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
