Today's post is my crappy photos edition. I don't know why but my iPhone took really bad photos this last batch... not that my photos are Pulitzer prize-winning quality to begin with. It's now very warm in DC which means that while I'm getting my cycling in around town, I'm also very sweaty. Maybe that's why my photos suck, because the phone is covered in sweat.

Found this ride interesting albeit a tad sad. Someone took a newish (1990s?) Schwinn city bike and hipstered it up a bit. It's been converted to a single-speed, has requisite hipster day-glo grips and plastic pedals. Chain and cranks are also anodized colored and, of course, a sleek saddle. Sad panda. :(

This one is parked in Columbia Heights by Ms. City Planner's place all the time. I forget the make and model of it but it's a nice bicycle. Owner leaves it locked up outside in all weather. This particular bike gives me hope that I haven't ruined my Brooks saddle when it gets a few rain drops on it if I forget to cover it. I have seen this thing out in torrential downpours without any protection and it still looks fine.

A Linus Gaston 3 in Columbia Heights. I've said it before, I'll say it again, I really like these style of bikes. There's the Pashley Guvnor, the owner of BicycleSPACE also has designed a similar model for his line of Kugler Cycles. Very sleek and sexy. This one has metal fenders with mud flaps added to it. Plastic milk crate is a nice tough although it's a tad large for my tastes.

A PUBLIC C7 bicycle also in Columbia Heights. I would say this one is relatively new, given how clean the cream-colored tires are. Those are a pain in the ass to clean, but if you use a magic eraser sponge on them, it makes the job much quicker and easier. You know you love your bicycle when you are willing to clean the tires.

An older V7i PUBLIC bike, again in Columbia Heights. It's older as it's in the cream color which PUBLIC has made in the V7 frame in awhile and it has the distinctive three stripes on the front fender. Also, which denotes it's quite old, it has the three stripes on the rear rim as well. They haven't put those on their bikes in a long time. Interesting facet to me is the head badge is on the down tube like on the M7 mixte frame bikes.

I had to go up to NYC (Brooklyn and Manhattan) for a day trip recently. It was interesting to see how our more urbane and hardy cousins up north deal with cycling. Now, whenever I'll hear people saying how District riders are "hard core" for riding on the streets, I'm just going to laugh in their face. Our rides are like a jaunt down Main St in Pleasantville after visiting New York City. To those that ride on the streets of the Big Apple, you da real MVPs.

This is a bad photo but I tried to show what Manhattan riders have to deal with. I took this photo while crossing the street and trying not getting clocked myself by cars and bikes. There is a green-painted bike lane back there. It is not physically separated from the vehicle lanes. There are cyclists back there, lead is on a CitiBike. I failed to capture that there were also cabs pulled over, delivery trucks as well as cops all up on the lane and Really. Big. Potholes. There's also garbage and cardboard boxes in the lane. It's pretty much Damnation Alley (holla if you've ever actually seen that flick) for cyclists. CRAZINESS.

Nice gleaming row of CitiBikes, NYC's bike share program. Bikes are same as our CaBis. Said manufacturer of both bikes has since gone into bankruptcy with a new owner hopefully sorting things out soon. This is in Brooklyn next to the York St. station. I saw a LOT of CitiBike users so that's awesome that people are using it. Hopefully it has shut up the detractors of the program in NYC, but... probably not. You'll notice that at this station, which was typical throughout the city, there are a lot more bikes per station.

When I stepped out of the York St. station, this is where I want to insert the Buzz Lightyear meme and say "Bicycles. Bicycles everywhere!" But I don't want to turn this blog into Brightest Young Things. But yeah, there were a ton of bikes, true story. So let's get on with the photos!

This is a Heritage bicycle, handcrafted rides from Chicago, IL holla! This model I think is the Chief with different handlebars. Lot of high-endish stuff on here... Brooks saddle and grips, Velo Orange fenders and chain guard, and Tektro brake system. Also love the Bowery Lane Bicycles wood crate on the rack. BLB makes their own bicycles as well out of NYC but sells the crates separately for $50. Maybe I need to get into that business... because my crate construction and utility is better. ;) All of this was locked up with a heavy duty Abus chain lock.

Really old and rusted over Huffy bicycle. The entire surface of this bike was rusted over but the chain itself was well maintained. Maybe the rustier the bike, the more hipster it is? Seat was also removed by owner for security. I saw a lot of that in NYC, people taking their saddles with them after parking their ride.

Linus bikes. Linus bikes everywhere. This company really does have a great marketing and sales distribution system. Their bikes are EVERYWHERE. This Roadster is locked up with an Abus folding lock. The Brooks saddle is also locked on with its own separate security chain.

One of PUBLIC's distinctively orange C7 bicycles. Even its stock saddle is locked down. Personally, I really hated the stock saddle and you can buy replacements for $5. So saddle theft must be huge in NYC if you are locking that down. I really wish PUBLIC had made the V7 in orange, I would have totally gotten that.

