Wheels Go 'Round to Roundtable Pizza

Back in high school I worked at a Roundtable Pizza during my senior year. What a treat it was to be sitting at one of the restaurants again, this time with John. We rode our bikes together at the end of the day to eat the pizzas and garlic twists I used to bake.

Movies With an Unexpected Character - The Bicycle

Like my cats I am easily entertained. I can watch the "what's playing now" digest channel as if it was an actual t.v. show. But that was way back when we had cable television in our household. Hard to believe I once attended film school in L.A. for a couple years, huh? I lived and breathed movies when I lived in Burbank, California. And for a while after that, it was hard to watch films for the sake of entertainment without scrutinizing the cinematography or continuity. Now the extent of any cinema in my life is in the form of NetFlix streamings, the occasional Redbox rentals and the even more rare flicks at the Box Office.

Still, I know a fun-to-watch movie when I see one and I've enjoyed replays of a few flicks where the bicycle plays a surprising role:

I. The Right Kind of Wrong (2013)
Leo is a failed-writer-turned-dishwasher who is made famous for his many flaws and shortcomings in a blog and published book written by his ex-wife. Then Leo meets the girl of his dreams...on the day of her wedding in this heart tugging, super-cute romantic comedy. Check out the trailer! I love this movie because he goes everywhere by bike and there is nothing sexier than a man on a bicycle.

II. Wild Target (2010)

A hitman tries to retire but a beautiful thief (played by Emily Blunt) may change his plans. There's not a whole lot of bicycles in the movie but Emily is dressed so cute, cute and of course, the movie is entertaining and funny.

III. 3 Days to Kill (2014)

Kevin Costner stars in this action-thriller as an international spy who wants to give up his high risk occupation to rebuild a relationship with his estranged daughter but he has to do one last job. The trailer does not do this movie justice. The story between him and his daughter is better. And it's funny how often the purple bike Costner purchased for his daughter appears throughout the movie. It plays a significant role in the movie!

Have you already seen these movies? What did you think?! If you haven't yet, I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I did! At the very least, watch them for the bicycles which you would never expect to be in these movies.

Winter Bike to Work Day 2015

Ask my husband and he'll tell you winter is not my favorite season. So it's no surprise when I woke up today and rolled down the street, I had NO IDEA today is Winter Bike to Work Day! Did you?! With so much going on lately I did not realize there was a national day for biking to work since I bike to work year round anyways.

Today was filled with birthdays of several special people in my life, Valentine's Day is tomorrow, the Pedal for Palentine's Day meetup I organized for tomorrow at a local coffee house, and the second Reno Bike Project Slow Roll for Major Taylor is on Monday and oh -- today is Friday the 13th which didn't occur to me until a co-worker reminded me. A black cat did not cross my path today. I would have greeted it because I love cats (and animals for that matter) but didn't see any except for our precious kitties at home.

So as I am writing you, safe and sound from the couch in our living room, I have to say it was another GREAT day!! In fact, I think it was a lucky day...although lately every day seems to be a lucky day! Because on my way home, I decided to stop at an Irish pub where my sweetheart met me for Happy Hour. Before he arrived, I chat with some very nice folks around me who were also dining outside on the patio in Victorian Square. People who drove there, walked there and rode their motorcycles there (with the cutest dog (miniature Dachshund?) named Oscar! on board).

And the weather was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. Unusually warm for mid-February in Reno-Sparks, Nevada. I wore a Cuter Commuter Logo V-Neck T-shirt under a white button up shirt to the office today and on the way home I had to take off my blazer because the temperature was so warm!!

Make those ugly commutes cute with a Cuter Commuter log t-shirt!

