This past week was the 10th annual local "bike week," but it was my first. And since I'm generally a bit of a joiner, I was thrilled to get to participate.
The main way in which I participated, aside from just continuing to bakfiets my way through life as much as possible, was by attending a breakfast for bike commuters downtown. This involved setting the alarm and leaving the house a good hour ahead of when we normally would (7:15 as opposed to 8:15). And it also required that I tolerate the 3-kid chorus of "I'm freezing!" for the majority of our bike commute (it is still a bit chilly in the mornings here). But it was all worth it.
The bike breakfast was definitely a scene. A scene of all sorts of bike-loving people, yummy local food, and very enthusiastic energy.
Not to mention the large and varied collection of bikes! It was like a vision of a futuristic parking lot (at least that's the future I dream about).
Luke and Jaz quickly joined up with some of their pals, and hopped into the pedicab for a ride (the pedicab is owned by some friends of ours who live car-free and bought it to use when their (aging) mothers come to town. Isn't that sweet?). They loved it ("it's waaaay more fun than the bakfiets, mom"), and had a great time at the event.
Zeb focused on eating his bagel and cream cheese while taking in the flurry of activity around him.
I find I'm often at a loss for words when I'm around hardcore cyclists. The truth is that I really don't know all that much about bicycles. I just like riding them. Sometimes when people see me riding the bakfiets around town, they assume that I am one of those hardcore cyclists, but of course I'm not. I don't even know how the bakfiets works really, and I'm certainly no good at explaining anything bike-related to a non-biker. So I can feel like a bit of a poser when I'm standing around in a crowd of real bikers. Which is not to say that it's not a welcoming group of people. Really, that's what bike week is all about. Bike week wants joiners like me. The more bike commuters there are, the more bike commuters there will be. Biking is catching. And I love being a part of spreading it around.
Lena surprised me a couple days ago with one last birthday present that, coincidentally, went along quite well with the theme of the week. It's a t-shirt with a bicycle on it, and I love it. She got one for herself too (one of the difficulties of a lesbian marriage; we will have to be very careful to never wear them at the same time), and here she is, modeling it:
"Really? You need to take my picture right now?"(34.5 weeks and grouchy . . . and soooo beautiful)
In the spirit of my very first bike week, I'm inspired to offer my very first giveaway to one of my blog readers. The winner (who will be chosen randomly) will receive one of my tiny hand-dyed t-shirts with a tiny bicycle appliqued onto it. The size (newborn-24 months) and color of the shirt will be chosen to suit the little future-bike-lover in your life. For a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
bike options
Posts
36 comments:
Hi Lex,
I have a friend who's little boy would love that shirt... after he is born, that is. :)
Fantastic! And Lena does look absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to see the newest member of the family. Happy Bike Week!
yay, i see my bike trailer in one of your pics :)
if i win, i will give the shirt to neighbors expecting a baby this summer - i know the dad-to-be bikes, and mom-to-be was the one driving me to UMass last summer with my bike on her bike rack so i could bike home.
and i don't think it would be too gauche to wear the same shirt - are they different colors?
I love give aways:) Your blog is my FAVORITE thing to read ever. Very inspirational to me... And biking, well, is there a better means of transportation? I mean, really!?
Laura
Aww how cute!
I'd love to enter your giveaway, it'd be perfect for my adorable cousin. :D
Wonderful! You inspire us to bike this week!
(I would love to be entered in the contest as well)
We didn't know it was bike week there but we are still loving the bikes here even though we're heading into winter now. We just bought a new bike to join the bakfiets, a "Jake the snake" cyclo-cross! Love the bike tshirt and what's not to love about a giveaway? :D
it looked like zeb got a haircut. looks great! we've got a wee one due at thanksgiving. we're getting into the spirit of baby clothes now:) love to have one of your cute designs.
Yay contests!!! I love your little shirts, I have been tempted to try it myself but haven't felt brave enough yet. . . maybe if I win one I will be inspired!
You are a true Biker in my eyes. Love you. (I don't yet have anyone small enough for the prize, but I still wanted to send thoughts!)
Hmmmmm - I forgot I am on Kyle's computer. He sends hugs too, but this is me! xox May
I love all your crafty ideas! Lena looks great...can't wait to "meet" leo. Congrats!
i never learned to ride a bike myself and am hoping my daughter can avoid that sad fate (her dad is a big biker so i think she'll be all set!). i'd love one of your adorable shirts for her :)
liza
Happy Bike Week! I've got a fetus that I imagine might look great in a tiny little bike t-shirt, come August...
love love love your blog! i am just 2 or 3 weeks further along than lena (with my first-a boy) and found you by googling "34 weeks pregnant" or something to compare my belly at that time to other moms. google found one of your old maternity pics on here. my husband and i are now totally smitten too! love the goats, love the bike, love the crafts, love the kids! thanks
I am so inspired by your blog and always look forward to reading it.
