one less car news

all good things must come to an end

2011-12-04T19:51:00.001-05:00

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... & CONTEST!

2011-09-22T11:47:00.001-05:00

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.

Review: Scallywags 14 oz. Coffee

2011-09-21T16:16:00.003-05:00

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...

more wooden bikes!

2011-09-13T08:43:00.003-05:00

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

GOT THEM OLD CHICAGO BLUES...

2011-09-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

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 x ARTCRANK!

2011-09-02T18:04:00.002-05:00

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.

So much going on... reviews plus!!!

2011-08-10T14:12:00.004-05:00

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

Product Review: Urban City Bike Shelves

2011-07-06T19:24:00.003-05:00

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...

Happy Friday! Chicago's Alleged Top Bike Thieves Nabbed!

2011-07-01T12:40:00.001-05:00

Read more about it here:

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

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

2011-06-28T13:29:00.004-05:00

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!

Painting your bike, markers, & more!

2011-06-24T14:15:00.004-05:00

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!!!

Bike Mods!!!

2011-06-19T10:39:00.004-05:00

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

Check out our friend Eddy's new grips!

2011-06-11T12:10:00.000-05:00

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

New Salvage Bags from Chrome!

2011-06-10T10:36:00.005-05:00

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!

my lil sis is riding across the country! help her out!

2011-06-07T09:54:00.004-05:00

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 THIEVES Outfitters

2011-05-31T08:04:00.005-05:00

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

new blog post! chrome, fuji, bike the drive, se, shepard fairey & more!

2011-05-24T08:55:00.016-05:00

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!

Reviews from Mission Workshop & Feedback Sports!

2011-04-22T11:53:00.003-05:00

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

More Reviews...Chrome's Sherman!

2011-04-07T17:13:00.003-05:00

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!!!

bicycles, touring, & coffee

2011-04-06T16:01:00.002-05:00

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

I've been trying to get a jump on gathering touring necessities, and coffee is at the top of the list!

GSI Outdoors was rad enough to send along a couple of their coffee oriented items to try out on the road, including their JavaGrind and JavaDrip.

Both are very cool and get the job done- click the review link at the top to find out more!

Thanks!

Brandon

Bags & Bike Shelves

2011-03-23T17:22:00.003-05:00

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

Bike Spotlight: Marin's POINT REYES 29ER

2011-03-14T16:53:00.002-05:00

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!

What to Do If Your Bike Gets Jacked!

2011-03-11T13:04:00.004-05:00

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

GEOX-TMC is in the Giro!

2011-03-07T11:39:00.001-05:00

(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.

Back to Business- Wednesday Night Reviews!

2011-03-02T20:20:00.002-05:00

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

it's time to shop

2011-03-02T15:57:00.000-05:00

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

Chrome's Spring 2011 Collection!

2011-03-01T15:20:00.004-05:00

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

Chicago Bike Swap Meet & more...

2011-02-25T21:55:00.003-05:00

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!

So the 'and more'... You might have noticed that all of the buttons to purchase our fine products are missing. We're having technical difficulties at the moment with our payment processing system. We hope to be up and running ASAP, but in the meantime, if you would like to place an order, please email me: brandon at 1lesscar dot com.

Thanks!!!

Who & Why: Top 5 Influential Cyclists...RESEARCH!

2011-02-21T18:38:00.005-05:00

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

I'd also like to give a shout out to FlammeCast for picking up my question from twitter. Check out their answers and more: http://flammecast.com/5-most-influential-cyclists-ever.html.

Also, this Saturday we'll have a booth at the Chicago Bike Swap!!! Come by & say hi- I'm also going to try something new & bring some reclaimed shirts along with some new ones.

I'm going above Management's head here (let's hope I keep mine!) and I want to know what you think. So here's the deal:

Management disagrees with reclaimed clothing wants to dismiss it altogether, but I managed to break the suits down and talked them into letting me do a test run!

I feel it's a unique option for one of a kind shirts that also happen to be friendly to ALL of our communities.

Even if the test run goes good, we would always offer both, so no worries- but as fans / consumers, how do you feel about reclaimed clothing (that looks better after I'm done with it than it did the first time around!)? Just curious...

I'm doing research on both of these and would really appreciate your comments on this one. Thanks!

If you don't want to leave a public comment, feel free to email me anytime-

brandon at 1lesscar dot com.

Rock, Roll, & Watch that Pothole!!!

Drunk Cycling in MI, Lance calls it quits, & new chrome!

2011-02-16T12:56:00.005-05:00

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

Win a tandem from Chrome!!!

2011-02-14T15:32:00.003-05:00

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!

quick bicycle touring primer

2011-02-07T14:13:00.002-05:00

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!

Well, I've got a 3 & a 5 day tour under my belt. Here's some tips from our experiences...

1. Touring is always better when you have someone with you, preferably a good friend, but it's also a chance to spend A LOT of time with someone, so it's good if you already get along with your riding partner... :) -Cole tried his first time alone & it sucked. It also helps push you when you're tired/hungry too, and vice versa.

2 & 3. Food & Camping.

Generally, these are separate, but both need to be tied together, unless you're going backwoods style. But when touring the highways and bi-ways of this great country, we also have its conveniences..

We generally don't bring much food if any with us on the first day. Maybe some pita bread & pb&j, & a few small snacks. You're going to burn more calories than you ever have in your life, so you need to stay well hydrated & have something to keep you going.

We do have a tiny, camping fuel stove for cooking. We usually try to stop somewhere close to where we're going to camp for food, because it's not light to carry- especially after pedaling for hours.

As far as camping, so far we've pretty much exclusively camped at state campgrounds, and here's why. Last year we went in the off-season, and we only had to pay for camping one night. If the campground is full, they will ALWAYS find cyclists a spot! There are bathrooms, not to mention showers, and you can usually score quite a bit of wood from other campsites that people have left behind in the pits. One we went to had a pool too!

If I was going to be gone more than 5 days, it would be nice to have a little extra money to stay at a hotel for a night & REALLY freshen up! Sleep in a REAL bed, etc.

But back to eating...

On my second tour I was hoping it would be a "first tour" experience, but no. This happens every single time. I find it a little hard to eat A LOT the first night, but this is EXTREMELY important!

Why you ask?

Well, you're going to wake up that second day feeling a little like crap no matter what. Food might sound good, but it's hard to get it down even though you know you HAVE to or you're not going to make the day. Period. Try to eat what you can in the AM & snack a lot along the way. That night will be a little better, but still not the best.

Waking up day 3 though, you should be back on track. I felt like we were just getting started when we got back! 5 days is nice, but 3 is good to let yourself know what you're getting into!

I should also point out before I forget that we always tried to camp close to a McDonald's. Best spot for breakfast there is!!! To us it was worth it.

3. What to bring...

This is interesting... the 1st time you'll bring more than you need. Guarantee it! It's just something you figure out. Half the stuff you think you might need you will never use. Less clothes for sure! You will not want to do this (in my opinion) without proper shorts/bibs. They make these for a reason (though I always wear something over them because I can't stand looking at them!).

That, and some type of riding cream, like Deez Nuts or the like! VERY IMPORTANT!

But yeah- I brought completely different stuff the 2nd time than I did the 1st, & I'll bring less next time.

4. This is something (I think) I taught Cole: Stop & rest for 5 minutes once an hour or something like that, just to give your body a break and a chance to refuel. Cemeteries are great- usually nobody there, full of shade, & quiet. It's important NOT to over do it. Especially on the 1st day. If you think you can't go much more, start thinking about camping. Tell who your with. Grab a energy gel (best ever) or bar (2nd best) & you'll feel like a new person. Unless you really monitor your health & diet (I don't), you really don't know what you're doing to your body, other than what it tells you, so listen to it! It won't lie to you... you can try to lie to it, but it'll smack you upside the head for doing so!

5. You can't always trust internet maps. so photocopies of maps of where you're headed (unless you want to bring a big bulky map or are doing an Adventure Cycling tour and are using one of theirs) are a plus. An even bigger plus is a GPS, but it still cannot be completely relied on. They've screwed us a few times. "It looks like the trail should go right through here..." and then you come to eight HIGH graded rail lines that you've gotta pick your steel bike & 30-50 lbs.of gear over. UGH. But a GPS does rule. Wish I could afford the new Garmin cycling model...

6. TOOLS! Everything that you'd need to fix a flat & a few other things... you never know what will happen on the road, and like a boy scout, be prepared! Not a Craftsman 48pc. set prepared, but you know what I mean... You partner will have some goods too, so depending who you ride with you might wanna compare gear...

7. I forgot what I was going to write because I started thinking about camping again for a minute...a sleeping pad under your bag can be your best friend!

8. Have a rad time, because that's what it's all about!

9. If you can't put your bags in your tent & they have food, bring some rope to hang it from raccoons & small bears.

So that's my little touring primer... I'm sure I have stuff to add & will as I think of it!

-Brandon

OLC Review: Rebel Eight Backwoods Jacket

2011-02-03T23:10:00.003-05:00

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

worth it...

2011-02-02T19:50:00.003-05:00

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.

but...

thanks to twitter (i'm @greezus -follow me!) and our friends at mash sf, i came across THE RULES. some people live by them religiously. some are spot on. most are, or entertaining to say the least!

i really hate recycling content from our peers, and haven't until now. sometimes certain rules need to be broken, and i'm breaking a rule to bring you THE RULES.

as mash sf said, we're all guilty of at least one.

i know i am.

and without further a do, i present you with: THE RULES. enjoy.

reviews & banners & some other goodness tomorrow.

starting february right & keeping it rolling.

if you thought we were gone, you quit coming around, 'cause we aren't going anywhere but up.

recognize... ya better tell somebody!!!

brandon

what's goin' on...and team GEOX-TMC's jersey unveiled!

2011-02-01T11:53:00.005-05:00

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.

New year, big changes!!!

2011-01-07T11:03:00.000-05:00

With the new year comes big changes here at 1lesscar.

With the growth of Bates Crates and the continued support for 1lesscar, it was all starting to be too much for me to handle alone. I was printing the shirts here in Chicago for two weeks a month, and then would have to catch a train to Michigan and build crates there for two weeks. Needless to say things were starting suffer.

I felt I was giving less attention to 1lesscar then it needed, and not enough to nurture the development of Bates Crates. That, and I was starting to pull out my hair. So, over the last month I have put a plan in action.

First was to start building Bates Crates here in Chicago. Bates Crates is selling enough crates for me to believe that it's working, and I can invest some money into buying new equipment and starting building crates here in Chicago.

The next step was that I can't build crates and print shirts in the same work area, and renting two separate spaces just seemed financially irresponsible.