I was walking down the street in Manhattan and saw this Vanmoof parked there. The owner was standing next to it and we talked about his bike a bit. It's an F series bicycle that he bought from a shop in Brooklyn. And he replaced pretty much a lot of things on it, in his words, "to survive the mean streets of Manhattan." He binned the stock cream-colored tires because they got dirty too fast (true story) and couldn't handle the rugged streets so he put on big ass tires on it. He also replaced the stock grips with more ergonomic sporty ones that allowed him to aggressive thrash the bike about when he needed to avoid potholes. He added a front brake to it so he could stop quicker when "effing tourist buses pulled in front of him."  And finally he replaced the Brooks saddle for a sports gel conform seat because "I got a big ass and it needs to be coddled." Said coddling saddle is also secured the hell down to the frame. He was a really nice guy and we enjoyed talking about bicycles for a bit. He was impressed I knew about Vanmoofs. Personally, I don't like the over-engineered look of his ride but when you gotta ride down Damnation Alley every day, you gotta do what you gotta do!

This is the first time I've been back to NYC since I've gotten into biking and I got to see The City through different eyes because of it. I love that biking does that to you. Things that seem old and tired suddenly seem new and refreshing. I had planned on visiting the guys at Brooklyn Bicycle Company to meet them and see their office but I ran out of time. Hopefully I'll be back and get to see them soon.

As a head's up, I will be organizing a bike scavenger hunt in DC on July 12, 2014. I will post up official details on July 1 but this will be a ride where teams of 2-4 riders will scour the city for items off their hunt list that will be DC- and Dutch-bicycle focused. You do not need to have a Dutch bicycle to participate... just a bike. Look forward to see you there and have a great weekend!

Holy crap, it's been a month since I've updated. That's not good, not for all the money you folks pay... which is nothing. So it's been busy for me and a lot has happened in the month and half since my last post. I'm still very much riding, still very much into city bicycles. So this is going to be a super long post, almost as long as one of Bike Snob NYC's daily posts.

Two major bike-related events happened in DC during my online absence. First was Bike To Work Day on May 16. Just to be an ironic hipster, I actually had that day off. But did a simulated bike ride anyways, even dressing up as an English chap in full shirt and tie, rain coat and wool flat cap as it was pouring rain that day. It was a lot of fun, I rode from Ms. City Planner's place in Columbia Heights and checked in at the NoMa station and got some free swag. Not many cyclists making the commute along 11th St. NW but there were a lot of people checking in at NoMa. Free bagels and donuts and swag will do that!

The second event was New Belgium Brewing Company's traveling circus Tour de Fat on May 31, 2014 at Yards Park. This cavalcade of everything bicycle love-related was a lot of fun, really well attended with an awesome crowd, and the weather was delightful. Only two real drawbacks of the day... first was the parade/group ride. We traveled all of 4 miles over the course of an hour and a half. There were a TON of families and participants which was great. There was no traffic control so large swaths of bikers had to keep stopping and going with the lights and stop signs through the Capital Hill neighborhoods the route ran along. Second drawback was there was almost no food vendors... there were two food trucks to service thousands of people, and both trucks served.... pizza. Otherwise, a great event filled with music, weird and wonderful bike contraptions and lots of good beer.

All that said, let's get on with the bicycle photos bro!

This is a Bilenky bicycle. There are so many cool facets of this ride. First, Bilenky are hand-made custom bicycles from Philadelphia. I couldn't tell you if this is their steel or titanium frame. It had a baby buggy hitched to it, so I found the HUGE REAR-FACING LIGHT pretty interesting. There are also two honking big lights on the front rack, all powered by an internal dynamo hub in the front rim. Of course I love the Brooks saddle. I also love on the Bilenky frame the brake line is hidden in the frame. The user also has a POC helmet which is pretty high end stuff. And, I'm glad to see, the rider locks it all up with an Abus folding lock. Taken in a parking garage in Adams Morgan.

I've said it before and I'll always say it again: I have a soft spot for Schwinns in my heart. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs during the 70s and 80s, arguably the hey days for Schwinn, a Chicago-based manufacturer. All of the manufacturing takes place in China now but the name will always make me nostalgic. I liked this Schwinn Discover city bicycle, also in Adams Morgan.

I didn't catch the make of this one. It's a unique mixte-esque frame bike. Kinda jelly over the disc brakes it has. The racks are also unique as well. Nice Brooks saddle as always. I like the folding double-sided kickstand. The toe straps, not so much. Also in Adams Morgan.

A true mixte frame bicycle, this is a Takara... manufactured in Japan in the 70s and 80s. Once again, another Japanese bicycle, another rear wheel red reflector. It must have been law back then that all bicycles must be equipped with such. I like the placement of the rear caliper brakes right behind the seat stem tube. Taken in Adams Morgan

It almost doesn't get any more unique than this. This is a Vanmoof, a Dutch bicycle manufacturer that has "modernized" the traditional utilitarian Dutch bicycle. Frame is welded brushed aluminum, it has disc brakes, fully enclosed chain guard coupled with an internal gear hub. An LED front light is integrated in the frame, powered by an internal dynamo hub in the front wheel. Really cool and modern city bike. Taken as I was leaving Adams Morgan.

