next to a pristine seat stay - a titanium frame makes some sense for an all-season bike like this one. Expensive for all of us who don't work at IndyFab, but certainly practical in Boston!

High Fashion Safety Vest

2010-10-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

This submission from my dear friend E reminds me a bit of Karl Lagerfeld's safety campaign from 2008, though this lady is in Iceland, not France.

Isn't she fun? I love the reflective sash accent on her high-visibility top, but the bustier treatment and halter neckline are just perfect. Yes it's overtly safety gear but it's so much fun that I have to love it.

Sweet Bike Spotted at Harvard Med

2010-10-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

Just looking at this bike it's clear that a lot of time and love went into its creation.

This photo doesn't capture it so well, but those Sun rims have "facets", much like the Honjo Le Paon fenders. The different faces of the rim catch the light differently.

I'm pretty sure this bike belongs to a taller gentleman.

I love the powder grey cable housing he chose with his powder blue bike. It reminds me of a bike I saw way back on Newbury Street, in more of a ladies' size. I called it "Cloud Bike" I wonder if we could find a way to introduce those two?

I'm going to ride my bike until I get home...

2010-10-18T16:34:00.001-04:00

Monday afternoon, missing the weekend, this video made me smile:

It even has a Brompton in the very beginning!

Bicycle Palio - Palio delle Biciclette

2010-10-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

In Siena there is an ancient horse race called the Palio. It's clear from talking to people, reading books on the region, and just visiting and seeing the art of the place that the Palio is a big deal. This photo, showing just one bareback rider in ancient costume, with the town square packed with spectators, conveys a bit of the excitement.

So we were happy and amused to see that there is a much newer Bicycle Palio, and I'm just sorry we didn't get to see it happen. I've looked extensively but can only find photos of the horse race version (which of course looks fun too). Someday!

Florence Pedicab

2010-10-15T16:54:00.000-04:00

How much fun is this modern-looking pedicab! Notice the passenger is sitting back and taking photos as they cruise past the Duomo.

Roman Bike Share

2010-10-15T16:53:00.001-04:00

I am sad to report that we never even tried the Roman bike share system. I got the best photos I could but most of the racks we saw were completely empty of bikes and we only saw one other couple riding them, once. I fear it's a bike share that failed.

It's all really too bad, because we discovered that in the city itself one bank of the Tiber is devoted to a bike lane, providing a high-speed safe beeline right through town. A cyclist could easily beat a taxi or subway rider on any cross-town adventure. Next time we're going to bring Bromptons.

Mystery Revealed?

2010-10-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

Early one morning I saw this bicycle parked casually, Italian-style, and wondered who would have such a large basket on their bike.

Hours later, and in another part of town, I saw this elegant woman. Only in reviewing my photos later did I start to wonder - I think that's the owner of the interesting bike!

What do you think?

Colnago Townie

2010-10-15T16:43:00.000-04:00

It's not everywhere you can see a Colnago townie city bike left casually on the street.

This bell on the Colnago was our first indication that Bianchi is based in Florence:

Italian Couples on Bikes

2010-10-15T16:40:00.000-04:00

The bicycle date is alive and well in Italy - and very romantic.

For much of our trip this had been the only other sporty couple we saw.

On the last day, just before going to the airport we saw this couple rolling in to town. They were entering through the northern gate to Rome (Via Cassia), so we imagined they'd ridden here from the Netherlands, or something like that.

At any rate, it looks like they've come a long way!

Dogs on Bikes in Rome

2010-10-15T16:36:00.000-04:00

These weren't the only canines on two wheels we saw, it seemed much more common there. But these were the only instances I managed to photograph.

Doesn't this second dog look like he's contemplating jumping down?

Red Bikes of Italy

2010-10-15T16:31:00.000-04:00

I could not possibly have photographed all of them if I tried, so instead I'll just tell you that there was a definite preference for red bicycles all over Italy. It was a lot of fun to play "spot the red bicycle".

In appreciation of that, and all the beautiful things that are made in Italy, when it came time to choose a souvenir, I got the most delicious, delicate, racy and wonderful new pair of cycling gloves. Watch me signal my turns now Boston!!!

Italian Ladies on Bikes

2010-10-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Girlfriends riding into Florence early in the morning.

