Hub Bicycle Web Log

Miles per gallon

2012-01-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

I just packed up the computer I used on my tour (I don't usually use one, since I don't need to know exactly how slow I'm going).

It turns out I clocked around 54 hours of riding time (None of the MTB rides were recorded on this little guy. Also- I forgot to turn it on one day in FL...). I was curious about how many calories I burned based on that number. I counted my riding as 'moderate'- I wasn't going particularly fast (11.4 mph average), but I was weighed down with a bunch of stuff. Based on that, and my weight (which is none of your business, although I'm totally comfortable with it, thanks) the total I got was 31,275. Now that we've got a calorie total we can have some fun with science!

I could have powered my trip with 298 bananas (medium ones). Or 209 Twinkies. Or 1117 Peeps (Yellow food theme!).

I also ran across this article. Turns out I burned about the same amount of energy that is in a gallon of gas. I went 630 miles on that 'gallon of gas'. Pretty cool.

Recap

2012-01-26T15:03:00.001-08:00

Well, that was fun. Not all of it, but a good bunch of it was fun. My winter adventure tour is over. I'm back in town, and I'm ready to get back to business. This is going to super cliche, so sorry about that, but being away for a while makes me really appreciate living here. If you ever get sick of living here, just spend a little time in the Florida panhandle (that'll be the last jab, FL, I promise). So now that it's over I get to reflect on all of the things I've learned.

Things I wouldn't change-
My bike. It worked great- gearing, the racks, brakes, wheels- the whole thing.
Hammock camping. I skipped the tent, to save weight, but it ended up being a million times more comfortable.

Things I would do differently-
Traveling alone. It didn't work out that anyone could join me this time around, but I think having another bike riding human around would be more fun and would feel safer.
Finding campgrounds. I would definitely do more research ahead of time- many of the campgrounds in the south are RV- centric (a good number were RV only). I would have known that if I'd planned ahead a little better.

I'm excited and ready to get back to the shop. I'm going to open back up for business on Monday, Jan 30 at noon. 2012 is going to be a big year for Hub, and I'm ready to get it going.

MTBTX

2012-01-22T16:40:00.001-08:00

Perfect day for some sweet central Texas singletrack! Mr. E and I hit the trails just like old times. I was even reunited with another old friend today. My old mountain bike (I think this one was 6-7 bikes ago...) lives here in Austin since J Bone was nice enough to adopt it.

The trails at Rocky Hill Ranch were really fun. Pretty flowy and fast, a few roots to keep it interesting, and lots of sections with really dry, loose rocks. Not baby heads, something smaller than that... Fetus heads? That's disturbing- how about just small rocks? Ok. Lost of loose small rocks. We learned later from the land manager (who was kind enough to give us some ice cold post-ride beverages!) that the area was wicked close to being burned to the ground during the wild fires of last summer. I'm glad it wasn't- it was nice to have a little cover from the pine trees. Which smelled fantastic, by the way. I think this is where they get the 'Mountain Pine Fresh' scent for laundry detergent from.

The place was almost deserted. It was really fun to have the trails all to ourselves. That finger I banged up while getting hit by an SUV (I'm going to hold that against you forever, Florida. Don't think I'll forget it. I won't.) was a little sore. It was a good reminder not to have a death grip on the bars.

There was also a funny lodge/base camp/shack that, I'm told, is 'very Texas'. For example, there is a clearly labeled Main Entrance door, decorated with antlers, but no walls that require an entrance at all...

Hill Country

2012-01-18T17:58:00.001-08:00

I headed today out for an overnight trip from Austin. There are tons of state parks here. Including one in Blanco (you'd think it would be 'blahhhnk-oh' but folks seem to be calling it 'blank-oh'). It's pretty cute here. And surprisingly packed for a campground on a Wednesday night in January. Lots of RVs, but also a handful of tents around. It's nice to have some company. RV culture is really interesting. It has it's own lingo and etiquette. I'm sure there are RV snobs out there, although the folks I've talked seem very nice. There are times when serious RVers travel around the country, and times when they settle in for a season (usually winter, and usually in the south, natch). And there are so many places to stay- campgrounds, Wal Mart parking lots, rest areas, Elks Lodges. If you ever want to know more about it, just ask the next retired couple you see in an RV. I'm sure they'll tell you all you want to know, and more.

The ride to get here was wicked hilly ('Texas hill country', you think I would have figured that out...), and the roads were pretty choppy, so I'm beat. I'm going to try and stay awake long enough to enjoy some of those big 'n bright stars they advertise here in the heart of Texas.

AUSTX

2012-01-16T15:23:00.001-08:00

Captains log, entry 147145. I made it to Austin safely, via vehicle. Having a car gave me access to a radio, which have me access to some pretty sweet Cajun radio stations.

I've done a bunch of neighborhood exploration riding here, in the land of the 'breakfast taco'. Yesterday we rolled four deep (not enough for a bicycle gang, which I believe requires 5), to check out such sites as Barton Springs, the UT campus, and some sweet taco joints.

Today I visited Mellow Johnny's, and the Texas State Capital ("it's like we're entering Mordor...", according to Mr. E). There were some pretty epic portraits of historical figures in both of those places.

In the next couple of days I'm going to head out for some overnighting in a state park or two. For now it's just nice to relax.

Refocus

2012-01-13T17:28:00.001-08:00

It was less windy today. But in spite of that fact, I've decided to refocus this adventure. I'm going to say 'refocus' in order to not feel like a failure at bike touring.

The last straw came this morning when a pickup truck full of high school kids (I'm going to assume they were high school kids, otherwise there's not even half an excuse for them) buzzed by me super fast, super close, and then threw a Coke bottle at me. Awesome.

I'm pretty tired of being stressed out and fearing for my life. I planned for this trip as best I could, but I keep running into problems (like cars) that have been really exhausting to deal with.

The second part of this adventure was to get to Austin to hang out with my good pals Mr. E and J Bone*, see the city, and enjoy the bike scene there. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to get there- with combustion engine assistance- tomorrow.

I can't help but feel like I'm quitting. I had a long talk with my better half (Seriously. Much better.) about it all. One important point that was made was if I died on this trip, she'd kill me when I got back. Another good point is that I've learned a lot so far. There are tons of things I would do differently- and how else would I have known those things had I not messed it up so badly this trip? I want to think about my learning experience for a couple more days, then I'll write a list of 'don'ts here (maybe a couple 'dos', too- it wasn't all bad...) Until then, I'm off to Austin.

*real names

Phew

2012-01-12T20:58:00.001-08:00

I'm exhausted. Today was a roller coaster. It started out pretty crappy, then there were some really bright spots, then it got really really crappy, then a whole bunch better, then back to just regular crappy, and now I'm doing alright. Let me explain.

It was windy from the get go this morning. I was filled with the irrational rage that comes from riding into a head wind for 73.4 miles today. I know this is a big part of why most folks ride west to east- so that you aren't fighting the weather the whole time. But logistically, east to west is what I had to work with, so I guess I shouldn't complain.

The really, really crappy thing was I lost my wallet. For most of the afternoon. That was exhausting in its own special way. Long story short, it rattled out of my bag (along with the pair of pants it was in... so I also had no pants to make it that much worse). I had no idea where this rattling out had happened. I called the cops, who did a sweep of a bit of the last 10 miles I had ridden. I was on my way to the sheriff's office to file a report so I could cancel all my cards. I had to back track a bit to get to the office, when Ta Da! There were my pants, in a ditch, with wallet intact. Man, oh man. I was freaking out- imagine being out in the middle of nowhere with no way to prove that you're you, any only $40.27 with you (I counted). Totally nerve wracking.

So. That took up most of my afternoon, then it was back out into wind for another 27 miles.

I'd like to end this post in a high note, so why don't I tell you about some people I met today?

First, a woman (born and raised in Louisiana. Except now she spends some time near Miami. Because she's retired. From the military) went out of her way to make sure I wasn't going to get lost. She warned me that a road up ahead looked like a road on GPS, but it was not a good road for bikers. After asking me where I was from she said "Listen, Massachusetts. I don't want to see on the news that you got eaten by a bear 'cause you took the wrong turn now." So good.

Second, I was taking a water break when a car passed me, stopped, and then backed up toward. Out jumps a fella who asked if he could pick my brain about bike touring, because that's what he wants to do when he retires. We talked for a while, and then discovered we're (very) distant cousins. This has been a really fun part of the country to be French Canadian in (I mean, it's always fun to be French Canadian, but here it gets you lots of handshakes and the occasional hug).

So there you go- some bad and some good. I hope tomorrow gets better, or at least less windy.

Back At It

2012-01-11T16:43:00.001-08:00

Well, getting hit by a car was a major bummer. Yesterday my arms were wicked sore. I'm guessing it was from bracing myself for impact. I decided to load up the Brown Machine in a rental car and drive ahead a few days. So I'm near Baton Rouge, LA now. Today I took it wicked easy. It wasn't the worst ride I've ever been on, but I think it'll take one more day until I'm back to my bad self.

I traveled up "Scenic" highway 61, which turns out is lined by chemical plants. I feel like I may have shaved off a few years by breathing the air near these places. I worry about the folks who live nearby (these plants have a surprising number of houses right across the street).

I got my first flat today. I got a chance to use the pump I brought- the Topeak Road Morph G. It's a pump that's new to me. I spend more time on fat tire/low pressure bikes, so the pumps that I usually carry are very small, and not very high pressure. Well, this guy is a little bigger, but it got my tire up to 90 psi in no time. It wasn't as efficient as a floor pump, but it does have a small, fold out foot peg that turns it into a super mini floor pump (kind of). I didn't use the foot peg today- I don't think it would have made things any easier, but I guess it's a nice option to have. The mini hose kept the valve from getting jerked around/ ripped out, which is super important when you've got a limited supply of replacement tubes... Yep. I'm sold. It was the most pleasant on-the-road flat I've ever fixed.

Hey! That was my first flat fix of 2012. Seems a little crazy, but it made me want to get back to the shop. That's definitely a sign that I love my job (and that I'm a workaholic).

Could Have Been Worse

2012-01-09T14:19:00.001-08:00

To start off, I should let you know I'm OK, but I was hit by a car today in Tallahasse. Or rather I hit a car, when the driver pulled out into me. However you phrase it, it really sucked.

Tallahasse is the worst place I've ever ridden a bike. It makes Boston look like Amsterdam. Not only is cycling infrastructure nonexistent, there aren't even any shoulders on the roads. I went way off my route to try to find safer roads, but no luck. The city has really made sure that cyclists aren't welcome.

Just as I was almost finally, finally out of town an FSU student in an SUV started to pull out of a side street that was partially obscured by a sign. I thought 'She probably won't see me', and checked quickly over my shoulder to see if I had any room to swerve (which I did not, thanks to the no shoulders, and drivers not giving me an inch of space). By the time I looked ahead again she was already there and I had a split second to brace for impact. It was really unpleasant. Some very nice witnesses called an ambulance. I was pretty shaken up at this point, and it hurt to move the fingers on my right hand. I guess that's to be expected when you put a dent in someone's car. The firefighter who showed up first said he'd be surprised if I didn't have a broken finger or two.

Long story short- my fingers aren't broken, just sprained. And I'm the one at fault, because of something in the Florida law... I hit the car, not the other way around. I'm not sure... The cop was not very helpful, and I didn't think to ask more questions about it. If only there were a 'Bike Safe Boston' card for Florida (next card, Josh?). All she said was, "I'm not writing any tickets. So unless you want to sue the guy who put the sign there, we're done."

Thankfully, with a little ice and rest I'll be a-ok. The Brown Machine could use a front wheel true (I brought a spoke wrench with me), but other than that it's also fine. The EMTs strapped it to the stretcher in the ambulance so I wouldn't have to try and track it down at the police station. Pretty nice of them, and they thought it was hilarious to have it on the stretcher (first responder humor, I guess).

