I am not a car-hater...

Spotted recently in Uptown, this original Mini-Cooper truck is an example of smart, utilitarian design. Can you imagine if more people drove cars/trucks of this size, how much easier it would be to navigate, find parking, and look good doing it? All you fuckers in your Escalades, Excursions, H2's, H3's, rollin' 22's, get a grip. Vehicles the size of this mini-truck make sense, but I'm not holding my breath for Americans to embrace smaller vehicles. Gas prices will hopefully go thru the roof soon, and maybe the motoring neanderthals will figure it out. Doubtful, I know.

Delivery Vehicles...

If you need it delivered...

we've got you covered...

Fruita Sucks! Fruita Sucks!

Ok, not really, but those of you who've been around awhile know that we have a standing cheer that goes up whenever Fruita O.G. Troy Rarick comes around. It's similar to those drunken Wednesday Night phone calls, (with a chorus of F-U!) which, truth be told, are not actually only reserved for Wednesday Nights. In fact, I predict that my phone will begin ringing tonight and won't stop thru the weekend, thanks to all the punters who did make it to Fruita, and are riding their nectar single track. That's alright, though. I've been Fruitarded plenty of times in the past, and I know I'll make it there again. But for now, I'm content with the long-ass fixie rides, the late-night Wirth sessions, and the general good feelings that come with riding in the springtime. And those two ArtCrank poseurs at the top? They work at the Best Bike Shop (w/the Bratwurst Service...)

420-24Ø overnighter

Sov's got that deer-in-the-headlights appeal...

Friday night, 4/20/07, six eager lads on bicycles rode southwesterly toward Carver Park for a Sub-24 Hour Overnight bikecamping trip. It was good fun, and hobo pies were enjoyed by all. Leaving from CRC around 7pm, the 6 intrepid riders stopped for provisions and victuals along the way. At a refreshment stop under the bridge on Vine Hill Road, a local pedaled up and chatted. Just as he was about to ride on, we asked if he needed a beer: "Sure!" he eagerly replied, then added, "Wanna smoke a doobie?" Uh, ok...



Sov roasts his wiener.

Stuart O'Grady wins Paris-Roubaix!

Holy Crap! The CSC rider from Oz has beat the perennial powerhouses, and won the 2007 Paris-Roubaix! More news available at Cycling News.

Dirty Merckx

put another 3 hours in on the Merckx on Saturday. Would have kept on going but had prior afternoon plans. Who's going to win the Roubaix today? Will Boonen finally make one stick? I wish I had Versus and a flat screen to watch it at the shop, but alas will rely upon fast internet connections and caffeine...

rode this a bit on Saturday, also. Front rotor is bent, and awaiting installation of carbon On-One fork; more nooze at 11...

Were I in Van Nuys, CA on May 27 I'd go to this...

From our friends at Atomic Cycles, and the creators of Chickenhead Records 'Zine. The 'X' song, "We're Having Much More Fun," comes to mind...

ARTCRANK-SATURDAY NIGHT, 7-APRIL-2007

do not forget, tomorrow night at One On One, ARTCRANK.The Poster Party for Bike People. Braaap!

Motherfuckers need beat-EDIT: BIKE RECOVERED!

NO DETAILS AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT CRICKET HAS GOT HER BIKE BACK. EXCELLENT.

My pal Cricket has lost her chrome Bianchi Pista. Be advised:

My Bianchi Pista is AWOL
It was last seen free-locked next to Hum's on 22nd & Lyndale on Saturday night.
It's a chrome bike, pista bars wrapped in bright blue tape, bright blue tires and saddle, and it's covered in stickers.
It has no brakes, and it had a headlight and rear fender when I last had it.
The track hubs are Bianchi , Alex rims, and the pedals are flip-flop style.

Just put the word out please....and anyone who sends me a stupid smartass reply will be deleted. I don't have time for that shit.

Thanks.
Cricket

Somebody Stop Me...

ebay strikes again...More photos when it's built. Braaaap!

