Candy Cranks

I had a Burnout Syndrome… I finally got up myself to write about my bike journey to Europe. Sorry,this is kind of old stuff and already passed a few months but I still want to post & share this now otherwise I never will. Europe just melted my heart too bad XD I got a burnout…

I love traveling with my bicycle. I took my coffee bike and went to Leeds and Budapest in May. This was my 1st time being to Europe and there were some big reasons I went there.

♥Reason 1: Meeting my best friend Monika in Leeds. It’s been years to see her; I first met her in Kyoto, Japan and became best friend through the bicycle.

Here are some photos I developed of my trip to Leeds. I was there for only 3 days but had a good time to ride around the city with some friends. Thanks to Monika + Marek and fixed gear leeds crew!

♥Reason 2: Meeting Linda - Candy Cranks author from Budapest. Wowww! Candy Cranks is the great tool to make cool bike friends all over the globe!! I’d never met Linda but we are now really good friends!! Viva Candy Cranks!!

Thanks a lot to Linda to make my trip so much fun, helped me out, put me up and showe me an awesome time!! Hungarian people are so nice and kind. I love Budapest!! (and Gosser Lemon beer!)

♥Reason 3: ECMC (European Cycle Messenger Championships) in Budapest. I am not a messenger but I like to hangout with them and watching the messenger race. They are pretty tough and hardcore cyclist. I love their life style and crazy parties.

Hi cheeeeez! (Japanese photo peace sign, yaaay! :D)

I spread Love Wheels Nagoya Calendars. ♥Thank you♥

Bicycle Fashion Show.

Bike Polo Final.

♥Reason 4: CharRie’s Café (my bike café).
I brought my original coffee beans and all my coffee bike stuff in huge freight baggage backpack from Japan. (It was super heavy to bring them all! :() I was a bit nervous to doing my coffee bike at ECMC for 3 days by myself because I had no friend, only a few Japanese around this event. I knew only Linda and Sinya (organizer of ECMC) and I wasn’t sure if European would love my Japanese coffee… but I had a confidence to make people to love my coffee so Linda was in love♥ yay!

… was sexy ; ) ♥Thanks everyone!

Many people stopped by my bike café, having my coffee and happy talks…♥ It inspired me a lot!! I didn’t charge for my coffee but everyone tipped me good. Thank you!

♥Reason 5: Cheering my messenger friend Izuru from Naogya. He came with his wife and 2 years old son. It was their late honeymoon as they said. Sweet♥

♥Reason 6: Sightseeing in Budapest. We had a group riding all day long. Riding and hanging out the city by bicycle is the best way to see, feel and smell the local. Too many beautiful castles in Budapest!! I felt like I was in Disneyland!

LANGOS tastes sooo good! (especially when you get drunk at midnight like mexican burrito)

Needless to say, traveling with a bike and meeting some bike friends across the ocean are always great. Even if we don’t see each other, we can still have a good friendship through the bicycle. Bicycle unites people all over the world.

It took a lot of courage for me to do my coffee bike in my 1st time being in Europe and 1st time doing my coffee bike out of Japan. The bigger try is, the more worth it has.

Thanks for sharing this.
More pics HERE.

This week is crammed with bike events. Definitely saved the best for last. The annual 816 Bike Collective Benefit is on Sunday [read more below]!!!! Hope to see you kids at some if not all of these events!

Starting point for Belles, Bikes, and Giggles

Wednesday: Belles, Bikes, & Giggles.

Our first ladies only ride was a success. We explored [swam] around the Discovery Center at the Kaufmann Foundation then headed north to the Union Hill Cemetery. Quite the late night adventure. These rides will be happening weekly.  Starting from Eagle Scout Fountain [39th and Gilham]. We’ll meet around 10:30.

Thursday: Third Thursday Alleycat @ Volker Velowerx.

Free to ride. Meet at 6 pm. Corner of 18th and Wyandotte. Due to this alleycat, Bike Polo is canceled. Stephen moved it from Sundays to Thursdays. Usually, We’ll play at 6 pm on the Holmes court. There’s an extra bike, so even if you don’t have beater you can try it out!!!!!!!!!!!

