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!

I am in love

So, this being a blog about girls who ride, I would be remiss not to mention boys.

* I should mention that I am the only single contributor to Bike Skirt, so this post in no way reflects Anna's feelings, as she goes home to a stud every night. David, we should all be so lucky!*

ANYWAY, Alan over at Brocycle recently posted about Rapha Continental. Well friends, I am in love. With a team of riders. They are so dreamy! Cute boys (men, really) who ride bikes, have tattoos, and write beautifully (seriously, awesome writing), and did I mention ride bikes? and have tattoos?

I have never met any of these guys, but upon reading their bios, I have decided that they are all also hella cool.

Rapha Continental is (according to the website): The Rapha Continental is a collection of photography, ride data such as elevation charts, cue sheets and maps, and descriptive, if not entertaining ride reports. This is a two year project during which time we will explore, document and connect the routes and people unique to Continental riding. A style of riding as much about elements, environments and experiences, as competition and speed. Our long term goal is to create and publish a library of the most epic and favorite routes, rides and riders in the country, by region.

awesome.

Oh, did I mention that they rode the Tour of California? Yep, they did. Read their journal of the ride. Stunning photos and beautiful writing. I inhaled every portion of it, wishing I was riding alongside them.

Of course, this wouldn't be complete without some photos of the hotties (I mean, guys) of Rapha. Enjoy!








From Jeremy's bio: Someday soon Jeremy would like to ride in the South, The Deep South. He loves everything about that part of the world, the food, the people, all of it.

Well Jeremy...come on down.

In the meantime, visit their site, and check out the bikes section esp. Beautiful rides. Bikeskirt supports all riders, but especially hot guys who ride!

*BTW-I hope to update soon with more serious posts about commuting and life in Birmingham...but life has been busy. for a taste of what I have been up to, check out Bici's blog. We are hard at work trying to make that dream a reality.*

Urban Velo

Thanks UV for the shout out today! I heart Urban Velo and so should you!

If Urban Velo was a person, I would shamelessly hit on it.

is that bad?

I've Got to be Me

ok, I normally don't like to repost things (most folks check the same sites and it is so annoying when every site has the same video, article, etc on one particular day) BUT this was too fun not to be on Bike Skirt.



love it, love it, LOVE IT.

girls on bikes are hot. and awesome and girly and fun and badass.

bikeskirt loves girls on bikes. And boys on bikes. but especially girls on bikes.

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.

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.

Friday Article

While at Bike!bike, I met a ton of awesome, smart people. One such person was Dan, from Charleston and the Holy City Bike Co.op.

Today I was on the facebook and I spotted this article he has posted. It is authored by someone named Dan, so I have no idea if he or someone else named Dan wrote it.

This article takes an intelligent look at traffic rules and cyclists. I often find myself wondering where bikes fit into a traffic law structure made for cars. Stop signs, triggered stop lights...these are all issues I deal with daily.

When people first hear I don't always stop completely at stop signs and run (after a long pause) a red light, they are often indignant. They don't realize that stopping competely at a clear intersection is a) dangerous at times. b) completely inefficient c) necessary, unless I want to sit at this light until a car happens upon it.
I will let you read the article and am curious as to what you think.

Do you believe cyclists should obey all traffic laws, regardless?

We can save the helmet arguement for another day...

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!)

Excuses, excuses

I was readying myself to write a post about the excuses we tell ourselves to get out of riding, and then I read Ms. dotties post over on Let's Go Ride A Bike on exactly the same thing!

(I have to admit...it made me feel better!)

This week I have been on the news and in the newspaper for my bike commute...and I haven't ridden at all! eek. I lost my gloves the day that the newspaper came out and borrowed a pair for a day or two. Unfortunately I had to return those and haven't gone out to by anymore (those things are not cheap!). I have plenty of knit gloves at home, but seem convinced I will die of hypothermia if I attempt to ride in them. this. is. ridiculous. I realized that when a) Anna rode with knit gloves and b) I could easily later my knit gloves.

some of my other excuses: I have to go straight to a fancy dinner after work. I will probably need to work late. It is only supposed to be 15 degrees. I am stopping by a friend's house after work, blah, blah, blah. You get the picture.

