My new commuter. Yes, yes, I know...no fenders, etc.

OK, so it’s not new, I think I got it in 2007. Mark is overhauling my beautiful Bam-Bam so until it’s finished, I’m riding this Cannondale F7 mountian bike. It’s fun. He put really light and beautiful wheels on it (he built them) with big slick tires. Bitchin’ eh?

I hate using a backpack but he had persuaded me again to try it. I think I’ll end up putting a rack on it with a small pannier. I will also make a handlebar bag for it. I added a big brass bell and I have a headlight but don’t have it attached all the time.

I’m getting used to having a front shock again. So much more fun to go up and off curbs with that and the soft slicks. I keep them slightly under-inflated. I need to scuff them up so I won’t slide around if it rains. I have plastic fenders that attach really fast too so no worries there.

Riding my bike to work is so fun. I feel so much better if I ride to work than if I drive. Not that my ride is that far…here’s a pic with my new commuter shoes and a wild skirt I made a few years ago. I feel I embody all the highs and lows of fashion and modernity…and sarcasm.

Bike commuting outfit

Happy cycling!

I’m not sure how I did but I don’t think I was last AND I think I was the oldest participant so I am pretty happy about it.

Granted, it was the Urban Cyclocross Challenge in the West Bottoms of KC, MO, so it was far from a traditional cyclocross race – BUT, my bamboo bicycle performed great and I even did a cyclocross running dismount. My re-mounts need work to say the least but great fun was had by me and all who attended. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Perfect for being outside. It was in the high 20′s but no wind to speak of. I couldn’t feel my toes by the end of the race but other than that, it was very comfy for riding a bicycle.

I have movies on my camera that someone took for me so I will edit those and put them on my Flickr page next week.

I scrubbed, lubed, and waxed (yes, I wax my bike) the bamboo bike when I got home so it’s ready to go. I also re-set my computer so I’m starting at zero miles today. Now to start working on my 2,010 miles this year.

Tomorrow it’s back to sewing some bags!!! I’m way far behind on getting them done and re-creating my store on this site.  Argh.

Cockpit view of new handlebars.

Having a live-in bike mechanic does have it’s perks….

I now have a dove bar (I think) instead of the mary bar. I loved the mary bar but I never expect to have the same bike month to month so I’m giving this a whirl. Marko also put a longer stem on it. I may go even longer but I’ll give this one a week-long test to see what I think.

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT! Local KC metro readers,  this time of year is slow for bike mechanics, so, if you need a spring tune-up, repair, carbon frame repair, or even a custom bamboo bike, now is the perfect time. Marko can turn around a simple repair or tune-up in 24 hours. He has 30 years experience and lots of references. Send an email to Marko now. )

Shameless Plug 2: I also love the Boulevard brewing beer corks he put on. Adds a nice touch. I’m hoping to get a free bottle or two of Tank 7 now….or anything from the Smokestack Series if anyone from Boulevard is reading….

Here’s to great beer and warmer weather! It looks like it should be a great week for bike commuting in KC.

The 2nd in the Street Cred Series

Come on out and test your legs in this January 16th crit race in Kansas City, MO.

Sign up at 12:30pm, race at 1pm.

James B. Nutter parking lot, 4153 Broadway.

You look sexier in a helmet, so wear one. And bring $5 .

Prizes include my Re-Velo bags (Which ones? You need to show up to find out.) so what better reason to ride your bike on a cold day through the mean streets of KC? Hopefully the snow will be gone by then or it could get interesting. Oh, I’m sure it will be interesting no matter what.

Hope to see you there!     Need more info?

Off I go into the snowy suburban wilderness.

Spent Xmas Day eating, watching Cyclocross videos on my computer, eating, riding my bikes in the snow, and eating. Bamboona Bicicletta is not a snow bike…at least not with the tires I had on her. I didn’t fall but it was a bit sketchy.

So, boyfriend took off her cranks and pedals and put them on my Cannondale F7 Feminine mtn. bike and off I went. It was fun. I fell alot trying to ride through a foot of snow in the park. He also coated some Shimano Mtn. bike shoes with polyurethane to waterproof them for me. My regular shoes have mesh on the outside and duct tape was not doing the job. Wore thick socks and my feet felt pretty good but I wasn’t out for long.

Making seat adjustment before setting off to bicycle in the new snow.

Bike Clothing worn:

• Ibex Woolies half zip and tights
• Patagonia wool crew shirt (old and ratty and I love it)
• Nylon vest
• Northface wind pants
• Marmot Pre-Cip jacket and rain pants
• Knit gloves and super-warm Patagonia mittens
• Bomber hat

So, I was plenty warm. FINALLY my fingers felt fine. The mittens belong to the BF so I’m bidding on some mittens on eBay today. Keeping my fingers warm has proved to be impossible on my bicycle. I think mittens or the lobster gloves are the only answer for me.

I hope everyone had a swell Christmas day. Get out and ride!

My hero….

Bamboo bike with carbon rack and panniers

OK, here’s the latest photo of my fine ride. She’s now a bamboo cargo bike since my bike mechanic bonded on a FABULOUS made-from-scratch carbon fiber rack. Oh, he built the bike too. He’s pretty amazing. The bike is built from my Trek X01 cyclocross frame so it’s aluminum, bamboo and carbon fiber. He used carbon fiber sleeves and tow on the joints. The rack is carbon fiber rods bonded together and to the bike. The bike and and rack and my headlight, bottle cage, etc. weighs 21 lbs. The guys at Epic Bike and Sport weighed it for me last week. Not sure how much the panniers weigh but they are heavy.

So, what do I call her? (Not that she comes when I call her….) I have no idea, so I need yours!

Give me some ideas and win!

I’ll give the top 3 name entries a Tool / Accessory Bag.

It’s perfect for stashing a spare tube, C02 cartridge, patch kit and tire levers. Or for you girly girls….Make-up! I put an extra blinky light in mine too. I use one of mine for my iPod too.

Enter today!

Mark finished my bamboo bike! Remember the one I said was almost finished months ago? He decided he didn’t like the design and started over. He built this one from my Trex X01 cross frame which was just a smidge too big for me. Now it’s perfect…and bamboo.

My bamboo bicycle

Click on the photo to enlarge it.

Notice the hay bale motif. I bought 16 of those for my garden. I’m going for a year-round harvest.

Anyhoo…I’ll be spending the weekend making fliers and bags for my sponsorship of the Boulevard Cup Cross on October 18th. And I HOPE  I can get some riding in too.

The highlight was talking to Christian VanDevelde. I made some stupid remark and he actually answered me and I got a GREAT shot of him.

Christian Vande Velde at The Tour Of Missouri

This is NOT zoomed in nor cropped. For once, I was in the right place at the right time. Here are all my pics on Flickr.com

OK, I didn’t forget the winner. Dave Zabriskie. With his bottle of Missouri Wine, of course.

Dave Zabriskie after winning Tour Of Missouri