“]

First Third Thursday Alleycat [the suckers who brought Coke!

Friday: Mocktail Hour and BBQ RIDE

Mocktail Hour: 5-7 @ Bum Island in Westport. Come get your bike repaired from the Missouri Bike Federation. Even if you don’t need to work on your bike, stop by and chat.

BBQ Ride: 7:30 pm. Meet at Sunfresh Market in Westport. We’re heading to Oklahoma Joe’s [As seen on Man vs Food]! Here are the photos from last month’s ride to Earl Quick’s. We got there in the knick of time. Also, they had a slab special!

the gang.

July's Bikes, BBQ, & Good times.

OK Joe's!

Sunday: 816 Bike Collective Benefit.

The collective is a community supported bike shop. They work with volunteers passing on knowledge about bike mechanics and maintence. They donate bicycles to kids and adults in need of a mode of transportation and empowerment. Their current building at the corner of 31st and Troost was without electricity throughout the winter. They are looking to relocated to a space that will be more supportive of their efforts. Also, bearings need grease and grease costs money. This is their major benefit of the year. Come out and support bicycle awareness and empowerment in the 816!!

5 PM-Alleycat! $10 to enter, free admission into the benefit show. Starting point: Firefighter’s Fountain @ 31st and Washington. Tons of fun and prizes.

7 PM- Benefit Show at Californos [4124 Pennsylvania Avenue]. Silent Auction, Bands, DJs, and KCSprints! $7 at the door!

This week is going to be busy! Hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze a nap in poolside. ha!

-Caitlin

Full Metal Millport’s Happening this weekend thanks to our sponsors for providing us with gallus prizes !!

For more info use this link:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=312630279130

Celebrating my birthday with close to 100 fixed gear riders from Malaysia and Singapore. Thanks to Harufixed for being great hosts and for organizing this. Pictures courtesy of Mr Yasin Rahim.

Name: Ilana Nimz

Nickname: Nimz/Nimzi

Birthday: 12-12-1988

Current city: Honolulu, Hawaii

What’s the bike scene like in Honolulu for females?
Unfortunately, biking in Honolulu is often bloody nightmare. Drivers don’t usually enjoy sharing the road, potholes are numerous, and traffic is terrible, so cycling can be very stressful and intimidating. Because of these reasons, not many females commute by bicycle, despite the fact that everywhere within Honolulu is within a half-hour cycle ride. To get ladies more comfortable with riding on the streets, we’ve created a chick-centric bicycle group, the Punani Pedal Club, to encourage girls to ride. I hope that this club will promote cycling and encourage more girls to ride bicycles by having a group of female riders for support, despite the undesirable traffic conditions.

There are over 20 or so girls in the group that often commute by bicycle, show up to our occasional group rides and love biking! Punani Pedal rides are not exclusively ladies, but we request that a girl lead the group at all times to set the pace and not let the testosterone-fuelled boys take over. The biking scene consists of mostly guys, but they have been extremely supportive of girls jumping in on bike rides and events. Thanks to their enthusiasm, events like Aloha Sunday have girl categories and prizes!

What’s your favourite ride right now?
I currently have 3 bicycles, 2 old steel road bikes and 1 track bike. It’s hard to choose a favourite! Lately I’ve been riding my track bike a lot, a Cannondale Capo, because it’s so much fun! One of my road bikes, the Darjeeling, is also a great ride because a friend and I totally customized it from the paint job to the set up, so it fits perfectly and looks cool.

Where’s your favourite place to ride?
After trying out our skate park bowls, its my new favourite destination. Aala Park is basically a ghetto-ish velodrome, and is oh so much fun!

Favourite riding outfit: Tanktop, cutoff jeans, vans shoes, and a cycle cap! Almost everyone in Hawaii rocks this ensemble!

Favourite food: Anything vegetarian preferably with cheese

Favourite movie: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Favourite book: Jacques Cousteau collection

What makes you laugh? Fun friends and bike rides

What makes you angry? Sassy drivers

What are you listening to on your I-pod? Ted Leo, Beirut, El ten eleven, the Thermals, Rilo Kiley, Rancid/Tim Armstrong

Do you have any pets? I hope to have a sloth one day

Anything else you’d like to add?
Cheers to all the girls in Honolulu and around the world for riding bikes! You ladies are fantastic! Though I only learned how to ride a bike a few years ago when I was 18, I have made some of the best friends and have had the greatest memories because of this magical 2-wheeled creation.

