Northern California - Lady with four pink panniers in the East Bay

I do most of my riding in the East Bay hills and I often see this woman cyclist riding around (always going in the opposite direction) with four big, pink panniers. Does anyone know why she has them on her bike? Since I see her so often, it doesn't seem like she's on some cross country trip.

Just curious

She's been posted in here a few times. I think Pete talked to her once.

There was a woman on a rig like that at the Death Ride. Flourescent pink panniers. I wonder if it's the same person?

She told me she just carries a lot of stuff and likes to train uphill with more weight...
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Pink-1.jpg

I think JoBob of Zippy know her history from what I recall...

I have seen her at last year Death Ride too, as well as a couple of times in the East Bay (Pinehurst in Moraga and up the north side of Mt. Diablo).

she carries bricks and brownies.. mmm, the latter are delicious

I have seen her at last year Death Ride too, as well as a couple of times in the East Bay (Pinehurst in Moraga and up the north side of Mt. Diablo).

Please don't tell me she had the panniers filled with bricks and brownies on the Death Ride, too!!

I see her all the time, unfortunately I'm normally in my car for some reason. I've always thought she's doing some hard core training, but if she's got them on the death ride too - what on earth would she be training for - EC?

Very impressive.

Hey. . . some ladies are really tough riders!
Great way to train. Used to train with encyclopedias in our panniers on our tandem before a hilly tour.
As for pink panniers . . . probably gets her noticed better by cars (and fellow cyclists)!

There is one thing missing ... a pink bike!

That's funny, I saw her a few months ago at the top of Tunnel and was wondering where someone would be going on a giant tour that would take them through there. She was moving pretty fast for the size load she was carrying, unless her panniers are filled with confetti.

I see her about 4 times per year on North Gate road. Who knows her name?

I saw her going up Tunnel a couple days ago. First time I had seen her. I normally see a guy rockin the pink panniers. I used to see him all the time around Three Bears.

I'd assume it's either a "girl power" thing or breast cancer awareness thing.

Come to think of it... I passed her on Tunnel and she has THE THICKEST bar tape I've ever seen. You can see it in that picture too. Not sure what that's all about.

Come to think of it... I passed her on Tunnel and she has THE THICKEST bar tape I've ever seen. You can see it in that picture too. Not sure what that's all about.

C O M F O R T



There is a woman on crazyguyonabike.com that rode across the southern tier of the Us on a pink trike. The Pink Panther. I think she had a hard time finding pink bags in the right size for her trike, though. She found pink duct tape to pack it up for shipping, though. I think she's now leading tours somewhere.

Allison the Pink Lady

JoBob is the historian on Allison BTW

Yes! I have seen her on Diablo. I always give her a little cheer.

Now I know her name! Go Allison!

yes, the "pink lady" does have a name.. and it's funny that every description of her seems to include both the words "pink" and "lady" :)

Alison responds in:
Bike Bits Vol. 9, No. 21, November 7, 2007

Very nice lady, carries bricks, pink no less. Believe the total weight is around 85lbs.

So for you weight weenies and your 15lb +/- steeds ...well there is some awesome wattage going on there. :ride:

Condensed version is that she likes to tour, so if you are going to tour with all your stuff, why train at 20lbs and then try to ride with 85lbs....:thumb:

Alison responds in:
Bike Bits Vol. 9, No. 21, November 7, 2007 (http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/Bike%20Bits%20Vol.%209,%20No.%2021,%20November%207,%202007.txt)
I linkified it for y'all (above)

I see here everywhere too!

Quote below:

PINK LADY RESPONDS
In the previous edition of Bike Bits we ran an account from Sue
Price, relating her tale of an encounter with the "Pink Lady" while
cycling in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lo and behold, in response to
that story, we heard from the Pink Lady herself (Alison Stone), who
wrote: "Hi Adventure Cycling! Imagine my surprise when I got my Bike
Bits this week and there was The Pink Lady! Me! I talk to so many
people about touring, for obvious reasons, when they pass me (which
is everyone on the planet except three-year-olds on tricycles), that
I'm amazed one of my conversations made such an impact ... I hope Sue
has the chance to take her Big Trip. I've been a member of Adventure
Cycling for twenty years and bicycle touring never gets old. I'm so
glad you're around to keep inspiring people to live their dreams."

Very nice lady, carries bricks, pink no less. Believe the total weight is around 85lbs.

So for you weight weenies and your 15lb +/- steeds ...well there is some awesome wattage going on there. :ride:

Condensed version is that she likes to tour, so if you are going to tour with all your stuff, why train at 20lbs and then try to ride with 85lbs....:thumb:

It must feel like riding horse to be on a 100lb bike.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Pink-1.jpg

Allison spotted Danville Blvd heading south. Jan 31, 10:30am

I saw her in Oakland at Piedmont and McArthur on Monday morning, about 7:30am. Brrrrrrr........

I saw her in Oakland at Piedmont and McArthur on Monday morning, about 7:30am. Brrrrrrr........

Saw her today at the Junction on Mt. Diablo, said hello, very pleasant lady. Love the moose she carries on the bike.

Goodness, I'd hardly consider myself a historian of her!

The only notable encounter I've had with her was the first time I ever made it up the last steep bit to the summit of Mt. Diablo without having to stop & walk. I rode it up alongside her and she encouraged me all the way up. I remember she had a radio playing, so her kind words and the music (and the sight of that cool moose she always has strapped on the back of her bike) really helped me along.

And after we reached the top she reached into one of those pink panniers and brought out a tupperware container full of brownies. :D

I wonder what she'd be like on a 15 lb bike?

I saw her again last week on Moraga Way - of course I was in my car again. I'd love to meet her when I'm actually riding.

Hey, is this become like a group-stalk or something??

Hey, is this become like a group-stalk or something??

I was thinking something more like the official BF celebrity. So she gets a cheery wave and a "Hey Allison" whenever she rides by one of us.

I like that take on this much better!

I see her a lot in the hills and on Diablo too. Several months ago I saw this entry in Team Alameda's website. It answers a lot of questions. http://www.teamalameda.com/FlashBlog/?p=14

I see her a lot in the hills and on Diablo too. Several months ago I saw this entry in Team Alameda's website. It answers a lot of questions. http://www.teamalameda.com/FlashBlog/?p=14

Thanks for the link, fantastic story!

There used to be a link to a great photo of the Pink Lady at Mt. Ventoux with that blog story. I may have downloaded it. If I can find it, I will post it.