Muse

I hope everyone has been making the most of the summer weather, and tactfully ignoring the few random days of winter that we've had. Did you all ask santa for a bike for Christmas? Or, if you already have a bike did you ask for a Bedazzler? (because bikes and bedazzlers together are like old school chums)

I'm here to provide you with a second dose of summer cycling inspiration in the form of one of my all-time favourite people of all time, Uschi Obermaier.

Oh my, what a babe! Here's a quick background for you... Throughout the 60's and 70's Uschi was a model, actress, groupie, musician, sex-symbol, activist, she lived in a hippie commune, she was one of the first women to appear nude on the cover of a magazine, and she traveled through Eurasia, the Middle East, and India in an RV. She has "retired" to become a jewellery designer in New Mexico.

She also had a bike:

Release your inner Obermaier and enjoy the holidays, seasons greetings, merry chrismakwanzaahanukka and all that. Make sure you cycle down to the harbour/bay/beach closest to you to check out the new years fireworks. Party on, my hippie friends...

j.xoxo

Safety... its about more than helmets! And it involves monkeys...

Tis the season for road craziness, heavy traffic and dangerous driving. Hence we are posting our Christmas safety reminder to all you stylish cyclists out there...

Stan and Trigly



Find out what happens to these little monkeys who forget their road safety in the following educational video from the 1950's

(What! No helmets??)

So be a doll... be safe. Whether you are a Betty-Lou-May doll or more of an Ebony Lolita type. Watch out for the primates on the road, sitting in their cars frazzled by their day of shopping and distracted by their offspring fighting in the back seat. But by all means smile as you bypass the traffic jams and car park lines.

We would like to see you safe in the New Year

feathers and all xx

Pish Tosh xx

Milky Joe's Guide to a Successful Picnic

We the Feather Brigade do firmly adore organising a picnic. Our picnic mascot Milky Joe knows exactly what is needed to make a picnic a success...

1. Pack for your picnic...

2. Always get there in style...

3. Invite friends and make sure they turn up!

4. Make sure you have your camera with you...

5. Music is also a must...

6. Choose a great location and breakout the blankets...

7. Don't forget to wear your mum's tablecloth...

.

8. BBQ your way into people's hearts...

9. Eat fantastic picnic food...like my all-time favourite "pie on a stick"!

10. Get creative when essential items are forgotten...

11. And don't forget drinks on those hot, thirsty days...

12. Then with the business end of the picnic out of the way, its time for fun and games...

(riding around and around and around)

(Silly string fights)

(Air Guitar playing)

(Dress ups and photos with props)

(Making faces from your food)



(Tree-hugging)

13. But don't forget to leave time for just hanging out...

After all if you follow all our tips your friends may approve and even attend your next one.

Or move to Canada... Thanks Megan!

Pish tosh xx

Sonia Rykiel Hearts Bikes Heart Sonia Rykiel

J-Bot's Stylish Summer Cycling Inspiration:

Sonia Rykiel's collaboration with H&M last year was a very nice little collection, but I have to admit it wasn't the clothes that caught my attention as much as the launch party. The show was held in a theme park setting around a giant light-up replica of the Eiffel Tower. It was like a crazy, whimsical circus had come to town with marching bands, ferris-wheels, geese, chandeliers, parade floats and girls with massive hair on bikes...

These photos are from all over the internet, including these places.

No angry Sydney motorist would dare hurl verbal threats at me as I whizzed by on my bike looking oh, so carefree...

I keep coming back to these pictures again and again. Yes, I know the range is verging on more winter than summer, what with all the stockings and knits and what-not, but there is such a lovely, fun Parisian-chic vibe to the styling. To me, it's a 'summer' influenced range, and that's what I'm going to be channeling for these lovely warmer months. Anyway, who wouldn't want to be part of Sonia's bike gang? No-one, that's who!

So this summer, do as Sonia Rykiel's bicycle girls do: paint on the red lipstick, pull up those stripey socks, fluff that hair and smile!

j-bot.xoxo

Beautify your bike.... OR ELSE!