Catch Nimzi on:
Candy Cranks posts
flickr
velospace
facebook: search and add Punani Pedal Club

Yesterday morning I received the following email from a friend:

Hi,

So we were on our way home after pedaling the new pedal powered parade float through the big gay parade, when the master link on the drive chain from the back three pedalers broke.

So the float is parked in a 24-hour parking garage and we are putting together a new crew to pedal home when Colin replaces the master link today. Pedalers will get a Central Co-op gift card and love, in addition to slack-jawed stares and whoops from astonished passers-by.

BUT! i’m trapped in jury duty right now. i expect to be kicked out once they realize what a crackpot i am but who knows?

Please reply to me if you want to get on board and i will communicate soon.

Sounds like an adventure, right?! So of course I said “I’m IN!” The rest of the day at work was spent excitedly bouncing around the office and grinning, waiting for the adventure to begin. I’d seen some of Colin’s creations at various other events like the Dead Baby Downhill, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from the pedal-powered float.

After getting a cup of my favorite mango tea at Trabant, I set off for the parking garage at 3rd & Stewart. Upon arrival, I sighted the pedal-powered float on the 2nd story of the parking garage, but I couldn’t figure out how to gain egress without encountering a lot of very mindless drivers streaming up and down the narrow corkscrew ramps of the garage. Thankfully, the attendant gave me directions to the elevator around the corner, and my puzzle was solved.

My co-pedalers and I hung around, laughing and talking while waiting for Haulin Colin to arrive with a new Master Link to replace the broken one. He brought three, “just in case!” Finally, the broken link was replaced and we were ready to roll.

We loaded up our bikes on the back and secured them, tucked bags in, set up the cd player on full volume, and took our places. As the shortest pedalers, Kashina and I took the outer two front seats, and our co-pedalers filled in around us. Colin at the wheel: “It’s just like driving a regular manual transmission, but only 3 speeds, and the clutch is a little different.” I laughed hardest at this–I’ve never had a driver’s license, and I find myself very clumsy at the task of steering anything remotely car-like!

Each seat on the float is nicely set-up with toe clips/straps, a water bottle holder (or two!) and within an arms reach of a nice loud bell. Joe and I rang ours with impunity at first, then only when we were changing lanes, or to catch the attention of pedestrians, or just to celebrate…okay, we rang the bell a lot, it was fun!

After coasting down the corkscrew ramp, we paid the parking garage attendant and we were off. Pedestrians stopped in the middle of crosswalks to take pictures, giggle, and point. Other cyclists passed us, shouting encouragement and laughing. As we made our way up the hill, people were walking faster than we were inching along, so some folks would walk a few blocks up the hill in order to get a better picture.

One cyclist couldn’t believe his eyes, I thought he was going to crash as he looked over his shoulder at us again and again. Finally, he pulled off and took a picture without plowing his pretty grey and orange SS commuter into a line of parked cars.

I expected to get a lot of angry honks from cars, but people mostly just gave us waves and smiles and shouted nice things out their windows: “You’re awesome! You can do it! You’re almost there!” and gave us a wide berth, despite the fact that we were crawling through downtown/Capitol Hill at rush hour.

We passed two police officers and Web explained that we were just taking a Pride parade float home from downtown. They just waved us on, which was good–Seattle PD has been under fire recently for their use of unnecessary force, as well as overt racism, but I digress.

After getting over I-5, we started to get hot and tired, but we were only a third of the way there. We started imploring passersby, “bring us beer! cupcakes! ice cream! custard!” whatever we passed. Finally, someone heard our cry and brought us refreshment as we pedaled thru the tree-filled triangle park at Pike & Madison, nearly to the crest of the hill.

Coasting down the hill to the Union Street Farm we hit top speed, >30 MPH–that’s ~50 kilometres an hour! Colin deftly maneuvered us to landing without bumping into anything, and our exhausted and sweaty arrival was met with applause and shouts of congratulations.

