Sunday, December 04, 2011

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

Thursday, September 22, 2011

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.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011


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...

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

more wooden bikes!


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

Thursday, September 08, 2011

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

Friday, September 02, 2011

TREK x ARTCRANK!


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.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

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

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

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...

Friday, July 01, 2011

Read more about it here:

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

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

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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!

Friday, June 24, 2011


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!!!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Bike Mods!!!

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

Saturday, June 11, 2011

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


Friday, June 10, 2011

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!

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

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

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

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

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

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 15th, 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!

Friday, April 22, 2011

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

Thursday, April 07, 2011

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!!!

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

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