Vintage Bicycle Girl - Spring Fashion on the Wharf

(photo by RidingPretty)

There was a break in the April rains, a nice bright sunny sky opening up.... and then along comes Debbie. She looks so adorably vintage perfect!

She says she often rides around on her lunch break just to get out for some fresh air. Did she work in one of the fine vintage clothing shops around town? Oh, not so...she'd just left her (County Building) offices.

I was so drawn to her beautiful brooks saddle. She said it had been a special present given her. We talked about Raleigh bicycles as I admired hers. I loved her shoes too, ReMix she said. Oh then her pin ...

Debbie's bakelite pin

Lane's Raleigh Sprite Bicycle via LugsChicago

(photos: LugsChicago)

Sometime back LugsChicago left a comment mentioning he was going to be doing some 'NextGirlFriend' bicycle building -- more in keeping, and with an eye out for rebuilds he could do for the ladies. I responded with sure send some pictures in when you do. Looks like he has kept good on his word...

"I built up this pretty Raleigh Sprite last week. The gem goes to Lane, who looks Divine in the saddle."

Ah..."vintage bicycles", "steel", "lugged", "531", are all words that are pure music to my ears.

Now if you are looking for a vintage bicycle yet don't have the desire to hunt down the bare bones of a 'beautiful bicycle in the making' - let alone have the desire to learn the skills to rebuild it---
Well, see if you can find some one like LugsChicago to give you a hand. It could be a solution for you. I learned (with a lot of help from the Bike Church) how to rebuild my own bicycle. This is not for everyone though.

Fashion Blogger Beauty and her Vintage Bicycle

I guess I just couldn't keep myself from resisting - I re-posted them ALL! - The Freelance Fashionblog's photos- the ones where she is wearing these adorable vintage outfits with her vintage bicycle. I just love these pictures!....

(all photo credit: The Freelancers Fashionblog)

But Alas, she has left her lovely vintage bicycle in the snow since November...

(all photo credit: The Freelancers Fashionblog)

Now leaving your bicycle covered in snow is sad, everyone agrees especially The Freelance Fashionblogger... but spring is on it's way with delightful warm days ahead (to dream about for now)... Warm days where you just feel it in your bones that you just have to ride your bicycle!

With that in mind here is some help to get your bicycle ready for spring. I've written a post called Green Clean Your Bicycle sharing my tips - for instance on how to get rid of rust. It will get you started on the road to recovery - for the sake of your dear bicycle!

A Romantic Homage - Girl on the Bicycle

(via shinelikechrome)

A photo that speaks to me on all sorts of levels.
If you look closely you will see pretty 'antique' dolls in her bicycle basket. I love her heart patterned leggings, the little fur shrug and of course the black balloons

I hope to be posting more this week...hmmm. Thanksgiving is such a busy and fun week with family and friends and travel. Holidays are upon us and it's just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.

Metallic Stripes Dress - Vintage Raleigh Bicycle with Wine Basket

(photos by RidingPretty)

Straight away I noticed the Raleigh bicycle with that back wicker basket ideal for transporting two bottles of wine with an extra compartment for food and flowers. I couldn't help but wonder who the rider might be?

Off I went on my next errand. A few minutes later voila!... the rider and I conveniently convened at the intersection. She'd borrowed this 1970's Raleigh bicycle and 'yes, isn't the wicker basket on the back just the best!'... It was filled with (mail?) manila envelopes and other purchases, no wine bottles just yet. AND her dress with it's metallic flecks had the best sparkly effect as she rode through the streets. Her fab green bag in the front basket was so color complimentary to her Raleigh as well. (I just wish my camera had captured the sparkly dress a bit better for your viewing pleasure... sigh ..)

***
This is number four of the four stylish riders I spotted on (hot) Friday, and all in less than one hour, all downtown Santa Cruz. The temperature was in the 90's.

p.s I've shared the photos of the other stylish riders from (hot) Friday, one each day. This was the last one. Very good day for stylish riders, don't you think!

The Heron and The Heron

The Heron and The Heron....