You may already know that Brandon is my right hand man around 1lesscar, and he has done so much to get 1lesscar where it is- it only makes sense to put him in charge of the day to day stuff at 1lesscar.

So at this point, I have newly acquired woodworking equipment just waiting for the space to work. Brandon will be coming down next week and we will spend the week printing, filling orders, and making screens so he can see how I do this. I'm excited and scared for this to happen (me too! -B).

I've been working on 1lesscar for 5 years now. I've been up late most nights and riding my bike in freezing weather to ship orders, and as much as I was wondering “what am doing” at those times, I still loved every second of it. I'm confident Brandon will be great at this (possibly better then me), and I know he will take care of my baby.

Making this switch will give me more time to grow Bates Crates and do something I really love, which is woodworking. I will still be involved in 1lesscar, and to most people you won't notice a change around here. The only thing you might notice is when you email us you will see Brandon’s name at the end of the emails and not mine.

I'm hoping this will give me more time to post on the blog and maybe get on my bike more, because that’s what this whole thing was about in the first place!

So there you have it a new year a new direction... Thanks for all you support in 2010 and we hope to see you again in the years to come!

Cole

a new year, tons of reviews, and more!!!! mad photos too!

2011-01-04T18:14:00.006-05:00

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

A message from Fuji Bikes & more...

2010-12-27T16:57:00.004-05:00

first, the 'and more'... cole and i hope everyone had a great holiday, and hope some of you are continuing to do so!!!
damn. that's pretty much it for the 'and more'. i thought i had more to say, but i don't. trying to make an effort to be more positive, and sometimes that means drinking a tall glass of shut the hell up!

so i was just checking my email, and got this from our friends at Fuji Bicycles and Action Sports...read on!

(PHILADELPHIA) December 27, 2010 - A tale of ultimate survival and human kindness, Damian Lopez Alphonso's story is one that needs to be told. He's not only captured the hearts of those he's met and raced with; he's inspired an outpouring of support from the cycling community at large.

At age 13, while trying to retrieve a kite caught on an electrical wire in his native Cuba, Damian Lopez Alphonso was electrocuted with 13,000 volts of electricity - the voltage equivalence of what it takes to move a New York City subway car.

He spent 52 days on life support following the accident and has had dozens of surgeries - some life-saving - since his teens. Doctors are still baffled by the fact that he's alive.

But Damian, now 34, hasn't allowed these seeming setbacks to slow him down - literally.

Although he lost both of his hands and uses no adaptive devices, Damian is an accomplished cyclist, who finished first at the Coppa 8 de Marzo Time Trial, second at the Tour of Havana de Este, and third at the Criterium de Havana against some of the best athletes in his region.

He learned to ride his bike by carefully resting the remains of his arms on upturned handlebars.

Tracy Lea, a fellow cyclist and a Team Fuji ambassador, first witnessed this balancing act at the 2002 Pan American Championships in Cuba.

Mesmerized by how he could compete without prosthetics and not in the Paralympics realm but against some of the best able-bodied cyclists in the world, Lea decided she wanted to help him in any way she could.

After much lobbying with the Cuban government, Lea secured a visa for Damian, and he arrived in the U.S. on December 6.

A gift from an old friend was waiting for him upon his arrival.

Former Fuji-sponsored athlete, Ivan Dominguez, who knew Damian from the Cuban racing scene, called Fuji as soon as he heard about Damian coming to the U.S, asking if the brand would be willing to donate a bike.

Fuji's response was simple: "Of course."

So when Damian arrived in New York, a brand new Fuji Roubaix ACR was waiting for him, and Lea took him to Echelon Cycles, a Fuji dealer on 8th Avenue in Manhattan, for a full fitting.

With his new bike in tow as well as some new cycling gear provided by Louis Garneau and Hincapie Clothing per Dominguez, Damian set off for the NYU Langone Center.

After undergoing a week of extensive physical and psychological exams, the NYU doctors determined that Damian is eligible for prosthetics and facial reconstructive surgery.

Elated by the news but knowing that neither she nor Damian's family could pay for the surgery and prosthetics, Lea reached out to the cycling community.

Several private individuals (Lea's fellow cyclists) have since offered to cover Damian's travel expenses; the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction has offered to pay for the surgery; and the Achilles Foundation, a non-profit organization that enables disabled and able-bodied athletes to train together, has offered to pay for his prosthetics.

"Everyone has stepped up," said Lea. "He's achieved incredible acceptance in the cycling community.''

"When people have a chance to meet him, it's a game changer. People who see him ride his bike...it keeps our lives in perspective," she added.

Damian's surgery is planned for late January 2011, and he will be fitted for prosthetics following the surgery.

When Damian returns to the U.S., Fuji will be there every step of the way to provide the latest updates on Damian's progress. Stay tuned.

For the full story on Damian, please visit: http://www.fujibikes.com/home
____________________________________________________________________________

Help Damian

With aspirations of qualifying for the 2012 Cycling Paralympics and racing in the New York City Marathon (the Achilles Foundation has already extended a personal invitation), Damian's dreams are big.

It's because of Lea and the cycling community's generous contributions that Damian is where he is today. But it's going to take a lot more to see Damian's dreams realized. If you'd like to help Damian, please contact Tracy Lea at tlea@tracylea.net or visit the Achilles Foundation's donation page at http://www.achillesinternational.org/support/individual or the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction's homepage at http://www.nffr.org/.

...and the winners are

2010-12-16T19:29:00.003-05:00

OLC's holiday winners are: Andy Jones won the water bottle/holder, and Betty Moore won the grips- both from Organic Bikes, and Jordan Gerke won the pair of Natoma pants from Chrome!!!

Thanks to everyone who thought of us this holiday season!

Brandon & Cole

...and it's over. winners announced soon! more free stickers!

2010-12-14T22:40:00.006-05:00

thanks to everyone for making our christmas sale a success and entering to win the natoma pants from our friends at chrome & some goods from organic bikes too...not to mention the free stickers, and the copies of wrenched! your orders should arrive before christmas no problem. we'll announce the winners VERY soon!

if you're not big on the holidays, or if time isn't an issue, keep ordering! operators are standing by right now to take your order!

with ten days to go, christmas is right around the corner! we've got some reviews coming up before then for all of you last minute shoppers...

soooo.....FREE STICKERS!!! who doesn't love free stickers?
alright- so i've been trying to get reader stories about cycling, and we've gotten a few, but not as many as I thought... I should have known from my years of making zines & running contributor driven sites that if you don't give someone any direction, they get stuck.

like i said when i first tried this, i got the idea from an old graffiti newsletter, and they had weekly "chase" stories... so, to keep it in the biking spirit, let's do WEEKLY CRASH STORIES!!! send yours in along with a picture if possible and tell me where to send the stickers!

LET'S DO THIS!!! we've ALL crashed, and who doesn't love a good crash story, right?

RIGHT.

and it will be called THE CRASH REPORT.

Chrome Cobra (mens) & Pasha (womens) Merino Wool Hoodie Reviews!

2010-12-08T23:07:00.003-05:00

Back with a couple reviews as promised!

Chrome Cobra Mens Merino Wool Hoodie

Clothing made for cyclists by cyclists is always rad, and worth it in the long run because they think of the little things- like being lower in the back which is a feature of both, but both have rad features that the other doesn't. For instance, the Cobra has a semi-secret stash pocket down low on the right arm that the Pasha doesn't. But the Pasha gets mad style points for the offset zipper. I wish the Cobra was made like this but with the zipper on the other side. I love that feature! Read more...

Chrome Pasha Womens Merino Wool Hoodie

I dig being able to put the hood up, zip up to the top, and have my mouth covered. It’s a nice, ninja-like characteristic. Thumb loops on the sleeves help keep those drafts out and your arms warm. Thumb loops are always a big plus. You can also feel safe wearing your low rise pants, because the back of the hoodie hangs down slightly lower than the front. It’s barely noticeable, but you’ll know, because you’ll feel fewer drafts and avoid accidental peep shows. This back panel also owns a discrete, mesh, zipper pocket for stashing your stuff to hop on your bike. Read more...

Don't forget about our sale- ends the 14th!- including your chance to win a pair of Chrome's Natoma Pants, get a copy of Chrome's zine, Wrenched, or some Free stickers!!

big sale, a bunch of free stuff, and someone's gonna win a pair of Chrome Natoma Pants!

2010-12-07T19:35:00.004-05:00

All t's only $15 + FREE stuff* & WIN a pair of Natoma Pants from our friends at CHROME!!! 1 week only!

*Official Rules & FREE stuff:
1. CONTEST -pants & all- IS OPEN WORLDWIDE!!!!
1. ALL orders will get free stickers at Cole's discretion I have no idea how many or what ones you'll get. Feel free to make a request, but don't be sad if
2. The next 10 shirt orders will receive a copy of Chrome's new zine- WRENCHED...totally killer!!!
3. All orders will be entered to win a pair of Bamboo Grips and a water bottle from Organic Bikes!
4. And to top things off, all shirt orders will be entered to win a pair of Chrome's Natoma riding pants (pictured above- grey, size medium, new w/tags, non-negotiable; unless you wanna pass them on to the next winner in line for some silly reason!).
6. sale ends 12.14.2010 @ midnight SHARP!
...or early the next a.m.
7. the 14th is also our cut-off date to make sure you get your order by Christmas. Outside of the US? Order sooner if you want it by then!!!

***********************************

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a wonderful Festivus for the rest of us!!!

Thanks to all the people reading, our customers new and old, the companies that keep our review section running, and bicycle lovers everywhere!

Cheers to you-
Cole & Brandon
OLC

and the winner is...

2010-11-29T18:10:00.005-05:00

Nobody.

Yup. Ain't that a bitch! Nobody got to take home the Chrome Natoma pants that day.

All I wanted was to make someone happy...I love mine and thought someone else might want a pair too...heavily discounted (100% off, FREE, nada, zip, zero, zilch) at that.

But for one reason or another, we didn't get a single order that day. I realize everyone has their bad days, but we usually get at least a few sticker orders...

something...

anything...

But not THIS Black Friday.

I'm hoping it's because our readers are also hip to Adbusters and looked past the shiny lights and falling prices of that day and participated in Buy Nothing Day instead!

Maybe we should've went for today, which is now officially Cyber Monday, so I hear.

Anyway, our second annual 12 days of Christmas sale is coming very soon and you'll have another crack at the pants then... good luck!

Win a pair of Chrome Natoma pants! Today ONLY!!!

2010-11-26T12:51:00.004-05:00

Here's all the info from the newsletter:

Hey Everyone!

