tight squeeze?

If you commute up and down busy Market Street every day like I do, you get used to scenarios such as this one:



Many cyclists eeking out their place between other cyclists, busses, streetcars, train tracks, pedestrians, autos and taxis, with a fading sharrow leading our way. Dangerous and intimidating to say the least.

But wait - has our call for help (and justice) been answered? This just in: Bikes Belong has selected San Francisco (among 6 U.S. cities) to receive a protected bike lane. Let us all rejoice (and hold our breath while biking on one of SF's worst streets for cyclists) until our prototype for future bike lanes arrives and some sense is knocked into our administrators' brains when they see how happy and harmonious all commuters are when they each have their own designated space.

And by the way, lady, cute mini!

woh oh here she comes she's a man eater

Meli is stopping traffic as usual in a smoking hot yet comfortable to ride in ensemble featuring:
5733 Bike Girl T-shirt in gold
Nau Shroud of Purrin Skirt with a side slit and zipper which make for an easier and more modest mount and dismount.
Nau wool hooded jacket
Nau merino wool scarf
Super cute deco dot tights available at Sock Dreams
Fluevog ankle boots
Flashy gold glitter Nutcase helmet
Po Campo handle bar bag
Gorgeous Sycip cruiser bike

Photos by Richard Masoner/Cyclelicio.us

one less car on market street

This holiday season I am celebrating with many other SFers the awesome changes to our city streets, thanks to the amazing efforts from bike advocates and the cooperation of the powers-that-be!

How refreshing to cruise down several blocks on Market Street without having to fight for space with cars, and hello! Our first separated bike lane!!!

What a way to roll in the holiday season!

VV Profile: judy b.

Occupation: Literary artist
Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio - If you've heard of it, you must be a Pretenders fan.
SF neighborhood: The Fillmore
Type of bike: cyclocross with slick tires
Describe what you like best about your bike: I love the bell that rings of its own accord.
Describe your cycling experience in SF: I find that I can get away with really bad biking behavior when I'm wearing a skirt. I once made a very sudden and dangerous lane change crossing Market at Guerrero and not one horn blared!
Favorite time or place to ride: Riding into a still, dark night, catching a sudden whiff of jasmine: I love that.
Favorite color: Blue, green, or brown, depending on the day.
Favorite fashion accessory to wear while riding: A silk scarf.
Artist most commonly played on iPod at the moment: I use my iPod to relax, so I listen to Nawang Khechog's Music as Medicine a lot.
Describe your personal style: I buy pieces I love, whether they are "in" or "out" and then I wear them forever. I am attracted to funky, dorky shoes.
Vélo Vogue tip of the day: Skirts are super fun to ride in - and not even because they get you a free pass in traffic. If you're nervous, wear bike shorts, leggings, or tights underneath.

vue par derrière

Et du côté droit.

wiggle me this!

Here's an ode to one of the best strips of runway in SF:

Cyclists criss-cross streets
Cars and busses stop for us
Wiggle is the way

DFF: Sizzling pals

These gorgeous women posed for us together. One wore a cute black mini. The other had coordinated her top and scarf with her socks. One of the bazillion exciting things about cycling is that when you role up your pant leg, you can showcase cute socks as part of your ensemble.


Members of these adorable couples have also shown up in earlier posts on the DFF, but I liked the way they were together too.

green citizens

This is how green citizens roll! For a cleaner environment, ride a bike!

accordionista a go-go!

Renée de la Prade, the accordionista extraordinaire (a.k.a. the sexy Squeeze Box Goddess), is seen here crossing market with her accordion on her back, and other live show props. Way to go Renée! Not just a musical impresario, but also a vélo-impresario!

Bonne Route!

When we last crossed paths with la belle Caroline, she had a different bike! Unfortunately someone stole her "boyfriend" as she lovingly referred to it.

I think this sleek blue and yellow ride is a nice improvement!

Caroline is leaving San Francisco to live and work in France, but has promised to send us photo updates on the scene in Paris! Bonne chance et bonne continuation, Caroline!

[illustration by the lovely and talented Caroline Ogez, photo by KT]

love at land's end

Unbelievably hot springtime weather brought hordes of San Franciscans out to the westernmost part of the City this weekend. I spent the majority of the day at Lands End with some friends visiting the labyrinth, where we crossed this couple on their bicycles.