This ladies' scarf fluttered in a most beguiling way.

Love this lady's sleek look.

This lady was slowed in her turn by mobs of tourists, but she and her lovely legs still made it across the square in style.

This lady's genie-style trousers worked well for cycling.

My impression was that the age range of Italian female cyclists was more compressed to the younger end than in France, but there was some variation.

LOVED her cute yellow bike!

These ladies were cycling through the chicest neighborhood in Florence, and prompted me to reflect on the timeless good looks of black bicycles.

Though I would encourage this woman to raise her saddle (if I spoke better Italian), I still thought she looked beautiful riding through the afternoon sun near the tomb of Augustus.

Italian light, Italienne sparkle, and all in white linen - perfect!

Italian Gents on Bikes

2010-10-15T16:20:00.000-04:00

I didn't quite catch the photo, but these two were just kissing (really kissing!) seconds before this was taken. I think that speaks well for what women think of men on bikes.

This gentleman dismounted to walk his bike over the Ponte Vecchio.

This gentleman was waiting outside a bar. What do you think he was waiting for?

This guy made me think of all the cool kids I ever knew, with his vest and hip sneakers.

It was mid-morning and this gentleman was riding fast. I wondered if he'd forgotten something he needed at the office, or was racing to a business meeting? I loved the sporty riding on the sporty bike in his business suit.

By contrast, these two gentleman were not riding fast at all, and their style is perfect for a slow trip by bike.

We didn't see much 'casual' among the Roman men, but this guy was casual in dress and speed.

Overwhelming Numbers of Bikes in Italy

2010-10-08T15:55:00.000-04:00

After hearing about our recent vacation a friend sent me the link to today's New York Times article on the Eroica, a vintage, "tweed-ride" style jaunt through Tuscany. I can tell you from experience that the Eroica roads we took on our vacation were among the most beautiful we've ever seen. Someday we'll make it to the main event!

All this made me feel slightly guilty though, because I've been promising you Italian bicycle photos. I confess that the sheer number of photos have overwhelmed me, I've been paralyzed with the prospect of organizing and presenting them all. Just now I've decided to skip the former and just go with the latter.

In no particular order here's a whole lot of Italian bikes!

These bikes were cool because they were free loaners from a hotel.

Don't they look elegant there on the cobblestones?

This art bike was newly-made, there was gold paint on the street a few feet away.

This mixte was more remarkable in person than in the photos, but the blue ano rims match the decals, and even the brake pads match the frame.

This one is for you Cycler!

You might have to enlarge this photo to see the bicycle lurking in the alley.

Florentine bike racks were inevitably full.

I think this is the largest wicker front basket I've ever seen, easily as large as those super-huge Wald baskets.

I love how this lady popped into the store leaving her bike, and umbrella, unguarded.

This must have been some sort of delivery bike in its past, look at all those tubes and oversize platforms for carrying lots of bulky, heavy things.

Headtube indicates that Atala bikes were made in Milan.

I was clearly very taken with this utility bike.

Every single rack outside of the train station in Florence was filled to capacity. While we waited for our train home to Rome we watched cyclist circling for a parking space like mall-shoppers at Christmas time.

This pair of unmarked bicycles lived across the street from our apartment. They never moved, and I was just glad I didn't have to watch it rain on those beautiful new Brooks accessories.

The smaller bike (hers?) even left the Brooks saddlebag unattended for days!

What a simple urban vehicle!

Adore the shaping of the fenders on this bike, and the rod brakes.

Love these loops - a style I've only seen in Italy where the top tube swirls back up to join the seat tube.

Loaded...

Unloaded...

Definitely the strangest frame we saw, though there were quite a few like this in Florence. We think Bianchi went through an experimental stage, they appeared to all be from the same era (based on paint color schemes). I'm glad they've moved on, we're generally fans of the seat stay.

Green with Ivy, patient city bike ready to go.

Electric blue bicycle looks ready to go!

Finally the Sunday before we left the Brooks couple took the bikes away for a while, when they returned his was on the outside. I'm glad they got out for a ride!

Italian Moms on Bikes

2010-09-28T16:39:00.002-04:00

Since my friend is still looking for her replacement "mom's bike", I thought I'd post all the mothers (and fathers!) we captured out cycling in Italy.

