Charleston Cycle Chic

Why do you ride?

Kristin B. Walker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:47:03 +0000

Thanks to @heidiswift on Twitter for calling my attention to this great video by People for Bikes. It reminds the writer of this post, how the other night around 6:30PM I rode my bicycle (basket and fenders and light – check!) through the streets of Downtown Charleston in the diminishing light. I caught the scent of a sizzling steak as I rode by South End Brewery, then the heady perfume of some incredible dish that the Barbados Room was cooking up, and then as I passed by 82 Queen, the aromas of shrimp and grits fled to my nose. Now some of you might not like those smells of the city humming, but I do. I love having every one of my senses alive and fulfilled when I am on a bike. That’s why I ride.

Why do you ride?

Map Your Biking Route with “Bike There” on Google Maps

Kristin B. Walker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:10:48 +0000

Way back in October, a little birdie told us that Google Maps was going to be launching Bike There directions on Google Maps. Well – it’s here!! At this weeks’ National Bike Summit, Google announced that it will be rolling out “Bike There” in 150 cities around the country. Users are able to enable the biking layer via the “More” button on Google Maps.

Here’s a more detailed article on Wired and check out the video below.

Yes, Utility and Creativity are in fact, Cycle Chic

Kristin B. Walker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:44:47 +0000

I know that most of you out there thinking about Cycle Chic might assume that expensive bikes with expensive clothes makes Cycle Chic go round. But if you’ve been reading up, you know that this Cycle Chic-er loves all things that show a zest for life, so I had to include what you see below….

This picture was sent in to me by a reader, and let me tell you, I love it. It’s old school, new school and being-one-with-nature-school all in one. This is his ‘fishing bike’ and he and his 7-yr old daughter like to ride to the shore of the Wando river and try to catch anything they can.

Lowcountry Livin'

Ladies and Gents, you don’t have to buy a fancy basket to get things done. Get creative in the spur of the moment. Try a tomato box strapped to the back if you can’t hold on to all your organic farmer’s market supplies. Or rummage up an old Coke Bottle container like this gentleman did to hold your fresh caught dinner as you ride back home smiling with your kids and feel good about being alive.

Charleston makes the Cycle Chic Worldwide Map

Kristin B. Walker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:05:47 +0000

This great google map was put together by our Cycle Chic cohorts at Bike by the Sea in Santa Barbara. Isn’t it neat to think that 10s of 1000s of us are Cycling Chic all over the world, and that our marvelous little town on the Atlantic is part of it?? Pretty amazing…

View Larger Map

Cycle Chic ladies, come meet your admirer, Jeff Mapes – Author of Pedaling Revolution on 2/4

Kristin B. Walker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:04:58 +0000

If you recall, way back in May, I wrote a post about Jeff Mapes book “Pedaling Revolution”, because he believes women will lead the way in changing the country’s attitude toward bicycling. Here’s an excerpt…

“As Mapes points out, when more women begin riding, that will signal a big change in attitude, which will prompt further changes in the direction of safety and elegance. I can ride till my legs are sore and it won’t make riding any cooler, but when attractive women are seen sitting upright going about their city business on bikes day and night, the crowds will surely follow…. “

Well what do you know, our secret admirer is coming to town!! So come on and meet him. Ride your lovely lady bikes to Southend Brewery and show him support, learn something, and get inspired.

EVENT DETAILS

CAC.C/CCDC LECTURE SERIES
sponsored by MyBikeLaw.com + CharlestonMoves
REVOLUTION ON2WHEELS
Across America, a cycling revolution is underway. Bicycles are changing the way people get around, and therefore how they see and understand the city—not to mention how we plan it. Bikes aren’t just for fun; more and more, they’re a primary means of transportation! This Spring will examine this amazing phenomenon and consider its consequences for the metro-Charleston area.

JEFF MAPES
Pedaling Revolution:
How Cyclists are Changing American Cities
Thursday FEBRUARY 4
7:00-9:00 PM
South End Brewery, 161 East Bay Street
lecture sponsor: Blue Bicycle Books

Jeff Mapes is a senior political reporter for The Oregonian and the author of Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists are Changing American Cities.

