What did they mean...

While looking for a picture for something complete different I ran across this  first picture…

I am not really sure what the people at Monarch Bicycles were thinking with this one, maybe, “Our bicycles will take you to wonderful places.” At first I actually thought the lion was eating her, but then realized that she almost looks like she is crying because she is leaving the king of beasts.  So my new guess is “Monarch, the Bike for girls with eye site like Mr Magoo, and serious beard fetishes”  (seems a little wordy)

This second picture also made me look twice. It is clearly trying to tell people that Peugeot Bicycles are light enough for a lady in heals to easily carry up a stairway.  My first thought was, “Why would you advertise that your bike breaks down so much you have to carry it?”

This last one, makes we wonder if they really tried to balance 16 men on the top of a bike. I mean either this a little bit of hyperbole or a safety issue. Either way, “Kids, don’t lie, or try this at home!”

National Bike Month

Hey everyone, May is National Bike Month! To celebrate The Alpena Tweed and Bike Club will try to have a bike related post every day this month! (Sorry in advance if they start getting a little shoddy around the 23^rd…)

What can you do to celebrate? Well here is a list:

1. Ride your bike!
2. Go on a bike ride!
3. … ummm
4. Maybe Click Here for some better ideas!

(Going for a ride is always a good idea)

[For Locals Only]

This is for locals only! [Shhh don’t let anyone else read this one… Ok, since it’s only us, I want to ask you a favor!  We will be having bike riding guests from out of town at the Alpena Seersucker Ride this June. We want to show off our city to the greatest advantage! So we are asking for your help in planning the route. This is what we are looking for:

• Starting in Downtown Alpena
• Six miles round trip
• A route that is family/kid friendly
• A route that will allow us to stop at a few local attractions
• A nice photo location
• Ending at ACC

Now if you have any ideas, drop us a email at alpenatweed@gmail.com at let us know!

Now for this help, (well really everyone in the area) the wonderful people at League of Michigan Bicyclists, the group who are bringing the Sunrise Bicycle Tour to Alpena have offered the first 50 Seersucker Riders who sign up before June 1^st a free meal after the ride with the Tour participants. Now if you are interested, all you have to do is sign up at Blue Phoenix Books in downtown Alpena. The only requirement is that you come out and enjoy a great ride around Alpena. Now, you can still ride even if you don’t want the meal afterwards, or if you miss the June 1^st deadline but you know the offer is on the table.]

(PS I bet you didn’t know that brackets could make it so only certain people could read it, its magic like that!)

Non-Seersucker for the Seersucker

So a few posts ago we made a promise that we would shortly (cough, cough) post something about non-seersucker options for the Seersucker Ride. So here it is! So you may ask, “What can I wear to The Alpena Seersucker Ride?” The best answer, “Anything you like!” Now if you want to know, “What are some options?” Here we go…

Linen-

Historically speaking, the summer cloth of choice in the western world has not been cotton, but in fact linen. Linen is spun from the fibers found on the stem of the flax plant. Besides using this fiber to make cloth, other grades of the thread are used to make everything from paper to cord; the seeds can be eaten, or used to make oil (linseed oil), dye, medicines, and soap.  Add to this the fact that flax also grows in more diverse areas, it was not until cotton got a boost from slavery, colonialism, and the advent of Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin that cotton was able to take the top seat. Remember, the classic name for sheets, shirt collars, under garments and the like are still termed “linen” and stored in “linen closets.”

While I do not have a lot of firsthand knowledge of seersucker, I do have a fair handle on linen, and I can say from experience that it does keep you cool in the summer. In fact the only thing it does better than keep you cool, is probably its ability to spontaneously wrinkle. Honestly, a few wrinkles are worth the comfort under the sun. The only side note on Linen Suits for men is that in my experience they tend to be rather form fitting (in the modern cut), and probably not conducive to bicycle riding. Yet if you can find one that will work, you should snatch it up.

Light Wool-

While this may sound crazy to most people, something many traditional hikers and sports people know is that light weight wool is actually comfortable in the sun. Don’t overlook this great option.

Linen-like, and Synthetics-

One of the great things about modernity (though we begrudgingly admit it) is that we now have some great alternatives that look authentic, but are lighter, wrinkle less, and are easier to care for (though also often hold odors better). Now while under close inspection someone could tell the difference, you have to remember that we are Midwesterners in Alpena, and most likely will not run our fingers over your loincloth to check out what it is made from.  We really just want you to come and ride with us, so wear something that is comfortable, and join us for a great time.

Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programs…

Well we are sorry about the lapse in posts, sometimes life just gets busy. One of the projects during the hiatus was a trip to the TCM Film Festival in Hollywood with the sole purpose of seeing outfits from the 1900-1930’s on the big screen (you believe that right?) so that we could inform you, our dedicated readers, about fashion in that time period!

Now that we are back on track, we hope to give you some updates on the upcoming Alpena Seersucker Ride!

Seersucker, Oh Seersucker!

My first encounter with seersucker was in high school. I found a really nice seersucker shirt to wear on those extra hot school days that seem to pop up at the end of every Michigan school year. I was really proud of that shirt until everyone kept coming up to me and telling me that I needed to iron my shirt! Now, it could have been that I normally dress in a slightly disheveled state, and everyone just assumed this was further proof of this, or as I like to remember it, seersucker is just not part of our current culture.

So following the train of thought behind my delusion, I think we need to talk about seersucker and fashion.  First off, the #1 rule of fashion is always that it works better once a certain critical mass is hit… so this summer’s Seersucker Ride is the perfect time for a group of us to make a statement, and look fashionable as a group.  By reading the previous sentence you are contractually bound to participate in The Alpena Seersucker Ride, AND wear some sort of retro summer wear (I will have my lawyer look at that, but I am pretty sure that will stick). So now that we are all participating, we will talk about specific trends. (We will deal with linen, and other summer wear in a later post.)

The Music Man

To recap, seersucker is a cotton based cloth that is woven in a way to make it look like a waffle. The function of these “waffles” is to hold pockets of air between the skin and cloth, resulting in better circulation and therefor a cooler cucumber… or cloth wearer.  The classic look of seersucker (at least on men) is the light colored white and blue (or gray, green or the like) pinstripe, though you can have any pattern or solid color you like. In my head, I associate it with Barbershop Quartets and the movie The Music Man. In fact The Music Man, maybe mixed in with the summer outfits in Mary Poppins, might be the perfect template for the look we are talking about! (Leave the penguins and 76 trombones at home please.)

Mary Poppins

For men, this means a crisp suit (or maybe just a vest if you don’t mind people seeing you half dressed) that is not overly baggy or too snug, a cotton shirt, and a neck tie of some description. Through in a nice pair of shoes, maybe a straw hat or flat cap and you are set. For the ladies, the possibilities are endless. You have more formal dresses (seersucker was a common fabric for nursing uniforms in the early part of the century), sundresses, skirts, or even pant suits that can look great. Please remember that you will be riding a bike, so make sure it is something that you are comfortable with, and have maybe taken for a test drive before the event.

We hope to see all of our fashionable friends this summer!

On No! It's Almost Time!

Oh my! It's only 96 days to the Seersucker Ride (June 16th, 2012)! I hope everyone is working one some cool and well cool (June in Michigan, wishful thinking I know) cloths to wear when they come out to ride!

Just as a reminder, the League of Michigan Bicyclists is also holding a cycling event in Alpena that weekend. This is a great reason for non-locals to come to Alpena, and join in our ride too. It is also a great opportunity for locals to make friends with some new people or at least show them why we consider ourselves a "Warm and Friendly Port."  (I hope that's still our motto)