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coffee love, las neighborhoods in SF, personal, ride on, the frenchie

Buenos días and good morning.

November 11, 2010 6 Comments
Morning usual suspects.
Morning usual suspects. 
This takes place in late-October.

Bikes, beautiful sunrises and brown beans that spell coffee. Coffee that wakes me up, liquid that makes me function, a ritual that has complete control over me and I willingly become part of it, every day – every rising morning.
I think, more often I don’t, I ride, I sweat, I smile and then I feel alive. I’m a nightowl as well, but there is something so beautiful about early mornings that serenates me and has a tranquil effect on my energy.

Until I ride over puke near civic center.
What, do you think it all smells as good as coffee all the time!?  =)
Workers hosing and washing down dive bar mats in the AMs, are like little angels. They say good morning almost all the time, some of them wave “que pasó baby” and for instances as such, I used a little water to rinse the evidence of someone’s much fun the night before.

Riding in the City is full of smells punching your nose left and right. And it never stops.
One word (year-round): fenders

morning
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fun, las neighborhoods in SF, pimp that ride, qué cute, ride on

Meet Catherine.

November 9, 2010 No Comments

I met Catherine while some of my peeps and I were catching some evening snacks at this Pupusas spot off Treat st. None of us had eaten there and it tasted pretty damn good because we were so hungry. Anyways, somehow we were talking about bikes and food, South American and Mexican food, making me even hungrier.
Here is Catherine, I forget which Timmy tee she is rocking and that plaid backpackie is super cute.

catherine
Nice to meet you chica! Let’s get some tamales for the end of the year fiestas =)
Día de los muertos in la misión 2010
25th and Treat st.
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qué cute, ride on, women who bike the distance

Women who bike the distance: Tracy

October 13, 2010 3 Comments

This is a dedicated space for women that kick butt in the everyday errands, commute and fun rides, and decide to take it a curious, wanderluster step beyond comfort to miles and miles ahead to see what’s out there, do long distance rides, camping and explore the landscapes.
Please do leave your comments and/or questions for the featured riders and enjoy!
♥xxo.m

Women Who Bike the distance: Tracy

2010-05-30 14.37.27
*Above photo provided by Tracy


When did you start your long distance curiosity and where was the first ride you recall as being such a long ride?
I only recently started riding long distances, I grew up in NYC, so
bikes were my main means of getting around the city (when it wasn’t
snowing), but I’m not sure if I had even rode more than maybe 10 to 15
miles in one stretch. I also never owned a nice bike while living
there, just a big heavy city bike that could be locked anywhere (which
I still own and ride around town when I will need to leave it
somewhere, my friends call it the resistance bike because it is so old
and broken). About 2 years ago I hurt my neck and all I could do was
ride a stationary bike, I started doing spin class and started to
really love riding. Once I was better, I decided I needed to buy a
real road bike (my blue and white Masi) and start riding for real. I
started by doing shorter rides to the Marin headlands, butter lap and
eventually I found out about a group of people that road down to work
(SF2G.com) and thought it was awesome, so I did my first 43 mile ride
with them and loved it. I now bike down from San Francisco to Mountain
View twice a week and try to do longer rides on the weekend.

What upcoming rides do you have +the location?

I will be riding down to work (in Mountain View) twice this week, but
I am planning to do a ride up North (maybe to Pt. Reyes or just
Paradise Loop) this weekend. At some point I will sign up for a
century (up til now I’ve done only 90 miles and less) I would love to
start doing more multi-day bike trips as well.

The 3 things that are a must to bring with you:

a snack
my phone cash, and a credit card in case I get lost
an extra tube, a pump and tire levers

Other helpful tips you have for women +men, who are new and/or curious about long-distance riding:

Riding long distance really sounds intimidating, but really its about
working up to longer rides. The more you ride the better you will get.
Bike people are also really friendly and love when new people join.
SF2G does a first friday of the month ride (http://sf2g.com/nrlb.html)
where they don’t leave anyone behind, so it is perfect for anyone who
wants to start riding down to anywhere in the south bay. There are
also a lot of other groups that do similar things, the Velo girls have
beginner friendly rides as well (specifically for women). Things that
I have found really useful is having a set of real bike clothes,
having the pockets in the back of the jerseys to carry some cash and a
phone as well as the padded shorts makes the ride way more comfortable
(it doesn’t have to be super fancy, many places have cheaper options
and sale stuff), carrying a backpack makes riding much more painful.
Also, water bottle cages on your bike. If you are riding to work,
brining a set of clothes to change into the day before is key. I guess
just carrying as little as possible on your person.

