Hot hot pink all day long

Morning - Freshly bathed pink Fyxation tires.


Still morning - I went out for milk, cruised through the Claire's Boutique and got these ultra useful sexy cute gloves.


MAC Full Fuchsia lipstick & Spider Eyes. Felt good to was this face off.


End of the day.


Biking in these was tricky. I was scared I might knock the hearts off.


We made it home in one piece!

Where is my Linus Dutchie?

I've gotten some questions online and in-person about Kate Middleton, the bicycle with pink tires and adorable panniers. She’s not gone forever, she’s just sitting on the bench until she decides to stop sabotaging me.

After being fed-up with her shenanigans, I tried to shame Linus on the internet with the video of how she tried to ruin me the other night. I want to be out with how crappy I think the Linus Dutchie 1 is, and warn people that she has a dangerous design flaw. I emailed them and got a pretty timely response, where they offered to mail me a fresh new chain guard.

When I get that new chain guard, and I’m not holding my breath, I will document changing it out myself because it could be a riot.

In the meantime, a bike distributor swooped in to save me with the Viva Urban de Luxe. I did not purchase this bike, and I don't think I get to keep her permanently.

For some time, I was quiet about how crappy I thought my Linus was. I wasn’t quiet in-person, but I was quiet on my blog. When my fresh out of the box Linus purchase had no touch-up paint, though it was supposed to come with, when she showed signs of rust after the first month while never being kept outside overnight, when her pedal fell apart at the 6-week mark when I was riding on a busy street, when spokes broke off her back wheel and I paid to get all the spokes replaced,  when her rear-hub got so worn-out after 8 months of daily riding that my wheel could not rotate what-so-ever... I was pretty quiet. But when I put that all together, it’s like, wow. I might need to tell the internets about all of this, instead of just telling bike girls I meet around town. The chain-guard thing bringing me to a broken-down halt at 10pm on a weeknight was kind-of the final straw in me being hushed about the quality of this bike.

I do still love her though. She may be ratty at the core, but I’m comfortable with her. She is so outfitted for carrying things around and she does look adorable. We get compliments wherever we go.

But now I’m riding this Viva bicycle and I’m becoming spoiled about things I didn’t even really know about, like a rear internal gear hub. Internal gear hub is so sexy!

It’s like, internal gear hub is an iPhone and external gears are a Razr or a bag-phone. You can’t go back. These girls are hanging in the bike room.
Viva on the left and Kate hanging on the right.

She's Trying to Kill Me

This video is safe for work - I don't curse or squeal.

The Linus Dutchie 1 may not be out to sabotage me, but her chain guard is trying to kill me.

I didn't know how to convey this in photos so I found last night's episode a good time to make a video explaining. Despite how I explain the problem in the video - this has happened to me a handful of times. It happened tonight around 10pm when I was riding home from seeing Gloria Steinem at 92Y, but that's for another post.

I was pretty pissed off that this happened to me, and I had to pull off to a desolate sidewalk to fix it anyway, so I whipped out my camera and made a video. No one will jump or rob you if you are making a video of yourself cursing out your bicycle.

-But my initial video has me saying some tangy curse words and it was pretty dark, so I went home where there was better light and made this clean edit video. 

The Linus Dutchie not only has a rust reputation online now, it's going to have a temperamental, sabotaging chain guard reputation too if this story gets out.

I don't explain it thoroughly, but I owned this bike the whole summer before I needed to wear ankle-covering or real shoes. This first happened in a pair of high-tops. The first few months I owned this bike, I just wore flats or skippies AKA keds.

I'm not giving up on this bike, yet, but I need to find a solution to this.

Cuz' she tryin' to Kill Me! 

Open Love Letter to KM

I saw this pic of you from this morning and I was like “Oh, my god, my bike is so cute!!!” A white bicycle with pink wheels is just the cutest fucking combo and I’m so glad I’ve got you. I don’t think I can ever live with black tires again.

I’m hard on you, and I do resent whoever dropped the ball on your rust-proofing, but I love you so much. I’ve been hard on you and I take you for granted and riding that tester bike has really made me see what a good thing we’ve got going. I really do love you.

It’s shallow to say I love you partly for your looks but that’s the truth. I love your simplicity too. I really am glad I can keep my (usually my right) hand in my pocket and bring you to a complete stop and you don’t have wires and brake handles up front. I really like that about you. I love how I’ve got so much cargo space on  you. We can shop and pick up cool stuff out of the trash if we want to. We can go to Whole Foods and get a couple bags of groceries and it’s all good. We don’t even have to plan ahead. Lock, stop, shop, roll home.

