Talk About Personal Style !!!!!

Photo credit /source: “Five Faces of "Elvis"

Slimm Perkins Buick makes some pretty fine bicycle rides.

Just how much do you need to know to buy a new (Euro-Style) Bicycle? Part I

So the easy part is you know you’re ready to buy a new bicycle.

Maybe you’re ready to retire/re-gift/resell/ or keep simply as a back up your current bicycle. Or maybe you haven’t even ridden since, well… it was so, so long ago. At any rate you know you want the Euro-style, Sit Up & Beg, Ergonomic bicycle like the ones everyone loves and has been blogging about. Yes, STYLE does matter!

Now What? How many decisions do you have to make in order to decide which one to buy?

First of all don’t feel overwhelmed by technical specs and ‘bicycle speak’ when you haven’t a clue what it all means. Try not to walk into your local bicycle shop (LBS) expecting to find a great assortment of euro-style bicycles and get yourself all disappointed because the selection is mediocre to non-existent. And please don’t feel overwhelmed by bike sales assistants who ‘advise’ you into settling for something else because it’s in stock. Be warned; in order to hunt down the euro-bicycle of your dreams it’s going to take some savvy on your part. My hunch is that you’re a seasoned and sharp shopper and you’re up for this.

Once you’ve gotten an idea of what you like realize that many euro-style bicycles can only be had by placing an order for them. You can seek out an USA bicycle distributor and you can order your bicycle from them. You can go directly to the website of the bicycle you desire and investigate ordering with them (as long as they are in English.) You can take a trip overseas and buy your bicycle while you’re there.

Question: Why are the LBS in such short supply of euro-style bikes? The whole racer/sports mentality has prevailed for so long that the buying habits dictate what manufactures produce for you to buy. I believe eventually the LBS will have euro-style bicycles if people want them, but apparently the market won't sustain it just yet.

So this is just part one… More to come!

****Update!!!

This being far into 2009 this post will be revised soon.

Pleasant, Airy, Fresh - Fabric Choices

Some fabrics are better then others when it comes to staying fresh. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable and in need of a change of clothing after a bicycle ride. You can help by making a few adjustments (especially during summer) by choosing clothing based on what type of fabric is in it.

Synthetics and synthetic blends wick moisture away better than cotton. Perhaps experiment to see which synthetics ‘feel’ right on your skin. For summer what comes to mind is light, light diaphanous (sheer) dresses.

Cotton will absorb moisture (sweat) and hold it, not allowing it to evaporate into the air. Cotton does not ‘dry out’ well, so not the best choice. I personally love crisp cotton (fair trade/organic/recycled cotton is ideal.) However with cotton on hot days I want the arm holes cut very generously. I also like cotton voiles for summer.

Believe it or not merino wool is a top choice. Really super light merino wool actually could be a choice for summer as in knickers or a riding cape for coolish evenings.

Eco fabrics like bamboo could work well too. (I have bamboo bath towels I love!) The eco fabric selection is really expanding so you could well be discovering some really unique finds.

An After Thought: Really, you could wear a costume period ball gown but as long as you bicycle at a leisurely pace, aren’t going some long, great distance, then you’ll find you can stay surprisingly and pleasantly fresh.

If getting to work on time is your main concern… then ‘Less is More’ when you bicycle ride. Layer, then shed and keep from over heating to stay your freshest!

The Speed Factor – Don’t Work Up a Sweat

Are you concerned you’re going to arrive at your destination with a big red face and little trickles of sweat? Then don’t sweat it.

Honestly, plan your trip with ample time. Not so terribly hard if you’re like a lot of people in the US… because over 50% of the car trips taken in the US today are less than 2 miles. So think in terms of your average 2 mile destinations (especially the corner store and your neighborhood shops & restaurants), then plan it out with ample time and don’t pedal up a storm to get there!