Happy Thanksgiving and an Upcoming Giveaway

First, I want to wish all of you here in the U.S. a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope you spend it with those you love - be they friends, family, or both. The E.V.L Thanksgiving will be a simple one this year, but I am thankful to be spending it with those most important to me - both the two-legged and four-legged variety.

*Image found here

We have plans to go for a Thanksgiving day ride as well. Our weather is supposed to be pretty pleasant and I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time on two-wheels without thought of where I'm headed or how fast that ride may or may not be.

For most of my life, this time of year has brought about a season of falling into a retrospective that can leave me feeling drained, alone, and sometimes even a tad bitter. I don't like what this season can do to me because I want to be full of cheer and spend time with those I care about, but it seems that the more festivities I'm invited to share in, the more I withdraw and find excuses not to be around other people.

I am well aware that I am not the only person who falls prey to this season, but it's easy to believe I am the only one who just wants through the holidays. I do my best to put up bright lights and festive decorations, but it can become mentally difficult as the weather turns and it's easier to get caught up in my own head than doing the things I should be doing.

One of the few things that does bring me great joy (really at any point in the year, but specifically during this season) is to be able to give to others. Because I can already feel myself heading down the dark path, I want to get things off to a good start. We've had the opportunity to give a bit already this season to an organization that helps the homeless, and I know I'll be donating to our humane society, but I'd also like to have another go-around with a holiday blog giveaway.

This is where I ask for your input, dear readers. I have a couple of items to give away, but if you have specific bike-related items you'd like to see as part of a blog contest, please let me know in the comments section. In addition, if there's a specific type of contest you'd like to participate in, feel free to let me know that as well. At this point, I'm guessing it will be something similar to the past holiday giveaway, but I am definitely open to ideas.

For those newer to the blog, the last holiday contest was pretty simple (and as a side note, holy cow... has it really been three years since the last one?!). There was a question posted and anyone who chose to participate with an answer was entered into the random electronic drawing and the winner was announced following a certain time cut-off. The prizes generally aren't significant, but it's hopefully a way to bring a little smile into a few of your lives during the hustle and bustle of the season - and to those who don't win anything, hopefully you'll have fun participating in the contest regardless.

So, as you spend the day tomorrow giving thanks for all that we've been blessed with, I would like to thank you for being a reader and continuing to offer your thoughts in regard to my sometimes random or seemingly unintelligible ideas here. I'm looking forward to a fun December with a few bicycle-related giveaways and look forward to an interactive holiday season with you.

A Cycling Pause

Somewhat typical for this time of year, I have found myself not really participating in longer distance rides and instead opting only to really ride for transportation. Although the behavior is quite normal for me as we approach the end of the year, I can't help but feel as though I didn't make the best of the warmer months in regarding to cycling this past summer season.

Oddly, we have had an unseasonably pleasant autumn thus far, that came on the tail end of an unusually moderate summer, and I think my brain is having to do a bit of adjusting. The mornings are cool (well, cold actually), but the days have warmed often into the 70s F throughout October and November. This is quite rare. By mid-October, we can pretty well expect a storm or two to have rolled through and dumped some snow; however, this year we've had a bit of rain (highly unusual) and no real snow (we had a fake out one day several weeks ago that dropped just a smidge, but it didn't stick).

This, in short, has been the fall I've dreamed of since moving to Colorado over a decade ago. It's perfect for biking as it's never too warm and I don't worry about ice because despite the morning and evening temperatures reaching down below freezing, there hasn't been any significant moisture to cause the ground to have slick spots.

Unfortunately, I haven't been enjoying it on my bicycle very frequently, and it's hard not to feel as though I've wasted a beautiful season thus far. I have little doubt that this is partially due to the wait for the new bike, but I also know that normally such a thing wouldn't stop me from getting out and riding.

It's an odd sensation to want to get out and yet consciously be making the choice not to ride. I think my brain and body have just needed a break. As is typical for me as we approach the colder season here, I find myself enjoying the short transportation rides more than the thought of pushing myself into taking on longer rides. I have decided that it's a bit of a cycling pause and it happens at various points throughout the year and for different reasons, but I think in many ways the short breaks help me appreciate the longer distance rides even more, and also increases my awareness of the sensations I have while riding simply to get me where I need to go.

