cycle chic, bike tour

the lost coast

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for this week’s installment of cycle chic, i thought i might share some old photos from a bike tour i went on waaay back in 2007. though i should probably give you a disclaimer: i wasn’t very chic on this ride. just bike shorts, sandals, and tank tops on this ride. yep, this was before i started my blog and before i got a fancy digital camera. the photo quality isn’t the best, but i wanted to show you what a bike tour looks like! for this particular trip, me and my partner started our ride in arcata, ca near the northern border of california, and ended up in bodega bay, just north of san francisco. we would ride between 40 – 60 miles per day carrying all of our own supplies and stop at state parks to camp for the evening.

 

anyway, we’re planning a similar trip at the end of august, but i think we’ll be starting up around portland this time. and since i’ve had more experience doing these types of rides now, i’m excited to bring along a laptop computer and my fancy camera to blog about the trip from the road! and this time i hope to share some pointers for chic outfits to wear while still being comfortable enough for camping and riding so many hours on a bike. looking back at these photos and reminiscing about that trip have gotten me seriously excited for the next one! i can’t wait!

we began the trip in arcata, ca.

the world’s largest hammer.

we had planned to camp at the humboldt county fair grounds one evening. to our surprise, the humboldt county fair was in full swing. bonus!

weeee!

i loved you and your apple pies and beer in plastic cups and carnival rides.

aha, so that’s why they call it ferndale.

tee hee. cows.

we opted to ride along the lost coast for this ride. it was a particularly grueling and intense ride, but the views once we reached the short were worth it.

after a seriously hard day of riding, we were rewarded with freezing cold showers.

a morning cup of coffee is crucial.

and back up over another mountain. it’s a good feeling to get to the top.

it was particularly fun when we made it to the avenue of the giants. lots of fun tourist attractions!

after so many days of riding, sometimes you need to treat yourself to a junk food feast!

ah, the beautiful california coastline.

fashion, cycle chic

carried away

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i know i promised my guide to buying used and vintage bikes, but it’s taking me a bit longer than i expected to find actual pictures of all of my bike picks, so while i keep working on that post behind-the-scenes, i decided to share some cool bike accessories with you on this cycle chic saturday. after writing this post about my favorite fashionable mixte and dutch style bikes under a grand, i discovered another company called public bikes, which has become a fast favorite! they were a sponsor of bike to work day here in the bay area, so naturally, i had to check them out. i was quite delighted to discover that not only do they have a beautiful selection of fashionable and functional bikes, but they also have a really great web shop with lots of nice bike accessories!

in particular, i am loving their range of nice baskets and bags. the rear basket has a quick release with a handle, so it doubles as your shopping basket on quick trips to the grocery store. in addition, they have really lovely brooks roll up panniers, and a canvas pannier that doubles as a messenger bag! and for those of you concerned with safety, i quite like their sleek nutcase helmets.

lifestyle

hello kitty

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ok, ok, i said i was going to resist the urge to spam you with kitty pictures, but i had to give you guys a proper introduction! and also, showing you these photos will give you the most accurate portrayal of what yesterday and this morning have been like: no time for work, it’s kitty time all the time!but this is mostly due to the fact that she was belligerently drunk post-op and has been a rather surly handful. she was mewing constantly and falling all over the place, jumping up onto the couch only to tumble back off from a lack of balance. and unfortunately for kitty, she cannot resist the urge to lick her stitches, so we had to give her a fancy collar! you can image how much a cat might dislike having a giant plastic hat tied to her head. it’s been exhausting to say the least!but i did manage to snap just a few pictures of her this morning. we take off the collar when we know we can keep an eye on her so she can go about her way without tripping around on it. but at night, we keep it on so we can sleep! this is what she looked like when she greeted me this morning in her fashionable blue collar. a very grumpy cat indeed!


now i just need to think of a name! my boyfriend has been calling her gremlin. let’s just say, i’m open to suggestions!

fashion, cycle chic

bike to work

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oh, there is so much i want to share with you that it’s hard to only do one cycle chic post per week! so before i start today’s post, i want to let you know that i heard your concerns about affordable bikes and i already have a post in the works about buying used and vintage bikes for super low prices, but i thought i’d take a break from showing you bikes this week to introduce you to some functional clothing to wear while cycling.

now, i understand that you certainly don’t need anything special to wear on casual rides around town and on the weekends: a simple pair of bike shorts under a cute dress are perfectly acceptable! but if you spend a lot of time on your bike, commuting to work each day or going on long tours, then you will probably need a proper pair of pants that can take the daily wear and tear. so i was really excited to discover outlier, tailored performance clothing for cycling in the city.

in particular, they offer a women’s daily riding pant, a smart pair of tailored trousers made with 4-way stretch twill that sheds rain and dirt and wicks away moisture without sacrificing style. they’re going to set you back the same price as a pair of designer jeans, but they’ll certainly outperform them. not only that, but just take a look at these perfectly fashionable photos!

