TGI Friday

I really want a bike that I can travel with, so a touring folder is really an attractive obsession for me. Here's another gorgeous Bike Friday that I recently met. Notice the hand built modular carriers, front and rear. The man who made them takes (steel?) tubes, inserts connector pieces, brazes, builds. Like legos he said. Notice his flask water bottle holder also, super lovely. I saw the flask and cage at Mike's Bikes, though, and it was $49!! Hope he got it at cost. Love the Friday and all it's fixings.

the mixte gallery!

photo- velo cult bike shop san diego- pea green peugeot

ok bikey friends and faithful readers, did you know about this? the mixte gallery is a bike blog where readers submit photos of their mixte bikes. oh gush. snoball, the le tour, panasonic, peugeot, all mixtes i've know and loved. they're going in. the ladies love mixtes so let's get our bikes in there. did you submit yers, yet?

my other bike is a gun

actually, my other bike is a bike.

street art, clarion alley. photo courtesy http://streetexpression.wordpress.com/

mindy rides again

Mindy wanted to go to sunday streets so I arranged for her to ride the bike hut's lovely raleigh sports. it was a good match for the occassion. I learned that mindy hadn't been on a bike since she was a kid.

She wasn't afraid cause she rides a vespa and is a chingona from 92128. what a fun day. see my basket full of goodwill goodies?

chrome

the growing wheel installation hanging in the chrome bag shop. 

A is for Awesome

A little built in rear blinky. seen at the san diego custom bike show.

Electra's Ticino Mixte is Alright

Actually this bike is pretty excellent. The 20spd version comes with a 105 grupo, hammered alloy fenders, bar end brake levers, panaracer tires and more. It's a road worthy cycle that screams comfort. The head tube higher than the seat post means a relaxed riding position. When equipped with high quality components the ticino may be a true country cycle. I just wonder about the frames. It seems the cheaper models are aluminum (boo) and the top of the line frames, alloy. Is the ticino too good to be true?

van hulsteijn

rad.

Frances and Me

I first saw a Frances cycle parked at the Ferry Building last fall. At that time, I was speculating it's origin and admiring it's beauty. Then in November 2009, I went to the SF Bike Expo and learned that Frances cycles are made by the most talented Josh Muir of Santa Cruz, CA. I instantly fell in love with his mixte frame, first mistaking it for an old bike(it reminds me of a pre-war roadmaster that I've had for years). It was the first time I'd seen an unfinished, unpainted hand built bike frame. I learned that Frances is Josh's mother's name. This picture is of Josh, Frances, and the mixte that caught my eye and stuck in my brain. I'm getting one. More to come on the subject, dear readers.

Mama Cycle

I chased this mama down to get a shot of her hand made baby bike seats. Her husband made the kid carrier and she said, "it's easy, you just need a router". Kids are 2 and 5 I think, and weigh about 75lbs. A good load. Next time, I'll have to remember her name and get a photo with the kids.

my back yard

Here's a shot of snoby and pinkie atop the headlands. These photos were taken on November 30, 2009. I'm so grateful to live with such beautiful scenery, literally, in my back yard. This ride takes 1.5 hours round trip. Gorgeous.



directions:
take the wiggle to the panhandle
panhandle to park
right just before conservatory of flowers
rt again to arguello
through the presidio to GG bridge
over bridge and to the left up that big hill
enjoy view
ride down hill
back home
fun.

Scorchers

Do you know why this turn of the century (the 20th century that is) woman is riding with her feet on her forks? I suppose its because the bike she's riding was made before the freewheel was invented, so she's riding fixed. Her front forks likely had foot pegs, so she could rest her feet while taking them off the pedals, to slow down? Did she have brakes? And while this drawing appears on the cover of sheet music, I interpret her to represent a cyclist that likes to ride fast, or a Scorcher. What do you think is going on here?