Monday, May 11, 2009

My New (As Yet Nameless) Bike


As you know, I just moved to California's Venice. With the beach 6 blocks away, the super cool Abbot Kinney boulevard's trendy vintage stores (and my favorite bakery) about as close, with nearby yoga studios and with a huge Whole Foods supermarket a couple of blocks away, I thought that it may be a good idea to get a bike. On Craigslist, I found this used black Schwinn Beach Cruiser - a cult model. I love its sleek, curvy lines.
Though LA is known to be the city of car life, it is also pretty eco-conscious. Buses for instance, many of which run on natural gas rather than on oil, feature kinds of racks at the front, allowing you to load your bike on the bus as you commute.
I have always named my bikes. My favorite ever was a classic Raleigh I bought from an Irish girl in Paris; I named it Ulysses after Joyce's divine novel: a reference to my bike's Irish origins and urban voyage nature - Joyce indeed fetes the city of Dublin in the book. Now I'm wondering what to name my Angeleno beach cruiser; any suggestions?

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear you'll be naming your cruiser! I named one I had some years ago Katherine, after the Hepburn, because she was so classy.

Marci said...

Oh! yo soy muy mala para los nombres,pero la bici es una pasada.
¿ que pasó con Ulises, la vendiste o la dejaste en París?
Saludos
( nunca he conseguido acabar el Ulises...)

sealaura said...

I don't know why but the name Domingo came to me. It could be Dom for short. So happy to hear you are settling in Venice. I know Bengy will love it. Maybe the oracle has some ideas too?

Frock Around the Clock said...

This is so pretty! Don't leave it without a name for too long otherwise you'll never be able to pick one! Hope you have fun riding around! :) x

Laura in Paris said...

This bike will take you places! Looks very cool.

jean-louis said...

Pour ceux qui sont interesses par le sort d"Ulysses, il a ete "emprunte" semble-t-il par quelqu'un qui a,a ce jour,totalement oublie de le ramener...

Rebecca said...

That bike is awesome! And it sounds like you're in an exciting new place! :)

J Elaine said...

Congratulations! I love it I love it I love it! It needs a bell on the handlebars like my Cecil.

I think it takes about a week to name something like a bike. You should ride it a bit, feel its rhythm, determine whether it is masculine or feminine and when the time is right it will come to you.

I have chosen a name for my unused 1960 singer sewing machine... Rumi! I have always admired his timeless and relevant poetry. I love that he used to recite while turning around a column... the idea that one could remain centered while in motion. A metaphor for progression.

Mary-Laure said...

RING AND ROSES - I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who names her bikes...

MARCI - es un cuento triste, me robaron Ulises en Paris hace un par de años...

SEALAURA - I like your suggestion, thanks!
I'm thinking of getting a little basket to carry Benjy on the bike, what do you think?!

J ELAINE - actually, I just ordered a bell for the handlebar online, as well as a good lock and a rear light. I'm waiting for all this to start biking around.
I totally love it that you named your sewing machine, too. Rumi is a beautiful name.

Candace said...

Name it CasanovaYour bike will get you around; and, it's certain that Casanova did.

That's all for now from Owensboro, Kentucky...

Mary-Laure said...

CANDACE - your suggestion made me laugh out loud!
Do you know I have a friend whose actual, legal name is Casanova indeed?

Anonymous said...

oh..."gustave" was the first name to come to mind (seems like such a gentleman's name)...but then i thought...ohhhhhh jacques cousteau and the ocean...you can call "cousteau"....;)))

but lovely bike...really...;)
nancyxx

Candace said...

Being that Casanova was Venetian, it seemed even more appropriate. :)

J Elaine said...

Maybe you could name it George in honor of, you know, Josh! Casanova is close to home as well!

J Elaine said...

Or what about B-L-A-C-K S-H-E-E-P?!

Debra said...

Love your vintage bike. Let us know what her name is!

Anonymous said...

Oh God, I absolutely love it!! Colour me all shades of jealous!

Somerbridge said...

Romeo!

A play on the word roam...

Gabbi said...

It's very pretty! Male of female? Zooey maybe? It's one of my favorite names. Are you planning on getting a basket for her maybe? :)

Mary-Laure said...

NANCY - Gustave is my cousin's name! But I like the marine theme, very appropriate for Venice Beach.

J ELAINE - Ha! I LOOOOOOVE Blaaaaaaack Sheeeeep!

DEBRA - so you're assuming it's a girl?

SOMERBRIDGE - I like your pun!

GABBI - Zooey, what a great idea! I love the JD Salinger reference, too.
And yes, I must get a basket, possibly to ride around with Benjy.

marie said...

my first cat was called ulysses (he was a siamese).. we called him ully for short :) nice bike.. is it a girl or a boy?

Unknown said...

Me encanta Venice Beach,conese toque bohemio y tu bici se ve maravillosa.
Siento no poder ayudarte,nunca se me ocurren nombres ingeniosos.

corine said...

hey, my sis lives right off Abbot Kinney. Have you taken your bike in the alleys behind all the houses yet? You can see the backyards and they are lovely.

Mary-Laure said...

MARIE - I think my bike is a boy... Not sure...

KARINA - mira que "la bici" tambien seria un nombre lindo.

CORINE - wow, your sister and I are neighbors! Tell her to look out for me on my bike. I've seen some gardens in the neighborhood and they are indeed very pretty.

Dallas Shaw said...

just love this

dallas
http://dillydallas.blogspot.com

Esti said...

me encantará saber qué nombre le pones... siempre eres muy original!

Isabelle said...

What about "black panther" for your bike ???

artycho said...

I love the bike! I am sure that you shall come with a great name for it soon! Thank you for poping in today Cerys is ok she doesn't mind being pampered at home!

wide open spaces said...

I like Sadie. Just seems like a name for one who will take you just where you need to go.

Oh, and i want to live in Venice.

I'm jealous of Sadie & California : )

Mary-Laure said...

ISABELLE - oh I like your suggestion, it's true that the bike is as graceful as a panther...
So many great ideas, I am at a loss what to choose!

WIDE OPEN SPACES - I have to admit that Venice is a great place where to live. I adore California.

Adrianna Traxler said...

I love your bike. My mom works for regions bank and they had those neon green bikes in there commercials for sale. They were available for people to buy so I pleaded my mom for it. Its amazing the color is so bright. Bikes are very environmentally friendly so enjoy.

Fifi Flowers said...

I just found out you move via an email from your mother! I can't wait to see what name you come with for you bike. I have not named my bike... how sad... but I have always named my cars... Herbie(not original for my convertible bug I know), Wolfee, Dharma and now Daphne.
ENJOY your new place!
Fifi

Mary-Laure said...

ADRI - I'd love to see a pic of your bike, it sounds great.

FIFI - I've only had one car so far and I named it Red Chief (after the apple!) because it's a red convertible.

dest "o"ïevksy said...

You should christen it Vim Cortez. I can't think of a better bike name in the whole wide world, far and wide, over and beyond blue hills and white cliffs and dark alleys.

Lo, verily I say unto thee, such it should be named. Hear it squeak the name each time you ride it. it's "viiiiiim corrrrtezzzzz" you're hearing, old girl.

Alternatively , name it 2Kish. 2 for the wheels, Kish for the thrills.

billie said...

For some reason... I like Henry!