Winter Biking Tips from GOOD

There isn't much advice for Seattle Riders, but Chicago and further east, all get some winter biking tips from GOOD.

Image via Adamscarrol.

Topshop Bicycle Club on Chictopia

Some of my favorite cycle looks from Topshop Bicycle Club on Chictopia. An endless source of street style.

Gorgeous Bike Shoot - Style Inspiration

Such beautiful colors, I makes me want to dress, pack a lunch & visit the open meadows. Visit Marc Bordon's site for the full shoot.

Cargo Bikes

Another option in getting your goods where you're going is a cargo bike. They seem to be the perfect option for someone with children, someone that uses their bike for grocery shopping or getting equipment to work, a person that lives somewhere flat, &/or a person with a couple thousand to drop on a bike. I think they look super fun & really convenient (just not for me & these Seattle hills).


Metrofiets are handmade in Portland, OR


Bakfiets are pricey & foreign, but can be bought at specialty bike shops like Clever Cycles (Portland), Rain City Bikes (Vancouver, BC), and Dutch Bike Co. (Seattle) .


Joe Bike sells a variety of cargo bikes in varying costs & uses; Portland based of course.


Yuba Bikes sell in the states, but are German based & reasonably priced.


Madson Cycles are another stylish option & available across the US.


Christiana Bikes also seem nice, though I'm not sure they are available outside the EU.

Other resources include: Bikefix & Cargo Bikes (the list).

South Lake Union to Pioneer Square

After a great visit with my brother in South Lake Union, I decided to kill a couple of hours on the bike before my dentist apt. From his place near Snowboard Connection & Alley24 I headed toward 9th Avenue on Republican. 9th is a one way street with a clearly marked bike lane that will lead you straight to Bell Street Once you hit Bell, you can take a right on 3rd to go to Seattle Center or head straight for shopping & eating in Belltown. Around 2nd, I took a minute to check out Roq Le Rue & Halogen Galleries; if there was more time in the day I'd also stop by Mama's for mexican food or Shorty's for hot dogs, beers (also home to a classic Seattle pour) & pinball.

After a Belltown stop, I headed down to Western & hopped on the Eastern sidewalk until the Pike Place Market because of one way traffic; it gets pedestrian heavy at this point, so make sure to watch out for them. Once I hit the market I crossed the street to the bike lane that starts where Western splits to go to the waterfront. This is smooth sailing; make sure to pop into a couple of the great design, furniture & interior shops that line the street on both sides. Take a left on Yesler then Right on 1st, there is another bike lane on 1st. I took a left on Jackson & wiggled all around King Street Station, Punch Gallery, 4Culture Gallery, All City Coffee & then shot onto 4th back to downtown.

My last (fun) stop was the Seattle Central Library, seeing that I'd only been there once before at night for a private party, I decided to spend an afternoon taking pics & taking it in. It's a beautiful space inside & out; I can't believe it took me this long to get there. Heading home, 4th is a decent option because it's one way traffic, but busy none the less. At some point a bike lane starts on the left, maybe around University. The trip ended at 5th & Stewart where I got my teeth scrubbed for 45 minutes. Ugh.

Aside from the stop at the dentist, I recommend the urban jog. Here's the route & here are some pics.

What Should I Wear Biking?

Call me vain, but when I first considered biking around town, the first thought to go through my head - "Do I have to wear that God-awful get up?" Everywhere I look it's biker after biker in special clip shoes, spandex-butt padding shorts, yellow or green nylon jackets & some sporty eye protection. I don't mean to judge; some people want to bike fast, not have a sore ass, be easily spotted by cars & not get a rock in their eye. It seems like the best spots to get hi-tech cycling gear in Seattle is REI; there, plus EMS or Sierra Trading Post is great for online purchases.

I like to think of it this way, if you are going to be an aggressive cyclist (either speed or longevity), the gear is worth it. If you are going to ride casually or for only a short commute, you really just need to think about comfort & keeping your pant leg out of the chain. While I consider myself a casual commuter, I understand that in Seattle - biking in skin tight (no lycra) denim & heals can feel pretty constricting taking Pine from Downtown to the top of Capitol Hill. Check out the following links for places to grab functional & stylish cycle gear.

Cyclodelic (London based)
London Cyclechic & their fashion tips
Swrve Cycle Apparel
First Look Commuter Pants
Lindland Cordarounds
Styley helmets by Bern

Keep in touch this week as I get a little deeper into cycling in style.

Buying Vintage Bikes

There are a lot of reasons to buy vintage or secondhand bikes: cost, style, testing your commitment, nostalgia or sustainability. Buying this way has its pros & cons, but can be a solid way to go. Whether you are buying your bike off of craigslist, ebay, or from your local bike shop - you'll want to make sure that you learn as much about the bike as possible. Some things to check:

1. Has it had a tune up recently?
2. Is the frame in good shape (rust, dents, bends)?
3. How do the gears work, are they transitioning smoothly?
4. Is there tread remaining on the tires, is the rubber crack free?
5. Does the bike ride smoothly without any friction?

Your answer should be yes to any & all of these if you are interested in purchasing the bike. I also recommend that you have a chance to get your hands (or ass) on a used bike before committing to purchasing it - this means that craigslist, yard sales & local shops tend to be the best.

There are also negatives to consider when buying a vintage or used bike. First, it can be expensive or hard to repair or replace parts for your older bike. The biggest downfall that I've noticed in riding a vintage bike is the missing out on the modern technology. My lovely bike makes my body work a lot harder, especially with its heavier weight & center shifting system. Last, you'll often find little quirks such as new accessories don't fit right or your seat has adjustment limitations, but these can all be worked around.

