The Death of Twitter Redux and an Email Backlog

Dearest Readers... After giving Twitter Redux an honest try, I have decided to kill it off. It bores me to do it, and boring tasks are ultimately unsustainable. Even if you are not on twitter, you can see every word of what I utter there, going back two weeks, by simply glancing at my account. I assure you that it is all mundane links to random stuff that catches my eye, and that none of it competes with the content of this website.

Another announcement I'd like to make, is that unfortunately I have reached a point where I can no longer reply to emails in a timely manner. Some of you have already discovered this by having emailed me and not heard back. My backlog is about 2 weeks at this point - unless we are having an ongoing correspondence, or something in the subject of your message suggests urgency. I am trying my best to eventually get to all the un-answered emails, so please know that I do not mean to ignore you.

Finally, just to let you know that Blogger is now back to normal and all the missing comments here and here have been restored.

Thank you very much for reading, for writing, and for sending pictures of your lovely bicycles - enjoy your weekend!

Bicycle Blogs and Social Media

Ah, social media. We use it, enjoy it, allow it to take over our lives, and then complain about it. How wonderful it is to be human. A few weeks ago, London Cyclist published their "Top 50 Bicycle Blogs" list and for the first time I made it, coming in as the lucky no.13. As you can see, the list has two columns: one with the name of the blog and the other with its twitter url - mine being conspicuously absent. In the days following the list's publication, a number of "OMG, you need to get on The Twitter!" emails arrived from readers and acquaintances. Yet I was unmovable. Need I? But I've resisted for so long! Then several days ago I received a spoof message that threatened to start a twitter account in my name promoting hybrid comfort bikes. It was a cheap, dirty trick, but it worked: Lovely Bicycle is now on twitter.

In a general sense, I have no problem with social media such as facebook and twitter per se. As long as we are able to control ourselves from becoming full-blown addicts who document every private thought and behaviour via these platforms, I think they offer a novel and useful way of sharing information. Particularly when it comes to businesses, organisations, institutions, and other public entities, facebook and twitter can be essential in facilitating and democratising the process of gaining a following.

But here is where it gets tricky: On the one hand, blogs can be considered such entities, and so it would appear to make sense for them to take advantage of social media. On the other hand, blogs are unique in that they offer not just a product or a persona, but specifically writing. Free-access, web-hosted writing. Promoting one's blog on facebook and twitter can have the ironic effect of readers spending more time on these social media outlets than on the blog itself. There may be more visits to the blog than ever as a result of the promotion, but often this is accompanied by a decrease in active readership: less time spent on the blog, and fewer comments. The bulk of reader participation ends up happening off-site, which is usually not the effect intended by the blog author.

For those who are considering supplementing their blog with facebook or twitter, I think it's important to understand what it is that you wish to accomplish. Do you want to just generally increase your web presence, or do you want readers to actively engage with the content of your blog? If the latter, then I think facebook can act against your best interest, by encouraging you to share too much of the blog via its interface, thus fragmenting your content and reader participation. Twitter works differently in that it simply doesn't allow you to do more than share links and quick one-liners, making this pitfall more avoidable - but one must still be cautious. I plan to use twitter for link sharing, and for quick announcements that would not warrant their own post on the blog. Hopefully, it will serve as a supplementary, but not a competing channel of communication. My biggest concern is spreading my content thin, and this is something I will actively watch out for. We'll see how it goes. What's your view on blogs and social media? Do you find it helpful, or distracting, when a blog uses twitter or facebook?

Two Years Older, Not Much Wiser!

Though I missed it last year, this time around I remembered: April 4th, 2009 was the date of the first Lovely Bicycle post. Since then I've acquired a few bikes, learned a great deal in the process, and improved my cycling skills by about a thousandfold. I have also aged two years and learned to levitate. Honestly, levitation is not that difficult compared to learning to ride a roadbike.

In my quest to penetrate the mysteries of The Bicycle, one thing I understand quite clearly is that I still don't know much about bikes, and won't any time soon. I am not trying to be humble or self-deprecating: I mean it, and I don't think it's a bad thing. I have been fortunate enough to speak with quite a few framebuilders over the past two years, and they all have something different to say about frame design and construction. Some have very concrete theories about which geometry, tubing, etc. work best, and can explain why in great detail. Other builders just shrug and say, "I have no idea why the bikes I make ride well. All that trail and angles stuff is nonsense and there is more than one way to skin a cat." The builders with the best reputations and most coveted bicycles fall into both categories, and if saying "I don't know" is good enough for some of my favourite builders, then surely there is no shame in it.

