Candy Cranks

Hey there, hottie, howz trix?

This one spectator is so impressed he’s got to watch in salute, hand over his heart.

And no, I wasn’t the ONLY blogger documenting these amazing maneuvers. Of course, we already know Adrienne was snapping away.
Even Mikael had to record a few for posterity. In his words, sometimes subculture can be cool. Yeah, sometimes it can.

So Mikael went on to try to impress the ladies by busting out his Danish trickster moves. (And for his next trick, it looks like he’s about to be beamed up by aliens.)
Though it seemed Mikey’s skillz were limited to one.

Near… far… wherever you are… Le Chic will go on and on!

I’ve finally finished my trip through Europe, while climbing some hellish mountains, learning a bit of French and experiencing the full gamut of Dutch rage on the way. Now I am settled in London and have packed up my tent, stored my opinel knife and swapped my tourer for a fixie. (I still use the compass though).

My crowning glory was climbing Col de I’Isearn – the highest mountain pass in Europe. It was a killer and I had to listen to my ipod to distract myself from the pain of it. (Disco did the trick) At the top I bought several stickers that I plan to conspicuously stick on everything I own and use so that for the rest of my life I can boast about my achievement.

After Spain, Andorra, France and Switzerland, we then rode through Belgium, Germany Luxemburg and Finally the Netherlands- the last of which I would not recommend.

Holland is often described as a cycling paradise. This wasn’t the case for me. Don’t get me wrong, there is bike infrastructure over there that Australians can only dream of. Cycling is a part of life there and during peak hour I experienced cycling gridlock amongst all kinds of practical Dutch bikes. However, the dedicated bike paths are so convoluted that covering any kind of distance is near impossible.

Frustrated that we weren’t going anywhere, Marc and I took to the roads. Here we both received a constant stream of abuse from motorists with some leaving their palm on the car horn for minutes as they passed us.

I have never experienced so much pure motorist hate directed at me. I was reduced to tears in a matter of minutes. I couldn’t get out of Holland fast enough, however the bike paths meant that this was going to take significantly longer than we had hoped.

My continental European adventure ended when I took the ferry from Amsterdam to Northern England and Marc and I went our separate ways. Unfortunately my first port of call was a particularly depressing one: Hartlepool. Hartlepool’s main claim to fame is that the town’s people hanged a monkey, believing it was a Napoleonic spy.

Unfortunately in Hartlepool there were very few campsites that catered to tents. Many were “caravan only” so finding somewhere to stay was a challenge. Locals also told me that it wasn’t safe to bush camp solo (however one I spoke to was also highly suspicious of the Spanish). I’d often ride past groups of bored, spotty, overweight teenagers in grey tracksuits who would yell “Wanna fook?” as I passed. Laughable though the prospect was, the idea of being harassed by Hartlepool youth was not an attractive one. I realised that this was a particularly un glamorous end to an otherwise awesome experience.

I’m now in London and my tour is officially over and although I miss the stress free existence, I am enjoying drinking wine out of a glass, sleeping in a bed and sometimes wearing makeup. I rode more than I thought possible and (for some parts) by myself. I would recommend going it alone to any girls who are contemplating taking the dive. You’re always welcome to contact me for advice or moral support (I can’t guarantee how good the advice will be though). On a sappy note, thanks to all the reader’s comments and support. I’d also like to thank Meg for allowing me to brag about my holiday and cycling achievements to a much wider audience than I could have reached alone. So, one more look at the sticker.

Name: Adam Pastana
Occupation: Biker Rocker
Hometown: Penryn, CA
SF neighborhood: Inner Sunset
Helmet or no helmet: Bare Melon
Type of bike: Yuba Mundo!
Describe what you like best about your bike: People carrying abilities
Describe your cycling experience in SF: Rough, rugged and raw
Favorite time or place to ride: Panhandle B-Ball Courts
Favorite color: O-range
Artist most commonly played on iPod at the moment: M.I.A.
Describe your personal style: Like a cold drink on a hot day

…:::ROCK the BIKE:::…
Rock the Bike is a innovative, clean energy company with a diverse product line of human powered products and stylish accessories. Our most important Products include;

– Yuba Mundo Cargo Bike — Great for carrying extra people and cargo like ice chests for picnics, groceries and anything else you can imagine.

– Down Low Glow — Bright neon lighting that gives you and your bike more than adequate visibility from all sides (especially from the side which is where most automobile-bike collisions occur).

– Fender Blender — Simply the Worlds finest bicycle blenders made for you right here in the bay area.

Our services at Rock the Bike are mainly doing Pedal Power for events/concerts and also bicycle customization including live sound so you can roll down the street sharing your favorite music with the neighborhood.

