In 2004, Lori-Ann Muenzer won an Olympic gold medal for Canada in the women’s Match Sprint finals. It was the first Olympic gold for Canada in cycling.

Apart from reaching the top of the podium in Athens, Muenzer has captured several medals on the international stage including two silver and two bronze at the World Track Cycling Championships and a total of one silver and two bronze at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Last year, Muenzer wrote a book about her experiences as a woman in the world of Olympic cycling called One Gear, No Brakes.

From Amazon.com: “Competitive cycling is about pain, punishment and speed. When 38-year-old underdog Lori-Ann Muenzer entered the 2004 Olympics, few believed that she would be able to compete with cyclists half her age. Muenzer persevered, kept her mind on the track, and won Olympic gold.”

It’s a great read. Check it out.

Even the Girls! is an inedpendent documentary made by Ashira Siegel about female bike couriers in New York City. It’s not the world’s best movie, but it’s kind of cool to see some tough women doing a job that most sane people are far too terrified to attempt.

Check out a clip on You Tube.

The other day I was out for a ride alone. I’m flying along and suddenly, my pedal falls off. It was no big deal, I pulled over and went back to pick it up, but as I’ve confessed here before, I’m totally clueless when it comes to even the most basic bike repairs so I had no idea as to how to reattached my pedal. Luckily, I was on my way back from my ride so my car was only a five-minute walk away. So, pedal in hand, I started walking my bike back to the car.

Now, the bike path that I was on is a pretty popular path for local cyclists so, during my walk of shame, I was passed by about six other cyclists - some alone, some in pairs, about an even split between men and women. And what really got me down was that only one of those people stopped to ask me if I needed any help.

Here I am, a fellow cyclist, walking my bike, holding my pedal, and only one in six of them even slowed down to find out if I was okay. They didn’t know that my car was just up the road. They didn’t know that I wasn’t hurt. And they just steered around me and rode away.

I was shocked - and saddened. I really think that one of the best things about cycling is the community of people that are involved in the sport. I have always thought about it as a kind of family or a huge group of friends. But that experience the other day really made me question that.

It’s just basic common courtesy folks. It’s the old Golden Rule: Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.

So, the next time you’re out riding (or even walking or driving) and you see one of your cycling brethren having difficulty on the side of the road. Stop, will ya? And see if you can lend a hand. That just might be you one day.

I received a scary phone call this weekend. A friend of mine was out riding alone in the evening through a swampy area of the woods near his home when he was overcome by mosquitoes. He was bitten so many times that his body actually went into shock and he passed out resulting in even more bites. When the paramedics brought him into Emergency his whole body was swollen and they had to insert a breathing tube.

He’s fine now, breathing on his own and recovering at home, but the only reason he’s alive today is because he screamed when first surrounded by the bugs and a worker at a nearby horse farm heard him, came looking, and called 911 when he found him unconscious in the woods.

I pass on this story, not to scare anyone away from riding in the woods or swampy areas, but just to remind us all that we need to think about what time of year it is and what time of day we’re riding and be prepared. If you’re going into a swampy area in the early evening on a hot summer day, wear lots of bug repellent with DEET – or maybe opt for a different route when all of those factors are at play.

Just think before you head and out and make sure you’re riding as safely as possible.

About a week ago I was chatting with our fearless leader, Jessi, and I was complaining about how I wish I knew more about bike repair. I’m pretty clueless in that area and I’m always really nervous going out on long rides on my own into remote areas because I know that if something happened to my bike, I’d be up you-know-what without a paddle.

“Take a class,” she told me.

She is a very wise lady and who am I to argue so, a few days later, I signed up for a course here in Toronto called Wenches with Wrenches. It’s a course taught by women, for women, and over four nights it covers basic bike repair and maintenance - everything from fixing a flat to replacing brake cables.