I am not suggesting that the making of bicycles is some mystical thing that we mere mortals can never hope to grasp. But the more I learn, the more I realise that there are just so many contributing factors to how any given bicycle handles, that it is exceptionally difficult to generalise. In fact, the safest and most reliable way to make a great bike I've heard framebuilders describe, is copying the geometry of their favourite vintage bike, then experimenting with minor modifications. After all, frame geometry is "open source" and anybody who knows how to take measurements correctly can use it: Why not make what you already know works?  If contemporary manufacturers wanted to, they could all be producing vintage Raleigh Sports replicas in Taiwanese factories, which would ride much nicer than most modern commuter bicycles sold in bikeshops today. Why don't they then?.. That's something I haven't yet figured out either.

So there we have it: I don't know much, but that does not stop my continued interest in bicycles and cycling. One of the things I try to do on this blog, is to maintain a space where those who are new to bicycles can learn interesting things without feeling intimidated by industry jargon or by those who appear to be more knowledgable: Curiosity and openness are enough to enjoy cycling. Thank you for all the support I receive from you in its many forms: engaging discussions in the comments and over email, useful advice, shared information, trades for spare bicycle parts, donations for give-aways, and sponsorship. Thank you for reading, as I continue to share my mystified observations in year three of Lovely Bicycle!

Readers' Choice Poll

With the arrival of Spring, I plan to be doing more test ride reports, reviews of cycling-related products, and profiles of local bicycle shops and framebuilders. Some readers have sent me requests and suggestions over email for specific things they would like to read about, so I thought I'd open this up to everyone. Please feel free to take part in the poll below, as well as to post more specific suggestions or requests in the comments.



Some reviews that are coming up so far:

. a big review of wool technical clothing from Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool and I/O Bio

. a review of my Ostrich handlebar bag

. a comparison between my vintage Raleigh DL-1 and my vintage Gazelle

. a review of the Co-Habitant's Pashley Roadster

. a "2 year reunion" test ride report of the KHS Manhattan Green

. reviews of Velo Orange fenders, crankset and saddle

. and other reviews that for now shall remain mysterious

I prefer not to review bicycles or products that I blatantly dislike from the start, as that would be quite unfair to the manufacturer. But otherwise, I'd be willing to make it a point to seek out a specific bicycle or product if readers are interested.

Comments, Arguments, Bicycles...

[image via Chris 531]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've spent considerably more time moderaring comments than usual. For the most part, it's been a handful of readers getting overzealous in their debates with one another. But when hostility enters a discussion, others get sucked into it as well. All I know is: I don't want to be the Jerry Springer of bicycle blogs. I would rather have fewer comments, but retain the atmosphere of comradery that has been characteristic here thus far.

I have wondered whether discussions about bicycles are somehow more prone to conflict than other topics. Readers often tell me that they are uncomfortable commenting on various online bicycle forums and blogs, because they find the atmosphere hostile. And I understand that: I myself have a difficult time communicating on bikeforums, despite it being such a valuable resource for technical information. I also can no longer read the comments on Yehuda Moon, because of all the bickering between readers there. It is well documented that there exist genuine differences between what kind of interactions people find enjoyable: Some prefer for everything to be in the style of a debate, with technical inaccuracies in the wording of others victoriously exposed. Others favour a more nurturing, open form of communication. My own preference is somewhere in between: I like a good debate and I am fine with being challenged, as long as the underlying mood feels friendly.

[images via Schwar]

Sometimes I think that we'd all be nicer over the internet, if we just imagined all the unknown others out there as kittens. Kittens, who love bicycles - at times feisty, but ultimately sweet and fluffy, pedaling happily through the fragrant meadows. Do you really want to hurt their feelings?

But for those who can't deal with the kitten metaphor and prefer specifics, I will be more direct: I think that it is a matter of common sense to refrain from mocking or deriding others' points of view in the comments. It's not that everyone has to agree, but sometimes there are nicer ways to disagree. In the same vein, consider refraining from statements that, while technically speaking may be phrased politely, you know in your heart of hearts are inflammatory (for example: "No offense meant, but riding a blue bicycle lowers your IQ and transmits STDs"). Finally, allow me to suggest that it is best to avoid making speculative, or misleading statements about individuals or entities that can be considered slanderous (for example: "I heard that Lovely Bicycle is written in the Far East, using child labor and toxic inks"). I trust that most people understand the difference between comments that are "in good faith" and "not in good faith."