More Details on The Slick 50 (w/apologies to Reed...)

[sweet photo:Kelly Mac]
For those of you waiting for "more details to follow, shortly," The Slick 50 Ride went off on St. Patrick's Day. The meeting point was the Triple Rock for some mean breakfast. I had Kahlua pancakes, two fried eggs, a Guinness and a shot of Jameson...

The bike rack was full.

We got started just before noon. In hindsight, this was somewhat of a bad move as it allowed the LRT trails to thaw into a nice peanut butter consistency. Right here though, we're just rolling out on the smooth pavement of the Midtown Greenway. We took this out through Hopkins...

and we're headin' out to the Highway...

Mac in the mud...

maps were consulted when part of the pack got separated coming off of Co. Rd. 19.

Heading back toward the city now on the Luce Line trail, we took a much needed respite. The Luce Line too, was soft and thawed. It felt like we were on a stair master the whole time so we took the pavement back into Wayzata.

McGinty Road en route back to the Minnetonka trail. 20 people started the ride, 20 people finished. Just not the same 20... Thanks to everyone who made it out. Next year I'll get you the info beforehand, Reed... More photos HERE.

Ninety-Sick Shit's Slick...

Had the Paddy Wagon out for an inaugural shake-down today, before this Saturday's SLICK 50 ride. More details to follow, but essentially, it's 50+K on a mix of pave, gravel, dirt, and most likely, mud. Rumour has it the Lunatic will be riding the Parade Bike....

Mpls. Bike Expo

After Thursday evening's snow squall, (and Friday's requisite Snow Day) it was time to ride the Kona Explosif 29'er down to the Minneapolis Bicycle, Travel, & Fitness Expo. Wading thru the throngs of people anticipating for the Greg LeMond vs. The Lunatic cage match was quite exhausting, however, I did manage to check out Bob Brown's new Route 29 Project. Cool stuff, as usual from Lugmaster Brown.

This is Bob's personal bike. He added the S&S couplers just for the show. Bitchin' fork crown, classic appearance. I want one.

This is the single-bolt sliding dropout of Bob Brown's design, featured on the Route 29 bikes. He assured me that the overall clamping surface is sufficient, and just as strong as more common two-bolt designs.

Over at the Penn Cycle/Trek booth, while the handlebar moustache crowd stood in line to have their picture taken with LeMond, I studied the Travis Brown-designed production 69'er. Their take on the sliding dropout is a beefy number with built-in tensioner. The overall bike design is all swaged and formed aluminum. Looks like a fun trail bike.

SNOW DAY

Sorry to Burns, Mark Emery, and anyone else who tried to get their fix this a.m. B-Rose called a Snow Day. Guess his Jeep couldn't make the 6-block pull. But I backed him up on this one. Hell, take a day off you junkies! But B-Rose will be there tomorrow, count on it. Me? I'll be at the Bicycle, Travel, & Fitness Expo" with Gene O. and Greg LeMond. I think Surly is serving beer....

Bicycle Film Fest 2007

From local impresario, Girl Carl:

The Bicycle Film Festival wants to see your movie. The deadline for entries has been extended to March 1. The BFF is looking for films with a strong theme or character of bicycles. This includes all mediums and styles such as animation, experimental, narrative, documentary and music videos. Log on to BICYCLEFILMFESTIVAL.COM for more info.

More info on SNOWBALLS CHANCE IN HELL...

Short notice for all you shorties, but here it goes:

Saturday, 20 February @ Brownie Lake
HIGH noon
from one of the many, uh, "promoters":
SBCIHFIDACHDFCC 2007
sat. feb 24 2007.
high noon.
brownie lake.
run what you brung.

RACES: if you want to call them that.
figure 8.
miss-n-out.
derby.
nascar.
ice auger tt
hard dash for cold cash.

We have a barrel of malted water too. might be kinda flat though.

Who invented the mountain bike race?

I think Bob Roll and Bo Hamburger are both in this race...

