one less car news

Dear friends of One Less Car,

All good things must come to an end, and so must we. As of January 1st, 2012, One Less Car will stop selling clothing and stickers.

I began One Less Car more than six years ago with nothing more than a home screen-printing kit and a love of bicycles. I had no idea how many people shared my love of bike riding until the orders started coming in. I will never forget the first time I saw someone walk past wearing one of my shirts. It was one of the greatest feelings of my life.

Over the years, One Less Car has connected me with an amazing community and led me to opportunities I never could have anticipated. It led to a second business, Bates Crates, which makes hardwood crates for riders who want a quality handmade portage option.

Unfortunately, it has just become too much to maintain two businesses. Both have suffered, as has the One Less Car blog. Rather than operate two businesses poorly, I have decided to devote my energies to Bates Crates. I will fill all open orders, as well as any orders placed through the end of 2011, then One Less Car will close up shop.

One Less Car clothing will live on through our partnership with Pace Sportswear, which this year came out with a line of jerseys and headwear featuring our Classic and Chain Ring logos. All of these can be ordered online at pacesportswear.com and will hopefully find their way soon to your local bike store.

I would like to thank all of our customers and supporters. I still can’t believe all the places I sent shirts over the past several years. After a break, I hope to revive the One Less Car blog and reconnect with all of you there.

Sincerely,

Cole Bates

Trek Bicycle Partners with People for Bikes to Create Army of Cycling Advocates

Support People for Bikes this fall and win a Trek District signed by marquee Trek athletes

In an effort to create a greater, and more connected, network of cycling advocates in the US, Trek Bicycle has partnered with People for Bikes to increase and reach and potential impact of those who will rally support for local and federal spending on bicycle infrastructure. Through its network of retailers, marketing avenues, partners, and athletes, Trek will provide exposure to People For Bikes’ mission along with uniting cyclists across the country.

To help spark pledges on Peopleforbikes.org, Trek will be giving away a Trek District autographed by cycling superstars Fränk and Andy Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, and Jens Voigt of the LEOPARD TREK cycling team, as well as triathlon heroes Chris Lieto, and Julie Dibens of the Trek/K•Swiss triathlon team. Supporters can enter the drawing by signing the People for Bikes pledge and will help PFB get closer to reaching their goal of collecting one million signatures in support of federal funding of bicycle infrastructure.

“With funding for bicycle transportation initiatives in jeopardy, People for Bikes’ mission is more important today than ever before,” said Krista Rettig, Director of Advocacy at Trek. “At Trek, we believe that the bicycle is a simple solution to many of our society’s biggest problems, like congestion, obesity, and environmental damage, and People for Bikes helps rally support of that cause. ”

The central goal of People For Bikes is to create a network one-million strong to voice support for cycling advocacy in the United States. With the 300,000-plus signatures it has gathered thus far, People For Bikes has already shown it can effectively create positive change in a challenging political environment. This summer, People For Bikes asked 28,000 California residents who had signed the pledge to contact their local senate representative about their stance on dedicated bicycle funding in the next transportation bill. After 2,000 letters flowed into the senator’s mailbox in a few short days, she publicly announced her support of dedicated bicycle funding.

Hands down, this is the raddest coffee mug I've EVER seen in my life! I'm not just hyping up the product either. Trust me, if you love coffee like you love bikes, I guarantee that you'll want this mug, and that it's for you.

These guys know their stuff too. The mug was first made in 2001 by a bike mechanic named Ben, in Minneapolis, MN. Ben is a year 'round commuter, and he liked to drink a gulp at red lights in the winter- who wouldn't? READ MORE...

Jan Gunneweg is very much ‘into wood’. And not just in a tree hugging sort of way. The Dutch industrial designer creates all sort of implausible things from timber. His latest (and greatest) is an all wooden bike.

While wooden bike frames have been around for as long as dinosaurs, Jan has really stepped things up with his new effort. Pretty much everything you see in the promo photos is made from timber – and that includes the asymmetrical wooden wheels. And the handle bars. And the pedals. And the… well you get the idea. Tyres aside, this thing is 95% wood. And the rest is space age technology.

Whether a bike crafted from wood makes for a more enjoyable / safe trip down to the park is debatable, but you can be pretty sure no one else is going to be riding anything quite as ridiculous as this. Unless of course someone has picked up one of his earlier wooden bike efforts…

There’s no price on Jan’s website, but given the 200 man-hours he spent carving this out of tree trunks it’s not going to be cheap.

More at jangunneweg.nl

Illinoisans and other interested parties, mark your calendars for
November 5th. That's when the "Bridges & Blues" benefit to build the
32-mile Calumet-Sag Trail takes place at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest
(about 20 miles southwest of Chicago). There'll be plenty of beer on
tap, along with fabulous items for sale and live music provided by
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials (the Boston Globe called them "The
world's #1 houserocking blues band"). The bash is presented by Friends
of the Calumet-Sag Trail, which hopes to see their pet project come
to fruition by 2014. According to the group's website, the trail will
connect cyclists and pedestrians "to regional trails, transit systems,
retail areas, parks, forest preserves, marinas, nature centers, as
well as the legacies of Big Steel, immigrant communities, and the
Underground Railroad. Trail users will see barges. They will see
bridges. They will see factories, and dams, and purple cone flowers
and deer. They will see each other." Learn more about the fundraiser
here:
http://bridgesandblues.calsagtrail.org/BridgesandBlues/Information.html

Trek Bicycle and international poster phenomenon ARTCRANK have unveiled a new aesthetic for Trek’s popular District line. The Trek District ARTCRANK Edition combines Trek’s top commuter bike with graphics created by ARTCRANK Lead Designer Rob Angermuller. Hand painted and assembled by hand at Trek’s Waterloo, WI manufacturing facility, the limited production project, was an opportunity for both Trek and ARTCRANK to take their love for bikes and art in a new direction.

