Lest you all (or at least my Gram) worry that I’m freezing, the weather here is milder than last week. Yesterday was an odd day, more like fall than winter, with misty rains and high 30’s F temperatures.

I pulled out Betty Foy for the occasion. She is not getting studded tires for the winter, so will come out and play only on the days when it’s not icy. I enjoyed her carefree riding, but during the evening commute the battery-powered front light got weak and I worried about my visibility in the dark. That’s why I prefer generator lights.

I was warm enough wearing just a raincoat over my tweed suit. Mr. Dottie wore rain paints and still got wet, while my tights dried within minutes.

The rest of the week is supposed to be sunny in the 20’s. I almost look forward to the clear, freezing, snowy days for more interesting travelogues :)

Winter is kicking my ass already.  The extreme freezing temperatures more common to mid-winter arrived early on Thursday: 2 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 Celsius) with 25 mph winds, 40 mph wind gusts, and a windchill of -20 degrees (-29 Celsius). Despite the severe weather, I dragged Oma out to bike to work as usual.

Oma in the Snow

At first everything went smoothly. My studded tires crunched over the ice with ease.  Dressed in wool leggings, tweed slacks, wool undershirt, wool sweater, wool overcoat, wool socks, wool scarf around my head, Bern winter helmet, leather snow boots, safety glasses, wool-silk blend glove liners and heavy duty Gore-Tex goose down mittens, I was feeling good. I even put chemical warming packs in my mittens.

After one mile, however, my hands were hurting like hell. I knew I could not make it all the way to work like that, so I rode to the nearest L train stop, locked up Oma and took the train the rest of the way.  I’ll have to improve my mitten set-up or revert to the suede-shearling J.Crew gloves that got me through last winter.  But it was an abnormally cold and windy day, a perfect day to take public transportation. No shame in staying warm.

To compensate for my missed bike commute, I set out for a long walk during my lunch break. Here are pictures from Michigan Avenue, aka the Magnificent Mile.  I am a sucker for capitalist holiday cheer.

John Hancock Building

Water Tower

Saks Michigan Avenue

Tiffany & Co.

Nieman Marcus Window Shopping

Macy's Holiday Spirit

This week is supposed to be much better: mostly sunny with temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s F.

How has winter been treating you so far?

Basil Blossom Postmenbag

Dottie and I have both had a lot of questions about our Basil bags. Now that I’ve had mine for 6 months, it’s time for a review. I have the Basil Blossom “Postmenbag” in white, and have been extremely pleased with it since I bought it at Copenhagen Cyclery in June. (The bag is also available on Amazon.)

Based in the Netherlands, Basil has been producing Dutch bike accessories since the 70s, and their whimsical patterns and quality construction have made them a well-known name. They make bags, panniers, seat covers, baskets and more, and their line is becoming available in more and more bike shops across the U.S.

The Postmenbag is basically a messenger bag modified to attach to a bike rack: the back is reinforced to add structure, and the design on the nylon fabric is moderately reflective (there are two reflective stripes on each side of the bag).

reflective stripes

The back of the bag also features sturdy plastic hooks that snap on and off the rack of any Dutch bike with ease.

plastic hooks snap on to rack

Between the two hooks is a piece of velcro that can be wrapped around the rack to reinforce the connection. I rarely use this. As you can see, the flap can be zipped close to hide the clasps when you’re off the bike.

The inside of the bag is pretty utilitarian, with just one zippered pocket and the main compartment.

At about 14.5 x 12 x 4, the bag is average sized. Despite that it can hold quite a bit of loot, as proven by today’s emergency grocery run.

The Bat with the loaded up Basil bag, hooked to a "Nashville bike rack."

A 2-pound bag of cat food, 2-pound box of sugar, trade paperback book, baking powder, two 8oz bags of coffee, 4 sticks of butter, curling ribbon and a wallet, plus keys and camera, all fit in the bag.

can you tell I'm doing my holiday baking/wrapping this weekend?

