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I wear layers. On this day, I wore a lightweight denim dress over leggings and boots. Added a warm cardigan for the ride in. When the weather warmed, I lost the cardi and the leggings and was good to go (I can never remember to take the ‘after’ photo)!

**************************************************************************************The dress is longer than it looks here, I promise! Layers are the answer to all of my current wardrobe weather issues. You?

1. I’d be preaching to the choir
2. Bikes are fun, and  drama clouds that fact
3. I’m a judgmental asshole and try to keep that at bay as much as possible
4. I am actually not a good writer and have a hard time making coherent points

But that doesn’t mean I don’t stew about all of the things out there in the social sphere that impact why we and others do or don’t ride.

Friday morning while I prepared to hop on my bike and ride to work, I heard on the local NPR station (WBHM represent!) about a wreck on our most nightmarish road to town, 280. The wreck had resulted in one death and major traffic delays. It was upsetting to hear that someone had passed away (which later turned into multiple deaths), but I felt that the reason they were reporting on the wreck was primarily because it was blocking all lanes of traffic into and out of the city.

When I arrived to work I heard my co-workers speaking about how terrible the traffic was on said road from hell. I didn’t hear details of the conversation, but I’m sure it revolved around how inconvenient the incident was for them as they tried to make it into the office. I restrained myself from jumping into the conversation with unwelcome comments such as “it took me the usual 10 minutes to get to work today” or a more general “I had a great time riding my bike this morning”.

This all got me thinking about how people’s priorities are completely backwards (how did traffic become worse than death?), question for the umpteenth time why everyone wants to live in the horrible suburbs and spend an exorbitant amount of time in boxes, and contemplate why we as a society have lost our ability to discern how we want to live and to run our government for the good of all society. For example, many people I know move out of the city because they want the perceived safety and the good school system, but why can’t they take a stand and create that in the city? Why do they want to commute in a car for an hour on a good traffic day when it is completely unnecessary and unhealthy? Why are we all sheep who do what society tells us to? Questions for the ages.

While this is not specifically bike related, it does speak to a main reason why I ride. I ride because I want to live a meaningful life of integrity, and no one is going to tell me otherwise. The cars that buzz me, the friends and family that think I have a death wish, the strangers who make snide remarks, the city planners that continue to ignore that I even exist – they might upset me, but they don’t stop me for doing what I love and believe in. I wonder how many people who live the suburban life can say this.

I have hope for change; the city seems to be recognizing the great things that downtown Birmingham has to offer and new businesses and opportunities for development are popping up. We have new apartment buildings being built too, which is very exciting. I love my city, and I just wish the people around me who do nothing but gripe and complain and thus accept the status quo did as well. Take a stand! Live for the city IN the city! Don’t accept these social ills!

See what I mean about not making coherent points? Maybe what I’m saying is that everyone else’s life is shitty and mine is awesome so be more like me…which is not a very good argument for anything. Whatever, I’ll just ride on my wide open streets and appreciate what I have anyway.

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1970′s gym teacher seemed the only appropriate look. Stowaway jacket by Rapha, shorts by Gap, old ass Chucks by Converse and socks by my awesome sister who knows me well. By 9am I had lost the jacket and socks and was cool and comfortable.

Fashion crisis averted. Those kids did not mess with this. Nor did cars.

But hey, Rossitron enjoyed a lovely ride to the grocery store the other day, and I had the sense of mind to snap a photo! There’s no bike rack at the ole Piggly Wiggly, but that’s no surprise. The grocery cart corral is a fine alternative, with the hope that no wayward cart makes a beeline for our sweet rides. My panniers were packed to the brim with ingredients for a veggie chili, beer, and game night with friends, but it was a load that was a pleasure to bear.

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Alas, there was no room for Sugar, so she sat outside my office door where I could see her. I also locked her to herself for extra security. Whenever I started feeling antsy I could look up and see her waiting for me. It was a lovely and comforting sight.

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How are your bike racks looking? Getting more or less full with fall around the corner?

