tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296310462024-03-13T00:45:08.972-04:00Big BikesBig Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.comBlogger727125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-55283911460335282072012-08-26T22:47:00.000-04:002012-08-26T22:47:14.238-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owDQhn3nRKI/UDrfH1VuIAI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/h1aNOqx2zMY/s1600/GOPR0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-owDQhn3nRKI/UDrfH1VuIAI/AAAAAAAAIJ8/h1aNOqx2zMY/s400/GOPR0001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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"<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9897049015853554" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 16.363636016845703px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An admission of getting stung by bees is tantamount to confessing that you kick bunnies and just ghost ride your shopping cart into the parking lot instead of returning it to its stable. "</span></b></div>
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I do think it's funny that you Oompa Loompas are still banging on the side of the empty hull of this dead blog. I will occasionally come over here to let you know that the BigBikes shit is happening over <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249681-Treasure-Valley-Rally-EFTA-NECS-7/blog/42823-Treasure-Valley-Rally-EFTA-NECS-7-If-You-Dont-Read-This-Blog-Bees-Will-Sting-Your-Face">HERE</a> these days. </div>
<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-69182788654829530132012-08-25T13:19:00.002-04:002012-08-25T13:19:39.074-04:00Premium Rush Review: Fixed gear. Steel frame. No brakes. Can't stop. Don't want to either<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/42820-Premium-Rush-Review-Fixed-gear-Steel-frame-No-brakes-Cant-stop-Dont-want-to-either"><img border="0" height="611" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIcZumMCAVg/UDkI5skIQDI/AAAAAAAAIJo/KN26E8r6MJg/s640/marty-geekhouse-bikes-boston-fixed-gear-premium-rush.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Premium Rush</i> Review <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/42820-Premium-Rush-Review-Fixed-gear-Steel-frame-No-brakes-Cant-stop-Dont-want-to-either">HERE</a>. </div>
<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-88039969187220364872012-08-23T17:41:00.003-04:002012-08-23T17:41:31.281-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249677-2012-Hampshire-100-NUE-Series-Race-9/blog/42818-Shaved-For-Battle-and-Ready-to-Rally-For-The-Strava-Showdown-at-Treasure-Valley"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-84Ci2MT949Q/UDajKtEjkCI/AAAAAAAAIJY/1kPRGX3qN_U/s640/treasure-valley-rally-efta-new-egland-mountain-biking-thom-parsons-big-bikes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Proper <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249677-2012-Hampshire-100-NUE-Series-Race-9/blog/42818-Shaved-For-Battle-and-Ready-to-Rally-For-The-Strava-Showdown-at-Treasure-Valley">BigBikesBlogs </a>have re-commenced over at <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249677-2012-Hampshire-100-NUE-Series-Race-9/blog/42818-Shaved-For-Battle-and-Ready-to-Rally-For-The-Strava-Showdown-at-Treasure-Valley">BigBikesMedia</a>. Stop faffing about here and go <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249677-2012-Hampshire-100-NUE-Series-Race-9/blog/42818-Shaved-For-Battle-and-Ready-to-Rally-For-The-Strava-Showdown-at-Treasure-Valley">check them out</a>.Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-50610004935066996372012-07-10T09:45:00.000-04:002012-07-10T09:45:21.719-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrZPqrHMRY0/T_wwuNLizaI/AAAAAAAAIJM/VyNimOG82MY/s1600/DSC02067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrZPqrHMRY0/T_wwuNLizaI/AAAAAAAAIJM/VyNimOG82MY/s640/DSC02067.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Still not sure what you guys are looking for when you come down here. We got yer BigBikes blog posts right over <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/42372-All-Out-In-Moody-Park-And-Waterbury">HERE</a>. </div>
<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-64902111323004764282012-06-25T19:54:00.002-04:002012-06-25T19:54:43.536-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uaM-tCyi7pU/T-j6F2ZcAJI/AAAAAAAAIJA/QW2DgXy0fzU/s1600/maps-west-virginia-vermont.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uaM-tCyi7pU/T-j6F2ZcAJI/AAAAAAAAIJA/QW2DgXy0fzU/s640/maps-west-virginia-vermont.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hey, run along will ya? Things are happening <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/42253-Hilly-Billy-Roubaix-and-West-HillGrafton-Ponds-XC-2-Races-2-Days-and-20-Hours-of-Driving">HERE</a>.Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-3805549534562107992012-05-09T12:14:00.000-04:002012-05-09T12:14:18.432-04:00Look Up HERE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acvVSml_dFQ/T6qXsW0VtII/AAAAAAAAII0/g0gvLMlDPv4/s1600/frame-29er-prototype-single-speed-slider-tensioner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acvVSml_dFQ/T6qXsW0VtII/AAAAAAAAII0/g0gvLMlDPv4/s400/frame-29er-prototype-single-speed-slider-tensioner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Move along, there are no new blogs here.<br />
The BigBikesBlogs are <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/post">HERE</a>.Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-38482302694779861432012-04-24T11:18:00.001-04:002012-04-24T11:18:26.608-04:00Are You Still Here?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-ec_Q9J56s/T5bDaZx57TI/AAAAAAAAIIs/tMpBH-UduIo/s1600/IMG_4642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-ec_Q9J56s/T5bDaZx57TI/AAAAAAAAIIs/tMpBH-UduIo/s400/IMG_4642.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's nothing to see here, please move along, keep it moving. </div>
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But BigBikes is back! Right over <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.cyclingdirt.org/blog/41632-Getting-Dicky-ified-In-Pisgah-or-Roofie-And-Onion-Pizza">HERE</a> on the new BigBikesMedia & Cyclingdirt site. </div>
<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-46279289105150757312012-01-16T15:13:00.001-05:002012-01-16T15:13:49.464-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The new Big Bikes is officially live at <a href="http://bigbikesmedia.com/">BigBikesMedia.com</a>! We're kickin' things off with a GoPro Helmet Hero video taken from the perspective of USA Cycling Cyclocross National Champion Jeremy Power's personal mechanic: Tom Hopper during the Elite Men's race. <span id="goog_418642768"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/">CHECK IT.<span id="goog_418642769"></span></a> </div>
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<span id="goog_914623805"></span><span id="goog_914623806"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_914623823"></span><span id="goog_914623824"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_914623829"></span><span id="goog_914623830"></span>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-33635884803203721452011-12-26T16:41:00.002-05:002011-12-26T16:41:27.303-05:00BigBikes p/b Cyclingdirt Is Live (ish)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://thom.cyclingdirt.org/"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N7J6T_dZNF8/Tvjmn19mcDI/AAAAAAAAIF0/1_-b2OTlM64/s320/big-bikes-cyclingdirt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's still under construction, the banner images look like they were designed by a drunk eight-year-old, and the blog doesn't work yet, but still...it looks and works a whole lot better than Facebook's new Timeline system. Oh, and the URL will likely be changing, but here it is...<br />
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The new <a href="http://thom.cyclingdirt.org/">Big Bikes p/b Cyclingdirt</a>!<br />
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Got a bunch of Pro Bike vids up there and a nice thing about Boyd Cycling's affordable carbon CX wheels. I'll be heading to CX Nationals where I will be shooting TONS of material, so get really excited about that, because it is totally happening. <br />
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If you'd like to suggest content — shop visits, factory tours, interviews, or other weirdness...hit the contact button (upper right, under 'Tell me why I'm a big, fat jerk). Or, screw it, hit me at this email address: wellonabigbikeya at gmail.<br />
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Hang on, this is gonna be fun. <br />
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<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-37973830146031502312011-10-31T23:53:00.000-04:002011-12-20T08:53:50.705-05:00Something Wicked Awesome This Way Comes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejpGwadwo7E/Tu-lNpmZoyI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/QHdDTCeG95c/s1600/Obiwanvaderanhduel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejpGwadwo7E/Tu-lNpmZoyI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/QHdDTCeG95c/s400/Obiwanvaderanhduel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"<span class="st">If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful <i>than</i> you could possibly <i>imagine."</i></span></div>
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OK fine, Big Bikes is not being struck down, it is just being re-invented. I just really, really like that quote from Star Wars. <br />
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Listen!<br />
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Big Bikes is about to be reborn with the help of the good folks at an evil umbrella corporation called <a href="http://www.flocasts.org/">Flocasts</a>. (As a former bike messenger I think that all umbrellas are evil — all
they do is get caught by the wind, fly into the street, and poke your
eyes out with their pointy, pointy spines.) You may be familiar with some of the sites that take shelter under their evil umbrella — sites like <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/">Cyclingdirt</a>, <a href="http://www.flowrestling.org/">Flowrestling</a>, <a href="http://www.gymnastike.org/">Gymnastike</a>, and FloFerret-Legging (last one...totally made up). What's that? You're not familiar with the latter (not made up) two. Well, I guess you've been living under a rock and not hanging out under the same evil umbrellas I have.<br />
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The new site will use all the tools in the <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/">Cyclingdirt </a>arsenal but it will have a distinctly Big Bikes flavor — heavy overtones of coffee, notes of hops, and a bitter, perhaps, Red Bully finish. Altogether a BIG taste. <br />
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<b>Big Bikes 2.0 </b><br />
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First thing we're going to do at Big Bikes 2.0 is stop calling it "Big Bikes 2.0." Basically because<i> I have no clue what placing "2.0" after things means</i>. Maybe we'll call it <i>Big Bikes Too</i>, like <i>Teen Wolf Too</i>. But probably not. Big Bikes Not-2.0 is going to be all about exploration. In the future, when I'm sent to do a race coverage by Cyclingdirt, the area of the race will be explored, sort of like the classic E! show <i>Wild On</i> with Brooke Burke, with less bikinis and more Lycra. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCzzjnPOGFA/Tu-3G1n0uVI/AAAAAAAAIEY/xVLXKyj6ifE/s1600/wild-on-e%2521-brooke-burke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tCzzjnPOGFA/Tu-3G1n0uVI/AAAAAAAAIEY/xVLXKyj6ifE/s1600/wild-on-e%2521-brooke-burke.jpg" /></a></div>
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Or not.<br />
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Maybe more like Anthony Bourdain's <i>The Layover</i>. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwX-YwIB4EU/TvCOkpNp4CI/AAAAAAAAIE4/jVR1VYGXDHw/s1600/bourdain+layover+rome+vespa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwX-YwIB4EU/TvCOkpNp4CI/AAAAAAAAIE4/jVR1VYGXDHw/s320/bourdain+layover+rome+vespa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Although that may be too sophisticated a comparison. Perhaps <i>Man Vs. Food</i>...but with bikes would be more accurate.<br />