Check out these two Colorado cruiser girls riding home from the Fort Collins downtown farmer’s market, Alison with a peacock feather tee and green flair skirt and Lauren with a pink animal helmet, pink shorts and pink flip flops!

This light blue and white Raleigh cruiser and kid bike attachment comes complete with a wicker basket to hold delicious summer produce and rainbow handlebar streamers to celebrate all-out cycling fun.

[Face-painting is the new black.]

Photos and commentary by Jessica Ingersoll-Cope.

5 bicycle posters from different artists available as singles or as a set.

Here’s a lesson on how to turn left while looking incredibly hip in the Lower Haight. First, dye your hair orange. Then jump into some short shorts and hop on your bike.

To keep your legs and arms warm in case the fog rolls in, slip into some legwarmers and fingerless 3/4 length gloves. Make a left turn signal.

Make sure to look for oncoming traffic when you cross the intersection (also scanning the Wiggle for other cuties en vélo.)

A unique style in a unique part of town. I simply love the Haight!

Even though summer in SF means pea soup fog, I still have the fever.

Bachelor #2 deserves the spotlight.

Tone on tone in Palo Alto.

The teal frame and white tires look turns heads [mine].

Hello, houndstooth!

This cute Bike Pal site lets you post a simple wanted ad for a riding pal just like you. Quick & easy.

We are very selective of appropriate footwear for cycling.

A pair of black strappy pumps.

And here I am wearing my Miu Mius. We have found that it’s much easier to cycle in heels than to walk in them!
And my favorite red boots on my rouge et noir Motobécane!

I have been gone on my west coast bike mission for over 2 months now and time has flown! I have travelled the west coast of the states twice over , ridden LA, SF, Portland, Seattle and Vegas and had myself a ball! Last week i took the Amtrak from Portland to Seattle and had a great week riding around the cities. Both are very bike friendly and although Seattle is very hilly they are both really fun places to ride. Im Seattle , I  met with my buddies Sara and Mei and we had an amazing time exploring!

I took advantage of an amazing Jet Blue Airways promotion which meant my bike travelled free and i could watch the live streaming of the Tour de France on the plane .  It runs till end of the month so get in there if you want to travel with your bike !I also took a ride on Saras’ sweet  Nishiki and was intensely jealous of her sweet skull valve caps!

Two more weeks in this fine country then back to the UK just in time for the last gasps of a British summer!

Firstly I’d like to thank everyone for their comments and assure them that I am living the gluttonous tour of my dreams. I have eaten and drunk my body weight on pintox, wine, jamon and pasteries while travelling from Pamplona, Vitoria and Bilbao. I’m now in Andorra, which is a tiny country between Spain and France. In a few days I will head into the latter which means that I will have to carbo- load with foie gras,* crossiants and brie instead.

I had an absolute blast in all three above mentioned cities, finding the sophisticated and incredibly cycle freindly. All had bile sharing programs which I now reaslise is the mark of a great city.

However, what impressed me the most were the people especially the cyclists- everyone I met was incredibly generous and helpful. In Pamplona some bike mechanics refused to take money for a map holder- then one tried to kiss me…  Also I recieved plenty of offers of free accomidation.

On the road I saw plenty of pretty serious looking cycling teams. Whenever they passed me they’d yell “aopa!” (go - I think) or “muy bien!” (very good). Some teams even pumbed their fists on the air and clapped when I passed. It was very encouraging and I felt as though I was in the tour de france. Others  joined me for legs of the journey- patiently conversing with me in Spanish, shaking my hand as they left.

In Australia the only encounters that I can with roadies similiar to this is when one yelled at me to get out of his way on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

What can I say but “aopa euskaldunak!” (go basques!).

Infact, I like the region so much that now I don’t know who to support in the tour de France. I bought an Australian jersy (in Bilbao of all places) and feel that I should wear it in support of the Australian riders especailly Cadel Evans ( pronounced Ka-del A-vauns here). However I’d like to show my appreciation to the basque people by wearing my euskadi cap. Another option would be the controversial basque jersy designed by Dario Urzay -

If you squint it looks a bit like a king of the mountains jersy… or a murder scene.

A final option is a shirt specially made for me by a very generous (and extremely high) couple that I met in Bilbao. It is loaded with E.T.A symbolism as well as some other images which I can´t quite decipher.  I wish I could upload photos on this computer  to show this option as it´s very “unique”.

Stage 10 of the tour goes through Andorra so everyone here has Tour fever. Symptoms include driving a very expensive bianci road bike to the site, donning a (tight) team kit, and taking the road bike for a token lap of the camp ground. I am brimming with self righteousness as I actually rode here ( sort of).  Still, it´s a big day tomorrow so I should probably choose an outfit, have an aperitif and get some rest before the big day.

