Workin' for the weekend

So much bike fun this weekend!!

First we have the Atlanta crew, with a fun filled weekend! No Brakes is having their 2nd Anniversary Race & Party on Friday, July 10. Anna and I are for sure headed that way Friday night. (rumor: 50 cases of PBR donated!). Watch out ATL; Bike Skirt is about to invade!
On Saturday there's a pro velo race at the Dick Lane Velodrome, should be awesome to watch. Then on Sunday there's another velo race, this time for messengers and city bikers, with Cyclehawk's velocity. Winners get a free trip to Tokyo!

Pensacola Alley in Pensacola, Fl is also having a fun filled weekend, with their Blue Angels Alleycat. Looks like a whole lotta good times, and the beach too!

Finally, here in Birmingham we have a couple of things that you really should attend. If you haven't heard yet, our dear beloved Bottletree Cafe is in a financial pickle, and needs YOUR sweet lovin' to help them out! Saturday night they are having a free show to help business, so get yo booty over there and buy some drinks! Anna will be there rocking out (or something similar) with Andy's Tea Party.

Sunday night is the first of many events with The Sunday Night Skid! Every other Sunday our dear pals Matthew and John are going to be running the show with sprints and bike games. They are also doing some sort of point system, but you'll have to go to their site to get info on that.

Leave a comment if you'll be attending any of these events, or if you're looking to carpool!

Garden Party!

Thanks to Paul Halupka for the awesome poster! See you Saturday. Come throw some seedbombs and hang out with us. Oh, and beer and food included. WHAT?!

Bike Love

Bike to Work Day

We're hoping to see some familiar faces at Bike to Work Day on Friday; it's going to be great fun! for more info on what is going on in the morning, check out CommuteSmart. I will be at the fountain at 7 sharp!
After work, we hope you'll ride over to the J. Clyde tavern on Cobb Lane to hang and get your drink on. We're going to try and get there by 7 at the latest, but show up whenever you get off work or at whatever time is convenient - this is going to be a very relaxed form with no official start or end.

UPDATE! Specials from the Clyde:
$2 Leinenkugal Classic Amber
$3 SweetWater Georgia Brown
$3 Fuller's ESB
$3 Fordham Helles
We will also tap a Terrapin Rye Cask Condition Ale $8 Imperial pint (20 oz.) or $5 1/2 Imperial pint (10 oz.). When you purchase a cask order Fried Green Tomatoes for $3.
YUM!

get on your bike and ride to work!

bike love

May Day!

From Bici


that's right kids. anna, elisa, and i have been working round the clock on getting the shop ready for our may 1st grand opening. special thanks to terry jacks at non stop art, the guys at cahaba cycles, banjo brothers, DTMT, and our good friends at primavera coffee roasters. Also thanks to all the folks who came in to help us finish build out.

the race format is a relay. each racer will circle a highland ave loop (starting and ending at the bici shop). we will probably have heats of three teams, timing each teams' time and the team with the best time wins. pretty simple. we will have some music inside the shop, as well as giving tours, taking donations, and sipping on brewskies. that being said this event is BYOB for those that are of age.

if you have any old bikes, tools, storage shelves, or money you don't really want we promise we will put them to use so bring 'em down.

** get your asses down here and support Bike Skirt and Bici!!**

Some New Trend is more than just an awesome book!

Well, it seems that we have a new trend in Birmingham...discounts for riding your bike to events! Tonight is the Peace Summit, and I just received word that the Kick off Party for Some New Trend is also giving $1 off the door for anyone riding to the event. What a great way to get people to your event and reward them for being awesome!

Maybe folks are realizing that cyclists rule...



So, ride to Urban Standard tomorrow night and get your laptop signed by Kevin and Carrie. Hear some awesome music by April Cover and dtmt (ask them what that means...it is awesome).

Maybe more venues and events will jump on this pro-riding bandwagon. If not, we are sure appreciative to those who did!

Bikes + dancing + Peace = good times

If you are in Birmingham Friday night...come out and dance, dance, dance!! They are offering $1 off the door price for folks rolling up on 2 wheels. Let's max out the bike rack and fill the lot with 2 wheeled steeds.

Some New Trend

I love to read. I also happen to have some crazy talented friends. Said friends are writing a book, Some New Trend, and posting it online chapter by chapter.

Carrie and I were the masterminds behind 2 previous blog projects (one of which spawned Bike Skirt), Cheap Women and Triathablog, both of which were smashing successes! Kevin is awesomely awesome and also has a super hip blog, Weekly Fizz.

