one less car news

I watched the fine movie Zombieland the other day and I had what I think is great idea for few blog posts.

The movie starts out with the main character Columbus talking about how he's survived as long as he has in a world full of zombies who want to eat him.

He explains that he lives by set of 32 very strict rules.

His rules were things like “the double tap”, which is if you shoot a zombie shoot it again just to make sure its really dead, and “always check the back seat”, because there just might be a zombie back there!

What does this have to do with bicycling you ask?

Well, I have been riding my bike and pedicab in Chicago everyday for 3 years now, and while I hear about people getting hurt everyday, I still haven't gotten hurt yet.

I realized its because I have certain rules I follow- just like Columbus in the movie, and these rules help keep me alive.

Let's face it- riding in the city isn't running from zombies, but it is life and death, right?

So, for the next few weeks I'll share some of my rules with you guys. I'm sure a lot of them you may know, but there may be some people out there just starting out and these could help.

I encourage you to comment with rules that you follow when riding!

Rule #1: Helmet.

I almost always wear my helmet. I know there are those of you who don't believe in them, or think they'll ruin your outfit, but the reality is they work.

I have always said “ if I die on my bike people will say I died doing something I loved".

But if I fall & get brain damage and end up in wheel chair with my friends taking me to bike shows because they knew I liked bikes- that would suck.

And if you wear a helmet, tighten up the chin strap and buckle it!

You already look lame because you have a helmet on, so you might as well go all the way, right?

And wear a real helmet. There are lots of companies out there making a wide selection of helmets, so you should be able to find something that you like.

Don't wear one of those old leather cycling helmets and think that it's going to help! I mean, come on! Really!?!

Bottom line: you don't get a ghost bike for brain damage.

-Cole

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Contest & 12 days of Christmas!!!

Someone out there needs a rack- a bike rack- a rear rack to be exact, made by the peoples @ Axiom! Just our way of saying thanks or your support!
To find out the details, follow Cole ( @1morebike ), myself (Brandon- @greezus ), or for a good time follow us both! We'll be posting the link there...





We've also decided to start our own "12 days of Christmas" and are going to be having all kinds of crazy sales- a new one each day! It's going to start in the next day or two to make sure everything gets to you in time for Christmas!

Not sure yet if we'll be sending out daily newsletters for this or not yet, but it'll be here and on twitter for sure, so come back daily for the latest greatest deal!

And don't forget about reviews on Wednesday!!!

-Brandon

Still can't figure out why when I type in the "title" field and hit the spacebar, whatever I typed turns Arabic of some sorts...frustrating.

We hope everyone got the newsletter- we thought we had it figured out and then received an error...we don't want you to get the same newsletter 3 times in a row, but we do want to make sure that you get it!

Reviews are back this week! Cole reviewed the new Champ jacket from Chrome, and I took a look at Dahon's Mu Xl Sport, and Bern's 8-track Winter helmet upgrade!

BUT...liking to take our time like we do, we didn't get the pictures ready. It got late- it IS late, but we've got a duty...

So tomorrow the reviews will have pictures and maybe some more good news...so read the reviews, come back tomorrow to see the goods!

so as usual, i waited until the last minute to pack for this excursion... i figured i'd spend the night at my grandma's- it's been awhile since i've stopped by, and while here (i'm there now), i'd usurp her interweebs and get some work done.

no such luck. no usurping is happening. she's got some crazy dual modem crap for her phone & pc that i've never seen, has problems with her connection half the time (charter!), and it figures that i can't even plug in.

so unfortunately, reviews will have to wait until tomorrow...

follow my trip on twitter ( @greezus )- i'm bringing the Dahon, and it's gonna be a great time!

and i left my desktop on one night only to return the next day with my google page translated...thanks kitty cats!!! i changed it back to english from spanish, but half the time when i'm posting- no matter where from, after i type it turns to arabic- hence the cramped title...gotta switch from this blogger mess soon!

Yes it is- so at least I've got my days straight!

Stoked I'm going to Chicago to hang with Cole Thursday & get some business done!

I'm also stoked that a Dahon Mu XL Sport showed up at my doorstep monday! I'll tell you all about that tomorrow when Cole and I will be back with more reviews! But I will say I'm pretty excited to be taking a Dahon on the train, getting off at Union Station, and being able to ride to where I need to go without having to deal with boxes and other pains of bringing a bike along on a trip!