He is riding a wave of excellent reviews about his book to which the influential Library Journal (which many schools and libraries base their purchasing decisions on) gave their coveted rating of “highly recommended.” Mapes has put together a broad survey of the burgeoning urban bike movement. He covers everything, from the role of the bicycle in American society in the nineteenth century to the current revolution in cycling.

In preparing for his book, Mapes traveled the country (and the globe) to ride the streets he writes about and to talk directly with the people who are playing pivotal roles in America’s bike movement. Mapes moves from the warfare between the NYPD and the bike-activist group Critical Mass, to the utopian bikeways of Davis, California and the biking capital of the world, Amsterdam.

His extensive research, solid reporting, and anecdotally-infused style offer a story that, so far, has been largely unknown to all but bicycle advocates.
You can’t have a revolution (pedaling or not) without information, and this lecture just might become one of the sparks that fuels biking’s upcoming boom in Charleston, just like his book is doing across America.

Come meet the man behind the book and get a glimpse of the bike revolution that is sweeping the country.

In 2009 – Charleston was all about the bike

Kristin B. Walker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:03:23 +0000

At least according to our great online news source – The Digitel. We agree. They did an Top 10 List for things and news in Charleston. Bikes, and yours truly made #5. We are thrilled! Hopefully together we’ve got the momentum going for some real changes in 2010.

So hop on over to the Digitel to read the full story and see the other numbers. And you can read an excerpt below.

“It’s probably safe to say that both sides aren’t happy where 2009 has left the state of bike accommodation and regulation in the Charleston area, but from the continued involvement of Charleston Moves, to the firm establishment of the Holy City Bike Co-op, to a ladies-only bike outing, we’ve seen that bikes have been placed in an an elevated social and political status.”

From Streetfilms – Copenhagen’s Bike-Friendly Streets

Kristin B. Walker — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:27:41 +0000

I am a huge fan of Streetfilms so forgive me if I link to their videos all the time – but check out this recent one starring our very own Cycle Chic guru, Mikael Colville-Andersen. He talks about the Copenhagen bicycling infrastructure, which frankly, is mind-blowing to a budding bike town inhabitant like me.

I want to be like her. Ladies – there are no excuses!

Kristin B. Walker — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:39:19 +0000

A friend sent me a link to an article on CNN today…..The headline caught my eye immediately . Of course I thought how very Cycle Chic! Here it is….

Biking 150 Miles for a cause — in a dress and heels.

And then I read further. This person who is biking in a dress and heels for a cause? She’s no 20-something who’s been training for a year. She’s no IronMan. She’s a beautiful 84-yr old woman on a single-speed purple vintage cruiser. It makes me think that when we THINK we can’t do something – when we THINK that something is hard or it will take too long or it’s just inconvenient – that really it’s all a bunch of poppycock. The ability to do and to dream is nestled right inside our head and our hearts. It’s up to us to see it differently.

So check her out – this woman, my new hero and click here (or on the headline above) to read the full article.

Photo from The SkepticalOptimist on Flickr

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/28/eiko.irpt/index.html

Beach Chic Bike

Kristin B. Walker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:54:10 +0000

A reader of Charleston Cycle Chic sent this beautiful photo in of her beach bike! I love the story behind this – her husband pulled it from the neighbors trash and fixed it up for her! It goes to show you with just a little ‘umph’ you can turn someone else’s throw away into your very own little gem. Check out all the daisies…Did you know they are a symbol of childhood innocence? Perfect.

Next Kulture Klash is all about The Bike! 11/7

Kristin B. Walker — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:47:59 +0000

KULTURE KLASH ARTS FESTIVAL
November 7th, 2009
8pm-2am
1635 Cosgrove Avenue
North Charleston, SC
In The Navy Yard at Noisette

Tickets $10/$15/$20
MORE INFO: http://www.kultureklashartsfestival.com
November 6th – free artist reception 8pm-11pm

The fifth installment of the much anticipated Kulture Klash Arts Festival is just around the corner. Here’s what you can expect:

50+ artists on display: Massive amounts of art including canvas, wood, metal, sculpture, fabric, photos, acrylic, bike parts, recycled cardboard, lights, video installations, sand, stuffed animals, glue, nails, found objects, graffiti, collage, print making and so much more then we could ever put down on paper.

