Motherhood Mondays: Biking in Amsterdam

I'd love to share our Amsterdam photos later this week, but in the meantime, want to see some crazy photos of bikes in Amsterdam? Here goes...
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Raddest bike basket

Holy smokes! This minimal bike basket is awesome. San Francisco designer Feris Elmasu attached four stretchy straps to bent wood, which will hold down anything from a laptop to a six pack of beer. Thumbs up.

P.S. New Yorkers: This bike show is coming up...

(Via The Daily Muse)

First day of spring

Today is the first day of spring. That's all! Celebrate!
(Top photo by The Sartorialist; bottom photos by Downtown From Behind)

Ivy bike lock

How rad is this?

(Via Swissmiss)

Bike bag

The Seil Bag is a genius backpack for bikers. A wireless controller on your handlebars lets you clearly signal to cars when you're turning right, left or stopping, without taking your hands off the handlebars. I'd love to use this while riding around New York. It's just a prototype right now, but here's hoping this rad backpack is made and sold sometime soon.

(Via Go to Public School)

Haiku traffic signs

New York City has launched a new set of traffic signs--written in haiku poems. They're designed to encourage people to be more sensitive and share the street. Genius.

P.S. Bike rush hour, and 10 ways not to look like a tourist.

(Via NPR)

Motherhood Mondays: Riding bikes with babies

Many readers have asked how to ride a bike with a baby. We started when Toby turned one, and I'd love to share what we've learned...
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Bike rain cape

How rad is this Bike Rain Cape by a Seattle designer? Two thumb loops pull it over your hands, arms, body and legs, so all those parts stay dry. The hood fits over a helmet, and the cape cinches to fit snugly. The bottom hem covers your bike seat, and the jacket has reflective piping. Genius!

(Photos by Kyle Johnson)

A new bike

My old bike got stolen a few weeks ago (even though it had the baby seat on it, harrumph!). It was a rusty Schwinn that I'd had for five years, and I figured it was now finally time to get a grown-up bike.

After researching online, I decided to get one of the PUBLIC bikes, which are incredible Dutch-inspired city bikes made in San Francisco. The best part is, they mail the bike right to your door, and you just have to put the final pieces together (they send you tools and easy instructions). I'm thrilled with the bike, which is cute, comfy and smooth to ride.

The models, above, look gorgeous, and here's me, below, during a recent date night with Alex. (We rode to Brooklyn for dinner.)
Riding in Manhattan...
Over the Brooklyn Bridge...
Fast...
But not as fast as Alex.

Do you have a bike? Which kind? I'd recommend a PUBLIC bike if you are in the market!

Summer Uniform: Pretty tomboy

My friend Elizabeth Antonia doesn't take herself too seriously, yet she still manages to look fresh and tomboyishly sexy. So, I'm excited to share her summer uniform (and get some red jeans!)...

Here's Elizabeth's take:

We were taking a family bike ride to Gjelina for lunch for my husband's birthday. My bike is a old Raleigh that I've had for ten years. It's been with me in Seattle, Brooklyn and now Los Angeles--my old clunker that I can't bear to leave behind! For my hair, I love, love, love John Master's Organics Sea Mist--it makes my hair a tousled mess just how I like it.

Here's how to get the look:
White tee: James Perse, $50, or Target, $5!
Red skinny jeans: J Brand, $176.
Tote: Anya Hindmarch, varied prices on eBay.
Natural sunscreen: Badger, $14.
Beach-blown hair: John Master's Organics Sea Mist, $14.50.

P.S. Two more gorgeous summer uniforms.

Riding bikes while wearing skirts

Did you hear this crazy story: In late May, a NYC cop allegedly pulled over a Dutch tourist, pictured below, and reprimanded her for riding a bike while wearing a skirt. He said she was distracting cars! At first, she thought he was kidding, but quickly realized he wasn't when he asked for her ID. How insane is that?! So, as a lighthearted protest, a bunch of girls (and a few guys) came together for a skirt bike ride yesterday evening. My friend Shannen took a few photos...
It was a great night!! Thanks to those who organized, and high five to all ladies who ride in skirts or otherwise! :) xoxo

(Photos by the fabulous Shannen Norman for Cup of Jo. And you might recognize my friend Caroline, above, from the hair tutorials:) And thanks to HUB Bikes and the New Amsterdam Bike Show for organizing.)

New York City traffic

A visual art student filmed a New York City intersection (Park Avenue and 28th Street), in an attempt to show "long-standing bad habits — such as pedestrians jaywalking, cyclists running red lights, and motorists plowing through crosswalks."

I've ridden my bike all over the city, but usually keep to the much quieter West Village. This video was jawdropping!
(Top photo of a Linus Bike)

Bicycle wedding

Pam and Joe are teachers in Brooklyn and didn't have a huge budget, but they put together the most gorgeous, heartfelt wedding. First they tied the knot at a neighborhood park, then rode bikes to a Brooklyn bar, where they'd had their first date. (Pam's biking secret? She wore denim cutoffs under her dress! Can you spot them, above?:)
Everyone drank beers and smashed a pinata...
...and they had whoopie pies instead of wedding cake.
Doesn't it look great? Sometimes the simplest weddings look the most relaxed and fun, don't you think? Congratulations, Pam and Joe! (See many more photos here.)

(Photos by Inbal Sivan, via Perfect Bound)

Nice rack.

We bike over to friends' houses quite a lot, but if we take a bottle of wine, it rattles around in the bike basket. This is a perfect solution!

(Via Swissmiss)

Bike tee

How rad is this T-shirt? Will you be riding bikes at all this summer?