“Trek is a family full of people that love and appreciate art and how that affects our bikes and design and we’ve done these sorts of collaborations with everybody from Shepard Fairey to Damien Hirst for our riders who compete in events like the Tour de France or Crankworx,” said Travis Ott, Trek Town Bike Brand Manager. “Our project with ARTCRANK is all about elevating the design appeal of an everyday bike that will appeal to a fresh audience.”

ARTCRANK founder and director Charles Youel adds, “The artists in our shows are people who are inspired by riding bicycles, and they tap into that energy and excitement to create amazing posters. This was an opportunity to take that idea back to the source.”

As it turns out, making a bike about art is a lot different than making art about bikes. “Designing this bike was one of the toughest creative challenges I’ve ever had,” says Angermuller, who goes by the handle Lifter Baron. “I didn’t want to create just a nice-looking traditional bike. I was after something that showed how riding a bike feels: energy, motion, excitement and just pure joy .”

Coming up with the look was just the beginning, according to Ott. “The bicycle is a challenging canvas. It’s all skinny round tubes, curves and angles. And when we apply custom graphics to a bike, the process isn’t automated. From painting the frame to fitting the design to the form of the tubes to applying the finished decals, the work’s all done by hand. With complex graphics like these, it’s the dictionary definition of ‘painstaking.’”

The end result is a sleek, stripped-down single-speed bike, with graphics dominated by bold colors and shapes that echo traditional screen-printing techniques and textures as well as pop art and Japanese animé. The District ARTCRANK Edition also features the Gates Carbon Drive — a maintenance-free belt drive system similar to those used on motorcycles — instead of a traditional chain and sprocket, which accentuates the bike’s singular appearance. And it does more than just look good. “As soon as I got it put together, I took it out for a spin in the middle of the night,” says Youel. “It’s super-fast and eerily quiet. I felt like a Stealth Bomber.”

The Trek District ARTCRANK Edition will be on display at upcoming ARTCRANK events in Denver, CO, Portland, OR, San Francisco, CA and Bend, OR. The bike will also be at Trek dealerships in those cities before and after each ARTCRANK event. Cyclists who are ready to design their own Trek bikes can get started at trekbikes.com/projectone.

Cole just got back from his annual tour work with Bicycle Illinois, and he also took back printing and shipping duties from me.

I'm still without a permanent -or even semi-permanent for that matter- place to live, so it just works out better this way. Things didn't work out for me as planned, so I'm staying in Michigan longer...somewhere.

So, OLC is fully back in Chicago!!!

In other news, we're going to have our first jersey in collaboration with Pace Clothing!!! We're both really stoked about that, as is Pace! I'll keep you up to date on those.

We've also got a couple new reviews for you this week! The first, Mountain Smith's Bike Cube Deluxe- A definite MUST have for all racers and all of you neat freaks out there!!! Then last, but certainly not least, is Detours' medium sized Seat Bag, The Guppy! I've been digging both pretty hard the last month.

Here's a little sample of the reviews...

Mountain Smith's Bike Cube Deluxe



Mountain Smith's Bike Cube is mainly aimed towards people who race their bikes. Straight up- the last time I raced a bike, I was under 12, if not 10, and it was across a long church parking lot across from my house.

I wanted to race BMX REALLY BAD when I was a kid. My dad took me out to our local track to watch a race, but we showed up towards the end and didn't catch any action. Sadly, that's as far as my racing career went. READ MORE...

Detours Guppy Seat Bag



I've been looking for a good saddle bag for a while lately, and in steps The Guppy from Detours.

I recently moved when I first got it and, I was without my bike for a few weeks. I ended up using it as my go to bag inside my BIG bag. Being super padded, I knew I could throw just about anything in it and toss it in without fear of any of it being broken. READ MORE...

That's it for now- stay tuned...We'll be back soon!!!

Cheers!

Brandon

Check it out- Urban City Bike Shelf


What they say: Based out of Queens, NY these bike shelves are made out of solid maplewood, cherrywood, and walnut. Bike shelves are then stained and coated with natural wax. Serves as a unique way to mount your bike, which can be used as a book shelf to store whatever you want. Designed with a creative mind, these bike shelves are perfect for people who need to utilize their space in a standout way.

What we say: Since Cole started Bates Crates, we've both been paying more attention to handmade cycling goods. with that in mind, I got a hold of Urban City Bike shelves, and they sent us one of their bike shelves to check out review.

First off, to all of the naysayers out there, as well as the people that think "I could just do that myself!", go do it. You'll have a much better understanding of handmade goods and why they cost the price they do. Read more...

Read more about it here:

http://wilmette.patch.com/articles/wilmette-and-winnetka-police-nab-bike-thiefs

DON'T STEAL BIKES BRO!!! ...OR PARTS!!!!

Fixed & fixed freestyle riders alike rejoice!

Check it out- SE's Quad- Fixed. Coming soon... Word on the streets is we'll have one for show & tell in September! Until then, check this out!

So it's finally summer, you're probably noticing more art popping up on the streets during your rides & commutes- i know i do...

