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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!

This Monday I had a meeting in the French Quarter, then another in the Marigny area. I decided to take advantage of my ride home to do some exploring and eating and joyriding. After riding a bit in the Marigny neighborhood. I stopped by Shiro’s Cafe to grab some lunch (after realizing that my go to, Cake, was closed). Great atmosphere, yummy lamb gyro and a beer later, I took off riding again.

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Through the French Quarter in areas that I rarely ride in, as most locals avoid the Quarter like the plague, I found some streets blocked to cars during day hours! I had no idea, and was glad to see how pedestrian friendly it is (Could also be that too many tourists, drunk from hand-grenades and walking around like it is Disneyland, led to this decision…).

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The CBD had some amazing graffiti that I have wanted to look at more closely, so of course I took a ride over.

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Got home just in time for a summer thunderstorm to lull me into a nap. Great day!

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Anna and Ross came down this weekend. It was like a breath of fresh air to have friends that know me well come visit. It was also nice to be able to entertain people at my new home. We rode bikes, ate pastries, drank too many beer and daiquiris and indulged in Alligator Poboys. Sitting by water, talking and laughing with our bikes in the background is a lot like I imagine Heaven to be like.

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SO FREAKING FUN!!

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Sunday morning I rode out to mid-city for the 3rd Annual Bike Second Line, put on by Bike Easy (formerly the New Orleans Metro Bike Coalition), our bike advocacy group. I signed up to volunteer, so when we rolled out at 10am I was already dripping sweat. No problem, the brass band and group of 100′s perked me right up. Plus, everyone was sweaty and having a blast!

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We rode a 10 mile loop around the city with the Bone Tone Brass Band playing the whole time. We had police escort and took over the streets with bells ringing and arms waving. Tourists in the French Quarter loved us and residents all over the city came out to dance and wave. I love a group ride, feeling safe and protected from traffic, the only time I will ride sans-helmet (which feels AMAZING).

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Afterward there was a small party, for which I helped pour beer. After enjoying meeting new folks, including one bike blogger in particular, I headed over to the Bayou Boogaloo with my friend Emily. We wandered about, looked at beautiful t shirts, heard some music and sat on the Bayou. People came on foot, by bike and even by canoe. It was a beautiful sight!

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After stopping for a life changing alligator sausage po-boy at Parkway, I headed home. 6 hours later and sunburnt I was ready for a nap.

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I can’t wait for next years Bike Second Line! More photos here.

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I got to market about 40 min early Thursday. Rather than sit in an empty parking lot, I decided to instead sit by Bayou St. John, right across the street (and smack dab in the middle of the city ). After being sick with 102 degree fever for 3 straight days, sitting by the water with the breeze was exactly what I needed.

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I watched the ducks, the people and the workers prepare for Bayou Boogaloo, which started Friday. Tomorrow morning there is a Bicycle Second Line Parade that begins and ends at the festival. I am volunteering in the hopes of meeting some new bike friends. Pics to come.

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With a work view like this how could I not have a good day? Next time I am grabbing a Po-boy (and/or cold beer) to sip on as I bath in the glory that is New Orleans.

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I love working Saturday market. Everyone is so happy and chill and the market bustles with tourists, residents and occasionally a good celebrity.

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I also love riding to and from market. yes, 5:30 is an early departure for a Saturday (no Friday plans for me anymore), but the roads are peaceful and I get to see the city wake up. It is also much cooler, a huge bonus around here!

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I finally got some shots of me, Bruce (the bike) and the trailer at market. I also got to ride with a coworker, Jessa, so the ride home was even more fun. Bikes + markets + friends = great work day!

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How was your weekend?

Enjoy!

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Do you have a resolution?  Share!

*Photo taken from my balcony, someone strung these up and I love looking at them! THIS is where we live.

I am so thankful for my bike.  I am thankful that I have a body that can move and get me around and that I can feel getting stronger each day. I am thankful that I have supportive friends who help me get around car-free in a city that is un-friendly.  I am thankful that my city seems to be getting friendlier each day. I am thankful for rides to urban farms and art galleries and restaurants and coffee shops.  I am thankful for Cyclocross season.

I am thankful for the amazing online biking community.  I am even more thankful for the real cycling community I have surrounding me, including Anna!  (and Bici, clearly).  I am thankful that riding my bike each day has made me love my city even more. I am thankful for cool mornings and slight breezes.  I am thankful for sunny winter days and shady summer ones.

I am thankful that moving away from a car centric life has made me more thoughtful about my life, my purchases and how I spend my time.  I am thankful that I no longer dress to impress, but dress to live.  I am thankful that my heels get less face time than my boots and my flats.

I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?

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Tonight I got a new (used) bike!  Freddy Mercury has been showing his age and, let’s face it, was never meant for heavy duty commuting.  He is a fancy Italian bike who was meant to be pampered and raced and kept away from heavy U-locks and parking meters and sleeting days and rear racks.  Unfortunately, all of these things have been thrust upon him for the last year and a half.  This has caused endless paint chips, rust spots, dinged components, and more.

I am always on the lookout for a new ride, but with the financial situation, I am never really looking.  Yesterday I got an email from our friend, The Bike Guy, with an offer I couldn’t refuse.  A Trek 2000 with Dura ace components and aluminum frame all for an extremely reasonable price.  I looked at the budget, worked out a payment plan and made plans to test ride.  On the way over, my wonderful Abuelita called and said they wanted to give me my Christmas present early…and it happened to be exactly what this bike cost!

It was meant to be.  The bike isn’t pretty, but will be a great commuter bike.  Changing to some better wheels that I have laying around and putting my Brooks saddle on will be all he (or she) needs.

Now I just need to figure out a good name.  Suggestions, dear Bike Skirt readers?