We're keeping this Thanksgiving real and giving a little something- ok- a big something back this year! We wanna turn your Black Friday Grey!!!

learn more about them: http://www.chromebagsstore.com/apparel/mens-apparel/natoma-pant.html

The story:
A little while back Chrome sent us a pair of their Natoma (MSRP $120!) riding pants (pictured above) to review. We guessed on the size (medium), and they were just a tad too small for the belly I grew... the belly that just won't seem to go away since I turned 35 last June!

We were trying to save these until our 12 Days of Christmas this year (which is also coming up soon!), but we can't wait to give these away!!!

So how do you win these already?
Simple- get yourself an OLC shirt- any OLC shirt- and get that shirt this Friday (Nov. 26th), and you're automatically entered to win...but Friday ONLY!
It doesn't matter what time it is Friday, as long as you order Friday, by 11:59PM EST.

That's it!

Pick up a shirt from us ANYTIME THIS FRIDAY (EST) and you just might win a pair of Chrome Natoma pants!

Fine Print: You can live ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD and win these pants! The only catch- if you live outside the US, you have to pick up the shipping tab. If you live in the US, they're on us. The winner will be announced this Saturday at Noon (EST) via our blog and twitter (follow us!!!). If the winner lives outside the US and does not want to pay for shipping, another winner will be picked!

One last thing... The winner will have 24 hours to email either of us and claim that prize!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Brandon & Cole

P.S. We're still giving away free stickers for your riding stories!!! We really want this to be a regular thing, so keep those stories coming! -If you've sent in a story and haven't received your stickers yet, email Brandon!

P.P.S. If you want a Bates Crate for Christmas, I'd order it soon. Talk to Cole if you have any questions there. If you want shirts by Christmas, I think our cut-off date is Dec. 15th to guarantee US delivery.

******************************************************
One Less Car | http://www.1lesscar.com
Bates Crates | http://www.batescrates.com
Cole: cole@1lesscar.com twitter: @1morebike
Brandon: brandon@1lesscar.com twitter: @greezus

__________________________________________________________________________end newsletter.

*this wouldn't be late notice if you followed either of us on twitter or subscribed to the newsletter that we try to send out semi-weekly... just sayin'.

So, from all of us at OLC, we hope you had a good Thanksgiving, and good luck!!!

We're branching out!

2010-11-15T22:02:00.004-05:00

Last week in my old stopping grounds of Michigan, was one of the nation's largest mountain bike races- The Iceman Cometh. A 27 mile (the longest in the US!) point to point race through the woods. With 4000 entrances, snow on the ground, and a pro class race, how could i not?

A car was rented, camera gear packed, and made plans to pick up Brandon on the way and report back what we saw.

So here are the best pics of the day. It was great event and I'm pretty sure there will be a Team One Less Car next year, because both Brandon and I want to race it!

Bicycles & Cameras

2010-11-10T21:14:00.004-05:00

Those of you who follow our blog regularly might know that I really like photography. Thanks to a very generous girlfriend, I have acquired a nice dslr. With my track record of destroying cameras while biking, I was looking for a way to carry a full size dslr without a mass amount of vibrations to the camera. Read more... -Review by Cole.

We've been out to a few events taking pics, so we'll be posting those soon! We've got more to review and more on the way, so stay tuned!

-Brandon

The Iceman Cometh!!!

2010-11-08T15:06:00.004-05:00

Brandon and I made the trip to Traverse City, Michigan, to cover the Iceman Cometh 2010.

The Iceman is the longest point to point race in the US, being just under 30 miles and has always been held the first weekend in November. Started by Gary Fisher and a few others 20 years ago, Gary also came to celebrate his 60th birthday!

We took a lot of great pics and will post them later this week, we'll have more reviews this week, and then some- check back and see what we got!

Cole

Wednesday Night Reviews

2010-10-28T00:07:00.002-05:00

Reviews this week feature a rad cap and helmet liner from Pace, a sleeping bag and pad from Big Agnes, and a correction to the review for SE BIKEs 29" Big Ripper...

Check it out!

2010-10-25T16:11:00.000-05:00

I love Boneshaker Almanac. I've sung it's praises in our reviews section. Now, the first four of their five issues are now sold out, and they released a very limited edition box set containing all five issues and then some!

Word on the streets is they're going fast!!!

Check it out here: http://wolverinefarmpublishing.org/publications/boneshaker.html

Cole & Shauna took some great new photos that are up on the Bates Crates site. Way rad. Everyone should have one of these crates on their wish list! Check it out: http://www.batescrates.com

Raleigh & Gerber reviews!

2010-10-20T23:10:00.002-05:00

Back today with a couple reviews- I've got one on Raleigh's Sojourn, their touring rig, and Cole did one on Gerber's Octane, one of their new multi-tools. Now that we're back from tour we're both stoked and have to catch up on some reviews!

Is there something in particular that you've been looking at or wondering about? Let us know and we'll see what we can do!

Friday I'll be coming at you with some art products- some can help whip that whip into shape and others will clue you in on some things you might see while riding around your town!

See ya then- Brandon

Topeak and Gerber Reviews!

2010-10-07T19:54:00.006-05:00

This week's reviews stem from our tour this summer.

I reviewed Topeak's Bikamper EXP tent

and Cole did an update on Gerber's LMF 2 Knife.

check them out here: http://www.1lesscar.com/reviews.html

we're still looking for a reader story for tomorrow, so if you've got a story about you and your iron/aluminum/carbon fiber horse, we want to hear about it- and you'll get FREE STICKERS!!!

OLC's 2nd Annual Summer Tour

2010-10-04T22:38:00.009-05:00

I know you guys love free stuff. We want to give you some stickers! All you have to do is send us a short story about bicycling- we prefer true stories, with a picture if possible to be published every Friday!
Send them to me- brandon at 1lesscar dotcom and be sure to include your address! Reviews on Wednesday!!!

The asterisked numbers (the little star looking things) in the story below are my two cents & are at the bottom of the story. Without further ado, here's Cole with a short recap of our summer tour:It’s now been two weeks since my childhood friend and I took off on our annual bike tour. *1 I guess it's annual- it’s the second year in a row. As soon as we got back, I started to type up a story about it but never finished. I'm happy I didn’t finish it then because it gave me time to think about what we had done and how it affected me. *2
The route was nothing huge. *3 It wasn't across the country or through India but simply from Chicago to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where we picked up the oldest car ferry *4 running on Lake Michigan *5 and then rode from the ferry dock in Ludington, MI, to my traveling partner Brandon's house in Frankfort, Michigan. *6
In theory, the whole trip was five days long. We left on a Sunday and arrived on Thursday. During that time we rode in oppressive heat *7, on limestone trails *8 for waaay to many miles resulting in us looking like we had been wading in cocaine. *9 I pulled my spd out of my shoe. *10 There was a pretty good storm one night- We found out Brandon’s tent was about as sweet as it looked (and that’s not that sweet). *11 Raccoons stole our pita bread, our dried pineapple, and a banana.
Then we were two hours late on the ferry, because they decided that it would be a good idea to carry 3 large semis with parts *12 of those new giant windmills that are going to save the world. We climbed the .5 mile, 11% grade hill. *13 We fixed some crappy ass fenders with a few glue-less patches. *14 We got fresh fruit from roadside stands. *15 We rode so long we literally fell down. *16 We found out that a natural bug spray that cost $6.00 may actually attract mosquitos. We thought better of staying with the guy who said “the hell with that, you'll be sleeping with me” *17 and then continued on about his dossiers and the 45,000 in his safe- he never did say 45,000 what. *18
We learned self registration did not apply to us. *19 We learned that Kodak batteries that cost $.99 don't last long in a gps. *20 We used Google Maps bike route and think it's pretty rad. Brandon lost his hat…more than once. *21 We tested a crap load of gear for reviews. *22 But most of all, we got to hang out together and just leave our problems and lives behind. *23 It was such a good time to just be with a close friend and have no real place to be, to wake up and know all you have to do is ride 'til you are tired. *24
The night we finished, I was tired, sore, and ready to be off my bike, but the next morning when my alarm went off at 6:30 am I was bummed I had to turn it off. *25

-Cole

brandon's notes:
*1 i wrote the title for this post before reading cole's story. crazy...that's what's rad about an old friend, and I couldn't ask for a better one.
*2 thinking time is good. my dad died a week before & i needed to get away. perfect!
*3 that's what she said! sorry, i love that stupid joke. i swear we rode farther this year though. and my route started earlier- taking an automobile from Frankfort to Holland, MI, then Amtrak from there to Chicago, then bike, boat, bike...
*4 i also love trains. what we know today as car ferries used to haul rail cars, not automobiles. the ferry is also a steam ship running on coal.
*5 not a big fan of getting in water, but i did go in that lake twice this year. splashing around with my niece made it totally worth it. i'ved lived by it my entire life, but can't swim. sucks.
*6 we took the long, HILLY, scenic route. beautiful.
*7 we managed to do this during the hottest days of the year, 2 years in a row. nice!
*8 everything was covered in limestone. i don't know how much i ate just from my water bottle.
*9 or asbestos, but right on! no serious partying took place. sorry.
*10 we need some shoes!!!
*11 it looked sweet on the interwebs, but not so much. review coming soon. needless to say i want a different tent. i'll name names *cough*topeak*cough* later...
*12 three sections of pipe, four trailers per piece with the piece in between. money hungry ferry owners should run freight separate, but it did all work out in the end.
*13 NOT cool or any fun at all. period. accomplished, yet why do i feel like i'm making mountains outta mole hills?
*14 thank you Topeak...for real! no thanks SKS...
*15 mmm...baby love your peaches... your plumbs. all that. good, good fruit.
*16 i did fall down at the top of a hill. i fell a few other times too. don't know why, but i crash a lot. i blame it on bad gravity.
*17 which is odd, because sketchy or not I'm usually up for adventure. looking back it felt a little House of 1000 Corpsesish... but yeah buddy!!!
*18 i always attract the town crazy/goon/challenged in any way people for some reason
*19 free is key...
*20 ...but sometimes you get what you pay for
*21 and somehow it was always on me. go figure.
*22 lots of reviews on the way!!!
*23 long overdue, and i missed my old lady & my dog (always do). ...but yeah- I couldn't ask for a better friend.
*24 i couldn't have said it better myself.
*25 some tours feel like they just shouldn't end yet. so far it's been two in a row, and I can't wait to hit the road again!!!

I'd also like to thank the handful of people who ordered shirts & stickers while we were on the road so we could eat, and the following companies for making this possible for me: Raleigh, Arkel, Old Man Mountain, Topeak, Kelty, Profile Design, Axiom, Bern, Pace, and SOG. Most of all, I'd like to thank Cole for taking the risk to start OLC in the first place and making things like this trip happen. It wouldn't have happened without him.

