Good news: The Pan Am Path in Toronto!

"Combining the power of culture and sport to create a living path across Toronto."

 Woot Woot! Smart cities take money from events such as the Olympics and Pan Am games, and use it to benefit and create long-lasting public infrastructure projects. I'm glad that Toronto has managed to secure this amazing path, which will unite Toronto with public space, art, sports, and nature! Landmark projects such as this help to push forward longer, more involved public infrastructure. The 2010 Olympics left Vancouver with the very well used, awesome Canada Sky Train line, which takes travellers to and from the Vancouver Downtown core in only 20 minutes for $3.75. At last year's VeloCity in Vancouver, I learned that the amazing and iconic Sea Wall was key in creating public interest and demand for better cycling infrastructure in the community. Looking forward to seeing the long-term benefits of the Pan Am Path!

Ottawa Velo Vogue Fashion Show

Hey there internet bike land.

Did you miss out on this cool thing that happened in Ottawa on June 1st? Zara from Ottawa VeloVogue put on this tres-chic fashion show at Kichesippi Brewery. It featured great clothes, great bikes, great people, and a great cause.

"A big aspect of our event is fundraising for Cycle Salvation, which trains and gives employment in the field of bike mechanics to those who are economically disadvantaged, while at the same time diverting bikes destined for scrap and landfill sites. Cycle Salvation is a social enterprise operating under the umbrella of Causeway Work Centre." 

Fashionable bike event for a good cause? Nightshade approved.

Zara is amazing, and you need to follow her blog if you love fashion, cycling, and looking at pretty pictures of pretty people on bikes. After almost a few years of internet friendship, I finally got to hang out with this high-octane behb at Inberbike last September while we were both models for Momentum Magazine's fashion show. Winning! I hope I get to see this lady again! Look what awesome things she makes:

2013 Ottawa VeloVogue Fashion Show from Jackpine on Vimeo.

CAREBEAR was stolen last night!

TORONTO STOLEN BIKE ALERT: CAREBEAR WAS STOLEN LAST NIGHT FROM OUTSIDE MY HOME IN KENSINGTON. PLEASE be on the lookout for her or her parts. 54 purple Mission track frame, pink Velocity B43s, Sugino Messenger cranks, was outfitted with platforms and pink YNOT razzle straps. She is scratched up from being stolen last summer. I can't believe it... meglikebikes@gmail.com for any leads or hit me up on Facebook! Meg Orlinski. Thank you!



I feel sick.

DNS on FASHION website for #Lifecycles2013

Big Red made the cover of this article in Fashion online article on Hermann & Aubrey's Lifecycle's celebration taking place from the 7th to the 9th of June. Thora, Snow White and Fierce Bambi are also featured... of course.

 

We'll be there on June 7th between 7-11 to see the release of Danielle Dasilva's video of 5 Nightshades in pure Ganger Styles in Toronto, along with the DNS portrait series she has produced over the past month. 

WoOt WoOt! Check check it out here.

It's almost like it's Bike Fashion Week in Toronto

Woah. This week there are many stylish things going on if you love your bike and looking good on it.


First up is Lifecycles by Herman and Aburey, this June 7-9th. DNS will be featured in a photo series by emerging photographer Danielle Da Silva.








Then we have fellow Ryerson Alumni Kristi Woo of Riyoko Urban Bike Wear coming to Toronto From Calgary to sell her rad line of Cycling Apparel at Curbside Cycles.



Brooks Saddles is swinging on by Toronto to run a pop-up shop, the Dashing Show, at Bikes on Wheels on June 8th.

Meet the Deadly Nightshades on Now Magazine!

If you missed this gem of an interview, here it is. The Now asks us some questions on bike style, our jobs, how we work in community, the start of DNS, and how we support each other.

An Interview with The Deadly Nightshades from NOW Magazine on Vimeo.

1 <3 .="" p="">
xo

Ride the Ravines with Evergreen Canada!

MegO! here. I've been a bit absent as of late on the blog, mainly because I have been working hard on my new sweet job at Evergreen Canada, coordinating Ride the Ravines! Now if you don't know... now you know! I'm LOVING my new job in the beautiful Toronto Don Valley, so check it out and show some love! :)


Evergreen is a national environmental organization that connects people with nature for the benefit of both. For the past 20 years, Evergreen has been engaging Canadians in greening projects in communities across the country. In Toronto, Evergreen has transformed the historic Don Valley Brick Works factory from a deteriorating collection of buildings into a thriving and truly unique environmental community centre in the heart of the Toronto ravine system. 

 

Ride the Ravines is a family-friendly charity bike ride on June 16th, where riders can experience Toronto’s hidden valley system like never before! The ride gives families, urban recreational riders and nature enthusiasts a chance to pedal 12km or 25km through the Don Valley ravine system and Toronto beaches. The route begins and ends at Evergreen Brick Works and is led by Evergreen staff and volunteers.

 

The funds raised from Ride the Ravines goes towards our Active Living Programming and like our Community Bike Hubs. This is our incredibly special program that works in various low-income communities across Toronto, getting kids learning and riding bikes, while providing a healthy food program and mentorship, along with entrepreneurial and activist skills. 

Remember how the Deadly Nightshades were interviewed by NOW magazine? Well, the awesome Now online editor John then interviewed my supervisor, Shah. Check it out! You'll feel great, I promise.

Ride On Part Four - Advocacy (Evergreen Bike Works) from NOW Magazine on Vimeo.

 

The Deadly Nightshade - Daniel Lanois

 

In 2006, while I was waitressing in the summers between university semesters, Daniel Lanois was a regular of mine at a fine French Toronto establishment. We had many famous and rich clientele, so talking about work with a guest was considered tres gauche. Someone had erroneously told me that he was a store owner, and I simply didn't think twice to question it. When I once asked him about his sheet music he was working on, he said he had a studio at his house and he was recording an album with his friends. I replied that I thought his hobby was adorable, and he looked at me with a puzzled raised eyebrow. The song he was recording was apparently with U2. Be careful of who tells you what and what you think you know....

Cyclofemme- Tomorrow We Ride!

Cyclofemme is tomorrow! It's a great way to spend Mother's Day with the crew you love.

To honour the women of the past, present, and future, you can check out and participate a ride in your own city or neighbourhood!

Friday Night Rainy Day Vids

Wine + friends + sunshine + bikes = all you need.

After Eleven Apparel //  Fixed Gear // Group ride in Napa // Sonoma. 

Filmed & Edited by Patrick Schwent. Song: Don't Move - Phantogram

Vancouver is exactly like this:

AIRPORT RACE - fixed gear video-  

Directed by the talented Gwenael LEWIS.
Starring the lovely Chloe BABCOOK and Tobias LEWIS

Feeling Good:

Fixed-Gear city ride Cinelli in Valencia v2

Sunshine and puppy dogs:

 Fixed Gear (Granada) Collective Friends