Love Letters: The Soma ES Initial Review

I'm in love. Unfortunately, I fall in love pretty easily, and often pretty hard. It's a fault, I am aware, but the Soma ES has really found a special place in the bike fold (the "ES" stands for "extra smooth"). Like having multiple children, one can compare their differences and similarities, but it doesn't mean you love one more than the other. I had heard the rumors and talked to those with Soma's prior to getting the ES and it was difficult to understand until riding it for myself. I had a brief encounter with a Soma Buena Vista some time ago, but the frame was so small it was almost impossible to ride (and strange, because it's not as though I'm a giant and rarely find a bike to be too small). But, I've wanted a steel road bike for quite awhile and just haven't found something that seemed as though it would work for my needs. There are customs to be had out in the world, but I really didn't have it in me to plunk down the sort of cash required. The ES is (in my opinion) affordable, and as such, it was near the top of the list. At around $400 for the frame, really it's probably one of the most affordable steel road frames out there.

The Soma ES frame is a hand-welded, Tange Prestige chromoly frame and weighs in around 4.1 lbs (for the 54cm, per Soma's site). It should be noted that my goal with this build was not to have the absolute lightest bike possible, but to find a nice mid-point between comfort and weight to allow me to use it for a variety of purposes. In the end, the build ended up being lighter than I anticipated, but thus far, it is working out well.

When I first spoke about picking up the Soma frame, a reader commented that she would like to know how I/we choose parts for a build. With this particular build, I didn't have (nor want) to spend a lot of extra money, so we built it with the intention of using (for the most part) items that we had sitting around from prior bicycles or builds. This meant that the choices for me were limited with this particular project. Because I tend to be rather finicky about the way a bike feels, I didn't want to spend extra money on parts, only to discover that I didn't like the ride or that it didn't fit properly. My thought from the inception was simply to use what was available in the parts stash and if all went well, I will potentially change things out down the road. So, with all of that said, the parts selected were not necessarily what I would ideally have chosen, but in order to get it on the road, I wanted to use what was available.

The hoods are a bit torn up on these shifters/brakes (they're Sora, in case anyone is wondering - so nothing special) because they're older, but they still work just fine.

There's nothing extra special on this build of the Soma (at least in its current form), with the exception that I did splurge on a new Chris King bottom bracket. I'm using an 8x2 set up on the shifters (because it's what I had and because the 8-speed shifters just seem to work really well), making it a 16-speed bike. I had to pick up a crank because we didn't have anything appropriate, so I managed to scrounge up a used one that does the job and is actually decent. My hope, assuming that I continue to find myself lost in love, is to change the drivetrain out to a 10x2 (and because of the crank selected, I'll be able to keep it with that set up as well). This will, of course, require a few changes to things, but for now, I just want to get a good feel for the bike.

XT rear derailleur was also a part had from another bike build.

I've had the opportunity to ride the ES a few times now, taking it on short test rides and a couple of slightly longer rides (between 10-20 miles), and I am quite comfortable on this bike. It's a different kind of comfortable than say the Surly Cross-Check or the Rivendell Sam Hillborne. Those two feel Cadillac-y; a bit heavy, but solid, smooth, and great fun to ride. The ES feels much lighter, but still comfortable and easy to handle. Honestly, I was surprised at just how light it was when I picked it up with one hand. I'm so used to having heavy bikes (setting aside, of course, my road bike) that it almost felt foreign to be able to so easily carry and move the bike.  I haven't weighed it, and I have no doubt it's heavier than the road bike that comes in somewhere around 16 lbs, but it's definitely plenty light. Perhaps even too light. Part of me thinks that I should have opted for the steel fork to keep more of a classic look and feel, and while I suppose it's still possible to obtain the steel version of the fork, I am not displeased with the bike in any way due to fork choice.

As stated above, one thing of note with the Soma frame is that it is sold as a frame-only (there is an option to purchase a complete bike as well). A matching fork is available for an additional cost. Because I figured I would ultimately end up getting a carbon fork, I chose not to bother with the matching steel one and instead used those funds to get those few other items needed for the build. Yes, a carbon fork was actually cheaper than the matching steel one, crazy as that sounds.

