My Christmas agenda? Pretty abnormal. Family dinner, belly full of turkey, mashed potatoes and two kinds of cake. Even that amount of food just couldn't get me stay calm and cozy, so I took my bmx for a ride in a dark, deserted city. The impulse must have stayed awake while I slept; in the morning I grabbed the same good friend of mine and set for some clumsy bmx track riding (yes I did crash once). This December is like no other I can recall. 4 degrees (C), and different shades of green still make a part of the scenery. It is quite a relief, biking is not that harsh at the moment. [24,25.12.13]
And the frozen visitor is back.
Mr. Snow and Mr. Ice, do promise not to brake any more legs this winter.
Riding is getting fun again!
[07.12.2013]
Cykelköket is cozy but at the same time very organized; it has around 5 working tables, a spare part room, a washing room, a project-corner a chill-zone and some more. You sit on a cozy couch put in a perfect spot to observe the work, the buzz, sipping the free-of-charge coffee... You see a couple working on their tandem, children fixing up their rides, a father showing his son how to use tools, a girl determined to build a bike in one day. People who come here are of different backgrounds, races and religions (I guess), and they are so united in what they do, helpful and understanding. Do-it-yourself becomes a do-it-together. [22.09.2013]
25 to 15 degrees. The temperature dropped, but the excitement and the rhythm kept up. We went to the southern city of Sweden to see, to learn and to share - that is what we got in a considerable dose. Cykelköket [sikelshoket] Malmö is a promised land for any follower of the community bike shop movement. If you wonder how we have imagined it to be in Riga, go there. Meeting people that think the same direction, call it the third industrial revolution or smart thinking, we realized that we are a part of something big. Cykelköket Göteborg and Sykkeljokkenet Oslo are doing a great job too, and we hope there will be a good reason to see the groups again next year (or sooner?) :) [18 - 23.09.2013]
Just before leaving to Madrid we had gathered all our bicycle enthusiast powers together to organize something we would ourselves enjoy very much. It begun with 3 events on our mind and grew to 9 thanks to the amazing passion-flooded community we have. An amateur criterium, nightride, drag race, city race, double minidrome competition (of course), skid fest, freestyle jam, and a wild after party gathered more than 100 people, caused no accidents and planted a seed for new ideas and fresh friendships. See for yourself and turn it louder - Fixed Weekend Riga 2013! [30.08. - 01.09.] Photo by Pavlove
I had promised myself a long time ago that if there were a minidrome competition in Madrid, I would go no matter what. This day came when less expected. So there we were two excited Latvians, two treasures packed in one huge bicycle bag on a long plane-trip to the crazy capital, after having hunted some support from the XL energy. At the destination we could not have wished for a better treatment. La Bicicleta café took care of our immense appetite and thirst for excellent coffee; the riders made sure we were never bored (or sober); the downhills and uphills made us stronger; Urban Bike festival taught us how to lose to guys (or let them catch you), Ciclos Noviciado tested our spinning power in the goldsprints, and now I realize...this is an endless list. What matters most, we came back with a lot more in our mind-luggage and in our friend-luggage than we had left with. Thank you, Universe for finding a way to bring me back to Madrid! [13.09. - 17.09.] Photo by Stefy Gutovska
Sun is different in August. The colors of grass, leaves, water appear to be more saturated and radiant than in the middle of summer. That's what I noticed today going for an after-work ride to a bmx track on the outskirts of the city. It is not easy to spot, it is located in the middle of a suburb area - a place you wouldn't expect it to be. I will come back for sure, just have to find the right bike. [24.08.2013]
August is special. A month when it is still warm during the day while the fresh wind breezes whisper that the autumn is approaching. I love this path of time. August is magical. A month of falling stars. Complete darkness, a hilly car-racing track. I ride fast and trust the road under my wheels. I have my eyes on the stars, trying to catch a falling one and make a wish. Up and down, warmer and colder. A narrow forest path takes us to a lake. We lie down on a fallen tree and cave in the calmness and quiet of an August night. [17.08.2013]
Getting to other cities with your bike can be challenging sometimes and I don't mean the distance or the pedaling effort. It is quite problematic if you just want to carry the bike with you on a bus. The driver's mood determines if you can take it or not. Everything gets settled after a small argument, usually. But it is worth the effort, especially if you are going to the hottest extreme sports event of the summer Ghettogames in Ventspils. The city respects cyclists, it is threaded with bicycle paths and beautiful parks. We enjoyed it very much! Million thanks to the SBS Eddy for the perfect accommodation :) [09.08.13]
