Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Adventures on Masonicverse.

On Masonic and Fulton.
como una flor
Como una flor.
I went with my good caffeinated friend to pick up my road bike from the Freewheel bike shop on Hayes. I love those guys. How can I not? -hearts-
The update this time, was to swap out the freewheel for a larger span of gears for those mean rolling hills to come (as if the hills can get any meaner than they already are here in SF...) Three of us ladies and a few of our peeps have signed up for the upcoming Marin Century in August. We have formed our very own team we like to call "the Back of the Bus". This upcoming ride will certainly be the furthest distance for all 3 of us. Regardless we will still have a blast, we are pros at that. je jee.

So after heading to pick up the smurfette, I ended up with two bicycles, two legs and one route. A new friend holding onto my hat wanted to help, but I decided to pass this time.
"essscuse me. there is a bird on your hat"
Bird wants to ride bikes.
The Muni line is really one block away from the bike shop, and on the other end, three blocks away from mi casa.
Given that I had missed the first bus by about a block, why not take some pictures. It would be the first time that I had seen both of my bikes together outside my house. This mural is beautiful, you can learn more about it from a short and informational recent post from BikeNopa

me and my hot ladies
The Frenchie, me, and the Smurfette
A French mixte first purchased in SF in the 70's and an Italian road bought here as well in 2005.
Both steel. Both loved.
ok I love Frenchie more ♥ we all know that.

So now the tricky part was putting both spoiled beauties on the bus. When one is around their bicycles so much, it becomes second nature to know how to hold them, walk them. Hold with your hip without letting it fall. Use the ATM, squeeze through BART and back out without causing a scene or a new pattern of grease on your legs. Lift them up as if they are the latest fiber glass feather-like weight up a long flight of stairs and we have those just as much as we have steep hills around here. I have also seen a number of city parents do this while also putting their kids' bikes. Super
It's hard to explain, but if you ride bikes for sometime, years, it just becomes like your 3 arm. Your 3rd leg. Except that now, I wish I had a 4th leg so I could ride them both home.
are we there yet?!
are we there yet?!
mi two beloved steel ladies ride muni.

Taking both bikes on Muni was not a big deal at all. I was only hoping that the bus didn't already have a any bikes on the rack because I was ready to take over. But had that been was the case - I already had a coffee stop alternative in mind, oh but of course. Both bikes made it home safely, I dropped the smurfette off and went back out again. Let's ride because the sun is still out. Cheers!
blue. teal. blue
Home.

11 comments:

  1. a century?! way to go!! you will have so much fun, especially with other girlies to ride with. you are very brave to ride it on your steel bike..i did one but used my fancy schmansy carbon fiber machine . hehe

    xo,
    è

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  2. I discovered your blog by some means awhile back. Just wanted to say it is a good read and you always put in some good photography. Yours and similar blog from the Boston area is stirring me up to get back into restoring old bikes once again. Boy, I remember my first (and only) century of long ago. You'll do much better I'm sure.

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  3. way to go for the marin century, meli! maybe you've inspired me. don't forget the san francisco randonneurs populaire on july 17th! should be a perfect pre-marin century cruise :)

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  4. yeeeeee! I feel like I'm in a similar situation, since a coworker gave me a very old road bike of hers. And I already had a vintage cruiser, what do I do with two bikes? I love them both

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  5. also, you look like a proud bike mama

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  6. HellO! Your bike is awesome! I've been trying to look for one exactly like that for months! what kind is it?! Thank you

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  7. thanks evoluer!! yes I did it last time quite unplanned for 75 miles on the mixte, it was insane, a milestone and super fun. gorgeous weather and my peeps. nto abd at all :D
    thanks 4 stopping by!

    sinbad/ thanks so much for such nice notes! really. im glad you are able to find inspiration here and other blogs, putting stuff up and sharing it certainly takes some time and effort but is always regarding in the connections that are made over time with bicycle passions between all the bloggers, readers along the way - welcome!! :D

    thanks academichic gals!!

    Lee/ you know?!? YES-that'd be awesome! :D
    +yes, see you at the randonneurlands. im so excited this summer is for riding!

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  8. Eli/ exactly!! I love them both - bet you have tons of fun around, a cruiser and and old bike road sound liek trouble... ;-)

    txell/ gracias corazón!!

    sigrid/ wheeeeeeee!
    and you know this is the season for our spring superwindyyyyy days :D

    hi jobieee/ why thanks!! i super LOVE it. believe it or not im the 2nd rider and owner of this beauty. you can read the story here: link
    -good luck with your bike hunting! keep me posted once you find your lovely, kay?!

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with coffee in hand, sincere thanks for your readership ×