Easton fork was obtained for a killer deal on a closeout with a store on Amazon (& I had a gift card to use with Amazon, making the cost free-to-me)

The ES has done really well on climbs, too. This actually surprised me, 1) because of the current gears/gearing; 2) because I suppose I had an idea that it would feel weightier than it does; and 3) because the words "enjoy" and "climb" never go hand in hand for me - ever. I am saying it here - probably the first and last time it will ever be uttered by my mouth (err, fingers), I have actually enjoyed some of the climbs on this bike - and worse yet, I have no idea why.  I have tried to figure it out to no avail. My road bike is full carbon, geared appropriately, weighs less, and should be the go-to choice for such rides, but I can't think of a time when I was climbing on the Trek and thought, "Gee, this is kind of fun!" I hate to say it, but those thoughts have actually run through my mind with the ES. I've considered the possibility that it is merely due to the fact that it's winter and the road bike has (for the most part) stayed tucked away, but because I seem to harbor such disdain for climbing, I would think that this wouldn't matter. It is also entirely possible that the climbing hasn't seemed as painful (even pleasant at times) because the rides have been shorter than they typically are on a training ride in the summer. Even going on a 20 mile ride is not the same as a 50+ miler in the heat of summer.

The photos I took all seemed to grey out a lot of the colors, but I suppose that's my own fault for not taking a proper camera. :O)

One really great thing about the ES is that I don't feel out of place riding it around town or out on the back roads with the hardcore roadies (if I were going to use it regularly as more of a commuter, I'd likely take advantage of the eyelets for a rear rack and fenders). It seems to fit in just about anywhere and it has a sort of understated, yet still identifiable look. I've ridden in workout, bike-specific, and everyday clothing and never feel odd or as though I need to put something else on to get on this bike. I also appreciate that Soma had the awareness to keep branding and stickers to a minimum, allowing the buyer to keep the bike fairly tame (color-wise) if s/he chooses, or add his/her own flair to the bike.

I am not normally a "pink" sort of person, but I've realized that I always seem to end up with some version of it on my bikes (be that a baby pink or a more raspberry color), so I just gave in and decided to get both a bottom bracket and a headset in pink, and since I was in it, I just dove in with pink cable housing too (it didn't hurt that it was on the clearance table at a local shop). Do any of the pinks match? Of course not. I didn't want to get too carried away with the pink though and realized it needed something to balance it out, so I managed to find the turquoise/teal colored leather Brooks bar tape at a ridiculously low price (I highly recommend looking around if you're okay with not necessarily obtaining your first color choice for parts because I have found some great deals - often more than half off - when I'm not picky about color choice. Be willing to check all sources, including CL, eBay, local shops, etc).

The tires are the very same ones that I had on a former road bike that were removed for a different choice at about 600 miles, and are Schwalbe Durano's in creme (for the record, I run them at around 90-100 psi, generally speaking). They are not the tires to select for the least rolling resistance (though still not bad), but I like that they're a bit softer/cushioned yet still hold a higher pressure, and that I can use them when it's a bit wet out and not worry that I'm going to slip all around. Plus, I had them in the parts stash, so that made them an easy and obvious choice. The saddle and saddle bag are from previous builds as well that just keep making their way from one bike to the next (the saddle is a Brooks B-17 and the bag is from Rivendell). The wheels came off of a prior build for Sam, so they too were in the parts pile to be used. Again, they're not the lightest wheels out there, but that wasn't of concern to me for this build.

I was asked how this ES differs from the Surly Pacer I've had in the past. I think one of the biggest issues for me was handlebar height on the Pacer. I really liked the Pacer and it was a great ride too, but having problems with hands and wrists, I couldn't seem to get the Pacer to a place that allowed me to be comfortable when riding longer distances. The Pacer had lighter weight parts and different gearing (after we rebuilt it, not as a stock bike from Surly), but the frame is similar in many respects; however, when I look at the geometry of the two, I begin to think that just slight differences made a big difference. The top tube is actually slightly (very slightly) longer on the ES than on the Pacer (both were/are 46 cm), but the ES head tube is longer, which I believe assists in allowing me to get just that bit more I needed for the handlebar height. Again, they are both solid frames, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend someone try either. My preference (at least to date) has simply been in favor of the Soma.

