Gold Bike

 

Thanks to my friend C., who I will be visiting  in Berlin next month, for taking these photos from the Berliner Bicycle Fair (man, they are cool or what). If ever dreamed of having a bicycle made of gold, that is the place to go, 24k and 8500 euro.

I’ve got an update regarding my dear bicycle: it’s dying. And cursed. I mean, I still love it as it is. But c’mon, the day after I bring it to the mechanic for a general check-up, I get a flat tire. And that day the mechanic, the genius, tells me my bicycle is not fit to ride outside the city. What? I mean, I had all these wild plans to  bring it to Ibiza this summer (I still do) and go on excursions with my friend D. (a fellow bicycle enthusiast). And the moment we would get tired, just leave our bikes and go under a tree to eat our ‘bocadillo’ (a sandwich). Well anyway that’s my idea. For that I will need to take the ferry to the island. Anyways, I have my flatmate insisting I should get dress to go eat sushi and enjoy the rest of this Sunday. We had like 3 different seasons in one day, the weather is seriously crazy this month.

Have a nice week!

 

The intensity of a rainy day

When the music I am listening to stops playing, then I get to hear this damned rain. I’m one of this people that becomes easily track-obsessed and so my morning has been rather technoish listening to this amazing stuff, which is, by the way, 22 years old. I wonder if anything I did that long ago would still bring me the same feeling of joy that this song evokes in me. I could probably find some drawing, made with childish innocence but…it wouldn’t be the same, right?

Anyway, it’s the third day in a row that rains in Barcelona. Two nights ago the thunder woke me up at 5 in the morning. I moved recently and now my bedroom windows is facing my bed. So I wake up with the sunrise (yeah ok not literally, I haven’t been able to get up before 8 in the past few weeks) and obviously, if there is lightning like there was the other day, then it wakes me up too. But it’s these little things in life…you know.

And so it is raining. My precious bicycle has been in the mechanic for two days but I’m happy this is happening now as with the intensity of the rain I wouldn’t have been able to ride anyway. I had a little accident (well, 2 little accidents) a few days ago and decided to bring it to the bike shop near my new apartment. They seem to be nice people.  This evening when I pick it up, I will find out if they are also good mechanics. The accident was completely my fault, I was too fast and became trapped in between a car and a parked motorcycle next to it. I learned the lesson I think.

Also, I have sad news coming from the universe of awkward bicycles. The lovely P., owner of the “Frankenstein bike” told me that it has been stolen here in Barcelona. You really need to be a f***ed up person to steal such a bicycle, I mean it’s just too special. You don’t want to take it apart from its owner. Fingers crossed it gets recovered soon.

What I present here is a selection of colourful bicycles that I thought would go well with the dismal colour of today’s sky. I keep experimenting with Photoshop, as you can see. The last photo is an example of how to wear a miniskirt and be able to ride very fast at the same time. Bicycleporn is what it is.

I keep on clicking ‘reply’. It doesn’t rain unless I look out of the window:)

A Brooks saddle

I don’t have a Brooks saddle. But I wish I had one. I have this fantasy that having a Brooks saddle is like owning a very expensive fountain pen, the kind that adapt to the energy and nuance of your writing. Have a look at the first bicycle, it’s so special right? If you look at the details, the spotless paint, the leather seat and handlebar. It’s small but still retains the dignity of bigger, racing bicycles. Not easy to achieve.

The comeback of Rabasa Bicycles

A while ago I was searching information about this bicycle’s brand (I hope you like the photo, it only took me endless hours in desperation with Photoshop). What I found instead is a compelling story. Rabasa Bicycles was born in 1922 and for 70 years it produced, according to their website, “innovative, durable and accessible” bicycles. The company’s production went over 15,000 bicycles per year which made it one of the biggest manufactures in Spain. Despite its apparent strength, Rabasa ceased its operations on 1996 adducing a dire financial situation. It led to the start of insolvency procedures and the ultimate closing of the company.

In early 2011, a group of entrepreneurs and bicycle lovers, headed by the founder’s grandson, decided to re-start the company. Despite the current traumatic economical situation, a group of people decided to believe in the bicycle! I find this endearing.

And now I love stalking them on their Facebook page and seeing what they are up to. I specially admire the care with which they do everything that surrounds the bicycle, so the cool design is found not only in their bicycles but their business cards..up to the so called  ‘Future Lab’, where they work with passion on Rabasa. Their motto, a new cycle. 

(All photos from their Facebook Page)

A perfect combination: bicycles and tapas. These guys know how to enjoy life.

The quest for awesome design reaches the business cards.

View from the window in Mollet del Vallès (outside Bcn), where their ‘lab’ is located.

One of their designs on paper. A real one! Believe it or not, this was hot stuff in the 80′s!