-Brandon

Friday's Reader Submitted Story...Want some free stickers?

2010-10-01T19:05:00.003-05:00

This weeks reader submitted story is from our home state Michigan!

Send in your own cycling story (with a picture if possible) along with your name and address and we'll send you some free stickers!!!

To break in my first real bicycle, a 2009 Giant Bowery single speed, I signed up for a midnight to dawn ride in my hometown of Minneapolis with a high school friend, Ashley. About 200 riders participated and they varied greatly in both age and skill level. The ride itself was casual, with two distance options. The longer route was about 38 miles. The shorter route was ten miles shorter and cut out a significant part of St. Paul, including the ice cream place Ashley and I planned on stopping at.

Aside from some problems with my front brake, the ride was going very well. We had ridden through several suburbs of Minneapolis and were heading towards the point where the riders split into two groups, those who would take the long route, and those who chose the shortcut. Ashley and I had to stop to adjust my brakes and became disoriented. Also, it was about 2 am, and my sense of direction was more impaired than usual.

After several miles of hills, Ashley and I realized that we were lost. Neither of us recognized our surroundings, so we pulled over to consult our maps, which were woefully lacking in detail. Eventually, we realized that we had accidentally taken the shortcut. Now at this point, we had two options. The logical choice would be to just ride straight to the creamery to get our ice cream and continue on the long route after that. But our 2 am logic compelled us to ride back along the entire shortcut and take the long route, adding about 20 miles or so to our ride.

When we finally arrived at the end of the ride, we were exhausted. We had almost fallen asleep when we stopped for a break on a bridge, gotten lost again on a University campus, and I had nearly crashed my bike trying to do the dance from the “Bad Romance” music video. I was too tired to eat breakfast and had to beat morning rush hour traffic on my ride home. Those last seven miles were the hardest I’ve ever ridden. They seemed to pass in flashes, with time slowing down every time I reached the slightest incline.

Despite the difficulties, that night confirmed my belief that the best adventures can only be had on a bike. I’m doing the same ride next summer. Minus the unnecessary extra twenty miles.

Thanks for such a great blog!

Anne P.

Thank you Anne! Be on the lookout for your stickers!

We'll be back Monday with the story of this years summer tour!!!

Til Then have a rad weekend-

Brandon/OLC

Wednesday night reviews: SE Bikes 29" Big Ripper

2010-09-29T22:44:00.005-05:00

So I was going to try and do a video review, but that wasn't working out so well and I burned through a pair of batteries in minutes. Daylight was running out. I had to take pictures. They didn't turn out so well, so here's the stock photo... I'm gonna retake pictures and post them (I'll let ya know) soon! So without further a do...

SE BIKES 29" BIG RIPPERI was talking to The Wildman over at SE about 29'ers- with all the hub-bub buzzing about them, I knew I had to check one out. I was asking about an older MTB model & he suggested I take the Big Ripper a spin.

Now, if you know anything about BMX history, SE Racing's P.K. Ripper should be a household name. The Big Ripper is a P.K. BLOWN UP! Full on 29's, and it's a straight up BMX bike. The flagship of their retro department and with good reason. Read more...

Google Bike Maps getting better...

2010-09-27T16:35:00.004-05:00

Google Bike Maps

Price: Free

http://maps. google.com/

There was a lot of talk about Google Bike Maps when they first became an option. Some good, some not so good. Leaving Chicago to go north has always be a pain in my ass. The roads up there in the suburbs don’t make sense, then there are bike trails that start, stop, go through parking lots, etc., and it’s just a damn mess. So I decided I would let Google maps do the work for me.

I put in our destination in Manitowoc, WI, and press enter. The route came back and looked good. I made a few changes for the start because I didn’t like one of the roads, but other than that, our route was all Google.

Now comes the fun part... Ok- so I had the route on Google, but I need to get it to my gps. I knew you could use Bikely to export .gpx format, so the challenge was getting Google maps to Bikley. So a few hours of frustration and I find this link: http://tinyurl.com/23of2rl

I pretty much did what the link said, and sure enough- it worked. I uploaded the routes to our gps units and we were good to go. The route was awesome! I thought sure it added more than a few miles to our trip, but we are talking very, very, little traffic. I also felt we got see more of the cities- like we knew the secrets or something. T

There was, however, the 30 miles of limestone... that kinda sucked (yet tasty! -ed.), but that whole 'what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger' thing might apply here. The one other thing we noticed was that Google maps doesn’t take in consideration how safe the neighborhood it routes you through is. So let's say you are riding to Detroit- you might want to check that route out.

Overall, I totally dug it and it made for a great first half of our tour.

-Cole

found something every house/apt with a bike or 3 needs...

2010-09-20T13:52:00.004-05:00

I usually try not to post things that other blogs have posted/wrote about, but every once and a while there's a special exception.

Enter Chris Brigham, the man behind the blog called Knife & Saw, and creator of the bike shelf! The bike shelf is a very unique, beautiful piece of functional furniture that displays the beautiful piece of artwork that is your bicycle, and then some.

Sure, there's bike trees and the like that sit in the corner and hold a few bikes vertically to save precious space in your place, but since Cole started making Bates Crates, we've been even more on the lookout for hand made cycling items, and this one is a gem!

For a lot more pics and info, check out Chris' blog.

-Brandon

Our first weekly Friday Evening Stickers for Stories Story!

2010-09-17T16:50:00.005-05:00

*Chickasaw Trace Classic Race Report

*http://www.columbiacyclingclub.com/mtbflier2008.htm*

 *  Friday when I decided to do this ride, I didn't really consider the weather. I figured "meh. whatever." Well the weather decided "we'll show him", and so, in Columbia, TN, it rained quite literally all day. I was driving in it, and even that wasn't particularly pleasant.
I had intended to pre-ride the course on Saturday (hopefully with Big Mac), but the rain said "nuh-uh" and so I didn't. Sunday I rolled in to Chickasaw Trace Park and parked in a big grassy field about 3 ft from a nice little bit of singletrack (no, not part of the race course). I rode up and got signed up (Beginner Men, age 30-39). I couldn't see when I signed up who all I'd be getting to utterly dominate, but there were lots of people milling about, so I figured there would be a few. :)

Big Mac warned me about a downhill that led into the field where we parked. He said it was nasty and slick, and everyone should probably walk it. Based on the condition of his knee, I surmised that this was experience speaking, and I should consider that as well. Big Mac also told me "good tire choice." I told him I made the decision late the night before. No wait those are my only tires for that bike. He also said I should run low pressure in my tires, which I decided to do as well. By that I mean I totally forgot to put air in anything (including the frame shock). Even so, it was probably my most comfortable ride on the FS bike yet (I've only ridden it maybe 300 miles so far).

I warmed up for probably 15-20 minutes on a paved road (which I later found out was in fact part of the course). Not much of a warmup, just enough to get the blood moving and ride some 100yd wheelies to psych out the competition. About 10 minutes before the race, we grouped up, and I discovered that there were a total of 5 in my category. Yay! Just *finishing* means I get no less than fifth! Two groups go before us, two minutes apart, and then it's our turn.

A horn. We ride. The start was long and a little downhill in grass, with a gravel turn, and then back up the hill on a paved road. That was almost the first mile (0.89mi). Two guys are ahead of me, one guy right behind, a fifth that I can't hear. He's what I'll call a "bad habit" (that's what we dropped him like). We stay like this until the 40 foot drop (in about 20 ft horizontal) down the wreck-y entrance to trail. The 2 leaders get probably 100yds on me in the first singletrack through a field, and just before we enter the woods, 4th says "excuse me kind sir, but I wondered would you mind terribly if I ease past you and ride in third position for a while until we cross the finish line 8 miles away." I dissented, and dropped the hammer \thusly. This had the fortunate side effect of pulling the first 4 back together. 1-2 are moving along, and I'm keeping pace with them for the most part. Then they sort of disappear. A mile later, I see them. And that was pretty much the last time until the podium.

So we ride in the woods for a while, and the whole time I was "mudroplaning" (kinda like hydroplaning in your car, but in mud). Made the trail probably twice as hard, at least.

Comparing race times to last years, even the lower placed people were above 10mph, so I'm thinking on a dry day, this trail cooks. I had one unexpected dismount of my bicycle, which I initially thought (and might be quoted in newspapers as saying) was one of my most graceful falls ever, but some bruises that have only recently made themselves known indicate either someone hit me in the left thigh with a softball bat, or I did in fact fall on *something* then. I tried to roll up onto a 6" rock ledge while going slightly uphill, and my bike decided we should stop for a second, and pitched me over the front side. Fortunately it didn't hurt, and I got up and rode off. I guess it was adrenalin that kept it from hurting (EPO doesn't do that as far as I know). Past that, some of the steep hills were so slick I had to dismount, and some of the slick hills were so steep I had to dismount. I was off my bike a total of 4 times through the ride, as far as I can recall (except once when I picked up a hammer so I could drop it again later in the race). There was once where I went off a 1' drop, and when I came back up over my seat, the front of my shorts got hooked around the back of the seat... I wish I had been watching that guy, cause I'm sure it was hilarious. But since I WAS that guy, I had to figure out a way to right that wrong. I very unnaturally (while riding) dropped back down over my rear wheel and unhooked. Turned out to be uneventful.

The first 4 miles or so was just back and forth along a river. After mile 4 or 5, however, instead of traversing horizontally (my preferred method of traversing), we began going straight up hills, crossing the gully at the top, then going straight down the other side of the gully. One can actually see this very clearly in the elevation profile, and the vertical play actually started at about mile 3.5. So that was pretty brutal...

The trail is a great trail. They maintain in sections, so some person gets maybe a one mile section, another gets the next. Could be that they build it that way too, because some people's sections were definitely much more difficult than others (Trail of Tears, specifically). Total was about 8.5miles (and maybe my GPS cut out for 100 yards or so). I took 1h 1m 50s to do it, so yeah, you guessed it, that's about 8.5mph (ok official result says 8.733mph). Given the slick-as-snot conditions and a completely new trail to me, I'll take it.

With the amount of forested area they have in this park, the amount of trail there is pretty amazing. You can see it on the google map I'll attach below. Just about all the tree'd area is covered in trail (much like Whirlpool, but without all the cut-throughs). The group used race timers in the form of ankle bracelets from Kramer Race Services http://www.ryan-kramer.com/ to time the event. Reminded me of my days under possible for our upcoming events. They also wrote my age on my massive left calf (I think they had to use the Sharpie Magnum) so that all the young people I passed could eat my "30"year old dust. I also got a smiley face in my zero which was cool. It'd have been nice as well have gotten the girl to draw something that indicated to all the people I blew by what my name was with "you just got served" under it, so they'd remember next time. :) By the way, where it wasn't muddy, it was either a water puddle, or rocky. And plenty of rocks were plenty tall enough to catch a pedal (and were freshly scarred to prove it). Sporttracks tells me that the ride was 50% flat, with the rest being divided equally between uphill and downhill. It's tough to dispute hard numbers.

