We get off more…

Single Speeders that is.

Anyone who really knows single speeds knows you actually have 2. Riding and walking. And it’s that second gear that I’m most thankful for. Since I figured out there are some sections that just can’t be ridden I’ve checked my ego at the trail head and am totally content taking my bike for a walk.

{gear #2, and plug for TwinSix}

Sunday was one of those days I was stoked to have 2 gears. Nat and Pete were nice enough to drag my Scavenger-Hunt-weary-ass all over the Palisade trail outside of Greenwater, WA.
We picked up a nice trail to begin with that was fast and techie…at one point we stopped and Nat pointed at a Mountain across a stream from us. “We’re going to climb to the top of that.”

{up there...}

I mustered a smile and a giggle as the sun continued to draw the scent of Hops out of my pores. (stupid scavenger hunt)
Once we hit the base of the service road climb Nat turned to me and grinned…this is where the pain really starts. 10 miles and 3200ft of climbing (ish). Uff-da. We passed snow and I used my second gear twice on the road. Once we hit the top though, the view made it all worth it.

The downhill went on forever. While V-Brakes were great in the 90’s, disc brakes are definitely where it’s at. Actually, during the descent I couldn’t help but dream about picking up one of our new XXIX bikes and slapping a Fox on it. (Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge, to any of my bosses reading this)

{as every good ride should end}

We had a Bike-In Outdoor Movie at my house again last nite. Chevy Chase in one of his finer roles as the fun obsessed Clark Griswold in Vacation. It’s been a number of years since I’ve seen this movie, but I could help notice the Bicycles in the movie this time. I may be completely off the mark here, but it appeared to me that the bicycles were on Tour from Chicago to LA. I recall seeing them as they were leaving Chicago, along the road at a lunch stop, and at the Grand Canyon.

Great satirical joke by John Huges, that I’ve over looked for years. I feel like watching it again just to see if they appear anywhere else.

A few Rush Hours recently made a visit to a pretty big competitors store in Texas. Check out the stories and the pictures here, here and here.

Whew...I need a brake. I'm going to take the week off next week as we're doing our 2009 Photoshoot. I'll try and get pictures up as soon as I get back in the office. Plus...if you find yourself in Seattle the first weekend of August, the Dead Baby Bicycle Club is hosting their annual Down Hill, and the Tour de Fat will be here as well.

Who Broke In?!

The cats out of the bag and apparently no one around here is very good at keeping secrets. Guitar Ted over at 29inches.com heard through the rumor mill that we were changing up our XXIX line next year. And I was amazed at how accurate his information was.

"...we're hearing that the XXIX+G will be back relatively unchanged, (perhaps some spec changes and color differences). The XXIX single speed will be changed significantly."

So to help the rumor out a little I sent over a couple sneak peak photos of what the XXIX and XXIX+G is going to look like over to him.

Here are a couple photos, but head on over to 29inches.com and check out the info he came up with.


I have so much more to post but there's a Summer Sales meeting I must attend down in beautiful Olympia Washington. There will be more to follow next week.

"Yup, Life Moves Pretty Fast..."

"If you don't stop and take a look around once in a while, you might miss it."

---Ferris Bueller

From the moment I rolled out of Raleigh America on Friday, life was rolling. It seems I spent the entire weekend on my bicycle.

Friday we came across a little bit of Tee-Pee from a departing co-worker

Some Commuting Salmon swimming up stream

And some pretty amazing colors in the sky

Saturday was See-Ya-de-Mayo. Two good friends are leaving the Emerald City for PDX. (Based on those two nick-names, which would you rather live in?!)

Photograph based Alley Cat, and all around fun. With stops that had us at venerable Seattle Beer establishments like Linda's, the Canterbury, Athenean, Shorty's, and the Summit. Various landmarks including the Jimi Hendrix statue, Bruce Lee's grave, "Cool Guy" Park...and me being paired up with a girl who was new to Seattle and another who was new to Bicycles, what could go wrong?!

{high heels and bicycles...}

{Largest Paint By Number, and a local Comedy Troop}

{yup, we have baggage}

By the way...we didn't hit all the stops (we really couldn't) and we rode away smelling like victory. I kinda felt bad for some of the other participants...(labled 3 hour tour)

Sunday was a Birthday ride in Anacortes...Bikes, Bros, Beverages, and Single Speeds. Sound just about right.

{all about product placement}

{Happy Mothers Day!!!!}

Friday's Bike to Work Day...

RATED XXIX

{words carey}

It's interesting how certain bikes we ride get more attention than others...I guess it has to do with the details, color, component choices, graphics (or lack there of), and maybe even the way it makes you sit. I bring this up because I have recently been riding my 2008 XXIX around the streets of Seattle and on my commute. Out of all the bikes I ride (1978 Professional, Prestige, & One Way), this XXIX has gotten the most looks and comments. I thought it was just people ogling me, but as soon as I heard, “Wow, that's a cool looking bike – what kind is it?” I knew it was all about the bike and not my looks. Which is cool, because I think it's a pretty good looking bike as well.

I thought the XXIX would be a totally fun urban assault bike that would take the wear and tear of a long commute and also be a fun machine to navigate through the city---hopping curbs, popping wheelies, dropping down small flights of stairs, etc. The XXIX is always my first choice for the mountains, and after tons of miles on trails, I figured if its that much fun on dirt, then it must also be a blast on pavement.

I took a stock 2008 XXIX, which runs about $770, slapped on some Vittoria Randonneur Cross 700x38c, swapped out the 33 tooth chain ring with a 44, put a Surly 18 tooth cog on the rear, brightened the bars with starry big cheese grips, rattle-canned the front fork white, and took the decals off. The result---one of the most fun and stylish urban bikes I have ridden in years. Plus, I can ride it in the mountains anytime just by swapping the tires and the gear. Oh...and that's a super rad Twin Six water bottle sitting in the cage.

An ubber-fun urban/mountain bike that gets more whistles than I do!








ENJOY.

{images kyle words carey}

Time: 5am (pretty dang early)
Bikes: XXIX & XXIX+G
Location: Hurricane Ridge Port Angeles, WA

I was a model for 2 of the shoots and this was the one I wanted to be in the most, as the XXIX is one of my favorite bikes to ride. I love this bike to death so it was awesome that I could be part of this shoot.

{damn, it's early}

{do it again!}

{so...I will come from here and then you go that way}

{I always knew Brain was obsessed with the Greek profile}