island time...

Another long day at the office,
too little time or energy to get out on a lycra ride.
But I needed some zen time,
some bicycle time,
some me time.


It had been awhile,
a long while,
but what I needed
was to hop on the Pash
and feel like I was
on my Summer Island.

who'd of thought?...

image from Trek

I'm a bit in shock.

I remember 5 years ago when I dreamed of this day.
In fact, the other day I was still bemoaning the fact
that no one had made a Dutch-style bicycle
in aluminum.

Merry Hyggelig Christmas!...

cheers to beautiful shoes and bicycles...

I LOVE these shoes.
Oh YES I do.
I started stalking them before my NY trip,
it didn't work out to get them then.
Then...there was a brief moment in time
when they were available online.
And a few short days later
these beauties were on my feet.

What I like about the new shoes
is not only do they LOOK good,
but (wo)man oh (wo)man are they COMFORTABLE.
And comfort is my middle name.

And some of you may have given up on me
thinking I run around in lycra all of the time
and lost all my sense and love of good design.
Not so fast....
That will NEVER happen.

In fact, I'm such a freak about good design and beautiful moments,
that I had this photo shoot planned for the last three weeks
and was waiting for the perfect moment to execute.
Today was that day.
How boring would a picture of just a pair of shoes be?
You've got to accessorize those feet!

AND ~ Here's the Pashley again for you who keep thinking
she has gone into bicycle never never land.
The Pash is the perfect accessory (I know I should say bicycle...)
She is patiently sitting and waiting for me to
slow down
get bored with all this lycra business
and tool around the neighborhood.
I think she may be waiting a loooong time.

Cheer's to beautiful shoes and beautiful bicycles.
And Sun and Lovely Lovely Autumn.

ps ~ yup, that's the top I made all by myself.

moments...

This just in from Marc ~ I had to share!
Somehow when you run parallel to someone on the blogosphere
for so long, you begin to share moments.
Happy Moments.
Sad Moments.
Proud Moments.
Special Moments.


This is a Moment.


Thank you Marc!
Well done.

yes, she's still with me...

Where has the Pash been
since my last post about her?
Do I still have her?
Yes.
We had a bit of a reunion last Saturday.

You want more?
That's for a more philosophical day.
For now,
let's just say,
going somewhere you have once been
isn't always the same when you return.

about more than the bicycle...

I am an absolute sucker for any move that plays over a minute
of an elegant French woman riding her bicycle around Corsica in a skirt
during the opening sequence.
I knew nothing of this movie
and initially the concept seemed odd ~ chess?
But not only was the bicycling beautiful, so was the message of the movie.
A seemingly simple path
does not mean a simple decision.
I loved it.
And yes,
I watched that opening sequence more than once...

Happy Saturday Everyone!
I am itching to go for a ride,
but Pups is begging for attention.
We will see what the day brings...
Sometimes life is about more than the bicycle.

I realized today I talk about movies more than I thought, so I have added a new movie label on the sidebar.
go here: movies

recreating the basket, city style...

You may have noticed for the last few months
that I have been displaying a banner
stating I was partnering with Po Campo.

What is it about?


Well, it all started back when I decided to bring Lexa into my bicycle world
to be my around town friend.

I am a basket gal at heart.
I love the basket on the Pash,
it is super handy for riding around town and throwing in my lock, purse, camera, water, jacket, and anything else I fancy to have at the tip of my fingers or need to haul around town for my urban jaunts.
One of the concessions with switching my city rides to a 'road' bicycle was that a basket was not really going to work.
I have that bad back issue and do not like carrying heavy backpacks or courier bags.
I tried the rear rack on Lil'C and really did not like the weight.
So I began to ponder how I could accomplish the task of carrying around the necessities,
get the convenience of a basket,
and have a bit of urban style.
Po Campo's bicycling bags came to mind.

Not one to advertise in this space,
and never having approached a company,
I decided to reach out to Po Campo to see if I could test one of their bags for awhile.
I sent off an e-mail outlining my dilemma and included a picture so they could see what I needed to bring with me on an average trip (lock, pump, lights, tool, spare tube, tire levers, wallet and phone).

Much to my delight, Maria wrote back in agreement.
After a few e-mails back and forth discussing what would be the best option for my needs,
a Pilsen Bungee Handbag arrived at my front door.
Part of my deal was that I wanted to take a couple of months to really test out the bag and get a good feel for it so I could share my impressions with all of you.

First a little Q&A with Maria:

What inspired the Pilsen design?

Po Campo started with the Rack Bag (now Armitage Satchel) and Handlebar Bag (now Streeterville Clutch) and we felt like we needed an in between size bag for everyday usage. We also wanted to design a bag that was versatile enough to go on both the handlebars and rear rack because we had learned that a lot of people don't have rear racks but still want to be able to mount a decent sized bag to their bike.

