The New Bike Shoes

First:  A statement on my state of blogging:  I just never feel the same motivations for blogging as I used to. I also feel pretty private lately.
I used to sit at a desk for most of the day at a full-time job, and I think that gave me anxious fuel to write blog posts. Maybe I'll do better. But don't count on it. 

Here's the bike trainer my husband got us. We love it!
It's so nice to ride in your home and watch TV and pull a small table up near you with your phone and a tall glass of water. And the TV remote.

I love all the bike stuff we have going on in our apartment. People coming over to visit think they can spot our apartment from seeing the bikes in the window. It's funny, but my bike runs much quieter than Matt's on the trainer.

Spring is here in Arkansas! So outdoor biking should commence.

I even got clip-in shoes for my bike and started using them. It's a new, powerful world.

I wish I had some better jokes about how expensive these were and how I can't wear them anywhere fancy... With the exception of some of my knee-high boots, I think they are the most expensive shoes I own. They're the kind with clips and you can walk around on the ground like a normal person.

I am still totally in blind trust with my bike salesman from Chainwheel. That's the shop that nobody thought would be the shop for me. I can't believe how in-deep I am with a shop like this, and I can't believe how much crap/gear/stuff you need for road biking. Jumbo handbags and grocery totes aren't a part of this picture.

I think the road bike community and the commuters are two different communities, but I think one can participate in both, and I think doing this is going to give me better perspectives for both. 
Polite biking will carry on, and I will prove that you can do it in spandex. 

I can not get used to the ginormous maxi pads in bike shorts but you need them! They are so disgusting but necessary. Even riding the trainer in my apartment I have to wear them because my road bike's seat is like a woodpecker's beak. 

On good bike clothing investments

This post is on good investments and a lesson on not-judging things from online stores called “Leather up” and from Lee, the mom-jeans superstore. Don't judge ugly, un-trendy online stores, K?

I’m super-duper glad that I bought this pink leather motorcycle jacket last July on clearance for $79. I (sit at work and read every fashion magazine and blog) had the foresight to know that dusty pale pink would be a trendy color and this jacket, being from a motorcycle super-store, was the bomb for bike riding. I got caught out in the rain so many times in this jacket that the snaps got a little rusty. And it has amazing pockets inside and out. Having motorcycle people compliment your jacket also makes you feel tough and strong. Good investment.

These jeans are yet another pair of my favorite new Lee brand mom jeans (I have navy, gray and black and that still costed less than jeans I typically buy.)  I am wearing these jeans in a 6, but I think I would be better in a 4 which means they are vanity sized, which is another wonderful element to their greatness. And they're $24.

Vans hemp palisades are slightly on the nautical-boat-shoe trend, but they’re also a comfortable skippie slip-on great for casual times and bicycle riding. And dog-walking. I do a lot of dog-walking. I actually saw an older woman in my neighborhood wearing the gray ones and they looked awesome and that’s why I bought my first pair, the turquoise ones, which are now beat to death. Black ones are fresh for this spring & summer. 

Last year's turquoise vans hemp palisades, back when they were fresh. 

Looks like my Linus was fresh back then too. Aw.

We can’t shut up about this mild winter, but one last word about this mild winter: I got to have my ankles sticking out this whole time. Some trend-related influence (mental illness from working in the garment dist) had me requiring a little bit of ankle-skin to show at all times and this mild winter helped me get through it without catching pneumonia.

Valentine's Day Pussy Bow

I looked like a little old lady of the 1960's today in my heart-printed pussy bow and glasses.  Advanced Style is rubbing off on me.


I love this blue blouse - Those are hearts, not polka dots. I of course found it at a thrift store in Arkansas. It has those wonderful Made in U.S.A. tags you don't see much anymore.

I got the new TOMS ballet flats in pink suede and they are really sturdy and fantastic bicycle riding shoes. They have a really serious sole for ballet flats. Non-skid supreme. 

Yes, I had to ride my girlfriend, Kate the Bicycle, for Valentine's Day. The pink tires had to be out for the holiday!

Tonight we ate a heart shaped pizza and Matt passed out super-early. We stayed out late last night at out weekly The Bachelor watch party. Yes! We totally hate Courtney and we're disenchanted with Ben, but we can't stop watching. Can. Not. Stop!

Small Gifts

It's a small and lovely gift when Central Park is closed to vehicular traffic. It really gives me a little thrill when I turn the corner to enter the park and find out that it's exclusively for bicycles and people and doggies. (It is closed to cars on the weekends and late night, but not M - F on my commute to work.) I guess all that snow on Saturday was the cause for this treat.

I saw this double-scary stuff right before the park - DIRTY SNOW + DUMP TRUCK so I stayed back. Yuck. Getting dirty will not be tolerated.


When I saw the barricades at the Park I was so happy. No cars. Peaceful.


It set me off to a great start on Monday morning.

I pull my glove/pot-holder off with my teeth so I can operate my camera.
A red jacket is excellent for visibility. 

I never take pictures of this view of Central Park South because it's usually too stressful and congested.