I got a few things from Art Primo awhile back and i'll give you the lowdown- but first, check this video out- maybe your bike needs a new paint job, or you want it to look top notch for the summer...whatever your reasons, you need the right tool for the right job- and Krylon isn't it, but you can't afford to get that whip powder-coated either, so here's a solution for you: a couple cans of Belton Molotow paint from our friends at Art Primo!

You can get straight to the paint here:
http://artprimo.com/catalog/spray-paint-molotow-high-pressure-c-26_75.html

Without further a do, check this out!



I got the following goodies: A can of Belton Molotow paint, a couple of Krink's Smash markers, and an OTR .210 Metallic black book marker.

Let's start at the bottom and work our way back to the paint...

Up first is OTR's black book marker- metallic gold! I've been a LONG TIME fan of OTR's goods, and this little baby is no exception.

The nib is super-fine, and a pretty decent length, so you've got a few options for when you're planning your next piece, need some fine metallic lines on a canvas, or just walking down the street...

***For legal reasons, I must state that I am not promoting vandalism or malicious destruction of property in any way/shape/form. What you do on your time is your call.***

That said, let's get back to business!

It easily fits in your pocket without concern of falling out (like my 1" Soul Tip- that still hurts.) while walking, running, riding your bike (how I lost the ST...)- however you get around, you can feel confident that it's not going anywhere.

Very similar to OTR's other liner's, this one isn't refillable (as far as I can see...).

...But nonetheless, still permanent!

***

Next up- Smash Ink Markers- The Smashville Slugger in Teal Legit, and The KO in Violent Violet! Have to admit that these probably have the raddest color names I've seen. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing 'em up on the site anymore- not that they're still not available...



Very similar- if not identical to Krink's K-71. This line of Smash Markers have a pretty fat, broad tip for a steel paint marker... These, along with anything else you can find at Art Primo will kick the ass out of anything that you'll probably be able to find at your local art supply store. They do mine!

Killer inks, can be as drippy as you want them to be, and the colors are simply amazing. Bright, bold, and beautiful.

Like everything else- especially steel markers, they need to be shook pretty good, and aren't that quiet. And you need to take your time with the cap- I pulled a cap of of one of mine in a hurry & watched the nib go flying through the air... but I found it!

Overall though, a kick ass marker from Smash.

Saving the best for last, a 330 gram can of Belton Molotow High Pressure. Forget your cheap ass Walmart cans, your Krylon, and your Rusto... This has been one of the best cans I've ever used.

I live in a place that's damn cold for a little over a season. Any of the above mentioned paints turn to crap and just get worse the colder it gets. This stuff says all season on the can, and it's no joke. all year 'round, this is what you wanna grab for sure.

While being a high-pressure can, it's hard to get it to drip unless you just hold it on the same spot & don't let go- anyone can get a nasty drip like that. But for being high-pressure, I was pretty impressed by that too.

There's two more reasons why this should be one of your main go-to cans- The first being that it claims to be dust free, and damn near is. While I can't recommend NOT using breathing protection, you're not gonna be sitting in a cloud of dust for however long it takes you to do what you're doing!

As much as I love the smell of inks & paints, I can feel when I've got a good pigment cake sitting on the front of my brain, and it's not the best of feelings, not to mention that kind of thing can cause permanent damage in the long run.

And while it may look pretty sweet when you blow your nose, and the snot comes out in every shade of a rainbow, when it comes down to it, we all know it's not a good thing. So that's one less thing to have to worry about!

The last reason why this should be a go-to: one word: PIGMENT. These claim to have the HIGHEST concentration of pigment available. It's as simple as that! The more pigment, the better coverage, and the less paint you have to use to get the job done. I'll bet you could go through close to, if not 3 cans of Krylon before this one can is gone.

It's one of those products where you really get what you pay for, and Art Primo is the company that's got your back. Simple as that!!!

I love the Instructables site- in case you're not familiar, Instructables is a site where people make their own projects, then post them with full instructions, pictures, & all the details.

Plus, anyone can comment on any project which often leads to improvements or a whole new idea all together. And there's an Instructable for just about anything & everything, including some really rad ones for bikes!

Check it out here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Commuting-Bicycle-Mods/

My personal favorite is the sidecar built by stevebod.



Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there! Today's your day to get back in the garage & make mod one of those bikes! When you're done, be sure to post a pic to our flickr feed on the blog!

Thanks & happy Sunday too...

Brandon

Our friend Eddy & a couple of his friends up in Canada are attempting to launch a new bike grip company called OOQI GRIPS **The Hyper-Galactic Handlebar Grips** through Kickstarter & need your help!

They have 27 days left to reach their goal! Plus, if you help them reach their goal, you even get a pair of grips...or possibly even a brand new OOQI fixed gear bike!

Check out the video below, and if the link above doesn't work, go here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/604599907/ooqi-grips-the-hyper-galactic-bike-handlebar-grips-1

I'm sure you're familiar with Chrome's buckle-bags, but this there's a new twist to the Salvage series.



The Salvage series are made using salvaged, reusable materials that would otherwise be discarded, so no two bags are completely alike. The first run of Salvage bags were made from reclaimed army tents (shown below) for the outer panels of the Heritage Citizen bags.

Needless to say these bags are pretty limited... 120 in stores: 40 in SF, 40 in NYC, and the remaining 40 in the new Chicago store, then there's a few more at select retailers., so you'll have to hunt them down! Each bag is stamped with the lot size and it's unique number within the lot.

Once they're gone, they're gone, so get one while you can!

