In like a lamb

So far winter has come in like a little fluffy lamb.



I'm not too excited for the lion. Cause bicycle parking stars to look like this.



Yuck

Friday the 13th

What a difference a day makes.
The average temperature for this January has been around 5 degrees.

2 days ago was like this.

Today we have this



I'm loving the Snow, it's way better than yesterdays rain.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers.

New Year Old Walls

Happy New Year,

Looking back there have been some great changes and additions to our city.

If murals and street artwork are a reflection of this change, here's to strength in numbers.

Cheers

Bar-Barianz giveaway

The night comes early in December, and for those still riding through the winter I thought i'd have a little giveaway to help brighten someones day ( or night)

Through some trade for print work I was able to secure a lineup of Bar-Barianz Bike Lights.

Some lucky reader will win , "Phantasma de Ojos"

All you have to do is ,"Like" us on our facebook page and answer the poll on,"Do you ride at night?"

We'll pick a random winner from the respondants and mail out your little green monster.

Contest Closes December 20th.

Cheers!

Monday Muuse

From Copenhagen Cycle Chic and Muuse comes our Monday morning wake up call

Muuse.com Meets Cycle Chic ® from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

For the full post on CopenhagenCycleChic Click Here

Cheers.

Vendredi Velo Video

Took a BIXI for a back alley spin



Have a great weekend!

Blockbuster Scarves

Does size matter?


Or does colour matter?



It may if you are choosing a scarf.

Cheers.

Friday First Impressions: Urbana

The Cult part within North American Cycle Culture may have you believe that the cyclist mentality revolves around the Bicycle.
But is that really the case?

I believe it's the experience which is the main reason we pick up two wheels and ride.

When i'm on a bicycle there is a feeling of detachment and freedom I seldom find while walking or driving.

This feeling could explain why others are so reluctant to change once they've been hooked.

So what are bicycle companies trying to sell? I hope its not just two wheels.

Sell me fun.

Sell me the ability to enjoy sunshine and rain,

Sell me stability and security.
Sell me an alternative way to be part of my city.

I've been very selective about reviewing Bicycles so my readers may find it strange that I am going to review a bicycle. ( i'm actually a virgin reviewer)
However I was intrigued by the crossover concept of Urbana Bikes as they value the FUN in Function.

First impressions after the first spin around the block?

I'm all smiles.

Stay tuned for my full review.

Have a great weekend.

From This to That

Soon this will be the new standard on our cycle styled streets.


After all.



This is Canada.



We ride in winter.

Taking off for Thursday

I'll be off with the family tonight to beautiful Bavaro Beach,

So i'll be combining my usual weekly flickr Fave in this post.

This weeks fave comes from Amsterdamize, who exists in a bicycle nirvana

that I hope to visit next year with the family.

It's a photo excerpt from his Hurt and Heart post.

My son pointed out a caption from his favourite author that is perfect for this photo.

"Stop dog stop the light is red, GO DOG GO! it's green ahead!"

~Dr. Suess

At first glance the joy in her face shows no indication that she is injured.

And with the approaching winter upon us this type of mentality is what we need.

Keep smiling, Keep your head up, and Keep riding!

See you next week!

I AM LARRY

The embrace from a loved one, the warmth of a lingering kiss, a hand to hold when all alone

and the friend who has your back when you're wrapped up in a crazy life triangle.

Some say it's only an accessory, however when you find the perfect scarf it can be

the catalyst that morphs an outfit into an experience.

Meet the Larry Scarf.

It's the offspring of a collaboration between "d a c e" a clean lined Vancouver based designer

and "Larry", who through the nomadic wizardry of well cared for Alpacas,

has created the perfect contrast of clean and confusion.

I was chosen to win this amazing scarf through the d a c e comment contest,

where I had to describe which d a c e coat I would pair this scarf with.

I left the following tidbit to seize the day,

"As a guy, I'd rock that scarf with the camel star cape, denim skinny jeans and some argyle socks and chukkas..

I'd also need some vintage riding gloves, a busted up English driving cap and a kick ass bicycle.

A bottle of wine would go pretty sweet with it also."

Riding a bicycle is the perfect reason to wear something around your neck,

and if you don't have the luxury of a friend to hug you while riding,

a scarf is the next best thing.

Thank you d a c e and larry for being my hug.

Cheers.

Fall into Friday

Early mornings are frosted over as the red line dips below zero.

you'll need more than that coffee to warm your soul on your ride.

Layers of clothing and color, and changes in hem lines and hand accessories are a necessity.

It's SS season! And we're not referring to a Single Speed...

Sweaters and Scarves can make a bold statement, and keep you toasty through the wind gusts.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers.

Friday Flickr Fave is Golden

Coming off the Tweed Ride high, i'm settling back into the autumn blues...browns and Gold?

From Miss Cupcake Ride herself comes this wonderful capture,

No its not Halloween, and that isn't an Oscar riding a fixie.

It's a Deadly Night Shade rocking some golden glam and fur for the last Style Spin of 2011.

I'm going to have to make it out for one of the spins next year...

Toronto has some awesome group rides...

Hope to see you all on one...

Happy Friday!

TORONTO TWEED RIDE WRAP UP

It was an amazing turnout for the 1st Toronto Tweed ride.

The drizzle and 60 km/h wind gusts made traversing the iconic TTC streetcar tracks a menace,

however we kept calm and carried on.






The ride itself was the climax to weeks of planning outfits, raiding value village and grandparents closets for vintage treasures and teacups,



polishing shoes and chrome parts and building teams and new friendships across Toronto’s cycling community.




I was proud to see a such a positive gathering of smiles and moustaches.




As a benefit for Bikes without Borders the Tweed Ride raised over $10,000.00 which will go toward building up the global cycling community



and linking their common needs to ours. Hip Hip Hooray!




I look forward to being part of the next ride and hope to see more people join.

For additional coverage of the ride please click on the links below.

Dandyhorse: Bowlers, Bow Ties and Bikes:

Toronto Tweed Ride Flickr Pool

Toronto Tweed Ride Facebook page

Toronto Tweed Ride Facebook Photo Album

The Grid TO: Snapshot Tweed Ride

Torontoist: Spotted: Tweedy Bike Riders

Toronto Verve: Need for Tweed

SnapTO Downtown Tweed Ride TO

Here are two videos I took of the ride.

Cheerio!

Sound and Socks Give Away

Staying true to the Tweedride themed soundtrack running through my mind,

I am doing our very first giveaway!

One lucky person will get a wonderful pair of unisex knee high argyle socks

(they can fit my calves!)

Perfect for a tweed outfit or for adding some diamond love to your legs.

They are paired up with Matrix NRG mini speakers which are perfect for plugging into your iPhone or non working Blackberry and streaming music in your front basket while you ride.

I personally use my speakers in a martini shaker attached to a coffee cup holder for a waterproof genie in a bottle sound system.

See the DIY video below.

So here's how to enter to win.

1. Like our facebook page ( the link is also on the sidebar)

2. In the comments on this post or in the comment on our facebook page linking to this post, tell me what your favorite street to ride on is.

( It doesn't have to be in Toronto)

3. Smile every day. Even on Monday.

From the entries I'll generate a number sheet and have Mr. Dia circle a random number.
if that was your entry number, Hooray! you win.

The giveaway contest ends on Halloween 12:noon Monday, October 31st.

I will contact the winner with the delivery details.

Good Luck!

{*Due to border customs issues for electrical devices, only Canadian entries can be accepted to win....

However please like our facebook page for future contests and giveaways..}