I support it. Vintage bikes are good for the soul & can offer a stylish way to get around. I also think that riding a used bike is a strong statement toward reuse & sustainability - not everybody needs a brand-new, super high-tech, super fast bike.

Buying the Best Bike for You at Good.
Vintage Bicycle Guide at Riding Pretty.

Image via Lydia1913.

What Kind Of Bike Is Right For Me?

When you are trying to find the right bike, you'll want to ask yourself a few questions. I definitely recommend finding a bike shop that will walk you through all of your needs & concerns, to find you the perfect bike & the perfect fit.

Where do I live?
a. Seattle
b. New York
c. Santa Cruz
d. Chicago

The real question here is, what is the terrain? If you are riding steep hills you'll want more than just 3 speeds; you'll also want to tote around a lightweight bike, maybe even one with a little extra electric boost. Although you can still find kids riding fixies all over Seattle & San Francisco. Another thing to consider is the density of your city & the pace in which it moves, as well as the space that you live in. You may find that beach cruisers are too wide squeezing through traffic, next to parked cars or to fit in your tiny Manhatten apartment.

What kind of biking do I want to do?
a. Commute to work
b. Take long distance weekend rides & stay in shape
c. Off road and bike trails
d. Run errands & get around my neighborhood

As I talked about yesterday, different bikes are meant to cater to the type of riding you wish to do. If you are doing a short, slower commute to work & running errands on the weekend, you may be best off with a hybrid, recreational cruiser or electric bike. If you'd like to keep in shape with lengthy rides at a faster pace (ie you want to do the Seattle to Portland Ride in the next year) you'll want to get yourself on a road bike or a hybrid leaning in that direction. If you want to ride in the city as well as some gravel trails, hybrids are totally the way to go.

What is most important?
a. speed
b. comfort
c. compact
d. style

Generally speaking commuter hybrids, road bikes & fixies are the winners for speed. While commuter hybrics, recreational cruisers & some electric bikes seem to be front runners for comfort. More obviously, folding bikes are the most compact, but road bikes & fixies are usually pretty sleek & can fit into a studio or one bedroom apartment. As for style - that's personal.

What is your price range?
a. Under $200
b. $200-500
c. $500-$800
d. $800+

All styles & types of bikes can be found at different price ranges, depending on the quality & add ons you get. For a casual commuter, you could go as low as $350. Another thing that you can consider is going for a used bike while you test the waters. I grabbed my hybrid over 2 years ago for $100 at Velo & am still riding it to work most days & around town on the weekends. Check for used bikes at local shops or on craigslist.

Is there a style you like?
a. Colorful & trendy
b. Hi-tech & fast
c. Beach Cruiser & So-Cal
d. Vintage

Again, this is such a personal side of choosing a bike, but shouldn't be blown off. You should love your bike & feel good riding it!

I hope this helps for all of you debating about which bike to actually get. Remember to talk to someone at your local bike shop, they are the experts. You can also look here for further insight - Her Active Life, STL Biking, Ride the Wind & Seattle Woman.

What Bikes Are Out There?

Recreational Cruisers (Single to 8 Speed) - popular models include the Electra Amsterdam, Trek Cruisers, Trek Allant, Simple City Bikes & many Dutch Models.


Drop Handle Road Bikes - makers include Trek, Bianchi, Schwinn & Giant (for more see here).


Commuter Bikes (Hyrbids that can often separate into sport, city or comfort) - top commuters of 2009 from Metaefficient. AW Cycles has a good break down this category.


Electric Bikes - Models include the Giant Lite, Freedom & Express, Schwinn World & Continental, & eZee Bikes.


Folding Bikes - A great rundown here at Eco Geek & a Northwest resource.


Fixed Gear Bikes (Fixie) - single, fixed speed & oh so trendy. Best Fixies of 2009 over at Bike Forums.

Again, I want to welcome any input or comments that you might have here at Iva Jean Rides. I want to make sure that readers have the best information & sometimes you might be holder.

8 Reasons Biking in Seattle Had Me Freaked

I fantasized about biking in Seattle, a Seattle with no hills & me on a beautiful cruiser. But when I decided to make it happen, reality set in & I was intimidated. It seemed I had so much to learn; what kind of bike should I get, how the heck am I going to haul my stuff around, what do I really need to buy, how am I going to avoid dying? I had some friends to ask questions & coworkers that helped me get used to commuting, but what I needed most was to just start riding.

So, here we are - the 8 reasons biking in Seattle had me freaked...

1. What kind of bike do I need & how much is this going to cost me?
2. What am I going to wear (do I really need spandex shorts)?
3. How will I haul my stuff around?
4. How can I avoid dying & what are Seattle's bike laws?
5. How can I avoid dying & how do I deal with cars & heavy traffic?
6. What's the deal with loading my bike on the bus?
7. How will I get there?
   
8. Ummm, won't I be super sweaty (is there any route without a huge hill)?
   

In the next few weeks tell you all what I wish I would have known then. Just one girl that wanted to bike around a bit to another.

Image via Copenhagen Cycle Chic.

Pretty Bikes

Gary Fisher Bicycles presents the Simple City Bike, starting at just $600 heading up to $1000. They boast a European Frame in gorgeous colors with all of the wicker basket/leather accessories you want, but I wonder how heavy it actually is. I'm currently eying the 8W, maybe this weekend warrants a trip to Gregg's.

A friend recently purchased this adorable piece & it has me wanting something similar. The Trek Allant is a little more gear for your buck, a $570 7-speed.

Also to note - Apartment Therapy New York is all about the bike.