Auckland Cycle Chic

Natural habitat

2012-01-28T17:44:00.001+13:00

I took the trike down to the waterfront the other day ....

It was lovely to see her roaming free as her creator would have wanted!

The ugly duckling no more - I was surprised to see she elicited the sort of response vintage cars receive.

She was definitely one of a kind on Auckland's streets!

Couples

2012-01-24T08:55:00.001+13:00

Bike love is a beautiful thing ...

Mr and Mrs Bike out doing a bit of shopping

This is my bike - she was recently wooed at my workplace by a boy bike with a similar wooden box

An oldie but a goodie

2012-01-14T18:18:00.001+13:00

Straight forward and to the point - nuff said ...

Ride Your Bicycle from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

The tricycle returns!

2012-01-04T18:50:00.001+13:00

Apologies for the radio silence but I have been hard at work over at Cycling in Auckland sprucing it up for 2012.

But the big news is that the TRICYCLE is home.

It has been languishing in Tim's workshop for many months as the search for a long quill stem proved fruitless ... until Around Again Cycles in Christchurch came to the rescue. You may remember that I visited them on a trip to Christchurch a year or two ago and it suddenly occurred to me that they may be able to help a 'tricycle in distress'. They were and they did.

So today was the day. I scurried up to Tim's (lidless of course) and what a sight to behold - the stem was perfect and had avoided the necessity of growing a beard and wearing leathers, which was quite a relief! All the scrubbing had paid off and she was looking quite chic. It was almost difficult to remember what she had looked like when I rescued her off Trademe.

I bumped into Alex (CIA operative) at Tim's and the 'pull' of the tricycle claimed another victim ...

Often, they just ask to sit on it first

Then, they ride ... even in the pouring rain

After I'd let a few of the shop's customers 'in' on the latest cycle trends for 2012 (tricycles will be big this year!), and some final ministrations from Brian, I set off.

I encountered a full flock of flouro clad lycras at the traffic lights and .... was complemented on the trike. They may well have fallen about laughing further down the road but, if they did, it's because they are a little behind the times and unaware of the next big trend in cycles.

Once home, I fitted the coffee cup holder - perfect!

A few eagle eyed (geeky) readers will have noticed that the brake is on the wrong side. This is so that I can take photos and videos whilst in motion!

Now I just need to make decisions on a new saddle and handlebar grips. Then of course I need to sort out a bell and carrying capacity ....

Christmas timeline

2011-12-27T17:55:00.001+13:00

Christmas eve to Boxing day ...

Christmas Eve - picked up the fruit and veg from the Britomart market and bought some very dangerous apples .... this lady was wearing three fluoro jackets (two on and one for emergencies!)

Finished off the Christmas shopping and bumped into this guy doing the same on his fabulous vintage machine

Christmas day - went for the usual Christmas day ride along the waterfront and spotted this beauty by the City Mission Christmas lunch.

Daughter No. 2 fell off her bicycle gained a few scrapes and bruises! Then home to pick out gravel and apply antiseptic cream ... and baste the turkey

Boxing day - hit the sales and spotted a very nice new Giant waiting for its owner ... perhaps a Christmas present?

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Christmas shopping

2011-12-11T17:53:00.001+13:00

Popped into Cyco in Ponsonby ...

Nice Electra ding dong bells

These silver panniers caught my eye - styley

Found a coffee cup holder - but I bought it for the trike and there was only one. But apparently, more can be ordered

Fun wheel lights

Fun coloured locks

Cool Electra and Trek bicycles

Then checked out T.White's Bikes ...

Nice Electra front rack for your Sunday newspaper

Handy baskets

Very styley bicycles

And at Nood in Newmarket ...

Super cool bells!

How much more Christmassy can you get?!

Nice! ... sort of

2011-12-09T18:41:00.001+13:00

OOOOOOHH!

If I ever get a helmet it will be one like this ... in red ... with a tassel on the end ... for the trike!

As a side point - it looks like this guy could really do with a basket for his bicycle to put that stuff in.

Baby on board

2011-12-04T14:08:00.001+13:00

Saw Jena at the Wynyard Quarter the other day - looking fab with her bicycle as usual

Jena is a soon to be cycling 'super-mum' and we had a chat about the cargo bike her parents are giving her for the new arrival - can't wait to snap that!

Great to see her taking advantage of the excellent pregnancy health benefits of cycling.

Orange

2011-11-23T19:51:00.001+13:00

Has anyone else see this beautiful cargo bike outside the Puma store at Britomart?

I soooo want a go on it!

Urban

2011-11-20T17:03:00.001+13:00

I only just caught this guy but I'm pleased I did - a rare find!

Red shoes

2011-11-13T18:17:00.001+13:00

Coordinating with your surroundings is an important part of riding a bicycle ...

