Tag Archive | bike
New York City: Trying Out Citi Bikes
I recently got back from New York City, where I tried bike share bikes for the first time. That’s right, Minneapolis/ StPaul has had them since 2008 and I have managed to never, ever ride one. I love the idea but I have three of my own bikes and have just never gotten around to […]
Presto-Chango Bike Outfits
Dressing for bike commuting is a spectrum. On one side, the commuter wears full race-ready apparel on the ride with a full change upon arrival at work. On the other, the dogmatically street-clothes-wearing cyclist wears full jewelry and any shoes that fit her sense of fashion. Every commute distance/weather/work dress-code is different, so go with […]
Bicycling and Mental Health
May is both Bike Month and Mental Illness Awareness Month. Coincidence? Probably, but there’s some good stuff out there about the connection between biking and mental health. Consider: the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 4 American adults lives with a diagnosable, treatable mental illness. Twenty-five percent! Whether you know it or […]
Commuter Pants for Women
Bike commuting pants. Not shorts or capris, but real pants that look polished and professional. Dozens of companies offer them for men, but if you’re female, the pickings are pretty slim. The good news is that they do actually exist (don’t think this was true 5 years ago). Here are your spring 2013 options in […]
Custom Long Haul Trucker – in progress
I’ve been wanting a nicer bike for a while. After saving up, I’m building up a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame. Here it is last week at the public shop space of Sunrise Cyclery, waiting for me to decide what tires, saddle and brake levers I want. Parts have been ordered! Stay tuned for the […]
Reflecting on Commuter Apparel
I have a complicated relationship with reflective clothing. I love how it makes me more visible and therefore safer while I’m riding my bicycle. I hate wearing flashy stuff (ha!) when I’m off the bike. Since I generally use my bike for transportation, there’s a fine balance to be struck. Here are my top three […]
Winter Bike!
Winter biking in Minnesota does not necessitate a separate winter bike, but many people who ride year ’round here have them, either to save the wear and corrosion on their nicer bikes, or to better handle the winter road conditions (usually a bit of both). I am happy to be one of those people. My […]
Review: Merrell Ophelia Shirt
Best known for outfitting the Pacific Northwest in waterproof casual shoes (Jungle Mocs, anyone?), Merrell has branched out into urban street apparel with technical details. While not marketed as bike-specific, some of their clothing items would be great choices for bike commuting to an office casual job. Last summer, I tried on Merrells’s short sleeved […]
2012 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Cyclist in Your Life
I dislike Black Friday. I am a true procrastinator and it makes me feel pressured to start thinking about holiday gifts. That and it seems to be taking over a holiday focused on gratefulness in the name of consumerism. Nonetheless, my mom has been asking about what’s on my Christmas list, so I put together […]
Link Love
Some internet gems from around the world that are making me smile today: Woman on a Wheel talks to a bike commuter and organizer in Quito. Velo-City-Girl in London makes the case for well-fitting sports bras and their effect on cycling comfort. World Bicycle Relief and a female mechanic in Africa. GirlBikeLove reports that for […]
Girls Biking to Work 