My beautiful friend J. had to sell her bicycle when she relocated from London to Barcelona. It will be missed…
Hacking Bicycleporn
18 May
So I was trying to move this website to a new domain. I was typing as fast as I could to soak in the “hacker attitude” but sadly in this case I couldn’t even manage retrieve my godaddy account. I deleted all the spamming emails (including the important ones). Every time I pretend I know what I’m doing with a computer I think of a movie I watched once where this girl basically had access to the main character’s computer. I thought it was just “a movie” (as in science fiction). But, apparently it’s not. You can actually do that.
Fear not. That was a long time ago. I learned now. My intention is very humble in fact. I plan to move this website to http://www.bicycleporn.me. Once the people behind goddady approve my application to get the domain back (couldn’t remember my username/email/password) I will see if I manage. Despite my lack of experience, I am confident.
Even though I have not written much these days, my personal bicycleporn photo-collection keeps growing. I am experiencing some overproduction I would say, so get ready to be overwhelmed with ramblings in the next weeks. That first pink bicycle is actually on a street that has my birthday as name (11th of June Street). Nice one huh? The second one is just perfection, look at the leather saddle and handlebar. The owner knew what he/she was doing. By the way, lots of girls in racing bicycles like mine in Barcelona lately! I’m not special anymore!! Well, I really admire those anonymous women. Whenever I see one, I want to stop and have a chat about riding cool bicycles but truth is, they never look back at me with my “chatty face” on the red lights…next time I will just say something dumb and wait for their reaction…
Compulsory Helmets in Spain – law making for dummies
23 Mar
Sad times for bicycle riders in Spain these days. Once again, it is being exposed the inability of those in power to create policies that will revert positively in us citizens. I don’t think you need to be particularly smart to see that, as opposed to cars, riding a bicycle is a clean and healthy option to move around a city. We have been seriously neglected for many years in this country, by drivers and by policy makers. Bicycle lanes are non-existant or poorly designed to say the least. And now, instead of reverting this situation and motivating people to get on a bike, they draft a law that will make helmets mandatory in urban areas . There is no scientific evidence that supports that wearing a helmet will lower then number of injuries. Instead, evidence shows that making it compulsory actually discourages potential riders to use a bicycle. And, those regular users, will chose in some occasions to stop using it. It really comes to the point of what I believe is a general occurrence in politics nowadays: people are not using their damn head. They create laws that are not rational. It scares me the amount of bullshit out there that has been created out of a belief or even a whim. If politicians used logics, they would educate drivers to make sure they respect cyclists. They would make sure people know to pay attention to bicycle lanes; and learn that you can’t just turn over one without checking for bicycles passing by. That a bicycle lane constantly interrupted with trash bins/bus stops/trees, is not a true bicycle lane.
Anyway, this rant is about disappointment. I will keep using my bicycle. And I will keep choosing whether I want to hear a helmet or not. I do not tolerate a loser who has never riden a bicycle to tell me what do when I’m on two wheels.
To illustrate all this, one of the pretties bicycles I’ve seen lately, that blue Peugeot that I found near Barceloneta with C. and V. And the always creative Cosmo cafe (my choice as hipster hot spot), that held a temporary exhibition with bicycle art…
BicyclePorn in India
4 Mar
Always traveling the world in search of fresh and exotic bicycle porn, I ended up in India a few weeks ago. It can be pretty intense to walk on the street in cities like Jodhpur, in the state of Rajasthan. The road and side-walk become one, where cows, cars, rickshaws, motorcycles, cyclists and pedestrians (including travelers freaking out) share the same space. Obviously you need to stop every 5 seconds because there’s no space for all. And cows have top priority, not you, of course. As elsewhere, bicycles are a cheap way to move around, but unfortunately I felt like pollution would be a challenge in some places. I also heard about some really good guided tours on bicycles in Delhi which promised to be fun and dangerous. Unfortunately I had no time on this trip. It’s on my list to do when I am next in India though. If there is one conclusion to the whole adventure is that I will be back, this time for longer.
A New Bicycle Porn Year
13 Jan
Bicycles in love.
First time I can say I ate bicycles for lunch.
Let’s begin this year by sharing some loove (like that, loooooooooove) like those two fine bicycles above are doing on the streets of London. They belong to my beautiful friend J.E. and her boyfriend (also beautiful I’m told), J.
My second weekend of this new year has been sort of sweet and sour. Sweet because I got to dance a lot and specially because I was lucky enough to have some of my closest friends around a table to share a spinach lasagna I cooked (they said it was good but honestly speaking I would tag it as mediocre). We ended up eating, laughing and talking for almost five hours, then I had a nap and woke up at midnight, just in time to get dressed and meet my friends A. and L. who were sadly leaving on new adventures. A. is a journalist who is going moving to Brazil and L. is off to Oslo to start a new life surrounded by blondes. It’s a matter of tastes yeah.
Since my last entry, my bicycle has been doing pretty good. In fact I haven’t used the Metro, or any form of public transport, since I came back from the holidays. And thanks to the new bell I don’t need to be yelling at innocent (in reality I hate them all who get on my way) passersby which makes the whole thing a little less stressful. Barcelona is not flat. The north of the city can actually have a dramatic slope that’s why I am excited to say that I went the farthest up north I have ever been, I obviously got there sweating despite the cold but I was proud I made it.
