Leader bike

Newly built bike.  One tantrum (that lasted a day). No injuries.
Happy days

Friday 13th

Hi kids, as it is friday the 13th, wear a helmet...just in case... even if you think, just like I do, that cycling is not a risky thing - i mean it is very unlikely that you will fall off your bike...unless of course you are hit or squashed by a lorry or a car, where you'll be pretty fucked up anyway... (cars and lorries are the risk not the cycling)...but anyway as it is Friday 13th... wear your helmet. Helmets are sexy!

photo by Siobhan

"I wear a helmet so you can drive like an idiot. And because it looks smart."

BCClettes 

Dublin City

Cycle rides, with Monthly Cycles Dublin: from Smithfield to St Stephens Green to the quays and back to Smithfield for mulled wine, wooly jumpers, Christmas markets, Guinness and chats. New Dublin discovery: Rothar Cafe

it's oh so quiet

 I've been relatively quiet, engrossed in converting a geared Dawes Mirage to a slick fixie; and when the job was done fixie and I took a trip to Dublin City. Aer Lingus was good enough for a careful transport of the bike for 32 pounds. Bikes need to be booked in advance and once this was done everything ran smoothly.

bye bye gears: old bits taken off the frame

 

Ai Weiwei: Forever Bicycles

This is Ai Weiwei's new installation made from one thousand bicycles! The installation is part of the "Ai Weiwei Absent" exhibition,  at the Taipei Fine Art Museum which runs until the 29th January.

Locking Updated

Gone are the days when we could secure our bikes with one D-lock and a cable around the wheels - especially if you are in the Dalston (east London) area. Dalston, in the past year, has become quite known about its bike thieves. Just to make sure you are getting the point:
DO NOT USE CABLES / CABLE LOCKS ! The evil bike thieves just cut them, even on busy roads.

So, the best way to lock your bike in Dalston would be to use a good D-lock around a bike rack, the frame and the back wheel; and a different lock around the bike rack, the frame and front wheel. (and if you have a third lock, then throw it in the picture too, just for luck). Dalston sucks.

...And never lock on a pole....

do not lock on poles! no! bad idea!

Chick Flick: Bicycle Film Festival

Today at the Bicycle Film Festival, as part of the "By Women About Women" programme we will be watching five short bicycle films including the five minute USA short film Chick Flick. This short features a weekend in the life of female BMX rider Natalie Wade in texas.



Chick Flick - official trailer from Natalie Wade on Vimeo.