Meaningful reader feedback has been a defining element of "Lovely Bicycle" from the start, and it makes me happy to be the hostess of such thoughtful, interesting discussions. As one reader recently suggested, my posts are collaborative: I offer my views, and others offer their views in return. It's a constructive exchange, which I think works nicely. Please help me keep it that way. And think of the cycling kittens.

Just the FAQs

As 2010 comes to an end, I have finally put together a FAQ page. No juicy revelations here; just literally some frequently asked questions that could benefit from being compiled into a single post. Perhaps this will provide some blizzard reading for those stuck indoors!

Skip to...
i. About the Blog
ii. Comments and Moderation
iii. My Cycling Experience
iv. My Bicycles
v. Bicycle Advice
vi. Opinions on "Issues"
vii. Sponsorship and Review Policies
viii.Bicycle Photography
ix. Personal Stuff

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I. General questions about the blog
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What is the message of Lovely Bicycle?
There is no specific message. I am interested in classic bicycles and in various aspects of the cycling experience. But I would not call that a message, more like a theme. The post on "Functionality, Comfort, and Aesthetics" explains some of my views pretty well, as does the post on why I think bicycles are not like vacuum cleaners.

What made you interested in the topic?
I am generally interested in design: I like to know about the history of objects and the relationship between form and function. Once I started cycling and looking at bicycles, it was as if something clicked and the obsession was born. There is so much to learn.

How and why did you start Lovely Bicycle?

I was shopping for my first bicycle as an adult and it was frustrating, so I decided to document the process. I was also spending a lot of time abroad for work that year, and writing about this new interest was a nice way to stay connected to home. After that, it sort of continued and expanded, eventually morphing into what it is now.

Is Lovely Bicycle a "women's blog"?
That's difficult to say. I do not presume a female audience. But by virtue of being female myself, my experiences and views are biased towards a female perspective and I do not make attempts to correct that bias. Based on the comments and emails I receive, I believe the gender ratio of my readers is about 50/50.

How long does it take you to write a Lovely Bicycle post?

An average post takes about an hour to write. But there are also the pictures, the visits, the test rides - it's hard to say how much time I spend doing working on the blog in total.

How many visitors does Lovely Bicycle receive?
The website currently receives 3,200 visits per day on average. The greatest number of visitors is from the USA (68%), followed by the UK (11%).

Do you answer emails from readers?

I try. However, at the moment I have a 2 week+ backlog, so it may take me a while to reply. You can reach me at filigreevelo-at-yahoo.

Do you publish guest posts or press releases on Lovely Bicycle?

No; all the writing is mine.

What are your long-term plans for Lovely Bicycle?

They are more or less to carry on in the same direction.

Is there a Lovely Bicycle Facebook page or Twitter account?
I now have a twitter account. There are no plans for a Facebook page.

What is your favourite cycling blog?

It is a 3-way tie between Let's Go Ride a Bike, EcoVelo and BikeSnobNYC. I also read the Yehuda Moon comic. 

Who in the cycling world inspires you?
Sheldon Brown.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to start a bicycle blog?
If your approach is goal-oriented from the start, it probably won't work. Just write about what interests you. More on that here.

Do you accept donations for Lovely Bicycle?

While I do not solicit donations from readers, I accept and appreciate them when offered - as long as they are appropriate and pose no conflict of interest.

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II. Comment Guidelines and Moderation
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Do I need to sign in to comment?
No, anybody can comment. You can comment anonymously, or type in your name with an optional URL leading back to your site. Use the pull-down menu next to the "comment as" button.

What is your policy on moderating comments?

I approve all comments other than spam, slander, inflammatory remarks, or blatant rudeness. Most of my comments that aren't spam get approved.

Are manufacturers and other industry members allowed to comment?
Yes. Especially if your product or area of expertise is being discussed, please feel free to chime in. It is absolutely fine to sign in as yourself and post a link leading back to your company website. This is not spam if you are contributing to the discussion.

I tried to post a comment, but Blogger gave me an Error message.
Unfortunately this happens on occasion and there is nothing I can do. If you are typing a long comment, Blogger will sometimes time out and your comment may disappear. Consider composing the text elsewhere, then pasting it in the Comment field when done.

