Friday, December 18, 2009

Dreamy Winter Night Bicycle Ride

night bicycle ride shared by ridingpretty
(artist unknown - please help ID- update the artist is Rory Kurtz)

Like Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, or Santa on Christmas Eve - high above the chimney tops....

Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season so far. Have Safe and Happy Holidays!!!

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Update: 12.21.2009 Happy WINTER SOLSTICE to Everyone!
Much Love from RidingPretty in California !!!!

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

My (New) Fav Cycle Chic Photo - Catherine Baba via Tommy Ton

paris bicycle chic shared by ridingpretty
(photocredit: tommy ton)

perfect bohemian luxe, beautiful chic heels, classy bicycle, classy & huge big bicycle panniers (said panniers all the bigger to stuff Paris fashions into)... Yes, it all adds up to make this possibly my most favorite cycle chic photo to date.

I'm so fantasy driven at times. Yet this is more than a fantasy. This woman, Catherine Baba is a well regarded fashion influencer, she actually did bicycle to and fro to the runway shows during the Paris Fashion Week Shows - and she was captured doing so by no less than Tommy Ton of JaknJill. That much of the story is all quite real and that's what makes this such a favorite photo for me.

Now to see this photo in much better detail just click on the image. I know in advance everyone is going to want to know exactly what bicycle she is riding and who makes those excellent panniers she has on her bicycle.

A little more back story on Tommy Ton. He along with a select group of other fashion bloggers are shaking up the established order of just who is winning the hearts and minds of devoted fashion lovers. Old school is to buy a magazine, new school is check in with your favorite fashion blogger. Creme de la Creme fashion bloggers are now being given front row seats at the big couture fashion shows.

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Just added a new design that so made me think of Catherine Baba....
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Cycle Chic - Winner of the 'Cupcake'

Recently there was a Cycle Chic Fashion Show in Cork, Ireland - the winner of the goodwill gift I donated to be raffled off during the show was Niamh O' Brien. Her prize was the 'cupcake'....


bicycle helmet cover by ridingpretty.com

cupcake shared by ridingpretty
bicycle helmet cover by ridingpretty.com
(pink 'cupcake' helmet covers/photos by ridingpretty)

I hope Niamh is enjoying her prize and has found a pretty pink coat to wear with it! Maybe like one of these....

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Monday, December 14, 2009

Vivienne Westwood Seen Riding her Pashley Bicycle (Again)

vivienne westwood on bicycle shared by ridingpretty
(photocredit:SplashNews/via The Hub)

Here she is - Viv Westwood caught again recently riding her Pashley bicycle. My, what a HUGE fan I am of Vivienne, but you knew that having read this past post and then this one. Okay then so you never read my old posts -

NOW go check out those two links at any rate and find out why Viv Westwood is a fashion designer you just have to know about. Hint: it's for her views on bicycling and climate change.

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San Diego Tweed Ride! - Wet Streets

San Diego Tweed Ride- photo by protorio- shared by ridingpretty
(photo by protorio)

Love this photo with it's shiny wet streets, the on fire foliage and of course the slightly rained upon, but happy looking Tweed Riders. Yes, it was a rainy day ride for the San Diego Tweed Ride, but by the looks of the flickr photos everyone had a Jolly good time. Thanks to protorio for this photo!
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Sunday, December 13, 2009

Artists on Bikes Calender - David Byrne / Cindy Sherman -December

David Byrne - Cindy Sherman on bikes shared by ridingpretty
(photo credit:Lukas Wassmann / photo source: Artists on Their Bicycles New York - 2010)

David Byrne and Cindy Sherman are the featured NYC Artists on Bikes- for December 2010...it's a calendar available from the Swiss Institute. This is a limited edition, 5oo numbered pieces.

What a great Christmas bicycle gift idea if you admire artists on bicycles! The artists are Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Collier Schorr, Ugo Rondinone, Richard Phillips, Amy Granat, Rainer Ganahl, Rita Ackermann, Aurel Schmidt, NN, Maurizio Cattelan, Ryan McGinley, Pierre Huyghe, David Byrne and Cindy Sherman.

