AUGUST IS INTERNATIONAL CANNED BEER MONTH

[photo of Opie by Kmac}

RAGBRAI, YO!

How do.
I'm off to Ragbrai for the last half of that clam-bake. Shop is open abbreviated hours this week: 8-5pm, closed on Sunday.
Holler.

-H

Do you want more?

The Black Hills are Black like my heart...

Some of you may have heard that I recently went on a little riding junket to the Black Hills with some members of BikeMagazine, and various industry miscreants. What's below is a few photos from said junket, with more to come. (w/mea culpas to Burnsie and Tea Bag Dale...fuckin' blog-whores...)

Chopper had some chainring woes on day one.

Kid Riemer maxin' and relaxin' after day one.

Fruitard Troy tellin' lies...

Troy payin' for said lies.

Former Mpls. Mafia dunce Luby, throwin' blue-fork love at some Black Hills singletrack.

Leave the Moving Van at home...

Local Activists Move Using Only Human Power

Local environmentalist, activist, and bicycle advocate Karl Stoerzinger
will be moving from Inver Grove Heights to South Minneapolis Sunday,
June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. - using only human power. A group of bicycle
advocates and environmentalists have pledged to help Mr. Stoerzinger
move all of his worldly goods over 15 miles without use of cars, trucks,
or gasoline. The caravan will meet at The Hub Bicycle Co-Op in South
Minneapolis, ride to Inver Grove Heights, and pile everything onto or into
bicycle trailers, backpacks, messenger bags, bike racks, and panniers.
Everything will then be carried, pulled, or pushed to Mr. Stoerzinger's new
residence in the Corcoran neighborhood. The move is to a house of five
residents, all of whom do not own cars, but rather use bicycles for daily
transportation/utility.

Several local cyclists and bike shops have come forward offering use of their
legs, their equipment, and their knowledge. The Hub Bicycle Co-Op and
Sibley Bike Depot have donated use of their cargo trailers, and about
25 cyclists have announced that they will be in attendance.

Approximate Schedule:
10:00 a.m. Meet at The Hub Bike Coop
3020 Minnehaha Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN

10:30 a.m. Ride to Inver Grove Heights

12:00 p.m. Arrive in Inver Grove Heights
(near Rich Valley Blvd. and Robert Trail)
1:00 p.m. Depart Inver Grove Heights

3:00 p.m. Arrive and unload at the new house
(a few blocks southwest of Lake and Hiawatha)

Save the Zitos...The Hits Keep Comin'

This, too, for you So.Cal'erz...

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...)