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III. Questions About My Cycling Experience
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When Did You Start Cycling?
I rode a bike as a child and as a teenager, and you can read about that here. I then stopped at age 17 and did not start again until Spring 2009, at age 30.

How much cycling do you do now?

I cycle for transportation more or less daily. I also cycle about 100-120 miles a week on a roadbike when it's not snowing.

Do you drive or own a car?
I don't usually drive. We used to have a car, but don't at the moment

What is the longest ride you have taken so far?
My longest ride so far has been a metric century (64 miles). I'd love to do longer rides, but it's hard to find the time. Hopefully, I will do my first century (100 miles) soon.

What do you wear while cycling?
When I cycle for transportation, I wear my regular clothes, which tend to include skirts. When I ride a roadbike, I wear wool cycling knickers and jersey.

Do you cycle in high heels?

No, I don't feel comfortable doing that. But I have nothing against others wearing heels while cycling. More on that here.

Do you cycle in the rain?
Yes. Here are my posts about cycling in the rain.

Do you cycle in the winter?

Yes. Here are my posts about winter cycling. 

Do you cycle when it's very hot and humid out?
Yes, and you can read about that here.

How did you develop your transportation cycling skills?
Slowly and gradually, thanks to a comfortable upright bicycle and everyday experience. I always stayed within my comfort zone, and that zone gradually began to expand. There is no shortcut that I know of to feeling comfortable cycling in traffic for transportation.

How did you develop your road cycling skills?
In the first instance, a stable bicycle with "touring geometry" was immensely helpful to me. I also raised the drop bars quite high initially, and then gradually lowered them as I got used to them. At a later stage, I found riding fixed gear to be useful in picking up roadbike handling skills.

When was the first time you rode a roadbike with drop bars?
The first time I tried was in the summer of 2009, but I ultimately could not do it and gave up. The first successful time was in the spring of 2010, on my Rivendell.

How do you care for your bicycles?

Shamefully, I don't. They are all filthy, though the rain does wash them occasionally. 

Do you do your own maintenance work, component installations and assembly?

Usually no. The Co-Habitant loves that sort of thing, so why deprive him? (More about this here.)

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IV. Questions About My Bicycles

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How many bicycles do you own?
I currently have 7. You can read about them here.

Why so many?
I am interested in learning about bicycles - including comparing their geometries, methods of construction, aesthetic traditions, and ride quality. The only way to do that really is via personal experience.

Why did you sell your beautiful Pashley?
The Pashley Princess worked well for me when I was a beginner. But as my cycling skills improved, I found the bicycle to be less responsive than I liked, especially on hills. This is described in my "retrospective review".

What happened to the vintage Raleigh DL-1?
It is still here! It lives in our photo studio (in a town 14 miles away) and is my "studio bike".

Why a custom Royal H. mixte rather than a Rivendell Betty Foy?
You can read about that here.

Of the bicycles you own, which is your favourite?

Can't really answer that! I am painfully attached to most of the ones I own now, and they have different purposes.  

Okay, but "burning building and you can only save 1 bike"?

My Royal H. mixte then. But let's hope it doesn't come to that!

What bicycles would you like to try next?

I would really like to experience "low trail geometry" - preferably on an original French randonneur or a modern (but classic) equivalent. 

If you had an unlimited budget, what is your dream bicycle?

I am not experienced enough yet to have a "dream bicycle". Ask me in 1-2 years!

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V.  Bicycle Advice 

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What bicycle do you recommend for commuting? 

There is no one manufacturer or model that I can recommend. But I do suggest certain features, which are described in detail here. Keep in mind that my suggestions are for those who have similar priorities as I do; they are not for everyone. 

What bicycle would you recommend that can "do it all"?

I would be very careful about that. See here for more.

Internally geared hub or derailleur?

Only you can decide. I prefer internally geared hubs for transportation, since they do not require maintenance. I prefer derailleurs for long-distance hilly touring, since they allow a wider range of gears.

How many speeds are best on an internally geared hub?

There is no magic number; you need to experiment and determine that for yourself. I prefer 3-speeds, with a classic trigger shifter.  

Do I really need dress guards and a chaincase for commuting?

That depends entirely on you. Here is more on that.

What bike would you recommend for commuting, on a $500 budget?

