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.

Lookie! It’s the Bici Coop 3rd Annual Ladies Alleycat! Per usual, men must wear skirts to race.

Event will start and end at Rushton Park. Registration starts at 1:30, race will roll out promptly at 2 pm.

Route around downtown Birmingham (not over the mountain), lots of great prizes for all sorts of things so everyone has a chance to win. After the race we’ll have a picnic in the park hosted by Green Central Station – lots of great food and lawn games will be provided.

We’ve got some AMAZING prizes from:

Cahaba Cycles - http://cahabacycles.com/
Church Street Coffee and Books - http://www.churchstreetshop.com/
Charm - http://www.charmonsecond.com/
Chrome Messenger Bags - http://www.chromebagsstore.com/
Naked Art - http://www.nakedartusa.com/
First Avenue Rocks - http://firstaverocks.com/
Piebird Design - http://piebirddesign.com/
Po Campo - http://www.pocampo.com/
Primavera Coffee Roasters - http://primaveracoffee.com/
Sarah Johnson, Massage Therapist - http://www.sarahjohnson.massagetherapy.com/
Urban Cookhouse - http://urbancookhouse.com/
Urban Standard - http://www.urbanstandard.net/
V Richards - http://www.vrichards.net/

A huge thanks to Green Central Station for partnering with us for the after party and providing the bulk of the food and beverages. Some food will also be provided by Urban Cookhouse.

Going to be the best thing ever! YAYAYAYA!!!

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These sharrows are on 14th Ave, from 3rd to 7th South. That may not sound impressive, but that goes from UAB, our University, to Railroad Park, our newest awesome Birmingham thing! 14th is also a connector to the North side, so it is doubly good!

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In addition to the sharrows, there are “Watch for cyclists” signs at all the stoplights.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, let’s keep going!

Want to see another (hilarious) photo?  Check out Let’s Go Ride a Bike’s post!

CUPCAKE RIDE

When: Saturday, January 15, 10:00 am

Where: Start at Railroad Park downtown, destination Dreamcakes Bakery in Homewood

Why: I feel like some folks fear riding over the mountain. It’s quite an opponent, but if there is a reward at the end, the mountain is much easier to conquor. And there is nothing more rewarding than a cupcake.

The route will take us through Highland Park, up and over to English Village, down beside the Botanical Gardens into Mountain Brook Village, then over to Homewood/Edgewood. Guiltless cupcake consumption will commence, and then we ride on back. The entire route will be around 12 miles so this isn’t some epic ride, just a good amount of riding time at easy pace (maybe 2 hrs or less on the bike?). Hopefully it will be great way for us to hang out and have a delicious day.

I’ll be at the Railroad Park pavilion at 10 on Saturday with my Lemond road bike Whitey, here’s hoping I don’t end up riding alone!

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Weekends are made for straight cruisin. Cruisin to listen to people’s stories about their relationship with food, transitioning to night time parties, leading early morning community garden tours (which again required much more effort than they were expecting), exploration of historic old neighborhoods, parks. All the while waving at passing stangers, laughing at their confusion and comments, finally having our turn with overcast skies and chilly air. Lots of beer, lots of love.

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This past weekend was full of bikes and completely great.

It was one of those drizzly rains where the sky is still wonderfully blue and the clouds are nice and fluffy. An afternoon ride home worth appreciating.

It was so lovely.  Downtown Birmingham goes to sleep early, so the roads were peaceful and the lights stunning.  Wind was blowing and I could smell the springtime in the air, with the storm that hit us brewing above.

the city at night (forgive the lo-fi iPhone photos!)

One thing that could have ruined it was when a car came screaming through a red light at an intersection I was riding through.  Thankfully this has been happening a lot (perhaps my helmet is also an invisibility cloak as this has literally happened 4 times in 3 weeks!), so I am super cautious when crossing green lights.  The car and I screeched to a halt with me yelling “Hey!” and shaking my head.  The driver would not even make eye contact with me.  I was shaking and frustrated for about 2 blocks until I passed over the viaduct and heard the trains running underneath.  Birmingham may suck for cyclists and drivers may be morons, but no one can take away the joy of riding my bike!

I retrieved the Cilantro, rode home and then joined some friends for some porch time.  Today has been rainy and gross, but the pollen is being washed away and the heat abating.  Spring!

Night time at the farm

Joshua, a cycling badass

I digress…

So, they have DUTCH BIKES!  In alabama.  Startling and wonderful, I know.  Last weekend as I was serving up coffee, J pulled up on his Azor.  Being the pushy friend that I am, I told him I would take it for a spin while he shopped.  Which I did.  Of course I loved loved loved it.  Here are some photos documenting my wonderful experience, as well as some showing what a badass J is with all the groceries he carried up the hill.  This hill is not to be fucked with.  It is intense and would kill a lesser man.

A bicycle for 2? Maybe not!

on second thought, maybe we should borrow it for a date!

test riding in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot...classy

makes it look easy

coming up: Kristin’s Oma and the Bakfiets!  Richman’s FTW

Bici Coop will be providing Bike Valet at Birmingham Art Collectives The Show at Woodlawn.  We are excited to be involved with such an event in our city.  “The Birmingham Art Collective works to help artists, designers, photographers, writers, musicians, actors, and other creatives in Birmingham promote themselves and their work.” (from their website)

This show will be a chance to introduce people to Woodlawn, an area near and dear to me.

Providing Bike Valet is encouraging people to get to know that neighborhood in a way that you just can’t get in a car.

How does it work?

You ride your bike to the show, bring us your bike, get a ticket…that’s it!  We keep your bike safe and you get to bypass the parking hassle and do a good thing at the same time.  You will be able to ride right up to the door!  How can you turn that down?

What’s that…you want the details?  Well, ok:

October 3rd, 2009

5-10pm (we will be there from 4:30 to 10:30 taking and valeting bikes)

Woodrow Hall 5504 1st Avenue North | Birmingham, Alabama 35212 (click address for map)

Awesome Art from some wonderful Bici friends, and many others.  Truly, a night to better get to know your city and the talented folks in it.

Please ride your bike.  It would mean so much to me.  If you plan to buy some art, we will figure out a way to get it to you, Promise.  Let’s make this our biggest Bike Valet event ever!!

Shoot me an email and I will help you figure out the best way to ride from where you are.  elisa@bikeskirt.com