Giddy up!

Streaks of red light up the bike lane as ciclo-fashionistas go from here...


to here!

Riding tights and cowboy boots on into the sunset!

Stunning on and off their bikes - Lisa Marie, Kristen and Melyssa - three goddesses of SF bike lanes go out for a sunny Sunday afternoon party! Lisa Marie is wearing a form-fitted, pocketed, hooded jersey mini-dress with bicycle insignia from field day.

Photos by *Honeychild*

VV Photo Contest: Potiche & that 70s Thang

Do you shop thrift stores for that perfect retro smock? Do you ride a 10-speed or Mixte from the 70s? Francophile? If you answer "Oui!" to any of these questions, you could be a winner in our next photo contest (but you must live or be in the Bay Area to redeem prize)!

This time we're teaming up with Music Box Films for the release of Francois Ozon's new film Potiche, starring Catherine Deneuve - a stunning love letter to 1970's fashion and design, and what it means to be a woman in the era of ERA.


The young Catherine Deneuve on a Velosolex (as close to a bicycle as I could dig up, source unknown).

1st Prize: Win a pair of tickets to a VIP Gilt City screening of Potiche in San Francisco taking place 3/30 (one winner).

2nd Prize: A pair of tickets for regular theatrical Mon-Thu screenings at the Clay Theatre after film opens Friday 4/1 (two winners).

Upload a pic to our Bike to Potiche Flickr Group in your best retro look on your bike and tag it Vélo Vogue Photo Contest and let me know how your bike liberates you as a woman. Need some inspiration? Here's an old post with me posing in my favorite dress designed by 70s fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg:


Be a cyclist, wear a dress!

Diane Von Furstenberg is one of my favorite designers. Why? Because her dresses are kick-ass, and are ultimately feminine while the bold colors and patterns make you feel supremely confident and at the top of your game.

So I am modifying her slogan from the 70s, "Be a feminist, wear a dress" for all you ladies who feel like you can't express your individual style on a bicycle. As our 44th President is known to say, "Yes You Can."

Put on a dress. Get on your bike. Rock your world.

Bonne chance, Véloistes!

she looked good!

there she was just a walkin down the street...


snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet

doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo

The Cycletrope!

Just about the coolest thing I've seen since the zoetrope at Pixar. "A simple mechanism comes to life!"

slovenia does it better by bike

I have no clue what he's actually saying, but the images and humor come through loud and clear.

Biking gets you chicks.

A humorous video comparing cars to bikes from Slovenia. Thanks to Bike Lane Diary for sharing!

VV Profile: Laura J. Lukitsch (Mind The Gap, Please!)

Name: Laura J. Lukitsch

Occupation: Documentary Filmmaker

Hometown: New Berlin, Wisconsin (suburb of Milwaukee)

Current city/Neighborhood: San Francisco, Mission

Favorite city to ride a bike in in the world: Hirakata City, Japan (it’s rural and beautiful and fun to ride as a passenger on the back of a friend’s bike); and San Francisco. I hope to ride in more cities soon.

Helmet or no helmet: Helmet – I was so happy to have one on when I got caught in the Muni tracks and took a big spill.

Type of bike: Marin, Stinson Comfort Series (cute, comfy commuter bike)

Describe what you like best about your bike: I used to mountain bike and after a neck injury was afraid I wouldn’t be able to ride again – my comfort bike has given me the freedom to ride again. I see it and it makes me happy. I’m hoping to get a steel touring bike soon because I’d love to go on longer, multi-day rides.

Describe your urban cycling experience: I ride my bike to commute to work, but also to meet up with friends in the city and recently I’ve started taking longer out of city group rides, exploring other parts of the Bay Area. It’s a great way to exercise and socialize.

Mind The Gap? What's that? Tell me more! Mind the Gap is a documentary project about sustainable urban transit. I’m working on a feature length film, examining the ground breaking climate initiatives in California that are shifting our priorities around transit to greener, less carbon intensive, more pedestrian/biking/transit friendly alternatives. The project also includes a webisode series giving tips on how people can reduce their transit carbon footprint, including tips for urban biking. The film project actually got me back on a bike.

Favorite time and/or place to ride: I really enjoy exploring on my bike on the weekends, with friends in San Francisco or on group rides in other parts of the Bay Area.

Tell us a funny story that happened to you on your bike: At one point I thought I could only ride about 10 miles at a stretch. I decided to bike with a friend to Sausalito, without first consulting a map, and realized only upon our return that the ride was 28 miles. That was a great day.

