I mean, Madonna (here featured Blond Ambition style circa 1990) maybe invented a few things, but probably not as many as I would like to think.

I have no idea if Madonna is herself a cyclist (I think not) but there is something to that image that has stayed with me a bit these days. If everything old is new again, surely it’s not that unthinkable that everything old was once new and everything new will soon be old and really, now is just as good a time as any to take a pause for effect and have a bit of a think.

I’ve been thinking about this image for a while too. I mentioned it before once, here.

And I’m conscious that my focus can sometimes be on the “create” to the detriment of all the other steps which are as beautiful and as important. Like “observe”, or “evaluate”. God, “fail early”, I’m all over that. But some of the other stuff, well, that’s just been a bit left behind.

Tonight I have a reprieve, my physio cancelled.

Chances are, it’s going to rain all well, and the partner in crime has dismantled Jana Wendt (you don’t even know how I let that happen, but I did. We think we have secure attachment, but we don’t).  So I’m one bike down and one bike that doesn’t like getting wet and dirty.

Time to go back to first principles. Time for a bit of a think.

First think first might be fixing up this freaking template.

One day, when I am famous and I have heaps of money and time to devote to such things, I am going to run some sort of photography competition for people do for cycling what The Sartorialist has done for walking down the street in New York. Arguably, Andy and others are already all over this one, but sometimes I wish that my photography would do justice to my subjects.

In the end, I think one of the secrets is getting people to stop since I can neither whip out my iphone nor become a better photographer while actually riding my bike.

Lucky for me, Kendall was already stopped and sure, I was running late for work but I just had to pull on up for a quick chat. She just looked utterly chilled and cruisy, presumably someway to work or someway from something to something, a simple front basket, a basic skate lid and goddamit some super hot shoes.

With blue soles.

You can’t see them, unless of course she’s pedalling away on her bike, which is just the kind of detailing that makes me reach matcher’s heaven.

Apparently she has a road bike too, so you never know, she might be an all star celebrity ride on interview about nothing much at all. One can only hope dear reader, one can only hope.

PS you know, I know and we all know that this change of layout has been a pretty big disaster, but we live and learn, right? I’ll get there in the end. Just really really slowly.

Firstly there was the radio time with Domenico, which was super sprucetown excellent. Then there was lady’s bike polo on in Musgrave park, with the lovely Allie waving the mallet about with others of the Brisbane hardcourt crew.

Right beside them at the park was the Brisbane Freestyle Longboarding community having their first birthday which was basically helmet overload. Big time.

Sun was shining. Weather was sweet. Josh was even there. Sans lid this time, but dishing out some sweet cupcakes as a part of their birthday celebrations, recognising one year since their flood relief rollout event.

And that was just Saturday.

On Sunday, there was a long break on the training ride, somewhere around Murrarie but before the Gateway Bridge but it was all good by me. We waved to Jane and her smiling crew as we rolled out at lazy jerks o’clock getting well and truly fritzed by the time the smoothie was hitting the smooth spot.

Did you have a good weekend? How long til the next one? And how long til there’s a women’s CX in Melbourne? I heard some rumours and I will put it on my “training plan” if there’s truth to that there rumour.

Training plan be damned.

Just start the day off right – ride anywhere, it whatever you’re wearing, wherever you’re going.

Ilya says – go.*

*not actually Ilya saying this. Okay?

Sometimes when sad, I try to learn something
whether it is something large or something small;
but sometimes I know that there is no space left,
my mind cluttered as my house, all the sentimental bric-a-brac
gathering dust -
so, in those moments of mute indecision
I ride.

The air is clean and light, streets devoid of cars,
sometimes the lone blue glow of televisions
illuminating the other lives that I pass by.
I watch the sequencing of lights
along the empty street in front of me
indicating nothing more than, “there is the road
I ride”.

You always kind of wonder what community looks like. Sometimes I think we labour over complex explanations and forget the simplicity of people do things, they aren’t afraid to talk to each other, they give without expectation of return because they are willing to share and we take it from there.

And get 500+ pieces of paper based art, installed for one fabulous evening at White Canvas gallery then distributed by a team of ride on art distributors.

Some are super cute like Margo, rocking a city cycle with her art-loving family.

It might look simple in the hand but it’s a real nice feeling.

Do you like community riding things? Do you want to go on another one? I’d be up for a riding pretty to the next Pushies Galore. Maybe a tweed run?

This is what it looked like.

Later, we will chat about what it felt like.

1. Collect artwork and writing.

2. Exhibit all the submitted pieces of work.

3. Deliver all the work to random people via bicycle.

Above is the beautifully simple premise of Paper Girl BNE.

And I would love you to get involved.

It is rare that there are projects/events that bridge the divide between Helmet Lady and Poetry Lady. But this is one such project.

Now, the likelihood of me getting to the drop off point by 3pm to submit my poetry is slim, however, that I am unable to particpate as a poet makes not one whit of difference to me because I can still participate as a rider. That process will feel a little like this, only with a helmet on.

So, if you’re not arty or just unable to work with my teeny teeny amount of notice that I have given you, why not come along for the community ride on art distribution TOMORROW!

Here’s how it works!

Papergirl Artwork Distribution + Community Ride

Date: 4th February 2012
Time: Meeting at 12:00pm for a 12:30 Ride.
Location: Meeting at White Canvas Gallery, 26 Church St, Fortitude Valley.

Come along and get involved in the distribution of all the artworks to the passer-bys in Brisbane’s CBD. We will be leaving from White Canvas Gallery, heading through the Valley, City and ending in West End.

• Bring a bike
• Bring a bag to carry rolls
• Bring your family and friends

Community Ride and Delivery Map