Last night we attended the lovely Bike Sydney Christmas party but with wickedly evil plan. To secretly decorate the 'serious' bikes of Sydney.

(Miss J-bot, Miss R-bee, Miss K-star, Miss M-belle)

After all who can get mad at a quirky cyclist with a flower protruding from their 'serious' bike? So not only were we beautifying, we were providing a serious community service... one that could potentially save lives (stretch your imaginations here).

Were you there? Did you deflower your bike? Ewww (not in a kinky way) but did you? Or did you leave your flower on and ride home with a smile and a little Christmas cheer?

(After all a flower on your bike is like a cuddle from a crocheted monkey!)
xx Milky Joe xx

Pish Tosh xx

Bike Humour!

(Found on page #239 of the Sears 1974 Fall/Winter catalog)

A little while ago, we went for our first ride along the bay run in Sydney's Inner West. We hadn't got very far when we discovered an abandoned excercise bike (from the 70's) en route. Why? Was it a political statement about bike paths? Was it bike advocacy at its finest? Or was it a statement about the culture of Sydney cyclists battling to get from A to B?
For me, I like to think of it as an accidental art installation... one that encourages the ordinary citizen to take a ride and to point out the fruitlessness of going nowhere in the rat race of life. So trade in that calorie-burner-corner-furniture... and get something that moves when you do.

(Music by Euros Childs)

Pish Tosh xx

Look what I found today!

I found this photo today in a dusty storeroom, in a suitcase, while looking for last years tax return. Not fun but oh my god.. LOOK AT MY BIKE! I had tassels.. I had the coolest bike ever...!!
And I had forgotten all about it. Forgot how much I had loved riding it, forgot what the bike looked like. Forgot because we grow up and things like tax returns become more important than the simple things.. Like riding a bike on a summer's day on freshly mowed lawn.

So if you are reading this.. dig up your old photos of you on your first bikes, and share the nostalgia with us. We would love to blog them. And if you haven't been on a bike in a while why not have another go...borrow a friends and try it out at the park or if in Sydney join us and Sydney Cycle Chic on Cockatoo Island for an event this Sunday.

It could be something good that you had just forgotten about...


Pish tosh xx

Ready, Set, TREADLIE!

A change is in the air, people. From December 17th you'll be able to pick up a new Australian cycling magazine. "So what?" I hear you cry, but this cycling magazine is a mag with a difference. Instead of mountain bikes and triathlon bikes and people in lycra with enormous calves, the cover is Tim Rogers, on his bike, with his basket.

Treadlie Magazine is for cycle chic, fixie hipsters and everyone in-between. It's all about local and international bike culture, fashion, design, and caters to that growing niche of 'everyday' cyclists who use their bikes to get from A to B and don't care how much their bikes weigh...

We were totally blown away when a few weeks ago we were contacted by Treadlie about doing a little interview about girls on bikes for the first issue, so we might be in it too!

Treadlie is quarterly, so either order a subscription, or cycle down to your local newsagent to pick up a copy...

j.xoxo

Bondi - the end of the world!*

*Bondi is not the end of the world.. it is merely a beach that people like to frequent, sometimes on bicycles, sometimes by goat.

The Feather Brigade joined the Cute Commute and rode to Bondi in style last weekend. Why?? Well, the Bicycle Film Festival is why!! It was a gorgeous day. There was a really big hill. But thats ok. It's whats on the other side that counts...

Miss J-bot looked mighty fine as did Miss L-bow. We did beachy poses of course and then ate ice cream.

(photo courtsey of www.sydneycyclechic.org)

Thanks to the Cute Commute for organising a brilliant ride. If you attended, feel free to play 'Wheres Wally?' (you) in the pictures below.

As for the films, well next year we are adding ours to the bunch. After all we can't all be daredevil fixie and bmx riders now can we?

"The Feather Brigade Rides Again!"

(Music by Euros Childs)

Pish tosh xx