I got a call from my youngest sister the other day, and outta nowhere she decided to join a small group of people that are riding across the US in a month! Kind of short notice, but I know she can use all the help she can get.

She's trying hard to raise the money for the trip and everything she'd need to go, but if there's anyone out there that can help her out I know she'd greatly appreciate it!!

Here's her story...

Dear friends,

I decided to participate in an event in honor, respect, and remembrance of my father, Andrew John Bartels.

I have joined a group to tour bike across America. The tour is North West America down to Key West Florida. I am finally going to spread his ashes in each and every state and beautiful site I see until they are gone.

I never got the chance to travel with him; so now I am and I need your help. I leave in one month and I have to raise money for my trip to be as successful as I want it to be.

Your donations will help me survive for the several months on my travels. I need to purchase supplies, bicycle gear, camp gear, and food among other things, such as having health insurance and cell phone on while I’m away.

I will be tracking my trip with pictures and journaling along the way. I will have my cell phone and when possible share on Facebook or email.

I am asking for donations from you to help me on my trip. My goal is to raise $3,500-$4,000.

Will you please consider a monetary donation for my father and me? A donation of any kind will help me greatly!

I can take checks, credit cards, and cash or I can even send a PayPal invoice.

Please don’t hesitate, I leave in a month!

As you all know, my father passed away last August from lung cancer, heart issues, among several other illnesses that simply took over his body and health. He suffered severe pain physically and mentally for several years prior to his passing; yet his high spirits was always around. To this day, I still feel his high spirits around me.

I can proudly say that the main thing my father taught me was to be myself no matter what the cost. I unfortunately finally learned this after he passed away. I realized he also taught me to not fear judgment from others and to not judge others, to enjoy everyone, to love nature and the earth we came from.

Part of my father’s spirit resides in me. I am part of him. I know his character, I know his soul and I know what he would do if it were me…

Thank you for helping me on my quest,
Chelsey Marie Bartels

-if you'd like to help please email me!! -brandon | brandon@1lesscar.com

Urban Outfiiters is in the news as of late for stealing a jewelry designer's ideas: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/urban-outfitters-continue_n_867604.html#postComment.

What does this have to do with bicycles you ask? Well, here is my story.

As some of you may know, I started a second company called Bates Crates. I have been building high end wooden crates for the front of bikes for 3 years now. Here is a link to the first one I built- notice the date in the link... http://1lesscarnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/porter-box.html.

That was the first crate I built, but a few months later I designed what we called the Classic Crate, and within a few months we were contracted by Trek to design a crate for them (The Model T): http://1lesscarnews.blogspot.com/2009/08/biggest-news-in-one-less-car-history.html.

Now that you know the background, a few months ago I was alerted to company *cough*SUNLITE*cough* making a REALLY cheap knock of of my crate (along with another person or two on blogger).

About a month ago, Urban Outfitters emailed asking about selling my crates. I told them my wholesale price and below was there response:


Hi Cole,
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. We have a similar basket right now that retails for $40 and I really can’t work with a wholesale cost of $90 since we have such high margins. Thank you so much though.

So I decided to take a look on their site and this what I found: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20758819&CAWELAID=857891016.

Not only is a direct rip-off of my design, but they stole the name too!

It sucks for multiple reasons. First, I spent a lot of time making these, then sales slowed down, and now I have a decent idea of why.

I don’t have enough cash to hire a lawyer, and we all know Urban Outfitters has deeper pockets than me, so it looks like they're just going to get away with it... but I hope not.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks-

Cole

First things first- I know everybody knows (you should...), and I was on twitter at the time (@greezus -follow me!) and didn't post here, but my heart goes out to the Weylandt family and the Leopard-Trek team. On May 9, Wouter Weylandt was fatally injured in a crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia. He was 26-year-old. Westbound.



Time really flies whether you're having fun or not. Cole always says I need a personal blog because I'll easily get into my personal crap when this is supposed to be a cycling blog, so all I'll say is I got dumped after 13 years. I'm trying to stay on top of the game as much as I can, and I'll leave it at that.

Upcoming reviews: Bags from Detours, Mountainsmith, and much more!


News: So much has happened since my last post. I took a short hiatus in Chicago. Since I'm talking about Chicago, Chrome is opening their 3rd retail store in Wicker Park on June 4th! Speaking of Chrome, they just came out with the Brigadier- the ultimate travel backpack that transforms into a haul bag to live up to the adaptability demands of year-round global travel. Whether bike, board, train, plane or automobile... Watch the video!

Chrome Brigadier: Get Gone from Chrome Bags on Vimeo.

I may or may not be moving there as well. Everything in my personal life is up in the air right now. But if I do, OLC will be moving from MI to CHI for a second time...

While there, I got to meet Cole's go-to mechanic, Adam, who runs Pedal to the People. I received a bike to test awhile back (that will remain nameless), but as Cole and I were pedaling around the city, my bike kept getting louder & louder until Cole figured out the spokes were loose on the rear wheel. Come to find out, whoever built that wheel never finished. They could all be tightened by hand. Not so good... So we went to see Adam, and he trued the wheel for me quickly and it was also very affordable.

So, if you're ever in (or live in) Chicago and your bike breaks down, call Pedal to the People at 773.355.0882 and talk to Adam yourself! He'll ride TO YOU, makes repairs ON THE SPOT, and on the CHEAP!


Also, coming up in Chicago on May 29, 2011: A car-free bike ride down world-famous Lake Shore Drive for the tenth annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive. Enjoy live entertainment and breakfast at the post-ride festival in Grant Park. This amazing bike ride is a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance, Chicagoland’s voice for better biking, walking and transit.
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend. What better way to experience a better world for bicycling than by cruising down a wide-open Lake Shore Drive on your bike on a spring day?

