Rock and Ride: NPR's Urban Cyclist Music Playlist

Check out these beats that NPR picked for urban bikers!

As of today's writing, my ever-evolving list would include the following (a classic|eclectic mix):

1. Wide Eyes/Local Natives
2. Black Dog/Led Zeppelin
2. Ring My Bell/Anita Ward
3. How Do You Like Me Now?/The Heavy
4. Handshakes/Metric
5. Many Moons/Janelle Monáe



Now I wonder what the calitexican was listening to the afternoon I caught her rockin' the Panhandle?

And you (yes, all of you)! What would be on your urban cycling playlist?

hot dude takes BART

I was digging this dude's square white digital watch and how it matches his handlebars. I really shoulda asked what he was listening to, but by Daly City, he was gone...

siesta con bici

There's something very endearing about how a cyclist feels about her bike. A girl takes a nap in the Panhandle sunshine, one hand lovingly caressing her saddle as she might her beloved pet, messenger bag serving as an impromptu pillow, iPod streaming the soundtrack for this kind of precious springtime moment.

along for the ride

Nothing could be cooler than taking a ride with your friend. Especially with some cool tunage! These two guys reminded me of a time that a couple kids on bicycles latched onto me as I was riding a shopping cart down the ramp at Costco! Riding with friends is phun!

more Sunday in the Park

The weather in SF is notoriously unpredictable. In summer we get thick pea soup fog interspersed with sunny days, and this winter has felt more like spring with unbelievable heat waves following brief stints of rain, which have had me reminiscing about those sunny Sundays picnicking or simply gallivanting in Golden Gate Park. So I dug up some pics from our Indian Summer to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside even if it's cold and wet outside... or not!

This woman is simply beautiful with her light red and black plaid jacket flowing in the tailwind.

And how about this cutie giving a coup d'oeil to the roller disco park, enjoying the sun with his mp3s streaming over his headphones?

And because I can't enough of doubling the phun, here are my pals Ohleev and Spud (a.k.a. the Twins Brothers) from Paris when they were here in October. Hopefully we'll have another heatwave for their next visit scheduled for February.

caltrain vogue again

Riding the train most days, I don't always have energy to track down my fashionable companions. This woman impressed me with her hat, stripes and boots. But why did she remind me of Flashdance? (I wonder if she gets that all the time.)

[brian] Temescal, Oakland

Brian submitted this photo without commentary. He's also the one who first suggested we post about the scrapper bikes. Go Oak-town.
Left to Right: Jahmaal, Ayana, and Ross making the scene in the hip Temescal neighborhood, Oakland, CA

skinny stilettos

San Francisco has apparently not adopted Copenhagen's Style Over Speed cycling manifesto. As I was on my way to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, I spotted this woman speeding down Folsom Street listening to her tunes through her earphones, wearing a scarf reminiscent of those worn by either the PLO or Joe Strummer in the Rock the Casbah video, wearing painted on skinny blue jeans, pedaling in her black stilettos, and her arms covered in tattoos. I could hardly keep up with her and tried my best to snap a photo, one hand on my point-and-shoot, the other on my handlebars; one eye on the viewfinder, the other on the traffic lights.

Also, take notice of the fancy red and white checkered style on her bike frame and handlebars.

I was very curious what she was listening to, but didn't have the chance to ask.