When I saw these bikes waiting outside the bakery I knew there would be a family of cyclists nearby.

Sure enough, ten minutes later I heard the older child happily chatting with her mother as they safely cycled through the walled city of Orvieto.

This mother in Florence has both of her children on her way into town on the dedicated bike lane along the river.

This mother and her daughter were navigating the piazza near the Duomo in Florence.

This family was parking near the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Riding as a family in Villa Borghese seems to be the thing to do on Sunday. Bonus points if you bring a picnic lunch!

Some cyclists even appear to get their start on the safe walkways in Villa Borghese.

This little girl was enjoying her lollipop as Dad cycled home along Via del Corso, which was closed to traffic several times while were were visiting.

This little girl was quite relaxed heading off somewhere with her mom and dad. I even caught her yawning!

You're unlikely to see a little girl balancing on a bike like this in Boston!

Up Close

2010-09-24T17:24:00.000-04:00

This lovely cyclist zipped by us so close and so quickly I could barely get her photo. It's a pity that shorts season is coming to an end, she's rocking them with those ballet flats.

There is a bike lane all along the river in Florence. It's a great way to zip across town, and a great place for watching chic cyclists!

Two Tone Mixte

2010-09-23T15:42:00.000-04:00

I loved this "swoopy" mixte for its Black & White color scheme. Why does Europe get all the funky mixtes?

Sunflowers

2010-09-22T12:10:00.001-04:00

Most of the Tuscan sunflowers were faded by the time we got there, so these cheerful sunflowers in Rome had to suffice.

Florence Cycle Chic

2010-09-15T14:58:00.003-04:00

Of all the cyclists I saw in all of Italy, this man was far and away the most wonderful. There really isn't much to say, I think he's just perfect.

I'm Back!

2010-09-14T14:10:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the silence, we had a WONDERFUL trip in Italy and I have many hundreds of photos to go through, so stay tuned for Italian bikes and cyclists.

In the meantime I want to tell you about a bike we saw without a camera, but which made us smile. It was a brushed titanium frame, no decals, white cable housing, and a single white Apple computer sticker for a headbadge. Yeah, it was pretty cool.

Otherwise photos coming, I promise!

Bicycle right from the Denver Airport

2010-09-01T18:06:00.007-04:00

I wasn't prepared this time, but perhaps on my next trip to Denver I will be ready to avail myself of the designated bike route that has signs posted all over the airport.

Here you can see that the bike route starts inside the terminal!

Viewed from Passenger Pickup, these are the bike signs that mark the route (look at that hot sun and plan to bring water!):

This is the only bike parking I saw at DIA, making me think there is either an employee shed somewhere or they mostly envision this bike route for travelers.

Here are examples of the signage along the road:

This route is not for the faint of heart. People who have done it report that riding so close to cars zipping by at 70 is nerve racking (but something they would do again). Still, I'm just happy that some facility has been made to make a distant and rather inaccessible airport more accessible.

MassBike has information about riding your bike to Logan.

Pretty in pink

2010-08-20T17:28:00.001-04:00

She was smiling at a pedestrian as she cycled by on this beautiful summer day.

Practical Joke?

2010-08-19T10:03:00.004-04:00

This bike was spotted in Harvard Square on Sunday. A few years ago I saw the guy shown below at Target, I wonder if his friend thought he would be safe if he gave up the Jeep for a city bike? Plastic wrap wins again!

A few thoughts on Cyclotouring

2010-08-16T17:44:00.015-04:00

I never meant this blog to be about long-distance cycling, and I've tried to keep the posts from being about myself. However today I'm going to forget this policy and, by reader request, share some thoughts and personal experiences regarding long distance cycling.

I actually started riding long distances before I was a transportational cyclist. I was still a city-walker when we lived in Paris, but I bought a road bike to accompany my then-boyfriend on rides out exploring the countryside around Paris. You do need a good bike for this kind of adventure. My first long ride was Paris-Chartres. We extensively used MayQ's routes and advice, all of it is highly recommended, Route #6 will take you to Chartres in about 100km. However I hurt so badly on that first ride thought I was going to DIE.

This is important to remember, and my husband brings it up often. I don't think anyone is born with the ability to go long distances right away. You must build up your endurance, you must build up your saddle seat, you must build up your navigational skills. I'm here to tell you it's worth it, but know that there is a learning curve, start somewhat small, and remember those first rides because you'll look back on them and smile at how far you've come.