All in all, an exhilarating and fun way to spend a Monday evening, and I giggled the whole exhausted ride home–tho Cheasty Boulevard has never seemed quite so long or steep. Much thanks to Web and Colin for the opportunity to wheel their amazing collaborative contraption! I’m already looking forwards to future pedal-float events. Sadly, my camera was at home charging its constantly-drained battery, but Byron over at Bikehugger was kind enough to upload a video. Maybe some other Seattle cyclists caught some pics? I’ll add them to the post if you leave a link in the comments!

Keep the rubber side down,

Nova*

Ever get that buzz after a ride where you head spins and your muscles twitch as you replay the details over in your mind? Me too… Channeling this energy into something constructive - other than beer infused conversations at the pub - has become a bit of a pastime for me. The obvious place for all these thoughts and recollections is my notepad, and a lot of the time that’s where they remain. Other times they migrate to the recycling bin, and every so often they end up here in a post, or in my zine, Open Mic. Open Mic 3, like me, is completely devoted to bikes of all kinds, be they the XC, fixie, downhill, vintage, 4X or indeed any other variety. The whole point of the zine, other than acting as a dart board for my reeling mind, is to keep a record of all the rides, races, and general bike shenanigans I have been privileged enough to be apart of. Open Mic 3 is now available on the Candy Cranks shop for $5 plus postage. Check it out.

Here’s one of the pieces from the zine, which is a poetic tribute of sorts to my beautiful 1970’s lady’s speedwell.

Cheers,
Em.

My Ladies Bike and I

Let me introduce my lady;
She upholds style while others are fading.
Ideal for cruising or promenading,
Sheʼs a mixture of chrome and retro-red shading.
I wouldnʼt part with her no matter what you paid me.

She is undeniably ʻclassicʼ, sleek lines with three gears.
Sheʼs more like Audrey Hepburn than Britney Spears.
A joy to peddle, a pleasure to steer,
You wouldnʼt believe sheʼs in her 30th year.
Nothing beats that feeling, the wind through my hair,
As she dances down the footpath like Fred Estair,
Her saddle, a thrown for my derriere.
If she was a car sheʼd be a Chevvy Bel air.
My ladyʼs bike and I make a hell of a pair.

My beautiful bike is ten times a car,
She ushers me through the spiralling paths
And delivers me safe to the front of the bar,
As I pity the drivers that search for a park,
Pollution and headlights illuminating the dark,
Drivers that curse, and engines that bark,
Cars swallowed by traffic, like fish enveloped by sharks.
And when I emerge, a little bit drunk,
She peers up from the footpath with nothing but love.
I straddle her frame armed with infinite trust,
And we bomb down King St. like crims on the run.
This is not transportation, but an act of pure love.

Now weʼre dodging cars, prams and drunks,
Each obstacle swerved is a victory won.
Cars try to pass, but we edge out in front,
Uptight drivers yelling ʻwatch where ya goinʼ, ya cuntʼ.
The ride is wilder than African tiger,
My inhibition is lost but I donʼt bother to find her.
My ladyʼs bike leaves the cars and the city behind her.

We slow down to a roll, homeʼs in our sights,
We surrender ourselves to the depths of night.
She caresses my doorstep, Iʼm still gripping on tight,
As I thank my beauty for one hell of a ride.
Love swells and mingles with admiration and pride;
We are a match made in heaven, my ladyʼs bike and I.

Name: Esther Meroño

Nickname: Esther Bear (my first name is pronounced Estair… long story)

Star sign/Blood type: Aquarius

Birthday: February 16

Current city: Salt Lake City

What’s the bike scene like in Salt Lake City for females?
We’ve got a decent group of gals that ride and we hope it keeps growing!

What’s your favourite ride right now? Solo night rides.

Where’s your favourite place to ride? Downtown at night or in heavy traffic.

Favourite riding outfit: Leggings or skinny jeans, baggy t-shirt, worn-in Vans and my Velo City backpack.

Favourite food: Veggie curry, pizza, sour punch straws, and tangelos

Favourite movie: I love so many movies… The Goonies, Singin’ in the Rain, Robin Hood Men in Tights… the list goes on.