While I understand there is nothing profound about this kind of cyclical occurrence, it always takes me by surprise when I find myself slowly letting go of distance on a bike.

Do you find that you experience changes in your habits with riding a bike throughout the seasons, or perhaps other markers throughout the year? Are you able to keep the same amount of effort or momentum continually, or do you find the need to allow yourself a bit of a break?

Frosty Frolicking Fix

Sometimes I forget what it was like to live in a neighborhood that almost exclusively required me to use a car. I still rode my bike pretty frequently, but it was a chore to get most places. Even though we lived just outside city limits, I had to travel a busy highway to get into town (or anywhere). Most places we needed to go were at least 8-10 miles one way. It hardly makes for a pleasant bike ride when the time is spent praying I wouldn't be hit by a texting or otherwise distracted motorist. To provide a comparison, our old neighborhood had a "walk score" of 9. I'm surprised that the number was even that high to be honest, as the only places within walking distance were gas stations, a bank, and a few fast food establishments. Not to mention that one would have to walk down the same highway that I rode to get to any of these locations.

*Image from Walk Score

Our current neighborhood has a score of 72. Quite a difference from what we knew for so many years. Considering the city average has a score of 35, I feel quite fortunate to be where we are now. It's not equal to that of a large, condensed metropolis, but I think it's a nice combination to allow for ease of use in regard to both city and rural access.

Since we've been experiencing sub-zero temperatures in this region (which isn't what I expect for early-ish December, despite what the Colorado tourism board would have people believe), I have actually been walking many places (I will bike too, but I avoid doing so during peak traveling hours until local motorists get used to the icy conditions again).  After one of my first round attempts failed miserably and I ended up with painfully frozen fingers and toes, I decided that layers are my friend. It starts with a wool tank top, then a wool t-shirt, followed by a long-sleeved version of a lighter weight wool, then a heavier, mid-weight wool base layer, and a hooded layer and/or coat on top (depending). Sometimes, this is way over kill, but I think I have a system now based on levels of freezing in which I remove certain layers from the combination. I also wear a balaclava, a beanie, and the hood to my coat or other layer. For feet, I have either one extremely thick wool pair of socks on, or two lighter weight versions with lined, snow-type boots. My hands get snowboard/liner gloves, followed by very heavy weight snow mittens. For some reason, my legs tend to do better, even in negative temperatures, so one mid-weight wool base layer under whatever I'm donning for the day (skirt, jeans, etc) seems to do the trick. I will say, I must look ridiculous...but, I'm nice and toasty warm!

As much as I always dread the winter season and its cold temperatures (this year already seems to be particularly frigid), I've actually enjoyed being out in the elements. Maybe I'm adapting to my surroundings, or I've finally figured out (after more than a decade of being here) how to dress properly? Hard to say, but I'm hoping that the layering system will help keep me outside, even through the frosty weeks and months ahead. Do you have any winter-weather tricks that work particularly well for keeping you warm on the coldest days?

Happy Cycling Thanksgiving!

During a holiday that is so often passed over with little if any attention, I spotted a yard the other day full of Thanksgiving decorations, including a giant, air-filled turkey, and I couldn't help but smile. It might seem a little ridiculous, but it was a pleasant surprise to see a family putting in so much effort for a day of giving thanks, rather than jumping immediately into the holiday that follows. It's quite easy for me to skip over this entire time of year without much thought sometimes, so I was reminded to take a moment to be grateful for all that I have been blessed with in life, and particularly during this past year.

*Image here

In no particular order, a few of the many, many things I am so thankful for:

- An online cycling community that allows me to share my random thoughts, and offers feedback and ideas of its own (as a group, as well as on an individual level)

- Warm, wool clothing that helps regulate body temperature during a time of year that can go from fairly warm to well below freezing temperatures

- My bicycles (of course), that keep me wandering year-round

- The house bicycle mechanic (aka Sam), without whom I would no doubt be spending hundreds (dare I say, thousands) of dollars on maintenance, repairs and random part swap-outs

- A healthy, capable body that allows me to continue to pursue all of the activities I enjoy

I hope this holiday finds you enjoying the company of those you love! A very happy Thanksgiving to you and the special people in your life.