A quick course like this is really a great idea for anyone who wants to feel more confident out on the roads, anyone who wants to stop handing all their money over to the local bike shop for minor repairs and tune-ups, or just anyone who wants to feel a little less like an idiot when their fellow bike riders start talking about what kind of derailleur they like.

Ask people in your local bike club or try a Google search to see if there is a bike maintenance course being held in your area. Or ask at your local bike shop (although I find that sometimes they’re not all that supportive of the idea of you fixing your own bike as it just means that they’re going to lose out on business).

My class starts in September (that’s the earliest I could get it as it’s so popular) and I’ll post what I learn each week here in case anyone else is as clueless as me – or just needs a little refresher.

Last month, I was lucky enough to find myself in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. My husband and I decided that the best way we could see this beautiful part of the world was on mountain bikes. We signed up for a mountain biking tour with Water Island Adventures, a local operation run by Susan Miller and Agnes Rampino.

The newest, smallest, and least known of the US Virgin Islands, Water Island is home to less than 200 people. Some live on the island and others live on boats that are anchored in the little bays and inlets around the island.

The tour starts with a ferry ride from Charlotte Amalie Harbor followed by a bike ride around the island and finishes at a secluded beach where we got to cool down in the ocean and order Pina Coladas from the local bar before heading back to St. Thomas.

The lovely Karen Riley was our guide. Butch Miller and Jim Dossey helped out as well by leading the ride and driving the support van.

It had poured rain all morning, but the sun came out for us in the afternoon and we just had a total blast. There is just nothing in the world like riding through the mud and then suddenly looking up and seeing turquoise waves crashing up on a white sandy beach or an iguana running across your path.

My husband and I fell in love with this island. Butch and Karen told us two funny little stories about the attempts of the local government to bring some rule and order to the people of Water Island. First, during our ride, they took us past a newly built fire house. Butch explained that the local government felt, a while back, that Water Island needed to have its own fire station so the fire house was built and shortly after, the fire truck that was to live there was delivered. However, the fire truck wouldn’t fit into the fire house (I guess no one thought to measure either one) so it was taken back to St. Thomas and now the fire house is used for community meetings and dances.

The second story was about the police car that we saw sitting by itself out in a vacant lot. Butch told us how the local government officials felt that a “police presence” was needed on the island so they had the cruiser sent over. They tried to start it the day it arrived and it wouldn’t start and it’s been sitting in that spot ever since.

Thank you to Karen, Butch and Jim. That afternoon was the best part of our trip down South and I highly recommend it to anyone else headed down to that area of the world. To book a tour, visit
http://www.waterislandadventures.com/contact.php

I will say though that hibiscus flowers hurt just as much when they hit you going by as the tree branches do here, but they sure smell lovely while they’re doing it.

The Dirt Series by Rocky Mountain Bicycles is a series of instructional camps designed to get more women out on the trails. Based in Alberta and British Columbia in western Canada, the camps teach basic technical skills on the bike and also cover bike maintenance and fit. The two-day, women-only camps begin in April and run through to mid September and are often sold out early on in the season. The weekend camps run about $255US plus tax.

Since the program began in Whistler in 2000, it has expanded throughout B.C. and Alberta as well as into Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Utah. Along the way, the Dirt Series has also picked up an impressive array of corporate sponsors including Giro, Maxxis, Adidas Eyewear and even Kicking Horse Coffee - some of the best coffee that BC has to offer.

Once of my favorite feelings in the world is putting on a brand new pair of socks. Easy people, I said ONE of my favorite feelings. I was really excited to be able to get some new socks in my repertoire as my stash was looking heinous. I have to give a special shout out to my big brother in cycling, MasiGuy, for the hookup on these socks. Without him, this review would not have been possible. MasiGuy is known for posting pics of his Daily Drive and the socks he’s donning that day on his site. He typically is wearing some fun ones, and almost always has something from Sock Guy. I asked him for some assistance on my sock drawer issue and like any good brother, he sent eight pairs to my doorstep within a few weeks.