It’s unbearable to think about getting on the bus and/or the subway anymore. I’d rather be with you in the cold and the rain than have to put myself through public transportation.

Stay in one piece the best you can and please don’t get stolen or run-over and I’ll be true to you.
I might even give you a bath this weekend.

Here's the full bicycle/work outfit of the day - outside & inside.

Guest Post on BikeMinded

I have a guest post on BikeMinded today!

I tucked away some bike outfits so they would have fresh material for the post.

Check it out here. It's about bike style since it's fashion week... again.

I did this highly visible casual Friday look for the post.

RED coat - Forever 21, white bern helmet, clear glasses from Claire's, Citizens of Humanity jeans, F21 fake converse with gold toe.

My Kate Middleton Bicycle is so pretty... She needs to be healthy and strong. 

I'm Snow Crazy and Adventurous

I never peer-pressure anyone about riding a bike. I don't pressure anyone, but I'm happy to share and teach what I know. And I'm full of opinions.

Dressing for this snow-day ride wasn't a biggie since it's actually been much colder recently. 

I don't want to make anyone think they should ride in the snow like this. I think I am crazy. I know I am crazy and that's how I do my commute every day through Times Square and down 7th Avenue. I think it takes a little insanity on my part to ride where I ride.

I only did this little experiment because I was not going far, and I knew I would be home before dark.
I took it easy on the small side streets and tried to stay in the ruts.

Sometimes there wasn't really a rut at all and I went extremely slow. I did a little pedaling just to keep rolling smoothly which I think kept me going straight. Delivery guys kept me company for most of my adventure.


I went straight over to 5th Ave. which was pretty clear.


Slightly messier and tighter spot on 5th Ave.


You bet I took the lane where I felt like it. I was utilizing the bus lane a little down 5th Ave.


No one honked at me, and I actually got one nice gentleman who rolled down his window (on a side street) to tell me to go ahead. It was still the ultimate in politeness toward a lady on a bicycle and I appreciated it.

I really only went about 20 small blocks and a couple avenues. I live on the far east side and my destination was the Paley Center between 5th & 6th.

I went to meet Malaika to see Carrie & Fred from Portlandia do a Q&A moderated by Julie Klausner.
It was pretty funny. Fred A. kind-of hogged it. Carrie should have talked more. He's nuts but he's really funny.
The Paley Center has a Project Runway All Stars dress display from the Miss Piggy challenge on view til Feb 2nd.


Outside the Paley Center.



This was an OK side street.

I think my little experiment was OK for the conditions I knew starting out - Saturday lack of urgency and traffic and daylight only.

I realized I was in serious danger of getting SPLASHED and thankfully, that didn't happen.
I also realized this is a terrible idea because if cars had lost control, I would have been smashed. I stayed the hell away from cars to the best of my ability. Even though I went slow enough to pretty much stand up and run, it was probably dangerous and maybe I shouldn't have done it. But it was OK.

Funky gray snow.

You know, I'm pretty down on Linus, so I'm just riding Kate Middleton into the ground like I did my old bicycle until it got mystery murdered.

I didn't want to shame the Linus Dutchie on the internet, but when I meet people in public, I tell them I don't recommend it. That comes as no shock to them when they notice the rust. Yes, my bicycle, Kate Middleton has rust at several points and she has never spent one night outdoors. She is 7months old, new out of the box.

I've also replaced so many parts on it. I love my cute pink parts, and I love the girly look, but I think the original parts were really quite shitty and there was really no question the Linus parts had to go.

Bike Tip - Tight Rolled Jeans Can Save Your Life

Lately I've worn flare leg jeans and I brought back a tight roll on the fly to keep 'em out of the chain.
Tight rolls can literally save your life.


My big leg jeans didn't really get caught in the chain of my Schwinn, R.I.P, but the Linus tried to chew up my jeans as soon as we took off that day! Kate Middleton is hungry. 

Bike Visibility Tactic: Wear a Flag

I like the idea of having a FLAG on my bike. I love bike visibility tactics.
Instead of finding a bike flag and attaching it I just wore one today. 

I swear to you, if you take vitamins you can have bike-bruise-free ultra-white legs like mine. 

These big sleeves created exciting billowing in the wind and some wind resistance. 

I've adopted the grand plan to buy red/red-orange clothes this fall for bike visibility.
And because red/coral is trending hardcore. 