A good, refurbished vintage 3-speed. Nobody wants to hear that, as a new bike is easier to buy. But if you want my honest opinion, go for the vintage 3-speed. If you absolutely must have a new bike for under $500, I like the lady's KHS Manhattan Green better than others I've tried. 

What bike would you recommend for commuting, on a $1,000 budget?

As of now, I am honestly not sure what to suggest. Perhaps a Gazelle 3-speed, or an Abici, if you are okay with the welded seat cluster on the former or with the unicrown fork on the latter. 

What bike would you recommend for commuting, on a $1,500 budget?

A Bella Ciao, or a Retrovelo Klara. 

What touring bicycle would you recommend?

All things considered, a Rivendell.

What bike shops can you recommend in the Boston area?

I consider Harris Cyclery in West Newton, MA to be the best bike shop in the area - as defined by product availability, staff knowledgeability, and quality of service. Harris Cyclery became a sponsor of Lovely Bicycle in October 2010, but I have been writing positive things about them well before that time. I also like Cambridge Bicyles and the Wheelworks.

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VI.  Opinions on Cycling-Related Issues

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Are you pro-VC (vehicular cycling) or pro-Infrastructure (bike lanes/ protected paths)?

Not to be wishy-washy about it, but I think that either could work and either could fail, depending on the context.

Do you follow vehicular road rules when cycling in traffic?
Yes.

What are your thoughts on bike share programs?

I am conflicted on this one. Although bike share programs sound like a fantastic idea on the surface, I feel that they often involve a great deal of wastefulness. I think Mike Flanigan explains this nicely here.

What are your views on bicycle lights and high-visibility wear?
I think that good bicycle lighting is essential, and  I define "good lighting" as steady (non-flashing) lights attached to the bicycle directly and not to moving parts such as helmets or bags. I am neutral regarding high-vis wear and see it is a matter of personal choice. Portlandize has a nice post about this issue.

What are your views on bicycle helmets?
I am pro-choice. My personal views are for the most part in agreement with those expressed on Portlandize (see here and here). I will not engage in helmet debates on Lovely Bicycle.

Are you involved in cycling advocacy or activism?

I try to avoid any kind of "isms". 

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VII.  Questions About Sponsorship and Reviews 

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Why did Lovely Bicycle become a sponsored website?
The blog grew beyond my ability to maintain it otherwise. Sponsorship allows me to cut down on other work and dedicate more time to Lovely Bicycle. More here.

How do I know which businesses sponsor you?
All businesses that sponsor Lovely Bicycle display a banner on the right margin of this website under "Sponsors". There are no other sponsors, and no paid advertising material appears on any other part of this website. 

How do you deal with bias and potential conflict of interest?
Please read about that here. 

On what basis do you select sponsors?
On the basis of liking the products/ services they offer. I decline sponsorship offers from businesses whose products and services I do not wish to advertise.

You collaborate on projects with the bicycle industry. How do you get compensated for your involvement?
I am compensated as a consultant/designer. I do not work on commission or on a profit-share basis.

Do you participate in affiliate marketing?

I do not participate in affiliate marketing of any kind, including per-click ads or text-embedded links.

How do I know when your bicycle test ride reports and product reviews are prompted by the industry?
This information is clearly stated at the beginning of each review.

Do you get paid for product reviews?
No. I do not accept payment for product reviews.

What happens to products that are sent for review by the industry, after the review takes place?
I will either return the product to the manufacturer, give it away, or pay for it (either monetarily, or in equal value trade - such as photography services or banner placement). I do not keep reviewed products as gifts.

As a manufacturer, how do I advertise on your website, or get you to review my product?
Please contact me at filigreevelo-at-yahoo, and I will send you detailed information about my advertising rates and product review policies.

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VIII. Questions About Photography

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How often do you take bicycle pictures?

Typically, about twice a week.  I don't do it in a "daily photo journal" sort of way; the majority of my cycling activity goes undocumented. 

You write about cycling in traffic, but I rarely see pictures of that.

I don't feel safe taking pictures, or being photographed, while actually cycling in traffic. Most pictures where you see me cycling are staged on a quiet street or in a park.

Are you and the Co-Habitant professional photographers?

Most of the pictures on Lovely Bicycle are taken casually and do not reflect our professional work - but yes. If you are interested in our work, please get in touch.

What camera(s) do you use on the blog?