New Belgium's Urban Assault Ride was just in Chicago this past Sunday and is in full effect! Check out the link to see when it'll be in your town!

And music-wise, while I got to see Hunx and his Punx, I'm bummed I'm can't make it back in time for the back to back, 2 nights of The Melvins, performing 5 albums in all back to back. Dentist & Doctor. Balls. Oh well... Won't be the first kick-ass show I've missed, and I'm sure it won't be the last either.


If you've been paying attention to the Giro at all, I'm sure you've seen GEOX-TMC riding Fuji's ultra-light Altamira road bikes.

With leaders like 2009 Giro d'Italia champion Denis Menchov, and 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, as well as emerging stars like Fabio Duarte and Rafael Valls, GEOX-TMC will not only be among the top contenders for the pink jersey- they have a chance to win.

We've been following the team since the season began in January through rider interviews, race reports, and exclusive photos and news from Fuji's pro team blog: http://www.fujibikes.com/proteam. check it out!

On Sunday, May 15^th, Fuji and Kestrel took the tri world by storm: Fuji's Matt Reed won Rev3 Knoxville, Andy Potts won the Rhoto Iron Man 70.3 Florida, and a slew of Kestrel athletes took Top 10's across the country.But Mesigian's not worried. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kestrel had a big showing on this particular weekend, but Fuji only had one athlete race... and he won."


SE & Oakley have joined forces once again to creat some of the sickest gloves ever! These retro looking "team fit" gloves feature the classic SE Racing & Oakley Factory Pilot logos, have short & tight cuffs for better wrist articulation, perforated thumb knuckle pads, out-turned seams on the fingers, and "B1-B" finger grippers so you won't get caught slippin'!

If your local shop doesn't carry them, go to http://www.buySEstuff.com to get yours!

This week I got to review a couple rad things-

Mission Workshop's Rummy, their medium sized roll-top Messenger Bag, and from Feedback Sports, their RAKK Storage Stand.

First up, we’ve got the Rummy:



Just like their roll-top backpacks, MW comes through with roll-top messenger bags that are just as weather-proof, just as bomb-proof, and come in 3 different sizes to satisfy whatever carrying situation you have.

I use their large Vandal backpack a lot of the time, but there's a lot of times when I don't need to carry a bag full of orders, or a keg... so I decided it'd be best to downsize and went with the Rummy, MW's medium sized messenger bag. Read more...

And last but not least is the RAKK:




When I opened the box to the RAKK, I was immediately impressed. It felt HEAVY, which made me think heavy duty right away, and that it is. It's also pretty compact, which is also a definite plus.

For a single bike stand, it's got options to boot. It's got two little arms on one side that flip out so you can hook another RAKK to that one to hold another bike. REPEAT. Straight line, circle, it's all good. Read more...

we've got more reviews in the works, so stay tuned!

same bike time, same bike channel...

Brandon

Enter Chrome's Sherman, a whole new breed of cycling bags.


Like Chrome says, The Sherman was built as a race bag, but fit to carry just about everything. To be honest, I didn't think I needed a new bag. I thought I was set on bags for the rest of my life, but something kept bringing me back to this bag... READ MORE!

Been playing catch up & trying to get back on the saddle after a really rough couple of months. Cole prefers I talk bikes (don't blame him!), so I'll spare you the details...

The main thing is I AM getting back on that saddle, and while I might need training wheels for a bit, everything is all good I guess. And no, I didn't crash this time. Just burned.

So I will ride and do my damnedest to keep a PMA...

Until next time (soon!), cheers!

Brandon

P.S. OLC garage sale coming soon!!!

My 1st post from my new phone! Color me stoked!

Actually, it's just one bag, and just one shelf... but I thought plural sounded better.


Urban City Bike Shelves sent us their handmade bike shelf to review. It's real purty, made out of Cherry and all, and it holds your bike...and it's a shelf! Handmade in the USA. check them out: http://www.facebook.com/urbancitybikeshelves


Mission Workshop sent us The Rummy, their medium sized rolltop messenger bag. These guys know their shit, and their bags definitely back it up. The Rummy is no exception. Pockets, options, made in the good ol' US of A, by bikers, for bikers. Lifetime Guarantee as always, so you know you'll never have anything to worry about for the rest of your life, unless you happened to get jumped by a gangload of machete wielding thugs that slice you to shreds...but I have a feeling The Rummy would fare better than you...or me for that matter!

Be back soon with full reviews & more!

Brandon

Our friends at Marin just put this out, & I think it's pretty rad... Not to mention affordable, and with decent components to boot!

This is what Marin has to say about it: URBAN Series : The Marin Urban series may be the most versatile bikes on the block. Mountain bike tough, but designed for an asphalt world. Available with 26" or 29" wheels to suite every rider's needs with durable frames in both aluminum and cromoly that boast ample tire clearance for street or mountain tread tires. Durable wheels and componentry allow riders to jump curbs during the week and explore backroads and trails on the weekend.

I haven't had the chance to ride one yet, but it looks pretty rad & like it's lots of fun too! Dig the 29's on the street & dual disc brakes are great. Carbon fork & aluminum frame to save on weight.
Pretty killer from the get go.

The only thing that would make it sweeter to me from first looks would be an 8 or 11 spd. internal hub, but I can work with a deraillieur & 9 speeds just the same.