outlier also offers a lovely tailored oxford shirt and a nice selection of fine merino wool t-shirts and hoodies. i remember a while back before i had ever tried wool while riding, i couldn’t understand how it was possible that a fabric, traditionally used to keep you warm, could perform on a hot summer day, but it actually wicks away moisture better than any other fiber i have used, and helps regulate your temperature so much better than cotton! again, merino is an investment, but well worth it if you’re concerned with comfort, style, and functionality for daily riding.

cycle chic

bikes for your budget

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calivintage cycle chic budget bike guide

after kicking off my first cycle chic saturday post last week, i got a lot of requests for recommendations on stylish bicycles that are also affordable. surely, you can get a pretty bike for $1,000 or more, but are there any options out there for those of us on a budget?

one of the best ways to get a good deal on a bike is to search for something used or vintage. it does take a bit of hunting to find the right model and size, but it’s a surefire way to get the most bang for you buck. it also requires a bit of studying up on bike maintenance basics so that you know what to look for to assure that you’re getting something quality and ready to ride. since the topic of hunting for used/vintage bikes could take up it’s own blog post, i’ve decided to focus on new bikes at affordable price points for today. and for the sake of fashion, i’m also focusing on bikes with step through or mixte frames with more upright geometry. road bikes are nice, but they’re going to pose more sartorial challenges than the options shown here.

just keep in mind that when buying new, you are always going to have to pay a considerably higher price for what you get, so hopefully you wont be too upset when you see the prices. and i know there are more options than what i’ve shown here, but these are my personal top picks for the most fashionably designed bikes clocking in at under $1,000.

linus bikes: dutchi and mixte models, starting at $399
starting with our most affordable option, this small company based out of venice, ca offers a dutch style frame as either a single speed model or with a 3-speed internal hub. or, if you prefer, they also have a 3-speed mixte with a rear rack, which i like quite a bit.

republic bikes: dutch, starting at $399
republic bikes offers customization options to let you choose the colors of the frame, saddle, grips, chain case, tires, and skirt so you can build up something as subtle or flashy as you like. but be aware that these bikes only come in a single speed and weigh 40lbs, so this is definitely a better option for cruising about in very flat areas like at the beach.

electra bikes: ticino models, starting at around $550
these stunning bikes come in a larger range of speeds than any of the other bikes in this post. starting with 7 and going all the way up to 20 speeds with an aluminum frame, they’re probably the most lightweight and functional option, especially for those of you living in hilly terrains like san francisco, but you will have to pay extra for more gears.

raleigh: roadster classic, around $520
from the company best known for their classic vintage roadsters made in england, comes this updated version of a timeless standby. the ladies model comes with an internal 3-speed hub, great for a nice weekend ride around town.

globe cycles: live mixtes starting at $580
a more mass-produced bicycle owned by the parent-company, specialized, you can expect to get a solid bike at a very affordable price point. this mixte bike comes in either a single speed or 8-speed model with a matching front basket rack to tote around your purse and other goodies.

bowery lane bicycles: breukelen, starting at $695
based out of new york, bowery lane bicycles offer this simple black bike in both a single speed or 3-speed model with a rack and a cute wooden crate for carrying your flea market finds.

a black bike: starting at $950
another company based out of nyc, this model clocks in at $950, barely making the cut for today’s post. this classic dutch style bike comes in a single speed or 3-speed version with a battery powered lamp for riding in style at night.

cycle chic

cycle chic saturday

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so yesterday, i mentioned that i would be introducing a new little feature here at calivintage. so without further adieu, i’d like to announce cycle chic saturday! i’ve mentioned it a few times here on my blog and in a few interviews here and there that one of my passions (besides style and fashion) is cycling. living in the bay area has given me the benefit of being exposed to a rich bicycle culture, and it’s something that i would love to share with you. but being that this is a style blog, i’m not going to get technical and talk about geometry and components, but instead, i’d like to focus on bike design and fashionable cycling attire.

for my first installment, i decided to keep it pretty simple and introduce you to some incredible bikes that are not only perfectly functional, but absolutely beautiful. rivendell bikes is a company based out of walnut creek, ca. (which happens to be about 20 minutes from where i live).

their mission:

“…to make things that wouldn’t be made if we weren’t here, to offer an alternative to racing-centric bikes and parts, and to espouse a different approach to riding. And to resurrect and keep healthy many of the better ideas, designs, and styles of bicycles, clothing, and accessories that we personally like to use or wear.”

while i don’t own one of their bikes (it’s a bit out of my budget range), i definitely admire what they do. the pictures shown here are some of the fashionable bike frames they offer in addition to a range of racks and bags. not only that, but they offer bike camping supplies and cycling attire. each item they sell in their shop is beautifully designed and perfectly functional, so i strongly urge you to check it out!