New Magazine titles at the shop...

as most of you might know, Cars-R-Coffins began life as an honest-to-goodness print fanzine. And yes, it has been a long while since our last issue, but we are always on the lookout for interesting stuff to publish so while we are busy working on issue #15 (no foolin'), we offer you this beauty...

In a Cold Sweat...Stupor Bowl 10

Brad Q., Jeff G., Blockweed, Topher, & The Polish Hammer showed up for Stupor Bowl X, driving all the way from Pittsburgh/Philly in a VW Eurovan. They were troopers, but I think the cold knocked 'em for a loop. Blockweed, how come we ended up waiting for you? Twice?

They met these crazy broads at the bar...well, actually they're not that crazy. J-Rose, Megan, & Kelly Mac. All rad chicks who ride.

and ate breakfast at the Triple Rock...This, my good reader, is a MotherTrucker w/Veggie Sausage. Best breakfast in town, pretty much. (note the Guiness, and the Kahlua pancakes in the corner. Heaven's not too far away...)

SSWC 2007-Aviemore, Scotland, 2, September, 2007

Dr. Jon over in Scotland has just announced the date for Single Speed World Championship 2007:

"set yer sails for aviemore scotland for 2nd sept 07
glasgow or edinburgh intl airports or internal flights to inverness or rail or road.
lets get ready to rumble..."

Well yer' fuckin' right, I'll be going. You should, too. Start making plans. Save some coin, sell a pair of RaceFace Turbines on Ebay or something. Maybe get rid of one of your nine single speeds, I don't know. Ray, do you have a passport?!?!?

Ray, All That Road Salt Can Be Murder on Your Car's Finish...

Papa's Got a Brand New Sycip

I love Ebay. Scored this sweet 10th Anniversary (2002) Sycip Diesel last week.

It arrived on Monday. BRose is certainly jealous...

We've also got three nice used Surly frames in stock. An original blue 60cm Cross-Check. (sold). A Reynolds 631 green 56cm Cross-Check.(SOLD) A mint condition black 62cm Pacer.

Don't worry Ray, Brown is safely hibernating until you're ready to light smokey treats while taking action shots of the mrs. riding down the block...

Slow and Go

This is what I woke up to this morning. I knew it would be an interesting commute in from Bryn Mawr. Xtracycles handle like shit in all this snow. No traction over the rear wheel. But...

All hale the hard working Mpls Park Board workers who are out plowing the bike paths before sun-up.

Guess the plows are too wide to hit the bridges, however.

The city shines in the distance. I'd rather still be in bed. But then I wouldn't have had the pleasure of shovelling the walk in front of the shop before the Lunatic showed up.

Is it a cornucopia or a cavalcade?

It was a regular fruit stripe of color in the CRC bike rack today. Orange Salsa cross. Tequila Lime Green Surly 1x1. Smokey(treat) Blue Surly Long Haul Trucker. Red & White Saluki 650b.

A very nice red Saluki. Dig the Nitto racks holding Nigel Smythe bags.

The Lunatic logs some serious miles in his never-ending quest to stave off the "winter pelt." It is during this time of year that he craves "massive quantities." I guess he didn't mean massive quantities of smokey treats...

These just might be the sexiest fenders on the streets today. Damn right you better lock them up. Don't park this one on the porch in South Minneapolis...

Get Bent-Prince Matchobelli

I got this cool old road bike last fall. The headbadge reads 'Bicycle Prince Deluxe.' Built it up. It rode funny. Had the fork straightened. Still rode funny.


Figured the frame was bent so I took it to the Garage Mahal and had Reed Von Benderstein hook it up to the FRS-1 (Boogie Down Productions.)


Reed is a superstar and probably the best mechanic (and wheel monkey) this side of well, shit, he's better than Jeebus! Thanks Reed!

'07 Seconds

CRC Jerseys are now available. Standard "race cut" and a few "freeridey" styles. $65 each. Come on down and check 'em out. Ray already got his...


If you're riding past "Hobo Camp East" behind the Lake St. Target, look out for these three stooges...