Red belt, red shoes

Just pure ART

Cool girls on bikes

2011-11-07T19:04:00.001+13:00

nuff said!

Britomart market

2011-11-06T12:25:00.001+13:00

I go to the Britomart market every Saturday to get food for the week, and recently I have noticed a definite increase in the number of bicycles there. There is even a bit of a trend towards the 'people with there clothes on' type of cyclist and even some serious style ...

Strange things

2011-11-02T19:40:00.000+13:00

As I was leaving work today on a gorgeous early summer evening, a lady leaving the same building pointed at my bicycle and said "that's very dedicated of you" - I asked her to repeat what she had said, partly because my brain did not compute the statement.

Then came the horror of the thought that perhaps I 'looked' dedicated!

That passed, and I am now more worried that I have totally underestimated the level of 'otherness' that most kiwis attribute to people who ride bicycles. Although truth-be-told, I have seem some sights that don't help the cause.

I know I am in the minority in the opinion that the car drivers that battle their way out of Auckland city every night must be very 'dedicated' indeed .... they are truly made of sterner stuff than I!!

I don't want to!

2011-10-29T18:56:00.000+13:00

Some silly signs that are obviously thought up by people who certainly don't cycle ...

This never works ... why do they bother ... the little bridge is quite fun actually!

This is a very silly sign that instructs cyclists to go left and cycle up a hill and down a hill and up again to go around in a large square (see blue line below) to reach Symonds Street, which is the road you can just see above the car in front's wing mirror

You can of course also just ride up the slip road illegally (marked in red) by popping over the pedestrian crossing with a sharp right up the slip road ... the amazing thing is that this road has just undergone a lot of work at this intersection ... and this is the best they could come up with for cyclists?

It's over

2011-10-24T19:48:00.001+13:00

It's been wonderful having Quay Street closed at the weekends

Aucklanders enjoying the view

Freedom to enjoy the space

Little green boxes are alright, but the whole road is a lot better!!

Art Week by Cycle

2011-10-18T17:19:00.003+13:00

Hear ye, hear ye!

Art Week Auckland is putting on three guided tours of Auckland’s art galleries by bicycle. In each ride there’ll be a flock of up to 40 cyclists – 20 with their own ride and 20 frock-friendly Nextbikes offered free for your bikeless friends. Not a bad chance to take a social cruise with those friends that want to cycle but haven’t got around to picking up their own wheels yet. There’s still space on each of these rides but bookings are encouraged (especially if you’d to borrow a free NextBike).

Saturday 15 October: Uptown Loop
http://artweekauckland.co.nz/events/art-week-by-cycle-uptown-loop
This was apparently a HUGE success and completely FULL - so book now for the others!

Tuesday 18 October: East Ride
http://artweekauckland.co.nz/events/art-week-by-cycle-east-ride
An evening cruise through clusters of galleries and public art works in the east wing of the central city. A sunset ride after work to make use of the Art Week late nights.
Meet from 5pm at Hum Salon, 123 Grafton Rd. Leaves by 6, visits Newmarket late night and ends in Parnell around 9:30.

Saturday 22 October: Waitemata
http://artweekauckland.co.nz/events/art-week-by-cycle-waitemata
Enjoy the bustle and quirkiness of the downtown vibe then ferry to search through Devonport’s own characteristic artworks scene.
Meet 1pm at Aotea Square, Queen Street. Leaves by 2, parades through town then ferries to cluster of galleries in Devonport.
Free 1-way ferry included.

These are accessible and cool art rides with safety staff and up to 20 free bikes for those who cannot bring their own. Bookings recommended to secure free NextBike . Contacthello@craigneilson.com or visit NextBike in Wynyard Quarter. Dress up and come out for a feast of memorable art.

Happy Monday

2011-10-10T18:31:00.001+13:00

Happiness is ...

... turning up at work on a Monday morning and finding bike racks!

Last year I started a new job. At the interview I checked out the bicycle parking facilities and figured out that I could park in the building lobby by chaining my bike to the large metal struts under the stairs (bike parking was actually a potential 'deal breaker' for the job).

Within a couple of weeks, I was joined by another bicycle. By Christmas, we had three regular bicycles with an occasional 4th under the stairs and a fixie chained on the floor above.

A few weeks ago we reached the dizzy heights of 6 bicycles on the ground floor and we had claimed the railings up the stairs as well as the struts underneath

... and this morning the bicycle rack fairies had visited and we had shiny new fabulous bicycle racks ... total respect to the peeps at Britomart!!

350 families

2011-10-07T19:48:00.001+13:00

Families ...

Wheels galore!

The whole gang

Keen as mustard

We're off

Stylish

Happy days

This little lad is 5 and he impressed so many people by riding the whole route unaided (approx. 11km ...with hills) - a well earned pie at the finish!!

