Gala-Gallery Launch Party: Photo gallery

The streets were empty of hipster bike riders last night, because all of them were attending Mars Gallery's  launch party for the 2010 Thought You Knew wall calendars featuring local sexy cyclists. This is the second year for the women's calendar—shot by photographer Michelle Nolan—and the first year for the men's —shot by Chris Dilts. The women's calendar features a mix of women dressed in their typical bike riding garb along with pin-up girl style photos that aim to prove bike girls don't have to be sweaty and unfeminine. The Thought You Knew pin-up catchphrase is "You can be sexy and know how to change a tire."

When discussing the men's photos, photographer Chris Dilts explained, "The guys want to be seen as larger than life characters," which is why he opted for a fantasy, super-human theme: i.e. the strongman, Robin Hood, a mobster.

The turnout for the event was impressive—that was evident even before I entered the gallery by the massive number of bikes chained around the circumference of the building. For a mere $15 it's no wonder the calendars were selling like crazy, and it certainly can't hurt that all proceeds helped benefit the Chicago Women's Health Center.