I went from that 60 miles or so to doing 250 miles in New Hampshire one day on one occasion and later that summer doing 800+ across France in 8+ days and not even feeling sore. So I can tell you that it can be done. If I can do it you can do it, I find it helps to have a mantra. When I was a wee girl my favorite book was The Little Engine that Could. Now, cycling, I just repeat "I think I can, I think I can". You'll have to find yours.

So we started going further and further and eventually added overnights to the mini-tours. We just do motel-style bike touring, there are some incredible souls who carry tents and stoves on their bikes and I'm certainly not there yet! I learned that if you ask for bike parking you'll be told they have it and it will be a rickety rack in the back of a parking lot. If you call and explain that you have an expensive road bike that can't spend the night outside, but you really want to give the motel your money, they will usually find an acceptable place for the bike, or direct you to a nearby motel that will work. This approach has worked in the USA and France, I imagine it will work just about anywhere. When in doubt just sneak your bike in. If you leave no grease (and you really shouldn't) they'll never know anyway.

Going away for overnights and longer adds the complexity of packing for the trip, so let's talk about bike bags and minimalist packing strategies. On my lovely Raleigh International I ride with a Carradice Nelson Longflap (with a Bagman) for touring. I've used it stretched to capacity with everything I needed for a 10 day trip (including a bottle of wine made by our friend's father) and I can't really imagine ever getting a larger bag. I suppose if I ever wanted to tour in a cold climate I might need more space. Anyway, I have modified the attachment system on my bag to allow me to take it on and off the bike. This is particularly important if you're visiting towns and parking the bike on the street. The steps I took were as follows:

visit hardware store. Find flat-bottomed hooks that have narrow enough hook parts to fit through your Brooks saddle loops. This may take several iterations, and I have many hooks that DON'T actually work.
pull the Carradice-supplied straps through the attachment holes and push the hooks through instead. Run the straps through the flat portion of the hooks and loop twice around the internal dowel. Fasten once and be happy that you'll never have to fasten that again.
Extra-Credit - take two D-rings and a length of webbing. Sew a short strap and thus fashion yourself a purse strap to carry your Carradice around your destination.

I can take more photos but hopefully these will help convey the idea. Here are the hooks peeking out from the bag:

Here's what it looks like on the inside of the bag:

Here's the bag with the "purse" strap attached, ready to be carried around while your bike is parked:

Finally, here's a closeup of the photo above where you can see the hooks attaching the bag to the Brooks saddle, the "purse" strap is stowed inside:

Now all of this can be avoided if, like my husband, you get their "Seatpost Quick Release" (SQR) bags. I didn't care as much for the look, and the mounting bracket won't work on my Campagnolo aero seatpost (and that is a thing of beauty) so this was my only option.

Once you have your bag ready for touring you have to fill it. We have a team list and then personal lists. Things that the team needs include (in no particular order):

sunscreen
sunglasses
toiletries
map(s)
lights
cash, credit cards
cell phones, camera
bike lock
riding clothes
civilian clothes/pyjamas
saddle cover and rain gear
snacks, water
tools, tubes, pump

Note that this list should logically expand, lights would include batteries to make those lights work, etc. Also, while we both need sunglasses only I need to bring regular eyeglasses so those we logically file under "toiletries" and my husband doesn't worry about them. You'll work out your own system but this is what works for us.

As for my personal packing here's all I took on a long weekend trip last year (dubbed 4 States, 4 days, 400 miles):

In this photo you can see my bag and helmet, both with taillights, a bag of toiletries, a jersey and bike shorts and overskirt, rain coat, arm warmers, gloves and socks, my long black jersey dress, cycling shoes, grey tights for early morning/late night warmth, a wallet I modified into handlebar-mounted camera case, the purse strap, my cell phone, wet wipes, headlight and sunglasses with extra lenses. Not pictured are my underwear because, while I want to help other aspiring cyclotourists, nothing will compel me to post photos of my underwear on the internet. But don't forget yours!