Yes, I like Schwinn bikes. In particular, the Schwinn Varsity is the model that everyone pretty much had where I was growing up. This one is from the 70s and is in great shape. Using a cable lock to security it up is not so great however.

A CitiBike by Biria Bicycles... sounds Italian but they're actually German. A really clean step-through bike. I like the front rack and I'm always thinking of adding one to my ride. However, it's kind of rendered useless with the front basket mounted over it. I like the rear-flip kickstand and the mud flaps are a nice touch. No lights though. :( Taken on Barracks Row.

Thought this was cute... Opus is a Canadian bicycle manufacturer. The Rambler is their city bike for kids. It's so cute! A little Dutch-style bike for kids! It even has mud flaps! The one thing it doesn't have is a chain guard. I would think parents would not dig all the chain grease on their kid's right pants cuffs. But then, probably, the kid is already getting his hipster on and rolling up that pants cuff. Taken in Eastern Market.

This was taken at Tour de Fat. There were a TON of cool bikes there. So much so that this is only one of two photos I took from that event I was having so much fun. My iPhone was probably almost out of battery power too. A Brooklyn Bedford 7-speed bicycle made in... well you get the idea. Nice clean lines and I love the sweep back handlebars. No chain guard but... it's got lights!

The other photo I took at Tour de Fat, believe it or not I took the photo of the bike in front... there just happens to be a PUBLIC bike in back with it. I didn't catch the make of this light blue bicycle but I love it. The handlebar style is exactly what I want on my ride. The straight-back arrangement is common on English bicycles and it has the leather Brooks grips on it to match the saddle.

Took a photo of this Ross Eurotour because it's very similar to the Ross that Ms. City Planner rides. This one is in great shape and everything on it looks to be original except the tires. Taken outside SUNdeVICH in Mt. Vernon. We have tried to go there like three times now, it's closed every time we ride there.

Ending it with a Pashly Sovereign... so sexy, so classic. I want one so badly. This one has the largest bell I've ever seen on a bike. Taken in Eastern Market.

So a few personal asides. For a full week in May, I tried commuting by bike to and from work. I live in Navy Yard and I work in Calverton, MD. By car, it's 18 miles one-way. So my route was to bike to the Rhode Island metro station and catch the 86 bus all the way to Calverton. My office doesn't have shower facilities so no way I'm riding up there in the morning. After work, I would take the 86 to College Park and bike all the way home from there. That's 11 miles one-way. It took me a while to find a good route to take as once you get to the District, it's kind of hairy getting home without having to take either Rhode Island Ave. or Bladensburg Road, both which are very unfriendly routes for bicyclists.

So I take the Anacostia River Walk Trail to the District line. Unfortunately, this trail doesn't go all the way down the Anacostia to Navy Yard... that would be too easy, right? They're building that extension but it won't be finished until 2016 at the earliest. I didn't know this the first time I tried that route and rode the trail until it dead-ended at a picnic table next to the CSX rail yard in Bladensburg, MD. WTF. So I had to backtrack about 2 miles to get back into the District. From Rhode Island, I take local streets until I get to Brookland and then take the MBT home through NoMa. The MD part of the ride is really really nice. Here's a typical view from the trail:

Once you get into the District, though... not so scenic. Oh well.

Bike parking in DC is becoming a problem of it. There is simply not enough of it. Do other bike-friendly cities have this problem? I think that city administrators either simply do not know that bicycle use in their populations have skyrocketed and are unprepared or they just don't care. Either way, especially on weekends, it's becoming a chore to find a spot to lock up your bike.

This is outside Ted's Bulletin on 14th Street Memorial Day. The scene is the same entirely up and down 14th. Bikes locked up to street posts, tree boxes or parking meters. It's ridonkulous. And as they add more restaurants, retail and apartments, it's only going to get worse. You should see it outside the new Trader Joe's... bike armageddon.

I've also been having fun with 3D printers. The DC Public Library MLK Memorial Library has a 3D printer lab available for District residents with a library card. The upside is it's stupid cheap to print stuff there. The down side is it takes about 2-3 weeks to get your order. First thing I made was a spacer for my Civia double-sided kickstand. Because I have a de railleur chain, it hangs too low and hits the kickstand. So I made a spacer so that it drops the kickstand by half an inch, giving the chain clearance. Then I decided to make something for fun and made these bicycle plates:

I am dreaming up other stuff to make!

A friend of mine recently visited some congressman's office for work. That member, who's name I can't remember, is a member of the Congressional Bike Caucus. So my buddy did me solid and got me a CBC lapel pin! Thanks Eduardo!