I rode away from the hospital, but my hand doesn't feel awesome, I've got some road rash on my knees that was chaffing, and to be perfectly honest I'm feeling a little gun shy in the traffic here. So my plan is to lay low tonight, and probably grab a car tomorrow to get me out of FL, keep me on schedule, and give me a days rest. I won't let one little (now dented) SUV get in the way of adventure.

That Smell

2012-01-08T12:04:00.001-08:00

So far, so good. I decided to make today a short day (41.75). I'm ahead of schedule, in spite of taking some not-so-short shortcuts/wild goose chases.

I passed an animal farm today. I'm going to guess a pig farm (the 'illustration' on the sign was a little ambiguous). I can say without a doubt that I weren't already a vegetarian, the smell of that place would have converted me. It was otherworldly. Think about how bacon smells. Pretty good, right? (Hey, even though I don't eat it, I can appreciate how good it smells) Now think about how the opposite of bacon would smell (like maybe rotting bacon) and add in a porta potty from the county fair. That's pretty close.

Oh. And, to make it even worse- I passed it while I was going up hill. So it's not like I could hold my breath until I passed... Ugh. That smell is going to haunt my dreams.

Hopefully some refreshing Florida citru can help cleanse my senses. Keep you fingers crossed for me.

Things I've Learned So Far.

2012-01-07T15:01:00.001-08:00

I'm in Madison, FL- home of the... I don't know... they probably have a claim to fame... Well, only three days in and I've learned a bunch already.

One- Just because you are prepared/want to ride for 60/70/80 miles, doesn't mean there will be a place for you to stop and stay at that point. So either get ready to ride more or less. Especially in rural areas.

Two- 'Dirt roads' in Florida are not dirt. They are soft sand, which are not rideable on The Brown Machine when it's fully loaded up (I'm not sure they'd be rideable when The Brown Machine isn't fully loaded...).

Three- Judging by the number of 'Calvin peeing on Obama's campaign logo' bumper stickers I've seen, he probably shouldn't expect to win FL in November.

Four- I'm going to get sick of oatmeal pretty quick here.

And finally- This is a real thing, apparently:

Day One

2012-01-05T19:07:00.001-08:00

In the books.

I had a very long day. What was supposed to be a 52 mile day ended up finishing at 86. It was either camp at Blair Witch campground or keep riding into Gainesville. Go Gators! I'm going to be a little sore tomorrow, but it was worth it to not get murdered in the woods.

Today I noticed that the people of North Florida are very nice (lots of waves from motorists and pedestrians) and are also fascinated about this trip ("Why? Why would you do that? That does not sound like fun. But, be careful and God bless!"). I can't say the dogs of North Florida are as friendly. I was chased by a bunch of them today- two of them broke out of their fences and followed me down the road (Don't worry...they were small, so I out rode them).

Here are a few pics from today:

Go Time

2012-01-04T18:54:00.001-08:00

I'm in St Augustine. I just put my bike back together after a rough plane ride.

I haven't actually ridden anywhere yet. Well, I did ride around the parking lot of the Regency Inn & Suites. Oh man, a bike handles differently with 40lbs of stuff on it. Strangely, it handles very much like the Grand Marquis rental car I drove around today- kind of 'boat-y'.

The real fun starts tomorrow. Bright and early(ish. I do have to wait for the sun to come up). Wish me luck!

Christmas Ride

2011-12-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

I like to go for bike rides on Christmas. My second favorite kind of ride (second to single track, of course) is neighborhood exploration riding. I headed out for one of those rides in the afternoon. I don't get to ride south of the river much, so I wanted to take full advantage of the light traffic and go get lost in city for a while. It had the potential to be one of the crappiest rides of the year, but I'm going to have to put it in the top 3 for 2011.

I lost a good pair of pants to this ride. Good pair, as in 'the pants I don't wear to the shop' kind of good. Exactly at the moment I thought "Oops. Forgot to roll up my pant leg..." passed through my brain, I heard a terrible ripping sound and my bike stopped dead in the middle of the road.

Then I noticed a gash in my monster truck tire. No flat, but a slice big enough to stick your thumb through (maybe not yours. I don't know how big your hands are). Not to worry- I had a pocket full of tire boots with me.

Later it started raining. 40 degrees, spitting rain, no fenders (I don't care what you say. I don't like fenders. And I keep my bike clean without them.), and I lost my rain pants 3 weeks ago. It could have been a recipe for a miserable ride home, but I couldn't seem to keep a big dumb smile off my face (it helped that my hands and feet stayed warm and dry). I even took the long way home. I shouted holiday greetings to the only other biker I passed, but he didn't seem to be enjoying himself as much as I was (understandable). It wasn't an epic day of riding. You won't find any videos posted about rides like this- slow, around town, without a single bar spin. If there was a video, I promise it would be too boring to watch. Still, it was fun. Really fun.

Trial Run

2011-12-18T19:31:00.001-08:00

I did a quick trial packing for my trip (17 days to go!). I still have yet to load up the bike to see how it handles (and how slow I'll be...), but that'll just happen when it's happens, I guess. One of my panniers still needs some repairs- the one I found on top of a trash can (not in it. I promise)- other than that, I'm ready to roll.

Good Holiday Gifts

2011-12-12T09:20:00.000-08:00

I have two suggestions if you need a holiday gift for the bike nerd in your life. Specifically the mountain bike nerd in your life. And even more specifically the lady mountain bike nerd in your life.

Have you heard of the GBNEMBA Ride Like a Girl/Wrench Like a Girl series?? No. Well, the ride series brings Pro/Expert local riders and coaches together with beginner mountain bikers to teach skills to build confidence on the bike. Thus creating new gnar shredders, making the world a better place. The wrench part of the equation happens here at Hub (keep an eye out for 2012 dates coming in Feb/Mar). Clinics cover basic maintenance, to help these women keep their rides shred ready. The final component of this collaboration is fundraising for The Elizabeth Stone House. Here's where the holiday gifts come in. First up- a very cool women's 'Ride Like a Girl' limited edition jersey:

100% of the proceeds from this mountain jersey (think- no pockets or zippers... mmmmm, comfy) benefit The Elizabeth Stone House. We've got 'em in women's sizes XS to XL. $40

Next up is the Wrench Like a Girl Trial Side Fix It Kit (the name may need some re-working...):

Included in this kit is, a SRAM PowerLink (for chain fixes), a tube (for flat fixes), a few zip ties (for MacGuyver fixes), and a Park MTB-3 multi tool (for every trail side fix). This kit is gender neutral, so you can get it for everyone on your list. $30. I'd also like to note that everything in this kit was donated- so 100% of the $30 will go to The Elizabeth Stone House! Come check them out!

Trusty Steed

2011-12-07T14:34:00.001-08:00

I meant to do this post on Sunday- which was exactly one month away from the start of my trip, but time got away from me. I've been meaning to do a number of things in regard to this bike trip, that haven't quite happened yet. Like putting some miles in on the bike... That seems to be the theme of this weblog- not riding bikes enough. Good thing this arrived today:

I have, however, managed to get a bike put together. The Brown Machine had been sitting idle for a while, and it has proven its worth over long distances. So that seemed to be the most logical frame of mine to hang some parts on. I'm going with a 2x9 drive train (no granny gear, but I won't have much in the way of elevation change to deal with), hand built wheels (natch) with Michelin tires, and my fave seat and pedals combo.

I'm going with the Surly Open Bar for the handlebar. Not a very conventional choice, but this guy has really grown on me. I think it's very comfortable, and it gives a couple of different hand positions. Will it work for me over a month of riding? There's only one way to find out...

I'm still on the fence about the front basket. I really love this guy (it's a Takeout Basket from PDW), but I'm afraid it won't fit enough stuff. I do have a nice CETMA front rack I could put on there for maximum cargo carrying, buuuut- it won't fit in the bike box I'm packing up in (like the Takeout will), so I'd have to find some other way to get the thing down to FL. I don't want to brag, but I'm a pretty efficient packer (the last time I checked a bag was 2002), so I hope I can put those skills to good use here. I'm going to test those skills this weekend with a trial run/ride. I'll let you know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Thxgiving

2011-11-23T07:25:00.001-08:00

Hub is going to be CLOSED on Thursday, in order to put ourselves into a food coma. And CLOSED on Friday, as well, to put ourselves into a shopping coma (just kidding- my family's going to get bags of bike tube rubber bands for Xmas this year).

We'll be open for regular hours, high noon to 5pm, on Saturday.

Bell

2011-11-14T13:29:00.001-08:00

The stars aligned today just long enough for me to get out of the 'office' and go for an MTB ride. Beautiful weather, a couple of free hours in the middle of the day, and a fully working bike- a very rare occurrence.

I didn't expect to run into anyone else on the trails, what with it being 1pm on Monday, but I happened upon a woman out for a hike. I didn't want to startle her, so I hoped she'd hear me pedaling. She didn't, and I really didn't want to interrupt her tranquil hike with an "on your left!" Then I remembered I was riding a bike with a bell. (It's my dedicated MTB bell- my four legged trail riding pal responds to it without me having to yell at her.) So, as I rode up a gave a quick 'Ding! Ding!' (always two in a row, I think it sounds nicer..). She said, "Oh! Isn't that a pleasant little surprise. Have a nice ride."

It is pleasant. I think it communicates "Hello! I'm here." Which is much different than the car horn's "You're annoying me. Get the eff out of my way." There are plenty of different tones- high pitched aluminum, resonant brass, old school telephone sounding. and so on.

It's weird, but at the moment I don't even have a bell on my commuter bike, and there are so many people out on the road to communicate with. I'm not going to move the one from my mountain bike- it's taken me a long time to get it that broken in- so it looks like I'm going to be in the market for a new one.

Planning

2011-11-10T15:55:00.001-08:00

I've been planning a trip for this coming January. A bike tour trip. So far the planning process has been pretty passive. I spent the summer reading other people's tour blogs- some good ones and some really not good ones. I did a lot of day dreaming about it. I decided to ride through the south east (I've never been there, and it'll be warm-ish in January). I got maps from Adventure Cycling. That's about as far as I got with the planning process.

The shop move took up a large amount of brain space and energy, so I put off making any concrete plans for this adventure until things started to settle down around here. It's settling-ish, so I bought plane tickets this week. It's time for me to stop day dreaming and get some details nailed down. I leave for Florida on January 4 and I have a flight back to BOS from Austin TX on February 4. One month to ride 1300ish miles (one of those details I think I should work out...), that's do-able, right?

Closed on Saturday

2011-11-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yep. CLOSED this Saturday (11/5). To wrench at the LUNA Chix Cyclocross Clinic with Katerina Nash. Should be fun!

See you Monday.

H-ween Ride

2011-11-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

Oh man. So much fun. I love, love, love seeing people and bikes of all shapes and sizes go for a little ride together. And the costumes. Oh the costumes. So many animals, ninjas, 1%ers, mythical beasts, a couple of Elliots (of E.T. fame, natch), plumbers, cartoon characters, I could go on... I definitely could have put more effort into my costume- I was a crab. All it took was a red hoodie, a couple of oven mitts, and a backpack. Next year I'll see what I can do about stepping it up.I collected a handful of high-fives from folks spectating on the side walks, and I overheard one woman say "They're making me so happy!" Fun for everyone. I wish I had gotten some better pictures to entice you to come on the ride next year (as if costumes and high-fives aren't enough), but here's a couple:

Lots of lights, bike blinky and otherwise

That's the hwangsta on the left, dressed as a nevernude, complete with shower.

New and Improved!

2011-10-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

We did it! We're open for business at our new location- 1064 Cambridge St. (it's on the corner of Cambridge St. and Elm St.).

I can't really celebrate the new space without thanking and acknowledging all the folks who helped make it happen. Like Robert, Peter, Sal, Lisa, Charlie and the whole Youth Build/Just A Start crew for constructing this beautiful spot. And the moving crew- Ben, Casey, Mirabel, Laura, Janet, Jeff, Charlie, John, Erin, Cathy, Kim, Amanda, Kristen, Nancy, Cami, K Rice, and Jen. Oh, and Abby for showing up just as we finished all the work.