I'm a big fan of David Byrne. This you already know - if you remember his book which I was so excited to read and then review.
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Dad's Old Bike
















Ayisha needed a bike. The frame had been rusting away in her uncle’s garage, it used to be her father’s bike. Together with parts from another bike the brothers found by the side of the road I pieced this single speed. It holds sentimental value but has been given a new life. A new set of 27” wheels, tyres, tubes, cables and cages. The saddle is from a very large Peugeot sitting in my back yard and the pedals I found in a yoghurt container nearby. Mauve leather basic recovered saddle with cross stitch and matching toes straps. The old Nitto bars are wrapped in cotton twine and herringbone tape. The test ride was nice, I could do with one of these myself I think.

Add to the Quiver










SJ’s new fixie conversion just finished today. The brief was to create a bike reminiscent of her late seventies surfboard collection. Somehow I think the outcome is almost a decade out with it’s almost neon ‘sunny green’ frame and hot pink brake cable. The saddle, looking further back in surfing history, bears some likeness to a blonde wood Malibu in its uncoloured kangaroo hide stretched over the original saddle from SJ’s other bike, a Surly Steamroller. It’s a summer beach bike that was initially supposed to be coral coloured. Most parts are reclaimed from my collection of bits and pieces, the crank spider has been trimmed, removing the built in chain guard and permanently attached large chain ring. The wheels are factory built Deep V’s, new BB, brake calliper and pedals. Toe straps in matching kangaroo, bars wrapped in cotton twine and herringbone tape. A touch of coral in the left side of the bottom bracket.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Tyler Side Flight Recap

Last weekend I went down south for a contest that was put on by X-Fusion called the Side Flight Championships. It was the first of it's kind and the object of the contest was to see how whipped out you could get your bike in the air and bring it back before landing. Riders were judged on amplitude, style, and how sideways they got. They have this same event in the X-Games for Moto but this was the first for bikes.


I came pretty prepared and even built a practice jump in the woods at home to feel out my whips before I went to the contest. I also built up a special bike for the event that I thought would be well suited for the course. It's a prototype GT frame called the Ruckus 7 and I built it up as light as possible to help me whip it around. I even put a semi slick rear tire on it to help me gain as much speed as I could into the jumps which were super big and definitely suited my style. It started out with a 45 foot slightly stepped down double into a 40 foot step up and ended with a 30 foot hip jump. There were lots of different types of riders that came to this event from top dirt jumpers to world cup downhill racers. We had a practice session Friday evening and once we started riding it was evident that there were about 6 or 7 people that were standing out, including Thomas Vanderham, Brendan Fairclough, Kevin Aiello, Ryan Howard and Sean McLendon. I felt good and never really stepped out of my comfort zone in practice and was feeling that I could possibly take the title the following day.



On Saturday we woke up to howling winds but tried to make it happen anyways. I think it's safe to say that everyone that tried to jump on Saturday had a near death experience. The wind was coming head on and killed all of the speed that we had going into the first jump. We were all optimistic about making it work until until we saw Cody Warren sprinting into the jump and still not gain enough speed to make it over the landing. He came up about 3 feet short and broke both of his cranks off on impact. Once we saw that, we decided it wasn't safe and that we should wait it out in hopes that the wind would stop. Unfortunately it never did. The wind just kept getting worse so the event holders decided to call it. Results were then based on the practice session the day prior and it was rider judged.


Later that night we went to a local sports bar where they announced the results and they went as follows:

1st: Sean Mclendon
2nd: Tyler McCaul
3rd: Brendan Fairclough
4th: Ryan Howard
5th: Thomas Vanderham


I was bummed that the contest ended the way it did, but I was super pumped with the outcome. There's already talk of trying to hold these types of contests more throughout the year and it's something that I think could get really big in the future. It was a fun contest that wasn't as dangerous as most but still put on a really good show. Hope to see more in the future like it!