Looks great! Check out more here: http://www.marinbikes.com/2011/bike_specs.php?serialnum=1900 and ask your local dealer to get some in!

I've got a single spd. 29'er for the street & love it. Big wheels are the bomb.

Thanks Marin!

Happy Friday...

Got this info from our friends over at the Chainlink (.org) in their weekly newsletter today & thought I'd share it with our readers too, even though I REALLY hate to bite, but this is important stuff!!! And even though this was written for Chicago riders, it's still chock full of great advice. Also, almost every town has a bike registry, and it's always wise to register your bike.

Personally, back in the late 80's, my GT Pro Performer got swiped, and even though it was registered, it was never recovered (and that was also when I personally started to lose faith in the police, even though I know now that MOST bikes ARE NOT RECOVERED). There's still a hole in my heart where that bike fits.
I'd love to get another one just because... if I ever came across it & had the extra cash... hot pink with Skyway Mags... straight dope...straight DOPE! ...and straight jacked. Adios.
I found it in our paper for $200 with the mags & the spoked wheelset too... It was a dream come true.

What to do if Your Bike is Stolen

Your bike is stolen and you want it back. One place in Chicago where stolen bikes have been spotted is the Swap O Rama at 4100 S. Ashland. If you do decide to check out the swap for your stolen bike, here are some pointers:

Be safe: Watch your surroundings, go with at least 1 other person (ideally someone who has been there before), trust your instincts.

Bring documentation: Copy of your police report, or police report number, copy of your receipt (if you have it), pictures of the bike, pictures of you with the bike, a detailed description of the bike.

Don't buy back a stolen bike: If it is yours, this isn't necessary. Paying rewards theft!!!

Act casual: Everyone does this differently. Sellers with stolen property may pack up if they think they are going to be busted. More than likely, you can identify your bike from a distance.

Check booths, the aisles where some people roll around bikes and also the parking lot. Bikes can be in many locations in the swap and can move around...

If you see your bike:
- Don't talk to the seller or ask any questions.
- Have at least 1 person keep an eye on the bike.
- Have someone else call 911.
-Take the police to your stolen bike and have them check the serial number or other verifying details.
-Confronting with official assistance will minimize risk to yourself.

Know that hundreds of bikes (and parts) are stolen annually in Chicago (and everywhere else), however only a small number are recovered.
-Do what you can, but don't beat yourself up if you aren't one of the lucky ones.
-Don't forget to check Craigslist. It may be listed there as well.

If you are interested in getting involved in a concerted effort to recover stolen bikes and fight bike theft, check out Chainlink Bike Theft Task Force. More tips, tricks and the additional write-ups on the latest stolen bike recovery story can also be found at : Checklist for Bike Ownership, Balloon Biker, Active Tran's Blog and Let's Go Ride A Bike.

---Thanks Chainlink!

Going to try & get a review or two up over the weekend- been kind of a crazy week to say the least... Glad it's the weekend!!!

Cheers!

Brandon

(Philadelphia, PA) March 7, 2011 - GEOX-TMC received the news they had been waiting for Monday: The pro-continental squad snubbed by the Tour de France will get their chance at Italy's coveted pink jersey.

Giro Director Angelo Zomegnan officially extended GEOX-TMC a wild-card invitation to the Giro d'Italia Monday.

"We deserve it," Sport Director Joxean Matxin Fernández told VeloNews. "We will have one of the strongest teams for the Giro. We have both Carlos and Denis, both of whom have won grand tours and will be among the favorites for overall victory."

Upon learning of the ASO's disappointing decision in January, GEOX-TMC immediately shifted its focus to the Tour of Italy. And instead of opting to join a team already in the Tour, GEOX-TMC's superstars Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov not only pledged their commitment to the team, they vowed to win the Giro.

And it's not exactly a pipe-dream for the 2008 Tour de France Champion and 2009 Giro d'Italia winner.

"They feel they can win it, and so do we," said Pat Cunnane, president of Advanced Sports International, the parent company of Fuji Bikes - official bike sponsor of GEOX-TMC.

"We are absolutely thrilled, and somewhat relieved, that the team will have the opportunity to race in Italy's most prestigious race, and with the way they've been riding so far, I'm liking their chances," he added.

Fresh off their first victory of the season with Matteo Pelucchi's 1^st place finish at the Clasica de Almeria and Denis Menchov's podium finish at this weekend's Vuelta a Murcia, GEOX-TMC is poised for a great Giro run.

Be sure to check out the team blog for all the behind-the-scenes action as GEOX-TMC makes its push to the Giro. Fujibikes.com/proteam is your one-stop spot for all insider scoop, race results, rider interviews, and exclusive photos of Fuji's sponsored teams.

So yeah, we're all back after the Cycle Swap in Chicago (above: our table- click for the big version!) this past weekend- thanks to all the people who stopped by, and made it possible for me to make it home after a paypal glitch on the way down that got my account froze...hence the missing buttons for a few days.

Things turned out fine in the end, and for the best. I also got to hang out with Cole & Derek, my two best friends in the world for the past 17 years, and possibly the two single greatest people on earth! Love those dudes.... Makes home a little bittersweet without them, but it's all good, and this is about bikes, so I digress.

And it's been awhile since we posted reviews, and I'm working on changing that as we speak! I have 2 reviews for you tonight- both from Aerotech Designs, and made in the USA.



AeroTech Windproof Thermal Cycling Jacket

This is the warmest cycling jacket I've worn to date. Hands down.