We're still breaking it in a little, but we're back to 93% operational. The other 7% will be back tomorrow.

CLOSED Saturday 10/22

2011-10-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

We're going to shut down operations while we move Hub Bicycle HQ (to 1064 Cambridge St... in case you hadn't heard) this weekend.

Organization isn't my strong suit (you can't be good at everything...), so I'm bringing in reinforcements. We'll be back in action and better than ever on Monday. Just wait until you see the new shop... You're in for a pleasant surprise.

Getting Colder

2011-10-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

It's been a pretty nice fall so far, in my humble opinion. It hasn't really started getting cold yet, but it's definitely on it's way. My very least favorite thing about cold weather is having cold hands. I would sit outside in a bathing suit in December as long as I'm wearing gloves (that's not entirely true).

In the spirit of the coming cold weather we got some new gloves in the shop yesterday. The one I'm most excited about is the Evo Drone. For two reasons in particular.

It looks just like a regular old glove. Black, synthetic material, white loge/highlights:

Here's where it gets interesting. The index finger and thumb have a little flap, so you can expose just enough finger to use your smart phone:

Aaaaand. There's a windproof mitten-y cover that tucks into the back of the glove for when it gets really cold (or for when you ride really fast):

To be fair, I haven't actually used these gloves yet, so I have no idea how warm they really are. I do have high hopes for them. And according to their handy glove-mometer (5-10 degrees?!) they should be nice and toasty.

Moving Begins

2011-10-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

Before I launch into this post about moving, you should know we haven't moved yet. You can still find us in the tiny shop at 918 Cambridge, until at least October 23. Probably. You know what? I'll let you know when we've moved for real. Anyway... I started the long process of moving today.

I used the Yuba Mundo Cargo bike to start to move some of the stuff we've had in storage. It can carry a real serious load of shelving/bike tools/bike display racks. Once you get the rig rolling it handles pretty well. The farther back the load of crap sticks out the wonkier it handles at slower speeds, but I think more thoughtful crap placement would help to fix that. I'll write more about the bike (I believe the term is "a review") after the move is complete.

Lost and found

2011-09-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

My favorite benefit to bicycle transpo (besides the health, environmental, economic benefits... oh, and that it kind of is my career/business) is that you find stuff. Stuff that you'd miss if you were riding in an enclosed vehicle. Like this little guy I found in the bike lane yesterday:

This baseball finds its place among the other amazing treasures I've found over the years- keys, a copy of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", $20, bike lights (lots of bike lights), a "Have a good first day of school. Love, Mom" note. All awesome, day-lifting finds.

So what am I going to do with this baseball? Nothing. That's not really the point. The point is... I don't know... that it's fun to find stuff that other people miss because they're ~~trapped in a soul-sucking bubble...~~ riding in a car. That's it.

Big News!

2011-09-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

I promised some big news over on our Facebook page the other day. And here it is...

Much like all of my clothing after that first year of college, things have gotten a little snug around here. At one point this summer I counted 42 bikes (oh... not counting the new bikes we're selling! So 46 bikes...) in this shop of 517 square feet. Busy summer evenings have found folks having to wait to get in the door (thanks for your patience!). I couldn't be more grateful for the growth, but there comes a time to admit you don't fit in your pants any more.

So it's time for bigger pants... WE'RE MOVING! Nobody panic. We're not going far. Starting some time in October 2011 (I'm going to shoot for the 3rd week, but I'll keep you posted) Hub Bicycle will be found at 1064 Cambridge St. I'm very excited about the move, and, as I said, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to grow this little bike shop.

In conclusion, I'd like to tell you three great things about the new shop space:

1) We get to stay in the neighborhood! Definitely priority #1.
2) More than double the work and retail space. Like going from skinny jeans to sweatpants.
3) The wood floors, counter, and chalkboards are reclaimed from a church in the neighborhood. Neat.

Now this is happening

2011-09-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you lose your lock keys.

What a Deal

2011-08-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome back students. Grad students, at least. I know you undergrads are on your way, too. One thing you should know about this great little city you're moving to is that it's great for bikes. It's compact, flat, and packed with diverse neighborhoods to check out. Perfect for bikes.

In order to be a successful bike rider in Boston you need (1) A bike. And (2) The Big 3 for the safety of you and your bike.

Here are a couple of deals I put together for you folks who want a good bike and all the ~~fixin's~~ essentials for success at a fair price. These bikes are single speeds (or fixed gear, if you like. You've got options)- simple, easy to maintain, fun.

Biria Fixed bike, Nutcase Supersolid helmet, PDW Spaceship/Red Planet light set, and Kryptonite Series 2 mini U lock for $500.

Biria Fixed- Steel frame, 42mm deep section rims, mid rise handlebars, good brakes, one speed.

Available in Small (white frame) or Large (black frame) (48cm or 55cm, if you're into numbers)

For those of you who'd like to class it up a bit, with 4130 steel, real track geometry, sealed bearings all around, and custom dropouts.... Tada! The All City Big Block track bike, Nutcase Supersolid helmet, PDW Spaceship/Red Planet light set, and Kryptonite Series 2 mini U lock for $900.

All City Big Block- Great components from wheelset to headset

The helmets are available in a bunch of colors. Stop in to check out your choices.

The fine print is that this deal is available now through the end of September on the stuff we have in stock.

CX time.

2011-08-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

It's time for cyclocross. The first races kick off in a week and a half-ish. I wrote a bunch about it last year. This year I'm gearing up to race on a sweet, sweet All City Nature Boy. I've been riding this baby around for a little while (commuting, charity riding, whatnot), but I hadn't done any type of 'cross 'training' until this morning. I've said it before (Sorry, I know it's not a funny joke, and some day I'll retire it. Soon. I promise), buuuuut, if you ever want to ride your bike less, open a bike shop. Man oh man, I wouldn't want it any other way, but being busy fixing bikes makes it hard to be riding bikes.

So anyway, back to this morning. I went for a little rip around the fire roads in The Fells. Definitely more technical than any 'cross course that you're likely to run across, but still really fun. I feel badly that this poor bike is going to be bring up the back of the pack with me all season. It's a zippy little ride that's built for more speed than I'm capable of producing. Sorry bike, but you're stuck with me. At least you get to race, so stop whining.

Even though I don't have any aspirations to win any races (or even middle-of-the-pack any races), I do have a few goals for my season. They are as follows:

1. Finish races (DFL is better than DNF), without puking, or crashing
2. Race DCCX again (by far, my favorite last year)
3. Go tubeless (I'll let you know how that goes)

Best Sunday Ever

2011-08-01T07:40:00.001-07:00

deCordova

2011-07-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

I had my first totally unscheduled/unplanned Sunday of the summer. What to do with a full day off and nothing that I have to do? So I thought I'd do some exploring by bicycle. I'd heard some good things about the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. It turned out to be a mellow ride out there- lots of bike path. The route I took also cut through the Minuteman National Historical Park, which was also pretty neat.

Here's the first cool thing about this place- it's FREE for cyclists! What!?! It would be well worth the $12 admission, but my wallet was waved away at the admissions booth. A new policy for this summer, it made what was already shaping up to be a great day even greater. Also there is a well-placed bike rack, which is welcome change from having to hunt for a street sign to lock up to. It felt like a nice "Hey, you, thanks for riding your bike!"

The sculptures on the grounds of the museum are really very cool. As are the grounds themselves. What a beautiful spot. If I had know, I would have brought a picnic. Next time. I grabbed a few pictures, although they definitely don't do the place justice. You'll just have to take my word for how rad it really is.

The woman at the admission booth also tipped us off to the great view from the 6th floor roof terrace of the museum. I have to admit, the weather was so beautiful I didn't spend any time in the museum, which I'm sure is also very cool, but I did get up to the roof terrace. She wasn't joking.

Bungee of Death

2011-07-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

I'm all for making your bike work for you. Whether you use a front or rear rack/basket you'll probably need to tie your stuff down at some point. I see a good number of folks using bungee cords to do this. I think this not a great idea for a couple of reasons. One- Bungees store up an explosive amount of energy when you tension them. Two- They have sharp metal hooks on the end. When the bungee lets go it sends that hook flying- into spokes, eyeballs, freewheels/cassettes, around hubs. The motivation for this post was a Hub Hall-of-Famer who came in last week after getting a bungee all wrapped up in his spokes, and had a slow motion crash situation. I'm not a fan in general, but especially not on rear racks, because you can't keep any eye on that deadly bungee.

What else are you suppose to use to tie stuff down, then? I have two better options. One costs a little bit of money, the other is basically free. Let's talk the money option first.

Toe straps. Those little guys you use on your sweet old school toe clips (or cages, if you must). They're made of nylon webbing, or leather, with a metal clasp at one end. The clasp has some little teeth that help hold the strap in place after you've cinched it down.

They hold nice 'n tight, without being elastic/explosive. The down side to using these guys is that they're pretty short. They're really designed just to go around your foot and a pedal, which doesn't take much material. You can attach a couple of them together, but there is a limit to what you can hold down. Surly fixed that problem by making Junk Straps- extra long toe straps for carrying junk.

Toe straps cost $5-10 for a pair, and the Surly Junk Strap costs $8. Super useful and versatile. If you want something for cheap. Super cheap. And you like recycling/reusing, you should think about using a dead tube. They're stretchy without being snappy. You can cut them to be whatever length you need (within reason). You probably have one laying around, if you've ever fixed your own flat tire. If not, you can come to the shop and take as many as you'd like (within reason).

To use the tube, cut it so it's no longer a circle. I personally like to cut the valve out, for convenience. Wrap it around your cargo/rack and tie a knot or two. Piece of cake. You can then either untie that knot or just cut the tube to free your cargo. No crashing or losing eyeballs.

All Good

2011-07-07T06:22:00.001-07:00

Yeah, summer!

Things are really in full swing here. Tune ups, custom bike builds, and flat fixes as far as the eye can see. All you folks prepping your bikes for racing, charity riding, long distance touring, brand new commutes to work, knee surgery recovery, and whatnot have been keeping us very busy. Thank you!

We had a great flat fix clinic this month. Great turnout and lots of great questions (that, I hope, were fully answered). I'm looking forward to the next round (August 3).

I got to go mountain biking with my Sig O last weekend. This was after a, I'm going to say 'mostly unsuccessful', first MTB ride last fall. This time nobody bled, and I (swear I) heard the phrase "Well, I didn't hate that." Brought a tear to my eye...

I'm headed out to Woburn for the start of the New England Classic tomorrow morning. I'll be out helping riders, who've helped raise money for the American Diabetes Association, who helps (in part) fund researchers, who will someday (in the next ten years...) cure diabetes! So basically, I'll be curing diabetes this weekend.

We got a super dope new shop bike:

Just try to not smile your face off while you're riding this thing.

Keep it up the good work, summer, keep it up.

100k

2011-06-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

I'm registered for the Hampshire 100. I'm not so much going to race it as I am going to try and finish it. I've been thinking and threatening about it enough, it was time to just go ahead and do it.

So far my racing 'career' has only included 45-60 minute 'cross races. This is going to be a little different. So, I bought a book. About bike race training. I read it, and even made notes in it. But I haven't done a single thing it recommends. In addition to being time crunched, I lack a real competitive spirit. It's true- if you really like winning you should not be on my kickball team. Don't get me wrong- I enjoy a good win, but I'm not going to loose sleep (or put in 10-12 hill climb intervals at 90% max heart rate) over anything less than first place. One of these days I'll remember that fact before I throw down another $19.95 for a book that I will earnestly read and then promptly not follow its advice.

