So while my posting may slow here on Spoke Fiend for a bit, I would love to encourage you to visit my new project WWW.MAKEMYFEETGO.COM and consider making a donation on behalf of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
 

Head over to COOLHUNTING.COM to find out the details of this collaboration between Cannondale and Junk Food Clothing.

Mountain biker gets taken out by a buck.

The winner of this year's competition was Tony Pereira who I highlighted a while back when I caught a glimpse of his Roaring 29er.

To check out other killer builds and see more about Tony's creation head on over to the Oregon Manifest's winners list.

All the proceeds will benefit Benjamin's Fund which provides assistance to families whose children are terminally ill. To learn more about Benjamin's Fund, visit  bentjmills1219.webs.com

This one belongs to a former Discovery cohort. He managed to score this frame for $100 on account of a broken brake bridge. Which of course makes it perfect for a fixed.

lemond filmore with ox platinum tubing, velocity aerohead rims (non machined), sugino RD cranks, carbon riser + seatpost, brooks saddle, formula hubs, 46x16

Because of that...the chances of me going back and updating all of the HTML again is slim to none. Rest assured that over the next few weeks, this site could and will likely look different each and every time you check in.

I'm a dumb monkey

Still to be done. New seat post, new seat, new pedals....and then it'll be time to think about how I want to carry a patch and pump kit.

oh..and I did discover a great spot to photograph my bikes. Happens to be 2 doors down from me.

As for the bike program itself all I can say is this.

0-30 minutes = FREE

What is New Balance Hubway?

New Balance Hubway is your Boston bike sharing system. Launched in Boston on July 28, 2011 with 61 stations and 600 bicycles, with an eye towards expanding into Boston neighborhoods and surrounding communities, New Balance Hubway provides you with an accessible and green transit option. Rent a bike near your home or office and pedal your way to the next lunch meeting, errand or shopping trip, or to visit friends and family.

Joining New Balance Hubway is easy and tailored to fit your needs. Choose between an Annual, 3-Day or 24-Hour membership and access our fleet when you want it, 3 seasons a year (the system is shut down in the winter). Rides less than 30 minutes are always free. Please review our Pricing page for additional information on membership costs and usage fees.

Anxious to ride? Keep in touch with us here, as well as on our Facebook andTwitter pages in the days up to the official launch of your New Balance Hubway system for the latest news!

One thing I know for sure though, is that my Raleigh/Urban Assault Vehicle will be taking several cues from the XO.

If you haven't done any research on these machines I seriously suggest you do. You can start here .

For the low low price of $65 this Raleigh Super Course is mine. It was a great find at the Bike Man's shop in Middleborough, MA. Thanks to my brother and sister for picking it up for me as a b-day gift.

Reynold 531 Steel | Strongbuilt Cranks

Now comes the fun part. Building it up.  I'm hoping to start with a new set of wheels built by Strada.Stay tuned.

After another exciting morning filled with 'F-U's and "Get Out of the F'in Road' I decided to see how others cope with our motorized brethren. I was happy to see that I am in fact doing everything I can to ensure my prolonged existense.

Over at bicyclesafe.com they have put together a great little list of what TO Do and What Not to DO on a bicycle.  Rather  than rob blindly from their site, I'll only share one of  my favorites from the list and suggest that you head over to their site to continue reading.

A driver opens his door right in front of you.  You run right into it if you can't stop in time. This kind of crash is more common than you might think:  It's the second-most common car-bike crash in Toronto,(source) and the #1 crash Santa Barbara.(source) We've compiled a huge list of cyclists killed by running into open car doors.

How to avoid this collision:

Ride to the left. Ride far enough to the left that you won't run into any door that's opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can't pass you easily, but you're more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can clearly see you.

This one here is my current favorite.

Even better for me, is that when they started the project I was living in Maryland.  Since then I've moved back to Boston and find myself working only 2 blocks away from where they are hosting their launch party. It still pains me  that I never made the trek to richmond to have my photo taken with my bicycle when they were making their rounds in the south.