And lets not forget the pigs, cows and chickens on bicycles!

350 - and more

2011-10-03T18:22:00.000+13:00

Shades, hats and bicycles

Cool tandem Mikey!

Sky blue

Council peeps

Hills

Is that a car on your chest?

Daffodil yellow

Portaloo red

Lovely lady on the Schwinn I was test riding - she took quite a shine to it!

350 - uber cool

2011-10-02T15:23:00.003+13:00

A few of the uber-cool peeps on the 350 ride ...

styley

love the shorts!

wheels

waiting

pointing

awesome bags/baskets (and windmill!)

pedal power

sharp

350 Fabulousness

2011-09-29T19:05:00.001+13:00

The 350 event was simply fabulous! ...

Fabulous megaphone commentary ... everything from "love those shorts" to environmental statements!

Fabulous fluoro

Fabulous bikes

Fabulous pink

Fabulous photo

Fabulous friendship

Fabulous daughter (mine!)

350 - Dress up

2011-09-27T18:58:00.005+13:00

Lots of people made a real effort to look the part for the 350 ride ...

These lovely ladies looked ... sunny

flower

feather

Face painting was all the go ...

so was sitting in the sunshine (happy days!)

summer must be nearly upon us!

350 ride

2011-09-25T17:37:00.002+13:00

In no particular order ...

Blending in with the foliage!

Bicycles everywhere ...

... even on the trousers!

A hint of french?

True blue kiwi?

Cycling is Art

2011-09-18T10:44:00.000+12:00

Remember this guy?

Well, Mike Rubbo really liked this image:

This image has both movement and stillness, the rider a certain mystery, Who's he looking at? is he balanced immobile and getting encouragement for the trick from the viewer.
I'm going to use it, if I may, to go another step to graphic art on paper. It'll be part of a series of art as propaganda for the grace and beauty of bikes and end up here - http://situp-bike-art.com

... and he sent me the picture

Mike is using art as a way to bring status and cachet to stately cycling - what a lovely idea.

If anyone knows this guy, can you let him know that he is now an artwork!

Housework

2011-09-18T10:28:00.001+12:00

Its raining so I thought I'd do a bit of blogging housework ... and I found this 'draft' post from summer ...

remember shorts?

sunglasses to keep the glare of sunshine at bay

sun hats

gorgeous bicycles

very important statement ... "cycle-ways are roads of national significance"

hangin out

sleeveless

frocks

Wanted

2011-09-04T17:00:00.000+12:00

Lovin' your work ... but any chance of some bike racks at the Wynyard Quarter?

A touch of style

2011-08-29T19:45:00.000+12:00

Nice hat!

The new Auckland

2011-08-27T12:51:00.001+12:00

If you build it ...

...they will come

This fabulous lady had made a clever liner for her basket to keep track of all the necessaries ... keys, purse etc.

gorgeous!

What will Auckland look like in 15 years?

2011-08-18T20:31:00.000+12:00

Citizen Cyclist

Fixie?

BMX?

Cruiser?

.... and they're all wearing their everyday clothes already!

Cool blue

2011-08-16T23:09:00.000+12:00

Cool blue

Cruisin'

2011-08-14T18:42:00.001+12:00

Doesn't matter what wheels you use .. there is nothing quite like cruisin'

The Quarter

2011-08-10T19:29:00.002+12:00

The Quarter was the place to be on Saturday ....

Coffee and His & Hers woolly beanies

See you later

Is this really Auckland?

2011-08-07T17:02:00.004+12:00

I went to the opening of the Wynyard Quarter (tank farm, as was) on Saturday, and of course met up with heaps of other styley peeps on bicycles ...

A friend of mine, who is similarly interested in the 'helmet law only applies to two wheels' rule, has recently purchased this fabulous beast for transporting the family. It was extremely impressive in the flesh .... so of course I had to have a go ...

Both Marijke and Tom have much longer legs than me so it was a bit of a stretch, but nevertheless it handled beautifully, even with a full load of enthusiastic children.

Tables turned

2011-08-01T18:43:00.000+12:00

I had the tables turned on me the other day by a blogger on Four Eyes, a street style fashion blog.

I was just minding my own business, going to work as usual, when I was chased by a very nice young man! He turned out to be a blogger that wanted to take my picture. Strangely enough, that doesn't happen very often - I take lots of photos of other people but I am always behind the camera, not in front. I actually find it quite hard to find a picture of myself when asked for one. So here I am ...

Photo courtesy of http://www.eyeseyeseyeseyes.com/2011/07/jenny.html

The new cigarette card

2011-07-28T21:14:00.000+12:00

It occurred to me today that I now collect cycle chic blog RSS feeds like I used to collect cigarette cards as a child. Now you may not know what I am talking about if you are under 25 so I'll elaborate. Each packet of cigarettes used to contain a card with a picture on it, and children used to collect these cards and swap them at school with their friends to achieve a complete set- see 'exhibit A' below

Exhibit A

Wow! how times have changed. (Mental note - I must check the attic for my cards - they may be worth a fortune by now!)