Happy Halloween

It's an icy and mostly clear morning here in Colorado, but it makes for a perfect fall day. Wishing you many happy autumn bicycle rides and a very happy and safe Halloween full of sweet treats!

*Image found here

Happy Halloween

Happy Thanksgiving

Image found here

From the E.V.L. household to yours, wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving full of lots of bicycle love!

An "Easy" 10 Mile Ride

A few days ago, I was contacted by an individual who had found a photo of me with my bike through the website I use to log calories and exercise. She's in the process of trying to lose a big chunk of weight and just started riding her bike recently. The photo of my progress caused her to ask if I'd be willing to "friend" her so that I could help encourage her during this process. In her request, she stated that the people she typically finds who ride are so skinny, and she just wanted someone who knows what it feels like to have some extra meat on her bones. I was happy to oblige.

Image found here

On Saturday, she had a small note in her feed that she hadn't made it out to ride, but was planning on attempting a 10 mile ride on Sunday. The longest ride she'd taken to date was 6 miles. I assured her it was entirely possible to do the ten miles, and to help motivate her, I was going to ride "with" her. The plan was that we'd check in after our respective rides, so it would help keep her accountable and on track, and it would help me actually get out on a little ride too knowing that I'd have to check in with someone. Sure, it was supposed to be my "day off" from exercise, but at this point, I figured a 10 mile ride wouldn't be much and it would seem like nothing at all.

Boy, was I so very, very wrong. As luck would have it, I was able to con Sam into coming on the ride with me. I told him I wasn't planning on racing through it, but just going on a leisurely 10 mile ride. Unfortunately, the only riding I've done over the last few weeks has been very short rides (less than 4 miles), and I don't think I was aware of how quickly this would turn me into mush. As we were riding and trying to figure out which direction to take, Sam mumbled something about this "taking forever." I shared that I, too, was feeling it and thought it was just me. It's not that I haven't been working out, but riding just hasn't taken the priority it normally does. By the time we had reached 6 miles, we were both ready to call it quits.

Sure, it was cold out (but not that cold), a bit on the windy side, and we'd both not slept well the night before, but neither of us could believe how difficult it ended up being to do those "easy 10 miles." We ended up averaging a little over 12 mph, which certainly wasn't speedy, but wasn't crawling either considering the uphill portion of the ride was fairly significant, but we both got home feeling like we'd just rode a century (or what we imagine a century would feel like).

While I know that simply adding some mileage to the rides each week will quickly remedy this problem, I was really quite alarmed at how quickly everything turned. How are your legs holding up as the seasons change? Are you still able to ride at the same pace? Has weather got in the way of longer rides? I'm curious to know if we're the only ones who've already seemingly "lost our legs."

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

They start off as whole pumpkins, but soon, we carve away at them, giving them their own unique little faces or designs.

Their insides are removed, providing seeds for toasting (in my case, burning).

In the end, we're left, for a short time, with a small reminder of fall and the changing seasons. 

Wishing the very best to all for a very safe, fun, and happy Halloween!

The "Snowpocalypse" and the Arrival of the Bella Ciao Superba

As predicted by the forecasters for the last several days, the snow storm hit the state over night (and is still actually dropping snow as I type). We awoke to no power (and no heat, more importantly), but the views outside were actually quite beautiful.

View from the window

Sagging tree branches from weight of wet snow

The large trees keep snow off a lot of the ground, but they seem to suffer for it in the form of losing branches

I love seeing the combination of the fall colors and the snow together

Depending on where I look, there's anywhere from 1/2 an inch to about a foot of snow, but surprisingly, the roads seem to be fairly clear, considering the amount that fell. Heat and power have now been returned (at least here) and life begins to resume. Then, just as I was finished shaking snow off of some of the tree branches I could reach, a delivery arrived for me: the Bella Ciao Superba.