One caveat: the bag is water repellent but not waterproof, so mind what you put in there on a very rainy day! I have used it in light showers and the items inside stayed dry over the course of a 3-mile ride.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with my purchase — for the price (about $40), I have yet to find anything more practical and stylish.

What’s on your bike rack?

Studded Tire and Snowman

It’s that time of year again: legions of bike commuters are gearing up for winter and considering whether to buy studded tires. Well, okay, maybe just five or six of you.

So should you get studded tires?

I asked myself that question for weeks last year. My dithering abruptly ended on the morning my bike slipped from under me and I landed on my butt.

Many winter cyclists in Chicago seem to go without studs, sticking to the major routes that are well-plowed, but I prefer side street and the Lakefront Trail, which are often icy. Also, I appreciate having one less worry for winter cycling. Freedom from paranoia is a good reason to get studded tires.

I bought Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires. I have nothing to compare them to, but I am completely satisfied. They make ice feel like normal dry pavement; the traction is superb. They are supposed to maintain traction even when turning sharply or braking suddenly, but I try to avoid those maneuvers. The only time I have to be careful is on rutted ice because then the studs don’t have a lot of surface to grab.

The Marathon Winters are not snow tires. Although they provide traction on packed and icy snow, they do not help when going through deep snow. If I’m ever confronted with more than three inches of snow, I walk Oma (she – as a city bike – doesn’t handle well in snow generally).

A major reservation I had about studded tires is that I often ride on regular pavement due to well-plowed roads and breaks in wintry weather. This has not been a problem. The studs are loud, like riding over glass or pebbles, but there is not much rolling resistance. The Schwalbe tires can be inflated to the max to reduce rolling resistance even more because there are no studs in the center.

A New, Clean Schwalbe Winter

This week Mr. Dottie put on my studded tires for the season, the same set I used last winter. They are still in great shape. Only a couple studs are missing and some are a bit rusted, but that does not affect performance. His set is not missing any studs. I have never gotten a flat (actually, not on any of my Schwalbe tires, knock on wood). The tires were an investment, but should last me a long time.

The best resource I found while researching studded tires last year was an article by Peter White Cycles. For lots of straight-forward information on many different brands, check it out. I purchased my tires locally from Dutch Bike Chicago. I’m sure there are many local bike shops and online sellers out there.

Last Night

Any thoughts on studded tires or questions – please share!

This morning started off just fine. It was nearly 50 degrees outside. The Flik and I posed for a minute under our tree. If there had been leaves on this sucker, they would have been waving like mad!

Windy morning departure

Of course, two of my neighbors had to leave for work as I was conducting my photoshoot. I’m sure they wondered what the occasion was.

Oh Walter, if only you could take pictures.

Slightly embarrassed but not daunted, we set off, into the wind. Yikes. Nashville could have put the Lakefront Trail to shame this morning, with a steady, strong wind and occasional gusts that had me in the lower range of gears all the way to work. Once I turned north, the wind was coming from the side. I thought that was an improvement until a huge gust almost pushed me out of the bike lane.

But I didn’t realize how bad it was until my boss told me that the state Christmas tree had been blown over by the wind last night.

Tennessee's poor Christmas tree (photo by WSMV)

I left work a little early, hoping to beat the cold front. Though it had cooled off considerably from this morning’s 50 degrees, the wind had died down and I was looking forward to a ride home in the twilight, my favorite time of the day.

But I’d hardly gone a block when the Flik ate my pants.

And we were getting along so well!

This was actually the first time I’d worn pants on the Flik. Though it has no chain case or guard of any kind, it has the same oversized crank-cover thing (what do you call this — anyone know?) that my Peugeot does. Since I’ve worn pants on the Peugeot many a time, I thought I would be safe. Lesson learned; never trust an open chain! I LL Cool J’d it all the way home, with my right  pant leg tucked into my oh-so-trendy snowflake socks (hey, I have to summon the white stuff somehow!).

Still, despite the torn pants and the cold, the ride home in the evening light was beautiful.

