Nov 15 '05 - 1420 W, 3 I - Vote Good + 12 :: Bad - 17 The Ditty Bops
Published Novemeber 15th 2005 :: C.I.C.L.E.By Bitchy Diva :: USA
The Ditty Bops are multi talented to such a degree that I almost wanted to curl up and die. Besides having opened for Tori Amos (one has to be pretty gifted to get that gig) they also have the talent of juggling bowling pins! I was already jealous about the Tori thing, even though I, unlike Amanda Barrett, cannot play the mandolin or the dulcimer, or like Abby Dewald, can I play Jazz Guitar.
Worse yet, unlike like either of these two lasses, can I sing to save
my life, thus ruining my chances of opening for Tori Amos in the first
place. OK, I can understand and accept the fact that I do not possess
their various musical abilities. But what rubbed it in, besides Abby
being horribly artistic (see cute sketches on their website ), or
Amanda having had an international modeling career and now has a sketch
comedy show (Pretty Things), was the juggling. I can’t juggle, it’s what kept me out of acting school (unlike Amanda!). One must learn to juggle, dance, and sing so that one is employable in the theater. I suppose I will find, in my digging around, that these two can tap dance as well. I hate to sound envious of these pretty talent monsters, but it is hard for an aging dropout who was loathe to learn juggling or tap, not to be. What gave my inflated, yet delicate ego some comfort, was that they, like me, are into bicycle commuting.
Yes, they actually ride their bikes around Los Angeles. You might find them riding to an interview at a West Hollywood cafe (la-dee-da), or on one of the numerous LA rides (Amanda informed me they just did the Mango Tree Ride) or maybe you’ll catch them whizzing past you down Sunset Blvd.
I did read however that their handlebars have tassels hanging from them, and that they both get up at 6 am every weekday to sell homemade pasta at the farmers market; this again brought up issues of inferiority. Must get dreaded tassels and buy pasta machine now.
But after petty envy, comes admiration. After all, they are serious about riding and sincere about sustainability issues, and what could be more admirable than that! Oh yeah... that multi talent, super energy thing they got going on, I suppose that’s admirable as well. Did I mention that they were also raised in a creative and supportive environments? I cried for hours into my pillow, but luckily was soon pacified by their beautifully composed calendar which they, The Ditty Bops, just put out. (Is there no stopping them? Paxil take me away!)
With the great help of photographer Rick Whitmore (yet another talent monster to beware of), these two svelte devils pose on and next to sexy vintage bicycles in bikinis (drool...) for their 2006 calendar. And CICLE.org gives it the old wink wink, nudge nudge, eyebrows a wiggling up and down, big nod of approval. After all if I can’t beat ‘em I can always objectify their bikes. Or I could learn to sing, dance and juggle, and while I’m at it, why not throw in a dulcimer lesson to boot.
Check out my lil’ interview below with the Ditty Bops....where in my exchanges with them, I found out that they happen to be really nice as well.
You can sample their unique and quirky style of music that got them the infamous gig with Ms. Amos (why not me lord?!) as well as get your HOT (and I mean ouch that’s hot) copy of their very eye pleasing, heart-a-poundin’ calendar at www.TheDittyBops.com
C.I.C.L.E. Tell us a little about why you are so into bikes, what started the love affair, and how serious are you about this relationship?
Abby I went to college at UC Davis in California and got back into bike riding there. I haven't stopped riding since and now I ride all the time. I don 't have a car. I commute to guitar lessons, farmer's markets, friends apartments by bicycle.
C.I.C.L.E. Is there any correlation between your riding and lovin' bikes and your artistic inspiration? Does it assist you in some way to open up creatively?
Abby It is absolutely neccessary for me to get physical activity before I can be creative. Otherwise I feel like a slug or sloth. Bike ridiing is just one of the ways for me to feel healthy and strong.
C.I.C.L.E. Sustainable Transportation doesn't sound sexy, but do you think it has sex appeal?
Amanda Biking is definitely a hot activity.
Abby It can be. I'm always checking out cute bike messengers.
C.I.C.L.E. Tell us what you think a Utopian society in Los Angeles would look and feel like? Or should LA just fall into the ocean?
Abby I don't know how LA could be any other way. I love it. But I see it has many problems and obviously traffic is one of them. I have these fantasies about how LA must have been back in the thirties and forties. I definitley romanticize it. I guess I would like to have seen what that was like. Before the strip malls and smog.
C.I.C.L.E. What to you, are the social ills of our car focused society and do you feel the bike can help resolve this and how?
Abby I feel like many problems could be avoided if people would walk, ride, skateboard. Just being out of an isolated box makes you feel sane, connected to others, gives you a sense of place and purpose. Many people spend their days cramped in an office, cramped in a car, come home to a tv and some fast food. This is really not a great way of life for me which is why I consider myself lucky to be doing what I am doing with my music project. Not everyone can have this luxury, so I would just say make some time for walking, riding, and talking to people in public spaces, rather than driving or watching tv.
C.I.C.L.E. The automobile for many is a necessary evil, but is there a kinder, gentler way of driving?
Abby I am not anti-car. They are what we use when we're getting from show to show. They are what we use on a road trip to the desert. I think we should put more pressure on government officials to invest in alternative energy sources. Amanda is driving a hybrid car right now which is better than a lot of vehicles in terms of pollutants. But we know there are even better alternatives if only we can make them available to the public.
C.I.C.L.E. Your calendar is uber sexy... it's particularly eye catching (shall we say) for several reasons: clever execution, very pretty bikes, fab bikinis...and the fact that you actually ride bikes, not just pose next to them. What inspired you to make this calendar?
Amanda We made a bikini calendar a couple years ago with friends and it was so fun we wanted to do it again. This time we wanted it to showcase bikes because we love bikes and because there are too many chick/hot rod-car-calendars. We wanted it to be playfully sexy and fantastical. It was so fun to shoot and our photographer Rick Whitmore who is also our web designer is absolutely an AMAZING artist and a joy to work with.
C.I.C.L.E. Your dream bike would be? (please feel free to accessorize it too!)
Amanda One that doesn't ever hurt my crotch and I could ride for hours endlessly. Also it could take off in flight.
Would you like to contribute to C.I.C.L.E.? Do you a have bike-related article, news story, event, idea, suggestion, etc...? Check out our submissions page.
Two great women with a great idea. From the one image here, it looks like a very fun and sexy calendar. A great way to promote cycling. Where can I get mine?
Marco (Email) - November 22 '05 - 08:14
Get yer calendar herewww.TheDittyBops.com
C.I.C.L.E. - November 22 '05 - 10:41
Love the interview! We need more people like the Ditty Bops to promote bicycling. And I do mean bicycling as a source of transportation, not driving your car into the park and riding around in circles, and then getting back into your car and driving home.Yes, too many people are isolated in their various ‘boxes.’ It’s so important to get out of our homes and get to know our immediate community. When I ride my bike, I always end up chatting with people and making new friends. I talk to people at the red light, I talk to people on the Metro, and I talk to cyclists who pass me on my route. That doesn’t happen in the car.
So thank you for the inspiration and for the beautiful calendar!
Enci (Email) (URL) - November 23 '05 - 18:14