I debated about what to say here about Some New Trend, and I decided that I would just say this:

The book will be good. Both Kevin and Carrie are great writers and have been working really hard. They are also hella cool people who are funny, irreverant, hip, insightful and creative. You should read it. OR you can listen to the podcast (how hip are they?!)

Why post a book on the internet?
As many publishers scramble to find a way to present books (and magazines and newspapers) to readers in a digital format, we wondered—what would it be like to publish a book on the internet?

We like the idea of publishing as we go, getting feedback from readers along the way via comments and emails. Serialized fiction is nothing new—Dickens seemed to like it—but it seems to have fallen out of favor in recent years. We’re bringing it back! From the website's FAQ

Go now and check it out. You won't regret it.

why are you still here? GO!

UPDATED: Assface WJOX DJ threatens cyclists on air.

************************************
UPDATE: from Bici Co-op

Thanks to Jon for passing this link on.

------------------

My name is Lance Taylor, I am one of the co-host of the Roundtable on WJOX. My partner and I made some borderline ridiculous comments about cycling on Thursday and as you know there has been some obvious fallout. I do want to let you know, not that it matters, that what was blogged were not my direct comments. It really doesn't matter because my comments were uneducated. I would like to tell you that the past 48 hours have been a little strange and to be honest unproductive for all parties.

With all of that said I think that there is an opportunity for not only WJOX, but our listeners to learn a little bit more about what your community has to deal with on a daily basis.
As I have stated, I made a mistake, but why not use positive energy and let others like myself become informed of the dangers of motorists and cyclists.

If you have a moment please email me and let me know if you or someone would like to be a guest on our show this week to discuss.



Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon.
----------------

Personally, I think this is the best outcome we could have hoped for in this situation and hope that this does become the opportunity that Mr. Taylor has outlined. Thanks to everyone for writing and calling and letting them know how you felt.


-Alan

********************************************************************

Today (Thursday )on WJOX 94.5 Birmingham (around 11:50 AM) one of the DJ's advocated hitting cyclists with cars. He said "I wish people would hit them, just clip them and send them flying over their handlebars." The context was he was angry with cyclists riding in the road. I have called the station and have been put thru to voice mail with nobody responding. Maybe with added voices an apology and clarification will be achieved.........................................

PLEASE........ PLEASE........... PLEASE.......... LETS CALL TODAY, E-MAIL OR BOTH AND SHOW OUR DISGUST WITH THIS ATTITUDE AND COMMENT.

JOX 94.5 FM
WJOX
244 Goodwin Crest Drive
Suite 300
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Business Office: 205.945.4646
Studio: 741-9450 or 800-239-WJOX (9569)
Fax: 205.945.3999
Program Director
Ryan Haney

Sales Manager
Lenny Frisaro

Promotions Director
Jennifer Dickson
EEO

Action Wipes discount for Bike Skirt readers

Action Wipes has generously offered Bike Skirt readers a 15% discount!

Bike Skirt readers - get 15% off at www.actionwipes.com. enter code: SKIRT

Now you have no excuse not to go and try some. And your cubical mate will no longer have to deal with your post bike...scent. Read my review here.

I think i may need to try the spray that you can use to reuse your action wipes OR spray alone.

Spreading the fresh smelling bike love.

If you live in Birmingham, please go and get yours at Homewood cycles. It is the only way to ensure they continue to stock them. Live Locally.

Review: Action Wipes

Living in Alabama, the weather is…unpredictable. In December, we often have 65 degree days, followed by 12 degree nights. As Anna mentioned, this week we had 4 inches snow and then 74 degree days!

One thing is never unpredictable…Summers. They are always hot. Without fail. Spring seems to come quickly, bringing 75 degree days with it. Lovely, right? Not if you are a bike commuter who has to work in a building with no showers. Like myself, for instance, who has a 10 mile commute over a mountain and through a neighborhood of rolling hills. In the winter I would arrive hot, but nothing a quick swipe with a baby wipe and a paper towel couldn’t take of.

This week I got a glimpse of riding in the sun and heat and it wasn’t pretty. Baby wipes are wonderful, but they don’t do much if you are really gross, plus they leave you a little greasy feeling and smelling like a changing table.

Enter Action Wipes. I had read about these and wondered what they were like. I bugged (ok-asked once) my Local Bike Shop and they ordered some. Score! Even funnier is that after they ordered them, I won some online. Sweet!!

