tandem bike friday!

i've seen a few, but none with the front rack like that. he also said that it was usually set up for three people (for him and his kids).

if you are reading this, sorry i cut off your head...but no time at the stoplight to move back to get the full picture.



see any crazy fun bikes on your commute today?

friday fun times: mixte parking only

things were looking a little mixte-crazy over on a bike rack at a busy intersection in SF recently.



they must have put up a sign saying "mixte only plz. kthx."

it's not every day you see three mixtes parked up on bike racks. i would love to see that happen more often. mixture of the old and the new. it's all good.

happy friday y'all!

scenes from long beach

no bike. two girls and a truck. only had these things to guide me along.

we stayed in long beach. went on a walk. this is some of what i saw.

this one is my personal favorite.

happy sunday!

the sweetest thing

sent in by a reader and former classmate of mine:

"cupcake bike stand outside of a cupckae store of course. long beach."

as that oh so wise movie, clueless, said back in the day it's "so sweet it's giving me a toothache." groans all around? yes, no? heehee.

as always, we love reader submissions!! especially right now when we're getting back into the swing of things, why not show us what you are made of?!

much love,

CTX

Zip Ties vs Snowpocalypse?

It's all ice and snow for the United States these days. Last night on the news they reported that every state except Florida has snow! So what is a cyclist to do when the frost was a surprise and studded tires are way expensive? Zip ties!!!!

Dutch Bike Company put up a post last November about this DIY solution to slipping and sliding through a winter wonderland. Makes me want to take the Bat up to Tahoe and give it a try!

Has anybody out there tried this? Did it work for you?

Origami for the Holidays

Do they know there are ful on racks in the parking basement? Maybe they're just running quick errands.

Little origami inspirations around the Japantown area in SF for the rainy, snowy or sunny days, depending on which side of the globe you are. Things are starting to slow down and everyone is getting ready for the end of year and a well deserved break, that's a good thing =)

Hope For The Future

You know there will be a future for bicycling when you see children's bicycles lying about, waiting for their owners return. I saw a little piece of that hope on my way home the other night.

Two kids bikes locked up to a parking meter with Mom's (?) mixte waiting for the morning to come. Two tiny bicycles being kept outside so they can be used the next day to get somewhere.

It isn't just me seeing this, either. Fellow bicycle lover, Ian, sent me this lovely sight in my email.


A child's bike locked up outside a local school long after the school day was done.

Bicycles. They are not just for playtime anymore!

The smile maker

Ran into this bike the other day and wanted to hug it. That little colourful parrot is just wonderful.
This was taken outside the coffee bar, one of my favorite spots for coffee in the city - which coincidentally, is painted almost entirely red outside.
Red walls attract red bikes.
Happy bikes attract happy energy.

have a great weekend
besos .m

Cruising around

There aren't many cruisers in the city, but enough to make you smile. I spotted these 2 super cute baby blue ones in the Inner Richmond. As I turned, the two friends were giggling because I thought those orange flowers were automatic smile-makers.
My friend and dinner partner for the afternoon just said 'ok, meli - remind me to put orange flowers on my road bike when I get home'
Keep taking notes I said.
Boys, are so silly.

The weather was in the high 80°s and the sunset couldn't be more beautiful. It is September, and it is summer in SF. With mostly foggy skies, so we take full advantage of the 'heat waves'

how to be nice to someone in two simple steps

one two...one two...

ONE:

and THEN........

TWO:

hopefully that made someone's day :)

friday fun times: one of these things is not like the other

as seen in a parking garage in downtown san francisco:

um, yah. free bici. be careful while parking your bike out there. m'kay?

happy friday everyone!

Groceries

We had to get some food shopping done this weekend. The cupboards were bare (despite a whole lotta of canning going on). We took the xtracycle and Cameron had his pannier on, but we still ended up filling my bags, too. Even Úna had a messenger bag to fill up.