Last of the leaves

holiday lights

How’s the world treating you this Wednesday?

When I visited Copenhagen Cyclery this weekend, I also test rode the Velorbis Mobii Trike. Yay, trike! I’ve been wanting to test ride a three-wheeled beast for some time now. When I wrote about the WorkCycles Bakfiets a couple of months ago, I mentioned that I could not know for sure how I felt about it without riding a trike for comparison.

The Mobii (love the name!) comes in one size and two powder-coated colors: orange and gray. Designed and handmade in Denmark, this thoroughly modern, steel-framed stunner has the power to erase whatever old-fashioned connotations the word “tricycle” has.

Riding the Mobii with regular clothes and shoes is as effortless as riding in a car. The trike is equipped with all of the classic city bike features that make it so easy to get on and go: chainguard, fenders, wheel lock, plush sprung saddle and no-slip pedals. Unfortunately, a major benefit is missing: lights. Generator lights are so important on a bike like this. The omission is a head-scratching misstep.

Changing gears is simple and hills less daunting with the SRAM 5-speed internal hub. The weather-protected and doubled-up roller brakes and coaster brakes remove all worries of stopping power, no matter how heavy the load.

Someone remarked that the bakfiets is a cargo bike that can carry kids, and the trike is a kid bike that can carry cargo. I agree with that, as the Mobii is designed with passengers’ comfort in mind. The trike has a large box on the front rated to carry 220 pounds, equipped with a plush bench seat and two safety belts. There is ample room for two small children and several bags or boxes of additional cargo. The weather cover can be unzipped and removed. The front door unlatches and opens so little ones can easily climb in and out.

Of course, a cycle with two front wheels is not as maneuverable as a regular bicycle. This problem is ameliorated on the Mobii: the two front wheels and the box turn separately from the rest of the bike, making cornering a bit easier.

Although made for stability, the trike is not so stable if you ride it like a regular bike. I got a quick reminder of this when the front left wheel popped off the ground as I rode up the small sidewalk ramp. Yikes! I felt a bit topsy-turvey when turning in general, but nothing as dramatic as the wheelie.

As with the Velorbis Studine, the Mobii’s seat tube angle is steep compared to a bike like the Workcycles Bakfiets. This means my body is positioned somewhat straight up from top to bottom, as the pictures show. This was not an issue for me. Although I felt perched differently than on the Bakfiets or my Dutch city bike, I felt pretty much the same pedaling.

The geometry issue for me is the reach to the handlebars, which I felt was quite long. As a result, I had to lean forward a bit and keep my arms straight. The bars can be raised, but cannot be moved any closer to me. I would prefer swept-back bars that come to me, instead of me going to them. Then again, I may be the only person on earth who feels stooped over on this bike ;)

The trike is totally stable while stopped, making it unnecessary to put a foot down for balance. A kickstand is likewise unnecessary. This is the major benefit of the bike. The equivalent of my “wheelie” moment with the bakfiets was when the bakfiets nearly fell over on me when I tried to push it up closer to the bike rack. That would not happen with the trike.

Here is the Mobii in gray. Now I want a disco ball for my bikes!

Whether one prefers a two-wheeled bakfiets or a trike is a personal decision.

My conclusion is that people who are somewhat wary of bikes and worry about perceived stability may favor the trike. On the Mobii I was perfectly balanced while stopped, even with no foot on the ground. I could walk the trike effortlessly without worrying about it tipping on me. Loading and unloading precious cargo would be a snap, with no need to set up a kickstand.

On the other hand, people who are one with their bicycles and worry more about speed and maneuverability may favor the two-wheeled bakfiets. The Mobii is not as fast or efficient as the bakfiets. For someone used to riding a regular bicycle, the Mobii handling sometimes could be awkward and frustrating.

