Winter Wardrobe - Most Worn

When it comes to biking in the cold, I always go back to the same favorite pieces:
 

1. These boots are three winters old and holding up great. Warm, dry feet are critical to comfort, but having cute footwear is also important (right?!).

2. Wool socks are super warm, moisture-wicking, and don't get smelly.

3. This grey cashmere sweater is warm by itself, but is also loose enough that I can put it on over another layer. Its neutral color makes it easy to incorporate in many outfits. This sweater was thrifted by my mom, who has found many other second-hand wool and cashmere sweaters for me.

4. This skirt has been worn for many, many miles. I found this vintage Dolce & Gabbana gem at a thrift store in Rockford, IL about a decade ago. I'll probably still be wearing it in another 10 years!

5. Fleece leggings are warm, cozy and keep me in skirts throughout the winter. For very cold days, I double them up, which works well to block the wind.

6. This scarf was given to me as a souvenir from Scotland by my mother-in-law. After wrapping the soft cashmere around my neck for the first time, I was hooked on this pretty scarf.

Display Bike Photos with a DIY Banner

If you have a smartphone, you probably have more photos than you know what to do with. I've accumulated a bunch of photos from bike trips or rides with friends that would be nice to display, instead of just taking up space on my hard drive. After seeing cute pennants around the Web, I got the idea for this project.

The supplies you'll need are cardboard pennants (you can make your own or buy them pre-made from a craft store), gel medium to use as glue, a brush for applying the gel medium, an X-Acto knife for cutting out your photos, and some string or twine for hanging the banner.

First, pick out the photos you want to use and print them out. Use a pennant to create a template to help you decide how you want to cut out the photos.

After using the template to frame your photo, cut it out with an X-Acto knife.

Put a coat of gel medium on your pennant and carefully mount the photo. Start by lining up the bottom point and then work up from there. Once it's dry, cut out the holes with an X-Acto knife.

Decide how you want the photos to be arranged and then string them up. I simply tied a couple of knots on the ends to hook around nails. Enjoy seeing and sharing your bike photos!

Choose Your Bike Bag Wisely

A bike bag should not only feel great on the bike, it should also be suited for a variety of destinations: work, a hike in the woods, errands, the gym, or a beer stop.

I prefer a backpack to carrying a bag in my hands and I find messenger bags uncomfortable when weighted down. A Fjallraven Kanken is a comfortable backpack to carry that has served me well for over a year now. Here are the features that enable it to fit seamlessly into my lifestyle:

1. Plain and classic-looking design. I think this bag looks nice and works well with my wardrobe.

2. Water-resistant, tough fabric. I don't need to make extra preparations for snow or light rain, because the interior of the bag stays dry. Also, I don't have to worry about snagging or ripping the exterior.

3. Pockets! The side pockets are perfect for stashing my sunglasses and phone, making it easy to pull them out and put them away. The front pocket is where I keep all my daily essentials within reach.

4. The main compartment is large enough to give me the option of carrying a 13" laptop, gym bag, some groceries, picnic supplies, or typically whatever else my ride requires. Yet, the Fjallraven Kanken backpack is small enough to be practical and unobtrusive.

Personalize a Bike Bell

 Create a design you'll love on your bike bell! I'm obsessed with triangles, so it's no surprise the design I created consists of that shape.

The supplies you'll need are a plain bike bell, acrylic paint, a paint brush or two, painter's tape, X-Acto knife, and clear enamel.

1. Cut shapes out of the painter's tape with an X-Acto knife.
2. Place the tape on the bell in the pattern you desire. Be sure it's securely adhered to avoid the paint seeping under the tape.
3. Cover the bell with paint and wait for it to completely dry. I used two coats.
4. Carefully peel off the tape. Then take the bell outside and spray it with enamel per the instructions on the canister. 
Enjoy your new bell!

