Genia Blaser is curious about riding a bike in NYC, but she's not sure where to begin. photo: velojoy
posted by: susi
With an expanding network of bike lanes and a bike share system due to launch later this summer, many New Yorkers wonder about joining the growing ranks of people who ride bicycles for fun and transportation in the city. Call them the “bike-curious.”
We invite you to follow the story of one bike-curious New Yorker as she makes her move into the bike lanes. Genia Blaser, a 28-year-old immigration lawyer who lives in Manhattan and works in the Bronx, wants to start riding a bicycle for fitness and recreation, including participating for the first time in the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour on May 6. But she finds the prospect of buying a bike and gear and learning the rules of the road a little overwhelming, and she’s worried about riding with traffic.
In eight articles leading into Bike Month in May our five-member editorial team in partnership with local experts from the NYC cycling community will answer Genia’s questions and help her get on the road to enjoying all the personal benefits of city cycling — from health and fitness to fun and efficiency. Read more…
photos: velojoy
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Ride Your Bike, Then Dig In at Smorgasburg
From Manhattan, it was a quick and easy bike ride over the Williamsburg Bridge last weekend for the launch of Smorgasburg, the Saturday foodapolooza produced by the same folks who bring us The Brooklyn Flea. Big crowds included plenty of cyclists, judging from the content of the fences (above) that surround the East River plot where almost 100 food vendors and greenmarket farmers offer their tempting fare. My advice if you plan to check it out this weekend: Go early to avoid the lunchtime lines for take-away food!
Below from top: Lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound, visitors make purchases at Hot Bread Kitchen Kitchen, organic radishes from the roof-top vegetable farm of the Brooklyn Grange, and cyclists wheel their bikes along an outer aisle.
Read more…
photos: Kim Burgas
Guest post: Kim Burgas, avid cyclist, graphic designer and host of the Get Fancy art
gallery rides, shopped the New Amsterdam Bicycle Show for velojoy last weekend and shares her faves here. Kim regularly rides in heels — with toe cages.
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Many cyclists found refuge in the quiet streets of Chelsea during last weekend’s successful and well-attended New Amsterdam Bike Show.
The timing of the show, presented by the New York Press and benefiting Transportation Alternatives, couldn’t have been better. It was a pleasure to see familiar faces, reinstate a sense of community and be reminded that, despite the current complexity of cycling politics in New York City, riding a bike is still a simple, innocent pleasure.
Geared toward city cycling, the show featured bicycle and accessories manufacturers, local retailers and cycling organizations on three floors of Center 548 on West 22nd Street. Also on tap: panel discussions, book signings, a bike demo area and a fashion show that drew a mid-afternoon crowd.
These were some of my favorite finds:
Biria Bicycles (photo above): This line of affordable, commuter, Dutch-style bicycles is a good choice for the first-time buyer who is looking to cruise around town without having to worry about inevitable dings that come with street parking. Although I currently ride a road bike, I have been thinking about purchasing a second bicycle for more leisurely outings and consider Biria a fitting option. Biria bicycles can be found at several retail stores throughout the city.
Corset Safety Vest: Newcomer Vespertine makes reflective safety vests with a kick. The Gogo, in citron or nude orange, is one of several styles designed around a “safe is sexy” philosophy. A front zipper makes it easy to slip the garment on for day- and night-time riding visibility. The vests are manufactured in New York City’s Garment District using sustainable materials. Available at Hudson Urban Bicycles.
Biomega LDN: It’s not for the New York City commuter, but the LDN is still one of my favorite picks from the show, as it pushes to the max the use of design aesthetics to engage a new audience. It would be great to see more companies embrace style as a functional element in city riding.
Truce Bags: As a city cyclist/commuter/wannabe fashionista, I am always looking for a stylish yet functional bag to wear to work and out in the evening — something that doesn’t shout “college student” or “messenger,” because I’m neither. Even with lots of recommendations from fellow cyclists, I hadn’t found the bag…until the show.
Portland-based Truce offers a line of beautifully designed, weather-proof, and environmentally-friendly bags, totes and patch kits made from re-purposed fabrics.
Spoke Reflectors: These little buggers made by Cycleogical attach to your spokes, transforming your entire wheel into a reflector. A necessity for city riding indeed; my only concern would be theft. Would people really steal tiny spoke reflectors? Sadly, in New York City, I wouldn’t put it past them.
Cycling Caps: Outlier believes that cycling should be embraced as a viable means of everyday transportation, so they tailor their apparel and outerwear to the needs of the commuter. These cute caps fit the bill: simple, well-designed, water-resistant and breathable, they’re a great accessory for both on and off your bike.
An urban city-scape is reflected in the colorful window of a Chelsea bicycle shop. photo: velojoy
May is National Bike Month, an annual celebration of the joys and benefits of cycling, including National Bike to Work Day on May 20.
Riding a bike in New York City is a great way to exercise, get to work, meet new people and explore different neighborhoods. And since we do everything in a big way here, you can choose from a massive array of organized cycling events during Bike Month NYC, from social rides to commuter clinics to Brooklyn brewery tours. How to navigate it all? Here are a few basics to get you started: Read more…
