Blogging and Bike Commuting Success Stories

So far this week I have neither been able to blog nor bike. Once again, I look into the mirror and see a flawed human being. C’est la vie. High winds and an inability of the Planner Guy and me to successfully coordinate our schedules required driving. I know; it’s so common. At least we ride in together and when that doesn’t allow, catch rides home with co-workers. The simple life can be accomplished in other ways -sharing tea with a friend, making my visiting mother-in-law an Italian tart, and petting our three dogs. I congratulate myself on doing all three.

Wednesday proved to be a revelation when the Mayor called me (because I have access to highest levels of local government and she does that) to excitedly report that the evening before, wearing her Tuesday night best, including high heels, she left City Hall at 6 p.m. and rode her bike (a blue Specialized Crossroads) to a town hall meeting at Flagstaff High School. “I did it! I did it!” she exclaimed. “When I left City Hall, people were looking at me like I’d lost my mind and telling me it was too dangerous in high heels but it was so easy!” Of course it was, I said.


A bang of jealousy stirred in my belly. Yes, I have ridden to work in satin,floral ballet flats (again, Shoes and Such) but never in high heels. In danger of falling into the shame spiral, I decided to focus on the Mayor’s success. A complete newbie, she rode her bike in high heels and lived to tell. I did not ask her if she wore her helmet, so as not to imply judgment. I suspect she did, as she has been working on an ordinance to require helmets for children under 12. (And I don’t want to get in to that tired argument either way in this blog. Adult riders should do with what they feel comfortable. I wear one most of the time in Flagstaff because this town is unusually contaminated by excessively large trucks and SUVs driven by people who too often are not looking out for bicyclists.) Again, I congratulate myself as well for being able to redirect my evil powers of mind control to do good. Bike commuting in Flagstaff took a major step forward this week, I think. That very morning, Her Honor pedaled to all her morning appointments wearing shimmery flats and carrying a mountain chic canvas sling bag for her notes.


Other Successes

For weeks, Flagstaff has seemed stylistically challenged, to say the least. Monday, I decided to change my outlook and recalled that in Flagstaff fashion mountain chic rules. Due to the lack of an Ann Taylor store close by, I have slowly incorporated mountain chic into my wardrobe. Mountain chic includes Patagonia, Columbia, NorthFace, and Title9, to name a few. My favorite mountain chic boutique here would have to be Mountain Sports, located at the corner of Aspen and San Francisco. I scored big time last year on elegantly styled cropped, low-rise slacks, skorts, and sleeveless tops last summer. Aspen Sports (N. San Francisco between Aspen and Rt. 66) and Shoes and Such (Aspen between San Fran and LeRoux) are my favorite places for shoes (Tevas are extremely popular here and their home office is actually pretty close to City Hall).

I don’t know if it was the sighting of the Mayor on her Crossroads (she did win pretty overwhelmingly and is young and very popular among the college crowd) but I did see a lot more bicyclists on the road this week. As I mentioned in a previous post, I feared shyness would inhibit my ability to create an interesting blog due to an absence of photos of bikes and their human owners, as well as complete inability to manage a cup of coffee and a camera at the same time. Happily, a chance to perfect this skill arose at during my lunch hour when I saw this young man sitting outside Late for the Train reading a book. The bike resembling a line drawing was certainly his. Since he was reading a book of poetry (never touch the stuff) and wearing a colorful hat and green sunglasses I took him for a friendly sort. He was happy to cooperate. Wisely, I delayed purchasing a drink until after I took the shot.


Once safely in Late for the Train, friendly staff and a fun drawing on the menu board greeted me.



I walked right up to this gentleman seated at a bench in Heritage Square. He is the epitome of Flagstaff Mountain cycle chic, and his bike is hands down cool beans!

I ran into this fashionista on my way back to work. I could see her turquoise sandals a mile away. I think they are great! Suede and a little fringed. She proudly told me she got them at Pay Less! I love a bargain. Wonderful old school bike, too.

Indeed, a satisfying week to be a cycle chic bike blogger! Until later.