one less car news

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!

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!

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

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!!

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!!!

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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