Favorite meal/beverage after a long ride:

Probably mexican or Indian food. Anything spicy and flavorful. A good
beer is always great after a long ride as well.

cheeeeeeeez
at butterlap
Meet tracy
after trivia nite

++++++++
♥Gracias Tracy!!

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amigas, fun, las neighborhoods in SF, qué cute, ride on

Local biz bits: visiting Gwen at nooworks.

October 11, 2010 4 Comments
un window

The other day my friend Diana and I visited Gwen at nooworks clothing on Valencia street. I hadn’t been to their new location since the shop relocated from their Macallister/Baker spot. 

What you can find here is super cute bike-friendly dresses, sassy accesories and other cool things. It is localted on Valencia street, closer to 15th than 14th — and conveniently located near fourbarrel coffee, so you can shop caffeinated and all.

Gwen is the orchestrating maestra behind many of the previous fun +fabulous shows and her newest fashion production pedal savvy (the most recent one taking place at the Mission Bicycle Festival in the Women’s building).
The next upcoming show will be on November 6th for the SF Bike Expo. Mark your calendars!!

Last year’s was crazy fun and it is an event not to miss!
Anyway, swing by to say ¡hola! to Gwen and the ladies at nooworks.

ta-da
Here is Gwen! **ta-da** =)
diana got a new dress
Diana getting her new dress.
wall muse
Wall muse and other fun things.
and never walk barefoot in a bar
…and never walk barefoot in a bar.
no room for it
no room for it!!
Yo sees mirror
Hunter S. Meligrosa
espejito, espejito.

standing pretty
 til next time my pretty!
besos — ♥xxo.m

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art vitamins, events in SF 2010, hawttt, las neighborhoods in SF, ride on

Los events this weekend +Happy Friday!!

October 8, 2010 No Comments
♥ Friday: HONORING REVOLUTION WITH VISIONS OF HEALING

Honoring Revolution with Visions of Healing
Sooo stoked to be in this flyer!! With the hella breezy -La Moussy- Mayra Ramirez and I, doing our calaca thing. Rene y Río worked their magic.
Opening Reception: Friday Oct 8th 6-9PM
—
Dia de los Muertos 2010 | Dedicated to the centennial celebration of the Mexican Revolution and to Maria de la Asuncion Lopez
SOMArts Cultural Center
Sliding scale $5-$10 | 934 Brannan street
+info via Curator Rio Yañez – here

 ♥ Friday: Art Explosion Fall Open Studios

Opening Reception: Friday Oct 8th 7-11PM
744 Alabama St | Free
artexplosionstudios.com

♥ Friday: Green apple teams up with PUBLIC bikes for The Lost Cyclist, Author talk

Author David V. Herlihy at Public bikes | 7PM-8PM

Location:  PUBLIC Bikes 123 South Park

+info here: link

 ♥ Friday in the East Bay: Zombies – Bike Party!
info from eastbaybikeparty blog (+info: here)

“Do zombies exist? They will on Friday, October 8th as the East Bay Bike Party celebrates it’s sixth ride with… ZOMBIES!”

As usual, the gathering begins at 7:30pm and the ride will leave at 8pm sharp… like zombie teeth! We leave from Frank Ogawa Plaza (Oakland City Hall) and will ride south to Jack London Square

♥ Saturday: Mission Litquake litcrawl

6-930PM All over the Mission District
more info here: litquake.org

♥ Sunday: ragamuffin rally
 
Starts at 9AM Panhandle Fell/Baker man statue.

 The posse would be there, if we didn’t plan to party late on Saturday. If you do happen to go, let me know how it goes =)

♥ Sunday: SportsBasement ride
From the sportsbasement email group.
Find the map here: link. 

What: Sports Basement Sunday Ride
Beginnermediate Group – 31 miles @ 14-16mph avg. on the flats – (slower uphill) – no rider left behind.  Wait at tops of hills and major intersections.
When: Sunday, October 10th – Meet up at 8:30am for flaxy breakfast nuglets & juice – ride rolls out at 9:00am
Where: Sports Basement Presidio – 610 Old Mason St., The Presidio of San Francisco
Bring: Your helmet (this is mandatory!), a couple of water bottles, a little cash, an ID, a cell phone with saved I.C.E. contact, and a patch kit & tube.
Don’t Bring: Your ipod or any devices which plug your ears or impair your ability to hear.  This is a group ride and we want to make sure that you are communicating with your group for safety and social reasons 🙂   
 

♥ Sunday: 4th annual Family Biking Day

image above +schedule from here: sf.funcheap
sfgate article here: Family Biking Day promotes fun, safe riding

♥ Sunday: Five One-Man Bands Battle for Better Biking


At cafe duNord.
 Doors open at 7PM, show at 8PM | $5-10
+info via SFBC: here

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art vitamins, boys, frames, las neighborhoods in SF, pimp that ride, ride on

Boys of the San Franciscan autumnesque Indian summer.