I love the fact that their socks feature the “Stretch-to-Fit” sizing system and their exclusive “Easy-fit” cuff for a PERFECT FIT every time on any foot. These features create superior softness and comfort and help eliminate blisters and hot spots. They also feature a double stitched heel & toe for added strength and durability. They deliver Superior Quality and High-Tech Comfort in every SockGuy sock made. They guarantee it. Hey. . . that was their terminology.

I do appreciate the fact that they make it understandable for the lay person who isn’t necessarily a sock guru. Which raises a good question, why aren’t we sock gurus? Most of us wear socks on a regular or semi regular basis, why don’t we know more about them? Well, here’s the Cliff Notes version. These suckers are going to fit you. They’re going to feel good. You’re going to love them. What else is there?

One of my favorite aspects of Sock Guy is that I have already washed them about 20 -30 times (I’ve had them for a few months) and they haven’t gotten gross and corroded like some super expensive socks tend to. Speaking of super expensive . .. are they? Not really. I think they all retail for about $9.95 (according to their website) which isn’t bad considering the quality you’re getting.

The coolest part about Sock Guy is the designs. They don’t have lame ones. They just don’t. Life is entirely too short to wear boring socks. TJMG had some great ones sent to me. I’m wondering if I should take a hint on some of these styles. . . .

I thought these were warranted.

I can’t find one of these. Must be at my boyfriend’s place. Natch
I love Monkeys.

Like my friends need a reminder.
These make me run fast in kickball.
I wouldn’t say this is necessarily false.
When I put these on I always sing “Devil Inside” from INXS circa 1988. I do love that song.

You can find where to buy the wares right on their site. Rock on and enjoy. . . someone explain to me why I don’t have these styles just yet! They will be next on my list for sure. . .

Peace Out!
bk

Admit it, the tag line is catchy, does the product measure up? For the most part, yes. The Loeka folks were pretty generous, as I got to request a list of items I would like to try and they sent me three from my list. I got the Tech Riding Shorts in capri length, the Ultimate Princess Short Sleeved Jersey and the Pink Soldier hat.

The first time I put on the Loeka Tech Riding Shorts in the capri length. I was pleased to see that the size fit like a glove. There’s nothing worse that getting a pair of shorts or pants that you’re really stoked about and they don’t fit. The cut was slim and still fit, even though I have a bit of hip going on. This was pleasing. I like to wear them to my kickball games because they are comfortable but look a buttload better that a pair of Umbros. (Not to mention a much less annoying website.)The capri length was cool because they are cut like a board short, though with a longer leg. I was startled to find no chamois in these shorts, at least until I put them on. I understand why they were created for bumming around and not a serious ride as the fabric doesn’t stretch much and the cut is a bit little slim for a long haul in the saddle. The only real beef I had was that most of the line was pink and light blue, but the logo on the shorts was orange. I’m usually not super picky about that stuff, but for some reason it bugged me a bit. I’m over it. Overall, I really enjoy these shorts. They are amazingly comfortable for banging around in and of course, for kickball.

The Ultimate Princess Short Sleeved Jersey is really cute. The fit again, is wonderful. The one thing I admired most was the fact that it had a longer body and fit well over the Riding Shorts. I can’t stand it when companies come out with a women specific line and make the shirts and jerseys sofa king short as if they forgot most of us have torsos. I personally have a longer one than most, so this really ticks me off. The fit is slim and well, it was pink. Ladies that means you don’t look like a boy wearing it on the saddle! It’s not a prissy pink either, it’s fuchsia and ready for action. I felt like I had diamonds on the side of my shirt. (Please sing that to the tune of Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes”) I do wear it often and get complements on it constantly.