Once the top 2 in my cat dropped me, and pretty quickly some wrecks by Mr. Number 4 gave me some space, I was alone. I rode about 6 miles fully alone in the woods, only seeing other people on trails I was about to suffer on, or trails I'd just suffered on. Thanks to MH I have quite a few pictures of my second race in my life, and some great ones, too. (link below)
By the end of the ride, the mud had started tacking up a little. It stopped being so slippery, and just caught tires and kicked up into your nostrils.

I was third in my category. Fourth hadn't raced in 13 years, and 5th, hadn't missed a meal in 13 years. Brad (Fourth) informed me that according to the results, the winner in our category, had he done that same turn in a second lap, would have placed third in the Sport category. We needed the sandbags on the course, not in the race... Either way, it was a great time, and very nice to have a shower so close. Temps were perfect for a race, and thankfully the rain held off (I think for everyone's race).

I've realized that while accurate, this race report has become less funny and more long. Probably best to keep me from racing just to prevent these long reports...

-Jason M.
Oxford, MS

Thanks Jason! Some stickers will be on their way shortly!

Want some free stickers? Send in a bicycle related story along with your name & address with pic if possible! It doesn't matter what type of cycling you do, as long as it's about cycling.

Have a great weekend!
Brandon

Arkel and Old Man Mountain Reviews!

2010-09-16T20:08:00.004-05:00

I gotta quit saying Wednesday, but that's what I shoot for. A day later is pretty close. If you're a regular reader you've probably noticed that until time machines are invented, I'm probably gonna be a day later than I say. I'm far too easily distracted, yet can do this, watch teevee, and have a headphone in one ear.

But without further ado, we're back with a couple reviews. I didn’t realize how long it's been since we had an actual review up. I don't like that, so I've been working on it and have a bunch of stuff to tell you about in the weeks to come!

Arkel Dolphin 48 Rear Panniers

Arkel has a wide variety of panniers and other bags, and they sent us a pair of their Dolphin 48 Panniers to review. I put them to the test on our tour this summer, living out of them for about a week.

Knowing we were going to be gone awhile, I wanted something water-proof. I didn't want to mess around with rain covers- they'd just be two more things to keep track of, and I already lose my hat among other things a couple times a day as it is & it'll be somewhere I've already looked 5 times... so yeah, waterproof was the way to go for me. Read more...

Old Man Mountain Cold Springs Front Rack
Seriously- what a killer rack!

The Cold Springs can be mounted to almost any bike (road/mtb/etc.) of bike with any type of brake- even a 29'er. On or off road- It doesn't matter. It's also suspension compatible...
Read more...

See ya tomorrow with our first reader's story!
-Brandon

Back from tour, more bikes, and more!!!

2010-09-13T13:20:00.003-05:00

So we're back from our tour. We had to cut it shorter than what we had originally planned, but still had a really rad adventure! We managed to pedal just under 300 miles in a few days! Pictured below are our bikes loaded up (roughly 50 lbs. each!) and resting in the fine city of Milwaukee.
Cole rode his Surly Long Haul Trucker that he's had for a few years now, and I rode the Raleigh Sojourn that they sent in for review. Both bikes performed great and luckily had no serious mechanical problems- not even a single flat!

We did have a couple problems though- the cleat on one of Cole's Shoes completely ripped out. Gone. And sorry SKS/Raleigh, but whatever model fenders came on this year's Sojourn are half crap- I say half because the rear fender is great. The front fender, however, isn't so great. It just didn't want to stay on. I'll report more in the review this week on that. We'll also report more on our tour later on this week!

Pictured below, besides what looks like a total mess in the background, looking bigger than Traitor's PBR Ringleader and sticking out in front is the world's largest bmx bike: SE's 29" Big Ripper (with retro pad set)!!! Very similar to the flagship P.K. Ripper, but with 29's!!! Big, big fun. More on that soon too!

This week is gonna be a good week over here! We've got a ton of reviews coming up, and we're gonna stay on top of things and have some up Wednesday...

Then Friday we're gonna start posting bike stories- i explained it all a post or three back- check it- but basically we're trading stickers for your stories! We've got a few so far (your stickers will be in the mail soon- promise!) and I'm excited to start those!

Cole JUST made it back to Chicago today after our trip & then he stayed to build more Bates Crates! I'm still at home in northern Michigan where our trip ended.

I'm about to go downstate for the day & can't remember if I took the sale down or not & don't have time to look. If shirts are still $15.00, get them at that price while you can, because they won't be that cheap for long!

Til then, ride fast & ride hard!

Brandon

up and running again!

2010-08-21T15:44:00.003-05:00

The catalog is fixed, so you may order at will! We'll still be updating more, but everything is working right now. Cole took some great new photos of our shirts, and they look really great!

We're also going on tour next weekend, so all shirts are back on sale for only $15.99 each!!!
This time the sale will be over when the tour is, so act while it's happening!

tech difficulties, 1st real bike ride, & free stickers!!!

2010-08-20T09:05:00.009-05:00

hey-

technical difficulties:

we know a lot of people haven't been able to order certain items due to a glitch with our paypal buttons. i don't know how it happened other than something happened when we ended the sale a couple/few weeks back, so to make up for it- and because cole and i are going on a 5 day tour at the end of the month and need all the help we can get, all shirts will be back on sale- only $15.00!

the catalog should be working again very soon- with all new pictures even! i'll let you know when it is- should be sometime tonight. thanks a lot for your patience! we appreciate your business and support- it's people like you that keeps the air in our tires & our dreams alive. we hope you stop back soon!

want a couple stickers on us?

we'd love to hear a good cycling story and know you do too- everybody's got at least one- even if they don't ride!

like the first time i rode my blue schwinn stingray without training wheels in the lutheran church's parking lot across the street from our apartment where i grew up. about how i fell hard & skinned my knee up- it hurt like hell! blood was running down my leg...

but my grandma helped me wipe the blood from my knee, made it all better, and i got back up on that blue steel horse and kept on going. that was probably 31 years ago. i'd say i kept going and haven't looked back, but here i am, looking back.

so big props to my grandma for getting that stingray & teaching me how to ride- it's been a great ride ever since! the bikes have changed over the years, just as i have, growing with each one... and 31 years later here i am, and still riding as hard as i can, as often as i can... alone, with my better half, and my best friends when i see them in chicago...

so like i was saying before my lil' story, we'd love to hear- and post yours!

please send a related (or not) pic along with it (if possible), along with your name/address and we'll send you a couple stickers for your time!

it can be about ANYTHING bicycle related- first bike, favorite place to ride, what got you riding... those are just a few examples.

please try to make it at least a paragraph or two, and longer is fine- but one sentence won't cut it unless it's a damn good sentence- one that will make me wanna get up & dance because i got too much booty in my pants kind of sentence!

i used to get a graffiti newsletter/email once a week & it had a "chase/cat & mouse" story (if'n ya catch my drift...) or two at the end. it was great and i miss that newsletter, and i'm trying to do the same type of concept here except with bicycles, making our blog more of a community.

i don't care if you ride bmx, parks, street, fixed, geared touring, mtb, trike, recumbent, cyclocross, rollin' on 29's, or your sister's 10 speed! we wanna hear about it!

send your submissions to me: brandon@1lesscar.com

thanks again!!!

we've been getting things in to review again- i'll post a pic & fill you in as soon as I can get the catalog fixed and updated- not to mention shirts are back on sale for $15.99, but only for a limited time! due to the following, i'm trying to stay busy and will be in top of things this time around!

brandon

p.s. have you checked your tires lately? not just pressure, but for wear too? might be a good idea...

pathless pedaled video

2010-08-18T16:51:00.002-05:00

being that im a fan of touring and photography i totally dig this video from pathlesspedaled.com

Bicycle Illinois

2010-07-19T21:25:00.004-05:00

I'm sitting in Morton Grove, IL, at some public park. It's 8 in the a.m., and I've laid out a table full of trail mix, pretzels, water, Gatorade, fig newtons, and fruit. You're probably asking yourself what the hell is he doing? I'm on the support end of Bicycle Illinois.

It all started here in the Land of Lincoln a week ago. A staff of three- myself included, drive a truck full of food, supplies, luggage, and 17 bikes along with two suvs from Chicago to Cairo, Illinois. The trip is 600 miles starting at the Mississippi and ending on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL, with five over night stops on the tour. I've slept in closets, on gym floors, teacher's lounges, and even considered the parking lot outside- I sleep pretty much where I fall.

My job is simple: support all the riders the whole tour, doing whatever it takes to make the trip as smooth as possible. This is my second year and I was the baggage guy. I would wake up at 4:30 a.m., set up breakfast for the riders, and fill all the water coolers with ice and water, then load the support vehicles for the day.

At 6:00 a.m. the two other support vehicles head out. One scouts the route making sure there's no construction so we don't have to re-route the riders to avoid it. The second vehicle heads out to set up the first rest stop for the riders, then each rider hits the road at 6:30.

After the riders leave, I clean up breakfast, do a "dummy check" to make sure everyone has everything, then head out to pick up the baggage of the people who chose to stay in the comfort of a hotel instead of the local school or reccenter with the rest of us. After I load all the luggage, its off to the second rest stop where I will take over the route scouting.

I drive the course ahead of the riders looking for construction and praying there is none. After about 20 miles or so, I set up rest stop number three and wait for back up. Once all the riders go through the rest stop, one of the support guys comes up to relieve me, and I head into a town to drop off the hotel baggage and get our lodging set up for the night. A few hours later riders start coming in off the road.

The first few are usually the fast riders, and they head back out and do a few additional miles so they can get a century (100 miles) in. The rest of the pack trickles in over the next few hours as I set up water, cut up oranges, and start to restock the rest stop kits with food and whatever else was used during the day, so the next day we can do it all over again.

I hang out and talk to riders as they come in and see how the ride went. After a few hours we head to dinner. We see a few riders there, talk, eat, and laugh. Being vegetarian in southern Illinois is not the best- the restaurants do their best, but there's no tofu, that's for sure! After dinner it's back to the main lodging site to set up breakfast, and find a place to sleep for the night.

The previous year I worked this I always snuck out and had some alone time at this point, but this year I hung out with a few of the riders and staff and had fun. 9 o'clock would roll around and we would think about bed and try to get there by 10. At this point you're so tired, you just fall asleep despite the fact you're sleeping on a hard floor and there is always a light somewhere that's shinning in your eyes. 4:30 a.m.- the alarm goes off, and you do it all again for 6 more days.