By the time we got home, the shopping haul looked like this-

To get a sense of scale, my table is 6 feet long. On it are-2 bottles of wine, 2 bottles of balsamic vinegar, a pound of bananas, 2 pints of blackberries, a bag of chocolate covered blueberries, 5 pounds of tangerines, 2 huge boxes of TLC bars (Cameron keeps them at school as emergency snacks), 2 pounds of salad greens, assorted herbs, 2 pounds of trail mix, 5 pounds of pistachios, 10 pounds of cat food, 4 pounds of figs, 2 pounds of bread, a wedge of mimolette, 5 pounds of zucchini, 3 pounds of heirloom tomatoes, 2 pounds of rhubarb, a large bag of naan, a large jar of assorted pickles, a small jar of pickled banana peppers, a large eggplant, lemons, a pair of wool socks and 2 flannel shirts. Add to this my huge purse and a five year old... please do not tell me that a family of 5 needs a car in a place like San Francisco.

We ended up in several different places, today, including Costco. If we had driven, it would have been awful with all the parking lots and traffic. Instead, we had a good time enjoying the sun (light, at last!!!! No heat, but light!!!!) and snacking as we rode along.

You should try it!

Weekday Glide

It's a workday. You have things to do and stuff to carry. However you do it, do it by bicycle! Automatic style points for top tube gliding.

Stolen bike alert: Lynne's Specialized, stolen from 3rd +Minna

I photographed Lynne and her Specialized on May 8th in the Presidio.
•• Any info and your eagle eyes out there would be much appreciated!!••

2009 Specialized Sequoia Elite Serial Number 08216670 Stolen yesterday (6/14) between 11:30AM and 3:15PM where it was locked on a railing at 3rd and Minna. (police report # pending)

· 52cm
· black/silver
· Pinhead lock system on wheels, headset, and seatpost
· women’s Dolce 2009 seat
· mount for wireless cyclocomputer on headset, magnet and sensor on front wheel
· hood mounted black bell on right hood
· mounting hardware for light on left side of handlebar
· tree shaped black and white sticker on seat tube
· orange “Ride Free or Die” sticker on left lower fork
· blue “Pedal Revolution” sticker on right lower fork
· black/white SFBC share the road sticker on front of the head tube
· Spoke-lit green lights on both wheels
· Shrader valve tubes
· two water bottle cages, silver
· portable pump
· Kryptonite lock mount on right side of down tube
· Topeak rack attached to seatpost
· Downtube has SFPD and National Bike Registry stickers

Owner: Lynne Howe
I have the Pinhead key as well as the original purchase paperwork to prove ownership. Reward and my undying gratitude if recovered.

[crosspost]

Stretchy

Sometimes a couple of bungee cords are all you need.

Wrap It Up!

Wicker bike! I want a wicker bike! When this gentleman pulled up next to me ( I think his name was Eric, but if not, and you know him, let me know and I will correct it) I was instantly covetous of his fine ride.

I was completely enthralled by just how thoroughly wickered his bicycle was. Everything was meticulously wrapped. Even the rack, which he said was his favorite part.

Look at how perfectly it is wrapped!

I particularly liked the seat. It can't be easy to get all of the contours right. I didn't think to ask him if it was comfortable.

Val thinks they may come from Viet Nam. I'll buy that. I wonder if David Hembrow would make one of these with an Old Dutch? Either way, I have declared this to be the Bike to Work Day bike of 2010!

Just think, if it breaks down you could turn it into a rocking chair!

Parking in Japantown.

Off we go.

Did you know there is a designated space for bikes in Japantown? I'm surprised that not a lot of people know, I personally forget they are there. Often times when in Japantown, I just lock up my bike near the tower or a parking meter, as I like to visually see my bike every 20 minutes, and most people do, as such:

Well this is good to know if you are heading to the Sundance movie theaters or walking around with your friends. It is located as you enter the parking lot, right off the corner of Webster st. and Polk. We had 4 bikes and there was still plenty of room for more. Well, now you know.

Leave a kid near a boring bike rack, and it will quickly become super fun to convert it into an imaginary pony :D

Declan and the imaginary pony.

Stretch Hop!

Come on get off your chair!!! and stretch, go ride. take pictures. Or enjoy this super fun pic taken by our lovely lady down the peninsula -cheers :D

The jump and grab by *reesie