Well it occurred to me that it might be nice if we somehow produced a 'cigarette card' for each cycle chic blog. A more up-to-date version would of course be cards to put in your bicycle spokes, as both cigarettes and cars are SOOOO last century!

Bicycle makeover 2

2011-07-28T19:32:00.000+12:00

Pretty cool ... but somehow missing something ...

Before

After

The man about town simply requires a bicycle

Bicycle makeover

2011-07-27T12:56:00.000+12:00

During the winter months, it is pretty slim pickings for a cycle style blog ... so I came up with a plan ... simply supply the bike

Before

After ...

Wow! I think this lady should seriously consider getting a bike!

Never boring

2011-07-24T12:19:00.000+12:00

Bicycles are diverse ...

Green

Tired

Nautical

Available

Silly

Rusty

Electric

Aerodynamic

Nice :-)

A quiet moment

2011-07-19T19:58:00.000+12:00

Just chillin ...

Breaking bad news

2011-07-12T18:55:00.000+12:00

I have recently received an email from a family planning to move from Amsterdam to Auckland asking if they will be able to transport their children to kindy on their bikes ...

AUCKLAND

AMSTERDAM

Borrowed from Amsterdamize

AUCKLAND

AMSTERDAM

Borrowed from Amsterdamize

Notice the difference?

I haven't the heart to break it to them ...

Not quite the 'face of Lancome'

2011-07-10T20:42:00.000+12:00

A couple of friends alerted me to this picture of me hanging at Britomart ...

I have no idea when this was taken, although I have obviously just bought some eggs

The Husband joked that rather than the new Face of Lancome (Julia Roberts has got that one), I'm the new Backside of Britomart!

I am now considering doing a fragrance or a range of lingerie - I believe that is generally what one does next. I can see it now - my bicycle inspired lingerie will be a thing of beauty (definitely no padding involved) - all lace and bicycle drawings, I think ...

The folding stuff

2011-07-06T20:09:00.000+12:00

Green

Red

A.K.A

2011-07-03T18:59:00.000+12:00

Sometimes my secret life as a bicycle blogger feels a bit like this ...

Oh! ... to come out of the closet

Tricycle update

2011-06-26T16:17:00.000+12:00

She's going together pretty well ....

Tim just sent me these pictures for decisions about the new handlebars and headset

The bars are looking a bit big ... I may well have to grow a beard and get some leathers to carry this look off!

But, on the plus side - the white walled tyres are looking hot, the colour is very nice and the shiny new fenders (yet to be attached) are going to be sublime!

Mental note: must find fabulous new cruiser saddle

Just getting about

2011-06-25T12:12:00.000+12:00

Going home? Going to work/school?

Arrived?

Lady taking photos of cyclists?

(just out of shot - for obvious reasons)

Practically immortal!

2011-06-19T10:15:00.001+12:00

Still famous ...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/editorials/on-your-bike/story-e6frfhqo-1226074483299

Even after all these months, they Australian press are still using the same photos every time there is a bike share story.

A bit out of the ordinary

2011-06-13T18:57:00.001+12:00

Have you seen this one around?

I've seen it a couple of times and she's a beauty!

Here is another rather interesting bike (and rider) in Queen Street. Sorry about the quality, it was a rather hurried shot on my phone ... any ideas what it is?

Totally illegal behaviour!

2011-06-12T10:28:00.000+12:00

This looks like such a lovely day ...

PDW: Come Ride With Us from PDW on Vimeo.

Of course this type of experience is illegal in NZ. Firstly, it is illegal to ride a bicycle without a helmet (you'd have to be riding a tricycle to do this), and secondly, it is illegal to drink alcohol in a public place.

It's interesting to note that these laws have absolutely no effect on the high number of deaths on our roads each year and you can see people sniffing glue and drinking on Queen Street every day of the week!

Changing pace

2011-06-05T17:00:00.000+12:00

Standing up to get a bit of speed ...

Bicycleness

2011-06-04T12:19:00.000+12:00

Stopping for a chat ...

Some days are 'fast' days

2011-05-30T19:38:00.000+12:00

When life is all a blur ... ride your bike!

Out shopping in style

2011-05-29T17:23:00.000+12:00

I spotted this fabulous lady in town at the weekend ...

Apparently, she rides everywhere on her bike - it's her main form of transport ... love it!

Then she was joined by a friend - out for a bit of shopping by the looks of it!

David and Goliath

2011-05-28T13:16:00.000+12:00

Now that bicycle is really plucky in my book ...

I have wanted to go and front up to that digger myself for the last few days!