Let me tell you, I love them. L-O-V-E. They are large enough to use everywhere (tip: top to bottom, starting with your face), don’t leave you greasy and smell great. They have Tea Tree oil, Frankincense and Eucalyptus in them and you leave smelling fresh, not cloyingly sweet or annoyingly perfumed.

Another great thing: you can rinse them and reuse them. I wash them and use them to wipe off the grunge on my bike after a muddy ride. I also have one that I use as a dishrag. You simply wash them and reuse.

They are a little bit more expensive than baby wipes ($9.50 for 15 pack, $3.50 for 5 pack), but worth every single penny. If you live in Birmingham, you can pick these up at Homewood Cycles (thanks Kenny!). Anywhere else, ask your local bike shop or get them online.

As the weather heats up, don’t be the guy or girl who rides her bike to work, but is stinky and gross all day. that is no way to spread the commuting love!

More warm weather tips to come. Stay Tuned!!

Ride to the Clyde

reposted from Brocycle

homies over at freethinkbham.com are having a weekly 'ride to the clyde'. from their blog:

Ride your bike to J Clyde tonight to hang out and get half-off drafts. Nothing official, just beers, bikes and buds.


there is no official meet up to ride their just be there around 8 on your bike. bring a lock...

Bikeskirters will be there. See you then!

Bike Saturday and car free weekend!

Lately, it seems like Anna and I have bi-weekly Bike Saturday. Two weeks ago was a lovely Saturday involving bike shops and sunny rides.

Well...this Saturday was equally lovely. Ok, maybe not equally, but pretty close.

Once again, we headed over to Homewood Cycles for a Bike class. This time was level 2, bike tune-ups. Once again, it was awesome! The entire Bici crew came and we learned all sorts of stuff, including how to change a chain...which we practiced on Mick Jagger, as his chain was stretched and needed replacing. :) Nothing like a few hours at the Bike shop to make you excited about riding. I was reminded AGAIN of how much I love my bike shop. Walked out with a new chain and new gloves, not to mention knowledge and warm fuzzies (man, I am so cheesy!).

On to Primavera Coffee for a Bici meeting. With Prom behind us and our Community Interest meeting coming, it is time to get serious. Which we did, over delicious coffee. Starting a Non-Profit is hard work, ya'll. 2.5 hours later, we had accomplished so much and were feeling good. Overwhelmed (maybe that was just me?), but good. Are you coming to the meeting Thursday? Because you should be. go put it on your calendar now. I'll wait...

...Ok, now back to my story:
After the meeting, I decided to bike over to another local coffee shop to pick up something from a friend and indulge in my 4th cup of coffee. It was a nice ride, one that I had never done before. After spending an hour chit chatting and visiting, it was now 4:30 and the sun was waning. Time to try my new route home, the one I was hoping would allow me to get to work without having to drive part of the way. (Again, thanks to Homewood cycles for the route advice). I pulled on my gloves, slapped on my helmet and set off.

20 minutes later I was home, feeling triumphant!! (Then I collapsed and didn't leave the house again for the night...)

Sunday I got up late, really late. Decided to try the new work route round trip, since I had to go into the office for a few hours. I did it! Got over the mountain and all the way to Irondale. Took 45 minutes, which adds quite a bit of time to the morning commute, but well worth it. I. am. awesome. Only had to rest once along the way! Worked and rode home. Mapped it later and it is 18 miles round trip, which is not a bad workout if I do it 3-4 times per week.

I parked my car Friday after work and did not get back into it until 10:30 last night to pick a friend up from the airport. This, despite a busy weekend of dinners, concerts, bike classes, work and coffee shops. It felt like a turning point in my 'car-lite' life. All in all, a great weekend.

Was your weekend lovely, internets?

Bici Community Interest Meeting

Reposted from the Bici page.

Mark your Calendars! FEEL FREE TO REPOST!

Thursday Feb. 26 7pm
Nomad Supply Shop
916 23rd Street South
Birmingham, AL
Shop phone (205)252-9359

If you want to know more about what we are, how to help, or have ideas to share, PLEASE come! This is your opportunity to get involved and get to know us. Spread the word, invite your friends.

Nomad is kind enough to give us use of their space, afterhours, AND provide coffee and tea. If you haven't been to their shop, go and check it out. What they are doing is really wonderful and unique. We are excited about partnering with them. They are in Bici's community footprint and have similar philosphies, so we think this is the start of a beautiful relationship! :)

if you know you will be attending and want to shoot us email, that would be great...nice to know how much coffee we will need. But either way, please come out. We are going to be working hard until then on our vision for the future and our mission in the community...but we can't do that without your input. We want to be for the Community and made up of it's citizens.

