my backyard

not bad, huh?

I am Wonder Woman

Mike Joos is a cyclist and an awesome artist. He's done a series of superheroes on bikes, superheroes as cats, and other lovely culture morphs. I am the wonder woman pictured here and that is my bike.

my frances

I have reason to believe this is a photo of my bike. me and josh muir have been working out the details for this lady for a year!! Two procrastinators getting shit done.

made in milano

meet frenchie's italian cousin. Hand made by emilio bozzi for legnano in milano. swoon.
this mixte is exquisite all decked out in campagny.
after seeing the legnano locked to a pole and shooting away, i got lucky enough to see her glide down 18th Street. I ran to the stop light to get this shot. click. happy day.

sexy snowbie

my crush, snobusiness

cargo art

Everything in the shopping cart was loaded on the bike, including all that wine and a watermelon.  

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?

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?

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.

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.

somebody asked about my bike

Dear Readers,
I apologize that I never told you how my mixte worked out. I started a while back telling you I was building up a frameset and taking you on test rides. You know I chose a soma mixte. Here's how I set it up. Only thing missing in the foto is the fenders, which finally went on a week or so ago.

soma mixte frame set
soma sparrow bars
bar end shifters
shimano 650 brakes (they're gorgeous)
shimano 105 group
sugino cranks with 3 rings (i dunno the numbers)
some 7 speed freewheel
105 hubs with salsa rims
gold cable housing
b-18 embossed saddle
brown cloth tape grips
planet bike rack. us army backpack pannier bag
nitto mini front rack with wald basket on top (there's a whole story about the rack and andre. where are you andre?)
decals removed, head badge covered with lakshmi on a lotus

hand selecting every detail of my bike was quite a learning experience and has earned me some street credibility with bike nerds. graduating from found bikes to my own custom touring build has rekindled my cycle lust and left me wanting more. ready for my handbuilt (frances).

delivering recycling containers at sunset

To All the Bikes I've Loved Before

I've been riding (and buying and fixing and selling) beautiful beater bikes for over a decade. It all started with the purple Schwinn Hollywood I bought myself for my birthday 11 years ago. The Hollyweird, as she is known, has been my main squeeze since then, up until this year when I busted her front hub. We've had an open relationship and she has never minded when I leave her for a while, because she knows I'll always come back.

From "Purps", the Hollyweird and the Pre-War Cruisers, to my Tenderloin collection, to the Garbage Bikes, to the Fish left for me on Dolores Street, there have been many cycles in and out my door. But I realize now, that I finally have the SOMA Mixte (custom touring build), now that I finally have a bike that really FITS me, that this is my first proper bicycle. She is a sweet machine that means business. No offense to Purps, but she's not going to take me to Tierra del Fuego. The new girl just might.

The new touring Mixte on a Sunday Streets ride. Although she's pretty, she's also rugged and ready for the long road.

le tour tourist by schwinn

anyone want to buy this lovely lady ride?

my mixte

I am obsessed with bikes. I am obsessed with bike touring and step through frames. I just purchased a SOMA mixte that I am building up all custom and quite special with the help of pedal revolution. I have such stories to tell and coming soon- the ultimate ladies touring machine!

miss mission

thank you miss mission for being there and you. 

Fashion Wheel: Summer at the Park

This man was headed toward Dolores Park, just in time for the SF Symphony concert and just after Sunday Streets. Of note are his white tires, mixte frame, bern helmet, movie star sunglasses, neckerchief, admirers in the mini.

Miss Mixte