From a distance ...

2011-05-25T18:47:00.000+12:00

I had a bunch of photos that I had of Aucklanders on their bicycles ... taken from a distance ... so I thought I'd post them

Shopping

Waiting

Crossing

Raining

Crossing & Raining

Lads

Weakness

2011-05-22T18:30:00.001+12:00

As addictions go, there are worst things than bicycles ... well that's what I tell the Husband, anyway!

I bought a new bike for daughter number two - it's a Hercules (compact)

It's in really good shape and is the perfect matched pair for daughter number one's bicycle ...

This one is called Joyrider

This brings the total number of cycles in our apartment to 8

Me - 1950 Triumph (best bike), 1970 Peugeot (rusty pub bike)
The tricycle - although, it's not technically in the apartment yet
Husband - BSA (3 speed weekender), Nishiki (old school racer)
Daughter No.1 - Joyrider (all purpose)
Daughter No.2 - Hercules (all purpose)
Giant Cypress - spare ... soon to go on Trademe.

Dirty, dirty, dirty

2011-05-15T18:00:00.000+12:00

Remember the tricycle? How could you forget ...

Well she is now in bits and the frame has been for a facelift

I chose 'Alpine Blue' - a bit like the previous colour but paler and a bit more sophisticated, I think.

It looks quite weird without the wheels and such (before you say it ... yes, I know it looks quite weird with them too!)

and then a bit of elbow grease is required (as well CRC, scrapers and wire brushes) - this is the 'before' picture

These are a few of the essentials for this kind of work - surgical gloves, rags and plenty of tea!

and then ... here is one I prepared earlier, as they say - this is the 'after' picture

So I have spent the weekend up to my elbows in grease and rust ... but I'm pretty happy with the result.

Watch this space for the next instalment ... dum dum dum!

The other sort

2011-05-11T20:28:00.000+12:00

A friend of mine wanted me to take some pictures of the other sorts of cyclists in Auckland ... so I did ...

For some reason, it just doesn't do it for me ...

They don't look very happy...

They look more like the cars than people - notice the similarity between this ladies helmet and the grill on the front of the car behind.

I think what I like about photographing my normal targets is 'the story' - who are they? what are they doing? where are they going? I can't find any story or personality in these 'cyclists'.

I also like the personal sense of style that my usual subjects exhibit. I find these cycling outfits 'generic', they say 'I'm a cyclist' ... and no more.

Style magnet

2011-05-09T19:04:00.000+12:00

I often find very stylish people sitting near my bicycle when I return to where I parked it ...

Perhaps they are admiring the innate style of a bicycle ...

Perhaps they are simply drawn to the natural beauty of a classic bicycle

What do you do on weekends?

2011-05-08T11:14:00.000+12:00

Weekends ...

Just crossing

Being prepared

Wearing a nice hat

Dapper Gents

2011-04-30T18:47:00.001+12:00

There were some very dapper gents along the waterfront today ...

Nice hat!

Nice boots!

Nice shades!

Small and useful

2011-04-24T10:59:00.004+12:00

Here are a couple of recent High Street shots ...

Three's not a crowd

Two way for bicycles

Nice!

How pretty would High St. be without the cars?

Yes, this is Auckland Cycle Chic

2011-04-22T17:36:00.000+12:00

Any regulars will notice a difference in the look of this blog. The old blog format only allowed me to post small pictures and, as I mentioned in my previous post, I now have a fabulous new camera that takes much better shots that deserve to be BIG ...

Orange rims

Red rims

Try saying that quickly ... orange rims, red rims, orange rims, red rims ...

Boys will be boys

2011-04-22T11:48:00.005+12:00

These lads were having such fun down Queen Street

Cool as!

Getting serious

2011-04-17T18:05:00.003+12:00

I thought it was about time that I get serious about this blogging thing. Auckland Cycle Chic turned two years old last week so I celebrated with the purchase of a proper camera.

I started in 2009 with a second hand 'happy snappy' that my sister gave me ...

The quality was not great but it was a start

Then I bought my own 'happy snappy' and this one had a zoom ...

Picture quality was still not great but I could capture more shots ... as long as they weren't moving very fast!

But now I have a proper digital SLR .... and boy what a difference

Click on the image to see the definition - wow!

Of course the first thing is that now I feel like a REAL photographer and today people weren't giving me that odd "what is she doing?" look that I usually get when I lurk on street corners.

The second big difference is that the camera actually does what it is told ... rather than thinking about it and then finally agreeing, which often makes me miss the shot! It also means that I now have more than one opportunity to get a photo and with the special 'sport' mode (yes I know, but what can you do? That is what it says on the button). It will take multiple shots at a time so you can pick the best - brilliant!

I know you will all miss my 'arty' shots of missed cyclists but maybe I'll throw in the occasional one for old times sake!