Before I put my helmet on, I took pictures of my all-the-way-around-my-eye eyeliner. I never do eyeliner on the bottom and wanted to check it in the camera. I blurred or smudged it pretty well. I thought I looked more EMO but I look ok in the picture. My outfit was all black. I wasn't trying to be EMO, but I do like themes.


Monday I also tried out some new super-cheap-o glitter oxfords.

These guys are pretty excellent bicycle shoes. 

Tough Lady Clothes

My new year's resolution is varied, but one variation is that I want to be more like Gloria Steinem. 
To begin this literally- One needs to wear bras less-often and wear sensible shoes. I got these rather flat, kind-of ugly, extremely comfortable and rugged Dingo boots. 


I feel like I can ride bicycles and kick ass and be a cowgirl in these boots. 

My snaps are RUSTING because I've gotten rained on several times in this jacket.
This bomb-ass unbreakable pink motorcycle jacket...



I saw my first NYC Haiku sign tonight while locking my bicycle up outside of MoMA.
I did second guess if this was a DOT sign or something someone creative put up due to it's being right outside of the Museum of Modern Art. I think it's a real one.

I went to see Albert Nobbs. By myself, but in an audience of adorable little old ladies. It was really incredible. It's really heavy subject matter, but it's an incredible story and it's going to get crazy tons of awards. It's not for a first date. But it was great. A+ 

Lazy or Brave?

Was I lazy or brave when I rode the bike in the rain today in December?


- Was I too lazy to go get a Metro Card and ride the bus and absolutely be late for work?
- Or am I just tough and brave? And it's not really cold yet.

Either way- I was well-prepared with my clear sunglasses, helmet with visor and proper raincoat.
My thighs/knees were kind-of wet but not a misery. Things would have been more pleasant had I a handkerchief for hand-drying but I was in good spirits all day so I think I fared well. 

This was definitely a brave choice:


On my way home it was dark- as always and I did a little stop & shop. I chose not to use Central Park to get home. Instead I used Madison Ave. where there was serious grid-lock and traffic clusterfuck. That was excellent for me and my bike shimmy through with ease.

I felt safer because even though the street was jam-packed with cars... Those cars couldn't move for the most part. Or they could only move slowly.

Not that I don't feel safe in the park- I just did an errand and was happy to spice up my commute. 

Booties for Bike Ladies

I know Forever21 is sweat-shop city... But damn, I'm killing shoes being a rough & tumble bike lady.

I ordered these and they turned out super-awesome- so I also ordered this taupe color.
Who cares if I beat the shit out of them this winter riding bikes?

They got tested-out on a late, 8mi bike ride on Saturday night.
We went to the Duane Park supper club because I'm hopelessly devoted to Murray Hill and who doesn't like fancy dinners and burlesque?

Matt rode in TOMS and switched to fancy shoes before we headed into the restaurant.
I love that he pulled such a girl-move. I carried his shoes in my trusty, though out of season, panniers.

Umbrella Bike

I've seen photos of people doing this-


Stupid? Probably. Helpful, yes! The raindrops falling out of the trees in Central Park are major, so I went ahead and popped the umbrella. It was pretty nice. I rode at a coast-pace. I knew my route extremely well.

This video re-enactment took place in the confines of my apartment building alley.

I got DRENCHED running out during lunchtime. We attempted to go to the Beauty Bus but it was a Beauty Bust and we got drenched.

I started the day in sporty Converse- I might venture to say the best bicycle shoe in my opinion-

But since these were sopping wet- I was lucky to have some new Gap booties on-deck

I also added leggings because I was freezing. I have a file drawer in my desk at work that has nothing but clothes in it. 

Under my unbrella-ella-ella at a stop light. 

It was fine. I used it through Central Park where the raindrops can put your eye out (huge because of the trees) and I used for several avenues til the rain slacked off. I only went at a coasting pace, if that makes sense. Luckily- I do not have hand brakes so I don't have to worry about working those. 


Hands-free Coaster Brakes + Umbrella = Good stuff! 

Is it a bike date if you only go one place?

Thursday night I had the first-time experience of biking in a Peter Pan collar. It flew up and tickled my neck all the way downtown to the Wild Project on East 3rd street.

We saw a great show put on by Amber Smith and Bridgette Everett. This was our 2nd Bridgette show in about a week. I'm a proud fan. Their show was called "Fuck! We love our Cuntry!" and they did country songs. We loved it. Bridgette threw cans of beer into the audience.

I had to take Matt a casual shirt again. He had an undershirt or a dress shirt, so I brought him an in-between shirt.


And this was my outfit - his visibility through American Apparel hot pink corduroy shorts.


These little vans were a great purchase. They're called Hemp Palisades, and they are fantastic little bike or NYC walking around shoes.

Peter pan collar shirt with hearts as polka dots from H&M the other day. American Apparel Unisex West Coast Corduroy shorts in Deep Pink. Neon! Pink L.A.M.B. bag in the bike basket. Bern Watts helmet as usual.