Letters From Singapore!

Our first reader contribution of 2011!! Sent to us, with much gratitude by Cheryl! This is the way to start the year- learn how to ride so you can take long rides with your friends! Thank you so much for thinking of us Cheryl and Min and make sure to send us some updates about your riding exploits in the months to come!

Christmas was just a couple of months back and I was thinking hard on what I could possibly get for my best girlfriend – Min! We aren’t the typical girls who dig shopping and cosmetics but love exploring everything adventurous and new!

Singapore, being the tiny country it is, has left us with nothing much else to do. We have traveled in and out of Singapore, gone running, windsurfing and just about any and everything. Then, I remembered…there’s something Min has always wanted to learn to do – that’s to cycle! I tried putting her on the bike and though she didn’t really get the hang of it, that didn’t stop us from being part of our new adventure – the Singapore Duathlon 2011! That was my Christmas gift for her!

Back in school, Min was a runner while I was somewhat the opposite, always coming in last during our sports class. Taking part in the duathlon relay has put us closer together as a team. It was my first time on a 20K ride and I was nervous! But I’m thankful for Min, who constantly motivated me. Both of us are also grateful for our beautiful friends, who woke up early on a Sunday morning, and gave us all the encouragement we needed!


It was a wonderful experience that enabled me to see that there really isn’t something you cannot do if you put your heart, mind and soul into it!er
e re

It's Getting Critical

Today is the last Friday of the month, which in San Francisco means Critical Mass. Unless you have experienced Critical Mass, and really, unless you have experienced it a couple of times, you can't have a clear idea of what CM is. Even though I live here in the City it started in and know people who have been in it since the beginning and have ridden in it and watched it pass from behind the windshield of my car I can not say what Critical Mass is, and isn't. There are days when I love it and there are days when I hate it and there are many times when I am indifferent.

Those who love Critical Mass and have been with it since the beginning are asking us to answer some questions of what our "visions of ... Critical Mass is and can become".

To this end, a discussion forum has been called and we are all invited to talk about what we think of Critical Mass and its future. We are asked to "Bring your ideas, bring your open ears and minds", which is a good idea in all aspects of life if you want my opinion.

If you are interested in the future of urban cycling, how groups work to find consensus, what happens when you try to define a movement or how to start framing your own (informed) ideas of what Critical Mass is and is not for you, I encourage you to join in on this discussion. If you live in the area and are interested in having a voice in the future of CM visit the SFCM website for details of the forum time, location and to RSVP (I imagine there will be a limit on the number of people able to physically be in the space that will be used for this event).

Should the sum total of your opinion be "it sucks", may I suggest commenting over at SF Gate instead.

One kind word can warm three winter months.

One kind word can warm three winter months.     -Japanese proverb

Not to show off that we are having +60°F weather days this week here in San Francisco or anything, just don't be throwing your high 80°F weather at our faces when we are flooded with heavy fog and chilly days in the coldest of SF's summer time -- DEAL?!!

Here are some beautiful shots that prove nothing really stops us worldwide from getting on our machines and roaming our very own cities, all over this planet. We cycling people are unstoppable!!
xxo♥m

 i bike krakow by marcin wojcik - efeb

From Krakow, Poland: "despite a slight recurrence of the winter the number of cyclists on the streets of Krakow'sgrowing ." -thx google translate

Let it snow by Dream Dottie

Chicago, IL: Self-portrait taken with a Nikon FM2 and Kodak Portra 400NC film.

At the Halfway Point by papahazama

Pebble Beach, Washington

The Winter River Ride by SaddleUpBike

Alberta, Canada

Winter Pashley and Gazelle by Lovely Bicycle!

Massachusetts

Winter Bike Parking by spiderleggreen

Whittier, Minneapolis: Outside the Spyhouse Coffee Shop.

Winston Churchill Park by happy d,

Toronto, Canada

Looking good by Iam sterdam

Amsterdan, Netherlands

Snow Topped by Georgie_grrl

Toronto, Canada

Winter Cycling

For those of you out there who are reading this from the snow bound regions, I am truly sorry. It is January and by all measures I should be cold and miserable and battling mold in my window sills. Fact is, this is how I dressed to run errands around town this week-

A little mid-winter Vitamin D is good for the soul. And if this post makes you green with envy, despair not as Summer will soon be here and I will be dressed as I was last year for the first day of the "warm" season-

S'up?

These kids had something fun to do all weekend.

What did you do?

Park It In The Street!

The other day I posted this picture of the new Metrofiets parked in an on street parking spot.

.

I was surprised by the number of people who expressed fear (both here and on my Flickr account) about being harassed by either drivers or police.

So here I am challenging the status quo, again. I could have insisted on parking both of these sizable machines on the crowded, narrow sidewalk thus making it impassable for man or beast. There were already a dozen bikes littered around the store entrance, not to mention parked dogs and sun worshiping coffee addicts. But why? There is a perfectly good, open and available spot right there in front of my destination. While drinking my coffee I watched several people pull up with bicycles (with kickstands) who chose to leave due to the lack of sidewalk parking instead of utilizing this lovely large spot. It's even a free parking day (Sunday)!

If this guy can sunbathe in my space,

then I can park my bike in the street (it is as long as a Smart car!). Sometime this week I will post the law that says I can, tonight I am too lazy.

Relaxed Saturday

Two people enjoying one bicycle,

a sunny Saturday ride to a California Farmers Market.