( my 1970's vintage bicycle)

Until I can purchase a proper upright commuter bike like the very popular Batavus... (You know THE ‘must have’ bicycle as ridden by several of the cycle chic cognoscenti), well until then I ride my beloved 'PrettyBritty'. I've never seen another ladies 1960's Raleigh step through like mine around town. And by around town I mean Berkeley, San Francisco and now Santa Cruz my latest hometown. My bicycle is unique and a head turner, and so very recognizable. The artisanal helmet cover prototypes which I am always testing out always get heads turning as well!

I am a lollygag rider. I have no bike to work commute to speak of. I mainly work out of my home studio. Occasionally I work with a hi-tech start-up. Either way I have an indecently short bike to work commute.

So where do I go when I do ride my bike? I go for leisure rides to enjoy the beauty of the place I live in. I go downtown to partake in my favorite activity which is to frequent the excellent thrift stores in pursuit of recyclables for use in the making of my helmet covers. I also primarily dress from vintage and thrift store finds so I’m always on the hunt for a new vintage frock to wear! I go downtown to shop the art stores for supplies, downtown for café outings, downtown for Farmer’s Market, and so forth.

I am still in recovery from the ‘nervous nellies’ after several close encounters with near death while city bicycle riding some years back, PLUS caring for a friend after a head injury sustained from a bike accident with a car. So to cope, I began to seek out walk-able and bike friendly communities as a priority as to where I would be living ultimately. Now when planning all of my bicycle routes, what I do is to take the LONG way. I chose the quiet back roads. Here in Santa Cruz there are beautiful dedicated bicycle path ways. That’s what I am sharing with you in the pictures you’re seeing today. The bicycle path you see in the photo goes along the San Lorenzo River. It takes you downtown, though from the photo you'd never guess you were a just few short blocks away from the heart of downtown!

*****
Update: An anon reader over at Thom's Old Bike Blog suspected my bicycle was circa 1970's.

Anon...I bumbled back here and found your comment last night. Becoming OCD driven I researched and researched. Oh my gosh, you're right!

I purchased this bike off SFCraigslist. In the ad it was advertised & listed as circa 1968. I totally trusted the previous owner's word...he worked his entire life in bike shops and had a major collection of various bikes going back 30 plus years. He himself bought the bike from American Cyclery in SF in the early 90's, at least that's what he said anyway.

So What is the telltale identifier? It's the Raleigh lettering. Slanted (like what's on my bicycle) means it's from the 1970's and later and upright lettering means it's from the 1960's or earlier. So there you have it.

For about 2 hours I was really upset and thought about recontacting the person I bought it from. I decided against it. I like my bicycle, so that's that.

Thom... I guess if you want you can change the title of this post to reflect the correct age of this bicycle.

Alice's Polka Dot Bicycle

(via Alice Point -- photocredit: Marika)

(via Alice Point -- photocredit: Marika)

Meet Alice and her (borrowed for now) vintage POLKA DOT bicycle. She's a stylist living in Krakow Poland, and into all things vintage....especially magical vintage bicycles!
I adore her style!

Mary Kate Olsen in NYC - Riding a Pretty Vintage Bicycle with Wicker Basket

(image via olsen twins news)

Mary Kate Olsen looks like she is riding a vintage bicycle (or at least vintage looking to me). Plus the bicycle is outfitted with a nice wicker basket as well. Love her rounded glasses and they are very much like the ones I wear. I as a fashion observer, well I just love what the Olsen Twins are up to and have to admit I follow their style and fashions via various different fashion bloggers.

Anyway, great going Mary Kate. Love your bicycle!!

SeaSide Bicycle Beauty -- Top Model... Abbey for AUSTRALIAN Vogue

(via 'starbucks and jane' blog)

Acai Cafe and Bikes...Monterey Cruiser

New discovery in Santa Cruz...

I promise to return soon to this fabulous new cafe and bring you more photos!!

I really love the built in bike racks that seamlessly meld into the wood wall. By the way the Acai menu is out of this world, .... the acai berry will fuel you up incredibly for any bike riding you're up for.

So addicted to the smoothies here. My favorite is the 'Hero', it's a mix of berries with acai berry, black berry, blueberry. YUM!