Windproof for one to stop the gusts, and a fleece inside to keep you warm and cozy. Also has a high neck, and made of a three-layered breathable fabric, so you're good to go.
AeroTech Thermal Stretch Fleece Exercise Pants (cold weather!)

Tight yet stretchy, beefy, and super comfy. These are rated for 45 degrees, but I've been riding in the 30's and have been finding these to be great (although their riding pants look WAY killer...).

Read more about both... http://www.1lesscar.com/reviews/aerotech.html

Brandon

we're back up & running, full speed ahead! order at will.

Chrome recently released their Spring Collection for 2011, and it's full of goodness! Check out the video below of the new clip-in Kursr Pro's, & click the links below for more info on the rest of the line!

Spring '11 welcomes to the growing Chrome family...

KURSK PRO ($95): Our top-selling shoe, now clip-in compatible. By far the most unsuspecting cycling shoe ever.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/shoes/kursk-pro.html

Sherman ($190): Built as a race bag with unique tri-fold system to carry an extra wheel set. Fits about anything. Guaranteed for life.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/pro-series/sherman.html

Buran ($140): Our working professional's integrated laptop messenger bag. Guaranteed for life.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/laptop-bags/buran.html

Falcon/Romer ($140/$120): Our original messenger packs, rebuilt to ride better. Still guaranteed for life.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/packs/romer.html

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/packs/falcon.html?c=117

Bishop Wallet ($35): Lock-and-load wallet with full zip closure, internal button-close coin pouch and steel "credit card" bottle opener.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/bags/accessories/bishop-wallet.html

Tobruk ($70): Our classic slip-on, now in white!

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/shoes/tobruk.html

-So peep that. The cycle swap in Chicago was great! We'll post on that soon. Also working hard on a payment solution! Any questions, please email me: brandon at 1lesscar dotcom.

Thanks!!!

Brandon

If you're in Chicago, come see us at Pulaski Park tomorrow from 10-5 for The bike swap meet! Cole and I will be splitting a booth, so we'll have plenty of OLC shirts in all kinds of different colors that haven't been on the site before, and Cole will have a half dozen Bates Crates along with a new rear model he made!

Who & Why: Top 5 Influential Cyclists. Go!!! Leave your answers in the comments!

See- Beer & Bikes DO Mix!!!
Drunk cycling in Michigan- Courtesy of one of our local papers...GR PRESS i think. mlive.com for sure.

MYTH: Just like you can’t drive a vehicle or moped drunk, you can’t ride a bike while intoxicated.

FACT: In Michigan there is no law against drunk bike riding, but other states have them.

THE DETAILS: Drunken driving requires that you operate a vehicle and under the definition in the Vehicle Code a bike is not a vehicle, Church and Bennett said. You could, however, be charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. “I’ve actually issued two people citations for being drunk and disorderly on a bike because they were riding down the middle of a four-lane highway in the middle of the day,” Church said. “But if you’re riding appropriately and intoxicated there’s no law against it.”

And I know every other cycling blog and everyone else is talking about it, but Lance calls it quits...

Pic from google images and OLD...sorry Radio Shack!
From CNN: Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong announced his retirement from the world of professional cycling Wednesday, saying that he wants to devote more time to his family and the fight against cancer. Read more...

And we know everyone love chrome- not just our friends over at Chrome Bags, but chromoly... yeah... Well, what do you do when you need something refinished because someone left it outside for the last few years, or whatever the case may be? You call CW Racing, that's what! Check out the pics below, then go here:
http://cw-racing.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5143591bf71d285bd13f503df&id=cbfb475a7a&e=bb73020721




Word- so that's a wrap on the news today- come back tomorrow for some more reviews!!!

I dig the "Ride it like you stole it" outro (also form another site, so I prefer not to use it because i don't like to bite...but i do dig it!), so Ride it like you stole it anyway, just don't steal it! ...Or its parts!!! Both suck horribly and have happened to both Cole and myself.

It's nice out today...go ride!!! I'll stick with that.

Brandon

Happy VD!!! Chrome wants to help celebrate it by giving some lucky person a Tango Tandem from Schwinn! Click the picture above to enter!!!

Contest ends 2/18 at 5pm EST. GOOD LUCK!

a friend wrote me an email this a.m. because we've been talking about touring, and he's getting ready for his first year. i thought my response would make a good post, so here it is!

So I'm starting to play catch up now after the move, and I'm back with a review today of a killer jacket from Rebel Eight- the Backwoods model in fact.


Living in the backwoods myself, I was stoked when I got a fat box from Rebel Eight that had their Backwoods Jacket in it. This thing has mad style & detail from the get go.

The hooded outer shell comes in everyone's favorite color: two tones of solid black. Instant classic. It's also water repellant, treated oilskin twill (100% cotton canvas), with a lively flannel inside. It has a nice, slim fit to it. I totally dig it. Even the hood is nice & snug, and also offers drawstrings for those extra cold & windy days. Read More...

I'll be back soon with more!

Brandon

i've spent my entire day working on banners for all the rad people that sent us stuff to review & didn't get to any actual reviews today as previously stated yesterday. so my bad.

so january seemed to fly by. cole and i packed all of OLC's stuff up and moved it from chicago back to michigan, but a couple hours north of muskegon where it was born, in a little town called frankfort. there was a summer camp down the road from our house for years...maybe you went there... maybe not. if so, you know a little bit about where i'm at. at the moment (if i were outside), i'd be more than knee deep in snow!

we made it safe and sound though, and january was filled with lots of cleaning, moving, rearranging, and setting up. i'm still not completely done... but i can see why cole was having a headache trying to run two businesses! so things should be running smoother for OLC and for Bates Crates!

