We are exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer, a big tradeshow in Salt Lake City in the next few days, August 2-5 and today was touch down. After missioning in the studio for the last couple weeks, I finally passed out on the plane and woke up in Salt Lake City. 

I was so zonked I felt like I was moving through ether in the first few hours of desert heat. We are staying at a d.o.d.g.y hotel, The Days Inn in Millcreek. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but I am looking forward to the arrival of my roomie, my friend and colleague, Maria from PoCampo. Be prepared for the minimal customer service experience and hotel loveliness, Maria;) Actually, though the staff is really nice and the long ride back tonight was chill. 

Duct tape on the hotel door handle... hmmm... not to sure about that -- but don't worry, Mom, I've double locked the door.

The road home at the end of the day - I love the electricity poles.

I spent the day getting acquainted with the city and prepping for the show, and it's been a nice slow day of prep and discovery; unlike what tomorrow will be like, I'm sure. I'll be setting up the booth and expect a long day of work. However! I am stoked. Before the above photo was taken, I took the LRT, called "Traks" here - love it! It's kinda super slang. I digress, I took 'Traks' down to the Tradeshow venue and figured out how that route works and then walked over to Salt Lake Bicycle Co. to pick up my bike rental. People in this city are so kind and courteous, I've had such a good day of random conversations, a lot of them had on the way to the bike shop. After one such conversation, I looked up and saw this across the road.

next, I picked up my bike  from the good people at the Salt Lake City Bicycle Co.  a few doors down and across the street.

They updated and informed me about some of the roads here and the cycling vibe and also let me know where the Good Will Thrift store is here. I had wanted to go and get a table for the booth, something vintage and cheaper than $70 for an lacquered generic table that is provided from the services at the show. I certainly found a couple good ones - I'm pretty stoked... and I'll take photos tomorrow. I again, had a few really great and genuine interactions at the 'D.I', I can't remember the actual name of the store now, but that is what they call the Good Will here. Then it was time to get sustenance and head to home. The roads here a super wide, accommodating for bikes, even on the wide busy main roads, and many of the roads are marked for bikes. I was and am impressed and am looking forward to discovering more. I was also surprised at how unpopulated they seem in comparison to some other cities I've biked. Wide roads with, even when it's busy, few cars. On day one, my overall observation is it's pretty easy to navigate and bike on the road here. 

And this is the sky I saw on the way home. 

The clouds in this city are amazing. I've seen so many different sky moods in 12 hours. Stormy, Fluffy and a super amazing sunset.

Can't wait for more tomorrow... and all of you, stay tuned for booth prep photos tomorrow! <3! yeah!

and p.s - Thank you to the great peeps from ECO Bottle for the computer cables! I'm so glad I chatted it up with you today on many levels. One being that I wouldn't be typing this without your donation!;) ( I left my power cables in Calgary).

There are many conversations that revolve around cycling these days with a lot of different facts and opinions that join and divide. In the end, we at riyoko really hope all of these conversations bring us together. Is this the Olympic fever speaking through riyoko? Not really, we just wanna get along:).

So, speaking of differences and balances, I came across two articles today over the debate of Cycle Chic:

One, " A Critique of Cycle Chic", by the formidable cycling advocate, Elly Blue, and the other in cartoon form, "So, Ladies..."by the clever and talented Bekka Wright, a.k.a Bikey Face.

Elly and Bekka both feel that cycling in ordinary clothing is important, but they don't subscribe to Mikael Coville Andersen's, founder of Cycle Chic's, vision and manifesto. 

And regarding Cycle Chic or not, this is riyoko's response by me (Kristi), as written in the comments to Elly's article, to all of the above:

"hmmm... I guess I would say that there is a balance. Wear what is comfortable for you and what is functional for you on a bicycle. Wear what makes you safe as well. If that includes lycra or a tweed blazer, heels or sneakers then wear it - wear what suits YOU.

As a designer, I think some things look better than others in clothing, but I also think some music, food and art is better than others. It can come down to technical details, like lines, contours, shapes and colours, but in the above convo, it's clearly not about that. On the surface, it's more about taste ( and it's clear lots of us have different views on that), but deeper down it's seems to me that it's about how we choose to express our freedom in cycling through our garb. Our costumes are our armour - helmets, heels or not.