A word about my jersey dress - this was one of several black jersey dresses I picked up in college, and I wish I remember where! It's light, very drape-y, will not wrinkle, is comfortable to sleep in but can dress up to look completely elegant. I wore it with a black shrug out in France and Madame at our bed & breakfast was astounded at how elegant we looked. She couldn't believe we had that in our little bike bags! If it impresses a former Parisienne then it's good enough for me. I like looking like a relatively normal person for the non-cycling portion of the adventure. I don't know what the equivalent garment will be for you, but I'm certain there is a low-fuss simple option that's probably already in your closet.

When touring far from home you're faced with the question of transporting your own bike or renting one there. I think there are two questions to ask yourself:

Am I a standard size in the place I'm going and are they likely to have a bike that is comfortable for me?
How long will we be riding? Will there be enough vacation off the bike that having it around will be a hassle?

You'll have to work these questions out for yourself, but for our 8 day trip we brought our own bikes. This is no small task! We got cardboard bike boxes from the local bike shop (free) and pipe insulation from the hardware store (~$5/bike). We wrapped the tubes of our bikes in the pipe insulation and wrapped all the components in bubble wrap and clothing. The story is better told in person, but there were all these miraculous circumstances that ended up allowing me to have an old skateboard cut so we had a platform, trucks, and wheels for each bike box. When we got to CDG we pulled out the wheels and duct tape and added them to the back end of our boxes. We could then pull them to the RER and through the streets of Paris. We were lucky enough to have friends willing to store our boxes while we travelled, so we just reversed the procedure to go home. I believe that some hotels have basements where they would do the same thing.

I can tell you that our homemade solution got a lot of attention in the streets and airport. I thought people were irritated by our large size until I overheard an American family exclaim "Oh! It has wheels!" I guess the wheels are small enough it looked like it was levitating.
Anyway, hurray for Yankee ingenuity, this worked very well for very little cost.

By the time we were back home in Boston the cardboard had gotten a bit mushy. If you travel much longer than that you might want to reinforce, or actually get a real travel box.

So why bother with all this? If you've read all this text you probably already have the itch to get out there and see the world at the speed of a bicycle. In my experience I've found that you see things, smell things, taste and eat things that you never would have encountered sealed away in a car. People, particularly men of a certain age, just love to come and talk to you about your bike. I've made friends around the world this way. In my case, more than anything, it's been a wonderful adventure with my husband, a microcosm of our more general journey together which has given us new communication channels, appreciation for each other's skills and strength, and a rich set of shared experiences to enjoy even in the midst of the less exciting daily life. It's like therapy, I suppose, but a LOT more fun! So much fun that we spend our time thinking about getting out there again. Where to next? We're planning the next big adventure for September...

In the meantime, happy adventures to all!

You turkey!

2010-08-13T16:39:00.004-04:00

A reader sent in this photo, taken this morning, of wild turkeys availing themselves of bicycle roosts at Longwood.

It seems the one in the basket looked as if s/he was settling in for a long stay.

Bicycle Friendly Towns: Bennington, VT

2010-08-12T17:08:00.008-04:00

Somewhat randomly this summer I got to visit Bennington, VT for the first time. What struck me most, besides how perfectly charming and 'New England' the town is, was how shockingly friendly the people there are to cyclists.

You can see that you don't even have to arrive a cyclist, they will loan you a touring bike at the Visitor's Center.

Once out on your loaner bike you can visit the Crazy Russian Girls Bakery. The coffee's free if you arrive on a bike!

With countryside like this, why wouldn't you want to be on a bike?

The Bennington Arts Guild was even featuring bicycle parts re-made as art in its windows.

I don't know when I'll be back, but I'd love to cycle there again (and at a time that the bakery is open!)

Red Purse

2010-08-11T21:01:00.003-04:00

She's looking fetching in her neutrals with that vivid red purse.

Fender Detail

2010-08-10T17:01:00.002-04:00

Spotted in Cambridge, I believe these minimalist fenders may be homemade. All the more impressive that the ends have such elegant detailing! I could be wrong, but I haven't found any photos on the web showing fenders like these. Anyone?

Back Bay Bike Parking

2010-08-06T16:00:00.002-04:00

New bike racks are going in on Clarendon Street, in the Back Bay. This location is right across from where the Hard Rock Café used to be (empty now), and is very near the new John Hancock building and the Back Bay subway and commuter rail station.