Regardless of the specifics chosen to build this bike up, I think it's a solid frame and worth a look for a person seeking an easy-to-ride road bike at an affordable price when compared to other steel options on the market. Parts and pieces will likely change on this bike (as they have on nearly every bike I've owned) over time, but I think this one is turning into a really solid option. If you're interested in seeing a few more photos of the bike, you're welcome to see them here. I'm still working on a true "glamour shot" photo shoot, but it's been challenging for me in recent weeks, so I'll add them to the folder as I get them completed for those who have interest. As always, if you have questions about the build, parts, or have had your own experience with Soma or the ES, feel free to leave your thoughts, ideas, and so on.

To Build or Not to Build (a bicycle, that is): Lessons Learned

In preparation for an upcoming post regarding the Soma ES that recently came into my life, I thought I would write some quick thoughts on building up a bike. If you've been thinking about doing your own build, but are a bit tentative when it comes to taking the plunge, I thought I could offer my experiences and thoughts to help either persuade or dissuade you from giving it a try. This is not intended to be a how-to, but rather just to offer some thoughts that could be beneficial when deciding whether or not this sort of endeavor is for you.

Our first ground-up bike build was my Rivendell Sam Hillborne. I use "our" in more of a royal sense because while I was very active in yammering on about the parts I wanted for the bike, I had very little to do with the actual process of building the bike up (unless you count standing around staring and asking when the bike would be ready to ride). Frankly, a lot of what I thought I wanted ended up being entirely wrong and I wrote several posts that followed in the months after the build, trying to determine what exactly I was looking for in a bike.

Lesson #1: Don't think that because specific parts work for one person or group of people that they are necessarily the right choice for you. Do your own research, and if possible, test the parts before buying them.

Following that first complete build, several others followed. It's no secret here that I am almost entirely mechanically inept. I do try; however, I find myself frustrated very quickly when things go amuck. I want to believe that having bicycles has improved this somewhat, but I know my limitations and understand that I'm not always going to be able to do everything I want to do myself. I am fortunate to have a partner in life who is (sometimes) patient with me and will attempt to explain how/why things work the way they do. In reality, a bicycle is a pretty simple machine, but when I get into the nitty gritty of things, I can get overwhelmed (it should be noted that I am also the individual who routinely gets a "0" score on mechanical aptitude tests). Understanding that if I wanted to learn, I would need to make a concerted effort to do so became apparent early on.

Lesson #2: In all of my attempts to do things for myself, I have accepted that sometimes it's better/easier/less stressful to allow someone who is more experienced and/or more mechanically capable to handle some matters, but it doesn't mean that I can't do anything for myself.

As I mentioned, with the Hillborne build I was very adamant about having the parts I thought I wanted. One would think this would deter me from choosing parts for future builds, but that was not the case. Partially, my need to pick out parts is due to the reality that I am a visual person, and while my sometimes overly-thrifty Sam will pick up the least expensive option available (which sometimes, but not always, equates to a less visually pleasing option), this does not always coincide with my aesthetic choices. We sometimes butt heads over this because while he would opt to save the few dollars, I will often choose the option that fits with my visual desires for a particular bicycle (even at a higher cost). Ultimately, I understand that the bike will function and operate in the same manner, and I don't purposefully set out to spend extra money, but I think most will agree that when we like the way a bicycle looks, it makes it that much more fun and exciting to ride. Ultimately, we have ended up spending more money at times because I didn't go with my initial selection and tried to give in to the less-expensive option.

Lesson #3: Sometimes those little choices can make a big difference in the way we feel about a bicycle. While it's always great to save money on parts, make sure you can live with whatever compromise you reach between cost and aesthetic considerations or you may end up spending more than you would have with the more costly option.