Live painting collaboration: A 4 x 30+ foot wall painted live by roughly 15 artists during the 6 hour course of Kulture Klash. Come watch how the artists collaborate, collude and interact, stepping on each others toes and conversely bolstering this massive work. Individual slices of the painting will be fore sale.

‘Starving Artists” show: The show is exactly as it’s named. We have 8 Artists, who will be starving themselves (only water/herbal teas) in the event space for 5 days, in order to see how starvation really effects their craft. During the course of the 5 days, each artist is require to create one painting per day. Each artist’s paintings must be the same size, medium, subject matter, and degree of difficulty as the day before. This way the spectator can see the difference. Will the artwork suffer? Or does the elimination of food, alcohol, sugar, refine their talents?

Improv spoken word side stage: This will be a side room complete with couches and a small stage were we are encouraging audience participation, poems on the fly and poetry “battles” for those who are up to the challenge. Hosted by local word master and poem celebrity Marcus Amaker. The Starving Artist exhibit will be on display in the background.

Chain Ring Circus: Celebrate the art of cycling with bike polo matches, bike dancing, slow bike races, bike art, bike movies and general bike enthusiasm. We encourage cyclist to pedal to the event and enjoy the free bike valet hosted by Holy City Bike Co-op.

Photo repository depot by Sully Sullivan: Weird props, backdrops and cut outs. Make some memories… you can even get your grubby hands on the photos you posed for. Sully has a fancy printer. Booyah.

“Hand of Character” booth hosted by Pure Theatre: Rodney Lee Rogers directs a interactive character play incorporating the audience as key players. Channel your inner thespian and make your move.

The midnight room: Just have to wait and see…

Modern dance – The Power Company will be performing two separate dance pieces choreographed by Marcy Jo Yonkey-Clayton. They will be dabbling with the curiosity of watching and being watched plus a second performance about pushing the boundaries of property lines and personal space.

Live music: Dante’s Camaro – “Rising up from the ashes comes the fastest, dirtiest, most maniacal menagerie or mangled metal the world has yet known!! Riding down the highway to HELL and destroying every bottle of booze in its path, the band that no one wanted to cross will not disappoint.”

Short Shorts – “Sounds like robots… doin’ it. We met in chemistry lab. We brought out lab coats. We made a concoction. We built a monster. We are Short Shorts.”

The V-Tones – “Sometimes known as a quaint duo, other times a sizzling sextet. We craft our shows to fit the moment so no performance is ever the same. Also known as Charleston’s only ukulele hot club jub band vaudeville ragtime neo-retro-postpostmodern quasi-primetime anachronistic revolutionary anti-inflammatory mass catharsis jazz freakout and philharmonic group therapy session.”

Plus many more booty shakin’ sets by DJ Stella, The Bubble Gut Brothers, Righchus, DJ Jeff ET, Danny Seltzer and DJ Belk.

Drink: Enjoy a cold, delicious beer from New Belgium Brewery or a smooth glass of hand selected wine by Social Wine Bar. There will be ample non-alcoholic bevs.

Eat: Snack on killer hand-tossed pizza baked on site by the boys from D’allesandro’s or get your spice on with some Asian/African infusion from the Street Food cart.

Shuttle – $5 shuttles from downtown, James Island and West Ashley. Check our website for more info.

We promise: quicker lines, more well lit potties, sweeter security, cold water, plenty of places to sit, more drink ticket stations, an ATM on site, and really fantastic beer and wine. As always, lots of last minute additions to keep you on your toes.

Thanks to our sponsors: New Belgium Brewery, The Navy Yard at Noisette, Fisher Recycling, TheDigitel.com, Big Hair Productions, City Paper, Social Wine Bar, D’allesandro’s, Street Foods, Celadon Home, Ice Box, Lucky 7’s Tattoo, Holy City Bike Co-op and Charleston Moves.

CO-PRODUCERS:
Gustavo Serrano
Ambergre Sloan
Scott Debus
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ambergre Sloan 843.478.1615 amber@kultureklashartsfestival.com

HI RES photos are available at http://www.badjon.com/?s=kulture+klash