Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cats, Bicycles, Coffee and Barcelona ~**~ Gatos, bicis, cafe y Barcelona

Didn't get to post this pics from trip to Barcelona last year and our stop at Els Quatre Gats (the four cats in English), such an old institution of the Modernist Movement in Spain.
I love the Ramon Casas's self-portrait of himself riding a tandem and the four cats of the coat of arms. And, also, if you've read The Shadow of the Wind (one of my favorite books) this is one of the most important places in the novel.

No me dio tiempo a poner estas fotos del viaje a Barcelona la pasada Navidad y esta parada en Els Quatre Gats (los cuatro gatos) toda un institucion de las tertulias del modernismo.
Me encanta el cuadro del autoretrato de Ramon Casas montando en un tandem y el escudo de los cuatro gatos. Y ademas si te has leido La sombra del viento (por cierto, uno de mis libros favoritos) este es uno de los lugares mas importantes de la novela!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Second Nature ~**~ Segunda naturaleza

Today something quite funny happened to me when I was coming back home after spending my workday in Santa Maria (about 1 hour from SB). I was about half way and I saw a pothole in the road and automatically I lifted my rear in order to avoid the impact of the bumbpy road...the funny part is that I was not on my bike and lifting my behind wasn't necessary as I was driving an official vehicle! I immediately realized how silly my reaction was and I giggled all the way left....Is cycling becoming second nature? Do you ever find yourself reacting like if you were riding even though in reality you are not?

Hoy me pasó algo muy gracioso cuando regresaba a casa después de pasar mi día de trabajo en Santa María (a una hora de Santa Barbara). Estaba como a la mitad de camino y vi un bache en la carretera y automáticamente levanté el trasero para evitar el impacto de la carretera en mi cuerpo ... lo gracioso es que yo no estaba en mi bici y levantar el trasero no era necesario ya que estaba en un vehículo oficial! Inmediatamente me di cuenta de mi reacción y me rei por el resto del camino .... ¿Sera que el ciclismo se esta convirtiéndo en una segunda naturaleza para mi ? ¿Os pasa que reacionais como si fuerais en bici cuando no lo estais en realidad?

Friday, January 21, 2011

Ma Vie en Rose ~**~ Mi vida en rosa

I finally decided to go for pink and this is the final result. All the black in the previous handlebar tape, rims, crank, stem gave La Brava a very serious and tough look. I'm very pleased with this softer look. The shellac makes it shinny and the twine makes it informal. I really like how the pink cotton tape contrasts with the blue frame and how it brings together a more fun and fresh look in the overall aesthetics of the bike.

Finalmente me decidí por la cinta rosa y este es el resultado final. Todo el negro que tenía en la cinta del manillar anterior, en las llantas, y las bielas hacia que La Brava tuviera un look muy serio y ahora estoy muy satisfecha con este nuevo aspecto. El barniz le da brillo, el cordel el cáñamo le da un aire informal y la cinta de algodón de color rosa contrasta con el azul del cuadro de la bici y le da un toque más suave y divertido.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

If you are a Californian cyclist please consider taking action.

Si vives en California y eres ciclista, considera actuar!

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Thanks again for signing the Peopleforbikes.org pledge in support of safer and better bicycling. You and 180,000 other Americans are powering this important movement.

Now, as the campaign enters phase 2, we need your help. We need you to send a short email today to your U.S. Representative that affirms your interest in safe and convenient bicycling, and asks your member of Congress to support ongoing funding for bike projects and crucial programs such as Safe Routes to School.

We are sorry to report that some members of Congress, particularly in the House of Representatives, want to dramatically (and disproportionally) cut the cost-effective federal investment in bicycling projects and programs, like bike paths, bike lanes, trails, and more. They simply don’t know (or overlook) these facts:

  • Bicycling and walking are essential to our communities.
  • Federal transportation investments that support these activities boost our economy, help individuals and government agencies save money, and directly address key societal challenges such as obesity and road congestion.
  • Biking and walking currently total 12% of the trips that Americans make but cost just 1.5% of our transportation spending. That’s the type of cost effectiveness we need now!

We’ve gathered lots of statistics and case studies that back these key points. You can read them here.

In the next two months, Congress will make important decisions that will not only affect the future of bicycling, but possibly your own hometown bike riding experiences. That’s why we need you to send a short note now to your U.S. Representative.

You can find your representative and send your note directly from our website. Click here to review clear, basic, suggested text for your email. Feel free to customize it and/or add a short personal story.


Meanwhile, whatever the weather, we hope that you continue to bike, enjoy every ride, and reap all the benefits.

Thanks so much for your continuing interest and support.

Tim Blumenthal
Director, Peopleforbikes.org

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lovely Vintage Bike ~**~ Precios bicicleta de epoca


And this beauty is from the 30's and runs like butter! I rode on Sunday afternoon and after truly felt in love with the balloon tires.

Y esta preciosidad de los 30 va como la seda! La probe el domingo por la tarde y me enamore de las llantas gorditas.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Murals in Lompoc ~**~ Los murales de Lompoc


Fun Sunday afternoon kicking it in Lompoc to check out their mega cool street murals.

Divertida tarde de domingo en Lompoc disfrutando de sus bellos murales callejeros.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I have been thinking about redoing my handle bars tape with cloth tape and then shellac it.
Rivandell has way too many colors and I can't decide which one to get. What color would you choose?

Estoy pensando en que quiero cambiar la cinta de corcho del manillar por la de tela y luego ponerla una mano de barniz, pero no me decido por el color ya que hay un monton en Rivandell. Que color os gusta mas?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Ventura Sunday ~**~ Domingo en Ventura

First longish ride in 2011: a 28 mile Sunday ride with La Brava. My behind is still feeling it! The nicest part about this ride was going by the beach for quite a while. It was peaceful and beautiful. I'm looking forward to more longer rides in 2011.

Primer paseo del 2011: 28 millas el domingo con la Brava. Mi trasero aun se resiente. Lo mejor de esta ruta es que una buena parte del trayecto es por la playa lo cual hace el camino bastante tranquilo y hermoso. Espero poder disfrutar de mas salidas largas durante este 2011.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Bici T-shirt ~**~ Camiseta con Bici

My sweet co-worker got me the loveliest T-shirt! She said she saw it and immediately thought about me. I love the sweet present and that little by little my coworkers are noticing bikes and some of the them are talking about giving it a try when the weather gets better.

Mi compi del trabajo me regalo esta preciosa camiseta, dice que la vio y que inmediatamente se acordo de mi. Me encanta el regalo y ademas es que poco a poco he notado como van apreciando las bicis y algunos incluso hablan de darle un intento cuando tengamos mejor tiempo.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Homesick ~**~ Nostalgia

I'm back from Spain after spending some time with family and friends, and now I'm tired, cold jet-lagged, and homesick, and yes, I know that I'm being a wanner....and I'm sorry I have been lagging to check-in... To cheer myself up, I guess, I'll post some of my fave pics from the trip. It's the "rotonda del ciclista" in my town, right outside my barrio.

Ya estoy de vuelta de España después de pasar tiempo con la familia y amigos pero ahora estoy cansada, tengo frío, de mal humor por el cambio de hora (9 horas de diferencia) y mucha nostalgia, y , ya sé que estoy siendo una quejica y siento que me ha costado un poco reconectarme. Bueno, para animarme un poco voy a subir unas de mis fotos favoritas del viaje. Es la "Rotonda del ciclista" en mi ciudad, justo afuera de mi barrio.