In posts prior to December 2009, pictures were taken with an old Nikon CoolPix point-and-shoot camera. In posts starting December 2009, most pictures were taken either with a Panasonic Lumix LX3 compact, or with a Nikon D-90 DSLR. You can also have a look at my flickr account; camera info is listed there for each image. 

How much post-processing do you do, and using what program?
My post-processing is minimal and I use Gimp. Usually the work is limited to image cropping and colour adjustment, when necessary.

Do you have any tips for taking good bike photos?

Everyone's idea of "good bike photos" is different. I will try to write a post about my approach soon. In the meantime, here is an excellent post on this topic from ecovelo. 

May I use your images in my blog or website?

You are welcome to use my images for non-commercial purposes, if in doing so you credit Lovely Bicycle and provide a link to this blog. Unless credit is given otherwise, all images on this site are ©2011 Lovely Bicycle.

How can I get access to hi-res versions of your images?

Hi-res versions of most images are available for sale. Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing a specific image.

May I use your images for commercial purposes?

To use my images for commercial purposes, you must purchase them. If you are interested, please contact me to discuss terms.

Are some of your photos already in use by the bicycle industry?
Yes. You might spot photos that have been taken by us in use by Zimbale, Bella Ciao, Red Barn Design, Flying Pigeon LA, Vienna Active Tours, Royal H. Cycles and ANT.

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IX.  Personal Questions

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Where are you from?

I grew up partly in Europe and partly in New England, USA. You have to know me personally to get more than that out of me.

Who is the "Co-Habitant"?

We are married, but the word "husband" makes me think of animal husbandry... 

What is your educational background?

I have a doctorate in Psychology, postgraduate training in Neuroscience, and a degree in International Relations. I am also an Art School dropout.

How old are you?

I am 32 years old.

What do you do for a living?

I consider myself primarily an artist (painting, photography, performance), with a dayjob in academia and consulting. I have been gradually cutting down on the dayjob and focusing on the art. So far, so good.

Why do you sometimes live in Austria?
For work. Here are my posts from Vienna.

What is your height and weight?

A legitimate question as it pertains to cycling, so I am fine answering: I am 5'7" and my weight is usually around 125lb.

Is your hair straight or curly? It always looks different in pictures.

It is curly, but sometimes I straighten it.

What kind of cats do you have?
They are Norwegian Forest Cats, possibly with a touch of Ragdoll. One is brown and white, the other is all brown. They are sisters. You can see pictures here.

Do your friends and family read Lovely Bicycle?
Mostly no. Only the Co-Habitant and my house-mate in Vienna know about it.

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Well, I think that is enough for now! I will link to this page on the main sidebar and and will continue to expand it over time. Thank you, everybody, for reading Lovely Bicycle!

On Bias, Ethics, and Moving Forward

It has been 19 months now since the start of Lovely Bicycle, and 3 months since it has become a sponsored website. In October 2010, this site received 50,000 visits and I now rummage through about 40 emails per week from readers.

Functioning at this level is not something I intended initially, and it poses its own set of challenges. For some time now I have been trying to formulate a general statement addressing issues of objectivity, bias and ethics, so that it is clear to my readers where I stand. Nothing here should come as a surprise if you read this blog, but sometimes it helps to make things explicit.

As far as objectivity and bias go, my position is fairly straightforward: I am not objective. I am biased. I am not a journalist and Lovely Bicycle is not a "consumer reports" type of website. I have my views, my preferences, my favourites, and every single post you read here is influenced by that.

More specifically, some of my caveat emptors can be summarised as follows:

. I have a strong preference for classic bicycles and classic components

. I think that women-oriented bicycle design has been undervalued and I would like for that to change

. I prefer hand-made products of high quality over mass-produced ones

. I value craftsmanship, elegant design and attention to detail over monetary savings

. I value and actively try to promote small businesses over corporations and brand-name conglomerates

. I value and actively try to promote independent frame builders and craftspersons, especially those local to me

. I am open to collaborating with members of the industry in creating products and services that could benefit my readers

. The work I do for a living has slowly begun to overlap with the bicycle industry, and that is something I am interested in furthering

All of this certainly disqualifies me from being anything close to an "objective observer," and that is fine by me.