The design has a similar triangular profile to our other bags, making it surprisingly spacious. It is also "softer" (i.e. has less structure), which helps with attaching it to handlebars and makes it comfortable for carrying under your arm.

How many trial and errors did you go through?

Getting the placement of the bungee correct took a little trial and error because the bungee performs differently when use with the rear rack than with the handlebars. We also had to experiment with different style racks and handlebars to try and get a solution that worked on most models.

What do you like about the Pilsen and what would you like to change?

The Bungee Bag is one of my favorites because it feels small yet holds so much. I find the bungees useful for holding other things, too, like an umbrella or a magazine or newspaper. What would I like to change? Hmmm...maybe have a couple more scrunch pockets on the inside to help with organizing things.

The Pilsen was introduced in Spring 2010 and Maria says it has been one of their best sellers. I can see why. When you begin to look around for a functional and stylish handlebar bag, it can be difficult to find.

As soon as I opened the box I took the Pilsen out for a test ride. My initial thoughts were that the bag was a good size (everything I wanted to put in it fit), the straps seemed too skinny (I was concerned about them being able to hold weight), it attached easily to my bicycle, it was stable.

I took this bag everywhere with me the last few months.

-A memorial ride where it sleeted and snowed

-MBC board and committee meetings where it carried my necessities, board minutes, and notebook.

-Bicycle Dates where I could detach it from my bicycle, and have a stylish accessory to throw over my shoulder, clip my helmet on, and set beside me (no big bulky bags to tote around!).

-Around town explorations where I also threw in my non-phone camera.

-Open Streets where I had the usual reserves inside to get safely there and home.

-A Midsommar festival

and more.

With the Pilsen Design meets Function.

What I like about this bag is it is well designed and looks like a purse. I have a strong belief that everyday objects should be well designed for both style and function and am on the eternal search for that ‘perfect thing’. One only has to follow my search for that Perfect Dutch-Style bicycle to figure that out about me, and to know I am never done ~ I always keep searching for something better. I also have a strong affinity for textiles, before it became part of my profession it had become one of my passions. Po Campo blends all of these things well into a nice package.

I love taking the Pilsen on my bicycle journey’s because no one has any idea I am toting around a bunch of bicycle tools inside, yet I am prepared for anything. I can carry the Pilsen into places without looking like I am participating in an extreme sport. Inside there is a zippered pocket which works great for tucking my phone or small items in and keeping them in place. The outer pockets work great for chapstick, keys, or small items you quickly want to access. The bag is well made and well designed.

I found this bag to be extremely stable - I go over A LOT of city bumps. I was nervous that the small straps would not keep the bag in place and it would bounce all over the place when I hit a bump, but it is steady and stable ~ no movement, much to my delight. I still think the straps could be ‘beefier’, but perhaps I am looking for more structure and like the visual of Po Campo’s wider straps on their other bags. I do feel that the bag leaned heavily forward, but this really has no affect on its function ~ really just another visual thing for me. I experimented with attaching the straps a few different ways to keep the bag from rolling too far forward and keep the strap from flapping around. But as Maria says, the bag is less structured for a reason and the straps are intentional for their purpose.

Maria kindly sent pictures of how she attaches her bag and of course, this is one of the best attachment options. You really can’t access the contents of the bag while riding, but that’s not the best thing to be doing with a zippered bag anyhow. I often found that criss-crossing the straps was helpful as well. I did have some paint rub on the handlebars from the metal of the straps, but since this is my city bicycle I figure it just adds to the patina.

On the Lexa the gearing system is attached to the brakes ~ you push levers in on both brakes to change gears. The Pilsen never interfered with my ability to change gears. I also never had an issue with the weight on the front of my bag ~ I really never noticed the bag was there; it didn’t affect my steering or stability. The only time I had an issue up front was when I maxed out the bag with a second lock (sometimes I’m a two-lock gal) ~ that was too much weight. It stressed the straps and pushed the bag against my brake cables causing issues with the brakes. So though the bag can carry a lot, unless you have a rack system, I would recommend keeping the contents to the basic necessities. Since the Pilsen really acts as a purse, I often did not bring my wallet with me, just a phone and some critical cards ~ that helped to keep the weight down as well. Pack only the necessities.

I am still contemplating a light rack and/or courier bag or bicycle backpack because sometimes I need to bring a coat or a second lock and I feel I still need a better solution for those things, but overall, for getting around town and bringing the basic necessities, this bag perfectly fit the bill.

If you like to support manufacturing in the US ~ hurry and treat yourself to a Po Campo. They just lowered their prices to accommodate customer feedback, but take note… Next season they move their manufacturing operations overseas to keep prices down. Such a catch 22 we people create, we complain prices are too expensive, so manufacturing goes overseas, and then we complain about quality. You be the judge and let your voices and wallets be heard.

