So, there’s this movement. All over the world. And it’s about people on bikes. Wearing vintage duds. Looking smashing, while riding around. Yup. And for some reason, it’s crazyawesome. This is a long-overdue post (you may denote some Christmas decor in a few of these shots), but hopefully worth the wait! The Annual San Diego Tweed Ride is in its fourth year. There were vintage bikes and new bikes and penny farthings and tandems. There were tweed slacks and suit jackets and pocket watches and flat caps. We did a tour from Normal Heights through University Heights down to Balboa Park and back, and garnered a fair bit of quizzical attention. It felt like an odd slip back into time.

We congregated all together in the park to start off. There was pizza from Dang Brother (served from an actual Firetruck!), and ragtime piano playing from the snazzy greg Watson. I even stumbled across a dude flying the Canadian and Quebecois flags from his handlebars. A little taste of home! We pitstopped in a couple of spots to congregate, celebrate, and be as silly as possible. These two cuties took a break to do the charleston. Huzzah! Scott and I should have done a little lindyhop. Next time around!

That beard could sink a thousand ships. I wouldn’t mind if he wore this outfit all the time. There was something about flying down the street, utterly taking it over in a pack of over a hundred strong! It’s freeing, exciting, powerful. As a cyclist, I usually feel worried about the cars around me, but as part of a large group like this, I felt incredible secure, incredibly empowered. It was just a whole lot of fun. Also, this kid was the very best. Toolin’ around on the back of a rad tandem bike with her dad? I’m pretty sure she’s going to grow up to be the coolest person ever. She might already be, let’s face it. I kinda wish I’d had a chance to talk to them! Also, please take not of the several people who were riding around with their dogs on the backs of their bikes. Joy!

After we returned, the group all gathered ’round for a giant photo op. A ton of people then hung out, picnicked, listened to live piano-playing, and let me take photographs of them. It felt like a buzzing, lively day of celebrating good things like fun and silliness and joy. So, here’s a shot of me that Scotty took, demonstrating that very fun-silly-joyful combo. I admit, I feel a little wistful going through these, having moved neighborhoods in January and leaving my beloved Normal Heights behind in favor of Golden Hill. But not to fear—this is an annual affair! So, I can’t wait for next year. Hope you’ll all join me next time!