There is so much information available with the internet at our fingertips. Gone are the days of my youth when people actually spoke to each other and learned from those who had been-there and done-that (or so it sometimes seems). It's great to have so much information available with a few keystrokes, but sometimes a good old fashion chat with an expert can be invaluable. As simple as it is, there are a fair number of parts on a bicycle. If we are building from the ground up (assuming it is geared - and even if it's not, it's a very similar list), the list of parts includes: frame, fork, headset, bottom bracket, crank, front and rear derailleurs, seat post (and a clamp), saddle, pedals, handlebar stem, spacers for the stem, handlebars, bar tape or grips of some kind, brake levers, brake hanger (depending on brakes needed), brake cables and housing, shifter levers, shifter cables and housing, brake calipers (or discs, or other options), wheels (which consist of a hub, spokes and rim), rim tape, tires and tubes, a chain, a crankset, and a rear cassette. This list doesn't include other items that are also frequently needed, such as ferrules for the ends of cables, cable stops, or additional small parts that become necessary with a build. It also doesn't include extras such as baskets, panniers, bags, racks, and so on. In short, even though a bicycle is a simple machine, there are a lot more pieces to the puzzle than I realized when we built the first bicycle. I didn't start out knowing that I needed all of these items, but with each build and additional information at my disposal, I became a lot more confident in choosing items for a build (and made fewer mistakes as well).

Lesson #4 (which is oddly similar to lesson #2): If you don't know what the part is called or even that you need it, chances are that it would be better to let someone else take care of that portion of your build (or maybe the entire build). This doesn't mean, however, that you can't have an opinion about what goes into your bike build, or you might have a patient person in your life that will guide you through the process and offer hands-on assistance. If you're confident in your ability to get the job done yourself, don't be afraid to ask a shop mechanic or other competent source for some advice on what would work best (just ensure that the source is actually competent).

When it comes to the decision regarding which parts to put on a bicycle, sometimes there are only limited options available without a lot of extra work, and other times there are seemingly limitless choices. Additionally, I believe there are certain parts one should spend on to get quality components, and others that allow for some less expensive choices. For example, I think having a quality bottom bracket is a good idea, but perhaps spending on the most expensive crank isn't necessary. Additionally, having quality wheels is a great investment, but often brake caliper choices don't need to be the best out there as there is quality to be found even in lower-range products. Of course, this is all subject to opinion, but I have found that if I spend a bit more money on the "always in use/motion" parts, I can get away with spending less on other components. I have also learned that just because a part is more or less than some other option doesn't necessarily mean that it is better or worse than the other, and much of preference is subject to personal likes and dislikes. So, reading online reviews requires a keen eye and mind for reading through the b.s., and may require you to seek out the parts in person to see what makes that particular component a good or bad choice for your build.

Lesson #5: Lots of opinions are great when it comes to picking components, but deciding what is most important for your build may require a bit of investigation. Don't shy away from input, but learning to decipher opinion from fact is a honed skill that may require time and even some mistakes along the way. Don't let it deter you, but know that there is a learning curve in all new ventures.

Feel free to add your lessons to the comments. I know there are many more to be learned, so sharing your experiences are always welcomed.

Happy Valentine's Day

Whether you celebrate today or avoid it like the plague, can there ever be too much love in this world? So, just a quick note to wish you a very happy Valentine's Day! May you find love and warmth (and of course a bicycle ride) wherever you are and wherever you may roam on this lovely winter day.

*Image found here

Happy Valentine's Day!

Déjà vu

There never seems to be a dull moment in our house, despite the fact that we (the humans) in the household tend to prefer to cultivate pretty mellow lives (I won't speak for the fur-kids, as they have their own agenda most of the time). Much as I want to think of myself as a generationally-displaced hippy, I know there are those Type-A traits hiding deep down that prevent the hippy side from ever completely taking over (I'm not really a Type A - nor a true hippy- but I definitely have my moments on both sides of the fence, if I'm being totally honest).

One of my favorite San Francisco sites (and sights!)
*Image found here

If you've been reading here for awhile, you may recall this post in which I announced that the E.V.L. household would be on the move to the west coast, thanks to a great occupational opportunity for Sam - which was quickly followed up by this post stating that the job offer had been rescinded and we would be staying put here in Colorado. I think we were both somewhat relieved and also sad that we weren't going to be making the move, but it turned out to be quite a fortuitous happening as Sam ended up in the hospital very shortly thereafter - and we would've had no medical insurance if we'd been in San Francisco as planned. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - everything happens for a reason. Even though Sam was disappointed not to have the opportunity, we figured we were supposed to stay put and continue on with life.

