One Word: AWESOME

I love everything about this photo: The bike, the outfit, and the fact that this woman fearlessly rides that little bike in extra high, baby blue, wedge booties. I don't know you, but something tells me we'd get along just fine. :)

xox,

Bre

p.s. - If you haven't noticed I have a MAJOR thing for bicycles as blogged HERE and HERE.

Image found via thevoguediaries.com

Bike Crazy!

(a view from my bike ride this past weekend)

It's official my friends, I have gone a bit bike crazy. Getting back into biking this Spring has been such a rush for me. I love it! It reminds me of riding the neighborhood aimlessly as a child: wind in the face, sun shining, and not a worry in sight. It's also a great way to get out and have a beautiful view while you're getting a good workout.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm going to be doing the bike portion of a relay triathlon this August, but in the mean time I've signed up for plenty of things to keep myself occupied. This weekend I'll be doing a 28 mile out-and-back beach ride down in San Diego with some family members (this isn't an actual "event" just something we've been looking forward to doing).

I'm also very excited for Memorial weekend, since my husband and I will be participating in the 45th annual Great Western Bicycle Rally. If you haven't heard of it, it is a great cycling celebration. There are 27 different rides/routes; all varying in distance and level of difficulty. Most events are non-competitive and are not timed nor guided. We have chosen to do the 30 mile "Bike the Wine Country" route. It is a 30 mile bike ride (with a 2,000 ft. elevation gain) through the beautiful wineries of Paso Robles, California. There are 5 wineries along the bike trails, and for those wanting to stop in for a tasting or two, they have arranged to hold your purchases back at the fairgrounds for you so you don't have to carry bottles with you on the long trek. I think it will be gorgeous to bike through and I'm just very excited for this adventure with my man.

We will also be doing the Fiesta Ride in San Diego next month (which has 20, 40, and 100 mile ride options). We aren't trying to race and get a best time or anything intense, we just want to enjoy the ride & the view...and of course the Mexican fiesta and mariachis at the end of the ride. Seriously who can turn that down?

So there it is. Proof enough of my obsession? lol. My husband even bought me the Garmin Foreruner 305 watch for my birthday last week. So far I really love it for both the biking and running modes (I'm sad I can't play with my watch this week since I'm staying in a hotel and would look a little silly wearing a training watch in just the hotel gym, lol).

So what do you think? Gone a little crazy? What hobbies are you really amped on this Spring & Summer?

xox,

Bre

p.s. Wow, this was a long post for me without a lot of pictures. Hoping to get back into more of a normal routine next week. :)

Happy (beauties on bikes) Friday!

image via Radley London.

Happy Friday everyone! This weekend I'll be hanging out with my sisters and watching one of them sing in a play up in Los Angeles. I'm also hoping to squeeze in a nice long bike ride around Newport Back Bay and down to the beach with the hubby. Maybe we can stop for some ice cream or a frozen banana while we're there?

I'm leaving you with some photos of beauties on bikes, even though I know I won't look half this glamorous on my ride (I will most certainly be working hard to earn that frozen banana!). What are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy!

image via Radley London

image via ehousestudios

image via China Vogue

xox,

Bre

Outdoor Update for Spring: Bicycles!

Chloe Sevigney's apartment

As a self-proclaimed outdoor junkie, I was so excited for Spring so I could start riding my bike on a more regular basis. This past weekend I dug out my bicycle and went for a nice ride around town - a beautiful way to get some sun, people watch, and feel the breeze. While I have bicycles on the brain, I thought I'd show a couple pictures of homes where bicycles are key to the decor. The picture above is from Chloe Sevigney's apartment and I really love that her bike matches her wallpaper...what a stylish setup for a bike enthusiast!

And here is another bike used as functional decor; just ready to be picked up on the way out the door (and of course I'm totally in love with the vintage case at the foot of the stairs as well).

In biking accessories news: I've decided I definitely need a basket on my bike to make my weekend trips to the local marketplace a little bit easier. I've done some research and found this nifty little quick-release basket made by Electra.

Electra Quick-Release Wire Bike Basket, $40 @ REI

This silver color matches my bike beautifully and the quick-release means I can easily snap it off my bike and bring it in the store with me. This is kind of a perfect fit, so I'm thinking I'll need to make my way over to REI to investigate if this will work with my bike. If you're a bike enthusiast at all, you may enjoy Electra's website as they have all sorts of neat bike accessories (bells, coffee holders, flashy hubs for your wheels!). Really I could have spent a few hours searching around on there, but it was just making me want to buy a second bike (a cruiser!) so I stopped. :)

If you don't think biking is your thing (and visiting Electra's site still didn't convince you), maybe this guy will at least give you a giggle (those are some mad skills smoking while biking in a suit!).

Photos courtesy of The Sartorialist, REI, and others unknown