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Damn, it's gonna be really hard to eat all those freakin' bikes. <br />
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You're going to see classic Big Bikes stuff on the new site, all sorts of goofy blog posts and weirdness, PLUS, you are going to see race coverages, gear reviews, shop visits, factory tours, interviews, Pro Bikes, and god knows what else. We're going to make it up as we go along. And while I can't promise the content will always be accurate or at all good, it will be constant and somewhat entertaining.<br />
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The new site will also be a collaborative type thing, so if you want to suggest content, request a tour or a race coverage...do it! <br />
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The launch of this alleged new site is imminent...don't touch that browsah baah! <br />
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<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-29581918209353933922011-08-04T13:49:00.000-04:002011-08-04T13:49:51.208-04:00Not That Strong A Planner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7GvPvNLJGk/TjIqi0WC63I/AAAAAAAAIBY/p9rAOpfSaW0/s1600/tumalo-creek-poor-pour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7GvPvNLJGk/TjIqi0WC63I/AAAAAAAAIBY/p9rAOpfSaW0/s400/tumalo-creek-poor-pour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are stories clogging up the pipes here at The BigBikes, blocking other, better stories from coming out. Story-constipation. It's a real problem. Time to put on the arm's length latex glove and reach up the story pipe's ass and pull that shit out. </div>
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What a charming image. </div>
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I'm not that strong a planner. I don't plan. I bought a plane ticket, one way, to Bend...Redmond actually, for the High Cascades 100, which I was covering for <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/">Cyclingdirt</a>. The idea was to make my way over to Missoula, MT sometime after the race. The race was <a href="http://LOGIN SIGN UP Search">covered</a>. Tons of sweet helmet cam "footie" was taken of fast riders on amazing Oregon trails. Then my favorite Ozzie, this side of Nick Cave showed up after the race with a friend of hers. Beers were left unfinished that night as Deschutes Public House. My excuse? The 3:30AM wake up call for the 5:30AM race start (ya, the one I missed. Suck it.) </div>
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But the next day, Sunday, we did (eventually, after way too much coffee at Thump) make it to the Niner demo not far from downtown Bend. There we met up with a most majestic Fuzzy John Mylne. One of the most terrifying single speeders on the planet. He doesn't shave his legs...or his chin. I think it's a religious thing. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaDeLxtVuYo/TjJAFdIcTPI/AAAAAAAAIBc/F3U5YFi14Do/s1600/fuzzy-john-mylne-niner-bikes-demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AaDeLxtVuYo/TjJAFdIcTPI/AAAAAAAAIBc/F3U5YFi14Do/s320/fuzzy-john-mylne-niner-bikes-demo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></a></div>
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I opted for the <a href="http://www.ninerbikes.com/rip9">R.I.P 9</a>, a 4.5" bike. Unfortunately, the trails near the demo were smoother than Massachusetts pavement, so they were unable to put the R.I.P. to the test. I could feel it chomping at the bit, talking to me, going "Mommy, can I go out and kill tonight?" but I couldn't offer up any victims. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vqzQUTUSm4/TjIqXIZfmRI/AAAAAAAAIBM/g1yyoV_CGEw/s1600/niner-jet-9-demo-bend-oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vqzQUTUSm4/TjIqXIZfmRI/AAAAAAAAIBM/g1yyoV_CGEw/s400/niner-jet-9-demo-bend-oregon.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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It looked good though. Even if it was a gun at a pillow-fight. </div>
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CGW really putting the Jet 9 through its paces on the road back to the demo spot. We got a little turned around. The road was not in the plan. Only bad plans involve roads. I'm finished with drop bars, did I mention that? </div>
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Simone was too fast to keep in the frame. Seconds after this photo was taken, frustrated with our road grind, she rolled right the fuck over that loader. That's what happens when you put an Ozzie on a 29er. "This thing would be great faah runnin' ovah wallabies!" she concluded at the end of the ride. Then she chugged a can of Foster's and let a Vegemite burp go in my face. (I have known Simone for almost a day...we can joke like that). </div>
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Not a strong planner...right. So I thought I had booked a flight through Travelocity just before we left Thump for the Niner demo. I hadn't. When I called (while we were already en route to the airport) to confirm, they told me that my transaction had been canceled three minutes after I made the reservation. WTF? I would have said, if I said such things. "OK, well book me another seat on that flight please." "Nope, all the seats are taken." "All right, the next flight then." "At 11AM?" (it was 5PM). "What's another word for WTF?" At that point I told the Ozzies to turn the car around and that I'd spring for tubes and beers so we could float the Deschutes in style. Of course the tube rental place closed at five (Planning! Yes!) and we were left to drink really cheap, really good beer at a party attended by kayakers and stand up paddlers and their ripped abs. It wasn't too too bad. </div>
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Plan...where were we? B? (I don't know) was devised: I would rent a car at Redmond Airport and drive it to Missoula (10 hours according to Googly Maps). And...go! One problem — I didn't pass the credit check. What can I say? I'm a fucking mess. And none of the sketchy companies I normally rent from would do a point to point from that location. But that was when CGW stepped up and overtook Nick Cave for the title of "Thom P.'s favorite Australian." She offered to put the car on her card if I promised not to get in a drunk-texting accident or hit a bull elk on purpose. I also took back everything I ever said about Cadel Evans being a hobgoblin with the voice of a little girl. </div>
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It's 581 miles to Missoula, I got a full iced coffee, a half a night's sleep, it's dark...and I'm wearing flip flops. </div>
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Just after I saw what I am almost positive was a wolf, I nearly ran out of gas. I'm not afraid of wolves. I'm not afraid of anything. (Except for great white sharks in fresh water rivers and lakes and C.H.U.D.s under the stairs.)</div>
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The cruise control was set at 83 for about 7 hours. I hardly stopped to pee (which is a great sign after exerting yourself in the heat for two days), but, when I was within less than an hour of Missoula, at 6AM, I hit construction. It was almost more than I could handle. I pulled off for a coffee, pulled back on and was promptly instructed to stop. "We got a wide load comin' through...gonna be a while." "About how long?" "Oh, about a half hour." "Just take that stop sign and beat me to death with it please. Seriously" I proceeded to turn off the car and fall asleep, waking up to the stop sign being tapped on my window. Shaking off the drool and cobwebs, I saw that two large pick up trucks were waiting patiently behind me, not honking. That never would have happened in Boston. I mean, Missoula is the town where I saw a meter-maid approach a guy at a cafe: "John, is that your truck?" "Yes, yes it is." "Meter's up. Didn't wanna just nail ya." "Why thank you, can I buy you a cup of coffee?" </div>
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Absolutely surreal. </div>
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We'll get down to talking about the riding in Missoula and Bozeman soon...</div>
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<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-50721735704776068492011-07-27T18:13:00.002-04:002011-08-04T12:02:47.499-04:00Bend Dude...Bend (High Cascades 100)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First off, let's get one thing perfectly straight, I did NOT do this race, I merely covered it for <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/">Cyclingdirt</a>. I have determined that both racing and covering a hundred miler is...fucking stupid. Or, if you want the PG version, not feasible. Several people have said "Aw come on! You gotta race it." None, I say none of those people have ever ridden a hundred miles on their mountain bikes, never mind raced a hundred miles and then had to stay up all night editing "sweet footie." What I did do was hop on a demo <a href="http://www.ninerbikes.com/jet9">Niner Jet 9 </a>furnished by the awesome guys at <a href="http://webcyclery.com/">WebCyclery </a>and chase the leaders on different, generally pretty exciting sections of the course. It was, in a word, rad. This method of coverage left me with plenty of energy left over for post race interviews. (Check out the c<a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011">overage page on Cyclingdirt </a>for that stuff.) </div>
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There are some great stories from the race — <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/501750-HC100-2nd-Place-Josh-Tostado-Post-Race">Tostado's saddle-breakage</a> and Troy Barry's incident involving a confused recreational rider <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/501738-HC100-4th-Place-Troy-Barry-Post-Race">sitting on his wheel.</a> Not like drafting off him and not pulling through, but literally sitting her butt down on his wheel as she fell over for no apparent reason. There's also a bunch of great helmet-cam footage over there, including ten minutes of <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/502002-HC100-Josh-Tostado-Riding-Saddle-less-On-Tiddlywinks">me chasing Tostado</a>, feeling very pleased with myself...until I realized he HAD NO FREAKING SADDLE. I was like "damn, this dude rides like a single speeder." Ya, when he has two saddle rails sticking up like the prongs of a broken trident where his saddle should be! Be careful watching the helmet-cam videos, you may end up booking a flight to Oregon before you know it. </div>
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I am taking all photos with my iPhone these days...</div>
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Jeff (I think...I'm horrible with names) from <a href="http://webcyclery.com/">WebCyclery</a> set up my <a href="http://www.ninerbikes.com/jet9">Jet 9 </a>pro style. (There may be a review of that thing on this site soon. I really liked it.) Jeff, if that is his real name and I'm not a total idiot, was racing the HC100 the next day. He wasn't exactly chilling out, drinking coconut water with his feet up here. I also bought a pair of XT pedals from these guys, they took great care of me. </div>
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Friday night before the race I found myself in need of a pub in Bend to do some "internetting" where I wouldn't look like a total knob sitting in the corner with my computer. (As my buddy <a href="http://www.unlikelywords.com/">Aaron</a> said, "It's not the computer...") I found a yuppie hell-hole called 900 Wall. "900 Wall...a great place to not look like a knob while sitting in the corner working on your laptop!" They did have <a href="http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/">Ninkasi Brewing's Tricerahops</a> on tap, to their credit. After getting my work done, I rolled over to what is definitely my favorite pub-spot in Bend — <a href="http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/locations/bend">Deschutes Bend Public House</a>. Had myself a couple Inversion IPAs and an elk burger. I recommend both. They were out of the Brewery Pretzel, but I would recommend that too, based on prior experience. </div>
