little [pink] presents

I've been on a mission since this past summer. A mission to pink out my bike.

It's kind of an odd combination - a dark green Bianchi San Jose with pink handlebar tape, pink bottle cage, pink chain, and even pink toe straps. A watermelon bike.

Don't get me wrong, I've never really been into pink. I'm not the type to pink out everything because, well, I'm not 13 anymore. But on my bike, it's totally acceptable and appropriate. Because I said so.

So when I went to the best bike shop ever to get a brake lever installed, my jaw almost dropped to the floor to come back and see that the incredibly wonderful mechanics had given me pink brake cable ends. Front and back.

And to sweeten the deal just a little bit more, I even got a pink valve cap, "ripped off an old tubular from the 80s."

Nearly a week after I had my brake installed, this still brings a goofy smile to my face. Hey, it might be freezing outside - and windy! - but my bike is awesome.

excuses, excuses

This is what I've been doing lately.

I've been buried under piles and piles of papers. I even spent a good five hours of Halloween in the library (but hey, there was candy corn).

And it's been getting cold - maybe a little too cold for hats that don't cover your ears. Which is why I might be posting other stuff besides hats up here. I have lots and lots of ideas...now if only that pile of papers would stop dominating my life...

presents!

I passed a chipmunk the today that had been perfectly smushed against the pavement. Well, I passed it a few days in a row now (it's on my commute) and as gross as it is, I still tend to pass right by it. And I look at it. Like every day.

Okay, I'm definitely not going to pick it up and play with it, but somehow, I can't seem to tear my eyes away from that little striped back that's plastered onto the asphalt.

I've kind of developed the same kind of relationship with my mailbox lately. It only seems to bring disappointment; I actually preferred it when it was empty or full of junk mail. Still, I consistently find myself nearly running to check what might be in store in that little metal box every single goddamn day.

It did yield some presents though, in the form of fabric destined for hats. Thank my Mom; these are going to make some sweet hats!

setting up shop

I don't deal well with public speaking. I'd really rather write the speech and have another person deliver it, take all the credit, and rise to fame/be promoted/be applauded.

That's one reason why I started giving these hats away for free. I figured no one would part with money for these, even if each one I gave away was important to me. And even when I did give them away, with the exception of Boston Biker and What I Think, I didn't get one response, one picture, one email.

It's ironic, then, that just as I decided to set up shop, that people actually expressed interest in them. I've gotten requests for custom jobs, offers of a barter exchange of sorts, and straight up "I'll buy one"s.

Thanks to Boston Biker, I'm now able to officially offer my hats online. Click on the pictures for more details and to order - I'll be charging $20 for a posted hat and $25 for custom jobs (plus shipping). Custom jobs will depend on the fabric I have available and I'll be making a "fabrics" page specifically for people who want to pick and choose.

Thanks for checking the site and feel free to look around, tell your friends, or give me feedback on any of these hats. Want more Boston hats? Want more black hats? Just drop me an email.

rolling resistance

I'm resisting the end of summer. The lazy days, the nights spent out on random rides, the dripping sweat.

My list of things to do and places to go isn't even half done yet.

But there will be another long, hot, gorge-yourself-on-all-the-watermelon-you-can-eat Boston summer, and I'll be pushing out hats through the fall. Hopefully there are people out there who want to rep Boston a little bit...and ride bikes as well?

for boston, for boston, for thee and thine alone

I think it's only appropriate that Boston Biker got the first ever Boston s-class hat.

Partially because of the handle, partially because without this guy, I wouldn't have a site host and a really cool custom layout and a person to do my advertising for me at the BFF.

So here's to Boston, Boston cycling caps, Boston Biker, and well, more Boston cycling caps.

Now, who wants one?