As I mentioned, the Pink Soldier Hat also arrived in my love package. This hat is adorable! It has a brown Loeka-esque flower stitched on the side which is a lovely detail. I love this hat except for one thing. It doesn’t fit. It is pretty big. This number is a bit large in cut. I don’t think I have an exceptionally small head by any means. In fact, I’m usually a sure thing when it comes to fitting hats. I am really bummed about this, because I was looking forward to this piece as it boasts “saying goodbye to helmet hair”. Oh well, maybe next season.

All in all I’m a big fan of the Loeka line. Be sure to visit their site and buy away!

Peace Out
bk

Coming up next . . . .Sock Guy and Skirt Sports

I am a bag whore. I have a big love affair with them and can always justify having more. You could call it an addiction. My main chick Julie AM with Timbuk2 really hooked a sister up in this department! I have some T2 goods from the past and wanted to make sure they were still rocking in the free world. They are. Julie AM got me into a Lula backpack, a Kabuki make up case and the jazzy slim wallet. I also got me a slick code so that I could try their custom bag option. That was a little too much fun. I designed a medium tote because, well, I have about 27 messenger style bags and I wanted something different. Let’s be honest. I have about 23 totes, but you know where I’m coming from here.

Anyways, I logged onto the site and the “Build Your Own” option is available in the upper left hand corner. You can choose sizes, colors, accessories right down to the logo color. The Messenger is available in five sizes, one being my very favorite X-Small which is a fantastic purse size. I’ve had that one for awhile. The Laptop Messenger is also available in Small, Medium and Large. I did find that for my honking computer, I would need an XL, which is not available. As I stated, I chose the Market Tote for my masterpiece. The ease of picking colors was comforting. I probably could have made 3 or 4, but I settled for the Pink/Brown/Pink with a pink case for the iPod, phone or what have you. The best part was that you could see the actual bag as you picked the colors. I know that sounds dumb, but I believe they used to have just a sketch of the bag. There is something to be said for the reality of it all. If you thought that it couldn’t get any cooler, I got my bag in 4 days. A custom item in 4 days? Unheard of!

I also was thrilled to receive my Lula. I was torn between the pink and green color choices, so I had Julie AM surprise me. … and that she did! I got this sweet little pack in the greens and it is reminiscent of one of my favorite movies of all time, Drop Dead Fred. The size is fantastic. It arrived right before my trip to Arkansas, so Lula got a sweet test ride! It was the perfect size for the airplane. I got 3 magazines, a paperback book, my Patagonia Morning Glory dress (stay tuned for that review), charger for the phone, gum and a few other personals in there. It was small enough to fit under the seat comfortably, and not allow me to over pack. One of my favorite options was the little iPod pocket with a cord opening in the top of the pack so that I could jam through the airport. There is also a slim pocket in the back that could be used for a small water reservoir with the valve coming out the top. I can’t wait to take this riding. It has a great fit without the bulk and can fit more than enough inside. I’ve always had a hard time finding something this size with such a great fit. Ladies, this was made for us.

The Kabuki made me mad at the current airport security guidelines. My little green piece of magic (it also comes in Pink) is sturdy and has a little window so I can see all my stuff in there. I think the larger size would have been able to actually hold my makeup brushes, but I can see it as a killer little stash for a ride. As always, the quality was awesome. My favorite detail was a mini pocket on the inside in which they allotted extra fabric so that you can actually fit something in there. That’s ingenious. Really. It is.

Another treat I got to enjoy was the slim wallet. This too is a rad design. Because there is no room for a checkbook, this is slim as slim can be. This makes Lance Armstrong look chubby at the peak of his training! This holds everything from change to coupons, credit cards, and oh yeah . .. cash. The cool thing is there is a mini card holder for an ID and a credit card that can slip out and go on a ride with you without having to rip your whole world apart in the process. I love that the wallet fits into my little purse and yet doesn’t get lost in my larger bags. This is definitely a must have.

Some other areas of note for Timbuk2 are their new Cargo Tote, The gorgeous Marina Computer Handbag and of course, the Bike Seat Pack. Go on their website and have a little fun. You deserve it.