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The 3:30AM wake up call came like a hard slap to the face delivered by a juiced out grizzly bear wearing a chain-mail shark mitt. It was dark, it was cold, and, having left Boston in a sweat-soaked T-shirt on a sickeningly humid 100° day, I had neglected to pack anything like the appropriate clothing. There had been a miscommunication about transportation (my fault, of course) and I was left without a ride to the venue. So I hit the road in my flip flops and shorts (it was in the 30s) and began trying to thumb a ride to the the race start. Of course, by then, the race had already begun and I'd missed my establishing shot of the rollout (so pro). After what seemed like an eternity of having huge pick up trucks blow by me at 70mph with no intention of stopping, I threw my bike shoes and helmet on and began pedaling in the general direction of Wanoga Snow Park. It was only about eight miles but I was wearing shorts and not wearing gloves (another item to be added to the long list of "things that Thom forgot"). "This isn't so bad" I thought as I pedaled along on the relatively flat road toward Mt. Bachelor...then the first hill hit and I went "Your honor, I move to have my previous statement stricken from the record." Between my full Osprey hydration pack, my camera equipment, and other assorted gear, I was easily packin' thirty extra pounds on my back. Did I mention it wasn't warm? </div>
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I mean, look...it's late July and this dude is walking over a snowbank. While it may hit 80° during the day, the nights and mornings in Bend are no-joke-cold. </div>
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Finally a couple in a Subaru picked me up. "We were pretty sure you weren't an ax murderer...the bike was kind of a give away." They made my morning exponentially less miserable. When I got to the venue, I loaded up on coffee and hardboiled eggs until a lost sweep-rider came along. We headed back up the Tiddlywinks trail going against the race direction with the idea that I would turn around begin filming when the leaders came along. It worked out great. </div>
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I'd had some experience riding the Niner Jet 9, but not like 50 miles of experience doing intervals behind some of the best endurance riders in the country. I'll just say this: I did not want to give it back. </div>
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The first rider to come through was ski-mountaineer-turned-sick-mountain-biker Cary Smith, last year's winner. <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/501971-HC100-Winner-Cary-Smith-on-Tiddlywinks-Un-Cut">I followed him for a bit</a>. His pace was shocking. The way he was just ripping through the corners on his hardtail 29er was impressive. I did feel like the Jet 9 helped level the playing field, but the way this one was set up was not exactly race-style. Anytime pedaling was involved, Cary gapped me good. This would become a theme of the day. The next riders to come through were Josh Tostado and Clint Muhfeld. As "mentioned-afore," Josh was riding saddle-less. He rode like that for 13 miles over 3,000 feet of climbing before the folks from <a href="http://sagebrushcycles.net/">Sagebrush Cycles</a> hooked him up with a new saddle at the start/finish. On a side note, I learned that, although he is now associated with Colorado, Josh is a Mainer by birth. And he's one of the nicest, most down to earth dudes you'll ever meet. On the bike though...alien creature from space sent to suck the souls out of bike-riding humans.</div>
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I wasn't racing, but that didn't stop me from taking advantage of some of the best aid stations I've ever seen — PB & J on high-end multi-grain bread, peanut M & Ms, twizzlers, Cokes, chips, string cheese! It was nuts dude. </div>
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Here's a <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/501741-HC100-Praise-For-Trails-At-Aid-Station">video of a stoked rider</a> at this aid station talking about "Sector 16," one of the highlights of the race. And here's 2nd place Alice Pennington <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/502027-Amanda-Carey-And-Alice-Pennington-Sector-16-Trail">chasing winner Amanda Carey</a> down the lower portion of said trail, and footage of <a href="http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/239007-High-Cascades-100-NUE-2011/video/502040-HC100-5th-Place-Eddie-ODea-Sector-16">Eddie O'dea shredding the upper section</a>. The soundtrack for Eddie's piece was a no-brainer...those were the songs that were in my head while I was chasing him. And, if I have those songs in my head, it means we were ripping the shit. Warning: do not have Kayak.com open in your browser as you watch this video. </div>
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Don't tell promoter Mike Ripley, but this is where I got in a fight with a group of recreational riders. I can't help it...I got some Boston in me. Most of the time I can be all "Totally sweet, ya bro!" but, if someone acts like a dick in front of me...the mouth, the mouth can start going and there's not all that much I can do about it. At the spot in the course pictured above, riders still on loop 2, like the guy above, were coming up a hill (South Fork?), gasping for breath, then turning blindly around that snow hut. I was waiting for the leaders on loop3 to come up another trail from the direction I took this photo from so I could chase them down the descent.</div>
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As I was standing there, a large group of recreational riders came up from the direction both streams of racer traffic would be going. None of them were wearing helmets and they were on department store bikes. It was weird...they were weird. I have no idea how they got out that far, it was frightening. It's always the people who most need helmets that don't wear them. </div>
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I was already on edge because moments before, two dudes had come up, one with a huge board with a map and compass jutting out from his handlebars, like a diving board. When I informed them that the race was coming up South Fork (I think that's what it is called), he said "That's fucking stupid, that's a downhill!" I pointed out that we were at the top of a hill so every trail was, in fact, a downhill. And then I bit my tongue before I went on to point out how douche-baggy it was to sit there whining about what over three-hundred brave souls were out there doing on <i>his</i> trails while he was out on a fifteen mile ride with a navigational diving board attached to his bars. </div>
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Then these...what's the politically correct term? — helmet-less fucking freaks on Magnas came up the trail and parked their weird asses all over the place, around a blind corner where two streams of racer traffic were converging...just as race leader Cary Smith came barreling up to the intersection like a runaway crazy train. At first I was polite: "Hey guys, we got the race leader coming up, please move to the side." But they didn't move...at all. Then Cary, confused by the fact that these knuckleheads were obscuring the trail markers and blocking the trail, took a right turn into loop two racer traffic (you following this? Fuck, I'm lost). "No dude! This way!" I yelled. He was over 70 miles in and visibly confused. He began sort of riding off into the bushes, "This way?" he asked. "NO! This way...right through the HUGE GROUP OF HELMETLESS RIDERS BLOCKING HE TRAIL!" He got it that time. </div>
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One of the riders (with nothing protecting his chicken brain but an ill-fitting ball cap) took offense at my course directions, "Hey, now cut the crap! I know who you're talking about...helmetless riders, that's us." He astutely observed. And that's when Boston-Tommy emerged, "Dyude, I was just being descriptive, if you don't want to be described as 'helmetless riders blocking the trail, then don't be helmetless riders blocking the trail!'"He babbled something about how I had to "Share the trail with everyone..." as I sprinted through him and his crew with the Parthian shot: "Not with helmetless fucking morons I don't!" </div>
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And that's not all! We've got tales of Niner demos, missed flights, and overnight drives to Missoula coming up. </div>
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Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-6952384533469928792011-07-22T23:32:00.006-04:002011-07-22T23:46:11.933-04:00Out of Re-Missing In Action (We Think)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been remiss. Maybe re-missing in action. I've been doing too much stuff, crazy stuff, to be blogging it up all the time. But balance must be found. </div>
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No, not "re-missing in action" like that. </div>
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Like this. The other day I lead 35 inner-city kids through The Fells. Did it go really, really well? Depends on what your definition of of "well" is. Did we have fun? Hell yeah! It was awesome. We've got insurance, so fuck it. That's my new motto, "fuck it." That, of course, is not the official Roll It Forward/Youth Cycling Program motto. But it should be. </div>
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Then there's the <a href="http://www.gbnemba.org/rides/thursday-rides">Thursday Night MTB Championships of The Universe</a>. It has to be the hardest MTB group ride around. It's so hard that people who like hard rides are totally freaked out by it. I live in Wrentham now, it totally sucks for me to get to this thing, but it's worth it and I make it...most of the time. </div>
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Know what else sucks? Packing your bike for a trip to bend, getting there, and then realizing that you:</div>
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<li>Left your saddle and seatpost in the workstand</li>
<li>Your left XTR pedal in self-destructing</li>
<li>And you forgot your mini-USB cord for your Contour HD (not bike-related but still sucky)</li>
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Having to pay retail for bike parts'll learn ya to be more fastidious right quick! And you know what else? The remembering to stand all the time when you don't have a seatpost isn't the issue...it's the remembering not to <i>sit down</i>.<br />
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Yes, I live in fucking Wrentham now, it's a long story. I am in the process of exploring various modes of getting to Boston from there. Some days I ride my Schwinn Varsity to the train and then hop on a stylin' Raleigh I've left at South Station. My buddy Seth shows me just how stylin' I might look riding the Raleigh. And yes, that's Boston Harbor there. </div>
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Conversely, Seth shows me how lame I look when I ride the folding Chinese "Komda" to the train during peak hours. It is truly horrible. The sub-5-mile spin to the train is like water boarding. </div>
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I've recommissioned the Fisher Ferrous I call "Dunderchee" as a trailer bike. I ride it over to <a href="http://www.whitebarnfarm.org/">White Barn Farm</a>, home of The Ice Weasels for veggies, the market, and the liquor store. It is cracked, but I will ride it until it fails catastrophically. </div>
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I live a 35 mile ride from Boston, but this is where I live. It's a nice ride, and it might be worth it. Scott Brown is my neighbor. He drops grass clippings in my neighbor's yard, shows photos of himself in his underwear to teenage babysitters, and still doesn't have lake front property. The douche. </div>
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Sometimes I ride this, "The aThomination" to or from work. It's a single speed and I have given up and put panniers on it. We're through being cool. </div>