+++++++++++++++

Free, Gratis, Libre'.... That's the sign... it's how I acquired my Monterey Cruiser. Simple, simple bicycle but an honest to goodness cruiser.

A 'beater bike' by most everyone's opinion. But how I love this bicycle!!!! 'Monterey' has a bit of a sentimental ring to it for me ...awwhhh...it's because I live next to the beautiful Monterey Bay.
So an apt name for my new 'beater' bicycle is 'Libre Monterey'.

Check Out My Bicycle

This posted over at Old Bike Blog as my project...there's another picture of her and a bit more of a story about my bicycle included over there. This was a Christmas present!

Classic and Vintage in Fashion

Photocredit/source:Cyclotoine/Anthony (bicycle owner & male model);

Matty Conrad (photographer);

Leah Orton (art director & hair stylist from ‘the fix’ Hair Salon, Victoria, BC)

The photos came from Anthony. He is also the male model…along with his two girlfriends.

"The bicycles are my own personal collection. That's me with my track bike and the other two are my girlfriend's rides. The raleigh I no longer own. Both the marinoni I am posing with and the GIOS are bikes I have built/refurbished to nearly show like condition. They are ridden occassionally for their original intended purpose. In other words, the GIOS is used only for recreational road riding (not commuting or any such thing) and the Marinoni is only ridden in velodromes."

You have to admit these photos can brighten up a winter day!!!

***** correction: Neither of these two women are the girlfriend of Cyclotoine (Anthony) They are models chosen to model with bicycles belonging to Cyclotoine and ridden by his girlfriend.

Bicycle Wall Art

shelly | posted | Monday, December 1st, 2008 |

Vintage Bicycles .... Girls Want Them!

Here is what Chung Pai of Landmark Vintage Bicycles had to say in this article by Lauren Murrow for her piece in NYmagazine...

"What kind of customers do you get?

It’s a hip, young crowd. I get a lot of twentysomething girls who act like they’re shopping for a vintage dress: “Oh, it has a basket for my purse, and it has a cute bell, and the color is pretty.” It’s not just a bike, it’s a fashion accessory."

There is more to the article so read it all here. Chung has lots to say about vintage bicycles.

Cycle Chic Fashion Show ....Nov 1ST... Ireland

Cork, Ireland is hosting this event!!!!
Saturday, November 1St

For the first time in Ireland, the CYCLE CHIC Fashion Show will present how cycling can be fashionable and stylish. European and local designers will show you their latest innovations of trendy bikes, smart clothes and funky accessories.

Turquoise Tandem

Out for a coffee, bicycling together tandem style on this fine bicycle.

Yes, it's definitely starting to cool off. I noticed her cable knit sweater vest and thought how it was just the right amount of cozy to keep warm with when the chill wind kicked in. Otherwise and weather-wise we're still having our beautiful Indian Summer.

Bicycle Pin-up Inspiration #4

photocredit/source: sam rapp/preen magazine

From time to time I post these pin-ups. It's a 'just for fun' category I've named bicycle chic inspiration -- pin-ups. You'll find a smattering of little finds there.

12 years old..and she Gets IT!!!

photocredit/source: stylerookie

She gets it. She really does. This is from a 12 year old fashion blogger...it's her current header for her fashion/style blog.

I just love her bicycle, her gladiators, her red tights and her chic purple dress flying open as she rides... with cute little riding shorts underneath. Okay then check her out here.

*******Update: stylerookie maybe be a little provocative for some.

***Bicycle Fashion Riding Attire-Trend Spotting: bright tights 

Kinda Silly...Vintage Raleigh..What You Get with Bad Credit

Can't afford a car? What about a new brand bicycle? Bad Credit? Then of course you're going to be reduced to buying a vintage (used) bicycle with everyone else looking down at you? NOT REALLY!!!

Anyway on to some of the lyrics:

"Now I'm rollin eco-friendly,
But I still look bad,
When the bike store saw my credit,
They said, 'This is all we have'"

But wait he's riding a pretty forest green, in excellent condition looking, vintage Raleigh. This is a beautiful ride!!!

Like I said this is a silly, silly commercial.
But I laughed.

Sweets

I just loved the feeling this photo evoked.

It’s by a talented photographer Cecilia Ivy.