You can order the book here.

Head over to flimmaker Marc Dewey's Kickstarter page to find out how you can help.

25 Years Later: A RADrospective from Marc Dewey on Vimeo.

'

Available for $22 at the Walnut Studios.

For a mere $499 you can own the abuelo 3-speed men's bike.

oooh, a pretty bell. Just what every man needs on his bike

Congrats to Jason from Virginia for scoring this sweet ride.

Life Cycles OFFICIAL Trailer from Life Cycles on Vimeo.

Brought to you by All Hail The Black Market. $160 will get you into this sweet piece of wool.

Now, if $160 is a little too rich for you blood. You could always grab some gold paint and felt and create the version I made a few years ago.

Found this one over at Werd today.

The Paratrooper is one of the many folding mountain bikes that Montague offers.  Its patented folding design was developed and designed to allow airborne soldiers to drop out of airplanes and helicopters into combat.  The 24-speed Paratrooper is advanced with front and rear mechanical disc brakes with brake pad adjustment.  Known for its durability and load bearing capabilities, this bike has also developed a following with everyday commuters and weekend warriors.

Now if you're like most and don't need to jump out of a plane with your bicycle. You may like to consider some of their other fine folding options. Like the wonderfully named BOSTON.



Check out the ad they ran in the most recent issue of Peloton Magazine.

And of course...don't miss the Official Ritte Racing Public Apology

Ritte Apology for Potato Vodka Ad from Ritte Racing on Vimeo.

This one takes a bit to warm up...but winds up being beautiful to look at. Not your typical Ham-n-Egger with a flip cam production with this one.

FRAMED-Andi Wittmann Rider profile from Felix Urbauer on Vimeo.

He recently traded his old 76' Bayliner boat for a 2001 Trek 1000. The carcass, I mean boat, had been sitting dormant for about a decade so on the surface the deal appears more than fair.

2001 Trek Alpha 1000

I woke up early and was greated by some seriously cold air. I aired and lubed the bikes and got them ready. I threw on my Ritte fleece lined long sleeve jersey and my Ritte thermal lined track jacket. Both purchases I couldn't love more. My brother on the other hand tried several combinations, some of which included jeans and roadside safety vests, before settling on my sister's sweatpants, a Paul Bunyan sized hoodie, and a ski cap. His outfit would have been fine for a quick spin to the grocery store...but not terribly efficient for the 25mile ride I was about to surprise him with.

The ride started out fine. I could tell he was slower than me, but I expected that. I had the benefit of a better bicycle and an affinity for cycling. He only had youth....which as anyone who knows anything about cycling isn't always an asset.

An interesting side note about my brother. He's a survival nut. He's one of those guys who thinks the world could end at any moment. He's always preaching about how prepared he is. This plan of his includes an evacuation route involving a bicycle.

After 20 minutes into the ride....I told him that he's going to need a new plan. During those first 10 miles to my father's nursery Joshua had to stop several times to catch his breath and have some water?  Was it the blistering pace?  Hardly.  I was crawling along at 15mph and was pulling away from him with ease. I'm guessing he was averaging about 8mph. Joshua is always the jokester...so I expected him to be messing with me. Turns out, he was just slow.

The best part of the ride for Josh was when it wasn't happening. All in all it was a really great morning. I was reminded of how much I love riding that BMC, we got to see our father, we selected  xmas trees and burned off some thanksgiving day calories.

When I finally returned home, I saw the boat sitting in the driveway. I was reminded of the many years that boat sat there unused. My mind immediately flashed to Josh...who was still somewhere out there struggling to get home, cursing with every pedal....and wondered. Will the Trek ever ride again.

Moments before I swear some girl on a big wheel blew past him.

Our destination

Still looks good, despite the chips I took out of the paint and carbon during the move.

No doubt, my brother was discussing the horrors of the bike ride with my father.