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Of course I did walk into <a href="http://www.jracycles.com/">JRA Cycles </a>a couple days ago and buy this:</div>
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It's a Kona Major one in a 56cm. They still have a 54cm in stock. It's a rad bike, I have no idea why they didn't produce them for 2011. I did restrain myself from buying the Stan's No Tubes Flow/Industry Nine Wheelset they had in stock, even though my rear wheel was thrashed. I still have time to make that mistake.</div>
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Hey! Hey! Easy guy, we're just easing back into this stuff here alright dyude. There are plans for The Big Bikes to go way more legit. It may all begin with a kickstarter campaign where readers get to decide just how much of my bodily hair gets waxed. </div>
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And <i>that</i>, is where I end it. </div>
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<br />Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-29372345225878610952011-07-11T11:05:00.001-04:002011-07-11T11:06:55.569-04:00Thursday Night Championships of The MTB Universe<div style="text-align: center;">
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What can I say? There's been more doing things than talking about doing things here at The Big Bikes lately. For instance, the <a href="http://www.gbnemba.org/rides/thursday-rides">NEMBA Burlington Landlocked ride</a> has been GOING OFF. It has effectively become the Thursday Night Championships of the MTB Universe, with local killers, assassins, and smooth criminals coming out of the woodwork to blaze watts and crush souls. </div>
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Last week we had Colin Eggleton from Wheelworks leading it out. <a href="http://untilthesnowends.blogspot.com/">Resultsboy </a>was there, as was Pete "<a href="http://madalchemy.com/">Mad Alchemy</a>/Dad-Power" Smith. Kevin "K-Sweat/<a href="http://squirtgunshow.blogspot.com/">Squirtgunshow</a>/I blog less than BigBikes Thom" Sweeney graced us with his presence yet again. GTL (Greg "The Leg," not "gym, tanning, laundry") came out to kick ass and take names, but his plan was derailed by a SRAM XX malfunction...his chain became a work of modern art for seemingly no reason. <a href="http://couchingtiger.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-again.html">MKR</a>, who has been our guest local ride leader/torture artist missed this ride unfortunately. Here's <a href="http://couchingtiger.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-again.html">his take</a> on these rides. Steve "<a href="http://partyattheback.blogspot.com/">Party At The Back</a>" Hopengarten was doing just that, playing caboose with an exhausted-from-his-mega-commute Harry Precourt. Marty "<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ToroLocoCycling">TorolocoCycling</a>" Allen was a little too comfortable going balls to the wall for what felt like way too long. He may be the silent killer in the bunch. He's like radon gas on a bike. (Ooh, that sounds wicked scary!)</div>
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I'm just playing rope-a-dope here...things are about to pick up. </div>
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Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-67578125073109735452011-06-28T17:28:00.000-04:002011-06-28T17:28:53.659-04:00What Goes Down at The Thursday Night NEMBA Burlington Landlocked Ride<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="303" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9TYIUdKD7dY?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9TYIUdKD7dY?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="303" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />
I've been going out semi-sporadically with some consistency to "lead" the <a href="http://www.gbnemba.org/rides/thursday-rides">NEMBA Burlington Landlocked Ride </a>(Thursdays, 6PM Estabrook School, Bedford). The past couple rides have actually been lead by Mike Rowell, a supah-fast local. He's fast anywhere, but this stuff is his backyard, and no matter how hard you fight, he will win. You think you're fast? Come out and play with Mike. You a 'crosser who wants to get some intensity with a bunch of cornering practice thrown in (before you flat, get devoured by mosquitoes, and have to walk home) come out and play with Mike.<br />
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Of course there are several other-paced rides, including a women's ride that go off at the same-ish time. So even if you don't want to come out and play with Mike on the, as Adam Glick calls it: "Left For Dead Ride," come out and play nice with others.<br />
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I'll be riding the Niner One 9 from South Boston to Burlington at about 4:30 Thursday night, right up Mass Ave. If you're in Somerville, Cambridge, or Arlington, hop on the crazy, 15mph, green train.<br />
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- tBig Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-32981072889251157962011-06-20T20:07:00.000-04:002011-06-20T20:07:23.224-04:00Pivot Cycles Demo Wednesday at The Fells<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xfMEzbCWtqs/Tf_Ui95DDPI/AAAAAAAAH78/A9hAl6CIk7Y/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xfMEzbCWtqs/Tf_Ui95DDPI/AAAAAAAAH78/A9hAl6CIk7Y/s400/IMG_0699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Saturday night I was lucky enough to be part of a stealth, little<a href="http://www.pivotcycles.com/"> Pivot Cycles</a> demo up at Harold Parker put on by Pivot dealer, <a href="http://www.jracycles.com/">JRA Cycles</a>. The bike I rode was the above-pictured Firebird, a 170mm (6.7") travel bike meant more for hucking at highland Mt. than plowing through the flatland rock gardens of HP. But hey, it was still wicked fun. Three of us were on the Firebird, the rest were on 429s or Mach 5.7s. All the riders there were happy with whatever they rode. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out of all the 6" plus bikes I've ridden, I liked the Firebird the best, by far. The DW Link is awesome. It takes awhile for an XC douche like myself to get used to a bike like that, but once I got it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was just lifting the front end and bee-lining through rock gardens like Harold Parker was a huge luge track, which it it's really not. It's a bumpy, bony, mess. Me, Tom Greene, and Aaron from JRA were carving through rocky corners and blasting through root fields like it was nothin'. Always fun to play tag with riders like those guys. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Josh from Pivot is the man. He drives around the country ceaselessly, hooking people up with sweet bikes to ride. He was hooking us up on his day off. The man.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me, Josh, and Brian McInnis getting our asses bit off by mosquitoes in-between getting rad on big bikes. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_s4hJzSd_cg/Tf_UlnCzsCI/AAAAAAAAH8E/_7OFOZk2LS8/s1600/IMG_0702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_s4hJzSd_cg/Tf_UlnCzsCI/AAAAAAAAH8E/_7OFOZk2LS8/s400/IMG_0702.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I nearly needed a blood transfusion after waiting for Greg to fix his flat. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VLHZDNCCe7M/Tf_UnCOhTFI/AAAAAAAAH8I/woMJlEQ-av8/s1600/IMG_0706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VLHZDNCCe7M/Tf_UnCOhTFI/AAAAAAAAH8I/woMJlEQ-av8/s400/IMG_0706.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A bucket of Crank Bros and Time pedals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a bucket of Shimanos to replace them when they break. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXc_KqW4l5I/Tf_Un2pu7NI/AAAAAAAAH8M/I9kmhoO5E2M/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MXc_KqW4l5I/Tf_Un2pu7NI/AAAAAAAAH8M/I9kmhoO5E2M/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course I had to be the one wearing lycra at Bertucci's after the ride. That's my M.O. dude, that's my frickin' M.O.. </div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-1453885195614110092011-06-18T13:07:00.000-04:002011-06-18T13:07:54.915-04:00Bicycle Yard Sale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2asTYwbGx8/TfzaAAIEDBI/AAAAAAAAH7o/_lELVw9Dt2E/s1600/trek-superfly-singlespeed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2asTYwbGx8/TfzaAAIEDBI/AAAAAAAAH7o/_lELVw9Dt2E/s400/trek-superfly-singlespeed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm having a bit of a bicycle yard sale today and tomorrow in Somerville. The featured items are definitely the ones pictured here — the Superfly Singlespeed and the Sawyer. The Superfly is new, out of the box. It's a 19". The Sawyer is also a 19" but it is lightly used. The thing can be run single, geared, even belt drive. I'm asking $1500 for the Superfly and $550 for the Sawyer. The Sawyer comes with a headset and carbon seatpost. The Superfly comes as pictured. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll be posting more stuff as the day progresses, but not here. Check out all the ACTION on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Niner-Bikes/20773652275#!/profile.php?id=761313980">Facebook </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BigBikesThom">Twitter</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ANh91x0iA/TfzaFHylALI/AAAAAAAAH7w/fuujPSwNRTk/s1600/trek-sawyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3ANh91x0iA/TfzaFHylALI/AAAAAAAAH7w/fuujPSwNRTk/s400/trek-sawyer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-46652328145345123162011-06-14T14:22:00.002-04:002011-06-14T14:41:50.858-04:00G Spot Ride With Gerry And Crew<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="390" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3aEKF3K1BsQ?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3aEKF3K1BsQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
<br />
(Vimeo version at bottom of post)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My internetting time is meager these days, so I'll have to make this quick and typo-ridden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDF_M12uD10/TfeeD8TNSxI/AAAAAAAAH7I/nZmUVSuDPXI/s1600/IMG_0455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDF_M12uD10/TfeeD8TNSxI/AAAAAAAAH7I/nZmUVSuDPXI/s320/IMG_0455.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was my birthday the other day, I think I turned 26...but I'm not really sure. Not too good with numbers. I hid my birthday info on Facebook because, as I see it, there is nothing more meaningless than a Facebook birthday wish. I went to dinner with the family at <a href="http://www.washingtonsquaretavern.com/">Washington Square Tavern</a>. The owner, Gerry Finnegan is a small, very solid planetoid around which fun gravitates. The moons that orbit around this planetoid, which I will call "Gerranus," are named "Beer" and "Bikes." During our dinner, Gerry tried to convince me to go ride a trail called "G-Spot," up in the north shore of Massachusetts (ya, we got a north shore too). I told him I only had my Niner One 9, and that it wasn't the appropriate bike for those trails. "I'll get ya a bike!" he said. And five minutes of texting later, he had. "I got ya a Santa Cruz Nomad, yer gonna love it!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But late Saturday night I realized that I had no way to get there other than getting up butt-ass early and getting on a train to Beverly, then riding ten miles from the train to the trailhead...on a single speed with trail gearing. I used to ride 100 milers. Now I'm just a fat, lazy, fuck. I started texting with Gerry..."I'll get ya ride!" he texted. And he did. His buddy Rob showed up at my door the next morning at 9AM in this...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zu9dKpmj-s/TfeeDdisuEI/AAAAAAAAH7E/QAG_DIDh_Us/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zu9dKpmj-s/TfeeDdisuEI/AAAAAAAAH7E/QAG_DIDh_Us/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While Rob was driving me to G-Spot, Gerry was driving back from Ashland with "my" bike. The crazy bastard had gotten up before anyone in our group to go get the bike from Johhny "Cougs." I had thought about bailing on this ride...that would have been a bad idea. Gerry had gone all out to make sure I got there and that I had...