The Pink Bike Dilemma

In case you haven't realized it before — I am an optimist. With all the challenges I've faced, I always expect good things are on their way. The sun will come out tomorrow, the economy will get back on track, work will start flowing into my inbox soon and they'll get that darn oil cleaned up in The Gulf.

I'm hoping to purchase a bike in the Fall. Now I haven't ridden a bike for many, many years (more than I care to remember), but after watching everyone riding bikes around my recent visit to Jekyll Island, I am more determined than ever to get myself a bike. The cousin that I visit regularly in Neptune Beach has a bike and rides it ALL the time. She and her boyfriend hop their bikes to ride down to the beach all the time. This proves especially smart on those days the beach is crowded and parking is limited. The same holds true at many places I plan to visit near my new home. 

I really, really, really want a bike. I have three requirements that must be met — it has to be comfortable, it has to be cute and it HAS to be PINK!

These are the two I'm considering:

The Electra Townie

Offering stability, laid-back style and a convenient step-through design,

the Electra Townie is great for women looking for a

fun, functional cruiser bike. –Electra Online

The Electra Hawaii

It's all about the fun. About riding the boardwalk in light

summer clothes, with flip flops on your feet

and a smile on your face. –Electra Online

Both bikes sound and look wonderful. I like the upright position you sit in on both of these bikes. Being bent over for hours just doesn't sound appealing to my old back.

Both are beach cruisers and I can just imagine myself cruising down the shore, of course, I'll have to have one of those little bells to warn folks to get out of my way! I also will insist on a basket, because you just know I'll be stopping and collecting a few shells along the way. Funny, the guy at the bike store told me they have chrome baskets to match the chrome on the bike. Men! They just look at things differently than I do. I told him my bike has to have a wicker basket!

Now both of these bikes get high reviews in the comfort and stability factors, but from what I've read, The Townie is the most comfortable, BUT I think The Hawaii is by far the most adorable bike I've ever seen.

I love, love, love the hibiscus detailing!

The treads on the tires are also in the shape of hibiscus, so when your riding in the damp sand, you leave a trail of flowers behind you. Know how cute is that? 

It also has more hibiscus blossoms on the seat. 

and I love the white-walled tires!

They even have hibiscus decals for my car, for when I have to transport my bike to some distant location. Don't you think they'll be oh, so adorable on the back window of my little Scion?

The Townie is an aluminum frame and The Hawaii is a steel frame, so the difference in weight could be an important factor when lifting into the back of the car.

So, here they are side-by-side…

Which one do you like?

I am really in this whole pink bike mindset and I swear, I see them all over the place now. A few weeks ago I was surfing around a few new blogs and I came across a post at Vintage Remixed that really caught my attention. This lovely blogger took us on a virtual tour of The Vintage Flea, a FABULOUS store in Newnan, Georgia. And yes, I already googled mapped the place and discovered it is about a six hour drive for me, BUT it's only about a half an hour from my Aunt Dot's house. Get the guest room ready!

You really should check out this post (and the rest of her blog) , she took lots of photos of this remarkable store and I loved them all, but the one that caught my eye most was this one:

What's that I see, right there in the middle?

A painting of a pink bike!

Then as I was reading the comments left by others, I see that the artist who painted it had left a comment AND she also has a blog. Well, you know I just hurried on over there to check it out.

Jenni blogs about her creative life and she is truly an inspiration to fledgling artists such as myself. AND she is a fellow Georgian, a Southern gal, like me. I sent her an email, asking if I include a photo of her pink bike painting on this post. She responded in the affirmative and told me she owns a pink bike herself. I tell ya, I'm just lovin' this talented gal. Look at her ultra-cute header below to see just a sample of her work. Click here to be transported to Jenni Adkins Horne.

She also has an etsy store full of her fabulous art and some of the cutest i.d. bracelets around. Be sure to check out her blog and her etsy store. Oh, and tell her Shellbelle sent you surfing in!


I love the sentiment Jenni included on her pink bike painting and it is advice I think we should all live by:

go where you've never been

Now before I go off and dream about my pink bike some more, I want to remind you that today is the last day to sign up for my giveaway. So, if you haven't done this yet be sure to click on the link in my sidebar and get your name on the list!

aloha!