If you are in Minneapolis, Po Campo can be found at the Hub or One on One. Elsewhere, check here or purchase online.

Thanks Maria for letting me try out the bag! I look forward to following the growth and design trajectory of Po Campo. The Midwest, it ain’t all about snow and cornfields people!

Denver shout out's +...

bike share at the Taxi Lofts,
one of our property scouting stops in March.

We lived in Denver for many years.
It has changed A LOT since we left.
We rode our bicycles often there,
as we have everywhere we have lived.
And on occassion I commuted to work,
as I have done everywhere we have lived.
I never found the options terribly grand,
but they were not bad.
When we were back in Denver in March
deciding about major life changes,
we were impressed with the bicycle improvements that have come about
in the years since we left,
but felt Denver still has a long way to go
to get close to Minneapolis.
However, with each day, new and exciting things are happening
in a lovely city with lovely weather~
the good foundations of a bicycle friendly city
for us more fickle design and weather-minded folk.

A good friend of H's is taking the leap into the bicycle lane,
living in a way, our dream,
and opening a shop that can you believe it?...
Sells the kind of bicycles I once only dreamed of
being available in the US!
They sell Pashley's for goodness sake!
I held on to my Pashley for the very reason I might be spending more time in Denver.
Denver is a great city for such a bicycle.
The Denver part didn't happen, but the Pashley is still here waiting for me.

So Denver,
get your bicycle over to
The Mindful Bike tomorrow for the grand opening,
support simple bicycles for everyday use.
It is an exciting day indeed!
Congratulations Jason!
Next time we are in town, you know where we will be...


H is always a good hyggspotter for me,
yesterday he came upon another Denver spot,
Urbanistic Tea and Bike.
Check it out.

Sounds like y'all in Denver could really make a weekend of it!


Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images
Look, Thor had a flat this week too!

And I talk so much about this guy,
I think he deserves his own tag.
H is aware of my fondness for ALL things Scandinavian, so hyggspots in this realm for me too...
My boy Thor had a glorious first week at the Tour.
We really suffer from our lack of cable tv this time of year,
A week from today is really the coup de grâce
If you are in Minneapolis, live coverage can be found here.

Photo: © Bettini

*Update: THOR's the Man!!


And lastly,
H's mates are over at the Capital tomorrow.
Come on over and support cycling in Minnesota,
and celebrate the end of the shutdown!

Happy Friday Everyone!
It's been a busy week.
8 more hours...
Looking forward to the weekend,
98 degrees and all (savor, savor, savor!).
Enjoy and ride safe!

Stockholm...

I am on Mid-Summer Vacation.
Though I am not going anywhere, I am traveling in my mind.
All it takes is a little imagination,
some life lessons in how to make the most of where you are,
and a few wonderful memories of trips traveled,
to transport you wherever you want to be...

Happy July Everyone!
Come back and visit,
I will be posting from my
favorite European trips
all week.

sunny disposition...

The Sun is FINALLY out!!!
Just in time for the weekend.
I can not begin to express my happiness about this.
But I did find this video last night that exudes happy.
Sunny personalities,
lovely gals (not just looks) and their bicycles,
(don't you love how she only locks the back wheel - just like when I was in Sweden!)
fashion,
and yes Denmark!
A perfect combo for this gal.

Happy Friday Everyone!
May your weekend days be Sunny...

big sigh...

Get ready for a rant...
(I know I already did this but...)

I seriously am not sure how much longer I can take the weather this year.
Check out this dreadful forecast. Dreadful!
I seriously am going through Sun withdrawal.
All I want, ALL I WANT, is to sit in my back yard with the SUN on my face.
Is that so much to ask? Apparently.

It is raining AGAIN.
After an absolutely dreadful winter,
we have been dealt an absolutely dreadful Summer - if you can call it that.
I am pretty sure I could count on my two hands
how many times I have seen the sun this summer,
how many times we have had dry days,
and how many times it has been over 60 degrees.
Normally I try to maintain a positive air,
because what good does being a negative nelly do anyone?
But frankly,
this sucks.

The upside is, I have spent the last few hours with a sleeping dog and a computer. Finally getting to some of those projects I've wanted to do and figuring out some technology things.

I posted over at the MBC site today. Check it out here.
I finally started a flickr set called "Bicycling in Minneapolis".
I figured out some video things (more on that in a couple of days).
And last week I set up the MBC flickr site and group pool for Open Streets.
Only thing is the flickr group pool is not showing everyone's photos. I've got it set to as public as one can get and still only 17 of the 74 photos are showing - this frustrates me to no end. If you have any remedies - let me know.

We were over at the NVGP Uptown Criterium Last night.
SO glad it did not rain last night - woo hoo!!!
Total bummer on the crash on the last lap of the Women's race!

