Minneapolis Custom Bicycle Frame Builders

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No love for Minnesota frame builders. Maybe it’s because we’re too cold. Maybe our pro sports teams aren’t particularly good. Maybe it’s our Scandinavian stoicism. Whatever the case, we get no love when it comes to judging the bike-friendliness of various cities throughout the country. Though I’m hearing rumors that Bicycling is calling us the … Read more

Tsnownami Humor

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Driving in this morning in the winter storm we’re in the middle of, I was on Highway 36 headed east to work. In the right lane is someone in a silver Subaru, crawling along at 30 miles per hour, when 50 is easily attainable. I swear. I curse. I might have given the other driver … Read more

Introducing: Calvin

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Part III in the introduction to our armada of cats. Calvin was not a planned adoption. When I met the little guy, I had only vaguely thought about getting Scout a friend, as Mooch had very little interest in Scout’s psychotic brand of play. So in November of 2007, I was at a Petsmart in … Read more

Progress Made

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She’s coming right along. And I’ve actually been thinking that I may run a 29’er set up as a “super ‘cross” for the aforementioned Almanzo 100. So far we have the headtube, downtube, BB, and seat tube joined up. Everything is within .1mm of where it should be. (Yes, 1/10th of one millimeter.) It’s coming … Read more

Introducing: Scout

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I’m not normally the type to talk about my cats super-extensively on here. My posts about Mooch’s euthanization this last summer don’t count — that was a pretty tough time and she was (and still is) family. But, being hard-up for topics other than cycling stuff, I decided I’d go through and write a short … Read more

Review: NiteRider MiNewt Mini-USB Light

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The NiteRider MiNewt Mini-USB Light is an ingenious little product despite it’s slightly clunky name. NiteRider, who has always produced high-quality lighting systems for bikes, has created a device that is great for the office commuter. The highlights of the system are it’s easy mounting and removal from your bike — the battery mounts to … Read more

Greg LeMond’s Dumbshit Idea

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As the years have worn on, Greg LeMond has taken a turn in my eyes and appears to have become a bitter, curmudgeonly old man. As soon as Lance Armstrong won his first Tour, Greg has begun muttering about doping and cheating as if it’s this new, horrible thing that has ruined cycling. As Lance won more Tours, more events, and eclipsed LeMond’s success, Greg’s complaining, drama-creating, attention-seeking garbage became more loud and more pathetic. When Floyd Landis won* a Tour, Greg was vaulted into the limelight more directly. I always found it strange that Greg never gunned for Tyler Hamilton — but oh, that’s right, Tyler Hamilton never “tainted” Greg’s legacy by winning a Tour de France.

So, eventually, everything went away. Landis was found guilty of doping and was summarily suspended. Lance was in retirement. And we didn’t hear much from Greg.

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Saying Goodbye to My Best Friend

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In a bit of serendipity, Mooch came home with me on a rainy Saturday afternoon, riding in the passenger seat of a Honda, with Nirvana on the radio. A decade later, she left home for the last time, much the same way. Kate drove and Mooch was cradled in my arms, wrapped in a blanket. … Read more

Balance

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As amateur athletes, we often struggle to find the balancing point where hobby and the rest of our lives overlap — and that overlap can be both time and financial. Being an endurance athlete isn’t cheap in hours or dollars, and often we get so caught-up in that we miss the bigger picture. Yesterday my … Read more

Compatible Technologies

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The two greatest technologies are wireless Internet and indoor plumbing. And despite the 100+ years separating their respective inceptions, they’re really quite compatible. Not that I’d know or anything. I’m just sayin’.