Reader Question: Upright, Mixte, or Classic Road?

A reader emailed me a question and gave me permission to answer the question in a blog post. Here is her question:

Love your blog -- you're a woman after my own heart. ♥  But clearly more educated than me. What I mean to say is, I'm a naive casual cyclist but mean to become an everyday cyclist. I care about function but I also care deeply about aesthetics (as you also seem to), as I am a designer by trade.

I don't currently have a bicycle as I was laid off (in 2009) just as my bike was stolen. :( (<-- That Sucked) I have been long-term borrowing sisters' and friends' but it's time to grow up. And by grow up, I mean take my parents up on their offer to buy me any bike, whatever I want, "get a good one." (!!!!)

If I may, let me lay out my sitch: 

• I don't own a car, I live in Seattle, I pretty much will bike anywhere (bars, errands, work) in a variety of clothing (jeans, skirts, boots)
• This makes me think I should get an upright.

• I will be biking in a variety of weather (I mean, it's Seattle oftentimes in rain). 
• This makes me think I should have fat tires.

• It's also very hilly where I live. I also am toying with doing a triathlon and training for that.
• This makes me think I should go for a fast, light, geared road bike.

I have been reading your posts but I wanted a visceral reaction from you to this dilemma: If I were to buy ONE bike right now, what would you choose for me - upright? mixte? or classic road? ughhh hybrid?

I know you're a busy lady but honestly, your feedback would mean a lot to me. I don't know where to start.

Many thanks,

Manny

Manny this is a great question, and I'm going to fearlessly tackle it head on. I say get the mixte.  I would not want to ride around a 50 lb upright bike in a city with hills - no way. So I would take that off the list immediately. You would also not be able to consider triathlon training on a bike like that. A well-built mixte like the Rivendell Betty Foy or the Sweetpea A-Line seem tailor made to suit your needs. I've never had the pleasure of trying those bikes, so I'm taking a bit of a leap of faith, but I've read a lot about them. They are both gorgeous bikes so I feel confident that they will satisfy aesthetically! They can be fitted with racks, fenders, baskets - whatever you need or want.

Photo via Rivendell

Photo via Sweetpea

I've been riding my Pashley Princess Sovereign for close to a year now and I have to tell you - there are problems. I feel that the range of where I can ride it is very limited because it is so heavy and slow. (I'll be writing a more extensive post on this later.) On the upside, I do feel like I'm riding a work of art. I just wouldn't advise you to have something like that as your only bike.

As far as the classic road bike goes - it would be good because it would be fast and efficient but you might have trouble wearing certain types of clothing and you might get dirtier than you want. On the mixte you can easily fit it with fenders to keep you clean. Also on the mixte, you'd  have room to put on fatter tires (especially with the Rivendell) if that's what you want to do.

Put a Bike on It.

Perhaps you've heard of the brilliant Portlandia sketch "Put a Bird on It." Well in my world, if you Put a Bike on It, I'll buy it. :)

I was powerless over resisting this adorable tote! The Timbuk2 website was out of them but I found one on eBay. I swear I was innocently browsing the website looking for a Kindle case for my mom when I came across this. It wasn't my fault. My collection of bags is growing dangerously out of control, but I must the say the quality, generous size and overall cuteness of this tote makes it a welcome addition to my collection. It's a keeper.

New Bike Art.

via Sophie Blackall on etsy

Recently purchased on etsy. The artist is Sophie Blackall. This is from her Missed Connections project which uses as its inspiration the endlessly amusing craigslist personals listings.

Po Campo Loop Pannier has Arrived!

I'll have to post a detailed review later after I've had some time with the bag, but my Po Campo Loop Pannier has arrived!

 via Po Campo

I went with the "Chartreuse Poppy" which is a bit greener than I imagined it would be. It's very cute!

Makeover complete. Po Campo bag attached. Ready for my commute!

Also my Pashley make-over is complete. With my new tires and grips and pannier, I don't know...might be elegance overload!

Sold My Vintage Mixte.

I made the decision to sell my 1983 Centurion Le Mans Mixte (Rose). I just didn't have the time to devote to restoring her, and it was a shame to have her sitting in my garage collecting cobwebs. Sadly, I was in over my head. I had one session over at Bikerowave with the bike, and the more work I did, the more I realized how much work (and money, frankly) it was going to require. The wheels were dodgy and were probably going to need to be replaced. I tried to true them but it is apparently an art that I don't have a talent for. The cables and housing needed to be replaced, new tires, new chain, new brake pads, new saddle, etc. etc. It was just too much for me and I had to admit it.

I sold it to a gal who lives in Downtown LA who was going to fix it up for a friend of hers. That's a good friend! I wish her well and hopefully she will send me some pictures when she has it restored.  She seemed to know what she was doing, and I know she'll do a better job than I did!

Pashley is Getting a Makeover Today!

via Pashley

Before.

