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Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on August 12, 2011 at 11:28am

Great article, Grid Chicago! We're huge Let's Go Ride a Bike fans...don't slow down, Dottie!

 

All of us @ Active Trans, via Ethan Spotts

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on August 12, 2011 at 1:21pm

Thanks Ethan! What I really like about Dottie's interview is that it's a great primer on how to get started riding a bike in Chicago, especially if you're allergic to Spandex.

 

The on-line version includes "Dottie's Dossier," a directory of local bike and style resources with a focus

on women's cycling: http://gridchicago.com/2011/going-dutch-a-conversation-with-lgrabs-...

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 12, 2011 at 3:27pm

Nice article.

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on August 13, 2011 at 2:21am

Thanks James.

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 13, 2011 at 2:35am

John, I look forward to your pieces almost as much as I do Dottie's.  The local bicycle bloggers and other media in the Chicago area are amazing thanks to your efforts and the efforts of other like-minded writers. You probably don't always get the accolades you deserve for all the hard work I'm sure you all put into it.

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Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on August 14, 2011 at 1:42am

She IS the Martha Stewart of local cycling.  Some of the excerpts from the article I found "interesting":

 

" I think the only real challenge that faces cyclists just for being women is personal safety. It’s more of a concern for women no matter what our mode of transportation. You always have to be more aware of that, and in some neighborhoods that aren’t Lakeview or Lincoln Park it can be more dangerous for women in general."

 

" One thing I don’t like is to see a plumber’s crack in front of me. Especially if I keep passing him, if he’s a guy on a bike he’ll keep trying to pass me, even if he has to struggle to do it, so it’s hard to get away from. And a lot of big, bulky backpacks—that’s just unnecessary. More men should use racks and panniers, or even baskets."

 

"I really likeRapid Transit in Wicker Park. Again, I think it helps that one of the owners is a female and some of the mechanics are women, but even the male bike mechanics are great there."

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 14, 2011 at 5:43am

I do agree but I have struggled with PCS (Plumbers's Crack Syndrome) my entire life.  I do try but even belts and suspenders don't seem to help much.  I do have baskets out back though.  One of these days I need to get going on the bucket panniers if you still have them available.

 

Riding with a backpack is brutal.  The only thing I ever sling these days is my little black murse which only caries my tool and patch kit usually.

chixieonfixie said:

She IS the Martha Stewart of local cycling.  Some of the excerpts from the article I found "interesting":

 

/snip/

 

" One thing I don’t like is to see a plumber’s crack in front of me. Especially if I keep passing him, if he’s a guy on a bike he’ll keep trying to pass me, even if he has to struggle to do it, so it’s hard to get away from. And a lot of big, bulky backpacks—that’s just unnecessary. More men should use racks and panniers, or even baskets."

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on August 15, 2011 at 3:53am

I wonder how many people come to LGRAB just for the pretty photos. I like how Dottie uses both film and digital to create an even more diverse array of "Chicago citizen cycling."

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 15, 2011 at 4:52am

+1  I have seen her shooting in film and wondered just how often she had it developed with all the posting of pics she does (or if she did her own.)  I'm not missing using film at all in today's digital world but I respect the heck out of those who are still using it.  I'm just cheap and lazy.

Steven Vance said:

I wonder how many people come to LGRAB just for the pretty photos. I like how Dottie uses both film and digital to create an even more diverse array of "Chicago citizen cycling."

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Permalink Reply by M K on August 24, 2011 at 11:16am

I was so excited to see Dottie on the cover of Grid's magazine. Dottie has made myself and possibly many lady bicyclists feel welcome in a city that can a first be a little overwhelming. Congrats, Dottie!

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on August 25, 2011 at 6:32am

Her blog goes to show you what kind of bicycling as transportation for "normal folks" (read: people who don't connect with Bicycling magazine) demand was not being met. 

M K said:

I was so excited to see Dottie on the cover of Grid's magazine. Dottie has made myself and possibly many lady bicyclists feel welcome in a city that can a first be a little overwhelming. Congrats, Dottie!

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 25, 2011 at 6:44am

+1

 

And Dottie's blog is fresh and real -UNLIKE some other similar blogs based in other other cities  where the entire blog has become a huge product-placement/endorsement scheme.  

 

I always look forward to reading the next LGRAB and also enjoying the awesome photography.

 

Steven Vance said:

Her blog goes to show you what kind of bicycling as transportation for "normal folks" (read: people who don't connect with Bicycling magazine) demand was not being met. 

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