Saturday, May 9, 2009

This late afternoon's ride to St Kilda for Hot Chocolate, Polish Plum Jam Donuts and Fresh Air!




Introducing my new love...



Here she is! A Skeppshult Nova Automat and she's now mine to enjoy riding to work, to the market, cafes and generally anywhere to replace driving to. What do I love about her? She's;

a handmade steel frame made in Sweden

27" wheels

huge front basket

big sturdy rear rack

comfy saddle for cycling with any attire

low instep

fenders

skirt guard! That's right, I ride in a dress!

kick stand

front mega bright dynamo led light that works off your leg power, no batteries needed!

bright rear light

8 Speed automatic changing gears, which is powered from the dynamo hub

coaster brake, and front hub brake

Integrated rear wheel lock that disallows unwanted hands to ride off with your bike.


So whatever you're wearing, where ever you want to go, just put your helmet on and you go! You just have to pedal, cruise and enjoy watching the world go by. Life's better with a bike, and it's even better when it fit's your life style and replaces your car so well.

I've ridden her to the city practice this week and it only added 5 minutes to where my road bike takes 30 minutes. Commuting to the Brighton practice takes a pleasant 15 minute's ride along the beach foreshore bike trail, driving takes 8 minutes. So if you think she looks slow, she quite deceptively isn't.

The front basket quite adequately holds the 4-5 things you might ride to the local shops for to make dinner, or a 6 pack, and the rear rack easily holds a big box of produce from the market when doing the weekly shop.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I'm very close to getting a new gorgeous bike for my short commutes/shopping trips/running errands. It's a chic bike that is just as stylish as is is fabulous quality. But lets not get carried away. It's not mine until it's mine.

In the mean time, I've been thinking about helmets. Such a stylish bike demands a stylish helmet. Not the sporty dashing types that I wear to mountain bike or road cycle. Something that if you left on your head while you wore a dress, it would look great, but also work as it's original intended purpose, as a brain bucket should the worst ever occur. I've just come across Yakkay helmets. The following pictures are of hats especially designed to go with these fabulous helmets. Now....to go about finding how to buy one....


Sunday, March 15, 2009

Five Fingers Cont...

These vibram five fingers have been on my mind. With the weather cooling, and having the female characteristic of cold hands and toes, I've been considering these for yoga as the only alternative is bare feet in the cold studio. Well it's not that cold, but barefoot below 20 degrees and my toes are little icicles.
I've also grown to consider if they are going to help me re-establish muscles and use of my little toes. All they do these days is curl into the neighboring toe and are thus useless, completely. These little toes are designed to work, but modern day man in flat platform shoes makes these little pinkies lazy. And as it goes, if you don't use it, you loose it.
Alot of runners are loving these and saying that it has helped change their running technique for the better. I'm intrigued and have been searching for more info.
I came across Dr Silberman and am interested to try his running technique. See it for yourself;
What's interesting is Dr Silberman critiquing Radcliffe, Gebrselassie, an immediate novice to his technique, and one who had a little time to practice. I've been running for about 2 1/2 years now, but still consider myself a novice. I'm going to give this approach a try, as I'm guilty of heel pounding.
REI has 20% off for members at the moment so I'm almost totally convinced to buy a pair and give five fingers a go. Might give them a whirl jogging around Albert Park. Just as soon as the Grand Priz leaves town.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Gadgets for a terrific cause!



Get yourself one of these. And if you can, get a box of them to sell at work or your club. It's a keyring with a token that works on shopping trolleys and some gym lockers (in lieu of $1 and $2 coins). Put it on your car keys and never be without a coin when it's needed. I've gone into a supermarket heaps of times without a coin for the trolley, and resorted to putting everything into baskets and looking pathetic trying to carry 10kg+ around as I do the weekly shop. Get one of these and problem solved.

But the most important thing is that through buying these, you'll be contributing much needed funds towards a wonderful foundation that directly helps women with breast cancer. Throw in a few $1 and $2 donations at the same time, you won't be needing them anymore for the trolley.

McGrathFoundation

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

WISHLIST

I want these!





Maybe for yoga in the winter, to keep my toes warmer. And when the price comes down too...
ONE FOR THE GIRLS...

If you're a bloke, stop reading this post now. No really, cause if you do read on, you'll likely wish you hadn't later.

I have been growing more annoyed about the price of those certain products one needs to buy every month as a woman. Add to it, knowing you're adding to the cotton/cardboard/etc, landfill, all around environmental impact these products contribute to. I recently remembered a product I came across once in the US but was reluctant to buy at the time. So I went about an online search for it, found it on rei.com. But I must admit I bought it via a retailer on ebay.com as the product and postage were cheaper. A neat little package arrived in the mail soon after, and at my next time to try it, did so. Without going into specifics, it gets the tick of approval and am happy to recommend it to others. I have even used it cycling and wasn't any more uncomfortable for it. It is a little pricy, but if it goes the distance, I should break even after 5 months.

My next female specific product on it's way in the post as we speak, is this beauty. Sani-Fem I'm looking forward to it making life easier out cycling and hikeing. I'm a sadist for getting de-hydrated on adventures through not drinking for the in-convenience of a regular girls bush squat. Review to come.