Favourite book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and The Last Lunar Baedeker by Mina Loy

What makes you laugh? 30 Rock and Mel Brooks.

What makes you angry? Inefficiency and ignorant zealots.

What are you listening to on your I-pod? This Will Destroy You on night rides and I’m always listening to Thrice.

Do you have any pets? A mini-schnauzer named Lemon (yep, after Liz Lemon).

Catch Esther on:
Candy Cranks posts
Saltyspokes
flickr
twitter
facebook

Name: Emily May

Nickname: Em

Star sign/Blood type: Cancer/No Idea

Birthday: July 4

Current city:  Sydney

What’s the bike scene like in Sydney for females?
To be honest, I don’t really associate with any ’scene’ in particular. I have a few close riding mates, both male and female, who push and inspire me; other than that, I spend a lot of time riding solo. I make a point not to rely on a scene to keep me motivated to ride; as long as I have my bike(s) and some fun terrain to explore, I’m sorted. Having said that, I am inadvertently around a bunch of different bike scenes, and each of them have different gender dynamics going on. The fixie scene in Sydney can swing both ways; some times it can be a bit intimidating for girls, but other times it so incredibly welcoming. It really helps that there are a core group of awesome girls that ride fixed in Sydney. The XC and trial riding scene in Sydney is pretty male dominated, although there are a few girls I ride and race with who are really inspiring, and super friendly. But honestly, once I’m out in the bush I get so seduced by the trails that I forget about gender altogether. It’s only when you do the maths at the start of a race, and realise there are only five girls and about fifty guys that you realise there is a bit of a gender imbalance going on. The 4x and dual slalom scene is probably the most male dominated scene I’m connected to - there were only two of us who raced 4x in the women’s category at the state series this year - but the scene is so supportive it doesn’t really matter, everyone is just there for a good time. I think if it’s a girl-friendly bike scene you’re after, you can’t just sit around and wait for it to appear, you have to go out and create it. That’s why Candy Cranks is so incredible, because it creates a forum for girl bike riders to come together.

What’s your favourite ride right now?
‘Ride’ as in bike? It would have to be a close call between my recently modified giant anthem, which is currently doubling up as an XC and 4X bike, with sick new F110 fox forks and shiny pink brake cables, and my custom surly fixie, which is not only gorgeous to look at, but rides like a dream. ‘Ride’ as in route? That’s another close call - either the XC trail at Ourimbah (think beautiful flowing single track, littered with fun drop offs,  and lined with gum trees) or the La Perouse run, late at night, with a bunch of mates (think straight, un-interrupted road riding through the city outskirts, where views of the bay and lights guide you along in a glorious loop).

Favourite riding outfit: Definitely my new royal mountain biking shorts and jersey combo - they speak to my inner tomboy.

Favourite food: Macadamia muesli with natural yoghurt and banana - perfect riding fuel.

Favourite movie: I haven’t seen a movie in ages, but I did become incredibly addicted to the TV series, ‘The Wire’. It’s straight up drama, just how I like it; no embellishments, no cliches.

Favourite book: I’m not so much a fan of books, as I am a fan of zines. My favourite zine of all time is ‘fucktooth’; an incredible honest and captivating account of punk rock life in San Fransisco, written by Jen Angel.

What makes you laugh? Everything, I’m always laughing.

What makes you angry? When $ governs the state of play, leaving no room for compassion; when the majority calls the shots, leaving no room for the marginalised; when cars swerve all over the road, leaving no room for bike riders.

What are you listening to on your I-pod? Terror, Madball and Operation Ivy; among other short, fast and incredibly loud tunes.

Do you have any pets? Yes, Grips. He is a 5 year old Staffy that my partner and I recently rescued from a dog rescue organisation. He looks tough as nails, but is such a sook. He makes me smile, makes me cry, and reminds me that us humans are but one species in the awesome ‘circle of life’.

Sponsors: Ha, sponsors! I wish… Meg hooked me up with a Candy Cranks T-Shirt in exchange for my dodgy attempt to model her clothes, does that count?

Catch Emily on: The streets or in the bush. I created a facebook page once, but I found myself so busy living life, that I forgot to post anything.