Know when to hold 'em...

Thanks to Chris Foster for donating this curious little gem. Peter thinks its Polish - I'm not sure why.

Hats

Who says you can't buy style? The Hub is now a dealer of Attleboro's own Ace Hats. Each of these locally made lids has two unique patterns, are reversible, and will make you (or that style-challenged loved one) look like a million for only 35 bucks. Come on by and try one on.

The Way it Used to Be

To all you nostalgic nature freeks out there the cold temperatures and shorter days have resulted in a used bike bloom at the Hub. Come on in check out the variety of species and colors that have blossomed over the past few days. Choose from road bikes and mountain bikes and even a folding bike originally purchased with coupons from Marlboro. Whether you're a chain smoker, lost your licence from that DUI, or just want to remember the way it used to be, there's something used for everyone here at the Hub.

We can get there from here

The "Getting There..." conference seems to have been a success. It wound down yesterday with a rally at the State House where 30 or so cyclists and transit activists showed up to make some noise about better alternatives to the ol' ball and chain. You know what I'm talking about: the coffins with cup holders that pollute our air and make us bomb oil rich nations into submission.
Now lets follow up. Word is that five letters on a particular issue to a State Rep or Senator is usually enough to get onto their radar screens. Lets shoot for 10.

For your state representative contact information, go here.

For your state senate contact information, go here.

Keep it simple. Let them know that bikes are good transportation and should get more consideration in future plans for our urban transportation network. Let them know that an adult on a bicycle equals one less car on our astronomically expensive highways and public road network. Let them know that you're a voter (you do vote don't you?).

Really Big Bike Rally

Alright. Listen up. If ever you wanted to make your voice heard regarding tax payer support for safe and effective bicycle infrastructure, ride your whip down to the State House next thursday (10/25) at 5:30 for a good, old fashioned rally. Make a sign, paint your face, or just get ready to be counted as one of the many that would like to see your tax dollars used to make our urban streets more bicycle friendly.

The event is the evening segment of a conference sponsored by the Sierra Club of RI on the future of sustainable transportation in our little state. The conference will feature discussions on the future of mass transit, creating more bike-friendly streets, and neighborhood walkability.

Following the evening rally at the State House, we will ride to Local 121 on Washington Street for more discussion and a film. (Major props to State Rep and Local 121 owner Josh Miller for hosting the event)

Hope to see you there!

huh?

I got that familiar sickening feeling when the driver's side door opened in front of me. Luckily, I was able to get past before I heard the thud of the lock in my bag put a mark into a brand new Cadillac. So I stopped and turned to go back to make sure everything was OK. Right away the old dude gave me attitude. "no", he said, "everything is not OK".

Thinking of the 15 stitches in my chest from receiving the "door prize" a few years before, and this guy's lack of any concern for me, I pointed to the huge mirrors on the side of his elephant of a car. "that's what those are for. next time you should take a look."

He gestured to the line of car traffic passing along Broadway which is plenty wide for all to share. "Those cars aren't even close...there's no need to look".
"Um...you might find a guy on a bicycle going by."
"Why would I? I don't see a bicycle lane."
And on. And on.
Finally he said "you're a typical Rhode Islander: Rude!"
"So why don't you back to where you come from?"
"I am from here!"
"Huh?"

So once again I'm left scratching my head at the complete breakdown of communication between "us" and "them". Of course what may have prevented the whole incident would have been the striped bike lane along Broadway that the City has been promising for the past several years. As it is there are no stripes on Broadway even for the car traffic. Some drivers actually imagine that there are two lanes along this busy residential street which leads to ridiculous displays of muscle flexing and muttering.

Of course the only thing more ridiculous than this whole confrontation would have been to point to the pavement where the lines will someday be to explain to an individual who simply doesn't think of bikes in the same 21st century way that I do.

Attention Ladies...

...Steph requests your presence Sunday mornings. Its not exactly breakfast, its not quite lunch...its a social ride for women only. Show up at the Hub at 8:30 Sunday mornings for 2-2.5 hours. Distance is up for debate, but be reasonably prepared to get the ol' heart going. You'll return to the Hub when the rest of us roll in around 11:00. Questions? Give a call into the shop T-Sun 11-6. 401.383.9934. Hope to see you then.

Mondays the Hub is closed

It was Peter that got us out to Carr's Pond yesterday for what may be a last stab at pure summer. The air was a silent blue, the water crystal clear, and the sun...

Its roughly 15 or 20 miles from Providence to the edge of those woods. Peter led us down the Cranston Bike Path to where the pavement ends, we zigzagged to New London Turnpike and over the highway from Coventry into the piney woods of West Greenwich. Once we got off the road its classic New England singletrack to the pond.



After a dip in the water and some sun on the rock, we headed back to the place where people work on Mondays. I wonder what that's like?

There's no such thing as a ...(part 2)

Today there was an exceptional rash of "department store bikes" coming into the shop. Its exhausting explaining to people why we will not service their bike. I personally have this conversation 2 or 3 times a day. While most of the time people will accept our explanation and move on, occasionally people will persist. How many analogies do I need to come up with to make it clear?
The bottom line is if you want a bicycle that works now and is servicable in the future , buy one from a local bicycle shop - not necessarily ours - but one that is convenient to where you live and work. Build a relationship with the people who work there. Support them and they will support you.

If you still don't get it or you think our attitude is elitest, Google "Department Store Bicycles". I think you will find there are many others out there who feel our pain.

OK. Here it is. My new cross bike is out of the barn. Brian at Circle A Cycles finished it last week and I finally found the time to build it up last night. This morning, after stopping by to show off the finished build to Brian, I road it up to Chase Farm and did a few laps of the old Wednesday Night course. This gave me a chance to play with the fit a bit and break in the upholstery. I had planned to only be out for a couple of hours, but this bike felt so good, I kept going so that I finally rolled in 4 hours later, so stoked.

The season is just getting going. For the next three months, cross racers and fans are getting some every weekend somewhere. Check the schedule and plan to get out there at least once this year. Make a roadtrip out of it. Go check out the leaves, whatever. You will not be disappointed.