The driver didn't seem happy to be dropping off a 46 pound-and-some-change package, but when I looked at the box, I wasn't thrilled with the way it had been cared for while in their hands.

Bottom of box as delivered

More damage - just a couple of images of the many slices and holes present on the box.
On an interesting note, it appears I received #11 out of 12 of the Superba's!

This is not the first time we've experienced poor carrier handling, so I suppose I wasn't horribly shocked to receive the box in this kind of condition. Disappointed, certainly, but not surprised. I opened up the box to survey the package.

Looks good so far

I started to pull out the packing materials, praying that there was no damage to the bike. There was a lot of packaging, so I assumed the Superba would be fine. Sadly, I was wrong.

Dimples in rear fender

I was disappointed to see dimples on the rear fender. How the damage occurred is even more odd to me because the exact position of the indentations actually had a large piece of foam surrounding it. There was, however, a large slice through the reverse side of the box, and it was easy to see in the formations on the foam that something had struck it.

Slice in box that coincides with location of the fender and dimples

Thus far, it seems that this is the only damage that occurred, and while I'm not exactly happy to have a new bike that already has damage, I will say that the fender is probably the easiest area to deal with some imperfections. I have yet to contact Harris Cyclery about the damage (though they will likely have me file a claim with UPS, which I already know will not have positive results because of past experiences), but will do so as soon as the bike mechanic is home and can take a closer look. From what I can tell, the rest of the bicycle seems to be unscathed, but I don't want to speak too soon.

As you can see, in this photo it's difficult to see the damage to the fender, and eventually the rear rack will also somewhat cover the area.

I have to admit, when it came time to vote for the color of this Bella Ciao, I voted for periwinkle. Of course, at the time, I didn't think I'd be purchasing one either (though I certainly was lusting after the bike). While I am a sucker for that lovely grayish-lavender color, I have to say that the green is actually quite pretty, and was probably a better choice for this bike.

Unpacking the contents of the box has been fun. All sorts of goodies to discover, like the grips, the rear rack, the kickstand, the saddle and so on. I especially enjoyed the note on the front of the grips, reminding the assembler that the grips must be glued in place.

I should point out that this bike is meant to be assembled by a bike shop or a bicycle mechanic, so anyone who is considering shipping one of these should be aware that there is some technical expertise needed. Fortunately for me, one lives in-house. So, while the snow continues to fall, I await his return home to assemble this beautiful bike, and hope for the roads to clear quickly so I can actually take her out for a ride. I look forward to seeing her in all her glory and sharing initial thoughts.

Gorgeous Summer Temps to Freezing Winter

In typical Colorado fashion, our beautiful, sunny days of summer (which turn into sunny days of fall) are quickly coming to an end.

*Info from Weather Underground

Today, it was a quite warm, low-80 degree Fahrenheit day, and Wednesday, well, the forecasters are predicting a snowpocalypse. I feel myself clinging to the warmth of today, wishing, hoping for the snow to just go around us and move on to some other unsuspecting state, but I know that no matter what, the snow is on its way. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for awhile.

My mental preparations that started several weeks ago haven't really adjusted my outlook in regard to what is coming. Fortunately, the sunny days are scheduled to return soon after the snow storm, though the temperatures will be cut in half. I do believe I need a change in outlook. Perhaps I should be excited that I now get to drag out the wool caps and warm scarves? Regardless of my mental state, I suppose winter is coming, ready or not!

Fall is Too Beautiful

Just had to share a quick shot of our view today looking out from the house. The autumn season seems to go so quickly, but the colors are absolutely amazing!

How did we get so lucky to see these colors right outside the door? Hope you're able to get out on your bike and enjoy these amazing color changes. Enjoy the beginning of the week, too.

Fall is Here - The Perfect Riding Time

The work load of my thesis has had me home-bound quite a bit these days, so when I have the opportunity to get out, I try very hard to really enjoy it. Last night, I longingly watched as Sam went out the door after work to meet up with a group of people to go for a ride. "I want to go," I whined." To which I received the reply, "Then come along."