I fall into the second category: I am much more comfortable on two wheels than three. With my imaginary child, I could see myself riding the trike to daycare, dropping off the kid, and then pulling a regular bicycle out of the hedges for the additional five mile ride to work. In a different imaginary-world-scenario, I could more easily see myself riding a bakfiets the whole way. That said, riding either type of cycle would become second nature once I invested in it and made it a part of my life. What seems awkward on the first ride becomes normal over time.

At $3,895 the Mobii is not child’s play, but for someone serious about transportation cycling with children, a trike is definitely worth looking into. I’m sure I don’t have to talk about the savings and benefits compared to a car, van or suv. ;)

I know some of you out there have trikes (MamaVee and others) – I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Our vintage style series has finally returned! Now that Dottie has outlined the many excellent reasons cyclists are drawn to vintage style, it’s my turn to share some tips on secondhand shopping. Since I can’t bring you all to my favorite places to shop vintage– America’s Thrift Store in Pell City, my grandmother’s closet (like other bloggers, a place I’ve had great luck with), the local shop Pre- to Post-Modern,–I’ll focus on shopping somewhere I know you all can visit: the Internet.

Vintage dress, vintage bike

I love browsing through carefully curated vintage shops for style ideas, but when it comes to opening my wallet, the item must be a bargain (hey, it is used after all!). When shopping secondhand, I prefer items that are either timeless, or play off of current trends without being too costume-y. Things, in other words, that don’t necessarily scream “vintage” and can be mixed with modern pieces to add a unique touch.

In addition to being less expensive than new items, secondhand clothing is often higher quality. This late 1970s Dolman sweater looks brand new and always gets compliments (thanks April!). And I swear I saw someone wearing a similar one on an episode of “Freaks & Geeks.”

Me and Mom, 1970s wool dolman sweater, h&m top.

One of my favorite vintage items are these 1980s navy slouch/pirate boots made in Brazil, scored on eBay last fall. They’re a very basic style, but at $14 cost far less than a new pair. Urban Outfitters,

Vintage items help you stand out from the crowd and give you the satisfaction of rescuing something worthwhile from the heaps and heaps of things people are using and disposing of these days.

Vintage white jacket, 1980s, my grandmother's closet. Truck skinny jeans, AE flats.

Vintage purchases need not be limited to clothes and shoes. Some of my favorite household items were scored at Goodwill and yard sales or craigslist–including my couch, dining table, TV armoire and most of my glassware/tableware.

Vintage barware and Manhattan fixins

Buying vintage items online is pretty much like buying anything else online, but here are a few tips:

• Check the measurements. Whether you’re talking shoes or clothes, sizes have changed over the last 50 years. Know your measurements and look for items that have measurements listed–or ask the seller for them before you bid or buy.
• Don’t pay more than you could resell the item for. Sometimes this is hard to judge, but it’s my rule of thumb when buying anything over $20 and is especially useful for furniture purchases. Would someone else pay $200 for this couch a year from now? If the answer is yes, you have nothing to lose.
• Put on your white gloves. Most eBay and Etsy sellers are fair and will describe flaws, but examine photos closely. If you’re shopping on craigslist, go over every inch for snags, tears, scratches, cracks etc., when you go to pick up the item. Furniture should be inspected to make sure it’s sturdy–no wobbly legs or mushy springs unless their existence is factored into the purchase price.

Vintage style blogs
Liebermarlene Vintage–love her style and the gorgeous photographs. She also has an eBay shop.

Violet Folklore–some of their dresses cross from vintage into costume-y, but they often have fun shoes and their photography is beautiful.

Lemondrop Vintage–Love their Pink Saturday feature.

OK, now it’s your turn: I know there are many m0re secondhand bargains to be discovered on the internet. Share your shopping secrets, pretty please?? And do you have a favorite secondhand find?

(Stay tuned for part three of our series, buying a secondhand bicycle–promise not to make you wait three months!)

Today I met a new beauty in town, the Velorbis Studine at Copenhagen Cyclery, a “younger” and more affordable version of the Velorbis Classic bikes (which I reviewed here). The differences are subtle – fewer gears, painted rims and no lights or leather grips.