Your blog inspired me to buy an Electra Townie for me and an iBert for my son. We love them and have been riding our bikes almost everyday since then. My husband was jealous and bought himself a Townie too. Two weeks later we added two xtracycle extensions and love that we can just take our bikes and our kids and go.
Happy Bike Week!
leo is going to be here before any of us knows it! i can't wait to meet him!
and i'm hoping i can nab that shirt for my girly pants... as always, a wonderful blog!
Hello from another Pioneer Valley Resident, and future bike-riding 2-mom family (which is to say, we've got the women and the bikes, but not the babes yet).
If I win, I'll pass the shirt along to some bike-loving friends who are expecting a little boy in July. They are those kind of bikers (the serious kind, i mean), and would love this for their kiddo.
I'm a long-time reader and have loved following your story. I'm finding we have lots of mutual friends/acquaintances, too :)
small world.
happy bike week!
Sophia
Sounds like a fabulous event! Cheers to the biking inspiration herein!
I know very little about bikes in general, but so love my bakfiets. It has been fun to discover the biking community here in New Haven but sometimes I feel lost around some of the language/questions. Great t-shirt on Lena (you'll have to post a photo of you in yours as well).
In Belgium, I LOVED seeing the parking lot for BIKES near the train stations! Really, it was THAT big. Just SO So many bikes parked up together. Beautiful sight.
No more babies for me, but I sure know some VERY pregnant ladies right now (of course, Lena would probably not need one, but there are others!).
Love to you all,
Iris
Love the shirt! We have an old used heat press and have been making some totcycle and kidical mass heat transfer shirts, but yours takes the cake!
I am not hankering for a shirt (but I know someone who would be!)
You should come blog on the non-blog for non-bikers in the Pioneer Valley: http://happyvalleybikes.blogspot.com/
Sadly, I made it to NO bike week events, life was too crazy.
I wish we could have a Bakfiets! Do you think my goat-sized dog would fit?
My little dog is Ok in his trailer, but I hate how much extra drag the trailer makes. Do you think it's easier to pedal the bakfiets or a bike with a trailer?
oh, i do love a contest...
happy bike riding and happy spring!
and thank you!
Hey I have a 9 month old that would happily sport one of your awesome shirts.
Also, your family looks great out there biking... but where are the pictures of you?
I'm late to the party, but what a great time at Bike Week! Also, I totally empathize about hanging out with "hard core" bikers. I hold my own OK, but really, it can be hard to keep up. I just want my bikes to work...
Both of my brothers-in-law are into bike gear (one is even a mechanic), but I think I actually ride more than both of them put together (well, when I'm not pregnant).
--Dorea (carfreewithkids.blogspot.com)
While I love all your crafty creations, I'm not chiming in for the prize. Unfortunately, I don't currently know any people small enough to fit into one of your adorable shirts. Maybe in a few years :)
I just wanted to say that I love reading your blog! I found it through a gradeschool friend and neighbor's Facebook page. My girlfriend and I only wish we were real life friends with you, as you seem like such a fun bunch!
We, too, love biking and are very much enjoying the house we bought just off the bike path. We've also gotten very good at changing flat tires. The recycled glass over the bridge doesn't so much agree with my road bike. Hasn't stopped us from riding, though!
Anyway, happy (belated) bike week to all!!
Bikes, bikes, rah-rah-rah!
Trikes too, la-la-la!
Cycle, bikle, trikle too,
We love bikes and so do you!
I'm an avid follower of your blog, although I find it very hard to comment. (I tried to leave a comment before and it wasn't accepted.)
Anyway, I'm very impressed by the bakfiets and seriously don't understand how you don't fall over when starting or coming to a stop. There are only two tires, no? Impressive.
Ok, I haven't commented before, but I must let you know how I covet the tiny tees you make! I love reading about your creativity and your beautiful family. And I'm sure my 6-month old daughter would love a bike tee!
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Yay for giveaways!
Is there still time to enter? My Zuri would LOVE an adorable little bike shirt.
Ohh-- PICK ME! I'm 17 weeks along with our second, and my husband is an avid bicycle commuter. A little baby cycling shirt would be just too cute.
Related: have you thought about adding a store to your blog to sell your cute shirts/other hand dyed goodies?
bike shirt my wee man! he would love it!
We would love a bike shirt for our first baby due in early September! What a great idea!!
My daughter would love this. She is obsessed with anything that moves - cars, trucks, bikes, and has to stop whatever she's doing to watch them go down our street. She loves her plastic cars, and watches for the mailman. We think she'll be a mechanic :) Cee
ceevegnashville [at] gmail [dot] com
i love those thin, long photos you take. do you take them like that, or crop them?
would <3 the tiny bike shirt! count me in for the drawing.
Post a Comment