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEbo8ZbY_3I/TfeeDB2aJrI/AAAAAAAAH7A/M8P80k8CHLY/s1600/IMG_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wEbo8ZbY_3I/TfeeDB2aJrI/AAAAAAAAH7A/M8P80k8CHLY/s400/IMG_0453.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The right equipment for the job. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0VnIrSfKTU/TfeeEYnHIcI/AAAAAAAAH7M/3L-tle-X788/s1600/IMG_0456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0VnIrSfKTU/TfeeEYnHIcI/AAAAAAAAH7M/3L-tle-X788/s320/IMG_0456.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Francois was there. He is a bad man on the bike. Apparently he's a bad man behind the wheel too. Or horribly inept. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PuESKcexAcY/TfeeEhWRwmI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/GTe-4bRE38I/s1600/IMG_0457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PuESKcexAcY/TfeeEhWRwmI/AAAAAAAAH7Q/GTe-4bRE38I/s320/IMG_0457.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the ride we were debating where to go for a beer. It was a tight race between Hooters and Charlie's Kitchen beer garden in Harvard Square. Charlie's won out. Not exactly near Manchester By The Sea (If it were they'd have to change the name of the town to "Manchester By The Charlie's Beer Garden") but a great place to be on a Sunday afternoon. Gerry's wife showed up with their dog Bruno, an English Bull Dog puppy. Basically the canine equivalent of Gerry. Bruno is very popular with the ladies...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7UaFza9xAI/TfeeExMt03I/AAAAAAAAH7U/3pTYsufWIMQ/s1600/IMG_0461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7UaFza9xAI/TfeeExMt03I/AAAAAAAAH7U/3pTYsufWIMQ/s320/IMG_0461.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So much so that Gerry's considering starting a puppy rental service for single men. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Watch out, hatchet chop segue!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UTfwD5vCm4/TfeeFTpwF-I/AAAAAAAAH7c/NOlTeOq_qeI/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7UTfwD5vCm4/TfeeFTpwF-I/AAAAAAAAH7c/NOlTeOq_qeI/s400/IMG_0523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been leading some rides for NEMBA out at <a href="http://www.gbnemba.org/rides/thursday-rides">Burlington Landlocked Forest</a>. I'm doing one this Thursday, and there's a possibility that I will be riding out there, hitting stuff along the way. Like telephone poles. No silly, more like hidden singletrack. Details to follow. Or not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Should have a video from the last ride up soon. Heh...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also leading a <a href="http://www.bikefridays.org/">Bike Friday ride</a> this Friday at 6:30 AM from the <a href="http://ridestudiocafe.com/">Ride Studio Cafe</a> to City Hall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have no idea why I have no time to blog. No idea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for checking in to see if I'm still alive, we'll talk soon. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=25092215&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=25092215&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/25092215">G Spot Ride With Gerry And Crew</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1165722">thom parsons</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-47615807981078275622011-05-25T20:38:00.001-04:002011-05-25T20:39:40.566-04:00Why I'm Not Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ-mF2mqV00/Td2hNU-SX2I/AAAAAAAAH4g/6pv3o8R9ACk/s1600/IMG_0368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ-mF2mqV00/Td2hNU-SX2I/AAAAAAAAH4g/6pv3o8R9ACk/s320/IMG_0368.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm over <a href="http://rollitforward.blogspot.com/">HERE</a>. Ah, not really even. I'm mostly out in the world and not at my computer. Of course you can always find me on the <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BigBikesThom">Twitters</a>. </div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-61794025430549361462011-05-17T05:30:00.001-04:002011-05-17T05:30:00.834-04:00The New Ride: Niner One 9 "Green Machine"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaENnSymelU/TdHTxELfW9I/AAAAAAAAH2A/en9MKz6Lz58/s1600/niner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaENnSymelU/TdHTxELfW9I/AAAAAAAAH2A/en9MKz6Lz58/s400/niner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm suffering from a bad case of black lung from the <a href="http://rollitforward.blogspot.com/">Boston Bike Mines</a>, but I wanted to share this: I got a new bike from <a href="http://www.jracycles.com/">JRA Cycles</a>. And apparently posting photos of your new bike on the Facebooks is about as exciting as posting pictures of your new kid. The outpouring of enthusiasm was as staggering as...me, after three Irish Car Bombs at The Cellar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is no need for me to play the naming game, like some guy who I shall only refer to as <a href="http://bike29.com/ride29er/">George Wisell</a>. My friend Erich busted out "Green Machine" immediately, and it stuck. What better name for a bike ridden by a douche bag who writes a blog named after a Kyuss song?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fc-7FXzbeA0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fc-7FXzbeA0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><br />
More on this later. Probably not sooner.Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-65674508235471033052011-05-13T23:55:00.001-04:002011-05-14T07:28:57.855-04:00Rainbow/Unicorn Bikes And Kool-Aid Pickles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Axw9hQjh2PM/TctYXItpZMI/AAAAAAAAH1k/hNI_uZ85kfA/s1600/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Axw9hQjh2PM/TctYXItpZMI/AAAAAAAAH1k/hNI_uZ85kfA/s400/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's post will be short on words, but with photos of a bike like this, who needs words? </div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcOYwuMGuU0/TctYWq3J4rI/AAAAAAAAH1g/yqseI4AcGdg/s1600/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BcOYwuMGuU0/TctYWq3J4rI/AAAAAAAAH1g/yqseI4AcGdg/s400/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><blockquote>"It is like looking into the face of God and seeing Him smiling back and saying, "<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/3524/saturday-night-live-inside-the-actors-studio">You are my most wondrous creation</a>." </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Est3oRnR9Mw/TctYYF6AcwI/AAAAAAAAH1o/jYAAu3ndb7k/s1600/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Est3oRnR9Mw/TctYYF6AcwI/AAAAAAAAH1o/jYAAu3ndb7k/s320/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next to this thing, Vanilla Cycles' bikes look like crap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kgFsLfd_vhM/TctYYmXrdsI/AAAAAAAAH1s/wvZ36oPT89A/s1600/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kgFsLfd_vhM/TctYYmXrdsI/AAAAAAAAH1s/wvZ36oPT89A/s320/unicorn-rainbow-bicycle-4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seriously. This bike has more style in its banana seat than Sacha White has in his whole body. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Kiqrsp97LM/TctbEaRj0WI/AAAAAAAAH10/RPYQnSL5VLk/s1600/fuck-you-pay-me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5Kiqrsp97LM/TctbEaRj0WI/AAAAAAAAH10/RPYQnSL5VLk/s320/fuck-you-pay-me.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Right now it's hanging above my workbench so I can bask in its scrumtrelescent glow all day, but I would gladly trade it for a headset press and a headset cup remover for the <a href="http://rollitforward.blogspot.com/">Roll It Forward</a> shop. That is true. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tuk224jUqzo/TctdQpe6vbI/AAAAAAAAH18/XZ4560ov5jg/s1600/spooky-bikes-unicorn-rainbows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tuk224jUqzo/TctdQpe6vbI/AAAAAAAAH18/XZ4560ov5jg/s1600/spooky-bikes-unicorn-rainbows.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No free association fest regarding rainbows, unicorns, and bikes would be complete without the inclusion of <a href="http://sbox.spookybikes.com/">Spooky Bikes</a>' amazing jersey. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="303" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPONTneuaF4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JPONTneuaF4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="303" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nor would it be complete without the embedding of the critically acclaimed <i>Candy Mountain </i>video. <i>Candy Mountain</i> does to <i>Broke Back Mountain</i> what the Unicorn/Rainbow Murray does to Vanilla Cycles, i.e.: makes it look like a piece of total crap created by a crack baby. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fun fact: The video is based on the life of <a href="http://bike29.com/">George Wisell</a>. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjIlUs-dEKI/TctYKSVSlwI/AAAAAAAAH1M/KPP9GkwPFzE/s1600/fernet-branca-bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjIlUs-dEKI/TctYKSVSlwI/AAAAAAAAH1M/KPP9GkwPFzE/s400/fernet-branca-bike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this is somewhat related. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a Fernet Branca bike. And speaking of alcohol companies putting their logo on bikes...ever notice how high end car companies like to slap their names on horrible, cheap bicycles? How come a bicycle manufacturer never commissions a maker of horrible, cheap cars to make a car for them? What, you wouldn't buy a Chevy Aveo with a Colnago logo on it? What about a Pontiac Aztek with a De Rosa logo? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAd1AMj791s/TctYKvcOJzI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/SD6r0lpHegw/s1600/fernet-branca-cupholder-bicycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAd1AMj791s/TctYKvcOJzI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/SD6r0lpHegw/s400/fernet-branca-cupholder-bicycle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least this bike has a sweet cup holder...for a giant shot of — weird, black, medicinal, oh god this night is about to go horribly awry — Fernet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dbwLpixJQ7U/TctYLcXBd_I/AAAAAAAAH1Y/e7uq1hc6L3M/s1600/koolaid-pickles-ugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dbwLpixJQ7U/TctYLcXBd_I/AAAAAAAAH1Y/e7uq1hc6L3M/s320/koolaid-pickles-ugh.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Right, nights gone horrible awry. That is a jar of pickles pickled in fucking Kool-Aid by a <a href="http://www.unlikelywords.com/">madman</a>. Did I try one? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vLjh_02gdo/TctYJcZO5XI/AAAAAAAAH1E/msVPWQaWJkc/s1600/bucket-of-high-life-ponys-trinas-starlite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vLjh_02gdo/TctYJcZO5XI/AAAAAAAAH1E/msVPWQaWJkc/s400/bucket-of-high-life-ponys-trinas-starlite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were drinking miniature High Life ponies out of giant buckets, what do you think? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVOdsYnPqKs/TctYLByjIsI/AAAAAAAAH1U/1RWhjskCAxk/s1600/koolaid-pickle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KVOdsYnPqKs/TctYLByjIsI/AAAAAAAAH1U/1RWhjskCAxk/s400/koolaid-pickle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If Hieronymus Bosch ate some bad shellfish, he might have a nightmare about something worse than this, but I can't think of anything nearly as abhorrent at the moment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4o9QCL0eHSE/TctYJ93SemI/AAAAAAAAH1I/uLEzL4Zxh9o/s1600/dave-robb-west-hill-shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4o9QCL0eHSE/TctYJ93SemI/AAAAAAAAH1I/uLEzL4Zxh9o/s320/dave-robb-west-hill-shop.