Vivez-le!

*Sorry vegeterains

For a while I had harboured fears that my boyfriend was a sadomasochist – at least in relation to cycling. These beliefs were founded in Marc´s enjoyment in climbing mountain passes, his insistence on carrying as much weight as possible (hence pack horse name) and his excitement over the fact that we were riding in 38 degree heat.

He has also used the phrase “you need to break through the pain barrier” more times than I care to mention. He pushes himself, and myself (too) hard. Although I don´t judge his perversion, I don’t share it either. This is a holiday after all and for me 150km days through multiple mountain passes with no rest days isn´t my idea of a good time.

After one particulary hard day, my knee protested and I knew that I had to cycle on my terms - not his.

So I’ve decided to go it alone. If Marc wants to punish himself he can, I´ll meet him at then end. In Spain the phrase ¨To ride a bike¨translates loosely as ¨to take a stroll with a bike” and this is how I´m looking forward to doing it. So I’m heading to Pamplona, Vitoria and Bilbao, stopping for pasteries whenever I want. I´m excited and nervous about the possibilities thay go with cycling man-free.

In the first few weeks of riding I am feeling that cycle touring is a lot like giving birth in that you forget just how painful it is. Also, in my case, both result in hospitalisation. Above is an “artists” rendition of me in the emergency department of the hospital in Olot. I apologise for the quality - but the steep prices of internet cafes restrict me from photoshopping / proof reading. At the time I did not have the where with all to take a photograph – so the drawing will have to do.

Yes Spain is hilly, and yes my desire to ride around it was driven by the allure of cheap things other than they Pyranees. I can´t help but wonder if I have bitten off more than I  can chew.

Other obscenely fit cycle tourists that I have met so far make comparisions between climbing hills and some type of meditation- claiming that all you need is the right psyche. “You need to have strength here” one said while pointing to my head. That´s a relief because I certainly don’t have it in my legs.

Bikes are everywhere in Barcelona, thanks partly to the rent a bike scheme.
As this photo reveals cycling fashion in Barcelona, differs from that in Australia- mainly in the area of practicality. Here female cyclists seem to favor style over… well lycra. Harem pants (or poo catchers as they are known in Australia), heels, frocks and just about anything likely to get caught in the spokes are a popular choice. Helmets are not.

Wearing spd shoes and nix I cant help but feel very conspicious as a tourist- not to mention dorkey. I desperately hope that camper make some cleat recessed mary janes.

Hi, My name is Annabel and technically I´m a vagrant.

Until recently I had a cushy public servant job in the arts and rode a fixie around Sydney. I´m not really an outdoorsy type yet I´ve thrown it all in to cycle around Europe.  My two previous experiences of cycle touring have been mixed.  Both were around Australia´s wine growing regions,  because for me bikes and wine seemed like a good combination. However halfway through both tours my ex boyfriend decided to adhere to a strict tour de france style training regieme (and regimented G.I diet) while on the road. This detracted somewhat from what I had planned to be a leisurely/hedonistic trip through parts of Australia. Afterwards I was  ambivalent to the idea of cycle touring.

However a few years on and a new spunky* Canadian boyfriened in tow, I decided to give cycle touring another go. This time I´ll be going around Spain, France and Italy. I´ve packed my life into two Panniers and a handle bar bag and have bought a red camping dress. (Such things exist)

I´m ready for anything.
Will I survive the Pyrennees?
Will I still be on speaking terms with the Canadian in three months time?    and
Are nix “hot or not” in Paris?
stay tuned…

*in Australia that means good looking

The article reads “If you ride a bicycle to school or let it stand outside at home, the seat can be kept dry by merely slipping an oiled-silk bowl cover over it. When folded, the cover occupies only a small space and can be carried in the tool box.” - E.L. Enochs, Glendale, Calif.

Popular Mechanics Magazine, January 1942

via Colonial Style

This year’s lookin like its gonna be epic! Bike Rocks kicks of 09’s Bicycle Film Festival June 17th followed by Joyride June 18th. If you’re around, don’t miss it!

There is something about the photo of the bike on this bookshelf that really makes me want to know more about it.

via the selby

I’m fully back this . The London Cycling Campaign who exists to be a voice of London cyclists has launched a womens’ specific website to encourage more London women to get on their bikes !  My friends over at Cyclodelic have contributed to the style section and they are hosting a launch next Tuesday to get people involved. I hope that the current London heatwave is encouraging girls everywhere that travelling by bike is the way to travel !