The important thing I wish to communicate, is that I am an active participant in the industry and not a passive receptacle of its marketing. I regularly receive product offers from various manufacturers that I decline, because I am not interested in presenting these products to my readers. That means that the products I do accept for review, I accept because I actively want to write about them. By the same token, my choice of sponsors is an active choice, guided by my own preferences. I have turned down sponsorship offers from a number of well known manufacturers whose products I do not wish to advertise.  I have also actively approached companies whom I would be proud to have as sponsors. I am an informed and willing collaborator in the industry on my own terms, not a naïve creature who will happily write about anything she receives for free.

My approach to ethics is not to attempt objectivity or to claim independence. Instead, I opt for disclosure: I try to be as honest as I can about my preferences, my biases, and my connections with those manufacturers or shops whose products I mention. It is then up to my readers to take that information into consideration. I believe that my readers are intelligent and are able to factor these things in.

All that being said, if you read this blog I think it is clear that sponsorship has not stood in the way of my ranting against the things I dislike, just like lack of sponsorship has not stood in the way of my praising the things I like. You don't have to trust me on that - simply examine my content.

Over the next several months, some exciting projects will hopefully unfold and I look forward to sharing the details when the time comes. As mentioned previously, I am involved in several collaborations with manufacturers, including Red Barn Studio and Bella Ciao. I have also been approached about writing a book some time ago, though I don't think that is going to work out. There is no shortage of "stuff" going on, but I am trying to choose carefully and not to move forward faster than I feel is good for me. I enjoy writing Lovely Bicycle in its current form. My main goal is simply to continue - with your kind support.

Thank you again for reading Lovely Bicycle... and moreover, thank you for tolerating such a long post without pictures!

The Age of Capitalism

I will get right to the point of this post: I recently made the difficult decision to accept sponsors for Lovely Bicycle. The banners of the first sponsors will appear later this week.

The reason for the decision is simple: At this point it was either that, or discontinue Lovely Bicycle altogether. The blog has grown in many ways and now takes up more of my time than I can spare financially, cutting into my freelance consulting work. I have considered scaling back, but doing that would most likely make me lose interest entirely; I am not a person who can do things half-way. So the only alternative I saw was to accept sponsors, while doing my best not to sacrifice the integrity of my content. I hope that I have made the right decision.

If you are interested in sponsoring Lovely Bicycle and are not yet in contact with me, please see here for details. 

Thank you for reading, and thank you to all who decide to sponsor Lovely Bicycle!

A 'Successful' Bicycle Blog?

Today I received an email from a reader asking for "tips on how to run a successful bicycle blog." I get this type of question every so often, and never quite know how to respond. For starters, what exactly is a "successful bicycle blog"?... One with a readership of over x visits per day? An average of y comments per post? Placement on "top 50 bicycle blog" lists? Mentions in local publications? Probably all of the above, plus other indicators I am not even aware of.

[EcoVelo - one of my favourite "successful bicycle blogs"]

The next thing that comes to mind when considering the question, is why would one want a "successful bicycle blog" - that is, what do they hope to get out of it? If one's heart fills with desire to write about bicycles, they can simply open their computer and start typing - using free and easy platforms like BlogSpot and WordPress if they wish to make the writing public. The act of turning to an "established blogger" (reader's phraseology) for advice suggests that there is a specific end-goal in mind. I suppose the goal can include sponsorships, effective advocacy, and personal fame... but I think that such a goal-oriented attitude at the start is counterproductive.

[Let's Go Ride a Bike - one of my favourite "successful bicycle blogs"]

The main thing I would suggest, is to start the blog only if you have a genuine interest in the topic - an interest that is sufficiently strong, so that you can imagine producing hundreds of posts, day after day, with the same degree of enthusiasm as your first. Because the most important aspect of a blog's "success," from what I have seen, is its sustainability. Even though it may seem like there are tons of bicycle blogs out there, the number is actually not that great if you narrow it down to those that have been around for at least a year and continuously generate new content on a close-to-daily basis.

I would also consider how much of your time writing a blog would take, and whether that time investment would be worth it for the end-goal you have in mind. I am an unusually fast writer and constantly write anyway as part of my work. A blog entry every one to three days is possible, in terms of both time and effort. Otherwise, I absolutely would not be able to do it.

[The Mixte Gallery - bicycle blog with a unique theme]

Finally, I would suggest considering whether your bicycle blog will be sufficiently unique so as to differentiate it from all the others out there. The uniqueness can be a result of a specific focus (The Mixte Gallery is all about mixtes), of a distinct tone of voice (BikeSnobNYC's comic crankiness), of a consistent visual theme (the women on Copenhagen Cycle Chic), of being a source of cycling news in your area (the regional focus of Boston Biker), or of many other factors - but there must be something that will make the blog stand out in some way.

