From CopenhagenCycleChic

I do this at a lot of stoplights, but I don't have to take off my gloves. Gotta love the fingerless gloves. :D

My new panniers

let me show you them...

shopping at Trader Joes




out riding...


I ordered them from DutchBikeSeattle. I rediscovered this site after reading the Let's Go Ride A Bike blog (link to the left). It is a FastRider brand that was imported from Holland. Great price, really great service and great freaking panniers that fit my wider European style rack.

yay! Another view (on the bike path waiting at a green light)


I got a new seat, new Schwalb heavy duty tires and new pannier bags. All I need now is a new basket and The Broad will be perfect.

I made a little girl happy today.

I posted an ad on craigslist immediately after assembling the pink beach cruiser I got. I figured I would post it for $200 but thought better of it, considering the size and the fact that it was missing some parts so I could not get the fenders on (those will go into the recycle bin). I thought posting $80 "OBO" would be reasonable.

I got a reply from a father interested in the bike for his 11 year old girl. He offered $70 for the bike. I was ok with that. We talked for a bit and the family immediately came over to look at it. We met at the drug store outside my apartment. His daughter went for a test ride and was hooked. She LOVED the bike. She paid me $70 out of her own pocket, her mother told me she's been saving her allowance for a long time to get a bike.

Seeing that little girl having so much fun riding the bike was totally worth giving it away for only $70.

Ah pink beachy, it was never meant to be...



Besides, some little part of me felt that my Flying Pigeon, The Broad, was getting jealous with all the time I spent with the little pink beachy.



there, there, I felt nothing for little pink beachy, YOU'RE the one I love...

I got my new bike today!

And it's really cute.

BUT

Even though it's a really cute beach cruiser, I just don't think I really want it. After much thought, I have decided to assemble it this weekend and sell it on craigslist. I figure I'll use the money from that to buy some bitchin accessories for my Flying Pigeon. I need a new basket, my bike guy is gonna hook me up with better tires and I believe I may have found some pannier bags that may fit my more wider, european style pannier rack.

And I am just not sure how I feel about the fact that the bike has coaster breaks. And the fact that it's a beach cruiser. And the fact that it's pink and white.

It's a nice little project...

HA!!

found at Citrus Soldier.com

I got another award at work today...

Because I rocked so hard here at work in 2008. I received a couple of awards here in the past, both were Bronze level. This was a Gold level. So the items that I can choose to receive for my hard work were significantly worth more.

I could choose from a list that contained anything from a cappucino maker, a stereo set, camping gear, jewelry, Ipod w/speakers, guitars and many other items. Even a freaking chainsaw. That rocked, my coworkers and I LOL'd hard.

They even had a few bicycles listed. Some beach cruisers, GMC Denali Road bike, male and female Shogun Shockwave Mountain bikes. I googled the hell out of the brands of bikes they had to find more information but google was not my friend today. I was thinking about getting a Shogun mountain bike but the site did not list the frame size and I couldn't find any details online so I decided to pass on that.

I did get the ladies beach cruiser though. Even though I said I don't really dig the beach cruiser style. But the Ladies 26" Kent Stone Harbor Cruiser Bike was really pretty. It's got a step through frame that pleases my eye more than the male beach cruisers (I just dont like that up curve on men's bikes).



I am a little nervous because it has coaster brakes. I haven't ridden a coaster brake bike since I was a kid. I just don't want to wipe out on my first ride.

So yeah, I'm getting a beach cruiser. For free. From my company, because I kicked ass. I always wanted an extra bike, just in case my Flying Pigeon has a flat or needs work, I don't have to be stranded or stuck taking the bus.

So this works out just fine. Did I mention that today is my birthday? I got flowers from my boyfriend and lunch from my friends. And a free bike from my job. :D I'll post pics when I get the bike, should be in two weeks.

ZOMG, Righteous Metal Broad on a pink bike LMAO!! Just picture it!

I got my new saddle!

:D !!

Santa Ana winds or no, I put that thing on as soon as I could and set out riding to work. It had been 8 days since my last real ride and my body, mind and soul needed it.

It's an Electra Amsterdam Style Cruiser Saddle. I'm not into cruiser bikes at all, I don't like the curvy style of the frame or the oversized handlebars. And I'm not going to even go into how pissed off I get whenever someone mistakes my sleek Flying Pigeon for a beach cruiser. It's a freakin' city bike, it helped hundreds of thousands of Chinese get around for the past 60 years. Not my bike, of course, it just helps me get around. But the whole Flying Pigeon brand. Besides, I would like to see someone take a 48 pound bike like mine out to the beach for a gentle stroll. LOL

Anyway, because I cannot afford a Brooks Saddle, I figured this was the best way to go. It's leather, it's cushy, comfy and cute.



The extra cushion adds a bit more height to the bike so I am straightening my legs and putting the balls of my feet on the pedals instead of keeping my knees slightly bent when my legs are extended in pedaling. KWIM?

I gotta figure out how to lower my seat post. Anyone have any bright ideas?

I am so NOT used to taking the bus

I never had any motion sickness problems when I was a full time bus rider. Now I get motion sickness on nearly every ride.

I cannot WAIT until my new seat gets here. I emailed my bike guy to ask for a new seat but he never emailed me back (maybe he doesn't check his mail?) so I just ordered one for myself. It's a pretty little seat too. I'll post pictures.

I cannot wait to get back in the saddle again, where I am in control of my sense of equilibrium.

good timing

I guess my saddle broke at a good time. Today I woke up with a bad cold. And it's raining. Well, at least it's not Bronchitis. I developed that when I was a smoker and it was the reason why quitting worked. I get a flare up once a year, but not this year (knock on wood), I guess all the cycling has made my lungs stronger :D

On my way to get some throat lozenges and take the bus (wishing I had a new saddle for my bicycle).

I already miss riding.

She's ALIVE!!!!

Yeah, I haven't blogged in forever. So, I hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Yule, New Years, etc. etc.

I've been fine, just out riding, hanging around with the boyfriend and working my fingers to the bone. My boyfriend and I started South Beach Diet after the New Year and I lost about 17 pounds in the first two weeks. Also learned a lot about my metabolism and stuff. I really needed it. Even though my commute is 30 miles round trip each day, I pretty much used that as an excuse to eat whatever the hell I wanted, and my weight loss has halted in the last few months. I actually gained weight over the holidays, bicycling and all. Now, after the past two weeks, all I need is to lose 3 more pounds and I will have officially lost 100 pounds (since leaving my Ex-husband and starting a more healthier life). 100 POUNDS!! Bicycling had a big part in that. :D

Speaking of which, if any of y'all are interested in buying a Flying Pigeon (I'm not selling mine). Might I suggest you get a few things on it replaced. Like the basket, mine is falling apart, so I will replace it soon. The tires, anyone who commutes and rides as much as I do should look into investing some good tires. My bike guy is going to put some of these on my bike. I can't wait.

Also, replace the seat. My saddle is comfortable, I can ride for 30 miles with no problem, but my seat broke tonight! I was already planning on replacing it, but I hoped it would be on my own terms. One of the suspension coils just snapped 5 miles into my ride home from work. Even though I've lost 97 pounds, that is a pretty big blow to my self-esteem. damn saddle.

I wonder if my bike guy can replace it. Even if he can, LA Flying Pigeon shop is closed until February, so I will be out of the saddle until at least then. They are busy taking a very well deserved vacation.