This Saturday, March 26th brings the fourth annual Red Hook Criterium, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally see it! The race takes place in the mainly-deserted, post-industrial neighborhood (read: horribly neglected streets) of Red Hook, Brooklyn, and unlike most [alleycat] races in the city, it begins at 11:00PM. A little bit about the Crit, from their website:
Track bikes are mandatory and the field consists of elite level roadies, bike messengers, and urban cyclists. The race distance is 20 laps around a .75 mile circuit which features several hairpin turns, a technical chicane, a cobblestone stretch, and a sprint finish.
According to the Red Hook Crit Twitter, they’ve expanded the registration to include 85 riders so far, with 7 open spots for registrationstill available. Cyclists from all over the world are slated to compete, and the prize list is impressive to say the very least. Fingers crossed for a few female competitors!
Cinelli’s blog featured an in-depthinterview with David Trimble (founder and organizer of the race) back in February. If you’re at all curious about the event–or can’t make it on Saturday–I’d suggest popping over there for a quick read. In my own (admittedly limited) race experience, it looks like an extremely unique event, and I can’t wait to watch.
There’s also a group ride down to Red Hook prior to the race, being organized by Mike Spriggs of Gage+DeSoto(who also happen to be exclusively carrying this sweet Red Hook Crit t-shirt). For more details on the group ride, check out Gage+DeSoto’s entry here.
I’ll be there cheering along and taking tons of photos, if you come out and spotme on the Lurker, feel free to say hello!
Conversation overheard between two NYC messengers this week:
“Hey dude, are you and your lady going to the Philly Bike Formal? And what the heck is this important ‘corsage’ thing I keep hearing about?”
“A corsage is basically an expensive bracelet made of flowers.”
“Wow, really? I thought it was some sort of wacky outdated bike part I’d never heard of before.”
Fancy flowers aside, the 7th annual PBMA Winter Bike Formal is coming up this weekend in Philadelphia and it promises to be a ton of fun! It starts Saturday, February 19th at 7PM with a group ride (during which everyone should be adorned in their best formal wear) and ends in a giant party at the M-Room from 9pm-2am. According to the invite, you can expect “raffle prizes, drink specials, guest bartenders, midnight champagne toast, [prom] King and Queen, best dressed, and a special photo booth provided by DemonCats.com.”
If you’ll be around Philly this weekend but can’t make it to the formal on Saturday (or if you just want to burn off some calories before attempting to squeeze into your old prom dress), there will also be a pre-formal alley cat and goldsprints on Friday night.
Now go dust off those sparkly shoes and please be careful not to get any chiffon stuck in your chain!
What’s the bike scene like in Richmond, VA for females?
It’s growing! There are a ton of ladies in the city that ride bikes for fun and as a mode of transportation. I feel that more females are getting involved in the riding and racing community than ever before. Cycling can often be intimidating for women because it is male-dominated sport, but the ladies are sticking together and carving their own place in the RVA bike scene.
What’s your favourite ride right now?
That’s a tough question to answer, but I have to say that my favourite bike will always be my track bike, a pink EAI Bareknuckle. It was my daily (and only) ride for over 3 years and although I have several other bikes, I always have so much fun speeding through the city with no brakes!
Where’s your favourite place to ride?
I really enjoy riding off-road whether it’s on a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike. It’s a great escape from city riding and you don’t have to worry about car traffic… just rocks and trees.
Favourite riding outfit: As much as I enjoy wearing spandex, jean shorts and a tank or hoodie work just as well for me.
Favourite food: Almond milk ice cream
Favourite movie: I usually can’t sit still to watch an entire movie, but Breaking Away is a good one.
Favourite books: Crime and Punishment and The Little Prince
What makes you laugh? I usually make myself laugh, although I tend to smile/giggle at just about everything
What makes you angry? It is very hard to make me angry, but I can get irritated when I see people riding bikes with the saddle way too low (or occasionally too high).
What are you listening to on your I-pod? I have an I-pod somewhere… I think?
Do you have any pets? Does a sock monkey count? He’s pink and his name is George
January 24th, 2011 · Caitlin - Kansas City · No Comments
Tomorrow NIGHT!!! Come pedal and enjoy what Kansas City is known for…JAZZ AND BBQ!