Here's a video clip of the practice session that was made by Shawn Spomer from VitalMTB.com

Slow Food - Happy Birthday ! - Plus Freewheelin' Farm - "Plenty" & Transition Towns

freewheelin farm shared by ridingpretty

freewheelin farm shared by ridingpretty

freewheelin farm shared by ridingpretty
(all photos: Freewheelin Farm)

Terra Madre Day was yesterday! Yes! the 20th anniversary of The Slow Food Movement - and importantly the core seed of all the various Slow Movements that followed.

So with Terra Madre Day being just yesterday and in that same spirit I have some favorites to share with you...

Freewheelin' Farm. How good can it get when you combine sustainable, local, organic farm foods AND delivery by bicycle - hence the name Freewheelin' Farm. Whenever I've witnessed the bike deliveries making it down the highway in to town, it always gives me a Big thrill. Oh, See the photos above, they're all from Freewheelin' Farm.


plenty shared by ridingpretty

Plenty is a book I've just started reading having found a copy at my local library. So far so good.
It s becoming a favorite for me. It explores just what it would mean to eat entirely locally - meaning all your food comes from within a 100 mile radius and you do this for an entire year.

What is so intriguing is that I knew someone soooo many years ago who did just this. So Seth in Taos, New Mexico if you ever, ever come across this, please know my profound respect and amazement. You rock and what an influence you've had on my life.

Transition Santa Cruz is an organization (along with the concept of Transition Towns) that I will be sharing with you more in the future. For now I just wanted to include this little teaser within today's post.

So Happy Terra Madre Day!! To all you Slow Bicycle friends

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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Hypsters on Bikes - yeah - Fly Your Freedom Flag!

hypsters on bikes by ridingprettyhypsters on bikes by ridingpretty
(photos by RidingPretty)

Hypsters on Bikes! Fly Free. What gets you out on your bike riding is all that that matters.

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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Winter Holiday Bicycle Scenes Downtown

Baby bicycles festooned in bright holiday bows, Santa comes to town on a Penny Farthing , and you can tell Winter is here when the girls wear furry boots...


santa baby bicycles photo by ridingpretty


santa winter cycling photo by ridingpretty


winter cycling photo by ridingpretty


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Sunday, December 6, 2009

Visit From Taratao Bikers - Thailand

Early in the morning at about 7.30am most riders are prepared to start the occassion. Thanks to Haji Yusof, Sham Custom, Doha for bringing along their their 4 wheeler to transport rider's bike to Wang Kelian. Today's guest will be Taratao Bikers from our neighbouring land of White Elephant - Thailand. Sawadikap!
Before reaching the meeting place, we stopped at the stall for light breakfast. Seen in the picture is Pak Non aka Aphicat and Pak Long.

Azhar of NXT is sharing some jokes with the ever happy Pak Non.



This is how to stuff 7 bikes on the pick up .




On the way to Beautiful View "Pemandangan Indah"


The riders from Taratao arrived earlier than they are supposed to. By the way, salute for being there on time.




Tiong and Edy of NXT and on the right is Abg. Bidi, the experience trail master and he is now using disc brakes and new frameset. Welcome to the world of Hydraulics!

Local Riders





Hmm.......


Darn! Closed eyes .......


Pemandangan Indah, the first pit stop.



Stopping by at Sam's Bike Shop at Kaki Bukit.


Regrouping before heading to Bukit Ayer.
Bintong Riders.

Thanks to YB Ismail Kassim for the food.


Bukit Ayer, Perlis.

Hmm ....... Two "Giant" makig their photo appearance.


In front of Dewan Warisan - Kangar



Dooha giving some money for his GF back in thailand . GF= Gary Fischer.
Somebody is coming with a new bike next week ....... better watch out all!
Thats A Wrap! Thanks for viewing folks!