This years ride was great! Last year when I got done I felt relieved, but this year there was a certain amount of sadness. It's hard to just be done and get back to regular life.

I watched 17 people ride 600 plus miles (except Lauren and Bruce who did 700+)! I watched them push themselves to there limits in intense heat. I laughed with a lot of them, listened to their complaints, and offered a word of encouragement here and there.

You really begin to bond as a group, and when it ends, there's just a certain void. About halfway through it wasn't about the money anymore- it was about helping these people reach their goal for me. Last time when it was done I never talked to any of the people or read their blogs, but after this year I made some friends who I hope to stay in touch with, and I've been reading the blogs of a few of the riders. Check these out! http://www.spokein.com/ and http://tiny.cc/m552k.

Well, I'm home now. The cars have all been returned and the polo shirts are in the wash. I want to say thanks to my fellow worker Bill, and the guy in charge, Rob (I can say it now- WE DID IT!). And a special thanks to Rob's truck. It's the little engine that could, that's for sure! I took a few pictures along the way- I wish I could have had more action shots, but I never had a chance to see everyone out on the road...

'Til next year
Cole

Mission Workshop & Pace Sportswear reviews!

2010-07-07T22:01:00.004-05:00

happy wednesday- hope everyone's week is going good! i'm finally finished with that roofing project. a few days later and my feet are still killing me. hurts to walk in the a.m.'s really bad, then it just hurts, but like R.E.M. said way back when, everybody hurts.

enough whining- but yeah, i would like some cheese...a sharp cheddar thinly sliced sounds great right now.

like the title says, we've got 2 reviews this week-

mission workshop: vandal: waistbelt

This is the biggest, most bad ass waist belt for a bag that I've ever seen.

If you don't know what the Vandal is, then all I gotta say is what the hell already!? Wake up!! Read more about it in my review here. My only complaint of the Vandal was that the waist strap wasn't included. When it came, I saw why. It's not a "traditional" waist strap- it's a full on waist belt! Read more...

Pace Sportswear: Classic Cotton Cap
Pace makes a a wide variety of cycling caps and they come in just about any flavor you like. I'd been wanting a brown hat, so I was pretty stoked when I came across this.

The Classic line all have a minimal stripe down the middle, and that's it. No logos or anything- just a great cap with a stripe. I like that a lot. Then again, I've always been a fan of stripes.

Basics: it's a 3-panel dome cap, and the bill- or visor (toe-may-toe, ta-mah-toe...) is a little longer on this model. It's really rad while still retaining full flipability. I think I just made that word up- at least according to the automatic spell checker- wait- it should technically be hyphenated, but I'm claiming it as a word! Go ahead and say it- flipability....feels good! Read more...

thanks for stopping by- see ya soon!
-brandon/OLC

La$t chance! upcoming...

2010-07-06T19:08:00.002-05:00

today is the last day to get shirts for $15...I'm taking it down tonight (after i go for a ride!)- and if you want the sale price, add the item to your cart from the main products page!

come back tomorrow for a few reviews!

signing out- ride in progress...shortly!

see ya tomorrow-

brandon

Let's call it a rain delay...

2010-07-01T13:42:00.003-05:00

So Cole just returned from his work with Bicycle Illinois, and my birthday was last Friday...we've had guests over and have been re-roofing our other building 10 or so hours a day since then. The roof still isn't finished, but it's getting close!

Just to let everyone know what we've been up to, and what's been going on. Things should be back to normal here very soon!

Remember the Chrome X Krooked bag I was telling you about? It just dropped on their site today- VERY LIMITED! http://ow.ly/25VkV

Happy July!

-Brandon

Reviews from Portland Design Works & North St. Bags!

2010-06-25T13:41:00.002-05:00

That's right- Cole did a couple reviews this week- from PDW we got their Magic Flute, and from North St. Bags their Avenue B Convertible Bag.

It's my birthday today, & Cole took off early this a.m. to work for Bicycle Illinois!

Been a long week too- chemo trip & other crap...

My old lady is out in the truck waiting, so I'll tell ya more later!

Bike to Work Week Pics

2010-06-21T22:24:00.006-05:00

My girlfriend is a photojournalist and recently bought herself a new camera, so she gave me her older dslr! I'm stoked and will start taking more pics for the blog. Last week was Bike to Work Week and Chicago has a rally for everyone on Friday. It starts early with a breakfast and goes all day. This year they had music, polo, and huge ass storm...

-Cole

Reviews: CycleTote Trailers & Arkon Phone Mounts!!!

2010-06-17T21:46:00.002-05:00

Happy Thursday- hope it's been a rad week for everyone! I got my mac back with more things fixed than i was counting on, so that was pretty nice, but things should be back to normal a bit now.

We've extended the shirt sale!!! All shirts are only $15.00, but you have to order from the main page to get the discount!!! meaning, don't click the link to go to the shirt's own page, add to cart from the main products/new home page!!! if you don't do it right, tough luck.

Cole and I both have a review for ya this week- I got to review a really rad trailer from the folks at CycleTote, and Cole got a handlebar mount for his Blackberry from Arkon!

So without further a do...

Arkon Blackberry Handlebar Mount

Carrying my phone while on my bike has always been a perplexing thing for me. Sure, you can put it in your pocket, but it gets all sweaty, and if your keys happen to be in there, your phone gets all these scratches on the front of your phone, and then your pissed- at least I am. So I thought I would try and find a handlebar mount for my Blackberry.

Akron makes cell phone mounts for pretty much everything, so they had what I was looking for. The mount is pretty straight forward- rubber spacers and screws and it attached. The phone snaps in and is held in by tension.

CycleTote Touring Cargo Trailer

A few years back, Cole had a trailer -which was later stolen from the mean streets of Chicago- but I'll admit I envied that trailer- ideas were flying through my head of all the things that I could do with one, and all of the opportunities to ride my bike more and drive less. I could go get groceries, pick up cool stuff- ie: other people's trash, etc. With no welding skills nor the equipment to weld with, I didn't see a trailer in my future.

A few years later- or a little more accurately, a few weeks ago- enter CycleTote, trailer manufacturers extraordinaire. They were kind enough to send out their touring/cargo model to test out. CycleTote has a wide variety of trailers too- besides the touring/cargo model, they make trailers for adults and people with special needs, trailers for children, and even trailers for your pet! Read more...

Ride on...
Brandon

reviews soon, macRAP, celery, and soup!

2010-06-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

hey- my mac took a crap AGAIN, but i'm going to pick it up right after this post (2hr. round trip...). So that's the main reason...hopefully reviews will be up tonight, and if not, first thing tomorrow!

Thanks for yr patience...

Brandon

p.s. really soon we're gonna be redoing part of the site and getting rid of other parts...a little condensing. kinda like campbell's soup- when i was 14 i worked at a celery farm and campbell's bought their celery. as it comes up the conveyor belt a couple dudes throw it in a big box while another dude stomps on it to try and get the box as full & heavy as possible. so 21 years ago, chances are i stomped on the celery in your campbell's soup. something to think about!

Sale, Bates Crates, Chrome gets Krooked!

2010-06-09T19:00:00.003-05:00

So check it out- our sale is still going on...i got a lil lazy & we need to sell a few more shirts, so get 'em while they're CHEAP!

Also- Bates Crates got featured on EcoVelo again today- check it out here: http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/06/09/front-carriers/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

And Chrome gets Krooked- I'm talking about the new bag collab with Chrome & Krooked Skateboards with artwork by Gonz himself. So rad!!! More info... due out July 1!!

And more reviews coming this week!

Cheers!

Brandon

we're on pedalr.com today!

2010-06-06T16:05:00.002-05:00

check it out- we made it on the list! act now & get you're shirts on for only 15 bucks! CHEAP!

http://www.pedalr.com/products/apparel

OLC Reviews! Mission Workshop, Melon, & Organic Bikes, and the sale is still on!

2010-06-03T11:40:00.005-05:00

We're back with some kick ass reviews today! I know it's been a couple weeks, and I apologize.

Between dealing with my old lady's mom who is about to start chemo for breast cancer, my computer taking a big crap on me, and then unexpected visitors over the holiday weekend, life has been a little hectic to say the least, and days seem to be flying by lately. Normally, the clock ticks slowly and the years fly by, but the past couple weeks have been a blur- so blurry in fact, that I've had to resort to using reading glasses, and I've always had perfect vision!

But I know you don't wanna listen to me bitch (at least I don't think so...but if you do, say the word...), so let's get to these kick ass reviews I was talking about!

First up is Mission Workshop's Large Cargo Backpack, The Vandal!

If you haven't heard of Mission Workshop before now, you've been doing some serious sleeping. Located in the heart of SF's beautiful Mission district (my old band played a show in the back of the old Mission Records store a decade ago!), Mission Workshop was founded not too long ago by a couple of great guys who've been making bags for cyclists for over 15 years, leaving the comfort of a solid brand they help create (Chrome ring a bell?) to follow their dreams once more and go off on their own.

These guys are off to a great start with their weather-proof backpack that comes in 2 sizes: medium and large, The Rambler and The Vandal respectively. I like to carry a lot and many times need to as well. And being American and all, bigger is always better, right? Right. So The Vandal was the obvious choice from the get go. Read more...

Next up is the final review of Melon's Slice folding bike-

It’s been a long time between reviews of the Melon Slice-folding bike. I can explain this delay in one word: winter. Yup, I decided that filling a review bike full of salt a slush was just not a cool thing to do, so the bike sat in the comfort of my parent's garage for the winter 'till I had a chance to take it out for some more testing.

The plan was to bring it back here to Chicago to test out in the city, but repeated attempts to get it on the South Shore commuter train failed, so I tested it on few different visits to Michigan. Read more...

To finish this week off, Cole got a box of goodies from the folks at Organic Bikes and is reviewing their 11 piece Multi-tool.

Organic Bikes sent me a box of stuff to review- the 11 in 1 tool is the first thing I will review. First impression is that this is a nice looking tool. The bamboo sides give it that earthy feel & being that that's what Organic Bikes is all about…well, making organic products- this makes sense.

Now for technical part. The 11 in 1 tool has pretty much everything you will need to adjust or repair your bike on and off the road. It has all of your basic metric allen wrenches, a few screwdrivers, plus it has the allen wrench to tighten your cranks, and a chain tool. I feel that these are really important things. Read more...

That wraps it up for reviews this week! Don't forget, our t-shirt sale is still going on- $15.00 measly bucks for a sweet tee!!! You can't beat that! To get the sale price, you gotta order from the main catalog page. That simple!

Thanks for stopping by & we'll see you soon!