I'll have a few couple reviews up tomorrow to kick off the month right...i know you saw the pictures last month!

those of you that own a pugsley or a mukaluk- i envy you... :) ...but a trainer from Kinetic showed up last week, so I'm pretty stoked about that & can't wait to show & tell you more about it!

that's it from me for today (unless you catch me on twitter- @greezus), but before i go, for all of you racing fans out there, i wanted to share the following press release with you:

GEOX-TMC Team Jersey Unveiled

Philadelphia, PA (January 31, 2011) - With the 2011 UCI racing season in full swing following the Australian season opener, Team GEOX-TMC unveiled its much-anticipated, official team jersey Monday.

Designed by GEOX in collaboration with the team's other co-sponsors and produced by Italian sportswear leader Diadora , the team jersey is black and white with distinctive Diadora neon accents. The jersey complements GEOX-TMC's 2011 Fuji Altamira LTD Team Bike, designed using the same color palette.

Title-sponsor GEOX incorporated their Respira shoe ventilation product into their logo displayed on the official team jersey, which also features second-name sponsor TMC, as well as co-sponsors Cantabria Infinita, Diadora, ZipVit, Rotor, Footon, Servetto, and Fuji.

With design completed, the team is outfitted and ready to kick off the season. GEOX-TMC's first race will be on February 5 at the GP Costa Etuschi in Italy, and the team will meet the media at its official team presentation on February 12 in Padova, Italy.

Four days into the new year and here's our first post. My plans were to get everything done in the afternoon. Start early in the afternoon and be finished by late afternoon at the latest.

But every time I sit down to start, about five minutes later someone wants to play. Unfortunately this someone really isn't a person, but my puppy dog...whose not really a puppy anymore either. Her name is Rowan.

Being a dog, Rowan and I have problems communicating sometimes, and it is I, the superior human who folds first that has to set work aside and play.
So play we do... that's her. She's really rad, the first dog I've ever had, but damn- she's NEEDY. There's a lot of walks in our day, along with all the other doggy duties that my better half shares with me. In turn, I get work done in between.

I didn't talk about this much or at all on here to try and keep things positive, but in 2010 my dad died, my old lady's mom got breast cancer again (but is finished with chemo/radiation and doing good!), my baby sister moved across the country, and my bands of 10 & 5 years both seemed to go to shit, among other things.

While a lot of great things happened too, I don't think 2010 was my year to say the least. So here's to 2011.

So there's a few things in this list that are overdue, and I just wanted to let you know why.

So far in 2011, we got a rad box from Rebel Eight, and we just got a sweet box of goodies from Fyxation...

Above I'm wearing Rebel Eight's Backwoods Hooded Jacket, their plaid oilskin new era cap, and Chrome's Natoma pants... Turns out I clean up alright, or so I've been told. I'm feeling pretty fresh & clean today to say the least! Rebel Eight also sent along a couple of their bike themed t-shirts too.

above: the sweet box of goodies from Fyxation! The new, two-tone Session tires (700x23), matching track grips, and some rad, steel end caps to finish 'em off. Can't wait to get these on!!! Derek is STILL riding his. They're Indestructible!!!

above: Chrome's first issue of Wrenched, the Frisco issue. We've still got a few copies left to give away!!!

above: Laser's Nirvana MTB helmet. Killer...

above: Also killer, Feedback sent us their wheel truing station!

above: If you live in the city it's everywhere. Outside the city it's still there, you just have to know where to look. I can say that I've been a long time fan, but I also have to point out that it's illegal, and I'm not suggesting nor recommending that you do it.

That said, Dokument Press sent us a copy of the Street Art Cookbook, A Guide to Techniques and Materials. Everything from posters, stickers, painting, and even planting flowers...

Previous to that, I was talking with the rad people at Art Primo (artprimo.com) & they sent a can of Belton Molotow paint. All weather... Great for frame painting! They also sent a few caps to try out, a couple of the latest Smash markers, and a rad little gold OTR Blackbook marker.

above: I ran across this little Moleskine book with a bicycle theme & thought it was pretty rad. This was sent in by moonlightbindery.com.


above: VP Components sent in a pair of their racing pedals to check out...
above: Trying to get ready for touring early this year, and I found these from GSI Outdoors. I screwed up and got the drip and not the press, but I'll make it work. The grinder is incredible. Good coffee is VERY important!!! Speaking of, I think I should give Mel a shout at Peace Coffee & see what they've got brewing over there... rest assured, it's always something good!

above: last, but certainly not least, are a pair of straps from Hold Fast, made right in Brooklyn. They don't look as sweet these days, but they're the most reliable straps you'll find. There's been a lot of knock offs lately, but these are the original, and I wouldn't accept a substitute! It doesn't matter if you're riding fixed freestyle or not- these won't fail you- ever. I love leather, don't get me wrong, but those straps will eventually break... but not these.

So that's what's in cue for upcoming reviews!- a bunch of great stuff that I'll tell you more about very soon!!!

There's also more exciting news coming up that I can't wait to share, but you'll just have to hold on for that one...it's still under wraps for now! But it's big!!!

So that's a peak at things to come. What bikes/clothes/parts would you like to see reviewed? Send me an email & let me know!

I still want to trade stickers for your crash stories!!! Please attach a photo if possible!!! trust me, they'll be great... brutal, but great!

Again, here's to 2011. see ya soon!

Brandon