SoWa Bike

This bike was getting a lot of attention at the SoWa Open Market (Sundays in the South End). There was an Italian family touching it, I got to feeling a little bit uncomfortable with their enthusiastic appreciation - it seems that bike groping etiquette is different across cultures. Would you touch another person's bike? Most particularly, would you explore the firmness of their Brooks saddle?

Speedy Townie

Believe it or not, he was going so quickly it was hard for me to get a good photo of him!

White Raleigh is very Orange

As a Raleigh fan, of course this Carleton-made Reynolds 531 Gran Sport caught my eye as it was parked in Kendall Square. It's been updated in a manner consistent with my personal preferences to make an attractive, practical city bike.

I was particularly delighted to see such a functional front rack, and all the more happy when I got back to my desk and saw that there is currently a coupon available for exactly this rack: Velo Orange Porteur Rack

The whole bike seems to have been updated with Velo Orange parts - racks, grips, handlebars, saddle, bag, and I particularly like those chrome fenders.

I'm not sure about the bag though. It is looking a lot floppier here than my Giles Berthoud bag, on which it was modeled. I would be interested in speaking with the owner of this bike and learning how much exposure the bag has taken. It's all academic though, while one thing is certain - this bike will catch your eye, even if you're running late. Gotta go!

Rainy Day Giveaway - one pair chrome fenders

They don't look like much above, but what you have here are a pair of new-in-packaging chrome fenders sized for Schwinn 26" wheels, in their packaging, covered with dust. Note that this size is different from 26" mountain bike wheels and also 26" Raleigh/English wheels... Sheldon has a 26" wheel size cheat sheet here.

It is entirely possible that these fenders will fit another 26" wheeled bike, but I'm thinking that since Schwinns don't get much love, these free fenders should go to a Boston/Cambridge area Schwinn.

Out of the packaging they should look like these above.

So here's the idea: 
Comment below with a description of your Schwinn. Give me an email address (in comment or by email: chiccyclist at yahoo.com) where we can chat off the blog. We will arrange to meet someplace in the Boston/Cambridge area, I'll take a photo of your poor fenderless-Schwinn for the blog, and you pedal off with some free chrome fenders for a winter of splash-free cycling. Ideally you'd send an updated photo with the fenders mounted, but I won't hold you to it.

The fenders will have to go to the Schwinn whose schedule is closest to that of my Dawes, but I imagine I've already set so many limits here that there will be only a few folks even interested in these fenders... and, like dating, it only takes one match*.


* If you're a cute single heterosexual man with a 26" Schwinn, please note that in the comments too and I'll send a cute single female friend of mine in my place. I won't even tell her why. She's got an awesome pink singlespeed, so you'll at least have bikes in common.

Better Chevrons for Transportation

Chevron's slogan may be "Human Energy", but this jacket displays the sort of chevrons I like seeing on my streets.

Sunflowers

Most of the Tuscan sunflowers were faded by the time we got there, so these cheerful sunflowers in Rome had to suffice.

Fender Detail

Spotted in Cambridge, I believe these minimalist fenders may be homemade. All the more impressive that the ends have such elegant detailing! I could be wrong, but I haven't found any photos on the web showing fenders like these. Anyone?

Summer Jacket

Today is a bit cooler and overcast. I found myself admiring this jacket, the cut of which is difficult to see in this photo but was completely lovely on her in person.

Admiring a jacket? Could autumn be far behind?

Red Shoes, Red Tail Lights

I loved the pop of her red shoes and lights in the simple green and black.
This photo was taken on MIT campus, the story I made up is that she's got some big presentation wrapped in plastic in her basket there.

Vintage Reflector

No doubt that this entire vintage bicycle is pretty cool. However, the rear reflector was unlike any I'd ever seen before.


It looks relatively ordinary at first glance, nestled in the painted design element of the white-tipped fender, but then you see...

those are red glass beads held there, which reflect when illuminated by a flash or a car's headlights. How classic is that?

Red Rover Red Rover

Send the party on over!

Love the portable streamers, and I always love red Raleighs. Summertime!!!

Purple Suede Heels

This lady looks beautiful on her old three speed, but I just love the unexpected shoes!

Friendly Fender

A happy surprise was parked on Newbury Street. I've never before seen such a friendly fender, this bike is clearly the kind of bike all the other bikes want to be friends with, just a based on its reflective stickers.

Hello!

Sunny 3 Speed

This classy three speed bike made me smile. I love the white sidewalls on the tires, the beautifully broken-in Brooks saddle. For necessary modern upgrades we have the Continental Kool Stop brake pads and the Planet Bike blinkie, both of which I enjoy on my own bike (more on that soon).


Those worn cork grips complement the brown frame perfectly, and Grant "Beausage" Petersen would certainly approve. The Crane bell is the perfect touch, of course, and I can't neglect the vintage basket. Everything is perfect.


Since starting this blog I've learned to appreciate many subtle things about old 3-speed bikes (painted fender stays? check!) This one has them all. Perfect.

Handsome Cyclist MGH

I'm happy to be feeling better and ready to start blogging again. I missed you guys.

I have for you here a handsome gentleman spotted near MGH. I got several photos of him but it was difficult to capture the gleam of his bike. Despite the muck everywhere his bike was obviously well cared for. It looks like a perfect city bike - fenders, rack, basket, chainguard, and a sprung Brooks saddle. Beautiful.

Happy start of street cleaning day!

Blue Pinstriped Bike

This blue singlespeed with the enormous basket and matching rack was cute enough to get me to cross the street to check it out, but it was the blue pinstripe on the fenders that really won my heart. Small detail with a big impact.

Sparkles!

It's hard to see in this 'on the fly' photo, but this pretty lady has both sparkles in her coat and in the streamers on her bike. Add her cool boots and helmet, and I was smiling as I followed her over the Mass Ave bridge.

Have fun and be seen out there!

Pretty Blue Fleet Wing

OK, you can tell this photo was taken this autumn. There are no pools of briny snow, and those mums look so cheerful!

I loved this bike for the vivid blue color and the white accents.

Gentleman's Bike

We're not spending much time outside these (cold) days, but I did see this handsome bike.

Black and Chrome

There is a reason that's a classic combination.