What I am doing, instead of keeping track of heart rates and watts and whatnot, is riding my bike as often as possible. So far I've managed a couple of fun rides a week, plus my commuting miles, so that's something. I just hope I can get out for a couple of long rides in the next two months, because DFL I can live with, but DNF would really bum me out.

New Bike Party

2011-06-08T03:47:00.000-07:00

Oh man. The (15th Annual) Redbones Bike Party (and Benefit) was a blast. That portobello mushroom sandwich gets me every time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi. I know Charlie ~~threatened~~ promised a couple of you "Hub Bicycle Lemonade Stand Fridays", and don't worry- we're going to try and follow through. The party was a good chance to show off the All City Nature Boy I brought along with me. If you didn't already know- I'm happy to announce that Hub is now an All City dealer.

With a couple of complete bikes (currently single speeds) and a handful of frame choices (also single speeds) All City has cranked out some classy offerings. I think they have a great attention to detail- internal cable routing on the 'cross bike, hidden fender mounts for extra sleekness, clever dropouts, a nicer headset than you'll find on just about any other stock bike, and so on. We've got the Big Block (track style) and Nature Boy ('cross style) in stock. Come on by to check them out.

New Shirts

2011-06-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today our semi-surly UPS guy brought us a new batch of Hub Bicycle t-shirts. Printed on Alternative Apparel Basic Crew (aa1070). I put one on as soon at they came in (just like our tune-ups, I always take t-shirts for a test ride before sending them out the door) and I can assure you they are very comfy.

One thing to note, in addition to feeling good on your bod, these shirts come from a company with social responsibility policies that'll make you feel good on the inside too.

$22, sizes S-XL, in the shop or by mail (call or email [infoathubbicycledotcom] for shirts-by-mail).

Adventure Time

2011-05-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

I half-accidentally talked myself into a rando/tour/walkabout bike adventure this coming weekend (I know... poor me... that's why it was only half an accident). I'll tell you all about it when it's over (if I make it).

UPDATE: I didn't quite make it, for two reasons: 1) The plan was to ride 130ish to my better half's family house in VT. I kept getting lost, which kept adding to the mileage. I got bailed out after 85ish. 2) I forgot chamois cream. So... that was uncomfortable.

The shop is going to be CLOSED Sat 5/28, Sun 5/29, and Mon 5/30 to accommodate for this adventure.

In preparation, I've been spending a little time transforming my Surly Troll from monster truck to long haul monster truck. Which means gear options, and lots of 'em.

Soooo, if I don't see you before- have a great Memorial Day Weekend! I'll see you Tues 5/31.

Charity

2011-05-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's charity ride season. That time of year when folks saddle up and ride for their favorite causes. If you love bikes and hate diabetes, cancer, ALS, MS, or heart disease there's a ride out there for you. It's a great way to raise money and awareness and get to ride your bike. You were going to give money any way, right? Well, this way you get a bike ride out of the deal. Or maybe you just want a challenging ride, with supported rest stops. That's ok too.

Hub Bicycle is going to, once again, support the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure(s). I love bikes and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1986, so it only makes sense to lend a hand to the ADA. First up is the South Hamilton tour on Sunday May 22. (The shop will be closed that day.) And then the most epic New England Classic July 9-10 or, if you're up for it, 9-15 (I'm not sure if/when the shop might be closed. I can't plan that far in advance).

The American Diabetes Association does a whole bunch of good work. Education, research, advocacy, and most importantly summer camp for kids with the 'betes, all get funded through the ADA, which gets funded, in part through folks raising money and riding bikes. As a near grown-up, who attended one such summer camp, I appreciate and have directly benefited from the funds raised during charity ride season.

So, find a cause you believe in, raise some money, and ride your bike.

BIKE MONTH!

2011-05-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Beautiful weather, tons of events, bike-y camaraderie. For those of you who don't regularly bike commute, Bike Week/Month is a great excuse to give it a try. And for those of you who are die hard bike nerds, it's know as Free Breakfast Week. Check it out:

Bay State Bike Week (Month, really)

MassCommuter Challenge

Have fun!

Ewww

2011-04-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

You know you're about to get a great story when someone walks in the shop and says "What's the weirdest thing you've ever found stuck inside a bike frame tube?"

So today my hat's off to John, who found a mouse carcass inside his latest bike project.

Cargo

2011-04-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite on-road things to do with a bicycle is run errands. I find that it's much more satisfying to go by bike. I mean, you have to run them any way, might as well feel good while you're at it.

If you want to get stuff done by bike, you probably need a way to carry stuff by bike. I'm sure you've see the ol' standard bike rack- bolts onto the back of the frame, often seen with a milk crate on top or panniers on the side. That works alright, but let me suggest something else. Put the stuff on the front of the bike!

There are a number of front carrying cargo devices for bicycles, each have their own pros/cons. The two pros they all share over rear racks are 1) It's easier to balance the load on the front (IMHO) 2) You can keep an eye on your cargo (which helps with balance). As I mentioned, there are a number of options out there, I'm going to show you these three, because I've actually used them.

Wald Basket

Wald has been making bike baskets forever (1905). If you've ever seen a paperboy/girl tossing the daily news out of a bike basket (you know, in a movie or something), it was probably a Wald.

Pros:

Come in a bunch of sizes
Pretty inexpensive ($20-45)
Light weight (depending on the size)
Easy to find at your local bike shop
Made in the US (if you're into that kind of thing)

Cons:

Limited attachment system (doesn't fit well on all bikes, see above pic)
Can't be used on bikes with suspension forks (struts are bolted to the axle and would limit suspension travel)
Small-ish weight limits
Easily bent

Evo Handbasketle -or- Basklebar

I posted a pic of this brand new cargo device on the Hub facebook page a little while ago. These are two of my favorite names out of the many suggestions. Evo just calls it the 'Handlebar Basket'. Boring, but accurate. It's a basket integrated into the handlebars.

Pros:

Lighter than it looks
Can be used on bikes with suspension forks
Holds up to 60lbs
Really sturdy
Less expensive that a porteur rack ($67)

Cons:

Can only be used with a modern style face plate stem
These are the handlebars you get- if you don't like them, tough.
More expensive than Wald baskets ($67)
Only one size- if it doesn't fit, tough

CETMA 5-rail rack

This is my go-to. Handmade by a lovely gentleman in Eugene, OR. I've carried weeks worth of groceries, bags of dog food, other bikes, dry ice (don't worry about it), a microwave, pizzas, cases of beer (such a bike industry cliche), my full travel tool box. If I can bungee it down, I'll take it on my bike.

Pros:

Super versitile
Lowest center of gravity, most stable
Adaptable to fit many bikes
Highest weight limit
Not limited by basket sides (but there are fenced versions available if you want)
Handmade by one guy

Cons:

Most expensive option ($100-120 for the ones we have in stock)
Can't be used with suspension

There are demo versions of the Evo Basklebar and CETMA 5-rail available at the shop if you'd like to try before you buy. But I'm telling you, I think you'll like it so much you won't go back to your old rack (although, I won't hate you if you do, so- no pressure). Come in and check them out!

Why you should stop.

2011-04-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome back fair weather cyclists! I missed you. The streets seem much friendlier now that you're back. Here's one thing I want you to think about, though.

STOP at stop lights, signs, and for ped-x in cross walks.

People, who are a lot smarter and more eloquent, than me (I?) have explained it better, but here are my two cents.

'Share the road' (while a bit overused and getting a bit watered down) really does mean something. It actually means different things for different road users. Drivers share the road by not passing too close, not honking at or harassing cyclists, and by looking out for bikes before taking turns or parking and whatnot. Drivers share the road by traveling in a way that makes the road safe for all users. I think it's easy to place all of the responsibility of sharing on the drivers shoulders, because they are the ones with the ability to kill another person with their vehicle.

We cyclists need to hold up our end of the sharing bargain. We do that by following the rules of the road. Blowing through, or even rolling through, stop lights doesn't show respect for the other road users. (Not to mention, it's not safe.) I want to be respected while I'm traveling on the road. If I expect that drivers will give me space on the road by not passing too closely, I think it's fair they can expect that I'll give them their right of way when they have the green. Here's another place where the 'golden rule' applies. Respect everybody else's right to travel safely and hassle free(ish), and they'll respect yours. Hopefully.

Now I know Massachusetts isn't world famous for having respectful, patient, courteous road users. Just because that's the reputation doesn't mean that people don't want friendlier streets. And it doesn't mean that's the way it has to stay. Someone has to get the ball rolling, so why don't we start it, by stopping.

That was nice.

2011-04-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

Things are really picking up here at Hub. Yesterday, I got caught up on repairs, so I thought I might leave the shop in Charlie's capable hands, and scoot out a little early.

As I cruised home through Union Square I heard a rhythmic "Psst... Psst... Psst... Psst..." I was really hoping it was something rubbing on my fender. No such luck. My first flat of 2011. I was half way home, and sometimes after fixing bikes all day, I don't want to fix any more bikes. So I started walking. That's what I get for trying to cut out of work early.

A few minutes into my stroll home, a guy, who appeared to be a serious bike commuter, slowed down enough to ask if I needed a pump. I told him I actually had one with me, but I was feeling too lazy to stop and fix it. I thanked him, anyway. He wished me a nice walk and was on his way.

That small interaction with a fellow human, on a spring-ish day, after having a very busy but satisfying day at work, left me with the overwhelming feeling that everything is A-ok. I really enjoyed the rest of my walk. Kinda made that flat worth it.

How to lock your bike

2011-03-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

1. Get a good lock. That means a U lock. I don't have any peer reviewed scientific study results, but I can tell you that as of today 100% of the people who've told me they've had a bike stolen in the Greater Boston Area either didn't have it locked at all, or they had it locked with a cable lock. Cables can be easily cut with something as simple as diagonal side cutters. (Of course, now that I've said that, someone will tell me about losing a bike locked with a U lock...). This is my lock:

This one is the smallest lock Kryptonite offers- The Evolution Mini- 5. I got it because I don't like carrying more than I have to. In the summer (when I'm not carrying an extra pair of gloves, rain pants, an extra set of lights, a thermos of hot coffee, a emergency blanket, an avalanche beacon, dog treats for my rescue dog, one extra hoodie for warmth, and two days of food & water- just in case) I don't want to have to carry a bag if my lock is going to be the only thing in it and this little guy fits nicely in a back pocket. In the past 6 years I've had this lock (that's why it looks beat up), there have only be a couple of times I've had trouble finding a place to lock up because of it's tiny stature. There are plenty of other larger sizes available, including one that I say is a 'medium', that Kryptonite calls the Series 2 Mini- 7.

On a side-ish note, Kryptonite has new skins for the mini locks. Good if you find yourself living with two housemates with 17 bikes and three identical locks between you, and maybe you're sick of accidentally grabbing someone else's lock and not realizing it until you get all the way to work. For example. Also good if you just want to add a little color.

2. Find something to lock it to. Bike rack, sign post, what have you. Really a bike rack is the best, because, well, that's what it's for. Therefore it's usually placed in way that protects the bikes from parking cars, and keeps them out of the way of side walks. Usually.

Got a place that you think could use a bike rack (in Cambridge, at least)? Tell the city here.

3. Now that you have your lock and a place to lock up, start with the most expensive parts of the bike and work your way down. That means start with the frame, then the rear wheel. Then, if you can manage (see below), the front wheel.

Frame, rear wheel, bike rack. All with a mini lock.

The front wheel can be removed and locked up with the frame and rear wheel, but remember that leaves your fork resting on the ground.

Frame, front wheel, rear wheel, bike rack.

Or you can add a cable to your U for added front wheel security. I know I just said cables are easily cut, and they are, but most thieves won't want to be bothered with two locks. What ever isn't locked, cabled or bolted down is vulnerable to being 'impulse stolen'. If it's easy to take, then it's more likely to be taken.

Front wheel, cabled, for thief inconvenience.

