Cruise

Another thing I get from my old man, is an appreciation for classic American cars. Yeah, more 'Mericans need to ride, but hey I like chrome as much as the next Detroit native. Saw a decent article on the Woodward Dream Cruise. It has some good links. Frank DeBlase Photo.

Real PRO

My wife's old pal Josh just rolled through town on business. He and Jen went to lunch and stopped by the office afterward. He asked me to take a look at his mountain bike as it was making some strange noises. Upon pulling it out of his van, it was immediately obvious to me, someone had put a ball bearing in his frame.
"Have you recently had work done on it?" I asked.
"Yes, a tune up." He replied.

Turns out, he had work done at BGI in Indy. For those not in the know, a bearing in the frame is the oldest gag in the book, something you do to your buddies, or enemies. Not to decent paying customer. Having worked at shops for a decade, wrenches are the guys (or gals) I'd go to bat for every time. But not this time. In closing:

Hey guys at BGI, A bearing in the top tube? That is not PRO.

You guys are fucking hacks.

The Planetenradträger?

I'm a tinkerer. It's what I do. It was inherited from my old man. I find I can zone out, get greasy and get stuff done. Late at night is when I do my best work. All I need is some rags, some tools and some decent light.
Recenty, I aquired a Sachs Torpedo Duomatic 2 speed hub. It has a coaster brake, and a little grease port. German made. Found it in a junk pile. The knowledge that it is sitting on my work bench has me on pins and needles. It has a great weight to it. It feels solid, well made. It represents a challenge.

You see dear reader, someday I want to be known as the "Coaster Brake King". A quick paddle out into the Internet void to surf for info led me to a decent blog post about buying and rebuilding such a hub. That post included a link to a german site with even more info. Then another. Fanatical information.

There is a certain purpose to me finding that hub...and that excites me.

New Blog

A nice dude Russ Roca I've gotten to know through the industry started a new blog about touring, check it out if you get a chance.

Builder

Say what you will about Rapha: too expensive, over the top, the best clothing on the market, pink, classic euro thrash, or is that classic euro trash?
Any way you slice it, their new Continental project has my attention. The profiles of builders on their website are compelling. Make sure you look down the side of each page at the shop photos for each. It is the details that draw me in.

Hey I'm Back

Took a break from the internets over the last few days. Hey, buy my bike. You'll be a lot cooler if you do, I promise.
Nice work Marko on your fourth place finish at Single Speed Worlds. Yeah, not many folks can beat Mark Weir, Carl Decker or Barry Wicks anyways, so whatever.

Feed Yukon. He haz hunger.

Oh, Flint. You Can Always Make Me Laugh

Thanks Patrick for the Graphic.

Perhaps the saddest city I've ever been to, Flint Michigan is a cautionary tale for every city. "This could happen to you."

But,Grand Funk Railroad is from there, so they have that.

My Kind Of Movement

The Slow Bicycle Movement. Style over speed, indeed.

Confirmed Kill

A putrid wiff of the end.
A humbling peace.
Flies feast.
Trucks never yeilding.
Unblinking, mouth open as if to say...

We're all going to end up this way.

Fonzie Back In Brew Town

They dedicated the Fonz statue in Milwaukee today. Happy Days are here again.

ANT on NPR

I missed it,but yesterday Mike Flanigan of ANT was interviewed on NPR's Marketplace. You can read the transcript here.

De-lux Weekend

I think most of my friends would agree the last few weekends have been the type of summer afternoons of epic proportions. On Saturday I finally got around to getting our Schwinn Twin De-Lux tandem on the road with some help from my pit crew (wife). After a couple of false starts and a return to the garage, we got it running and took it for a ride. It was a blast!
We've known a few couples who have had mixed results on the tandem. Maybe it was our mindset on Saturday, but we had a blast.
Saturday night was a going away party for an old friend, and then another going away party for our friends Erik and Kathryn who'll be moving to Portland, OR later this week. Bocce Ball was played, burgers were grilled, footballs were tossed, and Tecate's were swilled. Top that with a good group of folks and no mosquitos to speak of, and I'd say the weekend was one for the books. Yeah, it's Monday right now, but I can already see another weekend on the horizon...with a Wednesday Night Ride right in the middle...