Overall, though, the thing we all share, is the love of cycling, the independence that it provides us, and, possibly, the symbology it holds for a better, more interactive, cleaner living future.

I know that I'm a maker of cycling and travel specific clothing so it may be seem, to some, contradictory to say most of the above, but really it's not because what I design is meant to fit into existing wardrobes to make the cycling and travelling garb more functional and/ or stylish, whatever that means to YOU. That is the bottom line, every person has a different idea of style, so go with it, whether it's the flannel grunge t-shirt, the hipster version of it, or a highly reflective vest. Wear it as long as reflects ( no pun intended) YOU.

...and  I do see where Ms. Wright, and  Ms. Blue are coming from - that the stereotype of women is being propagated through a mandated visual representation in fashion. It's a hard subject to control though. What I can hope, and see happening all the time, is that once other sisters get on the bike, that they make informed decisions as to what they choose to wear, equally, if not more importantly based on functionality and safety than on style. If the two mesh, then that is even better from my designer opinion and eye;). We all have something to appreciate in our individual styles -- without them, there would be no such thing to call style."

To the collective journey on two wheels ~ <3

We are thrilled to bring you the incredibly inspiring Belinda Heyward as our Sister Cyclist for July. Belinda is an adventure seeker from Australia who has circled the globe participating in cycling tours. On one of her tours, Belinda was introduced to riyoko by another participant, Suzanne. Read on as Belinda recounts her cycling journeys and find out more about the tale of the intercontinental Riding Blazer.

Belinda with a well-earned beer and her touring bike in Peru, South America- May 2011 (Suzanne is half hidden on the bench behind as well)

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Some years ago I trained and worked as a psychologist and family therapist. However, since 2008 I have redirected my energies into travelling, hiking and cycling adventures! My re-entry to cycling began in 2007, and apart from cycling everywhere as a kid, I have done quite a bit: cycling solo around the Archipelago in Finland, around Corsica, in Provence and the Dordogne in France. I have done several supported rides in New Zealand and in Japan around Hokkaido, Kyushu, the Noto Peninsula and Honshu. In 2011, I took part in a supported tour through Peru. This was followed by an unsupported two month tour through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina with another to celebrate turning 70. Later in 2012, I did two more unsupported, unaccompanied tours: the Great Ocean Road, Victoria and up the East/Northeast coast of Tasmania, Australia. 

2. What is the story of the intercontinental riyoko Riding Blazer?

When I first saw the riyoko Riding Blazer, it beckoned. Suzanne, another tour participant was wearing it and we were in Peru. Generally on cycle tours involving many kilometres, practical, non-chic gear is worn. So, to meet the very chic blazer worn by Suzanne on an extended cycle tour in Peru was quite unexpected! Immediately I had to know where she got it. At the end of the ride, she returned to England and I to Australia from where I ordered a blazer- it was a must have!

3. What do you like best about travelling in your city? 

Currently I ride between 100-200k per week, and as it is winter here in Australia, it's often quite cold and rainy. I live in Melbourne, in the Southeast of Australia. It is a very accessible city with heaps of beautiful cycle paths. It is possible to ride 50k out of the city, into bush land or country in any direction and either ride back, or take the train. There are not that many hills, although you can find them, lots of wide boulevards, and mostly, reasonable weather. I love the freedom and speed which cycling brings. It invites you to be very present to the world around you and enables you to meet people easily. 

4. What is your favorite riyoko piece?

I love the blazer unreservedly and it attracts compliments whenever I wear it, even from non-cyclists! When I go on extended rides overseas, I like to take a couple of riyoko Shirtbands. They make Lycra bike leggings and shorts "respectable," covering the chamois area!!! I bought several when Kristi said she could make them in my chosen colours- how good is that! I also like to wear them over fancy leggings and my Outlier Riding Pants (which I purchased here).

5. What do you never leave home without?

Money, id, credit card, helmet, sunnies and something chic! Usually a scarf, colourful wrap skirt, earrings, necklace an/or a variety of bracelets...

6. What is your philosophy?

To practice smiling as much as possible, to be open to discovery and new experiences, to ride or exercise every day, to greet someone I've never met before, to be compassionate and generous. Hopefully I up to some of these aspirations!

<3 riyoko