My Pashley Princess Sovereign is out getting a makeover today at LA Brakeless.

via leatherbicyclesaddles.co.uk

I am replacing the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires that come with the bike with Schwalble Delta Cruisers in cream with reflective sidewalls. So many of the blogs I follow recommend these tires and the bike looks so lovely with cream tires that I just had to try them.

via Brooks

I also bought Brooks leather grips that match my saddle to replace the old school plastic ones that come with the Pashley.

I also felt that my gears were slipping a bit, so they are checking out that problem as well. LA Brakeless is the bike shop that is closest to my home - I can walk there. It's kind of a hard core fixie shop and my Pashley felt a bit out of place there, but the staff was very friendly and the gentleman who helped me said he knew how to fix a Sturmey Archer hub, so I believe she is in good hands!

I can't wait to see her all made up!

Po Campo Freebie!

Last week was Bike To Work Week in Chicago. To celebrate, Chicago-based bike bag company Po Campo did a give away on facebook yesterday. If you posted a picture of yourself biking to work, they'd send you a free reflective pin. Sign me up! I had a friend at the office snap a picture in the afternoon. (Sans make-up. Ugh!)

Speaking of Po Campo, I have been seriously considering getting their "Loop Pannier" bag. It seems like a great bike commuting bag and it's way prettier than my current Bontrager Grocery Panniers.

photo via Po Campo

Loop Pannier in Chartreuse Poppy Treated Acrylic

photo via Po Campo

Loop Pannier in Umber Waxed Canvas

photo via Po Campo

Here's how it looks on a bike.

I'm having a heck of a time deciding between these two colors. How about I put it up a to vote?

(There is a poll embedded in this post. Please visit the website to vote.)

Sunny Sunday Ride.

This past weekend the weather in L.A. was warm warm warm!!! At around 80 degrees by the beach, it was warmer than most days last summer.

Had to turn my bike around to photograph her "good side." 

 The Pashley was great for the leisurely pace of the beach bike path.

 We spent the whole day out and about, she and I.

Centurion Le Mans in Toronto.

When I was in Toronto last fall, it was my first trip there since I took up cycling. I couldn't believe how bikey Toronto is! I just never realized it before. I saw so many cool bikes including a lot of European style bikes and tons of vintage bikes. This Centurion Le Mans looks like it might be from the same era as my fixer upper (which I have yet to start fixing up). This looks like a very well-loved and well-used vintage bike!

CicLAvia Spring 2011!

CicLAvia is more than just a one-off now. Today was the second CicLAvia event in Los Angeles, with two more to come this year!!! It was another fantastic day. The weather was perfect. Sunny with highs in the 60's. Here a few choice pics from the day.

 The tallest (and most colorful) tall bike I've ever seen!

 My bike twin. Rockin' the Bianchi Milano.

 She went for a basket while I went for the rack and panniers.

 Just a couple of dapper dudes. (Check out the Swiss army bag pannier. Nice.)

 Lissette and Nick enjoying the food along the CicLAvia route.

 Havin' a great day!

 Belly full. Ready to set out.

 Looking a bit like a Swobo spokesperson.

 Cute girl with a Public bike.

 Cute guy and bike twin to my beau! (Riding a Masi Speciale Fixed)

 The sights at Hollenbeck Park - AKA the end of the line.

 Folks resting up after a long ride.

 Cute girl with a vintage Centurion.

 My CicLAvia buddies!

 How awesome is this? He made the frame himself (for $16!). The bike weighs 155 lbs.

 Nick bought himself a Bike Bucket. Nice.

:)

In case you're wondering why I didn't ride the new Pashley - there are a couple of reasons. First, I can't fit that bike in my car. Second, there are some hills on the CicLAvia route that I would not enjoy tackling on the Pashley! The Bianchi is decidedly lighter and zippier.

Yarn Bike.

Artist olek is responsible for these yarn bikes. I spotted this one in Santa Monica last Fall. I never posted about it, though. Better late than never! I wonder what it looks like now, if it's still there at all.

Dream. Realized.

I bought a Pashley! She is mine.

 Orange 20 Bike Shop special ordered me this Pashley Princess Sovereign.

 It is the size and color I requested.

 17.5 inch (the smallest). I'm 5'3". Black.

 Wonder why I look so happy?!

 It's truly a dream bike.

 I haven't made any modifications to it yet.

 After I ride it for a while I'll see about making a couple of small changes.

 Brooks leather grips would be  nice.

 And maybe a double kickstand.

That's T.J. He took great care of me.

You'll be seeing a lot of this bike on the blog!!! And in case you're wondering, I'll probably be selling the Bianchi. Currently I have the Bianchi and a special fixer-upper-project vintage mixte and now the Pashley. I have room in my garage for 2 but 3 is not realistic.

The day one gets a new bike is truly a great day!!!