Bear Cycling Jury – Caroline Donohue

Caroline Donohue is tall, blonde and more eloquent than Oscar Wilde.

She visited our bike gallery because she loved the aesthetics of our Dutch bicycles, and when we had a little chat with her, we learned she works as an artist. On the spot, we asked her to be part of our Independent Jury.

It was only a few weeks later, when we sat down with Caroline for a cup coffee, we found out she actually does not cycle.

Caroline prefers walking. She calls herself a ‘pavement pounder’, and tells us she goes about things the long way round. Moving at walking speed allows her to taken in her surroundings, and gives her inspiration for her artwork.

Caroline is a Fine art Printmaker and is a member at the Graphic Studio Dublin — a place where time has stood still. Caroline uses needles to grave her art work into copper plates. With gloves and protective masks, she then submerges the plates in acid baths, before rolling the plates and paper through large, heavy, manual presses that predate the Easter Rebellion.

When we were talking over coffee, Caroline was unhurriedly getting ready to go on summer leave: a slow trip, from Cork, to Kerry, and Galway. She planned to go walking a lot, to enjoy Irish Nature.

But, in preparation for electing the winner of the Bike Competition, we also got her to agree that she would go for a cycle on the Aran Islands.

(all artwork in this blogpost (c) Caroline Donohue)

Bear Cycling Jury — Adriaan Waiboer

Today, we introduce the first member of Bear’s Independent Jury for Cycling Art: Adriaan Waiboer.

Adriaan is curator for the National Gallery Ireland. He holds a PhD from New York University; he has received research fellowships from The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and from the National Gallery of Art in Washington; and he has been awarded various distinctions for his work. In short: he is well equipped to assess art.

The fact that he’s Dutch, also makes him well equipped to asses cycling.

However, living abroad has made Adriaan lose some Dutch traits. Even though he still cycles to work like a Dutchman, Adriaan admits there is nothing Dutch about his attire. Adriaan calls himself a MAMAL; a Middle Aged MAn in Lycra. Where a Dutchman would cycle in his everyday clothes, Adriaan wears a sleek and shiny spandex suit. In his defence: he does cycle a racing bike, and the commute from his home in Bray to the National Gallery is a trip of 20 km.

Adriaan has also unlearned his Dutch habit of planning everything months ahead. Recently, when dealing with some Dutch colleagues, Adriaan discovered he did not share his fellow countrymen’s devotion to setting up meetings, spreadsheets, PowerPoint’s. Yes, Adriaan likes to plan ahead, but his time in Ireland has also taught him too much planning kills originality and produces inflexible organizations. While Adriaan at first had great difficulty with Irish inability to plan ahead, he now realises this approach can also produce nimble problem solvers.

Adriaan hasn’t lost all his Dutchness, though.

When our talk was over, we informed Adriaan that Bear’s Independent Jury for Cycling Art would be meeting in September (i.e. two months after the interview) to elect a winner.

Adriaan said he was happy to attend.

He also pressed us to send on the exact date, because his calendar for September was quickly filling up.

Adriaan Waiboer (© Photographer: Roy Hewson)

Cycling Sweet Spot – bear bicycles at Gallery Number One

We have set up a Cycling Sweet Spot in Gallery Number One. On April 1st, we opened our ‘Embrace the Spring’ bicycle exhibition there. For the past two months, we have been showing our Dutch bicycles, proudly alongside art by Matthew Knight.

The exhibition was initially set to take place for April and May only. But because of the great reactions and success, we have decided to stay on for the entire summer (many thanks go to the lovely people at Ebow - who are kind enough to continue hosting us).

We look forward to seeing you in the Gallery — for a test ride, a look at the art, or for a chat.

Visit bear bicycles in Gallery Number One, from Wednesday through Saturday, from 11.00 – 17.00.

See this map for more information on how to get there (we’re located across Christchurch, Dublin 2).

Cycling in Saint-Briac-sur-Mer, Brittany

Saint-Briac-sur-Mer is a small village on Brittany’s coast. Because it’s located on the Gulf Stream, its climate is significantly better than in surrounding areas. The town owes its name to Saint Briac, an Irish monk who landed there around 548, together with Saint Tugdual.

Saint Tugdual went on to become Bishop, and today is considered to be one of the Seven Founder Saints of Brittany.

Saint Briac was less ambitious and stayed in the same warm spot he initially landed.

Today, citizens of Saint Briac sur Mer still quietly thank the Irish monk for staying. The town has grown out to be a lovely place; it has boulevards lined with palm trees, it has seven beaches, it has a mini golf course and a real golf course, and – since recently – it also has a matte red Dutch bicycle by bear.

Our customer Patrick ordered that bicycle as a surprise for his wife’s birthday. Yesterday, he contacted us to let us know the bicycle arrived in good order, and that his wife is enjoying her cycles through their warm coastal town. To prove it, he sent along these pictures.

Cycling Video: bikes for Dads and Princesses

Cycling video’s are great fun. It’s fun to watch them, but even more fun to shoot them. Last month, we had the privilege of shooting 5 cycling videos with Paddy Cahill, a  documentary director from Dublin.  In the course of the coming weeks, we’ll be giving you some back-ground to those cycling video’s on this blog.

Today we’re showing the video about Gavin and Isabelle (called ‘Izzie’). In it, Gavin and Izzie have a cycling adventure in one of our delivery bikes, on their way to the Grand Canal to feed the ducks.

Two facts about the ‘making of’ this video.

The first fact: Izzie was initially reluctant to cooperate. She is only two years old, and (in Gavin’s words) “pretty much does what she feels like”. But after Gavin had gotten Izzie into the delivery bike (it took only took one pack of Maltesers), the rest was a smooth cycle. Sitting in the front of the delivery bike, the street scenery passing by, quickly made Izzie forget why she ever had refused to get in at first.

