Hot & Humid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Double the ladies. Double the FUN

This past Wednesday, our monthly ‘2 Wheels & Heels’ ride took place.  We met up at the fantastic Brother’s Drake Meadery where if you haven’t been – get your arse there and they just built a patio equipped with nicely, welded bike racks.  They are ‘everything’ bikes over there and some of the most amazing and inspiring people that I’m happy to call friends.

THIRTY women showed up, dressed in the everyday comforts from their closet.  I met so many new and lovely women that my heart was over-flowing.  We rode a little over seven miles and next months route, we’ll push to ten.  Olivera from Wholly Craft graciously donated a gift card to one lucky lady – ‘thank you, Olivera.’  I’m thinking Pattycake Bakery was a big highlight.  Three of the lady riders currently work for Pattycake and when we showed up, they had the most adorable ‘heels and wheels’ shaped and decorated cookies, EVER!  Once we got our sugar, we rode through the beautiful neighborhoods in Clintonville and eventually ended back at Brother’s Drake.

‘This ride gives me the confidence to get out on the roads more and ride.’  That was a quote from a woman who couldn’t stop thanking me.  It was humbled.  ‘I’ve been waiting for a group ride like this.’   That was another comment.  Aside from the amazing vision of bicycling ahead and then stopping, turning around and looking at thirty beautiful women riding behind me, the best part of the evening was the non-stop smiling.  As you’ll see from the pictures below, women were smiling and laughing and  giving high-fives the whole time.

This ride isn’t just about the clothing, although the continued reinforcement that clothing shouldn’t be such a barrier in the manner that it has become here in America does help.  If we continue to address that riding a bike can be as normal as getting in your car then the decision of ‘choosing’ to use your bike will become less and less of a thought out process and more of a growing habit.  This ride opens up conversations about proper and safe riding.  Being an LCI, I encourage these women to ask questions about their uncertainties when riding.  I plan on showing them basic mechanics of their bikes, certain information to obtain should an accident ever happen, commuting tips and techniques and much more.  Knowledge is power and that leads to confidence when riding.

Also, as of this passed week, this group has now expanded to seven cities total:  Cleveland, Columbus, Austin, Chicago, Minneapolis, Colorado Springs, and Victoria, B.C.

For anyone reading this who doesn’t have a Facebook account, I’ll keep you up to date with the upcoming ‘2 Wheels & Heels’ rides via this blog, or you can email me at the contact email I put in the ‘About’ section of my blog.

To all the ladies from this past Wednesdays ride – YOU ROCK!

Keep riding.

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Street Shark Trailer

My friend Andy sent this to me so I’m posting for anyone who  hasn’t seen.  Matt Locke put this together.  It’s pretty neat.

Keep riding!

Street Shark Trailer

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Street Shark Sprints. Summer Series – Part 3

Evenings like last night made me thankful I live in this city.  Well over sixty bikers ranging of all backgrounds and riding levels, met up at Paradise Garage to partake in a summer series of sprint races, started up by friend and fellow bike lover – Andy Willis.

When we all got to the destination, I just took a moment and looked all around at all the beautiful people, dusk moving over the city like it was our personal background for this event and the happiness that summer puts on people’s faces.

Brackets of men and women are randomly selected and it dwindles down to the fastest man and woman and holy hell – there were some ridiculously fast riders.  I happily lost immediately.  It was exhilarating to say the least.  You stay in one gear and pedal like holy hell.  I took up residence at the finish line and began to photo the evening.  I eventually stopped ‘trying’ to take motion shots w/ my camera b/c I kept missing the damn riders as they zoomed passed me at warp speed.

Keep riding!

A bit blurry but that’s Julian – the music man!

Emily – our ‘Vanna White’ of the evening 🙂

This is Cherie.  She kicked my ass 🙂

The night couldn’t have been better if I ordered it.

The crowd swelled at the finish line awaiting the final round.

Yep.

Andy and Lauren.  Lauren’s so fast that even at standstill she’s blurry ❤

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‘2 Wheels & Heels’ Ladies Ride – Columbus. It’s A Comin’

For all the non-facebook users, here are the details for the upcoming ‘2 Wheels’ Ride.  Hope you can join us.  We’ve all ready exceeded the number of ladies from last month and the RSVP’s continue to roll in (pun, intended :))

Read on:

It’s coming up on ‘our’ time to ride, ladies. We had a fantastic and fabulous time last month, let’s see how many more ladies will join us. Forward to this to potential lady friends interested in bike riding and meeting other like-minded women. I have a great ride / route picked out for us. Let’s hope the weather is as amazing as it was during our last ride. Remember, this is a slow ride, meant to attract and engage more women. Forward this to all your lady friends who enjoy the Slow Bike Movement 🙂

6 – 645 – The Brother’s Drake. The amazing Brother’s Drake has a brand new patio, just waiting for us. They’ll have happy hour specials awaiting our arrival.

645 –745(ish) –Hop on our bicycles and head towards the Clintonville area where we will end at Pattycake Bakery to indulge in some pretty fancy and special treats – JUST FOR US 🙂 I may even have a little something from Wholly Craft to raffle off to one lucky lady 🙂

800 – 9 We’ll make our way back towards the Brother’s Drake, weaving through some of the pretty Clintonville neighborhoods.
http://www.brothersdrake.com/

http://www.whollycraft.com/

http://www.pattycakebakery.com/index.html

Keep riding!

The photos above are from one of my favorite bike photography blogs:  downtownfrombehind.  AMAZE!

T

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Columbus Bike Fest

Hundreds and hundreds of bike riders gathered at Genoa Park on Friday to celebrate… bikes!  Such a perfect evening.  Wasn’t too hot.  Bike riders of all ages, all sizes, and all colors came out to support Consider biking and how awesome bikes are.  Talk about a vibrant and livable downtown on Friday.  With Bike Fest, Food Cart Fest, and Firewater happening, thousands of folks peppered the downtown streets.  Distances of 10-20 miles around all pockets of the city.  There’s nothing like exploring your own city or exploring  a new city, on a bike.

The ride ended back at Genoa Park where Waterfire took place which was really beautiful.  I did not ride this year as I was happy to stay back and ‘hold down the fort.’  I ran into a few friends and had the most splendid, spntaneous evening.  I mean, how can you beat:  bikes, summer, friends, waterfire, sunset, and laughter.  You can’t.

Enjoy the photos and keep riding.

Nothing helps like loads of volunteers to help keep an event running smoothly!  Thank you, volunteers!

What a guy he is!  Talk about super advocate!  Very lucky to know this man.

 

I can’t say anything more except:  I.  LOVE.  TREK.

I LOVE this photo!

Awesome friends I ran into!

WaterFire

The Mayor participated after finishing up the bike ride.

I love summer

 

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‘Step – through’s’ – For The Win!

Thursday afternoon commutes.  Love seeing more and more women riding.

classic cycle chic right here!

 

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