Jawsome Shark Bike Bits

Me, Summer 2012. When you cycle to fancy dress parties without cloakrooms you have to work your helmet into the look.

Electra Shark Cruiser

Duh Nuh Duh Nuh Duh Nuh Duh Nuh..... 

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, it's Shark Week (not a euphemism). As if August didn't have enough going for it already. 

It's no secret that cycling gives you big thighs, so in my lifelong quest to make my arms match, I swim. When you swim, people send you links to lots of things containing sharks and fish. As this isn't my 'I Speak Goggles' blog (which is taking all my strength not to start) here are some fin-tastic sharkey stuff you can bike around in:

Batman Smells

Last year was Bat... Batman crazy. There was the film The Dark Knight Rises, the Lazy Oaf x Batman collection (one of my favourite fashion moments from 2012), and I got very jealous seeing loads of kids cruising around Mexico on this batmobile:

I once worked somewhere where the security guard used to call me Miss Brosman. I didn't correct him because I thought it sounded like a cool super hero name. Although in retrospect what would my power be? Making people listen to Bros? I did go to a superhero party a few years ago dressed as Cycle Superhighway Girl:

Yes I did make it myself and yes those are fairy lights in my helmet. What was my superpower? Magically disappearing at junctions.

Anyway back to Batman. When you ride a tandem the number one suggestion for fancy dress is Batman and Robin. So with that in mind, here are five cape free ways you can Batman up:

Batman Bottle  £7 from John Lewis

 You can even fill this with water if you want.

Batman 'Wham' Sweater £29 from Topshop

Brosman would LOVE this sweater. Wait, or did Bros hate Wham?

Batman Wall Sticker £14 from Abode Wall Art 

I'm a big fan of using wall stickers to hide bike scuffs.

Batman Retro Bag £27.99 from Truffle Shuffle.

I'd like to see more couriers carrying this around. Make it your uniform please.

Batman Cycling Jersey $29.99 by Eclipse Cycling

Custom made for you Lycra dudes. You can unzip it and reveal your true identity underneath. Probably more Lycra.

And lastly. Here is a picture of me with the actual Batman at Notting Hill Carnival. Batman loves carnival.

Next week, Robin.

London to Brighton on a Tandem/// BHF L2B 2012

On Sunday we rode the tandem from London to Brighton (again) along with about 27,000 other cyclists to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. We had a bit of an outfit crisis as the weather forecast kept changing its mind so we decided to play it safe and wear 1787959 layers. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day and our waterproofs ended up just being extra weight to carry, which was just fine. It was lovely to meet so many other tandems and compare how many times people had said to them 'They aren't peddling on the back'. 23 said it to us.

We'd like to say a special thank you to everyone who cheered us up Ditchling Beacon. Especially the tandem guys in the frog and squirrel onesies who cheered extra loud. If two girls on an off road tandem without padded shorts and special shoes can do it, anyone can. See you all next year. 

Insanely early for a Sunday morning. Do you like my turbanised helmet?

He likes to do it for Madonna.

Lairy Fairies. We like to hold hands and ride with other tandems and see who chickens out first. They did.

At the half-way mark where we left the fairies having a pint.

This grey cloud was not invited.

Ok, denim jacket off, hair up, let's nail Ditchling Beacon.

Bouncy bronco morph guys. Made me seasick just watching them.

I like to match my outfits to finish lines.

If these guys are after a 2nd place photo finish.....

Now who wants to give us and our massive tandem a lift back to London?