So, here we are, merrily living our lives (okay, maybe not as merrily in the depths of snow and winter since we're both "summer" people - but still - living as happily as possible). We continued on with our home renovation projects, thinking that we needed to finish up quite a few of them. One day about a month ago, Sam went into work as usual. When he returned from lunch, he was informed that there was going to be an "emergency meeting," during which he was told that the company (which, by the way, just hired him about 6 months prior) had just laid-off 10 individuals (and escorted them out of the building), that there would likely be more lay-offs to come, and the company hasn't turned a profit in nearly a decade. WhaaaaAAAt?! I was in shock hearing the news as Sam sat reliving the afternoon from work to me.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but this was one of our home projects that's kept us entertained: painted walls, redone cabinets, new butcher block countertops, a CL-find farm sink, new faucet, "brick" backsplash, new electrical/outlets, and (not pictured) recessed can lighting. A totally different place to hang out. I love that we do all of these things ourselves... though sometimes it makes for its own headaches along the way. On a side note, I'm pretty convinced I'd live well in a shack somewhere, as long as I had electricity and water... okay, and maybe a sewer system of some sort... and heat. Okay, maybe I am not as ready to live in an abandoned cabin as I want to believe.

"So, do you still have a job?" was the thought on the tip of my tongue, but before I could bring myself to actually ask it, Sam stated, "So, guess who called me today?" with a devious little look in his eye. At first, I stared blankly, and then, as if I had a psychic moment, I said, "NOOO?! No way!" The very company that had offered and rescinded the job opportunity last spring wanted to know if he had any interest in coming that direction. The interesting piece in all of this is that Sam hasn't been particularly happy about his new position (for a variety of reasons), but has tried to make the best of the situation. He had drafted an e-mail to the company who had made the offer last year, thinking that he would follow up with them and see how things were going, and just never sent it... and then they contacted him. A serendipitous coincidence? Perhaps.

Then, a waiting game began. The director who'd spoken with Sam said that he'd be meeting with the executives and would get back to Sam. Because things went so very quickly the last round, I expected he'd hear from them within a day or two, but that didn't happen. Sam was much calmer about it all than I was. "What's taking so long?" I kept asking. As much as I am a person who prefers open-ended options and leaving all paths open for opportunity, this is one instance in life that I'd prefer to have things closed, settled and know what's going to happen.

It was additionally painful for me because we weren't saying a word about any of this to anyone. After the last happenings with this organization, who wants to be the one to say that we're moving and then have to take it back... again? I am not a good secret keeper though, particularly when it involves potentially life-changing events. Every time I'd start to talk to someone who'd bring up some happening taking place over the next couple of months, it took everything in me to not say, "Yes, but I/we probably won't be here." I restrained myself though. It's not really my news to share until it's actually official anyway, so the days and weeks of waiting felt endless.

End...less (I really am an impatient toddler sometimes).

For the love of God. Someone say something so I can know one way or the other what is happening.

What felt like an eternity eventually turned into conversations via various forms of communication. There was much discussion back and forth, but ultimately, an actual offer was extended and accepted. Which means that, yet again, the E.V.L. household appears to be on a move to the northern part of our home state.

I'm actually excited. And sad. And - well, lots of emotions are running rampant.

*Image found here

During the last round of this, I had a lot of sick feelings about leaving our home in Colorado. We've been here for almost exactly 11 years now, and we've both done a lot of growing in many facets of life during our time here. I truly believed that the home we are in would be our forever home and we would change and expand as needed. We've had a multitude of experiences that would never have taken place (my return to college, for instance) had we remained where we were. We were married in Colorado. We adopted and lost beloved pets during our time in Colorado. We have also both come to realize that had we never left California, we would likely never have become the people we are today. Bicycles (other than a rare mountain bike ride for Sam) were not even in our consciousness, and I don't know that they ever would have been, particularly for me. Colorado and the people we've met here have done us a lot of good, and we don't take that for granted in the least.

