Fuck Gas

I’m a sucker for new parts and clean graphics. All City Cycles out of Minneapolis has a host of new parts out including toe clips, double straps, hubs, cranks and grips. Check them out at AllCityCycles.com

Good looking stuff.

It’s official - I’m raising money to take part in The Ride to Conquer Cancer to which I’ll be riding fixed. Having dealt with all the chemo, radiation, surgeries and extended hospital stays myself, I’d like to think the money I can raise for this will eventually allow someone not to have to deal with this shit. It sucks, no two ways about it. If you’re curious about the ride or would like to take part as well go to RideToVictory.org and sign up. The ride is a 2 day event covering 150 miles and includes all sorts of provisions. There are already people signed up from around the country so it should be a great ride all while contributing to kicking cancer’s ass.

If everyone that reads this blog just donated $1 (more would be good too) I’d be set on my $2,500 goal and if your a tax doer, your donation is deductible.

Please donate here.

Bike Depot has the right idea when it comes to making sure the parking spaces are cleared for their customers.

StuporBowl 12 happens this weekend in Minneapolis!

Friday, January 30 pre-registration; 5 to 11pm at CRC Coffee House (34th and Lyndale S) with track stand, sprint, and skid comps sponsored by Bike Jerks.

Saturday, January 31, Race Day registration 11am to 2pm at One On One Bike Studio (117 Washington Ave N). Start time 3pm.

Registration fee is $20 at the door and includes a T-shirt, manifest, stickers and other schwag!! A special side note is that there will be a professional documentary made of this years event. The filmmakers are looking for people who will be riding with helmet cams and the StuporBowl crew look to have this entered in the 2009 Bicycle Film Festival. If you or anyone you know will be filming please contact them.

FBM has the Sword forks a bit closer to production. You can find out more on what is happening in beautiful Johnson City, NY or other BMX induced weirdness at FBMfixed.com & FBMbmx.com

Papa’s got a brand new bag!

If James Brown were to sew messenger bags, Blaq Design’s Zero would be the result. First of all, the simple fact that Paul, Jeremy and the rest of the crew at Blaq took the time to apply a custom print to the bag they were kind enough to send my way for a review leaves plenty of room for praise. Add to that, the amazingly clean sewing, insanely comfortable fit and extra pocket details and somebody (me!) has a new favorite bag.

Stock Zeros are made from a 1000d Cordura outer shell coupled with an 18oz truck tarp liner inner. If you’re familiar with Chrome Bags, this is an identical makeup until you add in the more heavy duty nylon 92 thread used by Blaq. Additionally, the Blaq Zero measures up to 2025 cubic inches which is slightly larger than Chrome’s Metropolis bag while a stock Zero will only cost you $125. Also keep in mind Blaq will sew you up your own custom bag with pretty much anything you can come up with including screen printing, embroidery or simply your own color combinations.

More details include two deep front pockets with a velcro down flap, internal pen organizers and a reclaimed seat belt buckle shoulder strap as well as a removable under arm stabilizer strap. Straight out of the box I am nothing short of totally impressed at the work Blaq is putting out. I’ll be taking this bag with me everywhere I go and quite simply using the hell out of it. After a month of so I’ll post an update as to how everything is holding up. In the mean time be sure to check out all that Blaq has to offer including their Gonzo BMX line.

Check them out a BlaqDesign.com and be sure to tell them we sent you.

The London Fixed Gear & Single Speed forums hosted their first annual Tweed Run this past weekend with about 150 riders attending. Tons of picks here, the forum thread here and a report here. Seems like an amusing Spring ride idea…

It’s damn cold in the ville which seems to have kept the crowd away for polo today. Couple new faces though and that’s always nice. Random bike blog news from around the way:

One Less Car is now officially on Facebook here

Hurl from Cars R Coffins has an interview up over at Drunk Cyclist

Michael from Cranked is loving Louisville - read about it here

Speaking of Michael - we’re mulling over the idea of riding to Lexington for fun instead of fund raising. Not that there’s anything wring with that. Let me know if you’re interested.

The River City Cycling Society had their first ride today and apparently fun was had

That’s all I’ve got - it’s cold, I’m tired and need to make more coffee.

In all honesty I would have likely never known about this if it weren’t for Jeff’s post over at Urban Velo. Regardless, Wheel & Sprocket, a shop that open in Wisconsin in 1973 has branched out to start EighthInch.com, a track/fixed gear online mail order site. While the current selections leave a bit to be desired, Eighth Inch looks promising. Check it out and support the shops that are supporting you scene.

That’s Ezra. Why is he riding an assless bike you ask? Well, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer back in the summer of 2008 and has been writing a blog about his adventures to kick it’s (cancer’s) ass ever sense. I’ve never met Ezra, don’t even think I’ve emailed him -  I just read his blog and remember how much it sucked going through chemo and some of the other shit I had to deal with. Life’s tough kids.

Check out Ezra’s blog and say hi.