October 7, 2010 No Comments
Valencia street.

We are young. We run green. Keep our teeth, nice and clean, See our friends, see the sights, feel aaaalright

summer shadows
Boys of summer
Market street. 

He had an electrical motor and was explaining to me that in order to live way up near Twin Peaks it motivated him to have a little help. I thought they were just really stiff panniers…
Well, I know that if I lived up there, my thighs would be burrito-fueled powerful super legs. Damn OK, ride on. =)

electric
electric es eclectic
Polk street.

This guy didn’t pedal for about 3 blocks. I was drinking some much-needed iced coffee at the Peet’s on Polk and saw him riding down from Pacific, past Broadway and on further. No pedaling needed, hand in pocket. And all.

rolling
rolling
Howard street near 8th.

This young artist and I chatted for a bit. He was very kind to let me take a few pictures of his set-up.
I was thrilled to see a surfing-board bike hook which are so poular around Santa Cruz and beach towns, used to carry canvas on wheels. So nice!!
He is the artist behind the work that is currently going on the Mitchell brothers theatre on O’Farrel. Yea, it’s that kinda theatre but, at least the wild animal murals outside are pretty fun to bike past them. The tenderloin where this theatre is located, could certainly be a wild city jungle.

bike +carry your art
bike +carry your art
bike +carry your art
bike +carry your art
“wel why not, you can carry anything on your  bike” =)
Too bad he got a flat tire, hence the walking.
new mural coming
Later that day I came across the mural at work. This is outside the Mitchell brothers theatre, on Polk/O’Farrel streets.
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qué cute, ride on, women who bike the distance

Women who bike the distance: Vivian

October 6, 2010 6 Comments

This is a dedicated Wednesday post series for women that kick butt in the everyday errands, commute and fun rides, and decide to take it a curious, wanderluster step beyond comfort to miles and miles ahead to see what’s out there, do long distance rides, camping and explore the landscapes.
Please do leave your comments and/or questions for the featured riders and enjoy!
♥xxo.m

JFK 
JFK. Veevo
Biker Girl
Biker Girl

When did you start your long distance curiosity and where was the first ride you recall as being such a long ride?
I got my first road bike (my purple KHS) in the fall of ’08, but I’ve been into going FAR for only about a year.  The first ride that I got that “Its windy, I’m hungry, can you guys wait up? We’ve been gone for 6 hours” feeling was riding around Tahoe last summer.  Its a beautiful ride, I highly recommend it but watch out for 69 year-old drivers from Chico who will run you off the road!

  
What upcoming rides do you have +the location?

In October I’m riding the Medio Fondo up on Santa Rosa, featuring the exhilarating Coleman Valley Road climb along the coast!  I’ve done two centuries this year (Napa Tour de Cure and Marin Century) but I think this ride is going to be the most beautiful!  (watch it rain now).

Tahoe Caravan
Tahoe Caravan
Gran Fondo Pit Stop
Gran Fondo Pit Stop

The 3 things that are a must to bring with you:

Saddle bag with patches, spare tube, mini multi tool, and an emergency Clif Shot (I consistently have a mini emotional breakdown at 50 miles that can be circumvented by GU at mile 48).

Google Maps on my phone (I get lost a lot)

Arm warmers.  Even in the middle of summer!

Other helpful tips you have for women (undies, food, sunblock etc.) +men, who are new and/or curious about long-distance riding:

It sounds weird, but there is powder sunscreen that comes in a tube with a flow-through brush.  Its terrific for applying to your sweaty, greasy face because it absorbs oil as well as give SPF!  I use Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral because the tube is slim. 

Riding out a few zip codes is mentally so refreshing.  You get away from familiar places and you get a lot of time to just think inside your head, in a new environment.  Its healing.  Just go the pace you are comfortable with, and remember to keep eating!

Favorite meal/beverage after a long ride:

Coconut water is the most refreshing beverage by far.  I’m not normally a huge meat eater but pretty much anything on a plate that used to be alive makes me really happy.  Like Kebabs.  On a stick.  On a plate.  In my hand.

**All photos by davidnichols

++++++++
♥Gracias Vivian!!

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