The upside of all this parking is that there is certainly a lot of it, it's in an area with a paucity of bike racks, and the entire area is covered for protection from the elements. Downside is that the entire area is covered because it's a tunnel freeway entrance for the Mass Pike. It's a great use of space for a much-needed resource, but beware of "freeway-minded" drivers folks!

San Francisco Bicycle Parking

2010-08-05T12:13:00.003-04:00

Sent in by a friend, this image was taken outside Public Cycles in San Francisco. I think this may be the most elegant outdoor bike parking I've ever seen. It's almost as if they're surfing bikes, paddling out to the break.

What do you think? Parking or sculpture?

UPDATE: Thanks to D in the comments I now know this is called a Bike Arc.

New Bike for a Friend

2010-08-02T10:20:00.015-04:00

I get the fun job of helping a friend shop for a new city bike. She's mother to two, so the bike must carry the 18 month old, and in this case reliability trumps aesthetics. I'd still like to find her something cute, and regular readers know I'm a bit out of my element when it comes to new bike shopping, I'm a vintage bike kind of girl. But as I adjusted my brakes yet again this morning I knew that I should limit this bike search to new bikes. I thought I'd list my thoughts and hope that you, dear readers, could chime in with ideas and suggestions.

My friend is about 5'7", a very fit triathlete, with two young girls (4 years and 18 months) who are also growing up to be cyclists. Her previous city bike was a generic hybrid, which was stolen off her fenced back patio! This bike will have to go in the same spot, but we hope to have it better secured. She has a triathlon bike, this should be her upright kid-hauling city bike.

1) dream bike would, of course, be a custom ANT ($2,700)
Upside would be that it would be perfect for her and her family, now and in the future. Downside would be the price. But look at those lines! The headlight! These lavender rims! And working with Mike is so fun. I love the upgrades he has planned... Sigh... It's fun to dream about the custom colors I would choose.

2) REI offers the Electra Ticino ($800), onto which I imagine we could add a chainguard. This bike looks a lot like mine, which may be why I like it, but it has cantilever brakes, which appeal to me for kid-carrying. She'd also get the REI refund on the purchase.
Downsides include no eyelets for a rear rack (and thus no baby seat). This is a deal-breaker Electra!

3) A new maker, Public, offers a cute Mixte ($750)
My friend would love the color options, it has a chainguard, and internal hubs ($890 if she needs the 8 speed). There are eyelets for the child seat. As people have commented on this blog, the fender line shown on their website bodes poorly for their overall attention to detail, but we can hope that was just the poor work of the bike stylist?

(Photo credit to the excellent blog Lovely Bicycle, who steps in where bike manufacturers fail!)

4) KHS offers the Green bicycle ($350) in black only.
I think the biggest downside to this bike is that certain parts of it do look really cheap. On the other hand they're some of the parts I'm most likely to change anyway. If we got a sprung black Brooks saddle and a pair of black swept-back handlebars I think it would go from "cheap" to "simple little black bike" pretty quickly. I don't believe the included rack is rated to carry a baby seat, so we'd have to switch that out. Also the ladies' bike only comes in 14" and 17" frame sizes. She might fit on a 17" but I know I wouldn't! I do like the idea of an internal hub for her, but while I'm ok with 3 speeds and a rack of groceries, I don't know about three speeds and a rack of toddler. She may need more gearing options. This bike works well for some but definitely has some drawbacks.

5) Trek offers the Belleville WSD ($660)
It has the 3 speed internal hub, includes the chainguard and fenders and racks. The front rack would likely be very useful to my friend, the rear rack would again probably have to be changed for the baby seat rack. Somehow there's something about this bike aesthetically that I don't like - has it got too much going on or something? Maybe it's that saddle.

6) Gary Fisher has the Simple City 3 ($600)
I can't put my finger on it but this bike (and the 8 speed) does not excite me at all, and the women's version is worse.

7) Specialized Globe has a beautiful candy apple red Live 1 Mixte ($580) but I think my friend needs some gearing. Otherwise I think this bike has a lot going for it, particularly for taller ladies.

So readers, are there any new bikes out there that are exciting, and meet my friend's needs? Should I start looking into vintage bikes with new components (à la Renaissance Bicycles?) How can a lady haul toddlers in style?