Talk About Personal Style !!!!!

Photo credit /source: “Five Faces of "Elvis"

Slimm Perkins Buick makes some pretty fine bicycle rides.

Just how much do you need to know to buy a new (Euro-Style) Bicycle? Part I

So the easy part is you know you’re ready to buy a new bicycle.

Maybe you’re ready to retire/re-gift/resell/ or keep simply as a back up your current bicycle. Or maybe you haven’t even ridden since, well… it was so, so long ago. At any rate you know you want the Euro-style, Sit Up & Beg, Ergonomic bicycle like the ones everyone loves and has been blogging about. Yes, STYLE does matter!

Now What? How many decisions do you have to make in order to decide which one to buy?

First of all don’t feel overwhelmed by technical specs and ‘bicycle speak’ when you haven’t a clue what it all means. Try not to walk into your local bicycle shop (LBS) expecting to find a great assortment of euro-style bicycles and get yourself all disappointed because the selection is mediocre to non-existent. And please don’t feel overwhelmed by bike sales assistants who ‘advise’ you into settling for something else because it’s in stock. Be warned; in order to hunt down the euro-bicycle of your dreams it’s going to take some savvy on your part. My hunch is that you’re a seasoned and sharp shopper and you’re up for this.

Once you’ve gotten an idea of what you like realize that many euro-style bicycles can only be had by placing an order for them. You can seek out an USA bicycle distributor and you can order your bicycle from them. You can go directly to the website of the bicycle you desire and investigate ordering with them (as long as they are in English.) You can take a trip overseas and buy your bicycle while you’re there.

Question: Why are the LBS in such short supply of euro-style bikes? The whole racer/sports mentality has prevailed for so long that the buying habits dictate what manufactures produce for you to buy. I believe eventually the LBS will have euro-style bicycles if people want them, but apparently the market won't sustain it just yet.

So this is just part one… More to come!

****Update!!!

This being far into 2009 this post will be revised soon.

Pleasant, Airy, Fresh - Fabric Choices

Some fabrics are better then others when it comes to staying fresh. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable and in need of a change of clothing after a bicycle ride. You can help by making a few adjustments (especially during summer) by choosing clothing based on what type of fabric is in it.

Synthetics and synthetic blends wick moisture away better than cotton. Perhaps experiment to see which synthetics ‘feel’ right on your skin. For summer what comes to mind is light, light diaphanous (sheer) dresses.

Cotton will absorb moisture (sweat) and hold it, not allowing it to evaporate into the air. Cotton does not ‘dry out’ well, so not the best choice. I personally love crisp cotton (fair trade/organic/recycled cotton is ideal.) However with cotton on hot days I want the arm holes cut very generously. I also like cotton voiles for summer.

Believe it or not merino wool is a top choice. Really super light merino wool actually could be a choice for summer as in knickers or a riding cape for coolish evenings.

Eco fabrics like bamboo could work well too. (I have bamboo bath towels I love!) The eco fabric selection is really expanding so you could well be discovering some really unique finds.

An After Thought: Really, you could wear a costume period ball gown but as long as you bicycle at a leisurely pace, aren’t going some long, great distance, then you’ll find you can stay surprisingly and pleasantly fresh.

If getting to work on time is your main concern… then ‘Less is More’ when you bicycle ride. Layer, then shed and keep from over heating to stay your freshest!

The Speed Factor – Don’t Work Up a Sweat

Are you concerned you’re going to arrive at your destination with a big red face and little trickles of sweat? Then don’t sweat it.

Honestly, plan your trip with ample time. Not so terribly hard if you’re like a lot of people in the US… because over 50% of the car trips taken in the US today are less than 2 miles. So think in terms of your average 2 mile destinations (especially the corner store and your neighborhood shops & restaurants), then plan it out with ample time and don’t pedal up a storm to get there!

Helmet Hair-dos

I’ve never much minded the dreaded ‘helmet hair’ so many women fear they will get from wearing a helmet.

The longer one’s hair is, seemingly corresponds to more complaints (especially during the summer) that it’s just too hot to wear a helmet. Well I have long hair and what I like to do is wear my hair in a low ponytail, and to the side. If it’s a high ponytail it won’t fit under my helmet. If it’s a ponytail that gets tied at the back, it tends to get my neck too sweaty. Also big super loose braids work for me …that way my hair ends up slightly wavy and since I have very straight hair I like the effect.