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time is short and I'm out a feeble segues. But hey! That's Big D Robb, the new manager of the <a href="http://www.westhillshop.com/">Putney West Hill Shop</a> up in VT. You might recognize him from other photos in this post...ones with buckets in them. He's moved all the way out from S.F. to take over up there, so stop by and say hi why don't ya? I also hear he's looking for a super-good wrench, so if you know anyone...aye. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-5lkjeTrAg/TctYwLaNtQI/AAAAAAAAH1w/CMLdKaJr6hQ/s1600/nemba-burlington-lanlocked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-5lkjeTrAg/TctYwLaNtQI/AAAAAAAAH1w/CMLdKaJr6hQ/s320/nemba-burlington-lanlocked.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And for all the few Big Bikes readers who aren't from Romania, there's a trail building day at <a href="http://www.gbnemba.org/entry/gb-trail-work-starting-up-land-locked-forest-57-and-514">Burlington Landlocked Forest this Saturday</a>. If you haven't ridden the BLL, you should check it out, it's some of the best stuff around. And we're gonna make about a mile more of it, hopefully with your help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, and this is going on this Sunday:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07GbSUmVygI/TctYWPsdvOI/AAAAAAAAH1c/ZRqkGTWX-xQ/s1600/pro-grt-highland-park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="55" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07GbSUmVygI/TctYWPsdvOI/AAAAAAAAH1c/ZRqkGTWX-xQ/s320/pro-grt-highland-park.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I won't be able to go because I'll be picking through a container over at Bikes Not Bombs, looking for more donation bikes for Roll It Forward, but if I weren't, I would almost definitely be watching the crazy, downhill sickness. If you go, watch some sickness for me and then come over to my house and cough on my face so I can catch some sickness too. It won't be any weirder than that time I ate a Kool-Aid pickle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-44558864463607189862011-05-11T05:00:00.005-04:002011-05-15T00:06:44.944-04:00New England Bicycle Expo The Final Chapter: Igleheart vs. Geekhouse vs. Budd Bike Works vs. Silky Cycles...In Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95rKfeTKSL0/Tcn-V4RsboI/AAAAAAAAHy0/Hb3j9506ZZg/s1600/christopher-igleheart-randonee-frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95rKfeTKSL0/Tcn-V4RsboI/AAAAAAAAHy0/Hb3j9506ZZg/s400/christopher-igleheart-randonee-frame.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the third and final installment in the<a href="http://www.newenglandbicycleexpo.com/"> New England Bicycle Expo</a> series here on the Big Bikes. I probably could have nursed it for a couple more days, but I have a feeling that more stuff is going to come pouring in....more really awesome stuff. It might be that it's just a feeling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The big dog heavy hitter at NEBEs was <a href="http://iglebike.com/">Christopher Igleheart</a>. He loves it when I call him that...big dog heavy hitter. His flagship at the show was a big ass randonee bike for a guy who's riding <a href="http://www.rusa.org/pbp.html">Paris Brest Paris</a>. Or, as I say,</div><a name='more'></a> Paree Brest Par-iss. I only have the patience to pronounce Paris correctly once in a sentence.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kdn_3PegcDk/Tcn-SkYPZQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/pfFzSC4cADw/s1600/christopher-igleheart-randonee--2-frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kdn_3PegcDk/Tcn-SkYPZQI/AAAAAAAAHyw/pfFzSC4cADw/s400/christopher-igleheart-randonee--2-frame.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Big guy on a big bike is still no match for fat guy in a little coat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oGWbt3DSje0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oGWbt3DSje0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Although big guy does have a big button on his stem that operates a headlight which runs off a generator hub.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhgurcNCKHI/TcoBB9HlvJI/AAAAAAAAHz4/i7Kv6J1kQu0/s1600/igleheart-custom-light-button-randonee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HhgurcNCKHI/TcoBB9HlvJI/AAAAAAAAHz4/i7Kv6J1kQu0/s320/igleheart-custom-light-button-randonee.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chris machined out the King headset top cap perfectly to accommodate this one-off-brilliant-weirdness. I want a button like that, but I want it to operate a death laser. Commuting into the city is bringing my inner bike messenger back out. I took my hands off the bars and held my arms out to a group of jaywalkers doing their lemming-like death march into an intersection this morning and bellowed "WHO WANTS A HUG?" No one did. Jerks. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7pT8EVEVH4/Tcn-hGKF_jI/AAAAAAAAHy4/RTA88eYVhJE/s1600/geekhouse-2011-mountain-bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7pT8EVEVH4/Tcn-hGKF_jI/AAAAAAAAHy4/RTA88eYVhJE/s400/geekhouse-2011-mountain-bike.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.geekhousebikes.com/">Geekhouse</a> was in the...house with their new team-edition mountain bike. Word is that Marty is going back to mountain bike racing this summer. He's even talking about buying an old Intense...I think it's an M-1 and racing downhill again. He has to be careful though. The man is so influential, he might cause an avalanche of hipsters to follow him down the mountain on their brakeless fixed-freestyle bikes. He would be responsible for more deaths than the sick fuck who invented lawn darts. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0JINh-M0K0/Tcn-hvrBxfI/AAAAAAAAHy8/ZEvfu92G-3E/s1600/geekhouse-custom-handlebar-fixed-gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0JINh-M0K0/Tcn-hvrBxfI/AAAAAAAAHy8/ZEvfu92G-3E/s400/geekhouse-custom-handlebar-fixed-gear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Geekhouse always has something slick to show off. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQrjKEBwGP4/Tcn-iCkhQTI/AAAAAAAAHzA/D3Y5bGrkuTA/s1600/geekhouse-fixed-gear-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQrjKEBwGP4/Tcn-iCkhQTI/AAAAAAAAHzA/D3Y5bGrkuTA/s400/geekhouse-fixed-gear-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBMi5aZiF2w/Tcn-iusg26I/AAAAAAAAHzE/B4lgpOi8dlE/s1600/geekhouse-fixed-gear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YBMi5aZiF2w/Tcn-iusg26I/AAAAAAAAHzE/B4lgpOi8dlE/s400/geekhouse-fixed-gear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snikt!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91GHIFD-xyU/Tcn-jH3vlpI/AAAAAAAAHzI/joOpavhZ8v4/s1600/geekhouse-matt-budd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-91GHIFD-xyU/Tcn-jH3vlpI/AAAAAAAAHzI/joOpavhZ8v4/s320/geekhouse-matt-budd.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brad and Greg from Geekhouse scrutinize the work of <a href="http://www.buddbikes.com/">Matt Budd</a>. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlpzOOs-EbU/Tcn-jl6ULqI/AAAAAAAAHzM/RFJKaCXw_NI/s1600/greg-matt-budd-geekhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JlpzOOs-EbU/Tcn-jl6ULqI/AAAAAAAAHzM/RFJKaCXw_NI/s320/greg-matt-budd-geekhouse.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Greg explores the many positions of the Budd Bolt Bar. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LRINaNhiJ0o/Tcn-kQFvUFI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/lXn02jfyTME/s1600/matt-budd-bike-works-bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LRINaNhiJ0o/Tcn-kQFvUFI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/lXn02jfyTME/s400/matt-budd-bike-works-bar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The man on the right is either about to sneeze or he is saying "Aw fuck yeah dude!" I'd lean toward the latter. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDB0D3xuVjg/Tcn-k9RcIsI/AAAAAAAAHzU/XyJ98XtqWGM/s1600/matt-budd-bike-works.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDB0D3xuVjg/Tcn-k9RcIsI/AAAAAAAAHzU/XyJ98XtqWGM/s320/matt-budd-bike-works.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like Niall from <a href="http://www.nfgcycles.com/NFG_Cycles/Welcome.html">NFG Cycles</a>, Matt Budd rode to the show with all his stuff. But unlike Niall, he rode only from Medford, not 100 miles from Easthampton. Of course he did actually bring some bikes in his massive Gentle Giant trailer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXGJdlZ32v8/Tcn_EQDbMlI/AAAAAAAAHz0/uZS2cUd95SE/s1600/silky-cycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eXGJdlZ32v8/Tcn_EQDbMlI/AAAAAAAAHz0/uZS2cUd95SE/s320/silky-cycles.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Karl Lee blew my god damn mind with his god damn <a href="http://silkycycles.blogspot.com/">Silky Cycles</a> minimalist wooden fenders. I know Karl through my friend Dan. I knew that Karl worked with wood, I knew he messed around with metal in his basement, I even knew he could swing a pair of nunchucks after a few High Lifes better than most, but I didn't know that he made wooden fenders worthy of NAHBs-type-bikes (or that he spelled his name with a K). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="291" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8090801&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8090801&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="291"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/8090801">Wintah Hill Pumptrack</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1165722">thom parsons</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I also knew him as the guy who rips the world's smallest pumptrack in Winter Hill like no other man. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZILUOAYVY4/Tcn_AFw65DI/AAAAAAAAHzk/BmqW70yd4qo/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZILUOAYVY4/Tcn_AFw65DI/AAAAAAAAHzk/BmqW70yd4qo/s320/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His stuff looks good. How good is it really? Well shit...it's good enough for Drew from <a href="http://www.engincycles.com/">Engin</a> to use it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QBKgJ5ZEoVA/Tcn--otsPGI/AAAAAAAAHzY/4wsPvRDkmEk/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QBKgJ5ZEoVA/Tcn--otsPGI/AAAAAAAAHzY/4wsPvRDkmEk/s400/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One really impressive aspect of Karl's work is the attention paid to the brackets and mounts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDjclyKCw4A/Tcn_B1AMYfI/AAAAAAAAHzw/fF2HHrKs80U/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDjclyKCw4A/Tcn_B1AMYfI/AAAAAAAAHzw/fF2HHrKs80U/s320/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aE_AZWqpnqw/Tcn-_H_ENbI/AAAAAAAAHzc/i61W_OHtnZ4/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aE_AZWqpnqw/Tcn-_H_ENbI/AAAAAAAAHzc/i61W_OHtnZ4/s400/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seriously dyude. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4EP9xB5ksU/Tcn-_qM89LI/AAAAAAAAHzg/qonHv_a-TGE/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-4-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4EP9xB5ksU/Tcn-_qM89LI/AAAAAAAAHzg/qonHv_a-TGE/s400/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-4-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can mount the fuckers right to your axle on any bike. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUypj7mnjNA/Tcn_A4NvufI/AAAAAAAAHzo/WYvH2G-CHts/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zUypj7mnjNA/Tcn_A4NvufI/AAAAAAAAHzo/WYvH2G-CHts/s400/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did I already use the Wolverine deploying his claws sound effect today? Crap. I got nothin'. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxsZpIJdwTk/Tcn_BfXdb_I/AAAAAAAAHzs/EiTm1tIMl_Y/s1600/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oxsZpIJdwTk/Tcn_BfXdb_I/AAAAAAAAHzs/EiTm1tIMl_Y/s320/silky-cycles-wooden-bicycle-fenders-8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember when I said "I have a feeling that more stuff is going to come pouring in....more really awesome stuff," but "it might be that it's just a feeling." Well, there's a pretty good chance that it could be... </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IcsVPis1iNs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IcsVPis1iNs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-58134644276500111202011-05-10T05:30:00.005-04:002011-05-11T09:04:05.660-04:00New England Bicycle Expo Part Two: Royal H., Icarus Frames, Folk Engineered, And Honey Badger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SMbb-QGHDo/TcjGX0NgmII/AAAAAAAAHyI/w5JSdmghkDI/s1600/folk-engineered-jersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SMbb-QGHDo/TcjGX0NgmII/AAAAAAAAHyI/w5JSdmghkDI/s400/folk-engineered-jersey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ever heard of <a href="http://www.folkengineered.com/">Folk Engineered Custom Handmade Bicycles</a>? Well screw you know it all, I hadn't. That is until I attended the <a href="http://www.newenglandbicycleexpo.com/">New England Bicycle Expo</a>. While most frame builders came to the expo from across the street, the kids from Folk Engineered came all the way from </div><a name='more'></a>Newark, New Jersey. They didn't ride all the way there like some <a href="http://www.nfgcycles.com/NFG_Cycles/Welcome.html">crazy-broken-car-havin' bastards</a>...but still.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxV3N5eFRmQ/TcjGawIGUdI/AAAAAAAAHyQ/G1LwdR5Arn4/s1600/folk-engineered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxV3N5eFRmQ/TcjGawIGUdI/AAAAAAAAHyQ/G1LwdR5Arn4/s400/folk-engineered.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If Calfee built this frame it would be lugged with real leather and the tubes would be made out of real Smurfs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And speaking of stuff that's made out of weird...uh, stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o614x0wJsVQ/TcjLMlBSsSI/AAAAAAAAHys/gTmzS1VURNo/s1600/live-proud-clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o614x0wJsVQ/TcjLMlBSsSI/AAAAAAAAHys/gTmzS1VURNo/s320/live-proud-clothes.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.liveproudgroup.com/"> LiveProud</a> was at the expo showing off their wicked-freakin-green wares. They had some garments made out of bamboo. Sounds like a great idea...until you forget what you're wearing and walk into a god damn giant panda exhibit and get your legs eaten off. The world has gone insane and, as I mentioned yesterday, animals are attacking humans with zero provocation right in my neighborhood:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object data="http://www.myfoxboston.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=8705" height="280" id="video" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320"><param value="http://www.myfoxboston.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=8705" name="movie"/><param value="&skin=MP1ExternalAll-MFL.swf&embed=true&adSizeArray=300x240&adSrc=http%3A%2F%2Fad%2Edoubleclick%2Enet%2Fadx%2Ftsg%2Ewfxt%2Fnews%2Fmetro%2Fdetail%3Bdcmt%3Dtext%2Fxml%3Bpos%3D%3Btile%3D2%3Bfname%3Dman%2Dnearly%2Dblinded%2Dby%2Dhawk%2Dattack%2D20110509%3Bloc%3Dsite%3Bsz%3D320x240%3Bord%3D745731787756085400%3Frand%3D0%2E5466731181368232&flv=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxboston%2Ecom%2Ffeeds%2FoutboundFeed%3FobfType%3DVIDEO%5FPLAYER%5FSMIL%5FFEED%26componentId%3D134961416&img=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia2%2Emyfoxboston%2Ecom%2F%2Fphoto%2F2011%2F05%2F09%2Fhawks%5F20110509%2EFXTimg%5Ftmb0000%5F20110509082911%5F640%5F480%2EJPG&story=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emyfoxboston%2Ecom%2Fdpp%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fman%2Dnearly%2Dblinded%2Dby%2Dhawk%2Dattack%2D20110509&category=&title=hawks%5F20110509%2Emxf&oacct=foximfoximwfxt,foximglobal&ovns=foxinteractivemedia&headline=Man%20nearly%20blinded%20by%20hawk%20attack" name="FlashVars"/><param value="all" name="allowNetworking"/><param value="always" name="allowScriptAccess"/></object></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 320px;"><a href="http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/man-nearly-blinded-by-hawk-attack-20110509">Man nearly blinded by hawk attack: MyFoxBOSTON.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 320px;"><br />
</div>This is no time to be walking around wearing clothing made out of animal food.<br />
<div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4r7wHMg5Yjg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4r7wHMg5Yjg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course Honey Badger needs no excuse to attack you. Honey Badger don't give a shit...look at this crazy fuck. (<a href="http://bike29.com/">Thanks GW</a>.) </div></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53vnN_0xF8U/TcjGYKi4HcI/AAAAAAAAHyM/yK2qO9ZePcI/s1600/folk-engineered-newark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-53vnN_0xF8U/TcjGYKi4HcI/AAAAAAAAHyM/yK2qO9ZePcI/s400/folk-engineered-newark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another one from Folk Engineered. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0yuqdGqLks/TcjGcMab0jI/AAAAAAAAHyY/2nBiUT8Kb34/s1600/icarus-frames-somerville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0yuqdGqLks/TcjGcMab0jI/AAAAAAAAHyY/2nBiUT8Kb34/s320/icarus-frames-somerville.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the reaction people generally have upon seeing an <a href="http://cargocollective.com/icarusframes">Icarus Frames</a> frame for the first time: "Oh...my...god." </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L6mXkRm2mhA/TcjGcjl-3_I/AAAAAAAAHyc/vnPAuuiBs-w/s1600/icarus-frames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L6mXkRm2mhA/TcjGcjl-3_I/AAAAAAAAHyc/vnPAuuiBs-w/s320/icarus-frames.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ian makes Icarus Frames, he's around them all the time so his reaction is more like: "Oh...my...I think I'll eat this burrito." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qnk5JyxMesk/TcjGdyQDd5I/AAAAAAAAHyo/RlxMzvds9FU/s1600/royal-h-cycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qnk5JyxMesk/TcjGdyQDd5I/AAAAAAAAHyo/RlxMzvds9FU/s400/royal-h-cycles.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other half of the Somerville bike building Wonder Twins was in the house as well. Bryan from <a href="http://www.royalhcycles.com/">Royal H.</a> was sharing center stage with Ian and his burrito. I didn't really get to look at their stuff because I was too busy answering questions about the Boston Bike Share program with total gibberish and outright lies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still have a few more things to get to regarding the New England Handmade Bicycle And Hat And Fender show, but again...it will have to wait for another day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-91028587120735255272011-05-09T05:00:00.004-04:002011-05-10T09:03:44.779-04:00New England Bicycle Expo Part One: Belle Helmets, NFG Cycles, and 2nd Suit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5CZAa_mCCU/TcdVi6mqD6I/AAAAAAAAHvc/JeY3gL-tj-I/s1600/somerville-armory-new-england-bicycle-expo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5CZAa_mCCU/TcdVi6mqD6I/AAAAAAAAHvc/JeY3gL-tj-I/s320/somerville-armory-new-england-bicycle-expo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.newenglandbicycleexpo.com/">The New England Bicycle Expo</a> went down this past Saturday at The Armory in Somerville, Mass. I was there tabling for <a href="http://rollitforward.blogspot.com/">Roll It Forward</a>...and every other program and initiative of Boston Bikes. It looked like something like this:</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--UPS0Ec4bqA/TcdWLGSMAcI/AAAAAAAAHv4/yi8XoWrF_Tc/s1600/boston-bikes-roll-it-forward-bike-share-youth-cycling-program-hub-on-wheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--UPS0Ec4bqA/TcdWLGSMAcI/AAAAAAAAHv4/yi8XoWrF_Tc/s320/boston-bikes-roll-it-forward-bike-share-youth-cycling-program-hub-on-wheels.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My coworker Mo Mo and I sat there and mostly answered questions about Boston's upcoming Bike Share program. I have no idea what I said to people, because I don't actually know anything about the Bike Share, and what I do know I gleaned from <a href="http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-21/news/29460074_1_bike-bicycles-kiosks">this article on Boston.com</a> halfway through the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At one point, my ex coworker Jose came up and told Mo Mo that she looked like "That actress, you know..." She finished his sentence "Lucy Liu? Never heard that one before." Then I said to him "Hey Jose, you know who you look like?" "Who, killah?" he asked. "Luis Guzman." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-vMBUi2vCk/TcdbFZznMSI/AAAAAAAAHwg/twp1gFyZQB8/s1600/luis-guzman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-vMBUi2vCk/TcdbFZznMSI/AAAAAAAAHwg/twp1gFyZQB8/s1600/luis-guzman.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"You know what you're doing kid?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(That will be very funny to about six people who probably don't read this blog.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OFM75VfSkBc/TcdV96ROq2I/AAAAAAAAHv0/pPyOpfRIwqw/s1600/P5090254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OFM75VfSkBc/TcdV96ROq2I/AAAAAAAAHv0/pPyOpfRIwqw/s320/P5090254.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Danielle Baskin from <a href="http://bellehelmets.com/">Belle Helmets</a> (that's right "Belle" not "Bell") was there with her freaking gorgeous hand-painted helmets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-1_VImhhDs/TcdV0yNlRhI/AAAAAAAAHvs/F73ZBUlOeLY/s1600/new-england-bicycle-expo-belle-helmets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-1_VImhhDs/TcdV0yNlRhI/AAAAAAAAHvs/F73ZBUlOeLY/s320/new-england-bicycle-expo-belle-helmets.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A little event-specific model. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VME3WtgdhY/TcdVqx8FRhI/AAAAAAAAHvg/2A0No235Ny4/s1600/belle-helmets-phrenology-chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VME3WtgdhY/TcdVqx8FRhI/AAAAAAAAHvg/2A0No235Ny4/s320/belle-helmets-phrenology-chart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A phrenology chart model. (That stuff really works y'know?). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sPAw8TlUwE/TcdVu1-4ygI/AAAAAAAAHvk/z-fAR-FKMOM/s1600/belle-helmets-tarot-cards-ne-bicycle-expo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sPAw8TlUwE/TcdVu1-4ygI/AAAAAAAAHvk/z-fAR-FKMOM/s320/belle-helmets-tarot-cards-ne-bicycle-expo.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> And the rest were from her tarot card collection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6K1ezZSQwY/TcdVvGRF54I/AAAAAAAAHvo/nKAmTVT7zdY/s1600/belle-helmets-tarot-cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6K1ezZSQwY/TcdVvGRF54I/AAAAAAAAHvo/nKAmTVT7zdY/s320/belle-helmets-tarot-cards.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I had had a hundred-ish bucks on me and I wore BMX helmets, I totally would have bought this. Hindsight being 20/20, I should have mugged someone, bought it, and then hung it on my wall. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1yljc3b32s/TcdW7OHI9EI/AAAAAAAAHwM/1IhQizOmkTw/s1600/P5090258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1yljc3b32s/TcdW7OHI9EI/AAAAAAAAHwM/1IhQizOmkTw/s320/P5090258.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know about wearing headwear that looks like food. I mean, dudes are getting their<a href="http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/05/07/man-gets-15-stitches-from-hawk-attack-at-tufts-university-in-somerville/"> heads attacked by animals in my neighborhood</a>, and they don't even have heads that resemble food.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKN1HIHb51s/TcdV3YFTOyI/AAAAAAAAHvw/tqHHjoGebx0/s1600/2nd-suit-cycling-caps-somerville-mass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKN1HIHb51s/TcdV3YFTOyI/AAAAAAAAHvw/tqHHjoGebx0/s320/2nd-suit-cycling-caps-somerville-mass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Matt from<a href="http://www.2ndsuit.com/2ndsuit/2ndsuit.html"> 2nd Suit</a> was showing off his handmade from thrift store materials cycling caps. Look for him at the <i>North American Handmade Bicycle...Hat Show </i>or NAHBHS. I actually bought one of these hats, it's sick. I kept my own cap on throughout the day, but the second I got outside I threw my 2nd Suit cap on so I could look wicked, wicked cool while having beers with <a href="http://iglebike.com/">Christopher Iglehear</a>t at Flatbread in Davis Sq. And wouldn't you know, who comes walking in? Matt Reineck himself, the maker of these fine cycling caps. "Nice hat" he said. Fucking busted.