(Like thechubbycruiser who is so super cool and does all sorts of cool bike things in New York!)
But I live in Sydney.
And we have hills.
And I just think I wouldn't look as cool as all those fixie girls when I'm walking my fixie bike up a hill...
Or spinning out of control down a hill "twiddling" my legs.
After I get back from holidays later this year, I was considering getting a Cyclocross (CX) bike.
(and it's pink!)
Friends around me are quite into it and it possibly could be something interesting to do while it's starting to ramp up in popularity in Sydney. (Last race there were 3 girls - all quite hardcore - but it sounds like at the moment it's about participation. Which is good, because I may be the sorest loser in the history of humanity).
A CX bike could double as a commuter bike when I just wanted to hop on it and go.
(At the moment, my commuter is all done up for all weather conditions - fenders / rack, etc - getting started involves clipping my pannier on etc and it's a bit slow and not as cool with the flat bars).
But I wouldn't put a rack on it, so to hop on it and go, I need a bag to fit my stuff.
And because I really like the fixie girl sensibility, I thought a messenger bag would be perfect.
I had a look around and decided that the Chrome series looked the coolest.
I really liked the seatbelt strap.
"We didn't have money to make our own buckle, so we salvaged a seatbelt buckle from the local auto yard and an icon was born."
I found this video that showed how much stuff you could put in the mini one and thought it was probably the most suitable one for me (since I'm only small)..
After last night, lugging around my pannier around the markets, I thought that it was time to get a messenger bag so I had a way of carrying my stuff around without bending over sideways like a baba yaga.
My Basil pannier - which I love and is great for carrying heaps of stuff, but not so great lugging around on your shoulder..
I wanted the Chrome mini messenger night bag (with reflective bits) but they didn't have it, so I settled on the black one.
I bought some reflective ribbon off ebay so I can sew some on it if I want.
They're quite expensive (approximately $200), but there is an Australian retailer - rushfaster - that works out pretty much the same as buying it from the US.
There are some extra options available when ordering from the US. They do custom colours and there are some limited edition designs.
I have heard good reviews about this bag and very importantly, it has a "EVA foam-padded shoulder strap with cross-chest load stabilizer for increased rideability".
The cross chest strap is really important when cycling, otherwise the weight of the bag just swings to the front of you - I actually try and rig up cross chest straps (out of ribbons and carabiners) for some of my cross body handbags when I use them on the bike.
I went to the rushfaster website tonight and there happened to be a 25% off sale for the next 15 minutes!
"I saw the sign!"
So I ordered it (I saved $50!!) and it will be here in a few days!!
I love this photo from fixiegirls.com and now I have the haircut AND the bag!