3a. Remember where you left your bike. So that you don't end up like my pal (you know who you are) who filed a police report about his 'stolen' bike, only to find it locked up on the other side of his apartment building. Right where he left it.

Marathon

2011-03-24T15:12:00.001-07:00

I can't seem to get away from marathon runners. Not that I'm actively trying to get away, but it seems like I always have a friend or acquaintance who's training for some long distance running. They're always talking about injuries, and long run distances, and negative splits and whatnot. These folks think I'm crazy for commuting in -10 degree weather. Sure, it's not fun but it lasts for 20-30 minutes. Tops. Who wants to run (also not fun) for 4-5 HOURS? That's crazy.

If you take the act of running out of the equation, I can see the draw to the sport. Unless you're Shalane Flanagan, you're not going to 'win'. Which means you get to define 'win' for yourself. It's an epic challenge, so for many a 'win' is simply finishing. It really is an accomplishment you can be proud of. Also- who wouldn't like a race where you get a medal, no matter where you place. I could get into that. Only without running.

So fast forward to yesterday, I was dialing in my full suspension ride for the season (it's the world's ugliest Blur XC, but it'll do), and got thinking about maybe doing some MTB racing. That said, I'm always thinking about doing some MTB racing, and so far I can count all of the races I've done on one finger. At some point I have to stop talking about it and actually do it (like now, would be good). Any type of race for me would be a personal challenge, not so much of a 'race to win' event, but I'm definitely intrigued by the idea of an epic event. Mountain biking is something that I could do for 4-5 hours, so why not some epic MTB marathoning? Like this or this? Not to mention I'm going to hit one of those 'milestone' birthdays in 2011, and it seems like that's a thing you do- try something hard/epic/new/crazy/noteworthy to prove you're not old yet.

Of course, that would mean some serious time on the bike. I have already taken the first step in achieving my goal of racing by writing about it here. So now it's time to stop thinking about and stating publicly, and start riding. I can put the time in while all my pals are out running 10:40s on their long runs.

HELMET SALE

2011-03-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

No joke.

Nutcase is out with some sweet, sweet new features for their 2011 noggin protectors. New fitting system, 360 degrees of reflectivity, and a one hand-able(!) buckle make these babies even better. To make room for the 2011 helmets that are coming to Hub on Wednesday 3/23 we're going to sell the 2010s we have in stock at 20% off!

Here's everything we have in stock (when they're gone, they're gone...):

Pink 8 ball (Small/Medium)
~~Argyle (S/M)~~
Superstar (or 'the Evil Kinevil') (S/M)
Paint Fight (S/M)
~~Checkboard (S/M)~~
Hula Lounge (S/M)
~~Glitter Star (S/M)~~
~~Danger (S/M)~~
~~Blackdana (S/M)~~
Argyle (Large/X Large)

Clean up

2011-03-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

So maybe you've been doing some home maintenance on your bike. Maybe you've fixed a flat, or dutifully lubed your chain. Now your hands look like this:

Band-aid.

The grime that comes off your bike is a special kind of filth. It's especially tenacious and resistant to regular soap. I know, I wash my hands a dozen times a day. I use a heavy duty, gritty citrus hand cleaner, that comes in a heavy duty quantity.

But let's say you don't want to buy a gallon of heavy-duty, professional strength hand cleaner. One of my other favorites is Lava soap (it's made with pumice... get it?). Also gritty, and available in bar form at your neighborhood grocery store. It's not as quick as the citrus stuff and I think it takes a little more elbow grease to remove bike grease with Lava, so I like to pair it with a nice nail brush.

But maybe you don't have your Lava soap handy, or you hate volcanoes. In a pinch, you can use dish soap. WAIT! Don't wash just yet. To really, really get all the grease off your hands you have to scrub your hands with liquid dish soap DRY. That's the trick. Put the soap on your dry, bike grimy hands, scrub it in, then wash it off with warm water. You might have to go in for another round, but it works much better if your hands are dry for the first round. Trust me.

It's good to get your hands dirty every once in a while (or every day), but it's also good to clean them in case you want to have a sandwich or something.

7 days a week

2011-03-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

It's time. Slowly but surely. the spring, and the cycling masses are coming back. Two weeks ago people stopped into the shop to say they were thinking about considering taking the time to contemplate making a decision about bringing their bikes in for a tune up. Last week people stopped into say they definitely decided to bring their bikes in for a spring tune up, some time in the future. This week the bikes are coming in. And a bunch of the bikes look like this:

This is what early spring looks like.

To make sure we're available to make everyone's bicycle dreams come true, we're now open 7 days a week! Here's how it breaks down:

Monday-Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday-Sunday 12-5pm

That's 50 hours a week for you to get a tune up, pick up a patch kit, take a maintenance clinic, geek out about mountain biking (or any kind of biking, really) with me, get a new helmet, get a flat fixed, etc.

Web log block

2011-03-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

I'm suffering from a little writers' block. I have a few bike-y topics I'd like to write about here, but I just can't seem to put the thought train into words. I'm realizing it was easier to write posts when I was pretty sure only my mom was reading. Now that there are probably 10-12 more of you out there, I'm feeling the (self imposed) pressure to infotain.

So anyway, in the mean time I've been reading some interesting articles about bike commuting and bike economy. Like this. And this. If you read this blog, I think it's safe to assume you probably like bikes, at least a little. So what's in these articles probably isn't a surprise to you, but they're still a good read. Sometimes I like to read a little pro-bike literature after a particularly cold commute, or a bad interaction with a surly driver, just to lift my spirits.

Spring Preview

2011-02-16T07:28:00.000-08:00

High 50s and into the 60s tomorrow. As a native New Englander, I know this is not the start of spring. Just a little preview to keep everyone from totally losing it. It will most likely snow again, at least once more, before winter is really over, but I'll take it.

This little warm up is melting the giant snowbanks, which is three parts awesome and two parts a drag. The awesome is that as the snow banks melt, cars have have their parking spaces back, and we cyclists can have our bike lanes back. One of the drags is this:

Gross. As the snow disappears, we're left with dirty piles of trash. Although I did just find that red straw I lost in December.

The other drag is that the snow turns into water, flows into the reappearing bike lanes, and makes fenders pretty necessary even on a beautiful day like this. I have my humble opinions on bicycle aesthetics. Fenders are one of those things that I think bikes look better without. But I'm willing to give up looks, if it involves keeping the water that melted out of that snow pile off of my back.

I meant to write up a little review of Portland Design Works' Origami Fender before the winter hit. Just like all other quick mount style rear fenders, it's lightweight and easy to install. The feature that sets it apart from those other guys (and what I most appreciate) is that it's easily stashed in a back pack (or messenger bag, if that's what you're into). The 'mud flap' part of the fender is made of thin flexible plastic (think this), that snaps onto the seat post mount. Unsnap them, and they'll easily fit without sticking out. See?:

Bag w/ regular fender

Bag w/ origami fender™

Function when you want to keep trashy snow water from soaking you. Easy stowing when the weather turns nice.

Surly Troll

2011-02-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

I mentioned last post that I had a new bike. I got this bike because I needed fewer bikes. Don't worry, it makes sense. My collection was getting out of hand. There are good reasons to have more than one bike, but at some point it gets to be too much. One reason is because I like a good project. I'd gotten to the point where I was finishing a project bike, and then picking up another one, to put the extra parts from the first project to good use. Or I'd want to try something new, like a 2-speed kickback hub, or a disc braked fixed gear, you know, product testing. So I can provide sound, tested opinions and suggestions. I suppose I could have gotten a Surly Cross Check. It's a frame I really like, and would allow for lots of parts swapping, but no disc brakes. And I already have a 'cross bike.

Enter the Surly Troll. 26" wheel bike, with means to attach anything you want (within reason)- disc brakes, full line guides, post mount brakes, derailleurs, racks (front and rear), fenders, specially threaded holes to attach their new trailer, and horizontal dropouts for single speeding.

Here's how I have mine built up (for now):

Riding in a winter wonderla... ugh. It's gross.

Single speed. Right now it's fixed. Front hydraulic brake. My favorite seat/saddle and handlebars. And giant tires. 26 x 2.4! I know they're excessive, and my choice is almost purely aesthetic. I just prefer the way they fill up the frame, especially on a mountain bike. If I was a car person, I would probably be this ~~A-hole~~ guy:

So far I've enjoyed the ride. The heavy, heavy wheels/tires do take a little energy to wind up, but if I keep them up to max air pressure it's not so bad. Plus, I don't fear the potholes quite as much on the 2.4s. Which is important for my daily commute these days- have you seen S'ville Beacon Street? Pinch flat city.

I'm looking forward to taking it off road a little. And probably for a little light touring. And give it a geared drive train sometime. Or 3 speed. And maybe try it with some skinny tires. Or whatever other project I can come up with.

Training?

2011-02-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

I haven't been riding outside much. I think the last time I rode any significant amount outside was around Christmas. This is because of two things, mostly. 1) I was bike-less for a while. Working bike-less, at least. Actually I had one working bike, but it's my nice one. I'm not going to ride it out in the land of salt and potholes. 2) The weather has been miserable. I don't mind cold, but the snow (and snow and snow and snow) sucks the fun out of life (I'm not a skier). So I've been walking. That's exercise. Kind of.

I'm not a high performing cyclist. I'm not super fit. What little fitness I do have, I'd like to hang onto during this off season. Maybe I'll want to put a little more effort into 'racing' this year. Or maybe I just want to be able to enjoy riding when the weather gets nice. So I put my one working bike on the trainer, parked in front of a computer stocked with guilty-pleasure TV and bike training videos. I even have a heart rate monitor, so I can make sure my heart's working hard enough.

Fast forward to this week. No snow and a (mostly) new bike* to try out. I did some commuting and errand running. I got my ass handed to me- riding around town. Depressing. I can say that despite how much time I've spent riding inside, it's not really helping. It's not hurting. But I'm not going to get race ready by riding in place. I can try to push myself while watching "Trainright Climbing", but riding up a real hill is more difficult than I could ever motivate myself to spin on the trainer. I'm out of shape.

Thankfully the way to get not out of shape is ride a bike outside. The 10 day forecast only has a couple days of flurries, and lots of days in the upper 30s. I'll take it.

*I'm going to write about it after I ride it a bit longer, so I can give a well thought out review about it.

I was thinking.

2011-02-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

The streets of Boston are not known for being a friendly place. I have a theory (and one optimistic thought) about it that's been rolling around in my noggin for the last couple of days.

People freak out when there is a lack, real or perceived, of resources. The run on the banks during the Great Depression. The deadly rush of shoppers trying to get their hand on a Wii, or Tickle Me Elmo, or whatever. People buying up all the bottled water (as far away as Portland, ME... really) during last summer's 'aquapocalypse'. That 'survival of the fittest' instinct kicks in (even though you don't need a Wii to survive...), and it causes bad, panicky behavior in folks.

It's crowded here. More people in one area = less space per each individual person. More people trying to transport in an area = less transportation space per each individual. Can bad transportation behavior- from drivers, cyclists, and peds- can be blamed on the perceived lack of road space? I think so, at least partially. Drivers get mad at biker for 'being in the way', when it's clearly not cyclists that are causing gridlock. Cars dangerously speed by, to what? Get stuck at the next stop light. Behind another car. Bikers and car drivers get mad at buses/bus drivers for driving like jerks and being in the way, but every person on a bus is not driving a car on the road. I'd like to make it clear that there is plenty of road out there. In this case it's a perceived lack of resource. I really do believe if people chilled out, we'd all see how much space there is for all of us to share.

What about now? The snow has created less space for people to transport in. Many roads and sidewalks have been reduced to one travel lane. Are people acting any more panicked about transporting now that there actually is less road to travel on? I don't know. I think it's hard to tell. It seems like people have a little more patience these days, since travel is kind of miserable for everyone.