More than just friends

2011-04-14T19:25:00.000+12:00

In our household, our bicycles are key members of the family ...

My daughter's bicycle is a big fan of her music practice

and I often share a glass of wine with my bicycle

Yum!

2011-04-10T15:43:00.000+12:00

Simply gorgeous!!

And something for the boys ....

Smart people

2011-04-08T18:09:00.000+12:00

Bicycles are just soooo cool ...

Road works - no problem! Bus disruption - whatever! Petrol prices - so how much is petrol anyway?

The smart people ride bicycles!

Shifting stuff

2011-04-03T13:54:00.000+12:00

When I tell people that I am car-free, the concept often doesn't quite penetrate. They are sort of stupefied, as if it is such a foreign idea that they just can't wrap their mind around it. Next comes the 'how do you buy food?', 'How do you get about?' questions.

On the other side of the fence, I often wonder why these are even questions. I cycle, I walk, I take the bus, train, or air plane, I sometimes take a taxi, and very occasionally I hire a car. But mostly we just strap it to the bikes and cycle like the Aucklanders below ...

Old school chic

Red and waterproof

Need some wood from Placemaker? Just strap it on and cycle.

Pop down to the Britomart market for some fruit and veg.

I also have two huge wicket baskets that go either side for a large haul!

It's finally happened!

2011-03-27T20:31:00.000+13:00

At long last I am the proud owner of a tricycle!!

I have been looking for just over a year and, as you know, have considered and failed to purchase a range of three wheeled cycles. I have deliberated and searched for something that has the potential for style and the 'cool' factor, and then I spotted this on Trademe .... how could I resist!

It is Kiwi through and through, born and bred. It is a knock-off Raleigh 20 that has been converted into a tricycle - probably in a kiwi bloke shed. In the best tradition of number 8 wire, it has BMX forks, a freewheel crank (the back cogs are welded onto the axle), a strange welded on piece of frame from mounting the gear change mechanism and pieces of pig iron from Mitre 10 welded on to secure the mud guards .... she's a thing of beauty!

Interestingly, the large cog was added so that a petrol motor could be added

It has 10 gears - presumably purloined off an old 10 speed. The concept is truly terrifying ... I managed to use only the bottom 5 gears and believe me this is enough!

Once I had taken ownership, I did a quick check to ensure that it would indeed go in my lift, then treated it to a quick wash down to remove the worst of the cobwebs, then it was straight up to Tim at T.White's. The journey up was huge amounts of fun, even with no brakes and serious wheel spin from the bald tyres. I let me hair blow free in the torrential rain (this was my first LEGAL helmet free cycle ride in many years - a little rain wasn't going to stop me!)

Tim and Brian were speechless! But after admiring the sheer 'workmanship' of the trike ... Tim said in a slow and carefully measured tone ... "this could be really cool"!

After that, like a a top notch plastic surgeon and his client, we went over the extreme makeover that was required ... a little nip and tuck here and there ..

I left Tim riding around and around in the shop, and whist waiting for the bus, I saw Tim ... and Teva ... tricycling merrily around on the side road next to the shop!

This tricycle thing could catch on!!

Gentlemen about town

2011-03-20T17:18:00.000+13:00

Sunday

Moving stuff

Having fun

On holiday

Melbourne - revisited

2011-03-17T19:34:00.000+13:00

Just back from another trip to Melbourne - business not demonstrating this time!

I could only drool through the window at these cargo bikes and it totally confirmed my suspicions that they wouldn't go in my apartment lift!

ooh! aaah!

In other news ... the bike share is still a resolute failure with all bikes that I saw firmly in their racks and not under citizens on the street

But there were some fabulously gorgeous people out ant about on their bikes

Dilemma

2011-03-15T18:53:00.000+13:00

This morning I just couldn't decide which cycling shoes to wear ...

The brown ones?

or the black ones?

Go by bike breakfast: More lovely ladies

2011-03-08T20:31:00.000+13:00

And not forgetting these lovely ladies at the Go By Bike breakfast ...

Damp but smiling

Nothing like a 'cycle your own milk shake' to keep off the chills

Beautiful pink cruiser in front of some blatant advertising for Tumeke Cycle Space

Simple elegance ...

Gorgeous bicycle style!

Go by bike Breakfast: Guys

2011-03-06T17:46:00.000+13:00

A splash of colour in an otherwise very grey day

Nice bike (Scappy Deluxe if I'm not mistaken) and nice bike T-shirt

Very smart and possibly a Pashley?

This guy was just the most dapper gent of all, hands down the winner

Very cool, and a recent convert to stylish city bikes I believe

Just getting about ... by bike

I love the shades ... cause anyone who went will remember the problems we had with the brightness of the sunshine!!! Not

So this random guy turns up on a bicycle ....

