Olé Olé Olé Ola!

Artwork by REYNALDO BERTO

Fun image posted today on ESPN Brasil from Renata Falzoni.

Hey Ho MEXICO!

Le jour de gloire est arrivé!

Busting out an oldie but goodie from two years ago. It's Euro Championship time, and the fever is rising. In just one hour France will take on England in a historic match, wearing their new Gaultieresque uniforms.



Who will claim victory? I can't contain my excitement.

Barça! Barça! Baaaaarça!

Yes, it is fashionable to wear the jersey of what is arguably the world's best footie team.





It's even more fashionable to have a subscription to one of the world's best bike share programs.

Bike to the Cup - The Afterglow

Really? Is it over? Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Let's relive the moments!

KT and her vuvu are happy to see you. (I had to say it.)

SF

Adrienne captures the great pre-game enthusiasm! Go Oranje!

SF

Everyone loves a Dutch girl.

Amsterdam

A Valencia Street storefront send a message of solidarity.

SF

Free for all - Sunday's Final brought out people of many colors! Que Viva Mexico!

SF

KT knows how to spot the Hot Dudes on Bikes. Que Viva Espana!

SF

Who cares who won the Final - whose Rouge et Noir is hotter?

SF

OK. Spain deserved the Win. Que Viva Espana!

LA

The World Cup brings people together - for better or for worse.

SF

Ibiza Comes to Civic Center

You can't go wrong with the Paraguay v. Spain Quarterfinals match at the Civic Center - Fiesta on the Plaza! A little preview of what's in store for the FINAL... if Paul the Octopus is right.

Ride your bike to the Cup! SF Bike Coalition will be providing free bike valet to protect your ride while you watch the beautiful game on the big screen at the Civic Center!

4 Is the Magic Number for Die Mannschaft

KT meets Melyssa and the rest of the Bike to the Cup gang to watch the unreal Germany v. Argentina match. Joined by Thierry of The Bay Soccer whose daughter Sasha won't be satiated until Germany scores yet another goal! KT meets more diehard Bike to the Cup fans after the game!

Oranje and Black Attack!

World Cup 2010 Quarterfinals... KT roots for the SF Giants brother team - Dutch Oranje! Joined by Rob and Dan from PUBLIC Bikes, it's an Oranje and Black attack comin' at ya! SF love direct to Amsterdam!

Bike to the Cup - The Spirit is Soaring!

Are you feeling the fever yet? The gals and I (plus a dude here and there) have been totally enjoying biking to the Cup and watching the games (bad calls and all) at numerous drinking establishments across the City.

I've also been enjoying seeing how the rest of the world has been celebrating! I'm quite pleased that one of the greatest biking countries of the world has advanced to the semi-finals! Go Netherlands! I dig the Oranje!

Now that's some national pride!

From Amsterdamize

One national pastime meets another - the Dutch have reason to celebrate!

From iMalfet

The city that brought us Cycle Chic shows us how the Danes wear their colors.

From Mikael

And now, from the fans in San Francisco...

Dan comes back from Jo-burg wearing the South African colors on his lime-green PUBLIC.


A couple of Mannschaft fans get ready to throw down 4-0 style!


KT shows support for the Motherland at the Ghana v. Uruguay game (still in shock about that Suarez handball) - vuvuzela courtesy of Dan Nguyen-Tan.


¡Que viva Meligrosa!

Check out our Bike to the Cup photo pool for more pics like these!

And happy 4th!

France's Big Comeback

KT falls into a state of delusion - I mean disillusionment - when all her teams are eliminated.

France and England duke it out Sumo-style for the Losers' Cup.

All of KT's Bike to the Cup Chronicles have been co-blogged on The Bay Soccer by Thierry Heumann, another Frenchie, and now KT wants to see him show up on his bike.

Goodbye David James - Hello Schweinsteiger!

It's the historic England v. Germany knockout match. Will David James accept KT's invitation to spend some downtime riding bikes in SF? Some German fans show us how to celebrate like a German.

Bike to the Cup!

You've seen our parades down Market Street, now it's time to show your bici-footie fever!


An American bike supports the American team!


After the US lost to Ghana (good game though, Go Ghana!), I met another cycling footie fan named Kristen! I told her she needed to join me and the other K on our morning footie rides! K squared could become K cubed!

Join our Bike to the Cup pool on Flickr!

YANKEES WIN!

The purpose of this video is to inspire you to get on your bike and go support your team Saturday morning/afternoon!

The Kristen/ins show their team and their World Cup 2010 boyfriends they love them by braving the cold and fog at 7 am, AND being the only two fans in their parade down Market Street to support the USA's BIG WIN against Algeria.

World Cup drama really doesn't get any better than this. Go homeboys!

KT's Spirited Ride to the Gallows

My fever has made me slightly delirious. I only wish I had meant this as a satirical piece.

Join KT on her ride to The Gallows for the infamous June 17 France v. Mexico match.



Song inspired by Sortez-Vous Les Doigts du Cul/Internet pour les Bleus.

My team's World Cup 2010 story just keeps getting juicier and juicier. Even though I'd prefer to watch les Bleus stick them into the back of the net, this drama is even more intriguing than le head-butt.

My one question, if France refuses to play, is it going to be Bafana Bafana v. Bafana Bafana on Tuesday?

Vive la France! ¡Que Viva Mexico! Long Live Ireland!

MissionMission reader Andy B. has been ready all morning to watch to much-anticipated match between Mexico and France:

It was pretty damn hilarious biking down Mission Street this morning, documenting my friend’s rather bold display of patriotisme prior to the Mexico/France World Cup match. We saw lots of smiles and heard lots of honks and shouts of ¡Viva Mexico!


Meli sent me this blogpost from MissionMission just now and it kind of reminds me of the madness that I was up to today (though I didn't parade through the Mission or Sunset Districts, just in the FiDi). I also didn't watch the game at a French bar, and found myself surrounded by Mexico fans. Je ne vois pas de problème! I think we can all just get along, non?


Look - France is sucking couilles during this Cup, but there's nothing wrong with supporting your team. It's a sport, and I know a lot of people have been killed because of it, wars have broken out and a lot of nationalistic/racist attitudes are displayed, but this brave soul's love for his team, as he rides peacefully, almost humorously down Mission Street wearing his team's colors, does not seem offensive or asking for trouble to me.

He's riding his BIKE (ouais!), waving the tricolor flag with smile on his face, and excited for his team. C'est tout!

So lighten up folks, pop open a cervezita and enjoy the Beautiful Game.

Bafana! Bafana! Bicicleta!

Renata Falzoni gets the word on the street from South Africans on who's gonna win the World Cup!

he's a 10...?

This one I pose to all you footie fans - is anyone else as confused by this man's shirt as I am? An Italian designer (Armani), with the great French footballer Zidane's number (10) and Spain's color (Red).

What's the message here? Footie brings the world together?!?