We got the t-shirts in last night. I didn't expect them to go so fast!! I just love the bright turquoise and neon orange colors. They sure help to brighten up those ugly winter commutes! Show that you are a Cuter Commuter and let everyone know you support riding as a way of life with these super soft t-shirts. They feature a four-color Cuter Commuter logo screen printed on a combed cotton fabric. To order, just email your size (Small, Medium or Large) and mailing address to info at cutercommuter dot com and an invoice will be emailed to you. There is no shipping cost for local pickups and tax is included in the price of each t-shirt for $24.95. Although the t-shirts are true to size, they are considered "Junior sizes" and are meant to follow the silhouette so if you like your t-shirts to be looser fitting, order a size up.


Looping back to Winter Bike to Work Day, I think I've always been a year-round rider. Before moving to Reno-Sparks, I lived in a place where commuting by bicycle was a huge hurdle because there wasn't a route option that was low-risk enough for me. Not like I have now. So I still rode year round then. The difference was that I rode for recreation away from the city.

I love winter riding. I love the crisp cool air brushing my face while the sun's rays shine down on me. I love being able to wear my boots, tights, (sometimes) scarves, mittens and skirts or dresses because they are so...wintery! It's nice to wear layers and peel off to control my comfort. Soon enough summer will be here and the layers will be minimal to none. So I enjoy the cooler temperatures while I can. Pedaling keeps me warm. And being outside breathing fresh air, passing through neighborhoods keeps the winter blues away for me. If it weren't for my bike, I would absolutely hate winter. Like I did when I drove to work only to be stuck indoors looking through windows wishing I was outside when the sun would peek through the clouds. On my bike, winter is another riding season to give me variety and a change of scenery. If you don't ride through winter, I hope you have a chance to get outside this weekend!! You may just like it!

Friday Finds for Your Valentine

Ah...I LOVE Valentine's Day! Maybe it's because inklings of spring are starting to appear everywhere. The buds forming on the fruit trees in our backyard holding the promise of blossoms to come. Perhaps February warms my heart with things like rich chocolates and ruby red roses. And its one of the few times, besides Christmas, where I can get away with wearing solid red. The heart of our town runs blue for our Nevada Wolf Pack team and so I always get teased for wearing red.

If your gal is also a fan of V-Day and you don't know what to get her, here are some gifts that are sure to please the bicycle commuter on or off the bike. They will last A LOT longer than flowers or a box of chocolates and will keep the love of your life happy and healthy for a long time!

1. Papillionaire Bicycle in Vermillion comes with fenders to keep her clothes protected from road grime, chain guard to protect her pant leg and a rear rack to carry her stuff all color-matched to the powder coated chromoly steel frame. And 3-speed and 8-speed Shimano internal hub options to help her up and down hills without the fuss of derailleurs. Cuter Commuter is the only Papillionaire Bicycle dealer in Nevada so just give us a shout! You can see the Sommer style in person at the Reno Bike Project.

Papillionaire "Sommer" in Boston Red

2. Red Trench Coat or Wool Cape to keep her warm and visible on the bike. I love leaving my jackets unbuttoned to let it flap behind me like wings!!

3. Vivi "All You Need is Love Necklace" is adjustable and reversible. One side has filigree details and the message on the other side reads, "love is patient, love is kind". If she is allergic to certain metals, the felt string should not bother her. Proceeds benefit a young lady who loves to give to a few non-profit organizations.

 4. A Red Dress. A belted, button-up shirt dress is flattering for almost any figure yet has leg room to pedal on the bicycle. The collar detail is more appropriate for the office and can be layered under a cardigan or crew neck sweater.

I also love having a loose sweater dress, especially for going to a buffet dinner because it's more forgiving hahaha!!

5. Lezyne Sport Floor Drive or Lezyne Pressure Drive hand pump comes with a water bottle cage mount and the flex hose hidden inside the chamber has a threaded Presta connection on one end and a threaded Shrader connection on the other. Read a review on BikeRumor for a closer look.

I always carry the hand pump in my flat tire kit during my bicycle commutes. It's light and small enough to fit inside a large Brooks Challenge Tool Bag yet strong enough to pump up a flat tire to get you to your destination. On my way home one day I passed a fellow cyclist who had a punctured tire and was able to help her get on her way using the Lezyne Pressure Drive hand pump. And neither of us needed to use up our CO2 cartridges!

