Seattle Bikes

Some quick shots of Seattle on bike, most shots taken on Pike/Pine. I need to get out more & shoot - it seems to be getting away from me.

Getting It There

Carrying your lunch, clothes or other things to & from work can be quite a hassle. Should you carry it on your back, or should you make your bike do all of the work?

Bags
I've been using a Gama-Go messenger bag for the last two years, but often find that it doesn't hold it all, not to mention that it weighs me down & wrinkles my shirt. While I love the look of Chrome, Timbuk2, & R.E. Load bags, I was discouraged to find that I'd be dropping hundreds. I also looked into waterproof panniers & courier bags at REI, again, I was shocked at the price for something that didn't even suit my style.

Using a messenger bag can be tough on your lower back & when it's hot out I find that having a bag against my back makes matters much worse. If you are like me & haul a lot of stuff to & fro, a bag is often tricky, unless you rock a large Chrome Metropolis, which I thought about often. The positive to using a messenger bag is that it can easily go where you go & serve a purpose other than cycling.

Getting a sturdy bag that is both comfortable, stylish & functional will run your over $100 & can move closer to $200 as you upgrade. As usual, I'll recommend checking Ebay or Craigslist for secondhand deals.


Chrome


Timbuk2 - check out their bag builder to create a custom piece


R.E. Load

Rack Options
I just installed a rack on the rear of my bike & I'm sold on its convenience. It would have been easy to put on myself, but I had the folks at Velo do it since it was already getting other work done. Not only do I have the option for panniers or a basket, but I can rig up almost anything using a bungee cord. Until I find the perfect basket or bags, I plan on sticking with the bungee method. With that said, I may pick up a net like this one.

I also love the idea of a basket - one that is easily removable for taking into grocery stores, my apartment or work. This rattam one is super cute, this black one seems nice & subtle, & this white one has a touch of girlie (oops, I just bought this); all of these run between $17 & $55. Don't forget about front baskets either; I personally love the super simple wire, but wicker also floats my boat. Oh oh oh & I lust over this as well, the Carrie Swedish Lace Basket.


Eleven81


Eleven81


Carrie Swedish Lace

Then there are panniers, which seem to be a bit harder to find around these parts; Dutch Bike Co. carries the FastRider Line & London Cycle Chic has some to lose your cool over. Instructables shows us how to make our own & these knitted panniers are so sweet. Want to spend top dollar? Check out these designer bags from Gruppo Bici. Again, more utilitarian panniers can be found all over; Amazon, Rei or Bike Somewhere.


Safari Bags from London Cycle Chic


Gruppo Bici


FastRider at Dutch Bike Co.


Via A Lovely Thing

Best Cycle Street Clothes

In the last few years I've been able to do some"research" on what works best while biking. It's been cold, it's been hot, it's been raining & I've found myself in some awkward clothing-related biking situations.


In the summer months I love to put on a dress & putz around town on my bike. If you're at all modest you'll want your dress to be a little heavier fabric (so it won't fly up) & not much up from your knee. I have a great jersey tube dress from Gentle Fawn that serves as my go to biking dress. It has a built in bra, exposes my shoulders & back (no tan lines), and is a-line with a free flowing bottom. My other go to summer outfit is an American Apparel pencil skirt & tube top, it takes me most places (on & off the bike). All in all, cycling in the summer means that you need comfortable, breathable clothing, for me that means jersey & other knits. If you are worried about a little too much skin, grab a pair of hot pants from american apparel or twin syndrome on etsy.


For a while I was anti leggings as pants, but they are creeping up into my wardrobe. While in Stockholm I found myself wearing leggings with oversized button ups a few times & thought that they'd make a lovely outfit for bike riding.


Another tip - riding in heels is just as easy as biking in flip flops.


A nice romper would be great too, don't you think?

Some no no's you ask? My biggest are skin tight denim, unless of course they have a little lycra in them. I also avoid too short skirts or shorts; it's less about giving sneak peeks & more about feeling my bare ass on the saddle.

All images via Zakkaliciousness.

Girls On Bikes

Treehugger talks about women on bikes. I'm not sure why some points are specific to women, but valid either way. The article also includes links to other research & articles.

Image via JCSanchezm.

Snapshots of London

As I've said, London is a city of fast & aggressive biking. As opposed to my other destinations, I noticed that more people here are in actual cycling gear on fast bikes. You'll also find a strong bike messenger/fixie scene - most prevalent (in my humble observation) on the east side, aside more casual bikers taking their time, enjoying the city. We stumbled into a couple incredible shops in Shoreditch, stocked with candy colored frames, hot pink cages, colored tires & chains. Sigh, I'm sold on the fact that if I lived in a flat city I'd be on one.

Portobello Market on Bike

These two caught my eye.

Quick Shots of London

I'm hoping to get some more shots this weekend - biking in London is a whole other beast. I went for my first ride on Wednesday & was a little taken back by the speed of it all.

East Kreuzberg, Berlin - Sunday in the Park

A walk through East Kreuzberg led us to a large park filled with people dancing, bands playing, bikers, frisbee throwers, & others just enjoying the sun. The thing that caught my attention here? As packed as the park was, people pulled in on bikes, courtesly walked them or biking slowly through crowds. It works both ways, courteous bikers & pedestrians alike.

Berlin Cycle Chic

At first, I thought that Berlin didn't share the cycle love, but after 2 minutes I realized that it was there. The streets are faster & the traffic is faster, but Berlin has made significant efforts to make biking an easy form of transportation with most roads having bike lanes & many intersections hosting bike-specific traffic lights.

I also noticed that biking in Berlin is definitely a lifestyle decision that young & old are making. You see people walking their bikes when they meet friends without, people riding quickly to get somewhere on time, people riding at a slow pace enjoying the day. It takes all walks, all subcultures & demographics to make up the population on bikes in Berlin. Here is a collection of some of my favorite bikers, or at least the ones I got pics of.

A Sunny Ride Through the English Garden

The English Garden in Munich is the perfect spot to go for a casual bike ride, lay in the sun with friends & grab a liter in the beer garden. I was lucky enough to make a friend in Stockholm that connected me with her sister in Munich. Felizitas met me with a sweet little cruiser & showed me all around.

Riding in Munich was totally unintimidating, but it is clear that locals don't ride the way Copenhagen, Stockholm & the Netherlands might. I always assumed that city planning was a result of high bike traffic, but it's clear that bike planning is a default in Europe (a lesson we could learn in the states) - even if it isn't a city known for its cycle culture.