Looking at my 2013 To Do List (its vital importance for one’s life deserves the use of capital letters) I foresee a pretty busy year. For starters, as an ordinary mortal I joined a gym right after Christmas. And I am embarassed to admit it (less embarassed that I was the other day at funky dance class – will certainly don’t put myself through that again. Ever.) because is such an ordinary thing to do, join a gym at the start of the year. But anyways, so far I have been going quite a bit and I hope to become super strong in a few months so I can go even higher up north next time…
I wish for you an amazing year on wheels!! Happy 2013:-)
Bicycle Memorabilia
1 Dec
I thought Foffa was the weird name that my friend M. gave to his marvelous bicycle (see first photo). It ends up it’s actually a beautiful bicycle maker based in London. He assured me that he’s totally paranoid that his bike will get stolen. I understand. After the wheel episode I am even more anxious. Well actually not so much anymore, because I bought some sort of wheel block so nobody can remove them from their axis but me. Muahhahahah get that bastards.
Right below Foffa the bicycle, a snap I took back in May in El Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona. The Primavera Sound Festival takes place there every year, and when I arrived I was glad to see that my bicycle would be surrounded by an orgy of bicycles to keep it company.
Lastly, I wanted to show you dear readers the ingenious invention from my friend C. to keep his bicycle in his room while saving space. A few notes about this funny decorative while practical object: First of all, he made it from scratch, even the design in the wood it’s original (or so he says…). Second, I think he lives in a fifth floor which means he brings up his bicycle everyday (well not anymore since he lives in Berlin and it’s probably too cold to ride already). Lastly, I think he won’t open his window for a while.
Have a nice weekend!!
…and Winter!
2 Nov
So here’s the surprise: a scary bicycle bell!
arrrrrgghghghghghghggghhg
These days we are having guests at home, so I left my bicycle locked outside. I shouldn’t have been surprised as I left my apartment to see that some motherfucker had stolen the front wheel. For the second time! You know, I’m usually quite positive, I don’t think people are evil per se except in very rare occasions but when things like this happen I really can’t help but come to the conclusion that out there, there are people that are rotten inside. People that have no education, no manners whatsoever. Because…c’mon! What if I had to go to hospital or I had an important meeting to attend and I relied on my bike. I actually do rely on it! Well anyway, there’s no point in over-thinking the event too much. I just went and replaced it. And bought myself a cute bike key chain, and had a laugh with the guys at the store. No big deal. Just 130 bucks spent of wheels!!
So, moving on…my life is a little more exciting on the road thanks to that bell. I love seeing people jumping when I use it hysterically. Altough to be honest it’s not as effective as I envisioned (my idea was people looking at me ashamed to be on my way and apologizing repeatedly while I said something like “You are fine. But don’t do it again” looking like a good King – wild imagination huh), people in this city are absolutely into their own thoughts/music and most of the times don’t even realize it’s them I am using the bell for. Fools: step out of the bike lane.
And now that the cold weather is finally upon us, it’s time for a Winter rider outfit! Hence the photo, taken by my fellow rider and friend, V.
Hope you have an amazing weekend! I will work like mad but I will have one:)
Summer
28 Oct
I’m not quite there yet with my photoshop skills…but getting closer! Being back from Ibiza was not being back at all: I went to Brazil a couple of days after, then Brussels, Paris and finally Jamaica for three weeks. The traveling has being great but it’s nice to be back in the city. It also means that I am able to take my bicycle again which is something I am really craving for (here a photo of it, with its new fluoro-pink handlebars….cool stuff). I have a few surprises that I hope to be able to show you in the next few weeks. Remember you don’t need to wear super short shorts to enjoy Bicycle Porn:)
Bicycle Porn travels to the beach
22 Aug
Like everyone else, Bicycle Porn likes being on holidays. Having a break by the beach, getting some sun. I was heading back from a day in Cala Saladeta (one of my favorite beaches in Ibiza) when I spotted this bicycle just resting under this tree, an old savina. Next to it, the owner was having a refreshment at the bar overlooking the see. Taking into account the arduous heat wave we are going through at the moment I need to point out that you really have to be insane to take the bicycle out. I keep myself away from the sun during the hottest hours (which is most of the day really). Life in the island begins only around 7pm. The rest of the day…we do as the bicycle above.
Back to the origins of Bicycleporn
10 Aug
Everything has a start. In my case, the spark lighted up in my head one day (to be honest can’t remember how it happen, I guess we should track back to post number 1) as I was continuously overwhelmed by the amount of Bicycleporn I saw in one of my favorite cities, Berlin. It all began in summer 2010. I was in love with the city and the way bicycles where so ubiquitous there, and such beautiful bicycles…it was a change from the hideous mountain bicycles I was used to seeing in Sydney where I lived before moving temporarily to Berlin. And so It was good really good to be back to the city in May, seeing my old friend C., constant source of Bycicleporn, and have an intense weekend of partying and eating.
And what a super cool, 80′s bicycle we have here. Love the bell in the handle bar too. Security above all!