Cuter Commuter is also a Lezyne and Brooks saddle, bags and accessories dealer so we can help fit you with your bicycle commuting needs! Our retail site is not yet live but you can email us at info@cutercommuter.com with your order or questions.

Hope you have a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

I Have a Dream of Reno Slow Roll

I have a dream. That the roads of our community would be filled by bicyclists. That we would have access to use the roads without fear of getting pushed off or run over by other people driving motor vehicles. A day when bicyclists of all ages, abilities, gender and bike preference will ride side by side. That day came over Martin Luther King weekend.

It was only the first Reno Snow Roll organized by the Reno Bike Project and over 60 participants showed up ready to ride!

All sorts of bikes were represented as we rolled out of our meeting place through downtown Reno. Recumbent, cargo, cruisers, mountain, touring, road,

Bike bells rang around me as we rode together. The pace was slow so that no one would be left behind. It also allowed us to chat with others around us and people we have never met.

Even though I had plenty in common with my fellow riders, my shyness got the best of me and kept me from approaching others and so all I could do was SMILE and pedal quietly behind.

My personal goal for the next ride is to come out of my shell and introduce myself to someone in the ride that I have never met!

The ride featured a local business so half way through our route, we stopped at the Hub Coffee shop for complimentary hot cocoa and mingled.

Do you have or know of a local business who would like to be featured? Please contact me for details on how to become a Reno Bike Project Business Member and your business could be featured during the next Slow Roll.

Then it was time to leave and everyone I passed was ALL SMILES!!

Well how can we NOT have fun?! Riding bikes is so AWESOME!

After we parted ways, a few of us in the group went to check out The Depot on 4th Street, an antique train depot converted into a brewery, distillery and restaurant. There is a great article about The Depot on the Drinkable Reno blog.

I had a dream about a large community bicycle ride that was for all riders of all ages and abilities and bicycles. And for one day that dream came true!

View the rest of the photos on the Reno Slow Roll album.  Feel free to download and/or share!!

Happy New Year!

I hope your year was filled with all good things. I know I have a lot to be thankful for that has happened in 2014!
 

REFLECTING ON 2014

Since the first Bike to Breakfast at Brewer's Cabinet, we Biked to Brunch at the Stonehouse Cafe, Biked to Linner at SoDo Restaurant (Lunch + Dinner = Linner ) and rode miles and miles through the city together!!

LOOKING FORWARD IN 2015

In the new year, the weekly Ladies' (Bike Repair) Night at the Reno Bike Shop will continue, we have Bike Week 2015 (May 9 - 15) coming up, the inaugural CycloFemme Ride on Mother's Day which will put Reno-Tahoe-Sparks on the world map and more regular fun rides through town to look forward to! I would also like to offer meetups for bicycling skill sharing for anything you'd like to know (how to choose a bike for commuting, how to dress for different weather, how to carry your things, how to navigate the roads safely, how to plan the best route to where you need to go, basic routine maintenance you can easily do, etc.) if there is interest. Just let me know !

LAUNCHING CUTER COMMUTER STOREFRONT AND ONLINE BOUTIQUE

Cuter Commuter is also launching an online boutique and storefront offering vintage dutch style bicycles and stylish but practical bicycling bags, pumps, apparel, flat tire kits and accessories for women!! I am excited to bring to our town options to help you express your personal style! Stay tuned to CuterCommuter.com.

Above all, I am grateful for the friends I have made through Cuter Commuter rides this year. I am eager to meet each and every one in the coming year and ride again with old friends!! Until then, I hope all of the roads you travel lead you safely to family, friends and fun!

Have a Happy New Year and may 2015 bring you all the best and happiness in life!!

Sincerely Your Cuter Commuter Sister,

Daly