Love her coat!

I got to ride in earlier this week, but today I was sadly on the bus. I was happy that the bus driver passed this lady, in her cool coat, with respect and a safe distance. Not all bus drivers have been so courteous. But today is a good day!

Rainy Day Sorbet

Seeing this sorbet-colored Brompton made me so happy the other day (though riding our Bromton 36+ weeks pregnant was not as much fun as I'd hoped - I felt ready for the clown car). Anyway, here's hoping this cheerful bike helps cheer your rainy day.

What do you think he has in that box?

Beacon Hill Elegance

Loved her boots and red coat (which we now allow in Boston!) as she cycled onto the Common.

PS - It's a strange New England thing to leave Christmas decorations up until Easter. I've been here for a while now and I still don't understand it.

Reflections: Preparing for Darkness

Here is a test photo of my nighttime reflectiveness, as imperfectly demonstrated by a camera flash (rather than a car's headlights). It's easy to see that the wide strips of 3M Scotchlite on my Carradice bag and coat are much more effective than the smaller reflections created by my gloves and the sidewalls of my tires (though those certainly help in correctly identifying my bicycle as such). When riding long distance I add reflective ankle bands, but I usually forget when riding a couple of blocks in town.

Far more effective than reflectiveness is my own light source and you can clearly see that with my unbelievably bright Planet Bike Superflash. They say it can light up a small town. Seriously, this tail light is so bright my husband doesn't like to ride directly behind me. There are two other tail lights in this photo but you're unlikely to notice them. I have the main light and the helmet light blinking (when I'm riding in town) and leave the light on my fender on steadily, just for a change (and because it uses batteries less quickly than the brighter lights).

The clocks fall back this weekend, let's all be ready for the darkness!

Better Chevrons for Transportation

Chevron's slogan may be "Human Energy", but this jacket displays the sort of chevrons I like seeing on my streets.

High Heels and Coffee

It was early Saturday morning, she was riding slowly enough to not pose a hazard with her one-handed cycling. Love how those jeans fit with her classic black heels.

Florence Cycle Chic

Of all the cyclists I saw in all of Italy, this man was far and away the most wonderful. There really isn't much to say, I think he's just perfect.

Summer Jacket

Today is a bit cooler and overcast. I found myself admiring this jacket, the cut of which is difficult to see in this photo but was completely lovely on her in person.

Admiring a jacket? Could autumn be far behind?

Red Shoes, Red Tail Lights

I loved the pop of her red shoes and lights in the simple green and black.
This photo was taken on MIT campus, the story I made up is that she's got some big presentation wrapped in plastic in her basket there.

Oh Cold Snap

Brrrr! I hope that, like this lady, you didn't put away your winter coat.

I hear this is the last of the cold and we will resume our regularly scheduled springtime shortly. Here's hoping!

Liberty!

This lovely lady is enjoying a self-guided tour of Boston courtesy of the loaner bikes for guests of the Liberty Hotel. I followed her as she lingered outside the Gucci window, and mused that these free bicycle loans give new meaning to the hotel's name.

Places to go, things to carry

We saw this bike parked outside our café and were marveling at the amount of cargo this person was carrying. Imagine our surprise when a lady about our mothers' age emerged from the café with a box of pastries, added it to her load, and pedaled off in her black ankle boots and little red riding jacket. Definitely not the urban warrior we expected, but an urban warrior all the same. I want to be like her when I grow up!

Early Winter Light

Bundled up and still looking good as she rides her bike in Boston in February. The light is getting warmer though!

Pink Headscarf, Head Tube

It's as if she looked to her bike for fashion inspiration this morning!

Sparkles!

It's hard to see in this 'on the fly' photo, but this pretty lady has both sparkles in her coat and in the streamers on her bike. Add her cool boots and helmet, and I was smiling as I followed her over the Mass Ave bridge.

Have fun and be seen out there!

Heeled Boots and Cargo

This chic cyclist, spotted in Cambridge, isn't letting February get her down. It was a beautiful crisp morning for a ride.

Pretty Cyclist

OK, so her pretty hair, sleek boots, and adorable jacket don't really follow the same aesthetic as her bike. But that's ok, she's out in Cambridge in January, getting her errands done and looking good while she does them. I want to point out that when I first saw her she'd pulled over onto the sidewalk to use her phone safely. I think she was getting directions. Courteous and cute, a winning combo!

Start of my Ladies Coat Project

I've been envious enough of my husband's cycling jacket to be on the hunt for one of my own. I finally found what I was looking for in the after Christmas sales. Oh the irony that the perfect cycling coat is currently being called a "car coat"!

The coat is:

1. wool (blend)
   
2. light camel colored to contrast with asphalt
   
3. Thinsulate lined
4. possessing seam details I can highlight in 3M reflective tape
5. shorter in length, as my current coat occludes my seatpost tail light
   
6. otherwise unremarkable, and thus unlikely to draw attention to itself
   
7. inexpensive (yes, that factory outlet clearance sticker says $36.98)

I've been wearing the coat since the New Year and it feels strangely warmer than my JCrew Thinsulate coat. It may be because the LL Bean version is much lighter, so the same warmth seems remarkable.

In social lighting the coat does not read as anything remarkable:



Here the coat is flashed, you can see the one band of reflective tape and see all those seams where I can add more!



I look forward to getting everywhere bike and still quickly looking almost "normal" (whatever that really is).

Boots and Handbag on a Red Mixte

It's a grey day here in MA, but this lady's out in style. I couldn't tell if she was wearing a skirt with those boots, but she certainly was looking stately as she moved smoothly through the intersection, not too fast, not too slow.

Fun Faux Fur

Seems I should stop giving locations, you all are having so much fun guessing!
:)