Fall is approaching - some trees are still green, but the shrubbery and weeds are definitely turning

I stared briefly at the Hillborne (which was conveniently sitting a few feet away from me), but I really couldn't afford the time that would be lost, and because I'm quite easily distracted, I knew I had to stay focused on the task at hand. While it may have only been an hour and a half away from my work, it would turn into a 3+ hour deviation. I know me, and I will somehow find a way to lose more time than necessary.

I swear, this was all the greenest-green just a couple of weeks ago

This morning I woke up and thought it was such a beautiful morning that nothing was keeping me from going on a ride, even if it wasn't for very long. I generally enjoy the 'by myself' rides anyway because I can stop and look at things that interest me and not worry about others. As I rode along this morning, I realized that fall is in fact upon us, and there's no denying it. The trees are changing to the autumn yellows and oranges, and the green scenery that used to completely surround me just a few short weeks ago around town is now straw colored. When did this happen? Before I know it, we'll be singing 'Jingle Bells.'

Man, I love this bike... and just being outside!

As usual, it was wonderful to be out in the fresh air and just absorbing from all the senses. It's easy to forget that 'me' time is still important when work seems overwhelming, but even if I can't get out for hours at a time, an hour is perfectly acceptable (and necessary, at times). What kinds of changes have you noticed as the season is changing? Do you find yourself riding more or less often?

Childish Tantrum

I am currently throwing an internal, entirely childish, full-on tantrum.... about the weather. Though I know that we never get much of the autumn season here (going from hot summer to cold winter almost over night), I never seem to get used to the jump.

Weather prediction for the next 5 days, via Weather Underground

I mean, com'on, snow? Really? It was 79 degrees at the end of last week, and yesterday the high was the mid-30s. Unacceptable! I suppose it was far worse last year as "winter" started the first week of October, when we got a nice long snow shower for a couple of days, but I don't do well mentally in the cloudy weather, and definitely don't like the snow. I feel like it's been cloudy for days (I know it hasn't really been, but it feels that way), and then we're expecting snow again tomorrow.... and apparently Sunday as well.

All is well though. I have a new headlight and tail light, as well as a new front rack for the Hillborne, and it's just begging to be used, so I sense a ride in the near future, regardless of the chilly weather. I did it last winter, and I can do it again. I think I've just forgotten how cold it gets. Luckily, my warm coats, mittens and scarfs are all ready to go!

Happy Halloween!

To prove that we really are just children at heart, Sam and I almost always insist upon carving out pumpkins for the holiday. Last year, we both had swine flu, so we weren't exactly into the spirit of things. This year, we decided to give it a whirl again.

While Sam went for more of a gore factor (cue "blood" coming out of a pumpkins' eyes and temples), I went for a more classic pumpkin face.

Wishing all a very Happy Halloween!

Saturday, Fun Day

Today, Sam and I decided to take the bikes into town to do errands and to have breakfast. It was a beautiful day full of mid-70s sunshine and a light breeze. Our first stop was the post office to drop off a package for mom and the mortgage payment (that for some reason we can't seem to pay online) and a few other bills. We'd gotten off to a late start for the morning, but we decided to ride over to the Egg and I for some brunch.

As the sign on the door states, it's a locally owned/operated breakfast and lunch establishment, which is quite tasty. Even though it was closing in on 11 am, I was still in the mood for breakfast, so while Sam played with his phone and looked quickly over the menu,

I went ahead and ordered one of my favorites here: the Texas skillet (minus eggs/meat). It came out looking a little overly cheesy (if there is such a thing), but it was tasty, and we were both so hungry, they probably could've put anything in front of us at that point in the morning.

It's basically mushroom, green pepper, onion, and of course cheese and potatoes with an english muffin. Probably enough fat for the entire week on this plate, but I definitely enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the festive little decorations on the table... much fun for Halloween and autumn time.

After pretty well cleaning our plates, we went to get the bicycles, which were waiting patiently at the bike rack outside the restaurant.

