Postcard greetings from afar

No matter where in the world those of us who write the blog end up, you can be sure we are looking out for bikes.

CTX is currently "out of the office" and traveling around Mexico. Being that I'm busy being a tourist and all that, I will keep this brief.

Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, chosen or otherwise, and take in the amazing potential of this new year.

My holiday postcard to you and yours is this lovely wooden bike display seen outside a flower shop in Mexico City. Enjoy!

happy birthday paxton gate!

one of the most unusual stores to get ideas, knickknacks and other things to please even that goth teen hiding behind thick black bangs in your family. looks like they are turning 20.



so it's quite fitting they have this unusual and old looking tricycle outside their kid's store. don't forget to shop local, one of a kind few for those presents!

dingding.

story & image via mission local.

the holidaze are here.

did they kind of sneak up on you like it snuck up on me? unfortunately, it is also that time of year for an uptick in bike thievery. h/t to jenny oh, who is quickly becoming a one woman behemoth of a bike savior for those bikes who have been snatched away from our precious bike locks in the bay area.



she sent out a reminder the other day about being extra vigilant, especially if you leave to visit loved ones, and i thought would be good to post here. if you are in the bay area, you can join the google group to report stolen bikes.

It's the Holiday Season, So Bike Owners -- Please Be Vigilant!

As my friend +Fred Moyer said to me online today, "This is the time of year Bad Santa and his evil elves make their rounds." He made the suggestion to remind folks to be on the alert when you're not at home and your possessions are left unattended.

So if you're going out of town, be extra careful about making sure your personal property is safe - and that includes your bicycles! There's been a rash of thefts lately with thieves breaking into garages and stealing unlocked bicycles.

If you don't have an alarm system, try and secure your garage so that no one can break-in without creating a lot of noise / attention.

If you have to leave your bikes in a garage, lock them securely. There's also been recent incidents of thieves cutting frames to steal bike parts, so be mindful of that as well.

Better yet, bring them inside while you're away and secure them in a safe place.

Let your neighbors know you'll be out of town, and ask them to keep an eye on your place if possible. Have them report any suspicious activity.

If you have any other tips, please share them!

happy holidays!

we here at the blog want to wish all of you a happy holiday this 2011/2012 season. there's a lot to be thankful for, especially all of you who have helped with our world bicycle relief donations. i can't wait to find out the results of how much we've donated. many thanks to ade for the great idea!

we hope you have a great time with family as 2011 comes to a close. maybe some newer family members of yours will receive presents like these so they can change their life by riding a trike.

i normally have more lights on joanie's basket, but wasn't feeling completely into the spirit of things this year. so i kept it to merely two strands. heh.

i tried to keep the foto old school when i realized recently that this bike is older than me.

much love from all of us here at CYLRAB!!

bike basket tgiving bounty!

last night i did some thanksgiving shopping for the veggie sides i'll be making tomorrow with my family. i give thanks for my bike basket that is able to carry around the awesome groceries! it took a minute, but there's a jacket, two bike locks, my personal bag and a bag's worth of groceries in there.

have a great tofurkey day everyone!! be sure to ride off that feast over the long weekend. i'm sure i'll be doing that if the weather cooperates. if not, well, i'll probably be riding anyway!

Market at Powell, and a nutcracker

San Francisco was quite quiet and beautifully dry for a few days while what seems like, the bike lane was on Holiday. Market bike lanes taking naps often.

Last days of December 2010, Market at Powell.

End of year skies. I forget where this was.

Frenchie and a nutcracker. Not looking very jolly over there...

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 =)

Now, biking those pies off

Frenchie on MacAllister, Nov. 2010.

happy thanksgiving

hopefully you are with your family, friends or doing whatever it is you feel thankful for.

this past month i was very thankful to be given a present to be back in the city i love so much.

i'm also thankful for bikes. maybe it all begins with this:

bikey kids taken at adeline adeline in nyc

and always, thankful for you guys, our readers.

much love,
the crew here at cylrab.

Santa Sighting!

Christmas is here! Bring on the cheer! And if Christmas ain't your thing then Happy Chriskwanzikkah!! Either way, our friend Richard over at Suburban Assault who is a great friend to this blog and an all around fantastic guy sent these shots into the Flickr group and I just have to share some of them! We are like that around here- we loooooove to share!!!

Santa's Helper (he needed a jump start and her vision of va-va-voom was just the trick)

Random Guy- I hear Santa is hiring. What's the health care like?

Elf- Not too bad. Better than Congress and we get all the candy canes and neon pants we want!

What do you mean, "Where's my gift?" I am your gift, baby : )

Hee Hee Hee!

Those are "Santa Hangers" to you. Unless you want coal in your stocking!

The man himself, leading what will become known as the "Charge of the Santa Brigade!" Suburbia will never be the same again!

scenes from the bikey lane: happy holidays edition

this past sunday, the san francisco bike coalition held its 6th annual christmas lights ride. it started off at around 6:30pm and we rode all over the city looking at houses that really go all out with their light decorations. we rode to christmas tunes, sang some of our own made up holiday songs, and, of course, were very very merry.

after having lived on the east coast for so long, it doesn't feel like christmas to me unless it's 30 degrees F. however, this ride helped me get into the holiday spirit. new friends 2.0, old friends, new bikes, old bikes, spirits and snacks, and lots and lots of lights for all!

overheard:
"merry christmas asshole! :)" -- to a car that insisted on honking often and loudly at the 100 or so bikers around us.

"we're, like, the happiest gang ever."

"wheeeee"

"fa la la la la, ga ga ga gaaaah"

"wheeeee"

[singing with carolers to various tunes]

"aaaaaaaadriiiiiiennnnne!"

"wheeee"

"nice sf tie"

"our rudolph's nose went out!!"

(and i'm not joking about how often i heard those "wheee"s either)

overseen:

a wise man with a yarn beard once said...

(all of the following photos by Volker Neumann)

christmas lights panda!



it's a very meli christmas.



wheeee! (see, i really wasn't kidding about that)


christmas lights limbo!


snack time. finito. spirits and smiles all around.


despite the light rain, & a man down (sad face), it was really fun. good times :)

please share your bikey holiday lights stories. i've seen some pics on flickr already. GO!

happy holidays everyone!

Holiday Lights Bike Ride by Dan

This accompanies the holiday spirit that we had this past Sunday for the Xmas Night bike ride.
— to go well with Calitexi's post above.
The turnout doubled from last year :D
Made by Dan - Super awesomeness!

♥With San Francisco, with Love - Merry happy holidaysssss!!