Music by Loch Lomond

Now...perhaps this is merely a mid-life sneaker crisis, but I think I've found a new love. I purchased a pair of Chrome's Kursk sneakers the other day. I got them in a closeout and scored them for about $35. It was a deal too good to pass up.  That was 3 weeks ago.

I haven't gone a day without wearing them since.

I love them like you wouldn't believe. My feet have never gotten tired or sore.Unlike my Vans, these sneakers actually support and comfort my feet.  The thick 1000 denier Cordura protects my toes from the wind and Boston cold. Yes, I ride every day in these things. With the weather already in the 30's I can still get away with just a simple pair of wool socks. No multiple layers, no ridiculous covers. The Cordura stops it. I also should mention that the soles themselves are nice and stiff so there is no flex in them when transfering power to teh pedals. They are magic.

The only issue I have with these sneakers is that I don't own them in other colors.

The fundamental difference between Vans and Chrome.

Love the tandem bicycle. I'll be adding that to my 'inspiration' folder of bicycle themed wedding invites.

The big I'm getting is this exact model. (but, not this particular bicycle...this is a shiny one I found on the interweb thingee. The one I'm getting is not so shiny).

My plan is to strip this bicycle down and build it back up as a single speed with the classic bmx 44:16 ratio.

First and foremost, I plan to invest in one of Bern's helmet that can be enhanced with a knited liner. I'm currently in the debating process. Fur or no Fur.

The 2nd part of my plan is to find an old steel mtb frame and strip it clean and then build it back up into a formidable single speed beater that is equipped with some ice grabbing tires. Speaking of which, I found an interesting DIY project for studded tires that I might have to try on a set of old tires.

If I do say so myself, I think the kits look fantastic. I wanted a classic look to these kits, and I was fortunate to have had a client who shared a similar desire.

The website design has been done and is in development now. Stay tuned. To see how I came up with the logo click here.

For those unaware. Rockville BMX was THE place to order bmx bikes, parts, and wearables back in the time before the fancy interweb. When it came time to dream of a better life....Father's had Autotrader, Mother's had the Sears catalog, and young boys around the country had the Rockville BMX Catalog.

Aside from killer products the other great export out of Rockville BMX was director Spike Jonze

Be sure to head over to Jared's site to see what's inside this catalog.

It's not that riding in Boston is all that much different than riding thru DC. The problem is the ride from Chelsea to Boston. I can honestly say that I have never ridden on such a disagreeable and discouraging road as Beacham Street in Chelsea. It would be bad enough just riding that street with the countless 18 wheelers, but when you throw in the gazillions potholes and the smell from the oil refineries it's pretty much a no ride zone. Problem is, there just isn't any other way for me to get into the city. So I've slacked, I've gotten lazy, lathargic and possibly more fat.

But, today that changed. Today I decided that I would suck it up and ride. There is a good 3/4mile that you have to spend up out of the saddle absorbing potholes...but after that the ride is pretty decent. Aside from the chaotic traffic patterns and drivers that I have to engage (including crossing thru a 3-laned rotary).

In the end, the 4.97 mile ride took me 29 minutes to complete. You would think that with speeds that meager my heart rate would never elevate, but that's not true. One's heart does pump faster when you're riding in 'preserve my life' mode.

Nestled in amongst the other bikes at the Mullen offices

Although it likely shares nothing more than the name with the bikes of my youth that I coveted. I still sweat the PK Rippers.

Pants that have reflective material on the inside. Brilliant. Available here for $90.

Read more about the Seoul Cycle Design Competition here.

Advertising Agency: The Drawing Squad, Jakarta, Indonesia
Creative Director: Khairul Akbar
Art Directors: Rio Feroli, Norman Prasetyo
Copywriters: Adri Zainuddin, Anton Adinugroho
Photographer: M. Ilham Soegandi
Published: July 2010

In the meantime, please wipe that drool off your keyboard. It's disgusting.

I may not be racing BMX this season, but I sure am putting some of those skills to the uses. I promise you, there is no more challenging rhythmn section on a BMX track in this fair land.

If you're interested in picking up a sticker. You can get theme here.