We rode over to Hobby Lobby because I was considering getting a second large easel for my paintings, as I always seem to be working on multiple projects at the same time, and it's nice when they're wet to have a place to put them. We also wanted to look for some fabric for the kitchen table chairs, as they are in need of a makeover. After leaving and deciding to think things over, we opted for the St. Vrain Greenway route home, instead of riding the highway... much more pleasant. While it wasn't quite as pretty as the trees in town, it was much nicer than having to hear the roar of engines racing down the highway.

Overall, it was a beautiful autumn day, full of fun bicycle riding, being together, and accomplishing some research for items that need to be taken care of at home.

Trapped!

One of the best things about bicycles is that they always start in the morning, they never leave you abandoned because the engine isn't functioning, and despite a couple of possible hiccups, there really isn't much that can go wrong on a bike.

Today, I ventured into town by car to visit some local second hand thrift/furniture stores. We've been looking for a couple of tables for the living room, and they seem to be more difficult to find than I thought they would be. In full anticipation of actually finding something that would work, I decided to take the CRV into town for my hunt. I was a bit early arriving to the first store, and I saw that there was an open house just up the street, so I decided to go ahead and take a peek while I waited for the store to open. For the record, the house was adorable, and even had an outdoor pool (a dream of mine for some time).

Outdoor pool and pool house at the Open House

All was going well, and I went to leave when... my car wouldn't start. Ugh! Seriously? I know I expect a lot from my car. I drive it 70ish miles several times a week during my commute back and forth to classes, and it does have quite a few on it, but I've never had any problems at all.  Suddenly, I found myself quite upset with the car, as though it had done something wrong. The reality is, things go bad and wear out on cars. Batteries go dead, alternators need to be replaced, and after a long life it can even become necessary to possibly replace the engine or transmission.

As I sat in the car debating what to do (since Sam is away for the day, helping out his father with some manual labor projects), I went blank. "Do I really not have anyone to call?" I asked myself. Of course, I do, but in the moment I felt alone and trapped, which reminded me that bicycles don't do this to us. As long as we can fix a flat (which I'm working on learning to do with better ease, and with more confidence), or put a chain back on the derailleur, there isn't a lot to go wrong with a bike. I also realized, as I began the 9 mile walk home, that I wouldn't have the opportunity to fully appreciate this autumn season that will soon disappear if the car hadn't decided not to start.

Autumn's beautiful colors

Trees losing their leaves

Autumn leaves in the evergreen ground plants

While the camera phone is unable to do the colors justice, the sights were simply beautiful to behold. I even was able to watch a few bicyclists as they were riding to wherever their destinations might be.

Man on bicycle waits to cross at the signal

My one concern about walking the distance home though was that I really wasn't in the appropriate foot attire for such a hike home.

Sandals aren't really great for walking several miles of highway home

Fortunately, I was able to reach a friend who was cleaning at home and said she'd be right over to pick me up.

Though she looks a bit upset with me here, Lin was actually quite happy to take me home,
and believe me, my feet were entirely grateful!

So, while I wait semi-patiently to find out more specifically what has gone wrong with my trusty steed, I am reminded that there are good friends in this life, that autumn brings some gorgeous colors that shouldn't be missed, and that tennis shoes are an absolute must in a car that is aging and has many, many miles on it.

Fall is Finally Upon Us... Tights!

Autumn is a strange season here in Colorado. It often seems to go from 85-95F degrees to 30F overnight (basically, from Summer to Winter within a week or two). It is unfortunate, because spring and fall are two of the best times of the year most places. I absolutely love the in between time of color changes and crisp mornings. Just this week, the tree leaves have begun to change color here (and even began to fall off the trees), and it reminded me that I get to wear tights and scarves again. Yay!

While I would honestly rather be sockless and completely barefoot any day of the week, I am excited about the color opportunities my tights and knee socks collection offer. I also realized that it took me some time to figure out where I could actually purchase tights that would fit my larger lower half. Unfortunately for me, weight charts have little to do with whether or not tights will fit me because a large portion of my weight is carried through my hips, thighs, and legs, rendering the weight charts virtually useless.

One of the BEST places I love to buy tights is from We Love Colors. While the actual establishment is in Florida, making it an unlikely place for me to travel to buy some tights, I am fortunate that they have a website.  They have a slew of choices, ranging from the tamer charcoals and browns

Charcoal color
* Image from We Love Colors

Brown color
*Image from We Love Colors

to more bold choices such as their Neon Pink color or the bright Kelly Green choice below, and everything in between.