Goals for 2014

1. I've bike camped at Blue Mound State Park many times, but haven't continued along the Military Ridge Trail to Governor Dodge. It's high time I check it out!
2. There are many State Parks on the lake that would make cool camping destinations, or we could even take a long tour up to Door County.
3. I'm slowly building up my skills as a mechanic as problems come up with my bike. I'm not sure what, but I will learn something new this year!

Merry Christmas!

 

These are the different designs I came up with for this year's Christmas cards. I had fun making them for family and friends and am glad to share them here!

Three Skin Essentials for Winter Rides

My skin care routine changes a bit in the winter to deal with the cold, dry air. In the summer, I'm more concerned with sun-protection and my skin needs less added moisture due to humidity. These days, I'm pretty much drenching my skin in lotion!

Here are the products I use in the winter to keep my skin soft and protected:

1. A high-quality facial moisturizer is your skin's first defense against the wind. Even with exposure to freezing winds, my face never gets dried out. I apply my lotion before heading out in the morning and it lasts through my bike rides to and from work.

2. Even with layers and the warmth generated by biking, dry winter air begets dry skin. I use my favorite body lotion after every shower.

3. I keep this small tube of hand cream in my bag and use it multiple times throughout the day. I like to use it before putting on my gloves and heading out for a ride, after washing my hands, and especially after a climbing session at the gym.

Potsdam Bike Trip

The bicycle tour we took while in Germany was a day trip to the City of Potsdam. We started on the northern edge of Grunewald, a forest on the western edge of Berlin, and biked through the fall colors along Lake Wannsee about 12 miles to the City of Potsdam. The terrain was a bit hilly, which was a change from the completely flat topography in Berlin. As many people on road and touring bikes powered up the hills pass us, we had a tinge of homesickness for our touring bikes.

We had a bite to eat and walked around Sanssouci Park, the site of summer palaces that once belonged to Prussian royalty, before we took our bikes on the train back to Berlin.  

Berlin Biking Families

For many Berliners, everyday cycling is a family affair. The most common methods are either carrying the kids in a bike seat or staying on the sidewalks with the kids riding or striding along on their own little bike. Unlike in Madison, trailers are a rarity.

Berliners Bike

Dutch bikes and other types of practical bikes for transportation are the most common to be seen in Berlin. Several bike shops in Berlin specialize in Dutch bikes. However, this photo collection perhaps over-represents the Dutch bike contingent a bit, simply because they are more interesting to photograph. Although fewer in numbers, distance commuters dressed in bike-specific garb can also be spotted in Berlin, especially if you're out in the early morning hours. Like their American counterparts, these creatures wear bright colors, spandex, clipless shoes, and nearly always a helmet. Only a small minority of the rest of the cycling population wears a helmet.

We found that Berliners on bikes are much more likely to obey traffic laws than Madisonians, specifically in terms of stopping for traffic lights. While bicyclists may act more predictably, so do Berliner motorists, who seem to be on the lookout for bicyclists when stopped at an intersection and waiting to turn onto another street. A number of times I was pleasantly surprised to see a motorist about to cross the bike lane before making a right hand turn, but then come to a stop, look over his right hand shoulder, and wait for me or other bicyclists to pass before crossing the bike lane. - It’s a level of bike awareness among motorists we were unaccustomed to in Madison. Also, what’s strange to us is that there does not seem to be a look of annoyance or impatience on these drivers’ faces, even though they are often delayed by cyclists.

When overtaking other bicyclists, it is not common in Berlin to give a warning. It took a few times of being surprised by a biker passing within about a foot with no warning to be ready for this possibility. It is advised to ride on the right hand side of the bike path/lane in a straight line, as you see other Berliners doing.

While many aspects of Berlin bike culture seem to fit the German stereotype of orderly behavior, the amount of sidewalk riding then comes as a surprise. Although the sidewalk space is typically fairly wide, it did seem a bit chaotic for bicyclists to be weaving around pedestrians. Bicyclists will take the sidewalk if the adjacent street space is too busy or it is simply more convenient to ride on the sidewalk, such as to avoid a one-way street. Also, parents accompanying small children on bikes typically take the sidewalk over the street.