Freebie Friday

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!!!

Rainy Day Giveaway - one pair chrome fenders

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.

Friday Freebie: Autumn Bike Flowers

To celebrate that it's FRIDAY I'm giving away a bike corsage made with the rest of the flowers from my helmet spray. It's not terribly well-made, it just ties on with a red ribbon, but it's free to the first person who emails me with the understanding that you'll send a photo of the flowers on your bike to be published here on the blog. Please, responders located in North America only.

Today was a fun bike ride because Obama is coming to town to give a talk on energy. MIT is in a flurry of excited preparations, I even saw people wearing suits today! I'm gratified to report that while they have barricades up everywhere, they are NOT impeding the bike lanes.

If you're interested in Obama's address, more information is available on the MIT website.

Topshop Cycle Chic Competition

Back in the 90s I was lucky enough, and worked hard enough, to be able to spend two terms in a university in the UK. While I was there I discovered Boots and Topshop. These were my little secrets once back in America, my source of cool and unusual things. Now they've both arrived Stateside and while I'm a little sad about losing my secret source, I'm thrilled to have these resources available.

When I saw that Topshop USA was sponsoring a cycle chic contest I raced to the Chictopia site, which, I must admit, reminded me that I'm not in college anymore.

To enter the competition just register with Chictopia and upload a photo of your best cycling look. Each week five winners will be announced – four chosen by Chictopia.com users and one chosen by TOPSHOP. All winners will receive the special TopShop-designed bike, pictured above. The competition is going on right now and the deadline to submit photos is July 17 so there is still time! Personally, I prefer my bike and would rather a gift certificate to Topshop, but I am gratified to see that cycle chic is catching on all over, with the younger ladies too!

Bike Flowers

The second set of bike flowers went north of my border, to add more cheer to Canada. Don't they look happy? Best wishes for happy riding Jennifer!

The first set can be seen here.

Freebie Friday: Bike Flowers

Maybe you're like me? You enjoy seeing flowers on a bike, but you don't want to commit to attaching them there for all time. Spring may be a state of mind, but sometimes I was to travel light and sleek. And sometimes I want lots of flowers! Heck, I don't even wear my engagement ring all the time, but when I do I enjoy it.

Anyway, to get flowers on my bike sometimes I've just made a flower garland wrapped in pipecleaners which attaches to a handlebar or front basket with small velcro tabs (see photo below). It's easy-on, easy-off, as the mood suits. I suppose that it is thus subject to theft, but if someone needs my bike flowers badly enough to steal them, then they should have my bike flowers... I can say that since adding the flowers I've had many more conversations with drivers waiting next to me. Maybe they take it as an indication I'm an affable cyclist?

OK, so the freebie part. Feeling so cheerful with the sun and good weather, I'd like to share the happiness. I have two of these garlands to ship free to the first two North American responders who publicly agree to send in photos of their bike sporting these flowers. Flowers will be mailed out today, digital photos should be sent on or before Mother's Day (May 10). To win free bike flowers, just respond in the comments section, which has time stamps. I'll check them and the first two will then need to email me privately with a mailing address at chiccyclist@yahoo.com.

Chic Cyclist Winter Photos

I am happy to unveil the wonderful submissions from intrepid winter cyclists from around the country.

I think you'll have to agree that there is no clear winner here. Everyone is so wonderful in such personal ways. I know that I'm inspired by these photos, and as I mentioned before I'm going to have to get help to choose just one winner. I think that task is impossible - aren't they all so great? It's considerably below freezing today, with a killer headwind, but I'm inspired to go ride my bike.

See you on the road, watch out for ice!



Update: I'm going to declare this one the winner. It was hard to choose, but I had to pick one. In this she's both chic in the snow and also in the act of transporting something (bonus! It's a cute dog!) so there's the criteria used to pick a winner out of a pool of awesome photos. Thank you everyone!

A bit of this and that

First, a cute bike. She's for sale at Bikes Not Bombs, and definitely needs some chrome fenders and a shopping basket. Still, she has good "bones" and a lovely champagne color which caught my eye. But maybe champagne-colored bikes should have cork grips, on principle???

On to other things: Last night was the Boston Bikes Update. I'm happy to report that Nicole did an excellent job and a great deal of progress has been, and will continue to be, made. In discussions after the event, it was suggested that organize our own Tweed Run, so watch this space as details unfold!

Finally, don't forget to snap a photo on your way to your SuperBowl party, or your non-American-football-based Sunday afternoon activity. We're starting to get some entries for the winter photo contest, and they're looking very cute. Just like you!

First Ever Chic Cyclist Photo Contest

Winter has me down.
Let's try to celebrate the cold, take some cute photos, and have a bicycle photo contest to cheer ourselves up!

The Contest:
I'm looking for fun, fashionable photos that evidence the intrepid spirit needed to take winter on with style. There need not be snow in the image, but I think we all need cold-weather inspiration, so bundle up. Photos must include at least one human and at least one bicycle. Ages and genders unimportant.

All submissions will be shared on this blog for everyone to enjoy.

Please send your photos to my email address: chiccyclist@yahoo.com. We're looking to warm our hearts, so let's set a submission deadline of Saturday, February 14th.


The Prize:
First off, you'll be an award-winning photographer, with the Chic Cyclist stamp of approval!

But beyond that magnificent distinction, we have a prize graciously offered by Two Knobby Tires. They will send the winning entry a four-pack set of Chico Shopping Bags, which come in five lovely colors, including the cheerful mango shown, as well as purple, blue, black, and green. In addition to being reusable and thus ecological, ChicoBags fit easily into your purse or pocket and weigh only 1.5 ounces, so you can always carry them with you.

I'm feeling happier already!