But now it gets interesting.I've been been charged with creating a team kit. Now,  I've never hidden my distaste for so many cycling kits out there. It's easy to condemn and say that I could do better.  But now I have to prove it.  Stay Tuned.

an early glimpse into what the website might be....

Head over to Patently Apple to get all the specifics on this SMART BIKE.

Behold the Tron-like Cyglo Tires. You can learn more about them here.

Switched using a motion sensor within the tyre, high powered, tough and durable LED bulbs are built into the tread or wall of the tyre and can either flash or be permanently on, so when the wheel turns at any speed, a perfect ring of light is formed whilst continually and perpetually creating it's own power. Manufacturing bicycle tyres with LED lights already built in has significant benefits, not least that pedal cycles become aligned with all road vehicles by having permanent running lights on day and night to maximise visibility regardless of lighting conditions.

The detour isn't a terribly long one. It's perhaps an extra 2 miles. The  roads are by far the worst thing I have ever ridden on. While the drawbridges are annoying enough, I've honestly never seen so many frost heaves and potholes. I spent that first leg of the trip waiting expectantly for my tire to burst. Amazingly it did not. So, after one of the least enjoyable stretches I've ever navigated  I made my way into the city.

If you've never been, you really need to visit Boston in the city. For my money, it's the prettiest city in the country when the weather is right (that's the big caveat).  Is bike friendly?  Sure doesn't feel like it. In the course of my 2hr ride, I never once got the bike going with any sort of speed.  I fear that my shortlived and unimpressive racing career is done. I think I'm now going to be relegated to commuter status. Speaking of which, I need new tires!  Those 23cc jobbers aren't going to cut it on these ridiculous roads.

A rather unusual sign that I encountered. You can also get a sense of the roads from this shot.

The Tobin Bridge

A wonderfully kept dock

For the often villified Alberto Contador, his tactics will be scrutinzed greatly, and his reputation as one of the most hated men in cycling will no doubt get a ratings boost.

TRANSLATION SUPPLIED BY MARIUS'S TRANSLATION SERVICE!

#1: Mountains aren’t what they used to be – only 8.3 kg – Methanol 9900
#2 A bike like a Milan catwalk model: not an ounce too much – only 8.3 kg – Methanol 9900
#3 Built to torment the whole body. Except your eyes. – Hightech with exclusive design and integrated seat post – the 928 SL IASP
#4 Men should better have a damn good reason to shave their legs – Hightech with exclusive design and integrated seat post – the 928 SL IASP

yw

So, I'm reaching out to all the Boston cycle peeps out there. Where are the best spots to ride?  Any good places for road biking (preferably north of the city)?  What about MTB?  Or should I retire those disciplines and accept the fact that from here on out....I'm a full-time single speeder?

What lies behind the green door?

GHP frame, fork, stem, seat post, seat clamp. Redline cranks. Sun Ringle/Rhyno Lite rims, Shadow Conspiracy seat, ODI Mushroom grips, Tektro brakes, and Wellgo magnesium pedals. Over $900 into it. Weighs in at 22.15lbs. Not too shabby.

I lived in Toronto and Ottawa for many years commuting by bike and I found that my daily bike (finders, racks, etc.) was not something that I wanted to ride when the weather was nicer, or a weekend trip through the city, day trip, night out, etc., but still wanted city handling, and ergonomics, simplicity and reliability and a gearing system. This bike has an internal hub with 14 gears, with the look of a fixie).

To see more of Matt's beautiful work, check out his flickr gallery.

Here is how I see it. I'd like to see all the Quick Step riders lined up team photo style in the jungle with a boiling cauldron behind them. Strewn about the surrounding area would be bicycle and apparel from all of their competitor brands looking as if they have just been savagely torn off a person. To me that say's "Eddy Mercykx bikes' are cannabalizing the competition".

But, in the end...I'll say this for the ad. It's a page stopper. And in the game of advertising...you can't ask for anything more.

The Journey is the Thing from Tony Blazejack on Vimeo.