The wonderful part about moving is that we are always able to return, even if just for visits. Part of Sam's family remains in the northern portion of the state, and we have friends in the area, so we know that our departure is not a forever goodbye by any means. We get the opportunity to be closer to aging parents with a move to California, and even if we don't always get along with each of them, it's nice to know that they're close by. As with the last round of this, we know that neither of us could ask to be in a more appropriate or seemingly perfect location for a techie and an artist - and hey, the cycling isn't so bad either.

We are both much calmer with this round, causing us both to believe that timing is everything and that when something really is meant to be, it's difficult to stop it from happening. We are both ready, willing participants in this new adventure, and while there is still a small bit of time before this all takes place, we are excited to see what is in store for us on this new journey. It's always a bit scary to try something new or different, but we know that we are ready to take on new challenges and have a fresh start. So, as we prepare to say farewell to Colorado, we go knowing that our hearts are open to what is ahead because life truly is what we make of it.

A Soma Build

There's a lovely new ride staring me in the face every day as I keep praying for enough of the snow to melt to be able to take it out on even a short test ride. It's killing me to have it built up and not have a somewhat clear road to take it out for a spin. I've been (impatiently) waiting for an unseasonable warm front to roll through for a few days and provide a brief window of opportunity to try out the fabulous Soma ES sitting in my basement. It doesn't even have bar tape on it yet, nor have we cut the steerer tube on the fork because I don't want to make any ultimate decisions until I can test it out. Yes, it looks absolutely ridiculous because there are so many spacers running up to the handlebars (and above the handlebars), but I'm willing to wait it out to know for sure where I need to cut the steerer.

A sneak view of the Soma (sorry, no glamour shots just yet)... the steerer and all the spacers really do look silly- but that will change soon (hopefully).

The Soma comes to me courtesy of the sale of our VW Beetle (which took place due to a variety of reasons that I won't bore anyone with at this juncture).  A nice, young man from Albuquerque flew in to buy it and drove her home in the middle of one our bigger snow storms several weeks ago. I am impressed with his determination (and lack of fear) in regard to driving the car back to New Mexico as the roads were quite slick. He made it home without issue, which only tells me that we really did build a reliable, solid vehicle. I'm not sure I'd do the same if I were in his shoes (and even recommended that he perhaps spend the evening and then head home when the storm had passed), but I'm glad he made it home safe and sound. I'm also happy to use the "winnings" to fund yet another bike project (the car was my graduation gift and all, so I suppose that something should come out of it - right?). Some people might save their money, but we here in the E.V.L. household love our bikes... and what fun would life be without some sort of project to fill these winter days?

I had been debating the sort of bicycle that I would want if/when the VW sold. Briefly, thoughts when to another attempt at a city bike. A loop frame or mixte would be nice at times, and there's a part of me that doesn't want to give up on that idea, but ultimately I didn't think it was something I really would hang on to long term. I also considered {gasp} selling the Hillborne (I can't believe I am even saying that) and trading it in for the new Cheviot that Rivendell is putting out - which would give me the same use that the Hillborne provides in its set up, but also give a bit more standover for skirt/dress times. While I still think it could be a possibility in the future, it wasn't quite what I am ready to try out at the moment. In the end, I suppose it boiled down to wanting a lighter weight steel road bike, but I didn't want (nor have) to spend a small fortune obtaining one. I also wanted options for various potential set ups down the line, so the ES just seemed to make sense. Whether it will ride as I expect remains to be seen, but I'm looking forward to the adventure and seeing where it takes me.

Do I need another bike? No, of course not, but it seems that bike builds in our house are like that comforting quilt grandma made years ago...It makes us feel all warm and snuggly, and when there isn't something in the works, we both feel a bit - well, empty, I suppose. So, I'm looking forward to reporting on the Soma very soon, but until then, I stare longingly, knowing that we're in for a dry spell in the coming days which will hopefully melt just enough of the white stuff to allow me the fix I've been longing for over the last couple of weeks.