The second fact: the film script set out that we would be feeding ducks. Paddy (our filmmaker) had been talking all morning about how ducks have a great screen appearance. He also taught the film crew how in Denmark, ducks say ‘rap rap’, instead of ‘quack quack’. However, when we finally got to the Canal, there were no ducks to be found. Paddy had a fit, and cursed our guys from production and props that this wasn’t how a professional filmmaker could do his work. And then we settled for feeding the swans.

Go ahead; take a look. –> bear: bikes for dads and princesses

Dutch bicycle giving a folding bike a ride

Cycling in Ireland is becoming easier and easier. One of many examples: you are now allowed to bring your bicycles on the train. We are thrilled. Just like that – presto – cycling trips in the countryside are in our reach.

Gone are the days that trains were only accessible with folding bicycles. And did you know that even then, some cyclists would have a special cover bag for their folding bicycle? To be sure their pack would fall into the category ‘luggage’; and not ‘bicycle’? Apparently, some train personnel would even make a problem of uncovered folding bikes.

Not any longer, though.

No reason to hide your bike.

This picture, sent to us by our friend Robert, says it all.

Bicycles Blooming in the Park

Bicycles are set to receive a lot of attention in Dublin, this June. Cycling in the city will probably be hottest during National Bike Week, that’s set to take place from June 18th through June 26th. This cycling blog will give you more information on Bike Week in due course.

Cyclists should note, however, that even before National Bike Week starts, Bord Bia will be organising ‘Bloom in the Park’ — a festival that primarily focuses on Irish horticulture and Irish food, but that’s gives a great excuse to cycle to Phoenix Park.

Bord Bia apparently had the same cycling thought, because they used our matte green Dutch bicycles for their photo launch. In these photos, you see Colm de Rís (a ceramicist representing Crafts Council of Ireland clients), Jane McCorkell (the 2010 Bloom Garden Design Winner), Ella McSweeney (a Broadcaster and MC of the Chef’s Summer Kitchen at Bloom) and Gary Graham (Bord Bia’s Show Manager) cycling our matte green Dutch bicycles through Phoenix Park – with small fairies hovering around them.

It’s set to be a festival like a fairy tale.

Bloom in the Park takes place over the June Bank Holiday Weekend for five days from Thursday June 2^nd to Monday June 6^th. The festival, which will showcase the best of Ireland’s horticulture and food industry, is open daily from 10am-6pm. Tickets are on sale now from €15 and kids go free (www.bloominthepark.com).

Cool Customer: Caitriona Walsh

This blog’s ‘Cool Customer’ stories give you an insight into the cycling world of bear’s customers.

Do you know this cycling sensation: you’re on on your bike in the morning. You’re early. Traffic is still slow, but you know that will soon change; just like a plane propeller first makes some slow turns, before revving up to full speed. The low, rising sun clads the streets in sharp, yellow-white colours and the trees whisper in the morning breeze.

When you arrive at the office, you wish you didn’t have to lock your bike, lift your bag from your basket, and walk through those revolving doors.

Why can’t you stay, to play outside?

Our Cool Customer Caitriona knows the feeling. Which is why she set up Little Green Fingers, a child minding service in Malahide that does all its activities outside.

Caitriona has one of our Bakfiets delivery bicycles, which she uses to transport the children. On a typical day, Little Green Fingers first dresses the children in snug and waterproof outdoor gear. The children get a special camera, so  they can record the day’s adventures. Then Caitriona and the kids hop in the delivery bike – and they’re off to a bear hunt in the forest, followed by number games, songs, and story time. Later, Caitriona will cycle to the local fire department, for an excursion that teaches the children about their community.

At the end of the day, Caitriona and the kids will cycle back. They’ll take off their boots and their outdoor parka’s, and wait for the parents to pick them up. As the children see their parents approaching, I can picture them saying: ‘Mommy, daddy, can we go play outside?’

And I can see Mom or Dad, happy to have left their office for the day, say: ‘yes, dear – let’s do that’.

Cycling and Cocktails at Green 19

At Green 19 (19 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2) the cocktails are crisp and cocky, like a liquid rooster fight. Take last Friday, for instance.

Marc – Green19′s Scottish cocktail artist – had used his own Early Grey infused gin for the ‘Friday Special’. I believe it had taken him 3 days to get the gin to the right level. And I must say: it tasted better than anything you might order at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. Drinking it made you feel like a kid again; chewing crackling gum with your mouth wide open at a party with strictly grown ups.

Unfortunately, we had too many of the Friday Specials to properly remember its name and ingredients. Fortunately, we were there by bike — and thus were still able to make it home. Stumbling out of the restaurant, we ran into Colin’s (Green19′s owner) bike, shown below. The photo filter of our smartphone app gives an accurate impression of what it looked like through our gin infused eyes, that same evening.

I wonder if the picture will look different when there’s a different Friday Special on, next week.

Cycling lessons from the Netherlands

On the Dutch In Dublin blog, you can read about the cycling similarities between the Netherlands and Ireland.

While ‘cycling infrastructure’, cycling style, and cycling culture may seem unique in the Netherlands, Dutch In Dublin finds this is actually not the case. Cycling in the Netherlands hasn’t always been at its current high levels; in the past there was nothing stylish about a Dutch bicycle, and the Dutch cycling culture was formed by cycling lessons in Dutch elementary schools.

Looking at some recent cycling initiatives in Ireland, Dutch In Dublin believes that Dublin may yet take a prominent cycling position.

Watch out, Amsterdam.