So then, what will happen in the spring, when more road appears? Well, here's my optimistic thought, it's probably a stretch, but I hope that everyone will realize how much road there is out there. "Oh man, it's so spacious out here. I don't know what I was thinking before- there's plenty of room for bike lanes!" Maybe this can be the silver lining of this winter- it's been such a transportation hassle, that it'll make spring seems just that much better.

One Year

2011-02-01T08:20:00.000-08:00

The doors have been open for a year. Days passed, money in and out, hours clocked- there are plenty of business stats to measure time passed. Those numbers are great (and necessary), but they don't give the full picture of Hub's first year. I've been thinking recently of the other ways to measure what's happened in the last year.

Some other numbers- flats fixed (393), wheel building lessons taught (3), cars that hit me while riding to the shop (1), bikes basics tuned (146), CX races raced (6), DFL finishes (1), tubes recycled (2 70lb boxes), days I've been happy to come to work (365).

The visual indications* of time passed:

I'm so very grateful to have been here for a year. Thanks to everyone for the support, flat fixes, and tune ups. Here's to a great year two.

*That means mostly how dirty things have gotten...

Reading List

2011-01-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to complain about the snow. Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan, but complaining isn't going to help and it's getting old.

To avoid falling into the glass-half-empty winter curmudgeon trap I've been doing bike-y things from the warmth and comfort of the indoors. Like reading. There's interesting stuff out there.

Here is what (and in what order) I typically read:

I start at Boston Biker. No, wait. First I get a cup of coffee. Then I go to Boston Biker. It's a nice way to catch a bunch of the latest in one place. I also like to scan down the left side to see what other blogs have updated recently. Of the 'left side Boston Biker blogs' I particularly like Chic Cyclist and the Humble Cyclist.

Then I move on to Lovely Bicycle!. I'm not as big a fan of vintage as she is (that's not to say I'm not a fan of vintage, just not as big...), but I do think the tone she uses to share her cycling experience makes it more accessible to more people.

Then I move on to Bike Snob NYC. I will say that sometimes I have to take a break to see other blogs. I like a little snark. I think it can be funny, and has its place, but I also think it should be used sparingly (it's like refined sugar on the food pyramid of comedy). I will say I'm enjoying it for now.

Next I go to Bike Shop Girl. 'Empowering women in cycling.' Amen. I find the layout of the site to be a bit cluttered, but the content is a-ok! disorienting, but it's probably just me (I like my websites nice 'n linear).
Then I check out what Joshua has to say over at Arc En Ciel Bicycle Studio. You can always count on some nice pics there.

Then I like to check out some local frame builders' sites, and admire their handiwork. I also like to check with MassBike and NEMBA to see what's new.

Any other suggestions? I've got 51 days to fill until spring...

More Learning Opportunities

2011-01-24T10:17:00.000-08:00

So the basics are covered. What if you want to learn more? As promised here are the details about... I'm not sure what to call it yet... Advanced bicycle instruction? Bicycle maintenance tutoring? One to one maintenance classes? Individual bicycle maintenance instruction?

Want to learn something (or everything) specific about your bike? Maybe what you're looking for isn't covered in the offerings of the various bicycle maintenance classes out there. Or maybe the large class format isn't for you. Hub Bicycle is now offering individual bicycle maintenance instruction. In this class the student/teacher ratio is 1:1.

It's up to you what's covered during your instruction time, but examples of topics include:

wheel maintenance

wheel building

drive train maintenance and adjustment

bleeding hydraulic brakes

suspension maintenance and adjustment

bearing overhauls

head to toe (or handle bar to tires) tuning

Email me (still emilyathubbicycledotcom) with your thoughts, and we can put together the curriculum for your bike class. Evening and weekend times are available so we can find time to fit into your schedule. The cost is $60/hour for instruction and use of shop space & tools. Any components needed (hubs, spokes, rims, bleed kits, drive train parts, etc.) are 15% off retail price.

With a wide range of experience in the bike industry and a commitment to continued learning, I've got a noggin full of bike info that I'd love to share. Come on in to fill your noggin, too.

Learning Opportunity

2011-01-22T10:35:00.000-08:00

Basic Maintenance/Fix-a-Flat Clinics are here!

When: 1st Weds of every month (2/2, 3/2, 4/6, 5/4, 6/1, 7/6, 8/3, 9/7, 10/5. 11/2 and 12/7), 7-9pm

How much?: FREE! (no joke)

There's limited space so email infoathubbicycledotcom to reserve your spot.

This is a basic class, no bike knowledge necessary. Really. Don't be intimidated. No need to bring your own bike, we'll have some here. You'll learn about fixing flat tires (the most common bike problem), as well as at-home maintenance that'll help keep your bike healthy.

Want to learn something beyond the basics? Drivetrains, brakes, wheels, wheel building, all of the above? We'll have opportunities for that, too. Details ~~soon (probably Monday, keep an eye out...)~~ here.

Tech Summit

2011-01-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

I love school. If I could afford it I would be a professional student. Thankfully, there are opportunities for me to indulge my inner student and outer bike geek. Like last month's Race Mechanic Clinic and this week's Park Tool Tech Summit.

Three parts hands-on instruction, one part infomercial. A handful of companies brought their latest and greatest tech for us to take apart, service, inspect and (hopefully) put back together. It was a good chance to see what each of these companies have put their R&D money into, and where they think the industry might be going. The 'selling' part of each clinic got a little tedious, but just like watching late night infomercials, you need to take every statement with a grain of salt. The three parts hands-on were great.

One surprising thing I learned was about Avid hydraulic disc brakes. Have these babies on your MTB ride? When was the last time you had them bled? You need to bleed them at least once a year. What? Why? Well, because Avid brakes use DOT fluid. DOT fluid has a high boiling point, so you don't burn it up while you're shredding it. So that's good. On the other hand DOT fluid is hydrophilic, so it'll suck up all available moisture. Right out of the air. So... even in that sweet sealed brake system, your brake fluid has been spending time contaminating itself. If you don't have DOT fluid brakes (probably mineral oil), it's still important to bleed them at regular intervals.

Maybe you're thinking that your brakes feel fine. If it ain't broke, right? Well, why wait for something to brake? Why do you change the oil in your car? Because if you don't your engine will blow up, which is much more expensive than $29.99, and it takes more than 10 minutes to fix. If you take the time to maintain your gear, you can spend more time riding it during the season. That goes for more than just brakes. Maintenance= better performance + longer lasting parts= cheaper in the long run + more trail time in season.

Brake bleeding is included in our Mountain Tune. Which is our service special of the month (and a half)! Regularly $100, it's $90 to get your ride ready for spring, now through February 28. Aaannnnd, $10 off of that if you're a NEMBA member.

Back to work.

2011-01-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well the staycation is over. Highlights include snow biking, baking and sewing. I also tried this thing- 'hiking'- where you just go walking on mountain biking trails. It was pretty ok.

Staycation postcard

Lowlights include driving. Most of all driving in this:

Maine winter postcard- "Wish you were here. And that you were driving."

While it was fun and relaxing(ish), I'm really happy to be back in the shop. Really. I mean, yes, the basement flooded, again. And there's some serious non-flood related reorganizing and renovating to do. But I'm glad to be getting my hands dirty. This week we're still appointment only. I think, based on the way things moved along today, we should be back with regular hours next week. I'll keep you posted. Also- on the to do list is to finalize plans for clinics/classes for the up coming year, as well as some new service offerings. So keep an eye out.

Now, back to work.

Car Trouble

2011-01-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have a pick up truck. It's called "The Wimpy", because it is. I don't drive it fast or often. I'm not a 'car (truck) person'. I use it for the shop to haul stuff, for ride support, to collect parking tickets, and to go mountain biking. In the last couple of weeks I've been to three different garages (the alternator blew up the battery, the e-brake was broke, it needed to be inspected, etc.), and I had pretty terrible experiences*.

I was told by the first two garages that I needed a bunch of work done before I could get a passing inspection sticker. Fair enough, I guess, it's an old truck. I asked them why I needed the work done, because I'm not a 'car person' and I wanted to know more about it. I couldn't get a straight answer. Like the information was too special or complicated to share with me. It was frustrating.

I'm usually on the other end of the repair transaction. In this case, I really didn't like it. I try to treat everyone fairly here in the shop (outside the shop, I can't make any promises). If you want something explained, I'm happy to do it.
Even if you're not a 'bike person'. There's no special club you need to be in, and if you're interested, bikes are not too complicated to learn about. At the very least, it's another chance for me to talk about my favorite subject. Want to know more about your bike? I'll tell you all about it. Want to know how I install those brake pads? I'll show you. I'm putting this post up here so you can help hold me to my word. Ask questions, please, please, please. If you don't want to know about bike, and you just want it fixed, that's fine, too. I'll fix it. Fairly. I promise.

*I ended up finally taking it to Zohrab at Somerville Auto Service. He was great, and really honest. "Don't take your truck to -----------. Those guys are Monkey Fighters. Nothing needed to be replaced, only adjusted. They steal from people."

Holiday Tradition

2010-12-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

I usually try to go mountain biking on Christmas. It was much easier to do when I lived on the west coast (friendlier weather, fewer family obligations). This year, I wasn't near any good single track, and had a bunch of family obligations, but I still managed to get out for a bit. I grew up near Acadia National Park. There isn't any 'mountain biking' there but there are 'carriage roads'. I wouldn't say the carriage roads are fun, if you're expecting single track. They're dirt roads. Unless they're covered in snow... Oh man. Definitely challenging. And fun. And totally deserted. Which is perfect if you need a little break from all of the holiday cheer.

Eagle Lake

Rock-cicle

Face-cicle.

Timetable

2010-12-22T14:17:00.001-08:00

Redundant? I know. I'm trying to be thorough. Too much?

Long short story

2010-12-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

I often get asked how I got into this. Bike shops. It's a long short story.

It all started in 1996...

At Southwest Cycle- I was the shop kid, during summers and school vacations. I fixed a lot of flat tires, built a lot of bikes, inspected a lot of rental bikes, and installed bike racks on rental cars.

I graduated college, got a 'real job' and hated it. I went to UBI as a fun, nerdy break from working (I think it's called a 'vacation'), and knew I wanted back in.

Next was a summer at Cycle Mania- I worked as a mechanic, spent some time working with the shop's road racing team (cat 1, 2). Then the summer was up and so was that job.

I was lured to Eugene, OR for a full-time, year-round job at Paul's Bicycle Way of Life (PBWOL, or "peeb-wall")- Lead wrenching there, I worked on lots of mountain bikes, commuter bikes, burning man bikes, Oregon Country Fair bikes and more commuter bikes. I was also given the opportunity to teach bike maintenance classes at the University of Oregon (go Ducks!). That was wicked fun.

Then a move to Portland, OR to manage Veloshop- cyclocross, cyclocross, cyclocross, and commuter bikes, and lots of fixed gears. And good coffee.

Then a jump across town for a couple of months at Bike n' Hike, for an education about how a hugely successful, multi-million dollar bike shop works. Somewhere between Veloshop and Bike n' Hike the idea for Hub Bicycle Co was born. My desire to return to the east coast, and to Boston in particular, finally overcame my love for food carts and bird art.

Hub Bicycle was born on paper in the fall of 2009 and the doors opened February 1, 2010.

Hanging it up for the season?

2010-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

Snow!

Is this weather making you finally think about putting your bike away for the season? It's ok. I won't judge. I promised I write a little something about this very subject. So here you go.

Here are my recommendations:

Mrs. Gilmore was right. I would use 7th grade math in real life one day.

Storing your bike is much more simple than storing your yacht. Really you only need to do one thing- protect it from the weather. The chain has the potential to suffer the most, so I like to hit it with some chain lube, just to provide one more barrier between all of those moving parts and the weather. If your bike's inside you don't need to use anything heavy, but it's still good policy to give it a little love, so things move more easily in the spring. Cover the chain and cover the bike. If it's inside then you're covering it with a building, so that's good. If it's outside, cover it with a tarp or one of these babies (don't worry about the ridiculous name...):

It's bike shaped!