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First, she was craving a croissant so we stopped by Croissant D’or.  I went in for breakfast, while Sugar waited outside enjoying the fierce winds that were blowing.

Don't worry; I saved her a bite!

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Next up was Bourbon Street. Always an interesting ride, even at 9am! Sugar was interested in a job, so we stopped so she could inquire within.

job-searching in this economy is tough!

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Unfortunately, they thought she was a little young, although she has all the right curves.

A little down, but still kicking ass, we headed back to the office. All in all, a good morning!

How was your morning?

Scary thunder and lightening!

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We are being dumped on by Katia currently with flood warnings all over the place. When the rain is insane, I ride the bus for a few reasons: 1) it is drier, 2) riding through puddles here is dangerous as they could be an insanely large pothole. Flats or wrecks in the rain are no fun.

potholes will attack in New Orleans!

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Today started nice enough, but I knew it was coming so I took the bus to the office after lunch. The wind was getting crazy and the thunder was rumbling. Rain boots, a dress and an umbrella was all I needed to get home dry(ish) and stylishly!

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After my stop, I took a rest at my favorite pizza joint for $5 pizza and pint while watching folks go in and out of the neighborhood bike shop, Mike the Bike Guy (who is awesomely cool).

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Beer in hand (no open container laws here!), I stopped by and said hello to Mike and company, then walked home in the rain. A few puddle jumps later and I was home and drying off.

What do you do to make the best of a stormy day? Do you ride even through flood warnings? Do share!

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I finally got the commuter bike I have been dreaming about: Schwinn Cream. Saturday, which happened to be my 32nd Birthday, I picked her up from Bicycle Michaels. After 2 days of riding I am in love. Fenders, rear rack, upright position, chainguard, single speed…yes, yes, yes.

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Bicycle Michaels was really helpful and fun. The salesguy there told me “today you got a new bike and a bike shop”, how cute is that? Oh, and all the guys in there were kind of dreamy in a bike shop kinda way. I digress…

My only complaint so far is that my panniers have a hard time attaching to the rack, which is curvy and has nothing to grab onto at the bottom. I am working on figuring out a solution, or perhaps will paint my old rack and put it on there.

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Aren’t she and I cute together? I don’t have a name, but am working on it. Ingrid is a top runner. Any suggestions are welcome!

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Whenever I change from my sweaty ride to work clothes (on the days when I don’t wear my work clothes to ride…like when it is 100 degrees), I always feel like a superhero. Going into the bathroom (no more phone booths) and changing and coming out a different person: poof!

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By morning and night she is a hard core cyclist, weaving in and out of traffic, saving the earth and looking good doing it. By day she is a farmers market manager, wearing sundresses and being diplomatic and nice.

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Anyone else ever feel this way?

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Here is New Orleans, we are in Hurricane season (also known as the rainy season). It rains every single day. I am not talking a drizzle, but a good downpour. Sometimes it lasts all day, sometimes just 20 min.

Because of this, I am often caught in the rain on my bike. In this heat a rain jacket makes you so hot that you end up wet with sweat, so I just go for it. If I am headed to the office, I bring a change of clothes; headed home and I just go (I have taken to keeping a towel just inside the door for these occasions).

Monday I had to pop into the office for about 1 hour, so I thought I would be safe. Wrong. Just as soon as I left it started. The kind of rain that floods our sinking streets in 5 minutes, making the never-ending potholes invisible. Thankfully, I was on a street I know well so could avoid most of the potholes, although I hit 2 that nearly shook my brains out.

The worst part? I was wearing a light colored flowered dress. It was like a wet t-shirt contest the whole ride home. Yikes. I won’t make that mistake again, as I got many yells of …ahem…appreciation from other weary rain soaked travelers.

I am sure that once it cools off I will start wearing rain gear, but for know I prefer to cool off in a good summer storm. Anyone else just ride it out in the summer rain?

*This photo does not do justice to just how completely soaking wet I was. Not a dry stitch of clothing on me!