We ran into some of H's old cronies last night. One of the guys had an official NVGP post, another former teammate was a NVGP medic. H is over in Menomonie today serving as a Moto Marshall (aka "Moto 1") - he was in Cannon Falls on Thursday. He just phoned in his race report "It was fun again today. Probably the most fun thing I have done in a long time. I want to do it again next year." Interesting how they are all finding ways to be involved in the bicycle scene now that some of their better racing days are behind them. When you love something, you just figure out how to stay with it.

We were talking about me riding on the back next year as a my hyggelig moto 1 press correspondent - better start practicing now.

If it isn't raining tomorrow, we plan to be over in Stillwater again this year.


And lastly, I am excited for H.
He took a big leap this week - quit the old job.
I support him no matter what the future holds.
Time will tell.
Life,
at least for now,
is back.

Happy Saturday Everyone and Thanks!
Isn't it interesting,
Now I feel better.

introducing Lexa S...

I waited 3 months for this day.
No Rain.
Sunshine.
The opportunity to ride Lexa over to the photo op
I had envisioned in my mind.
Finally,
the day came
and here she is...

Introducing
Lexa S

Yup,
a few months ago
I got my 'in-between' bicycle.

Those of you with a keen eye
may have been noticing her recently
in some of my posts.


dual computer bicycle search on a cold March day

H and I did a pointed and purposefully fast search earlier this year
to find a bicycle I can ride all over town
for my bikish meetings,
and my bikish ways,
and feel okay leaving outside at a bike rack,
getting 'city-ized' with scrapes and dings,
mostly non-descript, but good looking,
and fast, light, and agile.

What other bicycles did I consider?
A Soma Buena Vista, and other mixte options - but all of the reaches were too far for me with my short torso and my bad back.
A Salsa Casseroll, but not a one was to be found in stock and I didn't want to wait.
I had briefly considered another Trek road bicycle, but only briefly.
When we went to the store and no Casseroll's were to be had, I eyed up the Lexa S and swiftly we decided it was time and she would be a good friend.
Lexa S is a basic Trek Road Bicycle with the exact same dimensions as The Trek.
So I knew she would be perfect for me.


The first time Lexa was left alone..

We promptly took care of the 'cityizing' when we brought her home.
Yes, after JOKING about it,
we got distracted and drove her into the garage.
The worst part was I was on the phone trying to sell Lil'C!
Lexa got a rough start, but amazingly she was OK!
Note to all, if you have a roof rack, and put a bicycle on it, IMMEDIATELY put your garage door opener in your glove compartment so when you get home you have to dig for it, wonder why, and then the red light will go on that 'oh yes, I have a bicycle on the roof'.

Lexa and I haven't been on many rides because of all the rain we have been having this year and the personal stresses that have been occurring, but we have been together enough to know I love her.
My first love is truly the Trek, but Lexa isn't far behind.

I have made some basic citification modifications (besides the garage bling):
Changed out the florescent green bar tape for a subtle grey.
Added Planet Bike fenders
Added two-sided flat, light pedals.
I had the shop change out the quick release skewers for ones that require a tool to change out.
Added a bottle rack because I drink a lot of water thanks to living in Colorado for nearly a decade, and hey, I get thirsty.
I had the store set her up to my fit kit dims, but have since lowered the seat for city riding.

My only complaints are
that I have to have a small frame, so I can't fit a bottle rack and a clip for my u-lock within the frame triangle. Same issue with putting the lock off the back, too small to fit.
I clip my feet sometimes on the fenders, but no big deal.

What does Lexa S stand for?
Stoic
Silent
Steady
Serene
Strong
Lexa is my strong and steady friend, she stoically waits for me to return, and then silently and serenely we pedal off on simple adventures and everyday escapades.

I still wish for that perfect combination of comfort, speed, agility, and most of all - good design.
But I have learned that is a hard package to obtain all in one.
My good design does not get me as far as I like.
Speed is expensive and should not be parked alone outside,
Combination means leaning towards one side or the other to get the most out of what ideally you want.
I lean towards that fast lovin' lycra gal inside me.
If Lexa had the look of the Pash with the comfort, speed and agility of my Trek, it would be my perfect bicycle.
I used to think that combination would never exists, and I still mostly don't, but every season I see new brands trying, and getting closer.
Perhaps someday, my bicycle dreams will come true...

I have some more Lexa adventure posts coming in combination with another series.
Stay tuned.

my hyggelig's Sweden...

In honor of Lovely Bicycle
who is having a Swedish Bicycle Contest,
You all KNOW I love Sweden,
I have put together
a direct link to my Sweden Installments
from our fantastical trip

for those of you who weren't here with me in 2008.

Ahhh.....
Sweden....
How I miss thee.

Good luck to those entering to win!

p.s. I am not getting anything from lb for posting this
I simply just LOVE Sweden.