Bicycle Maintenance for LadyBikes

I'm doing the Let's Go Ride a Bike Summer Games. My bike, Kate Middleton the Linus Dutchie Duchess, is only 2 months old, but she needs a bath to maintain her fresh looks.

The scene- a beer, a bucket, a bike. 

I scored that hot pink bucket from the garbage. Treasure trash! 


Filthy regions down below-

We got caught in crazy rain Friday night in Brooklyn. 



I used a rag and a gentle brush on her nooks & crannys. 


And afterward there was filthy bath water. I was singing No Doubt's Bath Water. 



I'm a proud Mama. 

I also performed what might be considered a more bike-maintenance-y thing- I raised my seat. All by myself! My knees started aching when I was pedaling - I had a huge biking weekend, and I realized raising the seat might help and worked tremendously! 

Oh, Shoot - I had to buy pink pedals

Last week something a little shocking happened.

My pedal fell apart on busy 6th Avenue on my way home. Parts were lost.

I went to the bicycle shop that I'm totally going steady with- City Bicycles. They had two pink pedal options for me and I went with this jelly-sandal pink. Or Crystal Light Pink Lemonade Pink. They're from the Odyssey.

I absolutely love them. The size is bigger than the ones that came on the bike, they're beautiful, they're pink.

That's a close-up from my inaugural ride of 2 blocks with them from the shop back to work.

I did reach out to Linus since this bike is so new. They got back to me, but not before I went ahead and replaced the pedals. It was too dangerous and uncomfortable riding with just half a pedal.

Beauty Injury Day

I had a terrible beauty injury today. I hurt myself doing something I've gotten away with for about 19 years. I thought I was going to permanently be wearing black-out shades like this:

So sad. 
I hurt myself doing this-



My left - your right. I was late to work because I had to sit and let it cry and water-out for about 10 minutes. 
I'm going to pick up a MAC 204 brush - To Avoid this old-fashioned injury. But I know I can't quit the 'pin. It's the best! 


Funny there were safety pins at the self-timer spot I went to in the park this morning! What a coincidence!




Thrifted gold necklace - Forever 21 leopard top - Ribbon belt - H&M dress shorts - Forever 21 bow flats. Really glad I can wear shorts and skirts. Sorry, dudes. 

Yesterday I dressed like Little House on the Prairie and wore sensible shoes.

Target dress & fake keds. Belt from some Charlotte Russe shorts. Wal-mart $5 sunglasses.

Back to today's little top; it had this little bullshit bowtie thing and I cut it off and used a more substantial belt.




Cute tshirt I fawned over pulled the trigger on today.

And I might go to this because I'm a fan.

On my way home- Summertime.

Rear Rack and Basil Rosa Double Bag

My rear rack finally arrived so I got to finally attach my Basil Rosa Bags and take care of some business. 


I put them/it on and ran some errands. I installed them too close to the front of the rear rack and my flip-flops hit them with each pedal. MISERY. I pulled-over and adjusted them.


I got a few Costco items on one side (and a variety of other things on the other side.) Major cargo capabilities.


I love the drawstring- Not sure if I'll ever use the zipper pockets.


I don't love that they're kind-of permanent. They have so many little buckles they are staying on for a while. I'm really lucky my bike doesn't have to park outside where they would totally get stolen or peed on by some rando-dog. I need to see how other people lock these on. Can you lock them on? In a cute way?

That makes me glad they were free.

But they are cute and look great with my pink tires.

-And getting along with my pink tires is what's important, so I guess they can stay. 

Matching your outfit to your bike 101

I didn't try to match my bike today, but it's a happy coincidence and of course I love the color palette.

This is a TJ Maxx $16 or $19.99 rainbow leopard print dress and a little girls section elastic glitter belt from H&M. Claire's boutique white bow sunglasses. J. Crew leopard tote in the basket. Patricia Field Polly heels. They're not the best bicycle shoes. I will give-in and admit that. But they're very comfortable.

My nail polish is Essie Tart Deco and at first I thought it looked mac & cheese, but it's grown on me and I'm so happy I see Gwen Stefani also has peachy-orange nails so that's good affirmation.

Two pink watches- Neither one set very accurately.

Sanrio 50th Anniversary McDonald's Happy Meal My Melody watch and Casio digital from Target.

New York City is finally stinky, sticky hot. Tomorrow I am gonna slut it up to beat the heat.

Bike bruises on display!