Even with having a shorter hairstyle are there still plenty of fears about getting a sweaty head? Then certainly choose a helmet that is well ventilated! While I don’t use them personally, I think a buff/scarf/bandana worn beneath the helmet could also do the trick.

Once I get to where I’m going I love my spritzer bottle of rose hydrosol water to refresh with. After my ride I flip my head over, give a spritz and brush my hair out, flip my head back again and I‘m set. For others the opposite approach works and a little spritzer bottle with a favorite hairspray/hair fixer spritzed on before and/or after wearing the helmet works great. This is followed by a quick brush out & ‘style it’ after arriving.

(Anyway I like the ‘mussed up’ hair look.)

Anyone out there with suggestions for great hairstyling products to revamp hairstyles with?

Comptoir des Cotonniers & the Bicycle ... oh so French

photo credit/source:Comptoir des Cotonniers

Comptoir des Cotonniers is the French-casual chain (that for some is approaching a cult status.) Now along with their clothing line they are offering their newly, chic bicycle designs…. here in their catalog. It's not available yet, however later this summer in shops around London it will be.

Pretty & Cozy Coat - She Rides a '68 Schwinn

I loved her soft butter yellow hooded coat. It's been a tad bit cooler here. Everyone has a sweater or jacket on again ...

She just loves her ** '68 Schwinn. I checked on Old Roads for any current listings or pics for a '68 Schwinn, none found. I like to check Old Roads from time to time.

** this notates a susprise link

Super Models Ride Clunkers & Junkers

Agyness Deyn is English and a super model. I discovered this photo over at London Cycle Chic.

I know I’ve just recently posted Iekeliene’s photo but here goes again. She’s a super model (Dutch) and some people thought by ‘Dutch’ I meant the bicycle in the photo not Iekeliene herself.

The point is that these models are very in demand ($$$) and could afford any bicycle they wanted. I appreciate their choice to ride used and/or vintage bicycles (though Iekeliene is obliviously trying to sell hers!)

I wish I could ask them why they ride old ‘clunker/ junkers’, but I have a hunch they just liked them. About a month ago I wrote about the plus side of riding a used bike in ‘Tough Times…How to get a Bike for Cheap!’.

Now whenever time I spot some one who is riding a 'vintage' (a nicer term than clunker/junker) bicycle I will ask them what they're riding.

****** to see more recent photos of Agyness and her bicycle click here

Cool Kids on the Block, Greene St., SoHo...

5/22/08

I love seeing groups of kids just hanging out on the street like this. Maybe its a sign that I'm getting old or something. The mere fact that I call them "kids" is quite telling in itself...I don't know. In any event, my boyfriend and I were driving up Greene St. on our way to dinner when we passed by these guys chillin' -- what a great photo op. So he stopped the car, ran out and snapped this photo of them for me. I love how they all just knew how and where to pose themselves. Aren't kids fabulous!?

Pledge Time

I take pledges from time to time. I did The Compact ( I lasted a couple of months...but doing so, even at that level of commitment altered my buying habits tremendously.)

I did an ETSY pledge to buy Handmade (...again I lasted just a couple of months.)

Oprah made a pledge this week to Eat with Consciousness (Quantum Wellness) …and I am trying to lean into it.

I’d like to list some of the interesting pledge programs that come into my mail box.

This one keeps reappearing, and I did post it as a comment. Apparently it's sender wants it to receive bigger attention in my little blog. Here goes....

‘Right now people in the industrialized world are facing two very grave problems: obesity and a growing scarcity of oil. Compounding this problem is the new food shortage brought about, in part, by the conversion of food cropland to bio-fuel crop production. Most people feel powerless to help, but there is one thing that we can do. Ride our bicycles to work.
If everyone would agree to ride their bikes to work one day per week we could cut oil consumption by as much as 10-15%. No one would argue that riding a bike burns more calories than driving the car. Although popular politically right now, most bio-fuels consume more energy than they produce. We would be much better to eat those bio-crops then use our own energy to transport us around.
So spread the word. Make it a movement! Bicycle to work one day a week and do your part to cut back obesity and the overuse of oil and precious cropland.’