Our friends at Cyclelogical (banner to the right) just had one of their shirts picked up by Urban Outfitters and they're pretty stoked on that. I would be too! Congrats! Check them out if you haven't recently.

And I know you've already been checking out Stevil @ allhailtheblackmarket.com since it came out, right?

So stop back tomorrow for some reviews & we'll all get down with that!

Manana!

Buy that special cyclist in your life something that they can use everyday, not to mention how good that bike will look...
Bates Crates!!! Hand-made porter crates, now made with dove-tail ends, these crates are not only beautiful, but nearly indestructible! Nothing to put together and no hardware required- just a porter rack to put it on! With two different models, you can't go wrong!!!

If you still haven't checked them out, you can see them here: http://www.batescrates.com

And don't forget- for a limited time we’ve got HOODIES to keep you warm & cozy all winter long!!! And we've still got all the usual shirts and stickers, & buttons and patches...

HOLIDAY ORDERING: To get everything to you in time, here’s the cut-off dates for orders: for Bates Crates, we must receive your order NO LATER than November 23rd!!! For all OLC orders we must receive your order NO LATER than December 15th!!!

I got something really rad from Bern the other day, and something on the way from Dahon and Peace Coffee- Tell you all about it next week!

I know- it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and here I am talking about Christmas...but when you're dealing with mail order, you've got to be ahead of the game!

Our good friends at Swift.Industries in Seattle have put together a couple of great gift packages this holiday season celebrating cycling, as well as visual and literary arts! Swift.Industries is presenting their first annual Gifted Collection!!!

Partnering with local Seattle artist Karl Addison (who's printing an exclusive run of custom illustrations on S.I's bags), along with some of our other good friends at Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac (who are throwing in a full year subscription!), Swift.Industries is offering a Pelican Porteur Gifted Package ($200.00) and a Roll Top Pannier Gifted Package ($275.00)

Supplies are LIMITED and are sure to go fast!!!

I know I'd be stoked as all get out if one of these packages was under our tree this year...as long as my name was on it! Cole has a set of their panniers, and after seeing them in person (check out our review!) I can honestly say that these are top notch bags. I'd be proud and stoked to tour with them- not to mention confident!

For an interview with the illustrator, and to find out how to order your limited edition Gifted Package, please click here.

Brandon

Our friends at Bianchi sent us 12 of these bobbleheads! I'm sure you're all asking yourselves "How can I get one of those sweet Bianchi bobbleheads? I gotta have one!!!"

Well, we're divising a plan to offer up a few of these around Christmas, so check back soon to see how you can get one!

Your friends @ One Less Car

Both displays are from Trek Store Columbus (Ohio!) and look great! Thanks Mimi! Click photos for full image and see just how much these crates can really hold!

so with 2 1/2 weeks left in chicago, i walk out to find both gold rims missing from my bike. the scene of the crime was milwaukee, north and damen right in front of the salon i've been working at and parking my bike in front of for the last 4 1/2 years. it is quite a bustling neighborhood between the hours of 5 and 9, so i was pretty taken aback that someone would actually have the balls to pull this off.

the next day i received an email response from the ad i placed on craigslist about a guy who sells deep vs, seems super shady and happened to place a set of gold velocity's the same night mine were stolen and gave me his name and number if i wanted to try to nab him. of course i couldn't find the ad and he denied ever posting it so i pretty much gave up hope that i would ever see them again.

next day i get another email from a kid who believes he bought my wheelset the day before for 100 bux. turns out he bought them from the same guy and we set up a time to pick them up from him. yay! (he didn't even bother to remove the blue tires. idiot.) i didn't think it was a good idea but we gave the kid 100 bux anyway since they are worth more than that not only monetarily but sentimentally as well.

i sent the kid a quick email the next day letting him know that i've decided to file a police report but later decided it isn't worth it. in the meantime, he calls and claims that justice was served, i got my rims back and that i should just drop it. that the thief ended up reimbursing him, so of course the only conclusion i can come to is that i've been totally duped by a couple of 20 year old punks and demand my money back or i am turning them both in.

they immediately offered my money back and i am assuming it's for me not go to the police because they know they fucked up. i have no idea if they are in on it together or not, i'm just glad it's worked out to my advantage. lessons learned..i guess..don't ride gold rims, don't put it past the fact that people are willing to make bold moves in very public places, always try to handle situations yourself first with investigative work because most likely a cop isn't going to get your property or your money back for you and watch out for a kid named luke s. selling bike parts on craigslist!

-kim k.