ALL bikes will have soft tires if left for a couple of months. Don't worry, they're (probably) not flat, just pump them back up. Here's a note about bringing your bike in to the shop in the spring. Your bike might not need anything. It might it in perfect shape (if you've taken care to store it with love) or it might have really suffered in the elements (if you don't have climate controlled bike storage you have to park it where you can park it with love). If you're a home mechanic, and you like to maintain your bike, you know what to look for. If not, bring it in for a check up. A lot can happen in a couple of months- chains and cables corrode, water sneaks in and rusts bearings, things get creaky. I'm only advocating for a complete overhaul if you actually need it. It's important to do at least a little regular maintenance to keep your bike rolling.

Bundle up.

2010-12-17T09:23:00.000-08:00

The weather's been great for bike riding! Ok... it depends on how you define great. I say the roads are clear, and the sun's out, so that's pretty great. Yes, it's been super cold, but that's what clothes are for. Boston Biker has a great write up of winter wear.

In my humble opinion, layers are key. You're going to create enough heat just by riding. You're the engine. The trick is to hang on to some of that heat. Your two main enemies are wind and water- each are going to try their best to steal that heat. Layers are good because you can adjust how much protection as the weather changes. And it does, often.

I had an extended (ten mile) commute from work on Tuesday night (I was supposed to have a ten mile commute into work on Weds, but I had a flat and nothing to fix it with... it's a long story). Remember tuesday? It was super cold, but I was A-ok. Here's what I wore head to toe: Helmet, hat, scarf, rain coat (wind and water protection), hoodie, long sleeve, short sleeve, wool gloves, lobster mitts, pants, long johns, socks, plastic baggies*, shoes. And a backpack to carry all that gear. It should be noted that none of my stuff is fancy. Don't let the thought of acquiring gear scare you away from winter riding. Other than my lobster mitts, I didn't get any of it specifically for winter cycling. Just dig out all of those wools and synthetics you already have in your New England closet.

*Plastic baggies work well for me for a few of reasons. 1) My bikes shoes aren't roomy enough to fit two pairs of socks. 2) Plastic is water/wind proof. 3) Good use for those bags you had to take that time you forgot your reusables. 4) They're light, cheap, and have multiple uses (seat cover, soggy sock carrier, etc.).

And be sure to check this out.

Hub Hiatus

2010-12-12T09:31:00.001-08:00

We're taking a winter break. The shop will be closed at 3pm on Friday, December 24, and will return for regular shop hours on Monday, January 24.

Why the long break? Well, the first couple of weeks will be spent hanging out with family (see fig. A), and going on cold bike rides. You know, relaxing, recharging, etc. The next couple of weeks (Jan 8-22) will be spent on shop improvements. Expect to see a cleaner, more efficient Hub interior in 2011. We'll be available by appointment during that time. Need a repair? Contact us by email info@hubbicycle.com.

fig. A- family member/future helmet model

Bikes on the Radio

2010-12-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

We listen to a lot of NPR in here. WBUR to be exact. I like the variety of topics- I feel like if I ever form a Hub Bicycle Pub Quiz Team, I'll be better prepared. I also like when bikes find their way into the programs. I like that Radio Boston host Sacha Pfeiffer talks about being a bicycle commuter, for example. Well much to my pleasant surprise, this past Friday part of the show was dedicated to bike issues around Boston. As much as I disagree with some of the opposing viewpoints (roads were not designed for cars, Boston is not a city for cars) it's good to hear it. I'm grateful that Shane Jordan (of bostonbiker.org) spoke very well on behalf of Boston's bikers.

Take a listen for yourself here.

Where was I?

2010-12-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

Last week Charlie was holding it down here at Hub without me. Where was I? At the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. No joke. See?

That's a Huey Lewis and the News button in the upper left. Also not a joke.

I was there to become a USA Cycling Licensed Race Mechanic. And boy, oh boy, did I. Four days of intense bicycle knowledge and nerdiness. I learned a bunch about bicycle race support, and about the racing industry in general. What does this mean for Hub Bicycle Company? Well, first I've padded out my mechanic bag of tricks with some new skills. In addition to the 11(ish) instructors, all captains of the bicycle industry, there were 59 other students, who all had experience to share. I really believe that we, in bike shops, become that terrible bike shop stereotype (you know the one... snobby, rude, condescending, mustachioed) when we think we know it all. We don't. It's important to check that ego at the door and see if someone has a better way of doing things. I learned a more efficient way of gluing tubular tires, and how to do pro-style wheel changes, and about the latest and greatest in bike tech, among many other things. A great (extra) long weekend for a lady who loves bikes and learning, but now it's time to put those new skills to work.

Oh, and I got to go on a tour of the velodrome. If you get a chance to visit a track, you should. I'm always startled to see how steep the banks really are. They look scarier in real life. Also, it's nice to know that some track bikes actually do get used on a track.

7-Eleven Velodrome

Holiday gift giving

2010-11-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

You have a bike nerdy friend/family member/sig. other/frenemy/boss/secret gift giving recipient who needs some stuff. Bike folks can be hard to find a gift for, because there are lots of different types (commuters, recreational roadies, charity riders, randonneurs, competitive roadies XC mountain bikers, all-mountain mountain bikers, cyclocrossers, vintage aficionados, and so on...), so how do you know what to get them? Don't worry, here are a few suggestions, broken down by category, that are reasonably priced, practical (two of my favorite things) and are good for all types:

Cleaning and fixing:

All bikes get dirty and need some maintenance. If your cyclist is particular about the cleanliness of his/her bike, you know, a type-A type (I'm talking about roadies...) then bike cleaning brushes would be an especially thoughtful gift. We've got a few sets here, each with different brushes for getting at different greasy parts, gears and whatnot. $20-ish.

If you've ever gotten a phone call that goes something like, "Oh hey, are you busy? I was out on a ride and I got a flat. I was wondering if you'd come pick me up..." You might think about gifting a flat fix bottle. It's everything you (or someone else) needs to fix a flat out on the road- patch kit, tire levers, presta adapter, CO2 inflator and cartriges all in a water bottle! Then you can say, "No, I'm not busy. But remember that present I got you?" $20

Multi tools are always a fine choice for folks who like to make their own adjustments. From the basic allen wrench set, to a super set complete with torx wrench and chain tool $14 to 35-ish

Lava soap is always a nice stocking stuffer for any hands-on bike cleaner, flat fixer, or home mechanic. Your regular soap just won't cut it for bike grease. You can pick it up at almost any grocery store for a couple of bucks.

Beverage accessories:

I worked with a guy (a real surly mechanic type) who claimed he only drank 3 liquids: coffee, water and beer. That's a theme you see run through the world of bicycles.

Coffee- I like the PDW Bar-ista. It attaches to your (or someone elses) handle bar, and holds a standard coffee-shop-coffee-cup steady with a little layer of foam rubbery stuff. Simple and slick. $20

Water- Most cyclists can never have too many H2O bottles. Just like they can never have too many pairs of cycling socks. Both of these humble cycling necessities take a beating, get neglected, and end up smelling like feet. Get 'em a fresh one. $5

Beer- If you want to drink a beer from a bottle, you (or someone else) needs to open it. There are approximately 8,293 different bicycle related bottle openers available. You could open your beer with this little guy, made locally from 100% recycled stuff- even the packaging. $7

Gift Certificates:

When in doubt, a gift certificate always works. Available in what ever amount coincides with how much you like your gift receiver. Now through December 24th all gift certificates come with a free(!) Hub Bicycle Co. water bottle (see above: Beverage accessories> Water), for creative gift delivery.

Angry Skeletons

2010-11-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

The most frequently asked question I get this time of year is "What should I do to get my bike ready for winter?" To which I usually respond, "Are you going to ride through the winter?" Let's pretend you just answered, "Yes." (Check here about tucking your bike in for a long winter's nap). Cool, so you're going to brave the winter. Good choice. What you need is chain lube.

A neglected chain sounds to me like an angry metal skeleton chasing you down the road. That sound hurts my heart. Not only does it sound angry, it also wears out faster. What causes a chain to sound like that? The short answer is winter. With it's rain/sleet/slush/snow/salt/sand and whatnot.

Lubing your chain is the best and easiest maintenance you can perform to keep your ride rolling through the winter. You have to think moderation here- too little is not good, and too much is not good. Here's how I do it:

1. Drip chain lube along the inside of the chain as you backpedal the crank with your other hand to coat the whole chain.

2. After you've coated the chain, continue to backpedal for a while (20 seconds-ish?) to let the lube work its way into the chain.

3. Wipe off the extra with a rag. You just want it on the inside of the parts where the friction happens. Lube on the outside will attract dirt, which wears things out faster, which defeats one of the points of this exercise.

See that junk on the rag? Not only did you lubricate, but you also cleaned it. A twofer!

What kind of lube should you use? Good question. There are plenty of choices, and I bet if you asked 10 bike mechanics what their favorite is, you'd get 10 different answers. My favorite is Boeshield T-9 (or just "T-9" to its friends...). I like it because it's light, and clean so it doesn't attract a bunch of junk. It's also good for lubing cables/housing, and flushing out various moving parts (shifters, derailleurs, whathaveyou...). It's even good for non-bike things. Like this little guy I fixed today:

I also like Tri Flow. It's a little heavier, but still pretty clean. The original stuff smells vaguely of bananas. It's the smell of my first real job...oh, the good ol' days. The thing about these lighter chain lubes is that you need to apply them more often. Hear those angry birds again? Get caught in a rain/sleet/snow storm? Time to reapply!

Alright folks, Charlie and I are off on adventures next week, so we'll see you on the 27th. Happy Thanksgiving!

29er

2010-11-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

I've been able to ride my bike! I mean, between the cool weather slowing things down in the shop, and Charlie helping out, I've had a little room in my schedule for mountain biking. And because bike mechanics are like swimming sharks- if we don't have a bike project going, we'll die, I've put together another bike for my newly acquired trail time. It's not a new bike, per se, it's been re-purposed from other bikes and parts. You know, like recycling. I'm being very green about my project bikes.

Big wheels. Tiny, adorable dog.

Why didn't I set up this bike for off road riding in the first place? Oh, I don't know... I had a bunch of dumb excuses. I wasn't sure that a 29er would be a good fit for a short-ish gal (although, technically I'm taller than the average woman). 29ers are getting to be popular, and I'm anti-popular (scarring left over from being named in the top three of the middle school 'dork list'). The frame I had is on the heavy side (and in my humble opinion, on the ugly side). I'm trying really hard to eliminate bike purpose overlap in my collection- I already have a single speed mountain bike. You know, excuses, excuses. I really like riding a single speed off road, but my 26" rigid bike, is a little rough to ride on my favorite trails around here. Well, it was one of those really rough rides that motivated me to try out the 29er.

So what's the verdict? I really, really like it! All of the things in the 29er 'pro' column are true. Better traction? Yes. Better at tackling obstacles? Definitely, even without suspension, I noticed this right away. Higher bottom bracket? Yes, very enjoyable. What you find in the 29er 'con' column (like increased rotating mass of the larger wheels slowing things down) has to do mostly with speed and weight of the bike. I'm not fast, and the frame/fork aren't light to begin with, so those drawbacks don't bother me. I haven't taken it out to any super technical trails yet, but so far I don't have any complaints about how it handles in tight, twisty stuff. Overall- two thumbs up. It looks like I'm going to have to re-purpose my other SS MTB... Oh well, it's good to have a project going.

The Fells are for everyone.

2010-11-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

The Middlesex Fells are used by all types of folks. Walkers, hikers, bikers, dog walkers... It's a great resource for all kinds of activities. Mountain bikers have gotten the shorter end of the stick here- fire roads are alright, but single track would be more fun. There are plenty of trails for sharing, but groups like the Friends of the Fells have kept the good stuff for themselves. They falsely believe that biking on trails has a different (worse) impact on the environment. So for a bazillion years things have been unequal and unfair. Now the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has a new draft trail plan that brings things closer to fair. Closer to fair and equal rights, responsiblities, and expectations for all user groups.

