Friday, May 11, 2012

end of bike to work week, what next?

well, every day for me is bike to work day, but it isn't for everyone else.

Afternoon #btwd panda #nofilter

how can we change that? many people say that to help them bike more is to have more protected bike lanes. maybe even "just" bike lanes would be a start. maybe the connection between biking everyday leads to touring, or extended bike rides. i know that is the path i've been following personally, and i read similar experiences across the bikely blogosphere as well.

last week on our FB page we announced we are working with the Adventure Cycling Association to promote their awesome initiative of creating a U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). what is a USBRS? U.S. Bicycle Routes is a proposed national network of bicycle routes, and they are intended to link urban, suburban, and rural areas using a variety of appropriate facilities.



if you donate $25 or more before Saturday, May 12 at 11:59 EST, and you will be entered to win a Brooks B-17 Saddle. this is my personal saddle of choice. it's awesome, and fits like a glove. which will be great to comfort you with all that riding you will be doing on the USBRS.

if you donate at least $100, you will receive a Walz cycling cap designed specifically for the campaign, while supplies last. Better yet, you’ll also be directly impacting the future of bicycling in America.

we have never done a partnership like this before, but all four of us here at CYLRAB, feel that the creation of this bicycle route fits the mission of this blog...which is to change your life by riding a bike. if more bike routes means more people on bikes, then we feel it's a win win for everyone.

have a fantastic weekend! i hear there are more bike to work weeks throughout the country next week. can't wait to see bloggy reports from them!

Adventure Cycling is offering many more prizes and fundraising challenges throughout the campaign. To keep track of these offers and to support the project: like the U.S. Bicycle Route System on Facebook or follow it on Twitter, or learn about other ways to get involved.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

happy bike to work day!

for me, everyday is bike to work day. so during bike to work WEEK, i try to dress up a little bit more to be a good ROLL model.

these past couple of days have been pretty warm (for SF standards), so time to bring out the dresses!





there are thousands of new bikers expected to hit the streets. here in SF, local officials have a VIP ride and the mayor, along with other city officials and policy makers, rides to city hall on a (his?) bike. this shows how much work the SFBC has done in order to have some political clout at city hall.

and on that note, i'm off to find an energizer station and some swag!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

support a burgeoning local business!

mamak: a common roadside food stall found in Malaysia.

meet ian.


doesn't he look like a great person? that is because he is. in addition to being great fun, he also wants to be is a bike powered business owner. that's right. not only is ian a great person with fantastic positive energy, he wants to change his life by owning and operating mamakSF, a pedal-powered food cart.

Born and raised in Malaysia. Migrated to Southern California as a teen. Now a happy transplant in San Francisco. Growing up in Malaysia and eating at mamak stalls was the highlight of my eating life. Love of food and cycling fuels my desire to feed Malaysian inspired food from my pedal-powered food cart to everyone.

here's a video explaining his idea.



how can you help? ian has a kickstarter campaign to raise funds to help build his pedal powered business. it's great to see a minority business owner get started! ian has done a lot of good things for the biking community here in SF. now it's our turn to contribute to this great cause.

oh, and the toadies are GREAT. and my mouth is watering thinking of the (veggie) rojak! mmmm.

follow ian and mamakSF on the interwebs:
website
twitter
facebook
email him! eat@mamaksf.com

Monday, May 7, 2012

Read The Signs

One of the things I like most about bicycling in Portland are all of the wonderful signs they give you.

State of Mind


They tell you where to go and about how long it will take to do so.  I have always found the timing estimates to be spot on.  It is quite hard to get lost even though just about everything is a clapboard house with a big tree in front of it.


Gotta Love Your Bike Route


The ones in San Francisco are a little more interpretive.  We have room for improvement.

Friday, May 4, 2012

friday fun times: a pair of schwinns

the other day was walking back from lunch and ran into this beauty.

1951 Schwinn

the owner was just leaving the post office, so i got to talk to him a little bit about his bike. they compliment each other very well, don't they?

Owner & his 1951 Schwinn


he told me it is a 1951 schwinn that he spent years restoring. looks like a lot of love and labor went into that bike, because she's a beauty!

1951 Schwinn

she has 95% original parts. including this 1930s-1950s era spring suspension.

1951 Schwinn


look at the detail on those handlebar grips!!

Restored 1951 Schwinn. Amazing #earlybird #schwinn

a generation later, in the 1970s, this 1972 schwinn was born.

1972 blue schwinn

not sure if original pedals, but they really do look cute and probably are same era.

1972 schwinn

she's new to my east bay homegirl. now it's time for us to go on some rides! congrats on finding the cute bike! basket and back rack: cargo bike.

1972 schwinn