Flickr Pics of TDF

What a great day for the First Ever Tour De Fat in Los Angeles. The Cooks of the Bicycle Kitchen had a blast staffing the Merch and D.I.Y. Craft booth alongside our own nonprofit info booth.

The Bicycle Kitchen/La Bicicocina would love to send a GIANT Tony Danza hug back at New Belgium for coming to our town and being so generous.

Next year will be even better!

Thank You.

XO and Ride On.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Cooks.

Tour De Fat TOMORROW!!!!

Come Celebrate all things Bicycle starting with a Bike Parade at 11am!! (Registration for the parade begins at 10am.)

COSTUMES STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!!!

May the revival roll forth in the name of the bicycle, and may you ride true to The Ten Commandments of the Tour de Fat:

1. Put no means of transport before thy bike: Come by bike because not only are bikes fun, but they help stave off some of our most wicked ills: Traffic, laziness, and pollution. Tour de Fat has a solution: ride this day, every day, and definitely when Tour de Fat heads your way.

2. Honor all other bikes: All bikes are good bikes, and all those who ride them are good people. This is the one Bike Festival that cherishes bicycle diversity on our Cruise-ade through town.

3. May every generation come forth: This is a family friendly event. Costumes, bikes and a parade? We were thinking like kids when we created Tour de Fat.

4. Thou shall come as a participant not a spectator: It's a costumed celebration of human-powered transportation. Muscles not motors, coasters, v-brakes and rotors. Come in your favorite alter ego, because when everybody's weird, no one is.

5. Thou shalt not bring booze; But enjoy the supplied malted adult refreshments responsibly: Please do not bring any outside alcohol on the ride or into the park. It could result in getting the event shut down...don't be that guy. And when you imbibe in our tasty brews, remember this is a Bicycle Festival with beer, not the other way around.

6. New Belgium shalt not profit: Our goal is to raise money for bicycle and environmental charities. New Belgium Brewing Company does NOT retain any of the events' proceeds. Please think of your $5 beer tokens as donations to a worthy cause. All sales are final; beer tokens do not expire and will be accepted next year (does not include TEXAS).

7. Remember the purpose, and bring not your pooches: No canine friends allowed this year. We're a dog-loving Brewery, but sadly not all municipalities and parks are. Please leave your best friends at home for their safety and the safety of others.

8. Keep the day true with thy good juju: The ride is free, but we suggest a $5 donation to the good bike advocates who are putting it on for you (does not include TEXAS). If you give more, you will not incur flats, mechanical troubles, or dry skin for a while…maybe. This is a celebration of the bike, not an anti-car rally. All tools have their place.

9. Thou shall rise early: Since Tour de Fat is a free show, we sometimes get more folks than we can accommodate. Once we're full, we will handle overflow like a restaurant or bar: one in, one out. We reserve the right to determine the appropriate crowd size in the name of safety and enjoyment for those inside.

10. Thou shalt not steal thy neighbors' bike: Don't even think of leaving with a bike that doesn't belong to you. Modern-day horse thieves will be dealt with by angry mob, pitchforks, and torches.

The Neighborhood

Since the Bicycle Kitchen/La Bicicocina moved to the block in 2005, a lots happened with other storefronts surrounding us. A potshop begat the Under the Gun Tattoo Parlor and smokeshop; the Pure Luck Korean restaurant begat Pure Luck Vegan Beer garden started by an old cook, Ben Ling; National Mule art studio begat Cateye, vintage eyeglass shoppe and the little orange shack across the street was the first Orange 20, also started by 2 cooks, TJ and Jim C and when they moved to the bigger space on the corner we took it over. The only thing steady around here in the last 5 years besides us and Pizza Pauls is Scoops, home of the tastiest homemade ice cream around.

So, what's new? Welp, the orange shack which we were affectionately calling The Pantry has begat a groovy green colored bicycle powder coating shoppe called The Fixx Carlton! And City College Cafe has begat Cafécito, coffeeshop number two in Cafécito Orangico's mini-empire of Angel Orozco and Mitch Hale in partnership with the Bicycle Kitchen's very own, Molly Ortiz! Super exciting. So here's how you can plan an afternoon for the block, affectionately known as the Bicycle District:

1. Make an appointment for noon at the Bicycle Kitchen to strip your bike of its parts.
2. Drop it off at The Fixx Carlton for a powder coat of your favorite color.
3. Get yourself a tasty cup of fresh drip by the cup from Cafécito.
4. Check out the hot frames and sunglasses at Cateye.
5. Walk across the street to Orange 20 and pick-up some new parts for your bike or cycling cap.
6. Check out Vlad the Retailer next to O20. He silkscreens his own designs onto tshirts.
7. Eat a vegan lunch and drink a tasty local brew at Pure Luck.
8. Check in on your bike.
9. Go back across the street and get an ice cream cone from Scoops.
10. Make an appointment at the Bicycle Kitchen to reassemble your bike.

Come Back!

You can also get tattoed at Under the Gun, check out the Fake Gallery next to the Ukrainian Cultural Center, get properly fitted for a brassiere at Jenette's Bras, meditate at Against the Stream, take a class at LACC and/or eat a pizza at Pizza Paul's! There's even theaters, the Faultline and used bookstore nearby.

Ah, the neighborhood. Just be sure and ride your bike, cuz parking SUXX!

Ride On.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Cooks

Five Days until Tour De Fat!!!

Get your costumes ready! Hope to see you there.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Cooks

CICLAVIA ReCap from Two Cooks

Andrew West provides the words and Jonah Schwartz the images. It was a truly great day!

"Well, we made $750 that day. I was impressed. And then between the cycling insanity and the gangster ganja, I couldn't figure out where the door lock was, had Jenny call Jonny Green to find where it had gone, and later realized I had put it where we found it, earlier in the day."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jarlo/sets/72157625012256945/show/

REI Northridge Bike Corral THIS Saturday!

Saturday, October 16th | 10am - 2pm

REI Northridge is partnering with the Bicycle Kitchen [www.bicyclekitchen.com] to promote the bicycle as a fun, safe, and accessible form of transportation, to foster healthy urban communities, and to provide a welcoming space to learn about building maintaining, and riding bicycles. Each individual that donates a salvageable used bike to La Bicicocina will receive a 15% off REI coupon towards bike accessories (exclusions apply) and will also be entered to win a raffle prize valued at $100 retail. The first 15 people who donates a reusable bike will receive a $15 REI Gift Card so make sure to be the first in line! ** We will not be accepting kids bikes.**

18605 Devonshire St.
Northridge, CA 91324

The Bicycle Kitchen/La Bicicocina would especially like to thank Jean Lim, Outreach Specialist for organizing this for us!

In the heart of L.A., wide open spaces, courtesy of CicLAvia - latimes.com

In the heart of L.A., wide open spaces, courtesy of CicLAvia - latimes.com

Woo Hoo! Go, Bobby, go!