The change comes when you need it and the world knows when you do. Every new part of a lifespan brings unseen things, places, people, impressions and sure, bicycles with it too. A gradual transformation and evolution is healthy. You have to learn to let go and be open to the replacing ones. I can feel the phases of my path switching; I am ready to say goodbye to my dear old bike and fall in love again with my new ride, my fantasy, my Bombtrack. At the end, the old one is not going to be thrown into a dark corner and forgotten, but that is another story. Boys come and go, bikes come and go, but there will always be unmeasurable space for the ones that are meant to stay. [22.07.2013]
One of my summer wishes was to go on a bike trip to a place I had never been before. A ride along the sea, preferably. Stepping the grounds of places for the first time brings the feeling of expanding my horizons, literally, covering the planet with my steps. We went from Liepāja to Nida, Palanga, Klaipēda. Many smile-and-laugh-worthy happenings arose. Some troubles did too. But the greatest avowal is that Lithuanians can be very happy with their bicycle lanes and that cycling brings the right people together. [13.07 - 15.07.2013]
Riga is growing, evolving, changing and making me happy. New bicycle lanes, new promenades, parks, outdoor cinemas and more - things I have dreamed to see here for a long time. [10.07.2013]
Fixing old bmx bikes can bring many surprises, bad and frustrating, mainly. You have to learn to fight disappointment after disappointment and move forward conjuring new solutions. This time it was the seat tube that behaved badly. The project is in progress. Or stagnation? Anyhow, I do not give up yet. And Open Bikes is a perfect place for projects like this one - all the tools you need and people who can help. [02.07.2013]
Sometimes I feel like a spy, a secret agent. When I have to get to a job interview, I ride my bike in tiny shorts (it's bloody hot this summer), a t-shirt and sneakers. I am lucky if a shopping mall is nearby to sneak in to change my clothes and convert into a business lady (or at least into a decently dressed person). Sometimes I feel like a superhero: when I try to handle a cargo bike in a long gala dress wearing 10 cm platform high heels. Clothing industry has to think girls-on-bikes direction. [25/26.06.2013]
Around 70 guys and 8 girls took part in that adrenaline-crash-blood madness. The closer the finals the more often the falls and crashes. All the girls were brave and showed jaw-dropping attitude. The kicker, the wall-ride and the thin board over an improvised pool gave the biggest fear, but there were no quitters. You crash, it hurts as hell, you get up and continue. We all wanted the prize badly, I know, but this time the luck was on my side. Bombtrack Divide (S) is my new toy, only some important components like cranks, wheels and a fork are missing, any offers? [09.06.2013]
What would be a fixed weekend without a minidrome competition, right? The day after the nightride was quite a lazy one, but we managed to visit the European championship in BMX (go Štromberg!) and to get in time to the minidrome competition at Piens, where 14 guys and 8 girls challenged each other. The competition was tough, but Shefix girls kept the best positions: 1st Marika, 2nd Hristina, 3rd /4th Linda/Emīlija. In the evening, the movie screening gathered tired but happy people in the same bowl-like minidrome. And they loved it. The humor, the attitude, the story, the views of the Cycle Me Home team inspired many, I bet. We can´t wait for your next movie, guys. [08.06.13]
Around 50 people gathered at the Monument of Freedom to ride together and to celebrate the beginning of the long-awaited fixed weekend. Cycle Me Home team arrived in early morning and spent the whole day pedaling around Riga. The ride was their idea, actually. We visited our favorite spots and the trip ended sooner than expected. The last stop was the new SBS location, where the participants could do some BBQ, sip beers (free for the ones who arrived first) and discuss the on-coming events. The weekend will be awesome! [07.06.13]
I love trying different bikes. Today a black Bombtrack Dash was my toy. This one is a bomb, even though it was too big for me (the top tube is too long), I could imagine having one like this of my own (size S). It is heavy, but stable (and resistant, I bet). Getting on a new bikes is always uncomfortable at the beginning, the seat is too low and the position is different, you need some time to get the feeling. And what would be a proper testing without a sketchy situation...the ride was fun, but the bike is ok. [05.06.13]
How will tomorrow differ? It is OK to lose inspiration sometimes. But as soon as you realize it has vanished, do something and get it back immediately. Because living without inspiration is miserable. My way of re-gaining it is riding to the sea, singing along loudly to what's on my player, feeling silly and thinking (dreaming) a lot. This last mini-trip reminded me of how I used to go on expeditions to small Spanish villages of random choice. Each time I brought something great back with me. Find time for yourself! [26.05.2013]
The last week Latvians have savored the taste of proudness in being the hottest country in Europe. While madrileños were freezing at 7 degrees and Italians couldn't take a swim yet, Rigans loved and lamented the heat. That excitement is brought down though, by the uncontrollable, chaotic rain showers and dark-blue to black heavy clouds. There are not many pedaling people who did not get wet these days and I am sure they enjoyed it the same way I did. [21.05.13]