Keepin It Street Level

Gonna rip into these rascals tonight with some pals. Our porch is done, its summer time. You'll know us when you see us, we'll be the ones hollerin' from the stoop at 'cha.

Last night the ride home was into a head wind, seat too low, but when I got to Main Street, I was just ahead of the Corn Fest Parade, so that was cool.

Classin This Joint Up

Benny can help.

Act Now!

Didn't get into the single speed worlds this year? Me either. Actually I didn't even try. I was too busy sleeping to register. Well, this guy is selling his entry on E-Bay. If you go, you'll have more respect from everyone. It comes in your bag of swag with a bunch of stickers

Thanks

For asking, but I'm not hung over, its just Monday. Spent the weekend back in Marquette for Ore 2 Shore, relaxin, baby showerin, etc. Saw lots of old pals, rode some new trails. It was good. Very good.

My Head

It hurts....

Did I Mention...

The Madison Mallards signed Gary Coleman? Well they did last week. He led off the game, but was ejected when he was found to have first too much pine tar on his bat, and secondly when his bat was found to be corked with a bunch of Super Bounce balls. My buddy Chris, up above there, is now waiting for his free Swobo T-shirt.

Blast From The Past

Ah, sometimes someone will send something along like the above art project, and I'll get a little tear in the old eye.
Thanks JB

UpUpDownDownBAStart

I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. ReLoad makes sweet custom bags. Need more proof?

That is all.

Catch The Vapors

I picked up this copy of Vapors Magazine at a bookstore in Seattle. I'd never seen it before, but this is issue #48. What is it you ask, still not sure. This is the 2 Wheel Issue. There is a lot about fixed gear bikes and the lifestyle that goes along with them. It furthers the art/fixie/hipster paradigm for sure. It is a good read, lots of ads for high top sneakers,gawdy fitted hats, and low count t-shirts. Also an article about mopeds, and a reference to the Moped Army which was birthed in Kalamazoon, Michigan. I bet you didn't know that Kala-bama was the birthplace of the modern moped movement did you? You know now.

BEER ME

Another race. Another beer hand up. Another friend with a camera. Nice shot Colin.

Summer Brews

Saw a decent article on summer micro brews. It includes, but isn't limited to Bells, Troegs and Allagash. I had the recommended Troeg beer on Friday night, Mo from Dirt Rag shared it with me. Tastey.

More From The Forest

Second Place comes at a price...

Nine Mile: The Afterbirth

Rider: Dan Powell
Team: Bastard Sons of Diamond Dave
Class: 12 Hour Duo Open

Fastest lap: 1:19:47
Laps completed: 3
Total Elevation Gain: 1740 ft
Total Distance Travelled: 42.6 miles

Lap 1 : 1:21:50
Lap 2 : 1:19:47
Lap 3 : 1:32:42

Not my finest day in the saddle. That last lap included a WWF worthy pile driver into a boulder, followed by me crawling off the course, vomiting in the woods, then limping the rest of the way. The rest of the day I wandered around camp asking where people and things were and never returned to the course...my better half Teddy Bear Hayden didn't fair much better, casing a jump about 3 miles into lap 1. We both completed three laps. Seeing me cruising around in my kit, I kind of look like one of those ultra mile types. Looks can be deceiving.

Several members of our 30 person encampment raced very well.

Nice job to Team Banjo, Wade Garrett: Still the Best, and Team Dead Baby II: The Afterbirthfor their second place finishes in their respective catagories.

'Merica, Son

Just got this shot from my buddy Chris. WAAAAY to good to keep to myself. Ah, the South.
Just a few hours till we shove off for 9 Mile. Getting excited, but I fear the race is going to be a real sufferfest for yours truely. The knowledge that I have an air mattress to sleep on, burritos to eat, and good pals to hang with will surely take the edge off.