**Disclaimer: If you find any inaccuracy/typo/delirious rambling in this post is due to been sitting in a café that is pretty much a kindergarten. Prams everywhere. I am not kidding when I say that my ears haven being listening to baby’s shouts for hours non-stop (for real) and there has been a continuum passing by of Mothers in search of other Mother’s friendship and understanding and lonely Fathers looking for…I don’t know. There’s only two of them in here and they seem to be on his own free will. I am forced, because I need the Internet to live. Oh god, they even sell Vegan cake!! H.E.L.P.

Humans vs. Machines

HAPPY NEW YEAR BICYCLE PORN LOVERS!!!!

I don’t usually like humans on my posts but these are exceptional humans:

My friend C. sent me the first photo. Apparently him and his buddy I. were trying to “make the Most Hipster Photo Ever” (sic). You can decide by yourself if their mission was accomplished. Judging by the two beer packs he’s carrying, I think they were quiet satisfied.

On the other photo are P. and N.,  two of my old co-workers at Cafe Giulia, in Sydney. As my friend S. mentioned, there’s a trend going on among the Thai community’s youngsters  in central Sydney. And they take it seriously, as you can see.

Unfortunately here in Barcelona the year didn’t start too well for bicycle lovers, as only a few days ago a woman was ran over by a truck at an intersection. The worst part is that she was on the supposedly safe bicycle lane, when the truck turned right and collided against her. This is only one more example of how politicians pretend to care about making a city bicycle-friendly by building kilometres of bicycle lanes. And they think that they accomplished something? In reality they are poorly designed, shameful and dangerous paths – plus drivers and passers-by alike ignore them. I come across these every day, and for the most part, I then to avoid them. Simply put: I don’t feel safe.

To commemorate the tragedy, this month’s Critical Mass left a ghost bicycle on the spot of the accident. Then, a minute of silence. It didn’t last: car drivers were shouting and rebuking at us on how did we dare to block their road. So this is what we have in this city.

Sometimes I do feel a bit lonely on the road, me and my bicycle, it seems that I’m the only one riding a bicycle in Barcelona. But at the Critical Mass  I understood that there are many others out there, people who truly love riding a bicycle – for whatever reason. There are many others, everywhere, fighting everyday to make this city more peaceful, and more respectful towards the environment and its citizens. On Friday night I met a guy who used Bicing everyday at 5AM to get to work. He was so proud of it, he didn’t pay any money on public transport and kept him fit…Like him, wherever I am, I’ll keep riding.

And decided I’ll buy a helmet.

Photo: Tejederas (El País)

New Banner: Bicycle Porn grows up

New banner!!! And gorgeous photos!! I will never be grateful enough to E.  for his outstanding contribution to this blog. I know, dear reader, that you are used to mediocre photos (don’t worry, they’ll return eventually) but for once I wanted to offer you something special…consider it your Christmas gift:) I’m delighted to post photos such as the ones above.

And while admiring the photos, I realised that things I thought only happened in Berlin have their replication in Barcelona (see second photo)…bike planking maybe?

I’ve got a lot of interesting and very dirty material for 2012 so get ready! In the meantime….have a lovely Sunday!! Oh, and I hope you like the new banner. My friends C. and D. helped me with the inspiration/Photoshop tricks.

Finally, My Bicycle

I have a bicycle!!!!! And my Bicing season ticket has expired…perfect timing.

This is a big change in my life really. I feel like an adult now.

I’ve been going around with it (I gave it a name, of course: “Lighting”) for about a week. It’s very, very sweet. I love riding it…it’s FUN, fast, good. I always take the longest road to get to places, so I get to enjoy it more. To celebrate the good news my friend V. and I joined the Critical Mass group in Barcelona. What a fantastic idea: people who love bicycles get together once a month to conquer the city on two wheels. The experience of going through the biggest roads in the city, stopping traffic if necessary, it’s powerful. And everyone is having a good time. There’s all sort of people as well: fixie guys, business women with folding bikes, mountain bike freaks, and even guys and girls with Bicing! And this weird dude with a music stereo on the back of the bike playing tunes from the 90′s..(no kidding).

Regarding Lighting, it’s super sweet! I bought it for a very reasonable price at a local bicycle shop called Al Punt de Trobada in the middle of nowhere, in Poblenou. I was in the area because we are preparing a documentary there. It was such a nice image: there were three men working in the shop. One was like 80 years old (seriously), the other was about 40 and then there was a young guy. I went in because I wanted to get a business card, just to remember the shop and the young guy asked me if I needed any help…then I said I was actually looking for a bicycle and he showed me Lighting, said its price, and I was like: I’ll take it. I had found it. Then I tried and the frame was the right size, the brakes had the perfect fit, and it was sooo fast.

It has an Badalona frame, Alkon**. Italian handlebars (Cinelli) and bright blue Spanish forks (HB). Pretty, huh? My bicycle:)

Have a lovely week!

 

**Update: thanks to Joan, a reader who pointed out that Alkon is not American as I thought, but from Badalona, a city near Barcelona. Apparently Alkon has now moved to the town of Palafolls, 60km outside Barcelona. Maybe one day I’ll be able to visit the man who made Lighting….

The day of the outsiders

Good Morning to you all!!!! It’s a beautiful day in Barcelona!

