Few More LHT builds

Just this weekend I was looking for good shots of the Black Cherry Pearl. Now I've found a few other peoples bikes built up.

One as a road touring bike and the second as a city bike. Mine will lean towards the road kit with a single chainring.

10-4 Good Buddy.

So I made up my mind and committed to a new ride for getting to work and around town. I picked up this Long Haul Trucker from Hurl yesterday. I've got more pics here, if anyone cares. This is the new Black Cherry Pearl color that Surly had trouble getting to turn out right. They've said no more of that color, when they're gone, they're gone.

My plan is to spend my money at a few local bike shops to help them all. Gene is suppose come up with a parts kit for me and I'll have to hit Jim's new place for a sweet rack, bag and maybe Brooks saddle.

Can't wait to ride it.

Another great new local shop

Jim Thill and Keven MacAfee have opened a new shop here in Mpls. If you haven't been in it's worth stoping by. Hiawatha Cyclery is in S. Mpls, near the VA Hospital and the light rail on 54th street. They are doing it right in my opinion. They aren't trying to be another racer shop or family-full-line neighborhood Schwinn shop. Nope, they are focusing on people that use bikes for transportation and commuting. Good mix of product and plenty of inventory for just starting less than a month ago. They are carrying Surlys and Rivendell Rambouillets and similar type bikes. They have a good mix of bags, racks, seats, bars, etc. Even local boys Banjo Bros. bags in stock.

First GOOD ride of the season

Think we'll have to call it, the First Annual Minneapolis Spring Shop Tour.
Stan and I got out a pair of 16-year-old Bridgestones and did a pretty good hot lap around a chunk of Mpls. Hittin' up some good shops on the way – ooggling shinny parts and bikes. The old school bikes drew some looks too from the shops. First up was O-o-O, then The Hub, then Freewheel were I found this gem, which fits in a reg. water bottle cage. Finally finishing it all off with some caffine at CRC. Check this sweet catalog Hurl had on hand. I'm getting one of those.
Let the good times roll. Despite 16 inches of fresh snow this week, we did alright running 1.5 slicks on the roads and fenders. We both managed to keep the rubber side down the whole way, only to almost eat it courtesy of a damn SUV one block from home and a icy side street.

Software? Learning we don't need no stinking learnin'

If anyone out there is trying to figure out software. This is were I go. Lynda.com

Skiing Deal

Welch Village has a decent deal for the irregular skier. The Adventure Card cuts a deal on the whole package.

Since I hadn't been out skiing in 15 years or snowboarding in over 10 I figured I check out these new fangled shaped skis.

Went out with Stan and his lady Hondan and had a good time. Might have to do it again, since we've gotten 15 inches of snow in the last week. I guess off road riding isn't really going to start right away.

Craig's List comes through again…

Sold both the old road bikes coutresy of Craig's List. Now I'll probably get one of these numbers to ride to work. At best I get 2-3 days a week in. Worst 1-day a week. But hey it all cuts down on my petrol bill and gives me way more energy to get throough the day.

Super Softie.

First real ride of the year. Sort of road to work and back. Did the bike-train-bike thing in the AM and bike thing on the way home. Just a "little" 15 mph headwind put me in the hurt bag. Riding my 16 year old MB-2 didn't help things either. Waaaaaaay to small for me. Guess it didn't help that I was running moustache bars with a mt. stem instead of the right stem. It made me realize almost every road bike I've owned has been a used "deal" I picked based on price and not size. Mistake. I vow the next road frame or bike I buy will fit. Correctly. Anyone got a 58cm cross-check frame they want to sell?

Big Time.

BMX made in into the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Breithapt is so proud I bet…

Mpls Bike Shop/Coffee Shops

In the last few weeks a SECOND bike shop/coffee shop opened in Minneapolis and this is a good thing.
A number of years ago Gene O and Jennifer opened One On One in the warehouse district. A longtime favorite work escape for me. Great vibe and art too. They just took down the second season of Tour photos by Caroline Yang. Super nice stuff.
And now Hurl has his own hefty hideout, CRC Coffee Bar/Cykel Garage in Uptown to go along with his regular mischief. No formal sign out front yet, but those in the know have had no problem keeping his register ringing. Stop by and give him or brose the business. I figure I have about two solid years of reading to do from his venerable selection of literature. A little piece of heaven, coffee, food, bikes and zines. All those Rivendale Readers are going to take me a month at least. Sign me up. Good luck Hurl, but you won't need it with a location like that.
They both got some decent press from across the river. Evidently the Strib is asleep at the switch.

The Other, Other Bike Show

No not THAT show. And not even THIS show. I'm talking about full 'nother step down the retail food-chain to the first (annual?) CONSUMER bike show in Minneapolis. $7 to get in and $2 off with a coupon from their site. Put together by the folks at Minnesota Cyclist I guess. I almost didn't even hear about it. Mainly catering to the rails to trails set, so that's why it slipped under my radar until the last second. I haven't been into a chain-bike-shop in months.

The highlights for me were talking to Miker at Salsa and the omnipresent Gene-O AND the 1st Annual Antique Bike Show. Great selection of old rides. Really nice stuff from Evan Hatcher. These old bikes were worth the price of admission alone. Wish I brought my camera now. 1800's all the way up to 1960 Stingrays. Dang. I need more old bikes. They don't make them any cooler than that. Wooden rims. Cork grips. Leather saddels.

Dissapointments: Overall not bad for a first attempt. I'm glad someone is trying it. Since they had a decent sized track to test ride bikes on, I was looking forward to riding and comparing a cross-check and a castro valley. Even though Surly and Bianchi were both there, those bikes weren't there to ride. I guess I can't expect them to have on hand every model in every size, eh? I heard Surly was only going bring what they could ride to the show. And it looked like it. One long-haul trucker fulled loaded w/ trailer another LHT and a pugsley.

Not another BMX Clothing Co.

My friend Darrin out of SLC has some nice stuff at Bicycult. Mostly BMX inspired art, but the attitude is right. Check it. Gotta love that Shimano DX shirt.

Squirrel Thump.

So I'm walking my dog yesterday. Perfectly calm day. I can even hear the squirrels wrasslin' around in the trees above. I happen to look across the street at the exact time a squirrel fell from a tree limb, 25 feet up. It landed, kept on moving around like nothing happened. And it sounded just like a shoe dropping from three stories. Crazy.