Describe your personal style: I love dressing up but hate shopping. My favorite outfits include a medium length full skirt and tall boots.


Favorite color: Red or Yellow – depends on the day.

Vélo Vogue tip of the day: Support public transit. We need a strong public transit system and bike system to get people out of their cars. And transit is a good option if you are not feeling well enough to bike.

cycle beautiful

Cycling is simply beautiful.



From every angle.



Isn't it?

Fun and Sun in the Mission Fundraising event on SUNDAY

Help my gal pals ride to end AIDS, by coming out to their FUNdraiser this Sunday 3/13 in the Mission District of San Francisco! Held at Mission Workshop, we're talking raffles, food carts, drinks and the sexy and smart Biciclistas, Kristen and Shannon. For more details, click here.

Don't judge a bike until you've ridden a mile on its saddle

I've officially begun my search for new wheels! I stopped by My Dutch Bike this week to say a quick hello to Soraya. What better time to start test riding bikes than the present, I said to myself. I noticed that most of Soraya's bikes had suspension seat posts, which is what my Motobécane lacks and probably what caused me most of my tailbone issues.

The first bike I selected to test out was the Gazelle Chamonix. Watch the video to check out all its features.

What drew me in was the sporty look slapped onto a Dutch bicycle. Priced at $1,500, the bike might be out of reach for me, but with all the ergonomic features, I also believe it could be a good investment. The Chamonix also has front fork suspension for added comfort over the bumpy SF streets. Furthermore, this bike not only has that European look, but offers the stylish cyclist a chain and skirt guard to protect your clothing from ruin.

I took the Chamonix for a spin around the block. I intentionally rode over bumps so I could feel the impact on my tailbone. The verdict? Way better! This bike offers a smooth ride over potholes, manholes, train tracks and any other kind of uneven pavement. I missed the feeling of sitting directly on my sit bones that I get on my Specialized Ariel saddle though.

I didn't test out the adjustable handlebars yet, because I wasn't aware they existed until I watched the video. There are 8 gears so that would make it easy to attack the SF hills on the Chamonix.

In the long run I might be looking for a ride that's a bit more sporty than a Dutch bicycle so I can bolt around The City, but I plan to go back and give it a longer spin around downtown and test those handlebar positions, and also check out Soraya's Workcycles, a sturdier and heavier model that would certainly turn heads. The German Retrovelo models she has in the shop are pretty badass and worth checking out too.

To be continued...

café avec vélo

Recently I was interviewed by MSNBC about bicycle-themed cafés here in San Francisco. The article was published today and follows the transmigration of the bicycle café from Europe to spots all over North America. A great read by writer Tanya Mohn. I told Tanya that bikes and cafés go hand-in-hand. You get hungry and thirsty and want to stop for a refresher. It seems natural. Also featured is Richard Masoner of Cyclelicious.

pedicabs in paradise?

Just got back from Spring Training in Scottsdale, Arizona where pedicabs champion the streets...


... as well as the parking lots in front of the ballparks (in case the walk to your car is toooooo long, God forbid)! Only in America!


Lesson #1 - biking to the ballpark would keep your bod looking like a baller's!

BCN Dudes on Bikes!

This Tuesday, I give you some Chicos Guapos a Bici straight outta Barcelona!

Buzz me in, I'm downstairs!


Look both ways before crossing.


Women and children first.


BMX'ers do it better.


This guy I got from both angles because the hat...


with the bike were just awesome. Fact. (nice Yankee cap!)


So nice, I'm posting it twice.

Cargo Shoes

When hauling cargo on a bicycle, shoe choice is important.

Shoes should always match the environment.

chillin with the bici

Sometimes your bike simply takes you to a quiet place where you can relax with friends...


or gives a brief pause in your busy day...


to contemplate your existence...


and then write down your thoughts.


I often experience inspirations and visions while I'm riding my bike, the endorphins electrifying my mind and soul.


Where does your bike take you?

Mind The Gap - Biking in the rain

Just in time for some more rainy weather here in SF! Check out the video, guys and gals, and pick up some biking in the rain tips from yours truly* and some very knowledgeable and practical gents.

This segment will be included in the documentary work-in-progress Mind The Gap, by filmmaker and fellow urban cyclist Laura Lukitsch.

*Yes, I have a flat tire. We realized that after filming. This has been corrected in real life.