Designed in Denmark and handmade in Germany, these stylish steel bikes are chic and cheeky at once. The Studine aka Student comes in three colors (red, green, black) and four sizes (51 and 56 cm for step-through, 54 and 59 cm for diamond frame). If cream-colored Schwalbe tires are not luscious enough, these ones are coupled with powder-coated rims to match the frames. The classy and comfortable Brooks B67 sprung saddle tops the design off perfectly.

A three-speed Sturmey Archer hub makes changing gears easy, even when the bike is stopped. The internal hub combined with the Sturmey Archer drum brakes (protected from the elements), fenders and chainguard makes the Studine an all-weather, every day bike. The Studine can carry a fair amount of cargo, with a sturdy integrated rear rack and handlebars that beg for a wicker basket.

As with the other Velorbis city bikes, the Studine is lighter and more nimble than bikes like the Workcycles Azor, Gazelle or Batavus. The seating position is directly upright – I almost felt like I was standing up while on the saddle pedaling. This contrasts with both my Dutch bike, on which I lean back a bit, and my mixte, on which I lean forward.

The Studine also comes in a diamond frame, like the one below. The hunter green goes well with brown canvas and leather.

The beauty of the Velorbis Studine really shines when paired with its price tag: $1,295. The price is competitive for this type of city bike. The closest bicycles in terms of style, quality and price I know of are the Pashley Princess Classic and the ANT Boston Roadster (a higher price but very high quality and made in the U.S.). What type of bicycle one ends up liking the most is pure personal preference, so I always suggest that people shop around and try out as many different bikes as possible.

While I prefer my Workcycles Azor Oma for workhorse daily use, I certainly can imagine myself riding away on this fiery beauty.  Sometimes I feel like a bright red bicycle is the one thing missing from my life :)

Week one of our Bike Lover’s Gift Guide highlighted fun and beautiful handcrafts available on Etsy. For week two we are shifting our focus to gifts that give back to the bicycling community.

• Life-Changing Bikes – Gift a bike in honor of someone you love via World Bicycle Relief. The Bicycles for Educational Empowerment program aims to give 50,000 bicycles to school children in rural Zambia – 70% of whom are girls – to enable the children to travel to and from school more easily. The cost is $134 per bicycle, which includes shipping and assembling the bike, as well as paying for a trained bike mechanic for each school. Any donation amount is welcome.

• Local Bike Advocacy – Give the gift of membership to your local bike advocacy organization. In Chicago the Active Transportation Alliance works to create better conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit users. Membership is inexpensive and includes lots of discounts at retailers across the city, several membership events and a newsletter.

• Bicycle Cooperatives – Give the gift of community. Examples include gift memberships at co-ops like Bici Co-op in Birmingham and used bicycles for purchase at Bikes Not Bombs in Boston and Working Bikes Cooperative in Chicago.  Your community may have a bicycle cooperative you could support in some way through your holiday gift-giving.

• The Open Road – Give the gift of adventure. A gift membership for the Adventure Cycling Association includes a subscription to Adventure Cycling Magazine, discounts on route maps and affiliate benefits, and if you join or renew for yourself now, you can give a holiday gift membership for half off. If you really want to go all out, you could give someone an amazing cycling tour.

• Magazine Subscription – Momentum, The Magazine for Self-Propelled People, is distributed free in several cities across North America. Gift subscriptions are super affordable and help support this first-class publication.

• Organized Rides – Give the gift of a fun day together.  Many rides support bicycling or other environmental causes.  If you find a ride you like in another city, make a whole weekend vacation of it.  This ride along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront benefits Climate Cycle. The annual ride is scheduled for May 14, 2010 and cyclists select from a 4, 10, 20 or 62-mile course. Proceeds go to installing solar energy in Chicago public schools, which currently pay more for energy costs than books and computers combined.

If you have any other ideas or know of a worthy bicycling cause, please share in the comments!

Winter! The low 20’s biting cold surprised me!

I might be putting on my studded tires soon. :)