Neon Pink color
*Image from We Love Colors

Kelly Green color
*Image from We Love Colors

They even have options in color swirls, or what they call 'splash' pattern tights. I haven't been bold enough to try those yet (a bit too much for my tastes), but there are definitely some interesting choices to make. The one below doesn't have a name, but is simply titled '#2132.'

#2132 of the Splash Pattern tights
*Image from We Love Colors

One of the nicest things about We Love Colors is that they come in a range of sizes that will fit individuals from as small at 4'11, 90 lbs, up to someone who is 6'0, 375 lbs. While not all of their options come in all sizes, they have a huge range for the larger sized woman, and I was thankful to find them a few years ago. The prices seem to be a bit on the steep side to me, and the fabric is thinner than I'd prefer (because it has a nylon mix to give them more stretch, I presume), but I've had some pairs that have lasted through multiple seasons. Having some fun, colorful options in tights is really great for any woman, and $5 shipping, no matter how many pair you order, well, that's just a deal waiting to happen.

Another tights mission I had set out on was to find larger sized sweater tights. Sometimes, a girl just wants to be warm, after all.  I had a really tough go of this, looking for months (literally) to find some that would work, but ultimately found some last year on the Jessica London website. They've also brought them back again this year, so good news for those looking to get some now.

Chocolate colored sweater tights
*Image from Jessica London

This year, these come in the Chocolate color shown above, a Charcoal, a Black, and a Navy color. While it would be nice to have some lighter colored options as well, I am grateful that someone is making these in a suitable size for larger ladies.  As a forewarning to anyone with larger than proportionate legs, these definitely run to the snug side, so you may want to go up a size or even two, depending on your needs. The size chart for these states that they will fit anyone from 4'11, 150 lbs up to someone who is  5'9, 335 lbs, but again, they do run snugger it seems, so perhaps someone even smaller could wear these.

For anyone not in need of larger sizes in sweater tights, one of my favorite places to look is Sock Dreams, and they even carry some of their products in larger sizes, making thicker/muscular calved ladies happy too!  Everything from wool tights to crochet tights to knee highs can be found here. I always wish that their Cable Stitch tights came in a larger size, because they are so cute.

Cable Stitch tights, in off white
*Image from Sock Dreams

Even though the tights don't come in larger sizes, there are other choices for the thick of calf. I actually own the Cherry Blossom knee socks shown below. They will stretch up to 19" calf circumference and the top band will stretch to about 20".

Sock it To Me Cherry Blossom knee highs
*Image from Sock Dreams

I also own several other models from Sock Dreams, and have been very happy with my purchases from them. I have discovered though that some of their socks tend to say they fit larger calves, but don't actually stretch as much as the given calf size, but overall, if I stick with more stretchy/elastic styled socks, I'm not disappointed. Based out of Portland, Oregon, they ship very quickly and I've never waited more than a few days to get my package from them. The best part? They have completely free shipping (or upgradeable options for express shipping)!

Since I'm on the larger calf subject, it's often difficult to find boots when one has larger or more muscular calves. Though they certainly aren't the least expensive option, Duo Boots has been a favorite shopping spot for me. Their boots are high quality, semi-custom sized, that come from England. It can be a bit scary to order items from another country, but I haven't had issue with their boots fitting my legs. From 30 cm to 50 cm, the calf size ranges are fabulous for those with little legs and those with larger legs. I have their Bern boot in two colors, and have ordered other options from them as well over the years.

Bern boot from DUO Boots
*Image from DUO Boots

I have this boot in the color pictured (which is actually a bit lighter in person than it appears on their website, as well as a cranberry color. Again, they are not inexpensive choices, but the quality is high and well worth the cost for a boot that can last for many, many years if well maintained.

While I am aware there are other options available, I appreciate the variety offered by the websites/businesses I've listed, and have had good experiences purchasing from them. Bring on the autumn season... my tights and boots are ready to go!