-Brandon

the haps on the craps

2010-05-28T19:06:00.006-05:00

actually, we're not playing craps... but speaking of craps, my computer took a big one this week. i just got it back today! yeah!

so first things first- the sale is on- all shirts are only 15 measly bucks! cheap, i know, but there's been a little confusion- i put the sale prices on our main products page, but forgot to put up the individual sale priced shirt pages themselves.

to get the discount, order from the main page for now until i can get those changed/fixed. go ahead and click the link to the shirt page if you need a bigger/better picture, just don't order from it for now, unless you want to help us out & pay full price- that's up to you. :)

also on the main products page, the stickers that are in stock all have add to cart buttons. if you click on one to go to it's individual page, i also forgot to change the ones that we got back in stock and it still says sold out... so until further notice, go by the main products page!

and we've got some reviews, i just have to throw them together- they'll be up either late tonight or tomorrow afternoon. got some good stuff to tell you about too!

cole should be home tonight- he was in michigan building another run of bates crates! the pictures on the site are great, but they're even more beautiful in person. hand made from the ground up. doesn't get any better than that!

and i'm home tonight myself, although it's cooling off and a bike ride sounds really good after a hectic day... so, if i go for a ride (which keeps sounding better and better!!), the reviews will probably be up tomorrow. if not, late tonight. and i love to play before i work, but the work is over due...and you probably got paid today seeing as it's friday and all- unless you're one of those bi-weekly paid peoples- this isn't your week. and if you're one of the many unemployed, i feel for ya.

in personal news, both of our dads had cancer & so did my old lady's mom, and all 3 are cancer free right now, so that really, really rules. fuck cancer.

enjoy the weekend, and check back soon for reviews...when i post here, it automatically sends a tweet through cole's account. i try & throw one up or RT his, but his is automatic...just sayin'.

cheers!

brandon

p.s. got the new issue of Boneshaker Almanac the other day, so you'll be hearing about that soon too!

riding a bike is like writing a poem...

2010-05-24T12:49:00.002-05:00

i love writing a haiku- always have- you know, 3 lines with 5/7/5 syllables per line respectively. anyway, i wrote a few cycling haikus last week and thought i'd share them with you...so here goes:

traveling about

there's something i must confess

bicycles are best

there's so much to see

when traveling all around

go by bicycle

i looked everywhere

and finally found freedom

it was in a bike

getting around town

is much easier if you

safely ride a bike

i can't talk right now

going to ride my bicycle

talk to you later

i hope you enjoyed reading them as much as i did writing them! i'll bet you have one of your own to share...so let's hear 'em!!!

-side note: there's currently a contest somewhere on the interwebs where you can win a bike with the right picture & the right haiku... probably not too hard to find, but if you enter, don't steal my haikus- i'll bust you out for one, and besides it being a shitty thing to do, it's akin to the azzholes out there that are stealing our images and selling them as their own- ie: a shitty thing to do, so please don't. however; if you would like to reprint them or repost them, please ask- i'll more than likely say yes!!!

stay hydrated- it's hotter than a...we both know, so let's leave it at that! now go ride...or write!

brandon

All Shirts On Sale!!! only $15.00

2010-05-19T21:51:00.001-05:00

To celebrate Bike to Work Week, all shirts are on sale for $15.00 until June 1st!

Ride your bike to work week

2010-05-17T22:23:00.003-05:00

So it's ride your bike to work week. I work from home, so i'll just go for long rides everyday. Cole has his sweet workspace, and he rides his bike there- everyday. This is Cole's mom, Linda- she's rad & doesn't yell at us any more like she did 16 or so years ago!

Any ways, What if it could be ride your bike to work month? Or year? Or completely change your lifestyle and ride to work everyday. It's up to you! A national week is a great thing though- not trying to make light of it- I hope a lot of people in the US take part- Even 10% of our population can create a huge difference. I know that's a high number to reach for, but ya gotta reach, and sometimes when you can't reach it you have to keep your arm raised, make a fist, and fight your way for it.

I'm not advocating violence. Cole would never let me. I don't even know what the hell I'm talking about anymore, so I should probably have a big glass of shut the hell up right about now, but I'll raise it high, and salute! Here's to bike to work week. May it be a great start!!!

Oh yeah I had a moment of genius earlier, or at least I thought so, and the other 2 people I told it to thought it was great, so here it is (and could possibly be a shirt/sticker...too offensive? what do you think?).

the short: jesus was a bike messenger

the long: jesus was a messenger. what if there were bikes in his time? it would make him a bike messenger!

genius, right? I know!!!! I've already got the image in my head, but i'll save that for another time- maybe. I just don't wanna offend our friends & fans... comment!

-Brandon

Feedback Sports & Pace Sportswear reviews!

2010-05-15T01:18:00.004-05:00

Hey peoples-

It's been a long week. Lots of miles ridden, I finally won a long battle with AT&T, I'm gaining ground on my war with porcupines, still dealing with cancers, and riding more miles to forget about it.

But we've got a couple great products for ya to check out this week- Feedback Sports sent in their Sport-Mechanic Bicycle Repair Stand, and Pace Sportswear's CAT1 Pro Shorts. Just in time before your paycheck disappears!!!

Feedback Sports Sport-Mechanic Bike Stand

This came to me unexpectedly, and I'm glad it found my way, let me tell ya! It comes in so handy- anytime you need to make an adjustment just put it on the stand, and it stays put. Not only that, but the clutch allows you to rotate your bike 360 degrees. Totally cool.

I'm not sure how many average riders think about repair stands, but it's one of those things you never knew you needed, but now that you have it you don't know how you ever got by without it. Seriously- it's that kind of thing. Read More...

Pace Sportswear CAT1 Shorts

I've never been the spandex type (hence the stock photo!), but cycling shorts & bibs are totally the way to go if you ride frequently, are touring, and honestly- doing any riding at all. If you're like me, they'll be your secret best friend. I wear 'em underneath my pants/knickers/shorts/shants...pretty much under whatever I want, and you'd never know.

Right now, these are my favorite shorts hands down. My second favorite part about these is that they don't creep up my leg (something that drives me crazy!!!), fit great, and also tie at the waist if you want/need to. Read More...

If you haven't checked out the new shirt yet, now's a good time!

Have a great weekend- ride fast, ride hard...

-Brandon

just a heads up...

2010-05-13T18:31:00.001-05:00

i've just been exhausted today after yesterday's ride, so reviews will be up tomorrow!

-brandon

we've got a new shirt!

2010-05-10T22:43:00.003-05:00

A vintage cure all for all of your modern ails! Guaranteed to make you feel better! Works instantly...Try it today!!! Black ink on a fossil grey shirt.

good week & small feet!

2010-05-07T16:19:00.005-05:00

We got some great stuff to review this week- A set of panniers came from Arkel, a nice box of goodies from Pace- including everything one would need to stay covered head to toe, and last but certainly not least, an awesome trailer from the folks at Cycletote! Leroy (one of our four cats!) totally dug the trailer!

And I thought I'd show you a little side view of the trailer- it hitches to your seat post and can hold A LOT! The inside can be taken out for a bare bones trailer, and it also came with a cover!

But I'll tell you more about all of this soon!

Oh yeah- the small feet thing...

Cole found a stack of our now rare socks, but they're all size small, so email Cole ( cole@1lesscar.com ) if you're interested. I believe they came from sock guy (I could be wrong...), but i do know they're black with our Classic logo wrapping around the ankle.

Totally rad, but totally size small ONLY!

Ride safe & ride hard, & if you're anywhere near me, ride wet!

-Brandon

tonight!

2010-05-05T12:04:00.002-05:00

hey- if you're anywhere near GR, MI tonight, my band SHEEPHERDER myspace.com/shepardsound is playing @ the CAGE. doors @ 7 & it’s a leather/fetish show, so dress up or pay the price!

reviews will be up tomorrow. i'm running outta time to get my poop in a group so to speak...

cheers!

brandon

Stickers back in stock!

2010-05-03T19:01:00.003-05:00

most of 'em anyways!- we just got a fat stack of the boy freedoms, flats happen, and not a crimes...

so much going on!

2010-04-29T12:23:00.002-05:00

there really is a lot going on right now!

Cole's Bates Crates are one of the hottest products out right now- check out a recent review from our EcoVelo: http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/04/28/bates-crates-classic/

time is also running out to enter a couple of contests-
the first is from Go Means Go / Cetma Racks / Swift Industries -enter to win a porter rack & bag! scroll down the page for the flyer to enter!
the second is from bicycling magazine- go to their site and enter to win a $5000 bike of YOUR choice!!

then today i got this email from our friends @ Chrome:

Chrome Announces MY FOOTS photo contest
San Francisco, CA, 4/28/2010 – Following up from their Turds For Gold promotion where Chrome shipped out over 5,000 pairs of free shoes all over the globe, they now want to see how folks will live in them. Between now and August 1st, take a photo of yourself in your new Chrome shoes and send it to myfoots@chromesf.com. The photo can document your daily life, be humorous or ridiculous. Most importantly, it should say something about you. In August, the Chrome staff will vote on the top four submissions. A staff member will then visit each of the finalists’ hometowns, hook them up with some Chrome goods and photograph them to be featured in a Chrome ad campaign later this year.

“We can’t wait to see what kinds of submissions we get,” says Chrome Marketing Director, Matt Sharkey. “This isn’t hollow market-research, this is us wanting a glimpse into the many different lives that make up the extended Chrome family.”

By submitting your photo to myfoots@chromesf.com, you grant the Chrome crew full permission to blast it all over the interweb, use it as a dartboard in the office, or for any other activity they do so choose. For any questions regarding the MY FOOTS photo contest, visit the Chrome Facebook Fan Page at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/chromebags.sf?ref=ts

post #2 -indy movies: the adults in the room

2010-04-27T12:53:00.002-05:00

Hey friends,

Just a quick note to ask you to please check out the movie my friend Phoebe has been working on by Portland director Andy Blubaugh called The Adults In the Room. http://theadultsintheroommovie.com/

After an inspiring, compelling and exhausting ride, this tiny budget feature film is going to festivals and getting great press. However, they need to raise that last little bit of cash to do the final finishing for the film and to keep the festival momentum going.

They've been able to be a part of this really cool "crowd-funding" project online. It's called Kickstarter, and it basically works like this: What if we all put in $25 (or even just $5) a pop to make my movie, then your movie, then her movie? Well, then we'd all get to make movies! The idea is to have lots and lots of backers at smaller levels than the typical investor model. They only have 18 days left to go, as Kickstarter sets a time limit. Basically, it's this all-or-nothing campaign where people pledge to support the film, but if we don't meet the goal, then the funding is canceled.

