Velo Vogue- the bike

Hi Everyone, Ramona Wheelright here, guest posting on Velo Vogue, the premier bike fashion site. A certified bicycle addict, I recently purged my rusting collection of old bikes. San Francisco has been hard on the old girls, giving them a layer of rust that they managed to avoid in the first 60 years of their lives. Featured here is the Colson Vogue, circa 1938, now available at the Bike Hut. Even though Velo Vogue is about fashion, this bike deserves an appearance, since it is a velo called vogue. Imagine the ladies that rode this liberator around town....

middle of market

Two girlfriends make evening plans in the middle of Market Street. One waits for Muni. The other swiftly hops on her blue vintage bike. Who do you think arrives first?

BikeCity USA: (sigh) Portland

This post has moved.

DFF: Hot dudes

Last week, KT kicked off our photo summary of the Disposable Film Festival. Now that I've set the stage, I'm presenting a series of photos of the event this week starting with some of the hot guys who attended.

You probably already know Steve from the SFBGuardian and his bright red bike. (I have a vague recollection that it used to be pink and fuzzy.) With him is Carlton, one of the event organizers.

Here, KT is shooting a cutie on suped-up beach bike with monkey bars. The classic dress shirt and slacks suggest he just came from work.

I don't know about you, ladies, but when I look at this face, a little voice in my head calls out "will you be the father of my babies?"

OK, ditto for the next two. If they get cuter, I probably can't take it.

Also, love the sports coat, dress shirt, tie and jeans....
*
* Today, I am the most in love with this one.

Hello, James Dean (again -- KT found a different one in her photo stream)....

Tweed!!! (the 2nd)

Better late than never! There is nothing better than a wonderful ride through our wonderful city on the wonder that is the bicycle.


The Ladies were lovely.


The Gents were cool.


Even the rides wore tweed.


Recognizing a good thing, the City put on a special glow just for us.

Thanks to Colin for this wondrous evening. Click here for more information about this and future rides, and here for more pictures.

Tweed on, SF!

The Loveliest Cyclist at Saint-Eustache

Last summer, I was eating pizza outside Église Saint-Eustache at Les Halles with my friend Tina when this woman rode up. I knew instantly that she was the loveliest cyclist I would see (except for my friends of course).

She appeared to be meeting her boyfriend/husband/lover/male friend at this very spot. We paparazzied her extensively. She didn't seem to notice. He seemed to think that was a perfectly reasonable reaction to her presence.

Notice the lovely vintage bike with fenders and basket, the classic gray dress and pink pumps.

I'm glad it rained so much in San Francisco this February because we need it. However, I'll be honest with you: it's slowed me down. I don't go outside as much, and similarly, neither do many of our fellow cyclists.

But every challenge is an opportunity. You are finally going to see my photos from Paris last summer including my inside tour of the Velib program.

I like handlebar tape.

But these bikes looked so cool without it, I shot their picture anyway.

More Caltrain Vogue

When I asked her if I could take her picture, she said "I look so dorky." Nothing could be less true! I loved her brown boots, blue skirt and pea coat. Maybe the outfit was incomplete, but I couldn't tell how. The vintage ladies frame didn't hurt either.

Wheel Chair Wheel

A guy had this bike at Alioto Park in the Mission a while back. I asked him about it, and he told me it was a rare Italian model. He'd been working on it for months. The front wheel is a re-purposed wheel chair wheel -- he said he began this trend which is now all over the city. It's better because it doesn't go flat.

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.

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.

Guest Photo: Bernhard Shipper

This year we did a cycling tour by the Baltic Sea. In this photo you
can see our bikes and the clothes. My girlfriend is riding a brand new
Retrovelo bike - I've used a 25 year-old Diamond bike from East-German times (I bought it 2006 in a retro-bike store - and I didn't need any repair or new tires) as you can see it is in excellent condition.

Bernhard also informed us that you can find Retrovelo through the following U.S. distributors:

Clever Cycles

Dutch Bike Co. Seattle

white/skate board art

I was on my way to my friend Fernando's art show at Mission Skateboards, 3045 24th Street (at Treat, show on until Dec. 8), when I saw this dashing young lady. I loved her white bike and helmet teamed with blue skirt and gray tights.

getting the music right

We may disagree on a lot of things. But there's one thing I bet we all agree about: the importance of getting the right tunes on for your afternoon bike ride.

This girl stopped at the side of the panhandle bike path to sort out her music situation before proceeding. I loved her basket, dress, vintage bike, bright color combination and overall poise.

I hope the rest of her afternoon fell together lyrically.

white basket and skirt

I loved this woman's look biking along Valencia in vintage blue ladies' bike, white summer skirt and floral basket.

I don't think it's just me, but these baskets fill my heart with mist and nostalgia. I don't love plastic, but when I see them in the store my heart fills with joy. My city bike has a metal basket with a Hawaiian lei wrapped through -- it does the trick.

Fixed-Gear Dating Advice

Dating Advice from Fixed-Gear Riders
You'll get better advice on VV.

Oakland Infill

Years ago, my friend Brian and I took photos of a parking garage being torn down in Oakland. I met him for lunch a few weeks back, and he wanted to show me what they'd done with the lot.

But first, this woman in full summer gear biked past us. I love stripes... and red, but I loved her "salt water flats" even more -- I had a pair of those sandals as a kid. Where do you buy them in adult sizes?


In the background of this photo, you can see the Uptown, the infill development they put on the lot of that parking garage. We got a tour, and it is awesome.

[richardmasoner] Aaron on his Masi

Seen at San Jose Diridon Station

The owner of this bike, Aaron, reads Masiguy's blog. I do to.

I'm at www.cyclelicio.us/.

(GDH) Submissions

Correspondent GDH submitted these photos a while ago unprocessed and without narrative. They speak for themselves.

more reliable than foreign cars

And more economical than foreign oil! And free of any environmental guilt!

This lady on her sky blue vintage bicycle knows that cycling to and from work is the most reliable, frugal, healthy, sustainable, fun and stylish mode of transportation. She's got a great looking ride, complete with matching fenders and chainguard, and she's got a great look with her cream-colored mini-dress, leather moccasins, scarf and glam sunglasses.

Another stylish cyclist paving the way to better urban living!