I joined Triathablog in order to form a habit. That was much easier when the highs were in the 40's, not the 20's. It was also easier when I had people keeping up with me and a little competition to push me. Tonight we have a hard freeze warning and a windchill danger warning, but I am riding to a bici planning meeting. I hope to ride tomorrow too.

I told the Let's go ride a bike ladies that we should make a pact to ride at least 3 days next week. I am vowing to do that. Trish said she is in. Which means that I have to ride everyday until Thursday as I am headed to Bike!bike! Thursday (which will be a lot of riding!).

Want to join our pact? It is a small step toward making a lasting habit and telling my excuses to shove it. Everytime I pass Mick (the bike) in the hallway, I can barely look at him out of guilt and shame of his abandonment. I imagine him everyday, looking out the window and crying a little. sniffle, sniffle.

on a completely different note, I saw this on Copenhagen Cycling Chic and freaked out! Now that is some riding style.


The cape, the boots, the bike, the lack of a style sucking helmet...it is almost too much. almost

True nuff

so much to share with you all today...sorry for the post abundance. (or AM i?)



loved this.

from Yehuda Moon & Kickstand Cyclery

We. Are. Awesome

Check us out in the Birmingham News. A photo ran in the paper as well...in a skirt of course!

I think my favorite part is the last line. Our own Anna let them know the real reason we ride to work: "And I hope to have really nice legs"

couldn't have said it better myself.

Federally-funded program pays cyclists for pedaling to workCyclists
get cash to pedal to the office instead of driving

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
MARIE LEECH
News staff writer
What started out as a good-natured competition among her friends has turned into more of a way of life for Elisa Munoz.
Vowing to exercise more, Munoz pulled out her bicycle and began to research safe biking routes around Birmingham. Then she got the idea to commute to her office in Irondale - a seven-mile drive - from her home in Highland Park.
"In my car, it takes about 25 minutes to drive seven miles because of the traffic and driving through a lot of neighborhoods," she said. "It's exactly the same amount of time by bike, but I get to work feeling a lot better and not feeling like I just wasted 25 minutes of my life."

Originally, Munoz and two friends decided to get fit and keep a blog for three months to record their improvement. One chose running, the other swimming and Munoz biking.
She enjoyed bicycling so much that she set a goal to make biking her primary form of commuting by March 1. She does it about twice a week now.
"I am so much healthier and have so much more energy now," she said. "I do have to say, though, that drivers here are not biker-friendly at all. It's definitely not for the faint of heart."
Munoz actually gets paid to commute to work via bicycle through CommuteSmart Birmingham, a federally funded program that used to be known primarily for its vanpools and carpools.
Sean Saffle, project manager for CommuteSmart Birmingham, said not many people know about the biking aspect of the program.
"Only about 4 percent of the people in this program are commuting by bicycle," he said. "This city is not exactly conducive to bicycling with all the hills, but we are trying to promote it."
As part of its GetGreen program, CommuteSmart offers cash incentives of $2 per day, up to $120 over a three-month period, to those who live or work in Jefferson and Shelby counties and change their commutes from driving alone to such alternatives as a carpool, vanpool, bus or bicycle.
Anna Carrigan, who also lives in Highland Park, commuted to work via bicycle for the first time last month. She is not yet part of CommuteSmart, instead trying it for the health benefit.
It's only a three-mile ride to her work, but the hills make it a good workout, Carrigan said.
"I feel like I've accomplished something when I get to work," she said. "And I hope to have really nice legs." On the Net
CommuteSmart Birmingham: www.commutesmart.org/birmingham/index.html mleech@bhamnews.com

perfect for riding on those hot southern days?

and I think I get weird looks riding in a skirt?!

photo from Urban Cycling Chic