You can see their Kickstarter page here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/goodyerin/the-adults-in-the-room-documentary

50 backers have gotten them over the hump- the halfway mark. Kickstarter allows them to offer gifts to their supporters, and many folks have been thrilled to be able to kind of "pre-purchase" a DVD of the film and a DVD of Blubaugh's other films. As a result, they are just $2988 away from completing the campaign as a success and being able to completely finish the film!

Please, take a look, take a listen. This film represents the effort of many folks giving it their all and the entire team could use some encouragement, maybe just by you becoming a fan, leaving a note or donating a few dollars to help them finish the project through Kickstarter.

Visit The Adults In The Room on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Adults-In-The-Room/81442176502
Follow THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM on Twitter : http://twitter.com/AdultsInTheRoom
Read more about us on the web: http://theadultsintheroommovie.com

Kickstarter for only 18 more days: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/goodyerin/the-adults-in-the-room-documentary

And, for those of you who may feel inclined, please consider posting this message, a quick tweet or even the kickstarter widget to you blog and facebook pages.

Thank you for your love and support,
Phoebe Owens & the TAITR Team

getting ready to tour...

2010-04-27T11:49:00.003-05:00

Cole and I have a few tours planned this summer, the longest being around Lake Michigan! Personally, I can't wait to hit the road. Lately as I've been training, when I get to the spot where I need to turn around, or make a turn to complete my circle, I don't want to- I just want to keep on pedaling, wherever it may take me.

You've seen the bike Raleigh sent for the trips, and this past weekend a set of rear panniers showed up at my doorstep from our friends at Arkel. Every little piece of our pre-tour puzzle are falling together, so we're both pretty excited about that!

Did we announce our pick for the graphic artist we were looking for? I can't remember...if not we'll post that with the reviews this week, so come back soon and we'll see you then!

Cheers!

Brandon

Wednesday Reviews! Chrome's Chukka Boots!

2010-04-21T23:42:00.002-05:00

Here's the lowdown on Chrome's Chukka Boots I've been talking about!

The short: Super swank, 1980 and older Tonka tough, and classy like Freddie Blassie (early pro wrestler turned manager in the 80's (?), managing the likes of the Iron Sheik and Andre the Giant!)! The kind of product that lives up to the Chrome name that we all know and love.
Read More...

check these out!

2010-04-20T16:45:00.003-05:00

Cole's been back home in Michigan building another batch of Bates Crates- We got to hook up for a minute the other day & we got a shot of this pile of crates- a mixture of classics & model t's ready to be stained (which is happening as i type!). If you haven't yet, check out the site!

Guarenteed to add a nice touch of class to any set of wheels...

Also, This is me trying to post early in the day & not procrastinate as much! Hours ahead of my regular schedule!!!

More reviews this week too...

-Brandon

Raleigh Sojourn: first impressions

2010-04-15T17:05:00.004-05:00

Getting ready to tour this summer, Raleigh sent their Sojourn to travel around the country with and abuse at will, so here's my first impression.

First off, this is a really smooth looking bike- makes me think of coffee when I see it (I really love my coffee!). Even though I take my coffee straight, the steel frame/fork is a beautiful cream color, and comes stock with beautiful chocolate Brooks leather bar tape and saddle. You really can't go wrong there, although since this is a touring bike I wish the saddle had springs...but it's still a Brooks. What more can you really say? Read more...

package from Raleigh & a new Bates Crate

2010-04-13T21:17:00.003-05:00

The package from Raleigh is the 2010 Sojourn.- a really nice touring rig! Tomorrow we'll give you our first impressions.

Cole is in Michigan making a big batch of Bates Crates, and started working on a prototype of a new rear crate! Follow Cole on twitter to hear all about it!

food review - Upton's Naturals

2010-04-07T22:49:00.003-05:00

Cole scored a fat box of veg goods that he's pretty stoked about. If that's up your alley, you'll definitely wanna check out his review of the stuff he got from Upton's Naturals!

I'm not a vegetarian or even close to being vegan, but it sounds like good stuff either way.

-Brandon

http://www.1lesscar.com/reviews/uptons.html

prozac stickers are back in stock & a contest!

2010-04-05T15:33:00.003-05:00

above: prozac sticker. below: contest (click to see full flyer!!!).

What's been happening lately.

2010-03-29T16:23:00.002-05:00

*This was supposed to go up at the beginning of the month, but i/it got sidetracked. It still applies, so here it is- Brandon.

___________________________________________

Ugh...So February was a rough month for me.

My dad has cancer and started chemo two days before his 60 birthday. It's a sad thing. The docs say he's going to fine, and the chemo is mild, but it still makes him sick.

My grandmother had a stroke and lost feeling on her left side. My mom is having to come to terms with putting her in a nursing home and it's really hard on her.

I spent most of last month back in Michigan with my family doing what I could to help out- whether it was driving my dad to his chemo appointments, or sitting up late listing to my mom.

When I had time I was building Bates Crates, trying to stock up for this spring and summer.

It was also the worst month we've ever had in sales since we started four years ago. I'm not sure if it's the recession, or because of all the other companies out there doing bicycle shirts now, or if it's just that our shirts are not what people want anymore.

On the upside, our traffic hasn't slowed down one bit thanks to our reviews. So here's to the companies that helped keep us going even when the chips are down. They're to your right.

I'm also sad my second job of being a pedicab manager has come to end. I loved being out in the city all summer long, getting some great exercise and meeting great people. It was always alot of work, but it felt good.

I'm sad to see it go, but it will give me more time to concentrate on One Less Car and Bates Crates.

We’ve come up with a couple new designs and will have more soon, and we're working on getting stickers back in stock! We also know that reviews have slowed down a bit, but they'll be picking back up again soon as the new season begins!

If you ordered during the sale, your shirts may take a little longer because of all the time i was gone, but i will get them out to you very, very soon. (I'm pretty sure their all out now! -B)

I just want to say thanks to all of you who have helped us get this far and here's to the beginning of a new season!

Cheers-

Cole

A new review!

2010-03-24T20:47:00.005-05:00

Hey all-

It's been a slow winter here as far as reviews go- and even though we've had a lot going on (more on that tomorrow), we're working on getting some great stuff for review!

I recently got a package from Mission Workshop and Feedback, and one on the way from Chrome! Before that I got a nice little package from Peace Coffee that I have to tell you about (next week! my bad if I already said that on a previous date...). We've got a bike coming from Raleigh, and Cole got a huge box of food from Uptons Naturals too!

And we're working on some other things to keep you in the know!

I got an email from Dahon recently- They just came out with 3 different carrying/storing/stashing bags for their folding bikes. When you're ready to ride they fold up and stash under the seat!

Here's Cole's Review- Come back tomorrow to hear about what's been going on, wanna gossip about us, or whatever. It's all good.

Brandon

Nau Rebound jacket

If you follow our reviews, you may have read my claim of Chrome's jacket being the best jacket I ever had. Well that was until Nau sent me a Rebound jacket. Not taking anything away from the Chrome jacket- its still worn regularly. The Rebound jacket is really something amazing. I don’t think this jacket is designed for bicyclists specific- I believe made more for hiking, but to me it's just about as perfect as a cycling jacket.

The first thing I noticed when I put it on is that it lets no wind through. I mean NONE. The very first day I got it it was 13 degrees outside. I put it on over my wool base layer, a t-shirt, and wool jersey, and I was pretty warm, and didn’t have that chill that I sometimes get as I ride. The collar also comes up high so you don’t get any wind down the neck. Sometimes this high collar bothers me, but when its cold its great. Read more...

Caps for a cause!

2010-03-22T17:31:00.002-05:00

Walz Caps is pleased to introduce our new line of cycling caps: Caps For A Cause. Each unique cycling cap in our Caps For A Cause line will highlight and support a worthwhile cause or nonprofit. Walz Caps will donate $10 from the sale of each cap to the chosen cause. Each quarter a new, limited edition cycling cap will be offered exclusively through our website.

This quarter we are supporting the people of Haiti in their struggle to fight back from the devastating earthquake in January. Donations will go to Save the Children- a nonprofit organization that is providing emergency relief to more than half a million children and families in Haiti.

Available for a limited time exclusively from WalzCaps.com.

i wonder if we can give anything away today?

2010-02-19T17:49:00.002-05:00

we're giving away stuff on twitter today. all you have to do is retweet our tweet. that simple!
so, if ya want some free stuff (who doesn't!?!), follow us on twitter if you're not already, RT, and win!

all t-shirts buy 1 get 1 FREE!!!

2010-02-15T18:25:00.003-05:00

that's right- just like the title says- all t-shirts right now are buy one, get one free! not only that, but it's on ALL MONTH LONG!!! To take advantage, you gotta click the banner on our home page: (www.1lesscar.com -and if you don't see the banner, please refresh your page!).

cole has been sick with a cold or something, and i don't know what kinda medicine he got, but take advantage while you can! we've NEVER had a deal THIS GOOD before and might not again...ever.

share this with your cycling friends!!! i would be really rad... and we'd appreciate it lots!

so happy monday...or february as the case may be!

-brandon

Affirmation/Mission Statement

2010-02-11T20:16:00.002-05:00

Its been almost five years since I started One Less Car. We've come a long way since then. The first days of printing were out of the back of my brother's tattoo shop with a screen printing kit we bought off ebay for 300 bucks.

We have had our highs and our lows, but through it all we have stayed true to our word. I am renewing my efforts to One Less Car.

Over the past few years sales have slowly declined- maybe due to the economy, or maybe when we started, we were the only ones making shirts like this.

I've had to take on other jobs to help support OLC. In doing so, I may have slacked on a few things and I'm seeing the results of that now. This is why I have made a commitment to One Less Car.

We now have our own work space instead of the back the room of my apartment. We have a few different presses. We've got an exposure unit, dryers- the works. And site wise, we have a lot of great reviews up with a lot more to come!

I have a great friend working hard to help out. And I hope we still have you- our customers, because with out you,, what’s the point?

So, with that said, let's look to the future! There will be a lot of changes coming soon- more new shirts (we already have 2 this year!), more new stickers, and a lot more reviews to help you spend your hard earned cash.

Let make 2010 the best year yet!

Thanks!!!

-Cole

help wanted!

2010-02-04T01:53:00.001-05:00

look left for details...

wednesday reviews

2010-02-04T01:02:00.002-05:00

if you haven't heard of Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac yet, i don't know where you've been hiding. i live in a tiny town kinda in the middle of nowhere and i know about it... i don't know what the lesson is there, except pay attention. keep your eyes open. take the time to look at the things around you. shut off your screens for a minute and read...or go ride a bike!

but first, check out my review of the latest copy of Boneshaker!