Tomorrow nite will be the first monthly Jazz ride, due to the snowy conditions, this ride will be in conjunction with the BBQ ride. We’re leaving from Sunfresh Market [4001 Mill Street] at 6:45 pm. Our first stop will be the Gates BBQ off 12th and Brooklyn then we’ll head to 18th and Vine. There’s a free jam at The Blue Room, located in the American Jazz Museum [1616 East 18th Street], lead by Hermon Merhari from 7-11pm. Hopefully I’ll see you cats there! KCM<3!!
****According to weather.com, it’s suppose to possibly flurry and be in the mid twenties. PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY!****
January 19th, 2011 · Jjay - Singapore · No Comments
Epic!!!!
Would love to do it again. Took the ferry at Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Theres no fix schedule as and when the bump boat fill with 12pax on weekdays or 13 on weekends it departs. $9SGD per pax and $2 for your bike(1 way). Once arrive at Tg. Pengelih we start riding for 17 km to Sungei Rengit. Stop for light breakfast then off we go enjoying the scenic landscape the state of Johor got to offer. Hills that kills begin after 15kms from Sg. Rengit. Fighting them hills with strong on shore monsoon wind from the North wasn’t easy. Against the strong wind going 30km/hr feels like 15km/hr. After 55km we got to Desaru. Settle in at the Desaru Holiday Chalet. Big family size chalet cost 500RM that fit 11 of us for a night. A dip in the pool to ease our muscle, quick nap then off for a short night ride to dinner at a near by small town call Bandar Penawar. We had the best authentic thai seafood at UBC restaurant. Next morning we prepare to battle the hills again.Thanks to Acit, Idris, Faizal, Luthfi, David, Minzi, Dan, Manda, Fab & Lyana.. great ride and we had a awesome weekend.
January 6th, 2011 · Nimzi - Honolulu · No Comments
Happy New Year!! Hawaii got off to a great start with biking in 2011. Already its been full of group rides, polo and new friends. We are all feeling positive that this will be an amazing year!
Sunday rides.. one group headed to the mountains of Manoa..
(Photo: Colin Waki)
With bike polo in the evening.
(Photo: Mark Mizusawa)
Another group headed to the beach:
(Photo: Michael Keany)
On Monday, a Punani Pedal Club ride happened around town, visiting Christmas tree park, Magic Island and downtown. Sadly, the ladies were way outnumbered by the guys, but we still had fun! Everyone was respectful and the group stuck together well.. overall, awesome! (Photos: Michael Keany)
And finally, we welcomed a new member to our Honolulu bike family, Eilif from Oregon who escaped the cold and landed in Hawaii with just his bike and trailer and is living off the land. Shoots! (Photos: Michael Keany)
I ride in many cities all around the world as cycling is my profession. The photo attached is me in my home town of Adelaide, Australia where I ride and train a lot during the Australian summer. I am also wearing my own brand of clothing from my signature collection as I have my own women’s cycling apparel fashion label, Tiffany Jane.
I love everything about riding, the freedom you have on the bike from weaving in and out of cars through the city traffic as the people inside have to sit and wait in the chaos to riding in the most amazing secluded areas such as over a mountain pass in Europe. I love it how you can create your own style on a bike from the clothing you wear down to the decked out bike you are riding. The wind through the hair and the smell of fresh air as you get fit at the same time and feel good about yourself. Finally I love the friendly bike culture as you ride along and can easily have a conversation with a complete stranger but share one this in common, a bicycle.
Sydney | London | New York | Tokyo | Berlin | Los Angeles | Milano | Boston | Dublin | Vancouver | Amsterdam | Paris | San Francisco | Zurich | Nagoya | Singapore | Nashville | Honolulu | Shanghai | Toronto | Salt Lake City | Houston | Portland | Glasgow | Kansas City | Budapest | Atlanta | Jakarta | Chicago | Seattle | Memphis | Missouri | Oakland | Richmond, Virginia
This Saturday, March 26th brings the fourth annual Red Hook Criterium, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally see it! The race takes place in the mainly-deserted, post-industrial neighborhood (read: horribly neglected streets) of Red Hook, Brooklyn, and unlike most [alleycat] races in the city, it begins at 11:00PM. A little bit about the Crit, from their website:
