View from the saddle on a balmy Friday

Freddy Mercury chillin outside Rojo while I enjoy a beer and yumminess with friends

Scary from the saddle shot after leaving Rojo

Beautiful church directly in front of my little house. I love it.

On the side of the road shot

This is steeper than it looks. I have to climb this to get home, no matter which way I go!

Pulling up to the humble abode.

New kids on the block

I am coming to terms with the fact that Mick Jagger is probably not coming back. This has been hard, and I am still hopeful. However, it was time to move on and get rolling again.

One perk of running a Non-Profit Bike Shop is that I have access to loads of frames and bikes. A good thing in times of need...like this! Sunday morning, a mere 10 hours after discovering Mick's disappearance, we were hard at work getting me on the road again. One of my good friends (and bike mechanic) Heath and I went to Bici and took a look around. We found a great Specialized mountain bike that would work and made plans to work on it. However, we stopped by my house (where Bici is storing extra bikes) and discovered a beautiful blue Schwinn that looked just about right. Oh how excited I was. A mountain bike would be fine, but I am a roadie at heart.

Plans changed and we got to work on it. Spent a day and a half in the shop working feverishly. Runs to the Local Bike Shop and pulling parts from other bikes (wheels) happened. Then...voile! A new bike for Elisa! Isn't she pretty?


I have spent the past 3 days trying to figure out a name for her and today finally it hit me: Bettie. As in, Bettie Page, Bette Davis...heck, Betty Boop! I have never met a Betty I didn't like.

So, internets, meet Bettie. She and I are becoming fast friends.



Oh, and the week before the tragedy, I went and bought an old Schwinn Speedster from Joel, the bike guy. Her name is Kat Von D. She and Bettie are going to be buddies, I can tell. Kat still needs some love, but I will keep you updated on her progress.



Both bikes have beautiful features, such as Schwinn nameplates (is that what it is called?), pretty lugs, original parts and stickers. Nothing like a pretty steel bike.

Bike Lust

I have been wanting to get a new bike. I was planning on getting an older bike and converting it to a single speed, which I probably will still do. However, I have been spending WAY too much time in my Local Bike Shop and am lusting after 2 bikes. One is in stock, and it is taking everything in my power not to race out to buy it today.

The other is one that is not even on the market yet, but will be in September (I think...). Plenty enough time to save up!

I could tell you all the specs on these bikes, but instead will just show the photos. Aren't they awesome??

Masi Speciale Fixed



Trek District (available Summer 2009)




The Trek District intrigues me because of a new Belt Drive Technology. When the guys at the shop told me about it, I was won over.

The belt drive is a carbon fiber composite belt reinforced to prevent stretch. The worry-free, lube-rejecting, lighter-than-any-chain-you’ve-ever-owned belt also produces a ninja-like quiet ride. (from Trek.com)

I love the simple lines and good looks of these bikes. I have officially started a Buy a New Bike Fund. New shoes be damned, Mama needs a new ride!

The guys at the Bike Shop REALLY shouldn't have given me a copy of the 2009 catalogs for Trek, Independant Fabrications (my favorite!) and Elektra. I can't stop looking at them and have had to wipe the drool up off the pages. Total Bike Porn.

It's Anna's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Anna! 25 is so the new 21.

Anna-you are awesome and I am so glad we are bike skirtin' around together these days! You make biking look good.

bike and birthday love

Snow Day!

This morning, I awoke to this lovely sight...SNOW!!!



obviously I had to ride in it. So I got dressed (skirt, boots, raincoat) and headed to a friend's for brunch. It was snowing hard. Let me tell you, it is not easy climbing a (albeit small) mountain on unplowed, undriven roads. I was sliding all over the place. In a curve of the mountain I heard a whistle and "Lady, you MUST be crazy!". Looked up and it was a policeman, standing next to a flipped over car, with a firetruck and ambulance nearby. I yelled back "Too late to turn around now" and he responded with "Hope you are ready to fall, because you are gonna!". Thanks for the encouragement.

needless to say, I did not fall (ha!), but did enjoy the sights. We don't get snow here often, so it is a very big deal. As I was riding, the park was filling up with families bringing sleds and cardboard to slide down the sides of the park and people building snowmen all along the road. It was lovely and so much better than being in a car (although perhaps a bit scarier...). Mick Jagger loves the snow.



The ride home was sunny and you heard water dripping as the snow melted. It was nice while it lasted.


sad car

Got Canned Heat in my heels tonight

No Valentine this year?
No Valentines Plans? Live close to Birmingham? well, then come out to The Heartbrakes Alleycat Prom Benefit!! you still have time...

details at Bicicoop.org. quick rundown:

Greencup books (richard Arrington Drive)
race at 7, party at 8
Andy's Tea Party (with our own Anna!) playing
DJ Nastique spinning some mad crazy tunes
Prom photo booth
$10 to party, $15 to race and party
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT BICI BIKE CO-OP!

See you there. I'll be dressed up, fancy like.

I leave you with this photo of my day spent running Prom errands on the bike. It was a lovely Valentines Day spent with my love, Mick Jagger!

Sometimes biking is a pain in the...

Riding my bike makes me feel simultaneously 4 years and 40 years old. Not that there is anything wrong with either age...but I am neither.

Does anyone out there have an issue with intense back pain after riding with a messenger bag? Even with the smallest Timbuk2 bag, after a short ride I feel as though someone has their knee firmly placed mid back. I thought that perhaps the larger bag would better distribute the weight so I changed. No such luck...same thing. I suspect that my large Trek U-lock has something to do with it, but even without the lock, it hurts some. My goal this week is to make a lock holster that I can wear with a skirt lacking belt loops (that was actually my goal last weekend...), so I am hopeful that will help. A friend of mine swears by 2 strap commuter bags, and perhaps that is what I need to do. Unfortunately, I currently have 2 messenger style bags and no budget to acquire another bag. I may pull out the old LLBean bag this week and see if it helps.

I also know that riding in bike unfriendly areas factor into my pain. When riding on a small, poorly lit road with cars zooming past, I tend to get a tension headache throughout my back and neck. This is not going to go away soon, so I need to find a way to work around it and despite it.

The subject of weight training does intrigue me. I don't ride for sport much, mainly just to get from point A to point B. I am sure that I would benefit from some specialized strength training, and am open to any suggestions you all may have. Riding is an amazing workout for my body, but I know that some muscles are not targeted. Which ones are these, and what can I do to help?

Please note that these must be able to be done in my home with free weights and/or household props. I will NOT set foot in a gym!

I am also thinking of seeing how my yoga practice helps. I used to regularly do hot yoga, but have a current mental block against it. Perhaps a combination will be just the ticket.

Anyone have any advice? Can you relate?

Side Note: This weekend was amazing for riding. This photo is of a ride I was about to take to Urban Standard for coffee. I ended up staying through lunch! I took the long route home for a few more minutes in the sun and on the saddle. (ignore the bad hair day...it was windy and I was lazy!)

perfect for riding on those hot southern days?

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

photo from Urban Cycling Chic