This photo is from last year’s Critical Mass. Anyone out there with plans to costume your bicycle? I’d love to hear what you’re up to!

My friend M shared this CNN story, about 84-year-old nurse Lan Yin Tsai who rides a singlespeed 150 miles for MS research. To top that, she does the ride in a dress and heels.

I’m beyond impressed. I think I’m humbled.

This bike, spotted in Kendall Square, grabbed my attention by being both old and unfamiliar. It may be that it’s a mish-mash of parts from many bikes, but I think you’ll agree it’s an interesting assemblage. There is a lot of evidence that the bike is Swiss, see what you think.

This bag is most intriguing to me. I wonder what he keeps in there? I’d never explored the space between my fender and my seat tube, though I think his fender sits further back than mine. You can see a Swiss cross at the top of the license plate.

This is an antique wheel lock, clearly it’s of historical interest only as he’s using a modern U-lock on the bike.

The front angle shows what an exotic bike this is on the streets of Cambridge.

Here you can see the serial number, up where it’s easy to read.

I thus think that this number indicates the year the bike was made. Note the Swiss cross in the lug.

The saddle is old but I’ve seen them before. The seatpost, however, is new to me. Is that really a seatpost, or did he re-use a stem in an exotic configuration? (yes, the bike behind this one is missing a saddle)

When I was in 6th grade these slap bracelets were popular. They ended up getting prohibited at school because they make too much noise when every girl in class is obsessively slapping her bracelet all day.

Amusingly, when I asked the Claire’s Boutique employee if I could photograph her product, she told me that I was the second person that day who was interested in these bracelets as a cycling trouser cuff.

Spotted in East Cambridge, the make is no mystery – even though it’s painted over the bike is clearly a Trek. No, the mystery is what is contained in the locked box on the rear rack.

This commuter bike is well thought-out. It has Schwalbe marathon tires, full fenders, those upright handlebars, an internal hub, and both a tail light AND a red reflector.

The mystery box is locked, and there is even a bit of foam in the lock, presumably to reduce the rattle. What do you suppose is in there? I’m hoping for something super-top-secret. Any guesses?

To celebrate that it’s FRIDAY I’m giving away a bike corsage made with the rest of the flowers from my helmet spray. It’s not terribly well-made, it just ties on with a red ribbon, but it’s free to the first person who emails me with the understanding that you’ll send a photo of the flowers on your bike to be published here on the blog. Please, responders located in North America only.

Today was a fun bike ride because Obama is coming to town to give a talk on energy. MIT is in a flurry of excited preparations, I even saw people wearing suits today! I’m gratified to report that while they have barricades up everywhere, they are NOT impeding the bike lanes.

If you’re interested in Obama’s address, more information is available on the MIT website.

Inspired by Dottie’s post, and in agreement with her Emily citation:

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.

-Emily Dickinson

I have switched out my pink flower, and am now wearing a spray of mums and leaves.

OK, this thing is pretty cool. My world-traveling friend E took these photos for all of you. The Trondheim Bicycle Lift is a bit like the bunny slope at a ski resort, but instead of getting little kids up a snowy hill “Trampe” gets big people on bikes up the hill (probably in the snow too).

You can buy/rent the a key card for 100 kr from a bicycle repair shop, a kiosk, the Dromedar Coffee Bar, or at the tourist office.

The sign says

“The bicycle life TRAMPE was intstalled in 1993 as an important part of our program to encourage cycling in Tronheim.

This is the first bicycle lift in the world.

You need to be at least 10 years of age to use the lift. Only cyclists are allowed to use the lift.

The Public Roads Administration advises you to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

In the event of any technical problems with the lift, please ring …”

“He’s got a ticket to ride…”

Up, up, and away!
E tells me that his right foot was resting on a little metal “starting block” type thing that was powering him up the hill.

This hill doesn’t look terribly steep to me, but I know that hills don’t ever photograph as steep as they are. The lady walking certainly looks like she’s going down a steep hill. Additionally, the road is clear now but I could imagine that riding up it in the snow would be a challenge, a bit like the hills of Somerville. Indeed it sounds from their website like their community is a bit like ours.

Trondheim is a hilly city, the third largest city of Norway, yet it has the highest share of cycling in all of Norway. Trondheim is a university city with 30,000 students, 90% of whom using their bicycles as their main transport tool

In a user survey, 41% of the lift users claim they’re using the bicycle more often due to the installation of Trampe, which has pushed 220,000 cyclists up that hill.

I’d love to try it someday.

This lovely submission comes from my world-traveling friend E, who noted the charm of what appears to be a home-made skirt guard on this folding bike in Trondheim.

Ever since I examined the skirt guard of that Pinarello in Washington I’ve been taken with the idea of giving it a try. Could be fun!

This lovely submission comes from my world-traveling friend E, who noted the charm of what appears to be a home-made skirt guard on this folding bike in Trondheim.

Ever since I examined the skirt guard of that Pinarello in Washington I’ve been taken with the idea of giving it a try. Could be fun!