(Update: I actually wrote this at 7:30AM but then was late for shower/getting dressed/drying hair/”fixing my face” and finally go to the After Effects classes I’m taking this month and so I had to go. Anyways! It ended up being a glorious day, almost summerish.)

So, as you can see we have a bit of a special post today. It is a post for the forgotten, the left-out, the ostracized even the flamboyant…in other words, the different ones. ‘Cause they deserve to live, I guess.

I specially like the second photo, which is a little gift from K. It is my understanding than he took the photo in Berlin, and it caught his eyes for the obvious reason: a hidden mountain bike in the weeds! The poor thing was probably seeking to survive the harsh winter in that city. It lost a seat, but it made it to spring!

I took the first one just this Sunday. I went to Ibiza for a weekend, and I came across the wettest night of my life. In the sense that it rained so so much that the entire island suffered a black-out! (this sounds astonishing but the locals are more than used to this things happening). It was about 2 or 3 in the morning, we were dancing to Dj Audiofly in this new club called ‘Bubbles’ (I loved the name, it’s kind of stupid but sounds great). I didn’t know the Dj before, but he was sitting behind me on the plane and then ran into him at the club. I thought his music was really good though. So anyways, we were dancing happily when all of a sudden the music stopped, and the dim lights went off. The party was unexpectedly over. It was raining so hard that drops were falling from the ceiling and well, basically, the sound system didn’t work which is a pretty basic thing happening in a club.

The third and fourth photos were taken my dear friend M. He took them both in South Korea and the last one actually belongs to the local police, that patrol Seoul on them. I’m sure they are highly efficient and that those bikes never get stolen. First, because they belong to the police, and second, they are far too ugly. Anyone can have that bad taste, right?

Last but not least comes the second bicycle, which I’d say belongs to an insane person. The photo was taken by L. in Lyon, where she lives. If I saw someone riding such a hideous thing I would have to stop and take a deep breath. But then, I’m still driving the ugliest bikes on earth aka Bicing so what the hell, I shouldn’t be complaining…

This post is way too random and long and I should be going to meet my partners with whom I’m shooting a documentary. I’ll only be a few minutes late, I’ll ride fast, I promise!

Have a great week!!

Bicicleta indignada

I’ve got news: the end is near. The end of shameful rides with Bicing, of disrespectful looks coming from the fixie guys, and the population in general. The end of bicycles with brakes that don’t work, with seats that keep going down and noisy chains. I will, tomorrow, buy a proper bicycle. I’ve been following My Beautiful Parking’s (the bike shop) blog for a while and the other day I read that they are selling the stock they’ve been using for rental. I can’t speak at length today, or go on with my ramblings forever because there’s people who expect me some where but I will explain what the beauty above is about. I basically saw this guy standing in the middle of the crowed at the ‘Indignados’ demonstration in Barcelona, about two weeks ago. As you probably know, it was held on a global scale, and here in the city concentrated thousands of people. I was proud to be there, specially considering I got to see this fantastic bicycle. When I asked the owner if I could take its photo he looked at me like a was a weirdo, specially when I replied to his “what is it for?” with a “for my blog”. Then I really felt like one of this creppy hipster fashion bloggers…which I’m obviously not. Anyways, it was worth it. I think it’s really a pretty bike.

If you live in Catalonia/Balearic Islands, I hope you will use this day to stuff your face with “panellets“…mmm sooo yummy.

True love or fashion fad? Barcelona’s conundrum

 

 

Barcelona’s bicycle orgy is still rolling.

This is insane, unbearable. Too much of them, everywhere. Boys and girls with these sleek bicycles. I’m going crazy, my friends probably think I don’t care about their ramblings any more. Not true! I care. But I can’t avoid having my eyes spin around (not like I’m possessed more like I’m looking everywhere) in the hope of being able to observe the movement of the bicycle coming towards us, or the girl crossing the road with a racing bike. It’s really hard not to feel overwhelmed.

And it’s true. Something has changed in the city. Perhaps people are starting to value beauty and burned their mountain bikes, finally. Or maybe it’s this beautiful weather that forces common citizens to get their amazing bicycles from the garages, the ones that they’ve kept in the shadows for years. But I doubt that. I think it’s, unfortunately, a bit of a fashion fad what it’s happening here. I do however have hope that it won’t go away, just like everything that it’s “in” does.

What is more important, true love or being cool? I know. A bit metaphysical for being only lunch time but hey, these things must be questioned in order to survive.

For now, enjoy this gorgeous Orbea (see the font? Isn’t it a bit like Back to the Future? Love the 80′s touch). I know what you are thinking: the quality of the photo is unbelievable! I finally switched phones. After 10 months with a broken screen and difficulty receiving texts I decided it was time to upgrade. Now I belong to the smartphone gang. I know, so mainstream again.

That second photo is a little present from J. She became ecstatic when she saw all these cool bicycles just chilling at their parking spot just outside the train station in Zurich. Choose your one!

Happy early weekend!