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKi7WBEYPyw/TcdXc9ekBBI/AAAAAAAAHwY/BPqBX9sH3fU/s1600/nfg-cycles-easthampton-mass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rKi7WBEYPyw/TcdXc9ekBBI/AAAAAAAAHwY/BPqBX9sH3fU/s320/nfg-cycles-easthampton-mass.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Niall from <a href="http://www.nfgcycles.com/NFG_Cycles/Welcome.html">NFG Cycles</a> (stands for Niall Francis Gengler) rode his god damn bike 100 miles from Easthampton, MA for the show. Nutter. His car wouldn't start so he said fuck it and hopped on his bike with a couple panniers full of photos and custom stems. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d07sB6Bu4Vw/TcdWN6QZC6I/AAAAAAAAHv8/mT8ssqsXF9c/s1600/bmw-ironworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d07sB6Bu4Vw/TcdWN6QZC6I/AAAAAAAAHv8/mT8ssqsXF9c/s320/bmw-ironworks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's collaborating with a <a href="http://www.startonthestreet.org/user/bmw-ironworks">BMW Ironworks </a>to do cool stuff. Stuff like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbBUiMwwWIM/TcdXXj39hAI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/M7qOSPbOr1A/s1600/nfg-cycles-bmw-ironworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UbBUiMwwWIM/TcdXXj39hAI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/M7qOSPbOr1A/s320/nfg-cycles-bmw-ironworks.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's a sweet bridge. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyohe1TJ5So/TcdXdbxTmvI/AAAAAAAAHwc/4_eU29k5eVw/s1600/nfg-cycles-stem-with-cable-stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyohe1TJ5So/TcdXdbxTmvI/AAAAAAAAHwc/4_eU29k5eVw/s320/nfg-cycles-stem-with-cable-stop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Niall also creates stems with an integrated brake cable stop. I have stood witness to the drilling of super-lightweight stems that no one has any business drilling to accommodate c<a href="http://www.cycle-smart.com/blog/category/adam-myerson">yclocrossing types</a> who insist on having their stems slammed, leaving no room for a stop below. This is way less terrifying.<br />
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Terrifying. That is what my day is going to be like tomorrow if I don't cut this short and go to sleep instead of yammering on about Christopher Igleheart's custom headset-cap-button for a hub generator on a crazy randonee bike or the brilliantly innovative wooden fenders I saw. That, will have to wait for tomorrow or the next day or the next day.<br />
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In the meantime you can watch this horribly offensive Mother's Day video (it's still Mother's Day while I'm writing this dammit) brought to you courtesy of <a href="http://squirtgunshow.blogspot.com/">Squirtgun Show</a>. I am Thom Parsons and I did not approve this message...Squirtgun Show did. I am merely a very amused messenger.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VgJ-vsLKNDA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VgJ-vsLKNDA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29631046.post-43202396759557725812011-05-06T08:22:00.001-04:002011-05-06T08:26:41.719-04:00Friday Fizzle Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bike29.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dvM4NiFND6M/TcPXWnMCYdI/AAAAAAAAHvY/WM9zY7_o4GY/s320/bike-29-ride-big-wheels.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's Friday morning, I'm up an hour before I should be, and I'm sitting here drinking a coffee I probably shouldn't be. It has soy milk in it and it's been sitting out since 8:30 AM...yesterday. But I microwaved it, so that'll kill any bacteria or mold, or whatever stuff that was in it that could have killed me or given me explosive diarrhea. I figure insomnia is nature's way of telling me I should go blog about something. Of course what I should really be doing is working on SECRET PROJECT #2 for <a href="http://cyclowhat.com/">CycloWhat</a>? </div><a name='more'></a>but that would take time, creativity, and actual brain power, things I have a dearth of right now.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Geek out...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to fucking Vampire Weekend, every time I use an Oxford comma, I think of this song:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="303" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_i1xk07o4g?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_i1xk07o4g?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="303" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I never had watched the video though. Kind of nice in a Wes Anderson sorta way.<br />
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Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma Vampire Weekend? I do, that's who. I give a fuck.<br />
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Dicks. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If I Tweeted something like that on my <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BigBikesThom">Twitters</a>, without fail, one of my 20-something "tweeps" would reprimand me for mentioning a band or album that came out over <i>three years ago</i>. I've said it before (I think) and I'll say it again: art and music have no expiration date. If you're not retarded or from Bolivia, you'll get that by the time you're thirty. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bolivia? I was going to use the name of some U.S. state where no one looks at the Big Bikes blog, but, for the first time ever, I checked out the map overlay of the site traffic and every state was represented. I was going to rag on North Dakota or Louisiana because I assumed they wouldn't be listening, but no...had to take it to Bolivia. Apparently people in Bolivia are too busy riding llamas through their cocaine fields to stop and smell the Big Bikes. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Those are my only two stereotypes about Bolivia — coke and llamas. And half of what I know about Bolivia is based on Wu-Tang Clan lyrics. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5452385&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5452385&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/5452385">Wu-Tang Lego: Da Mystery of Chessboxin'</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1987617">davo</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Raw I'm gonna give it to you, with no trivia</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Raw like cocaine straight from Bolivia</div></div></span></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">You can learn a lot from The Wu. </span></div></div></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One last point on the played out music thing...it's gonna be really funny in ten years when a bunch of twenty-somethings are listening to bands like Vampire Weekend as part of some demented retro movement, causing the now-twenty-somethings (who will then be thirty-somethings) to pull their hair out and scream and kick shih-tzus into wood-chippers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am already out of time, but I will risk running late to tell you guys firstly about what I did last weekend and secondly, about what I'm doing this weekend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efJsGP3hDps/TcPV5FPUtVI/AAAAAAAAHvI/udTRTupxYxs/s1600/nemba-fells-opening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efJsGP3hDps/TcPV5FPUtVI/AAAAAAAAHvI/udTRTupxYxs/s400/nemba-fells-opening.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Saturday I lead a ride at the <a href="http://www.nemba.org/">NEMBA</a> Fells opening day kick off. Rachel and...I have no idea how to spell his name because I can barely pronounce it...Mozee? It's French. He used to come out on my NEMBA rides <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fofzrDD8IG8">down in the (Cutler) Park</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_X8ObJSYsQ/TcPVzUOwy1I/AAAAAAAAHu4/4NFmuTrPcUc/s1600/chrsitopher-igleheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_X8ObJSYsQ/TcPVzUOwy1I/AAAAAAAAHu4/4NFmuTrPcUc/s320/chrsitopher-igleheart.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MTB Tom was out on his <a href="http://iglebike.com/">Igleheart</a> with the new Igle logo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ESDHJu0g_M/TcPV1DALBSI/AAAAAAAAHvA/6ac1imNfKf0/s1600/jra-cycles-medford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ESDHJu0g_M/TcPV1DALBSI/AAAAAAAAHvA/6ac1imNfKf0/s320/jra-cycles-medford.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brian from <a href="http://www.jracycles.com/">JRA Cycles</a> was there spending a rare Saturday off his feet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyF80EBVm9Y/TcPVwZ8RL6I/AAAAAAAAHuw/9XDO6qnI6a4/s1600/29er-fells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hyF80EBVm9Y/TcPVwZ8RL6I/AAAAAAAAHuw/9XDO6qnI6a4/s320/29er-fells.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I forget this guy's name but he was shreddin' on our ride. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xp3-WsNq3NE/TcPV3MGX50I/AAAAAAAAHvE/6Z7rAseX8kI/s1600/jra-cycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xp3-WsNq3NE/TcPV3MGX50I/AAAAAAAAHvE/6Z7rAseX8kI/s400/jra-cycles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The guys from Cycleloft were cooking up brats and sausages. Fearing that I would come back from ride and find them all packed up, I chose to eat a brat twenty minutes before my ride. And yes I just posted a picture of me wearing a new kit astride a little-wheeled big-squishing bike. We'll get back to that next week...talk amongst yourselves. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNoCiNlh3d8/TcPWFkR0kpI/AAAAAAAAHvM/FEM_4hH9-Oc/s1600/rocky-mountain-bicycles-jra-cycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNoCiNlh3d8/TcPWFkR0kpI/AAAAAAAAHvM/FEM_4hH9-Oc/s320/rocky-mountain-bicycles-jra-cycles.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bike is a <a href="http://www.bikes.com/main+en+00_100+home.html?zone=1">Rocky Mountiain Slayer</a>. It's not mine, it was a demo, but it was sweet. A bike like that makes mountain biking more like snowboarding. It tells you to do stupid shit. It's rad. Holy crap...I just realized that Rocky Mountain has rights to the domain name: "www.bikes.com." That is incredible. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptAPk6PX32Y/TcPWGiArHEI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/bGfQfhqsEIs/s1600/rocky-mountain-slayer-jra-cycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptAPk6PX32Y/TcPWGiArHEI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/bGfQfhqsEIs/s320/rocky-mountain-slayer-jra-cycles.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The top cap on the Slayer. Don't really know what's going on there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But I do know what's going on this weekend in Somerville...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.newenglandbicycleexpo.com/schedule.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1KzzXRW498/TcPWbCD3aII/AAAAAAAAHvU/R9nUpWdC8uQ/s320/new-england-bicycle-expo.png" width="218" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'll be there Saturday AM tabling for <a href="http://rollitforward.blogspot.com/">Roll It Forward</a>. At 1:30 I'll be heading out on a tour of local frame builders. If it's not raining. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, if it's not raining, there may be a little post-builder tour, um...this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHh7T3TZJVc/TcPVyH8YVSI/AAAAAAAAHu0/8CduzwrEtZQ/s1600/ahearn-cycles-flask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHh7T3TZJVc/TcPVyH8YVSI/AAAAAAAAHu0/8CduzwrEtZQ/s320/ahearn-cycles-flask.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The insomnia's back and so am I. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Big Bikeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18303656141935863563noreply@blogger.com1