free to be you and me

Urban cycling is about transportation, or as Mikael puts it, A to B -ism, but it's also about having fun.


As this blog has pointed out many a time, you can wear anything on your bicycle. (We merely prefer when you look this colorful, striking and vibrant.)


In a recent post on his blog, Dave from Portland pointed out that a bicycle represents freedom.


And Adrienne commented that maybe instead of a Slow Bike movement, what we really need is a Freedom movement.

Bicycle Rights are Human Rights.

Olivia Palermo in Jason Wu dress à vélo

Socialite Olivia Palermo shows us how to do it à vélo in this fantastic dress by Jason Wu.

same shades

Two men, two fixies, two pairs of the same shades.

Waaaaay coooool.

Bicycle Music Festival Part 3: All The Single Ladies

The festival was chock full of freewheelin' golden girls.

The spirit of the ride gave me that feeling of days gone by. This woman reminds me of a kind of hippie-chick you might have seen in the Haight-Ashbury hey day.

The staff got to wear these cute flags indicating the role they played at the festival. I'm sure many of our readers will find this woman quite yummy.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind having the word "Manager" plastered across my ass.

But more than that, I was jealous of her fantastic grey and black arm warmers and floppy hat.

Riding with the band certainly brought smiles to many faces.

SF-ness

The day was Bay to Breakers day, and SF happened to experience some of the most beautiful summer weather in the history of the event. SFers applauded this.

Beautiful weather brings out beautiful people. And if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to put flowers on your bike.

And tattoo your calf muscle with a symbol of peace and love.

Sacto Vogue

I spent the past weekend in our state capital, Sacramento, CA. Not only did I see beautiful people like this pretty blond in black, and this bmx-er with dog, but I saw bike lanes on both sides of one-way streets (imagine that on Fell or Oak or Folsom!), cute little bike racks installed on parking meters in the downtown area, and folks of all backgrounds riding around to all types of destinations - to bars, to markets, to parks, etc.

People--SF has a lot to learn from this agrarian Central Valley city!

ghost of SF past?

Say hi to Edward.

I was sitting on the sidewalk in Noe Valley, guarding my friend Erin's furniture as she moved from one flat to another, when Edward rode up on his gorgeous old Raleigh. He grew up in the Upper Haight, and lived there during the neighborhood's hey-day of the 60's and 70's, when people left their doors open, and bikes unlocked on the front porch.

Ah, the good ol' days! Where have they gone?

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?

the strip part deux

Uggs are still IN in LA. I still don't get it, but it seems to work for her and many other girls that I saw wearing them with short shorts on this warm and sunny day.

Why look like anyone else when you can create your singular style? This woman with her one thick braid, woolen cardigan and dress over pants look, pushed the fashion envelope as she pushed her bike along the boardwalk on this spring afternoon.

I'm still trying to figure out how to describe what she's wearing. Either way, she's a cutie, especially donning a pink flower behind her ear.

I still haven't figured out how to do this dismounting trick. Maybe I just don't trust my balance, but she seems so confident on her fantastic orange cruiser as she pulled up to the Waterfront Cafe to meet her friend for a beer.

kewl kids

This one is already learning how to low ride with the top down.

And this girl's ready for the paparazzi, with her pink glam glasses and funky style.

Whereas this kid, on his souped up tricycle, seems more ready for the Playa.

pinstriped beauty

This Downtown Julie Brown has put a twist on the pinstriped suit with these skintight (yowza) pants!

Glam glasses and all, she stops to send an all important text message.

And away she goes!

the man in black (and orange)

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

- Johnny Cash

she wears short shorts

I almost took these painted on short shorts for spandex when this sexy lady pulled up to the curb where the Panhandle meets the Park on this sunny Sunday afternoon. What an overall radical look with the red shorts, brown leather boots and glam glasses!

And away she goes!

she's like a rainbow

It seemed fitting that a pink-haired woman with vibrant tastes in color would be spotted locking up her bike in front of Rainbow Grocery (where SF Bicycle Coalition members get a 10% discount on everything year round).

rastaman

One of the huge advantages of riding a bike to go shopping in Union Square is that you can pull up in front of any store or street vendor without having to look for and pay for parking! Other advantages are that you are contributing to a better society and living a healthy lifestyle.

And if you have long sexy dreadlocks like this man in orange here, why not let them sway freely in the wind as you leave all those cars in gridlock in the dust?

handle bars/brown

This lovely lady caught my eye as she rode along in short brown skirt, knee highs, blouse and shades.


I've been thinking about handle bars lately. Which style is most comfortable? Hers look good, but probably only for around town. I started riding a 10-speed in high school with standard drop bars. When mountain bikes came into style, I was thrilled to be upright. More recently, I started doing long (30-100+ miles) recreational rides with drop bars again, and I get a pinch between my shoulder blades that no amount of bike fitting seems to fix. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Guest Photo: Raymond Barnes in Culver City

Ray's been commuting to his gig at the NFL network in Culver City via his
Nirve (hand made so-cal cruiser). Today he was sporting distressed jeans, a
black Banana republic T paired with an Italian made English tweed Cantarelli
sport jacket, Lambertson boots and "kickstand" shades by Von Zipper. Knock
'me dead, Ray!

Photo and words by Laureen Tieche

freestyle girl

This freestyle girl stopped doing tricks to pose for a pic on this sunny afternoon in the Panhandle.

I've been having dreams about cute little bikes like hers. Maybe I should adopt one.

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...

Hi Mom!

This pretty blonde lady actually said, "Hi Mom!" to me while I took her photo as she cruised along the Page Street bike lane on her cute hot pink folding bicycle. She's got a classic look with her Audrey Hepburn style sunglasses, knee-length skirt and cardigan sweater, long hair flowing freely in the breeze. Ah! To ride sans stockings, scarf and puffy coat again!