open-air bike stations

If you want something badly and you go for it, you spend all your energy to get it or to make it work then it should, right? I hope so indeed, because when I see people working their asses off voluntarily, I want to believe that the gain will be worthy. Filming is exhausting (very), but it is also a lot of fun especially if it features bikes and awesome people. We want bicycle repair stations in Riga and we will get them! [29.04.13]

creative workshops

The morning begun with some worries, but the day soon cleared up. The view of the sunlit and nicely decorated terrace of KKC spread the feeling of "everything will work out just fine" and it did. The first Open Bikes event came about just as it was meant to: positive enthusiastic people posing questions and asking for advice, working on their bikes, using tools, sharing experience, listening, discovering, learning, creating and enjoying. Open Bikes is here to stay. [28.04.13]

tiny bit of blues

Dark, cold and rainy. Days like these have their charm. I believe they make us dive deeper into our thoughts and bring us to existentializing everything. Biking is quite a torture today, but I do it twice anyway. [27.04.13] 

Riga Bike Week has begun

The Riga Bicycle Week grand opening at the friendly backyard of Piens was cozy despite the sudden cold. The bike market, the minidrome race, the music, the people and even the sometimes-annoying BBQ and bonfire smoke was a perfect mix for a perfect atmosphere. Thanks to my four fearless girls for the impressive competition :) Looking forward to May 1! [26.04.13]

chase your daily little dreams

In the morning I walked out the door and realized that I had forgotten to take my bike. Is my head in the clouds? Later on it was, literally. I finally went to chase the long-ago-desired bird's eye view :) My hair fighting with brisk wind, the mind entering another dimension, the lips smiled. [24.04.13] 

anything can happen

Today's weather with a somewhat melancholic hint fits my mood perfectly. Rare drops are falling from the dark grey sky; the ride over the bridge is refreshing and wakes me up. The air is fragrant with rain. Even the music on the radio suits the atmosphere. 

The more options you view as a possible outcome, the less the chance of disappointment, so be prepared for anything, but keep the positive above the rest. [23.04.13]

blue blue blue!

The blue of the sky reflected in the water creating another blue and the burning yellow-orange-red of the setting sun makes the soul sing and believe in the best. If you are meeting your bike friends randomly in the chill hot spots of Riga it means that the summer-mood life has begun.[22.04.13]

advantageous flats

Get your nails together! (or at least don't go throwing them around on a bike lane). I was biking home in a hurry to study when a nail-produced-flat brought me to an unplanned minidrome training in the sunny backyard of Piens Velo :) Could there be a nicer scenario for a Sunday morning? [21.04.13]

cold = fast

The view through the window can be very misleading. The Sun shines at its best, but the harsh wind blows through the bones. If you are late to somewhere, wear much less than you need to feel warm and comfortable, that will ensure you getting to the place on time or even earlier, I promise. The last remains of ice are gone and the river has become a dark burly monster.  [20.04.13]

shefix

Sticker wars of urban velo activists :) Shefix does not lag behind. Today we tried to give our creation a definition and this is the best way to present it: 
Shefix is girls on bikes with drive and dreams. 
Shefix is a protagonist of the local bike culture. 
Shefix is a beginning of something big. [19.04.13]

wind therapy

Sometimes it seems I haved lived in a cave for a long time and all I've seen is my own neighborhood. But there is so much to stumble on in my lovely Riga and outside of it. It is never too late to open your eyes wider. In the middle of a windy fake-summer night I ended up biking to a jetty that lies between the river and the sea and holds a red lighthouse. Some wind-blown drips gradually grew into the awaited spring rain and made the air smell like summer. Breathe in, breathe out, smile. [18.04.13]

do the rain dance

The wind makes all the dust and junk that has piled up during the winter dance on the streets. All that goes into my eyes, my hair. Healthy biking, what is it? There is a need for some tidy-up rain :) [17.04.13]

waking up

People are conquering the parks, the benches, the streets and the paths. The atmosphere erupts positively charged energy; you can feel the happiness floating in the air. The city becomes a busy playground. The world seems to have its eyes wide wide open finally. It almost seems that there are more cyclists than pedestrians, and the fact that many of them haven't been practicing biking lately makes the traffic dangerous. Looking right and left might not be enough. Be careful! [16.04.13]

Spr...!

Plaques of ice compete in a race to the sea, crashing and covering each other while battling in the buoyant current of the river. And the streets have their own combats. In the morning (12 o´clock :) a bus driver, either blind or having a real bad beginning of the week decides that I deserved to be squeezed into a road edge. Despite his wishes, my mood stays up; sun is shining and the weather is sweet for a change. The preparation meeting for the Open Bikes workshop within Riga Bike Week is pleasant and the event looks promising. Book the Sunday of the 28th. [15.04.13]

the light at the end of the tunnel

Bird colonies are gathering on what is left of the ice on the river. The days are rainy and that, in this case, is good news, because the remaining piles of snow will melt in no time. The changing temperature makes the fog set on the city and the ride home becomes saturated with real-life works of art and pleases the visual senses. The warmth is close and very soon we will stop involving the topic of the coming of spring in every daily conversation, I hope. Pedaling also gets easier and safer as the mountains of snow don't occupy the space of the roads anymore. [09/10/11.04.13]

endless

Sunny becomes cloudy, wet becomes frozen, grey becomes white. When life surprises you unprepared, surprise it back. [08.04.13]

cyclocross

I cannot imagine a nicer way to spend a Sunday. I had always wanted to participate in a dirty bumpy hardcore bike race and that's what I finally did today, I love it when the little dreams come true. The only prize I came for was the fun and the thrill, but somehow I managed to earn the first position in my category also. That, I am sure, was my little bro's merit; he was the best supporter I could wish for: "Go, sis, you can do it, no one is faster than you!" I am also deeply thankful to the owner of the awesome bike I could ride in this race. The people is everything. [07.04.13]

restart

This calmness after a storm, sunny and energizing. I am rolling through the sloppy streets and sidewalks of Riga wearing my trendy rubbers, which is not the most comfy option, indeed, but dry feet come first. I sit down on a bench in a city park with my face reaching towards the sun rays, my eyes are closed, the world seems so simple and worry-free for a moment. There is a father with his sun making circles around the park on their bikes, so excited, I cannot help but share that happy feeling that glows in their faces. [06.04.13]

saying goodbye

Today was the last blizzard of this Spring I say and it has to be true. It is also the last bike fall on ice for me this season (cannot deny there were a couple of fun times). Thank you, for not being too cruel to me, Mr. ice and Ms. snow. [05.04.13]

open your eyes

Bike lanes in Riga are just other convenient spots for parking a car, walking a dog or pushing a stroller. Many Rigans have no idea what "bike lane" means and that it exists under their feet. Sad story. [04.04.13]

a way out of the fog

One foggy morning. The radio voice promised it would get sunnier during the day and it did. No matter what the case, being in the fog and wandering around in a search of the right path is easier with the right company. Openbikes.org need a place to settle and start growing and there has to be a sun shining on the right spot, we just don't see it yet. [03.04.13]

summer for a reward

The winter is forcing itself on us again and it feels like the seasons are moving backwards and the autumn is what awaits us. Complaining doesn't do any good, obviously, so I will stick with believing in this: It has been crazy and everyone who will survive this winter deserves a medal in a form of an awesome summer.  [02.04.13]