[BikeSnobNYC - one of my favourite "successful bicycle blogs"]

As for attracting readers, advertisers, sponsors, journalists and what have you... I feel that having this as your goal from the start could very well undermine it. It is my belief that readers can sense it when the ultimate purpose of a piece of writing is marketing-driven, and are less likely to connect with such writing.  I could be wrong, but I think that most "successful bicycle blogs" happened not by design but organically: The writer is so taken with the topic, that they keep writing and writing - until people begin to read. The best thing to do is simply to write and not think about "success" - whatever that may mean to you.

About a Year

Looking through the pictures I took of a recent ride along the cherry-blossoming Charles River, I realised that it has been just about a year since I began Lovely Bicycle. I say "about a year", because I am not entirely sure when exactly I started writing vs. publishing the entries. But apparently it was right around this time, as in my first documented bike-ride the blossoms were in bloom as well.

It is customary to conduct some sort of self-assessment when a project like this reaches its 1-year anniversary. But when I think about why I started this website, I feel suddenly inarticulate and a little confused - because honestly I do not have a good reason. I am not an activist and do not seek to promote "a cycling lifestyle". Life has worked out for me in such a way, that personally I have not driven a car since 2007, and I love to ride my bicycle(s) for both transportation and recreation. However, if you happen to own a dozen SUVs and enjoy driving them, that is fine with me. If you collect bicycles solely for the purpose of photographing them in your garden and never actually ride them, that is fine as well. And if you are a die-hard Foresterite vehicular cyclist who hates bike infrastructure and loves 6-lane roads with 40mph+ speed limits, that's wonderful too. You are all welcome, if you feel that you can relate to some aspect of this website.

Neither is the motive of this weblog a diary-style documentation of my life. Those who know me in person are aware that my posts here create an amusingly incomplete and warped presentation of my actual life and personality. And finally, neither was it ever my intent (not that I am in any danger of this) to gain commercial success or recognition for this website.

When I first started Lovely Bicycle, the intent was to review the options that were out there for bicycles that were both practical and aesthetically pleasing for people with lifestyles and tastes similar to mine. This was driven by my own frantic search for a "lovely bicycle" in Spring of 2009. However, the weblog developed far beyond this premise and I am still no closer to explaining what motivates me to continue it - when frankly my life is quite hectic as it is and does not need extra projects.

I will be honest: This discrepancy of the blog getting larger and more time consuming (I now get over a dozen emails per week and it is becoming impossible to answer most of them) with my not having a good explanation for why I am doing this, has caused me some concern and I have considered discontinuing Lovely Bicycle on several occasions. An alternative option could be to start accepting selected sponsorships, and using any earnings from these to at least cut down on some of the consulting projects I do in order to stay financially afloat - thereby freeing up time to continue working on the blog. But I do not have a clear idea of how this could be done while still maintaining the home-made feel of this wesite.

In short, it remains to be determined in what direction Lovely Bicycle will meander next, if at all. But in the meantime, I can't seem to help continuing to take pictures of beautiful bicycles and writing all of this nonsense about them!

While taking the pictures shown in this post, I was approached by a couple who asked me whether their daughter could pose next to my bicycle for their home-made video of the girl reciting "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert McCloskey. We moved the bicycle closer to the river, and the mother directed the daughter while the father videotaped. They did several takes of the recital and the child was adorable.

Of course I didn't have the heart to tell them that the "ducklings" in the river were in fact geese. Where better for me to share a story of such an encounter, than on Lovely Bicycle?...

New Year, New Look, and Change of Contact Info

Happy 2010 everyone! It's always nice to do something new in the new year, and so you may have noticed that I've made some minor changes to this site. Hopefully the update is agreeable.

In other news, please take note if you have tried to email me during the past 4 weeks: the hotmail email address that was previously listed in the Contact Info here is kaputt and I am locked out of it. If you've sent me emails and have not heard back, please be so kind as to re-send them to: "filigreevelo-at-yahoo-dot-com". Hope no one felt offended as a result of not hearing from me; I kept thinking that any day now I would regain access to the hotmail account, but apparently that won't be happening.

A sincere Thank You to all for your comments and advice in 2009, and may 2010 be filled with lovely bicycles and joyous cycling for all!