Euro-Style Bicycles & Saving the Environment

I couldn’t help but notice a synchronistic, spontaneous happening.

Here in the USA there are 2 blogs and 2 website style blogs, where everyone has recently purchased......

Euro-style bicycles. They will be sharing their new bicycling adventures with you!

3 of the 4 plan on making a commitment or pledge if you will, to (daily) ride their bicycles and rid themselves of car dependency.

*****

Chicago: Hank & Me recently bought Orange OMA



Sacramento: EcoVelo recently bought Pashley Sovereigns; Princess & Roadster

Brooklyn: Drunk and in Charge recently bought Velorbis Churchill Classic

Wash.DC: Confessions of a Dilettante recently bought The Electra Amstedam Classic in White

What Do You Think? Are you planning on selecting a nice Euro-style Bicycle for your next ride?

JoyRider Knickers

photo credit: NAN EASTEP

I love these Knickers....I like the new designs even better...the ones I saw at the Farmer's Market where I met Nan and where she sets up shop every other weekend. The new designs included adorable little pin stripped vests with the knickers. They had elements of reflective ribbon placed so masterfully (without being overdone.) Nan wore a pretty femmy blouse under her vest so it was so newsboy chic, like the looks Lou Doillon sports. My camera went on the blink so I promise to go back and photo again.

The Deadly Nightshades

Official movie photography by digitalfabrik.ca

Goings On from the Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week.

My Fav Dutch Model / Bicycle Pic

photo credit: Iekeliene's self-portrait polaroids

Market Shopping

Shopping for the week's garden fresh best from the local Farmer's Market. The dress she wore was really cute... but when I snapped this I wanted to focus on her bounty of garden greens.

Bike to Work Day -- San Francisco

in a crisp shirt waist dress.

Nice and cool, an urban look in black.

Riding her guy friend's bike. Big flowers!

Job Interview --- Ride your Bicycle

On her way to her job interview! Way to go! Met Rachel in the street, she was in a rush and hot as it's been she elected to bicycle to her job interview. Talk about not sweating it and staying cool.

Bicycles & the Pretty Dress

photo credit/source: Mei Tao/J. Crew

J. Crew with the Jorg & Olif CityBike …all together now in J. Crew’s spring catalog.

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Here in my part of the world I found this shop window at Atomic Garden... with the prettiest white summer dresses and a charming red bicycle.

Wear a Dress and be Safe

Don’t just take my word for it. Really here is what others have said….

According to Ms Sarah

‘Evidently there was a study done with a man who rode in a variety of attire. Once with full-on road bike garb and helmet. Then with bike clothes and no helmet. Then with a women's wig and a helmet in bike clothes. Then in women's wig, no helmet, and a dress. Apparently the last combination, with dress et all, traffic gave him the widest berth!’

According to Chain, chain, chain

‘This is totally unscientific, but I'm convinced it's true. When the weather is warm and I am dressed, I swear, drivers are nicer to me. Maybe a girl in a skirt on a bike makes them nostalgic for the '50s so they're in a better mood.’

Too Cool

Check out the bicycle spoke 'art work'...amazing colors and eye-popping. I usually just photo women, but how could I let this one get away!

Tiger Bicycle- Parked at the Movies

This was parked at the Movie Theater last night. Maybe somebody rode it there to see see Iron Man?

Cinco de Mayo @ APT, Meatpacking District

5/5/08

Stylist Extraordinaire: The always lovely Robyn Fernandes

100 (or so) Years Ago

San Luis Obispo Bicycle Fashion Show May 16th

Friday May 16 the Tall Bike Posse will host a Bicycle Fashion Show at the bike gallery; BIKExperience,

Location:1060 Osos St. SLO (San Luis Obispo)

Start time is 6pm for social hour, fashion show starts at 7pm.

" bike fashion show, featuring cool vintage clothing and bikes, as well as fashions and accessories created from recycled textiles and bike parts ~ a great opportunity for show-n-tell and dovetail with a great tradition!!! Contact: Jeanne Mutziger jrichardson13@gmail.com

California Casual

Simple. Very Casual. Very California Look.

Car Phobia?

Car Stress? - Want to really relax when you ride?

A list of Car free Cities for your riding pleasure.