It's Friday!

Put on some dressy shoes...


some bling...


Yeah your butt looks good on that saddle...


Can I get your number?

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.

Vogue around the Globe

From the Netherlands by Daydreamer HQ. VV wonders who he's waiting for. ;-)


From her European vacation by Lovely Bicycle. Très Nouvelle Vague!


Chi-town class from letsgorideabike. Gorgeous stilettos daaaahling!


From Germany by Kasmeneo. Way to rock the long skirt!


From the U.K., of course, by AngloMex. Everyone loves a punk rock chick.


From the Netherlands by iMalfet. Que sexy!


From Los Angeles by Cosmoblue. LA is looking good in plaid, and what a smile!

Dock Of The Bay

Some fish for crab, I hunt for chic! I think I got a pretty good catch. Certainly more sustainable!

nopalita

I had just left the Rupa and the April Fishes' April Fool's Day concert at The Independent when I ran into this pretty girl returning home.

Even my measly phone decently captured her pretty smile and classic style. I told her how great she looked and she commented on my fishnets, probably feeling like she had to return the compliment.

On stage with Rupa and the fishes, to my surprise, was Mona Caron, the gifted muralist who has transformed so many of San Francisco's public spaces, including the wall behind the Safeway on Market into the iconic Duboce Bikeway Mural.

Thanks to Mona, Rupa (and the Fishes too) and this pretty girl on her bike for continuing to pump SF with their fabulously creative energies!

Isn't She(ena) Lovely?

Meet Sheena.

I was having lunch with an old friend of mine from my Grenoble days at La Boulange de Hayes Valley when this stunning woman whizzed by, a blur of elegance on a 10-speed in a very chic neighborhood. Luckily, she was finishing up shopping when I finished lunch and I had the chance to tell her how lovely she looks in a long pleated plaid skirt, gorgeous grey sweater with puffy sleeves and ankle high brown cowboy boots.

She has style. She has grace. She is Very. Vélo. Vogue.

Davis Vogue

Occasionally, I am forced to leave my beloved San Francisco. Usually it's a family obligation. Davis has world-class biking facilities; so, it's not surprising that I saw this woman in long skirt, cowboy boots and yellow top waiting at a stop light as we left town.

sexy and smart

OK, this girl is obviously very fashionable with her long flowy patterned skirt, gladiator sandals and long hair left down to blow in the breeze as she sails along Market Street.

But, take a closer look at her over-the-shoulder bag, and you will see the tell-tale sign that she is not only sexy but smart.

Obamarama!

Berkeley white vogue

night moves

Gorgeous women on bicycles can be seen riding around SF at night! Strangely enough, however, I saw all these women on the same street corner (Market and Octavia), albeit on three separate evenings.

This one was riding home on a hot night in a mini-dress, tights and boots.

I was quite taken with her adorable shoulder bag and the appliqué on the back of her jacket.

Finally, I'm always impressed when I see a woman riding in a long skirt. She looked irresistible in red. Cute backpack too!

train + vegetables

If this blog has a third subject after bikes and street fashion, it would be food. We talk a lot about groceries and local produce. I don't know what she's carrying--sporting a sparkly scarf, skirt and cute earrings, but it doesn't look like it came from a big box.

Guest Photos: Holly from Bangladesh

My friend Holly has been shooting a documentary in Bangladesh and sent me these photos and commentary about bicycle culture in that country.


Since Bangladesh is the most densely populated country on earth and also has the least cars per person (fact told to me by my ever interested in statistics father), you will understand why Bangladeshis have a close relationship with the bicycle. One of the most common jobs is to be a rickshaw driver, as you can see from the examples here.

Rickshaw drivers maybe make $50 a month. If that. You can catch a ride for
less than 30 cents. are many forms of the rickshaw, from the one we most commonly see with the "two seater and shaded back" which is always highly decorated. They also come in forms with two benches on the back so that up to six people can sit facing each other.

Or of course you can use them to carry anything from goats and eggs to the common hay bushels as seen here.

I have to say that Bangladesh must be the most Vélo Vogue country in the world. The rickshaw drivers manage to climb over male style bicycles in the lunghi which is a male style skirt.


They effortlessly get on the bike standing with one foot on a peddle and swing the other knee up and over as if they all are yogi masters with flexibility and agility.

Their calves are made of steel and they would give Lance Armstrong a run for his money if they were to race. Although Bangladesh is mostly flat countryside, but I think after hauling such loads, they would take to the hills effortlessly as well.

may your days be merry and bright

I really wish all our morning commutes could be filled with such awe-inspiring color combinations as this woman is wearing. Bright purples, reds and oranges matched with a gorgeous psychedelic print top. The boots look incredibly comfortable, perfect for cycling and walking.

And do you see how happy she is? That's what a little morning exhilaration on your bicycle will do for you!

skirts of all colors (and patterns)

I love cycling in skirts and dresses, the afternoon breeze giving your hemline a little lift.

A tweed pleated skirt (it's a pity that men don't wear more kilts):

A gorgeous colorful long plaid skirt:

Argyle ain't just for socks!

3 kinds of plaid

This girl was so cute, I wanted to take her home and display her in my window (bay, Victorian style, of course). I walked up and asked to take her picture as she unlocked her bike, and she said "Is it because I am wearing 3 kinds of plaid and I match my bike?"


"Yes," I said as if there was another answer.

She wore a plaid top, skirt (light green, which matched her Centurion bike) and plaid flats. She got the bike 2 months ago and gave every indication of being completely in love with it.

White Sweater

I admired this woman from the Caltrain window in elegant fitted white sweater and long floral skirt. She rode a girls' style bike with basket that looked to be vintage, and the whole look was a bit a-room-with-a-view to me. Ah romantics!

Red /Zebra Stripes

At the 16th Street BART Station, these pals appeared from the elevator. The red hair was striking, and I loved the zebra striped skirt which went beautifully with the white handlebars on her 10-speed.

yes, they are checking YOU out!

This morning, as we all pulled up to the stoplight on our morning commute, the guys were all checking HER out in her long billowing red skirt (which she cinched up above her knees with rubber bands [FASHION TIP!], gray suede boots, copper helmet, red leather utility belt and teal wheels. Funky fashion, girlfriend! Yes, all the guys' eyes were on YOU. Don't you doubt it!

Bohemian Carnival

A couple weeks ago, Colleen, Geoff and I went to the Bohemian Carnival. Geoff was the only one of us who had been before, and he'd put on a suit. Colleen and I did our best to dress appropriately.

The next issue was how to get there. We'd been planning to bike before we were 3; so, we had to find a way to make it work. Fortunately, Geoff recently updated his bicycle with big handlebars and a banana seat with space for 2.

Here I am all bewigged and ready for fun:

VV couple: Brian and Susan

I know Brian from the carfree movement. Then he hooked up with this totally awesome chick, Susan. Brian is a Press Secretary for a large environmental non-profit. Susan teaches chaplains at a large hospital. I've heard Brian say that her job is to love people on the worst day of their lives (when loved ones are in the hospital, for example). They live in Oakland, carfree by choice. Here they are leaving the WOBO party:

As you can see, they are both rather dapper, coming from work. Susan is in a snazzy professional purple skirt, heels and carrying a briefcase. Brian sports a button-down shirt even on a Friday. I know they spend all the money they save not owning a car on fabulous vacations, tho, not clothes. You'd never know.