Huge respect for this guy - he was 90! ... and still riding a bike

Fuelling up, courtesy of Go by Bike

Coffee to go

Then off to work ...

Go by bike Breakfast: Tricks

2011-03-05T13:51:00.000+13:00

There were some really clever people at the Go By Bike Breakfast

Very nice girl power!

This guy was amazing - he could jump from the ground on to these pallets ... on a unicycle!

Very tricky stuff

At first glance this looks like a peculiar bicycle, but this guy was actually arriving on a unicycle, pushing another really tall unicycle whilst holding a very small bicycle and carrying an extra wheel around his neck!

Here is the very tall unicycle in action - clever stuff!

Go by bike breakfast: Lovely ladies

2011-02-26T20:37:00.000+13:00

Even though it was wet, lovely ladies arrived to brighten the day

rain? ... what rain?

Fabulous machine in expert hands!

Tea anyone?

Just a normal work day ...

Green

New bike ... lovin' it

Proud! ... new (old) bike

Go by bike Breakfast: Important

2011-02-20T09:26:00.000+13:00

Here it is ... the most important of my Go By Bike photographs ....

If you haven't guessed ... it's the mayor CYCLING to the Go By Bike Breakfast!

I know it's a terrible photograph but some things are just so important you have to post a crap shot anyway!

Go by bike Breakfast: wet!

2011-02-17T19:37:00.000+13:00

Well, we weren't expecting that! .... but it was wet ... torrential Auckland kind of wet

But that didn't put off many of Auckland's chic and stylish bicyclists from turning up ...

Now that's what I call an outfit!

And a Boneshaker bicycle, from the Transport museum no less!

Wet was a bit of a theme!

But so was style

and panache!

The new black!

2011-02-16T19:53:00.000+13:00

Time's a little short this evening, so I just thought I'd put a taster of the 'Go by Bike Breakfast' up for your viewing pleasure ....

Introducing ... the new black!

Romance is alive and well

2011-02-10T19:06:00.000+13:00

Have you got your bicycle ready for valentines day?

Westfields obviously thinks that bicycles are very romantic ... and I do too!

Blue

2011-02-10T19:03:00.000+13:00

I'm calling this one 'blue'

Just know that it was a really gorgeous picture of a lady in a pretty summer dress ...

Unfortunately, by the time the shutter clicked, the moment had passed and I had produced this very 'arty' shot instead

Heard of bulls

2011-02-01T20:41:00.000+13:00

First a nice picture and then some ranting ...

I often read posts on Copenhagenize containing Mikael's 'ignoring the bull' analogy - where cars are the bull and people are the china. The cars bash and crash into people causing death and mayhem and we are all looking the other way and excepting the status quo.

They may have a bull in their china shop in Europe, but over here we've got a heard of the buggers! I could not believe this report in the paper last week. A gentleman was walking his bicycle in the street and was hit and killed by a van, the article made a point of saying that 'he was not wearing a helmet or high visibility clothing'! Like it was his fault that a ruddy great idiot of a van driver was not driving carefully!
Anyway - doesn't walking your bike make you a pedestrian? What does his helmet and clothing status have to do with it?

Anyway, this got me to thinking ...

Isn't it strange the way that, if you ride a bike, you are referred to as a cyclist even when you are not anywhere near your bike. I often hear people say things like 'have a chat with Jenny, she's a cyclist' ... strangely, I never here people say 'have a chat with Bob, he's a pedestrian' or 'have a chat with Tom, he's a motorist'

Why?

With most other forms of transport you are only labelled for the time period you are actually travelling, so you are a pedestrian only whilst walking on the pavement and only until you sit down or stop. Similarly, you are a 'motorist' until you get out of your car, the moment you take a step away from your car you are just a person; a 'passenger' until you get off the bus or train. BUT for some reason you are a 'cyclist' in your pyjamas, a 'cyclist' in the bath and a 'cyclist' whilst being introduced to someone you've never met!

Now don't get me wrong, I love my bike but all good relationships require a little space ... I have other transport options that I like to go out with. Why is riding a bike such an exclusive relationship, while everyone else gets to flirt with a variety of transport options and is not defined by any single one?

Just plain YUMMY!

2011-02-01T19:07:00.000+13:00

Check out this link that was sent to me - it made me go all giggly inside!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/bikes

Cool idea!

2011-02-01T18:46:00.001+13:00

Cruisin' in the big smoke

2011-01-30T09:42:00.001+13:00

Bicycles are just right for getting somewhere but still taking part in city life

Desperate, or what?!

2011-01-26T18:01:00.000+13:00

I'm not quite sure if the owner of this car is a serious lawn bowling fan or just pretending to be environmentally friendly ... the term 'a wolf in sheep's clothing' comes to mind!

No need to pretend ... just get one of these!

