This post is a bit of a weird one. Because, hey, I went to the very special exciting Bike Fest and I had a whale of a time. It was a little whale, but it was a whale all the same.
I swung in (in car, no less – sacrilege) and popped upstairs to see a nifty what’s new in bikes which was a great whistlestop of all things lovely and bike related. Kate Rhodes, as always, set ideas off in my head and I have been having a little explore around the Canadian Centre for Architecture’s exhibition Actions. And kind of do want to graffiti my own bike lanes now. But I am a wee bits scared of graffiti sometimes. So no sense in getting ahead of myself.
Speaking of heads, there was plenty pretty heads at the festival.
See this lady. She does the very lovely excellent Cycle Style blog; and durn it, if she isn’t 7 months pregnant and totally jetting about looking calm, glam and gorgeous on her treadly.
See this fellow. Did he make himself a little balance bike style wooden bike? Fixed gear no less. And I can only imagine what it looks like when he and his son roll along together! Apparently, David, a sculptor, (and I have now perhaps forgotten his name) is going to redesign a very nice aerodynamic commuter bike which is leaning forward. Like an anti-recumbent. I shall wait to see this pro-cumbent. Or whatever it will be called.
See this nice sweet lady. She has a cute Irish accent, and practically denuded Cycle Chic lady with total fun fashion envy regarding her cute rain cape and sweet (but not AS approved) helmet. Though she not be wearing her helmet, who’s denying she’s hot? Not me. Speaking of which, I keep meaning to check the deal on that standards approval thing. (Any minute now).
I was even a judge (generous term) for the Treadly Awards, which were put together by the kindly folks at the COMMUTER CYCLES (not human powered as previously typed in a fit of inaccuracy!). They are nice, you should go meet them. Ask to get your bike fixed and whatnot. I remember running into Huw at a bar, a very long time ago and he mentioned that he was opening up a bike store for just ordinary people on ordinary bikes and I thought it was a good idea then and a good idea now. Good ideas all round.
Afterwards was rolling around. But I missed the best thing which was Ms Casey getting her spin on. I’ll save her the embarrassment of reposting her You Tube, but it rocked. Because it just did.
And my little story was there too.
I’m guessing you may detect a note of detached strangeness. Or maybe you don’t. It’s super strange to say it, but despite having come a long long way to see the festival (and the friends that were a part of it), and having enjoyed it quite a bit, I’m afraid to say that my attendance at Bike Fest has now resulted in two members of my family deciding to stop speaking to me. Long story, but that’s the upshot. Honestly, it was a helluva festival.
And, even weirder is that – each of these photos, humble and silly as they may seem, is kind of worth more to me than another awful conversation with the two members of my family that are now no longer talking to me. And I’ve saved myself quite a bit of money in getting them Christmas presents.
Word to the wise though, Facebook carefully. For everyone you know may be watching.
eleanor j jackson 