Any questions, send an email to info(at)bicicoop(dot)com.

Bike Love!

Dreaming

I know that this will probably never happen in Birmingham, but a girl can wish, can't she?

Seeing this literally made me ache with longing and angst.



I am hopeful to see cities that care about pedestrians and are NOT just interested in the quickest way to get cars from point A to point B.

I AM encouraged for Birmingham's future, with the baby steps being taken. One example of such initiatives is Red Mountain Park, a recreational, public park space in excess of 1,100 acres. The park will include 18 miles of biking and hiking trails, fields and picnic areas. Still no timeline (that I know of) for when the park will be complete, but we will keep you up to date on the progress.

Bike Skirtin' around

What a great day to ride a bike. The weather was "abundant sun" and 68 degrees. Anna and I had a bike fun filled day that I just had to share with you. I lament the fact that we did not get any photos, but you will have to use your imaginations.

At 8 am we set out to go to Homewood Cycles for their free Bike Maintenance 101 class. The ride there includes going over Red Mountain. Anna does this every time she bike commutes, and let me tell you, even walking it is a hike! Then we got back on the saddles and rode the rest of the way. Since we are getting in better shape every ride we take, we had tons of time left over for a coffee and muffin. yummy.

Headed over to the bike shop. Learned a lot and totally geeked out about bikes with the awesome guys at the shop. I got a bike fitting, quick tune-up and lesson and a new commuting route (to be reported back on later). Anna bought some tools, learned to change a flat and had her brakes fixed up on Puggles (her Peugot fixie). Was a wonderful morning. Kenny also said that they are going to start carrying Action Wipes! This was really exciting for me to hear.

It was a great morning spent talking about bike and Bici co-op and Birmingham. Any followers of Triathablog probably know of my disdain of bike shops. Well, today completely remedied any residual angst I had. I heart the guys over at Homewood cycles and recommend them wholeheartedly. They are genuinely nice guys who want to see everyone on a bike and will help to make that a reality. Go and support them. Join us on Feb 21 for Bike Tune-ups 101. The bikeskirt girls will be there for sure. Come and say hello and learn a little something, all the while supporting your Local Bike Shop.

oh, did I mention that we rode home OVER THE MOUNTAIN? Without getting off of our bikes? This was a big deal to me and I kept yelling to Anna that we were totally awesome. Because we are. I have been trying to do this for 4+ months, so it was a huge personal victory.

We also rode and had lunch at a little outdoor cafe. I can't tell you how happy it made me to look over and see our bikes locked together in the sunshine.

Good day. I felt so sorry for people who did not have a bike to ride. Much too nice to be in a car.

Ended the day with a massage, and then quality time with a friend, some wine and milano cookies.

In the wise words of Ice Cube, "Today was a good day".

A shout out and thanks (again) to the guys over at Homewood cycles. We appreciate all the tips and bike love.

Hope you on the internets had a good weekend as well.

We have arrived!

Check Anna out at BikeCommuters.com today! This site is amazing and offers tons of support, tips and general bike commuting wonderfulness.

They asked each of us to submit a profile, so stayed tuned for BikeSkirt Part II!

UPDATE: My (elisa) profile was just posted. We feel so cool!

Thanks Ghost Rider...it was a blast doing this!

Everyone-stop what you are doing and head over there. Bookmark it. It is that good. for a bike commuter, it is an indispensable tool.

Local Shout Out

This isn't bike related, but here at Bikeskirt, we do not discriminate (much). A friend and supporter of ours, Carla Jean has a new music blog, that I thought I would share with you.

A bit of background: I have about 4-5 people with whom I am constantly talking about music. CJ is one of them. She and I bonded over lyrics to a song that described boys and breakups that we felt were written just for us (no, I am not telling which one). We email back and forth daily about playlists, songs, lyrics and bands that we are discovering.

ANYWAY, check out her new blog Birmingham Box Set. Chock full of interviews, lists, reviews and fun music information.

And tell her that she needs to come to the Valentines Day event! :)

In other local news, come out to support our Brocycle brothers Sonday Knight Sprints this Sunday. The Bikeskirt girls will be there cheering them on (maybe Anna will compete!)

check it out

UPDATE: Got the paper today and the article is not there. Guess it was cancelled or pushed back. oh well.

In other news:

tomorrow (Wed) there will be a profile on me in the local living section of The Birmingham News on bike commuting. I haven't seen it yet, but hopefully it will be good!