Simply squeezed

2011-01-23T16:51:00.002+13:00

No wonder this guy is looking carefully at the truck ... it says 'Simply squeezed' on the side!!

You never forget ... well how to ride a bike, at least!!

2011-01-20T19:46:00.001+13:00

My Dad is visiting us from England at the moment ...

so I lent him my bike

He's a mature gentleman (80ish - but the exact details are a well kept secret!) but he rode like a man who has spent a fair few hours in the saddle

In my book, this is pretty damn CHIC!

Girl power!

2011-01-17T19:02:00.000+13:00

Chic bicycle maintenance at the new Tumeke space

Light touch

2011-01-11T19:05:00.001+13:00

Have you seen the light?

Hot? It's cool at the Viaduct!

2011-01-09T18:09:00.000+13:00

This bike caught my eye in the Viaduct the other day ... what a beauty!

I hadn't actually seen one in the wild before ...

...only in the shop (Cyco) in Ponsonby

I also spotted this very stylish urbanite, rocking a hat and sunnies

and her son (?) who was really 'owning' some mirror shades ... what he really needs, of course, to finish the look is a T-shirt with a bicycle on it!

Good find!

2011-01-05T18:42:00.000+13:00

I spotted these baskets at Trade Aid in High Street the other day - they look suspiciously like really nice bicycle baskets for your handlebars.

You'll need to add a couple of leather straps but they definitely have potential me thinks!!

Ahead of the crowd

2011-01-04T20:26:00.001+13:00

Sometimes, there is just a certain something that puts a girl ahead of the rest!

Auckland Cycle Chic on Queen Street

Holidays

2011-01-03T19:31:00.000+13:00

Rain ...

or shine ....

Holidays are a time for just chillin' ... with your bicycle!

Super Flag

2010-12-19T10:43:00.000+13:00

I came across 'Free Lunch' at the bottom of Vulcan Lane yesterday. Free Lunch is a street theatre company from Hamilton and they are 'facilitating' the design of a Super City flag in the most fabulous way possible!

with bicycle power

you simply come up with your design, they cut out the fabric and then .... you pedal

this runs the sewing machine

and voilà ... your flag is created!

Can you guess what the inspiration was for my design? I'll give you a clue - it involves Rangitoto, bicycles and sunshine

These are then displayed ... mine was the first!

They will be running up these flags for several days, at Vulcan Lane for a couple of days and then in Aotea Square, so pay them a visit and get your ideas captured in fabric. Apparently, these flags will be going to Len Brown (possibly displayed somewhere) and then they will be posted back to you. What a sensational idea!

Additionally, if you are a 'dyed in the wool' lycra cyclist and fancy trying out this 'cycling in your own clothes' thing, this is the ideal, safe environment to take those first baby steps! What's more, this bicycle has 7 wheels so is very much legally exempt from the 'bicycle' (2 wheels only) helmet law so try it out ... give it a whirl ... feel the wind in your hair!

So head on down and pedal for your flag.

The city is full of 'em!

2010-12-17T16:46:00.001+13:00

More of those inconsiderate, thrill seeking reprobates from the Bikes for Life rally ...

Chums having fun? or cycle terrorists?

Ladies chatting? or bragging about how many red lights they've jumped?

Who knows what obscenities are on the other side of this plaque

Out for a spin? or cycle spies on a mission?

The one on the right looks particularly dodgy in my book!

Don't let those smiles fool you ... these people are ruthless car holder-uppers!

All the best insurgents are trained from an early age

Those wooden push-along bikes are especially lethal!

Really?

2010-12-17T10:27:00.000+13:00

Apparently this is GMs new car for the future ...

Personally, I think making this seem 'cool' will really stretch the abilities of those car marketing people - but I'm very interested to watch that space.

So come on guys, if we can't promote bicycles as sexy, cool, fabulous and a 'must have' thing of beauty compared to this ... we need our heads examined!

They're all the same those bloody cyclists!

2010-12-11T20:32:00.000+13:00

Young guys ... they think they own the road

oh em ... older guys ... as well!

... and families

... on recumbents

... and with dogs

... and orange balloons

... and blue balloons

Lunatics with a death wish

... and good taste in retro bicycles

... and placards

But it's the principle of the thing!!! You can't have all these .... people, riding bikes on our roads ... where will it end?

Rally

2010-12-06T21:30:00.001+13:00

I have lots of great pics of 'people who ride bicycles' from the rally on Sunday ...

Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Friends?

Mums? Sisters?

Bother? Sister? Married?

Art curator? Lawyer? Sculptor?

Some ones parents? Old friends?

Celebrity! Wife? Girlfriend?

Work buddies? Husband and wife?

New relationship? Went to school together? Just friends?

No (bloody) cyclists here ... just real people riding bikes!

More to come ....