On an overcast day, the Vienna Citibikes really stand out! But are they too bright to ride? I admit that I have avoided renting these, because I don't fancy riding around looking like an enormous advert for a bank.
Here are the tamer blue versions on the left, but they too are covered with enormous adverts. What do you think? More bout Vienna Citibikes here.
We thought it was cute when our cat showed an interest in the Pashley Roadster. But that was nothing compared to her reaction to the vintage Raleigh!
So apparently my cat loves bicycles! -- or at least quality English bicycles? -- We will need to conduct some research to determine the extent of her attraction.
My nice Co-Habitant picked up the Raleigh from my parents' house! He reports that the bicycle is in operational condition: It is structurally sound. The tires hold air. The brakes work well. The hub is fine, and only the shifter requires adjustment. The saddle needs some care and the chain is rusty, but otherwise all is in great shape. This bike is about 40 years old and had been lying in the garage abandoned for the past 20. Amazing! You can read more about it here.
I came across this scene in a local park and felt as if I had stepped into a Muntean & Rosenblum painting.
[image via Flickr]
Here is another snapshot, and another Muntean & Rosenblum painting ("We didn't make plans or talk about the future anymore..." ).
[image from re-title.com] 
It is one thing to see old, ravaged bicycles parked or abandoned around the city. But what is more interesting, is to see them in active use and lovingly decorated. The bicycle in the photo above is parked along my daily route to work. Its state of decrepitude is difficult to capture, because of the other bikes parked around it. Suffice to say, that the wheels are rusted, the fenders are barely holding on, and the enormous blue saddle is lumpy and slashed all over. Yet, the handlebars are decorated with flowers and the bicycle is amazingly clean. Somebody rides it and takes care of it.
This mixte is peeling all over and the saddle is bandaged with duct tape. The owner handled the peeling by embellishing the entire frame, as well as the front fender, with yellow tape for a striped effect. This bike certainly stood out in the center of Vienna!
This ancient bicycle along the Danube path seemed abandoned. Looking at least 40 years old and covered with rust, it appeared to have sunken into the ground. But shortly after this photo was taken, a gentleman came along, gave it a loving pat, and rode it into the sunset.
Of course this bicycle (photographed in Boston) takes things to another level. Parts of the frame are bent, parts are rusted, and the entire thing is spray-painted a dull industrial gray -- giving it the appearance of merging with the parking stand. Yet clearly, the bike is in active use: There is a new mesh basket on the rusted handlebars, and what appears to be a deflated tube (?) is used as a bungee cord over the rear rack. Awesome!
Oh how the raindrops do glisten on that chrome ding-dong bell...
and on the Sturmey Archer 5-speed hub...
and on the Brooks Glenbrook bag...
Brooks saddles come with this convenient rain cover. Don't know whether I think they look cool or perverse! Either way, I am completely envious.
These are spectators at what appeared to be a parade of marching bands from around the world. This was the day before the European Parliament elections, and Vienna was abuzz with nervous energy.
Impressive that this couple remained perfectly balanced on those bicycles for nearly an hour!
Cute girl with her cute bicycle. Notice how the shoes match her rear rack set-up.
Many of the spectators seemed to be using their bicycles for support and added height.
And here is a dapper and sporty gentleman with his green Brompton -- which matched the loden outfits of the band very nicely.
