Action Nooze Reporting

Hey Moffit, here's that Electra croozer. Still want it?

The Cykel Garage is becoming a reality. Paint has been spilled. A few beers, too.

Old Style takes an early lead over Budweiser...
Photo Credit: Stroker Ace

New SE Racing brown & blue Chrome/CRC Messenger Bags. Two sizes: Metropolis-$135. Citizen-$110. Act now.

The 2 new CRC shirts, as seen here on the Barlows. Petropolis & Steering Wheel kid. Available now.

Some rock news from the Homey Fall Fest HQ. Thursday night, afore Fest, do yourself a favor and pedal some hooptie bar bike down to Big V's, for some dirty rock action.

Homie Fall Fest Kick-Off Dance
Thursday, 18 October
Big V's in St. Paul.
Juhyo, 4130, & Hondo

New Tshirts at CRC

Shirt color is navy blue with red ink.

As seen in Bike Magazine

Both styles will be available in the shop next week.

Interbike Dirt Demo Crap...

Dirt Demo Day 1.
everybody is talking about the Spot Brand/Gates Belt drive system on their fleet of demo singlespeeds and cross bikes. One rider told me he "ejaculated" over it. Uh, well, it's cool, but I don't think it's that cool... Geno, Chopper, Diamond Simon Shamrock, and myself grabbed four loaners from the Spot tent and had our way with them on the dry, dusty, rocky trails above Bootleg Canyon. We were ripping quite well on the way back to the demo, when I double-flatted. Bollocks! I put my cross skills to an early season test to get back to the road, and then coasted in to the pits. First thoughts? It feels just like a regular transmission, but it's very quiet. Until a little dust or dirt gets in there. Then its a squeaky drivetrain, just like an unoiled chain. You can clean the belt with a simple squirts from your water bottle so it's no big thing. And it's clean; no more greasy "Cat. 5" chain marks on your calf. And I guess if you got your pants caught in the belt, it wouldn't tear the hell out of your favorite pair of bell bottoms. The belt itself is one continuous carbon fiber loop, sandwiched in a polyethylene casing. The belt will not stretch so tension is imperative. Perhaps the belt drive's best applications would be on urban/city bikes. The "chainring" (beltring?) would be less susceptible to damage it would seem as the belt provides more protection than a standard chain. More testing needs to be done, and I wonder how the system would hold up to a cold Minnesota winter? Either way, it's an interesting application to old technology. Harley-Davidson's been doing it for years, so why not bicycles?

Rode a Niner S.I.R. 9 single speed. It felt fine, but the model I rode was set up a little too tall in the front end. I turned the travel on the Rockshox Reba all the way down to 80mm and that seemed to help the handling. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.

BTI is bringing in the Commencal line of bikes from France, and I took the opportunity to ride the 5.5" travel bike. After setting up the rear shock for my weight, I rolled out on trail #3 (the main test trails of Bootleg Canyon are labeled #1 - #4), a fast, twisty bermed slalom run is rewarded for a few climbing bursts. The 5.5 rode just fine, though I felt the cockpit was a little too short and when seated I blew through the rear shocks travel causing several pedal strikes. Nice bike, and cool to see another brand enter the US market aside from the usual suspects. But I would be lying if I said I loved the bike. I guess it just reaffirms my need to ride the single speed.

Santa Cruz is always a good stop on the dirt demo because they show movies at night on the side of their 1959 Streamliner school bus. Cheech & Chong's "Up In Smoke" was last night's feature. But before that classic Geno & I took out two SC's, the Superllight and the Heckler. I was on the Heckler and we rolled back up to trail #3, descending the swoopy, rocky dirt when I flatted again, just before a sweet rocky launcher. Curses! I reigned it in and ran a little cross-country to get back to the pits. We hung out at Camp Surly for awhile and Chris King Precision Components grilled up some precision steaks –these babies were monsters– and fed the crowd tasty barbecue sandwiches on ciabatta rolls. So good, Simon & I ate two. All that was left to do was sit back and watch Officer Lardass and Sgt. Studenko... (thanks to Jailbait for the edit)

HOMIE FALL FESTUS 2007

Mark thee calendars, Socrates. The 2007 Homie Fall Fest is heading our way, 20 October. Followed on the 21st by the Mark Rahn Invitational CX Race at Powderhorn Park. Sure to be a hoot.

Landis Loses

2006 Tour champ Floyd Landis lost his arbitration today, and must forfeit his title. Heavy Bummer, Floyd.

Scotland Random

Thursday Night-Bicycle Film Festival

Thursday Night at the 331 Club. That's what the flyer sez, anyway...

Anger and Coffee...

my man Greg higGINNs in Los Vague Us whipped this up while listening to Mercyful Fate. I kinda dig it. Don't tell Rollins....

New Tshirts headed your way:

Shirt colors and ink TBD at press time.

As seen in Bike Magazine!

Freeride II-Sunday, August 26

Zito and his pals from the Sound Unseen Festival are back with another installment of the FREE RIDE. This is a bike crooze around Minneapolis with stops at various coffee bars and bike shops, with live DJ's and/or bands at every stop. This year's ride starts at CRC, leaving at 2pm. Don't miss it!

CYKEL GARAGE NOOZE

The dog days of summer are showing no sign of slowing down. This week at the CRC Cykel Garage we have several projects on tap: (pictures to follow)

56cm Surly Steamroller w/new wheels/tires, Nitto Mod. 55 bar $600
57.5cm Specialized Sirrus fixed conversion 42 x 17 $395
56cm Surly Cross-Check single speed. 42 x 16. BRAND NEW! $866
19" Gary Fisher Aquila single speed. USA Made Steel frame $442
18" Breezer Jet Stream. A classic! $500
Volume Sledgehammer 26" BMX ACTION! $400

STOLEN BIKE (KILL ALL BIKE THIEVES!)

Bike thieves should be drawn and quartered. How about on Pay-Per-View? American's love a good blood bath and what better way to sate their appetites than by fucking putting the hurt on bike thieves. Anyway, keep an eye out for this sweet cruiser. UPDATE: BIKE RECOVERED!

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