To Bike in Heels or Not

Apparently, there has been some recent brouhaha over a couple of blog posts regarding riding a bike in heels (although this topic comes up frequently outside the confines of these posts). This isn't typically a subject I'd even wander into for a full post, but since I was specifically asked about it, I figured the easiest way to respond is to write it out here. If you're interested in the original posts, they can be found here and here. In the most simplified form (really, reading both posts is a better reflection of the individuals' thoughts) one blogger is tired of hearing about biking in heels and wants to see more work done to get women educated and skilled in regard to fixing their own bikes; and the other is in response to the original post and discusses her belief in riding in heels and taking her bike to a shop to have a flat fixed (or whatever fixes might be needed).

*Image found here

So what are my thoughts? It's interesting that I'd even be asked this question because, frankly, I don't care. Okay, perhaps it isn't so much that I don't care (I care about anything that gets someone on a bicycle), but rather that it seems like a topic that shouldn't even require so much impassioned discussion. If a person likes to ride in heels and skirts, go for it. If a person wants to ride in full team kit everywhere s/he goes, do it. Seriously. I'm not trying to be funny, or even make light of what is obviously an important topic for each of these ladies, but it really doesn't affect me in my every day life. I have ridden my bike dressed to the nines, and I've ridden in some fairly funky (read: stinky), lycra-ridden clothing over the years, and I don't feel like I am any more of or less than any one else, regardless of how I'm dressed. I wear clothes because they cover my body, keep me warm, etc (and because if I rode around nude it would scare a lot of people, and I'd no doubt be arrested for parading around in the buff - since, as far as I know, it is illegal here in these parts). I wear shoes because they provide protection, keep me warm, etc (and I have actually been on a bike without shoes - it wasn't particularly pleasant - but I can't say I'd never do it again, honestly). Yes, I have heels and I also own "bike shoes" and I have used them both (and lots of choices in-between) when the time is appropriate (and sometimes when it was inappropriate - but I'm just that sort of person who doesn't care what anyone else thinks about it).

*Image found here

I think it's awesome to see men and women out riding in their everyday attire. If it is an easier choice than transporting oneself by bike and having to change when s/he reaches his/her stop, of course it makes sense to just wear the clothes that will be worn at the final destination. If a person is more comfortable biking in lycra and wants to change once s/he arrives at the end point, I see nothing wrong with that either. I view all of this as a personal preference, not a matter that should be decided by any person, entity, government, or anyone else.

*Image found here

In regard to women being capable of fixing their flat tires or doing minor repairs to a bike - again, I think this is a matter of personal choice. If an individual rides in areas that there is a means of having problems easily addressed by a bike shop and they are willing to pay for the service, why have issue with this? We are not all skilled in such matters (and I know plenty of dudes out there who take their bikes in to shops for every little repair because they either can't or don't want to do it themselves - so this isn't a gender-based thing for me), and/or we may not have interest in even learning such a skill. If I choose to not learn, it doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to ride a bike.

*Image found here

On the other hand, I also think it's a great idea for every person who rides a bike to at least have a basic knowledge of how things work and can be fixed. As I've stated here many times over, I am one of the least mechanically-skillful people on the planet, so I will be the first in line to have someone else take over such things. However, I also know what to do if I really had to fix something, so hopefully, I won't end up stranded in the middle of nowhere without the means to get myself home. This doesn't mean that every persons situation is the same though and I have no problem or issue with anyone who chooses one option over the other, or any combination of the two ends of the spectrum.

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Bottom line: I think any way a person chooses to ride is spectacular (I do take issue at times with those who do things that make it worse for those who follow the rules of the road though - but that has nothing to do with the attire selected for the ride).  More people should be out riding a bike and enjoying such a great activity, means of transportation, and/or sport (depending on the way a person rides). We would probably all be a lot less angry and rage-filled on the roads if every individual knew first-hand exactly what it's like to be on the roads with big, sometimes scary, several-ton motorized vehicles. So, while I try not to get caught up in the banter that can take place between (or among) cyclists, it doesn't matter to me what you choose to wear on your ride, nor whether or not you choose to fix your own mechanical issues - just get out there and ride. Life is too short to worry about what others are wearing (or not) or what they are doing (or not). Do what feels right for you - whether that's dressing like a fashionista, like you're riding the next Tour, or somewhere in the broad spectrum in between.