henna and hair and bikes and friends

I got this henna tattoo on New Year's Eve...


and I couldn't wait to show it off!


So I paraded it from Venice to Santa Monica to get my hair done before my friend's wedding.


It was a beautiful sunny day that cast strong shadows.

I adorned my other hand with jewels, so it wouldn't feel jealous.

I made some new friends in the bike lane on the way back to my hotel.


He offered to take my pic!

(how does my hair look?)

Peace be unto you, brother, and a happy 2012!

I resolve to ride on!

I spent this New Year's in Venice Beach.


It was not the sunny SoCal weather that we dreamed of, but my friend Marisol and I enjoyed cruising the beach scene nonetheless.


We stayed at the Bayside Hotel, which has a fleet of bike rentals for a very reasonable day rate.


And even so, it is not hard to find any type of bike to fit your fancy in these parts...


or to fit your family!


Enjoy the ride that is 2012! (more to come from Lalaland...)

Nobody walks in LA (Biking in LA pt. 2)

Despite what people think and say, Los Angeles has a rich bicycle culture. In fact, little havens like Venice Beach speckle the coastline, where EVERYONE who's ANYONE knows this fact: The bike is the best way to go.



Even Tim Robbins knows that.


You don't need no limo when you've got free valet bike parking at the Main Street Farmers' Market. Definitely one place you want to see and be seen.


And if you need to wear a full length evening gown, your bike will clearly take you there in style.


Los Angeles - the place where dreams are caught and made.


Catch my drift?


LA is all right.

bikes are alive and well and living in Los Angeles pt. 1

I went on my semi-annual trip to LA recently. And surprise! It was a breath of fresh air, actually (pun intended). With the "summer" we've been experiencing in SF (or lack thereof), it was nice to see what the other kids do when the sun is out.



So I went for a cruise on the beach in Venice.



The layers come off and your sparkly sting ray glistens in the sunshine.



Bikes make people and pets happy!



People parading their souped-up bikes and trikes - good times in the summertime!





More to come!

This gentleman had just finished assembling this bike

we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue

LA - the land of the eternal summer.


Orange on orange on Electric Avenue!


Sunny day! Bikey day! Doggie day! Happy day!


Heading to the beach in mid-Spring to start working on that base tan.


Running into friends eating brunch at the corner greasy spoon and having a stop and chat. That's what Sundays are for. :-)


Most photos taken by Branislav Gjorcevski with my Lumix.

bikes and boards

Stereotypes exist for a reason.

This is Venice Beach.

And so is this.

Thank God for stereotypes, right?!?

classic|eclectic

The post-modern goes classic and the classic goes eclectic on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

So Cal's got this classic and elegant line of city bikes called Linus Bikes.

They're perfect.


OK, almost perfect. A couple scratches on a city bike are inevitable!


Schwinn gets funky! Leopard print basket liner and all!


I've seen these baskets at SF MoMa. I don't know who makes them, what they're called or where else to get them.


With these bikes, it's all about the quirky accoutrements. And the polka dots!


Little green animals grinning at you from the handlebars = bliss!

dog days of spring

I'm into these tribute photos lately. Again, this one was purely by accident.

A shout out to our pal in Toronto, Xander N'Dante.

Chin Chin to Cycle Chic avec chien!

Old School Venice

Morning coffee time with Venice local
Peter, the hippie German
- the Journey is the Destination!

Venice Beach Vogue

I will be making my semi-annual trip to LA in March, and as a preview, I offer you these fine gems from my last visit.

My old roommate Banne and his gorgeous wife Annette.


Little surfer girl. (Could there be an image that better typifies Venice Beach?)


Cruising with the tunes.


Picture perfect! Sunny day at the beach, palm trees, pretty girls cruising and shirtless men rolling along.


LA can be kinda cool.

bike @ beach

I am madly packing tonight before I'm off on my Excellent Brazilian Adventure tomorrow. [Yay!] Sorry the posts have been a little scarce, but I'm sure you know how it is to be traveling during the holidays. I'm almost done with my list of 24 things to do in 12 hours. I will be posting about my travels once or twice a week while away, reading Bicycle Diaries and sharing my thoughts with you about cycling in Latin America, and whomever I meet along the way.



In the meantime, I am leaving you with these images of cyclists at the beach, because for the next week I'll be lounging in the sun in Copacabana.



Ate logo!

Guest Photo: Summertime in Venice Beach

Apparently princess cut dresses and bikes are all the rage in Venice this summer.!

Photo by: Veronica Wheeler
Caption by: Holly Mosher
Pictured (from right to left): Jenni (blue bike), Jolette (black bike) and Holly

sooooo California girls

Every town has a pervading look, and these chicks on their bikes are showing it off.

I think 45% of angelenas wear flip flops, 45% wear Chucks, and the remaining 10% wear odd footwear like Uggs (why? WHY?!?).

Big sunglasses go nicely with big smiles.

How can you not be happy riding around in the So-Cal sunshine?