VV Profile: Kristina Sherwood

Occupation: Actor (working/aspiring) and Business English Teacher
Hometown: Lake Crystal, Minnesota
Neighborhood: Paris 10th Arrondissement - Canal Saint Martin
Helmet or no helmet: Doh! no helmet. stupid, stupid girl.
Describe your bike: VELIB! - heavy, sturdy frame, three speeds, lights, basket and a bell all courtesy of the city of Paris
Favorite color: earthy colors...blues, greens, browns...
Describe your personal style: depends on the day...I'd say classic with tones of hippie-chic, punky-brewster, professional Parisian, or Girl Next Door...i love knee high boots, leggings, skirts, hats, scarves...
Describe your cycling experience: nervous. haha. If I have a wide open road or a clearly defined bike line, I'm lovin' it. If I'm weaving between traffic, I'm a hate hate hatin' it.
Favorite artist: no music on the bike...gotta be alert! but when I'm not on my bike... Radiohead, Feist, Devendra Banhart, Beirut, and this week Kings of Convenience, Matt Elliott, and Jose Gonzalez...

engaging

Here's a pretty girl with a classic casual California look: red miniskirt with flip flops and a cute girl-tee, casually engaging the kickstand on her blue 10-speed as she settles in to hang with her pals for an afternoon party in the Panhandle. (NB: Enjoy a 40 oz. at your own discretion.)

VV Profile: Caroline Ogez

Occupation: Designer
Hometown: Lille, France
SF neighborhood: North of Panhandle
Favorite time to ride: At night
Helmet or no helmet: Helmet
Type of bike: Hybrid
Like most about your bike: Found in the basement of my office
Favorite color: Black
Describe your personal style: Dark and neutral colors, edgy and modern
Describe your experience cycling in SF: I have to thank my roommates who invited me to bike all the time. Now I feel addicted!

Caroline is pictured here with her friend Christopher.

Encore de cupcake (tdc part 2)

As KT already mentioned, the Tour de Cupcake was pretty much the greatest thing that ever happened to anyone. Biking brings out the kid in everyone, but with the addition of cupcakes, you do take the risk of it all just being too much. Here are some kids ready for the ride:

The Bike Kitchen expected about 100 riders. Instead more than 400 showed up. The line was around the block. The wait provided me the opportunity to capture perfectly San Francisco outfits like this yellow mini with arm warmers.

Here's KT in full awesomeness with stylish hat, poncho and her usual vintage town bike with our friend Jeff:

This woman did the ride in heels, knickers and lovely green jacket and purse.
Finally, a few riders were in costume. I walked up to this guy and said "you dressed that way because you didn't want anyone to notice you, right?" He agreed by posing for me. His friend in pink is also fabulous.

I have enough photos for at least one more post. So, sit tight.

stop and chat

Another great SF cycle style look! Brown leather boots, with black tights and miniskirt. Some friends comment on how I'm always wearing skirts when I bike around town. Frankly, I think it's much easier and more comfortable than wearing pants!

I take after this woman not only in style, but in habits, as I personally find it way too difficult to actually ride and talk at the same time. Cell phone calls require a stop and chat.

VV Guest Photo: Holly from Madison, WI

My friend Holly sent me this photo without commentary, except this: Vélo Vogue Madison style! Thanks for sending this pic of this adorable cyclist our way, Holly!

We love getting submissions from our readers. So please keep sending them!

l'amour à vélib'

It all starts with a little flirtation at a red light.

Then he'll whisk you off on the back of his bike to a romantic corner of the city where you've never been before.

Then, after a fabulous four-course meal, he'll charm you as you gaze upon the lights on the Seine.

(This couple was out on their bicycles at about 2 a.m. right in front of Notre Dame. One great benefit of the Vélib' program is that you can take a bike to get around town even after the last metro.)

enrougir

Parisian cyclists are rolling out the red!

Walking her bike across the street in Saint Michel with her friends after work

Casual cut-off jeans with espadrilles
Gorgeous layered look with this long-sleeved mini-dress with tights and matching purse in her Vélib's basket
Matching flats and shirt with her red bike on the designated bike lane on Boulevard de la Bastille
Red hoodie with daisy-patterned miniskirt and black hi-top sneakers

night riders

Grace and her posse were cruising the Lower Haight last Friday when I ran into them after my final-final at Molotov's. She and her friends can be seen riding around most weekend nights, equipped with a party bike that not only glows in the dark, but plays tunes.


When we convened for a stop-and-chat in front of Mythic Pizza, I learned that her friends are associated with Rock the Bike, which reminded me that I had once seen these glowsticks for bikes on their website (and coveted them). Grace is the producer of the Bicycle Film Festival and had one of its postcards intertwined in her spokes. The film festival is on this weekend in San Francisco, and it looks like there are some cool films, so check it out!

Grace and her glowing friends represent that creative spirit that is synonymous with San Francisco bike culture, bringing awareness of the joy of cycling with style and inventiveness. Hurrah!