The plan calls for better signage, more shared use trails, and a different winter closure plan among other changes. If you'd like to read the full draft plan you can get the PDF here.

The draft plan is a draft, that can and will be changed based on public comments. It's important that the DCR receives comments in support of the plan.

Want to show your support for the pro-mountain bike/pro-equal access parts of the current plan for the Fells? The fine folks at the Greater Boston chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (GB NEMBA) have made it sooo easy for you (the public comment period ends on Nov 19th, so get on it!):

http://www.gbnemba.org/fellscomments

I could go on about how important it is to make sure all users have equal access and participate equally in responsible trail maintenance... If you want to learn more about the good work being done by GB NEMBA in the Fells, and elsewhere check the website. It's a great resource. And, finally, here is a picture of a turtle I met in the Fells last fall:

She/He's pro-MTB.

It's dark out there.

2010-11-04T07:39:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned a bit about lights before. They're important, and they're about to get more important as we sink into the darkness as Daylight Savings is over (remember to 'fall back' this weekend). Let's talk about rear blinky lights today.

Why is it important to have a rear light? The shortest answer is, so that you don't get run over. If drivers know where you are, they know not to be driving in that spot (I would hope). The longer answer includes that it's the law and it's your responsibility. There are lots of blinky options out there. Rear lights are red, just like in motor vehicles.

The Planet Bike Superflash has been the gold standard in rear blinkies, in my humble opinion. That 1/2 watt strobe is retina searing (in a good way), even in the day time. I've had one clipped to my backpack for a good long time now.

Despite my love for the Superflash I'm pretty excited about the Danger Zone, from the fine fellows at Portland Design Works. It's not your average blinky. Here, watch this video(pay no attention to the man without(!) a helmet). The idea is that a constant blinking pattern gets lost in a light heavy environment, like a city, and that by making the blinking pattern crazier (slow/pulsing & fast/strobe-y) it'll catch human (drivers, peds, other cyclists) attention better.

Want something a little sneakier? The Planet Bike Spok is just a little guy that attaches to your bike (or helmet, even) via velcro strap. Here's where Charlie likes to put his:

When it's not turned on, you don't even know it's there. It's a nice way to have a light on your bike when you don't want to take it with you, but you also don't want it stolen. It's a single LED, so it won't knock your socks off, like the other two, but it gets the job done. All three of these a solid mode, but I only ever use the blinking modes, so they won't get lost in the city landscape.

Pretty soon some (many?) of you will leave for and return from work in the dark. I'm sorry about that. It is kind of a bummer, but it's no reason to stop riding your bike. Just grab some lights. No matter which blinky you choose, it's just important that you use one.

Too many bikes -or- This bike is for sale.

2010-11-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Oh man. I just realized that my last post was also about selling stuff. Sorry. Next one will be about not being a bike ninja/ bike lights, I promise (Timely, because of daylight savings. Get it?).

On to the bike for sale... I have too many bikes. There I said it. And like a parent who's just realized she has too many kids, I've been really struggling with the idea of removing one from the collection (No. I know it's nothing like that...). People often ask me 'why have more than one bike?' My short answer is that bikes are like shoes. You can't wear ballet shoes hiking, and you can't dance ballet in hiking boots. If you want to do both, you probably should have two pairs of shoes. And there's no ultimate shoe- one you can wear for work, hiking, playing basketball, white water kayaking, clogging, and black tie parties. Sometimes you make one pair work in a couple different situations (hiking and playing basketball?), but sometimes you just need the right shoe for the job. And sometimes you realize you have too many shoes for the same job. Or just too many shoes. So enough about me trying to justify too many bikes...

I have more than one commuter bike. So it's time I set one free to find a new home. Here he/she/it is:

It's a 17" (or medium, if you prefer) Specialized Hardrock frame, in weathered red. The highlights include, but are not limited to, a new Sturmey Archer S2C (C is for coaster brake) 2 speed kickback hub(!) hand built rear wheel, street tires, a red/black color scheme, front brake & coaster brake for safety, and cool BMX pedals that have a great back story (story is free with purchase).

Actually the story is really about the guy I got them from...

And if you've never tried a 2 speed, come check it out. It keeps the bike nice and simple for around riding around town, just like a single speed (it even looks like a single speed to the untrained eye), but gives you a nice bail out gear for hills.

All this can be yours for $275. Stop in, call, or email if you have any questions.

I only hope I can find a good home for it soon, before I convince myself to keep it.

Mountain Bike Tire SALE!

2010-10-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Tires are priced to compete with the ahem internet AND you get an extra 20% off if you buy a pair (they don't even have to match).

Some of these tires were caught in a little springtime flood, so their packaging got damaged. And their price reflects that. Thankfully the tires themselves are made of rubber and not cardboard, so they're still good. Some of them were not in the flood, and they're still on sale.

Maxxis, WTB, Hutchinson, Ritchey. Good stuff. Oh, and they're all 26" (sorry 29ers...). Come in and check them out.

Thanksgiving

2010-10-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

I know it's early, but I wanted to give you plenty of warning. Hub Bicycle will be closed on Saturday, November 22 and will re-open on Saturday, November 27.

We (No longer the corporate we! If you haven't had a chance stop in and meet Charlie, he works here now and he's a good guy) are going to be on some Thanksgiving adventures.

I'll remind you again as it gets closer.

DCCX

2010-10-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

I got my best result of the season in Washington DC this weekend! 39 out of 46 finishers. If I can continue the trend of moving up 2-3 places each race, I'll only need 4-5 more months of 'cross to win one...

Why would I travel all the way to DC when there were some really decent races happening in New England? I like a good road trip. And it gave me a chance to visit my dear friend Seeb*. I took the overnight train down (it's the only Northeast Regional train that has a bike-carrying baggage car). I don't want to brag, but I'm pretty good at sleeping, so I had no trouble resting up even though the train was packed. When I got to DC the sun was rising. Here's the scene outside Union Station:

That's the Capital Building way in the back. I've seen that place on TV.

The race itself was great. Fun course, friendly people. In fact, I added two people to my support/heckling team just moments before the race (thanks Mckenzie and Chris!). I didn't want to burden Seeb with having to do all of the heckling. It also happened to be beautiful weather, I stayed in and raced in the nice part of town, I had all kinds of wonderful food, I rode around on the ridiculously clean Metro, I saw a LEGO architecture exhibit... so as far as I can tell DC is like Disneyland.

To top off the weekend, on the train ride back I happened to find a seat in the quiet car that was 'broken'. The seats in front hadn't been able to switch around so I was the only person on the train able to do this:

And therefore the only person on the train sleeping like a very comfortable baby. Oh man, such a good weekend for racing bikes...

*Not her real name (depending on who you ask).

Observation

2010-10-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well, dear web log readers, I'm on the mend, and I learned that the right-hooking driver did, in fact, get a ticket. I wouldn't say I have complete closure on this unfortunate incident (there's still the issue of my bike to deal with), but I think it's time for us to move on here. So how about a nice observation I've made in the last couple of weeks?

Cyclists following traffic laws. It's been happening, and I'm really happy about it. I like having company at the red lights. It gives me a chance to admire other people's bikes (like I don't get enough of that at the shop...) and chat with other bike nerds. Why does this seem to be happening?

Is it the Same Roads Same Rules campaign catching on?

Is it because the colder weather is leaving the die hard velonauts standing? I've noticed that there are fewer folks traveling in the bike lanes as the weather gets more fall like (that's not the nice observation... I'm getting to it). Despite the fact that the weather is still reasonably fair it seems that the fair weather bikers are starting to hang it up for the year. Which is totally fine. I'm not judging. I'd rather that someone commute by bike for one month (or week, or day or on every 4th Thursday) than not at all. The one thing I'd rather that folks not do is blow through stop lights/signs, bike ninja it, or bike salmon it. I don't want to stereotype fair weather cyclists, but it seems to me that folks that ride less are less involved/connected with the cycling community and therefore are less exposed to their rights and responsibilities on the road.

Could it somehow be the influence of the new bike lanes and sharrows?

Could it be that I'm seeing what I want to see? I hope not.

So, I really I don't know why, but I hope it keeps up. More respect can only get more respect. Oh, and to all the cyclists out there, there's still plenty of great, if slightly cooler, riding left to be had!

I got hit by a car.

2010-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

I did. I'm fine. A little banged up, but I checked out A-ok. My bike, eh... not so good.

I think it looks like it's giving a hug.

A woman right hooked me on one of the residential streets near the shop. Here's a tip for drivers- the first thing you should say to someone after you hit them with your car is "Are you Ok? Can I call you an ambulance?" NOT "I had my blinker on. You ran into me." She kept saying I came out of nowhere, which I know is not true- I was in front of her on the road for the full block before she hit me. How do I know that? When you're on a bike you're 1,000,000,000 times more aware of the traffic around you (accurate to +/- 1,000,000). Thankfully, four police folks had showed up before I was even able to lift myself off the pavement, a) so they could make sure I was Ok, and b) so I didn't have to talk to that woman. The paramedic was great (a mountain biker), and the nurse was almost as upset as I was about my bike ("That SRAM stuff is great... I've got it on my Tarmac.").

I hate that it feels like it was inevitable. I've been a bike commuter my whole adult life, so I was bound to get hit sometime, right? That seems like a terrible thought to have. I'm a responsible cyclist and road user. I wait at lights, yield for pedestrians, stop at stop signs, and so on. It's not inevitable. There's plenty of road for everybody. Everyone has rights and responsibilities on the road and if we all watch out for each other then no one will have to sit in the emergency room waiting to see if her elbow is broken. If that woman had just been aware and had seen me on the road I would have been fixing bikes, instead of making friends in the ER.

On the upside, I got this:

if only...

Fall Hours!

2010-10-11T08:35:00.001-07:00

The light is definitely changing. It's getting (pleasantly) colder. I know fall technically started a little while ago, but it actually feels like fall now.

Here are new Fall Hours:

Monday-Friday: 11a-7p
Saturday: 12n-5p
Sunday: Still Closed (cyclocross!)

DFL: better than DNF

2010-09-18T13:25:00.000-07:00

Day One of the Green Mountain Cyclo-Cross weekend was rough. There are just some times when a single speed is a poor choice. Like when this is the course:

That's a hill.

I got a terrible start, as it was uphill, the gearing on the Brown Machine was too steep and I'm in less than race-shape. I ended up in the back of the pack 8-10 seconds into the race, and that's where I stayed. It was a little discouraging. I can't say I didn't think about how I could get a mechanical and drop out. But really, my bike was dialed, as that is my profession, so a mechanical failure was unlikely, and probably more embarrassing than just straight up quitting, which I was not going to do. Long story short, someone has to come in last place. Right? So you're welcome Cat3/4 Women. You're welcome.

Day Two was a little better, thanks to the 20t cog I picked up in Burlington. Desperate times call for desperate measures- so I paid retail.

Those two extra teeth bumped me up two places, from DFL to third from DFL! I also think the course on Day Two was a little more fun, so that helped, too. All in all, I had fun. Really. The weather was great. The spectators did an appropriate amount of encouraging/heckling. Vermont is easy on the eyes. And I finished. It sounds a little 'after school special', but it's important to put forth your best effort, even if there's no chance in hell that you're going to win.

Slow up.

2010-09-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

I love fall. Not too warm, not too cold. The unpredictable weather makes the nice days seem that much nicer in comparison. Today is one of those nice days.

A lovely little three speed was dropped off early in the afternoon for some shift cable attention. Beautiful weather, nice upright handle bars, comfy seat- I was pretty excited for test ride time. As I got rolling down Willow St I realized I needed to make the most of being outside, so I rode my usual test ride route very slowly. Sunday drive style. I found it to be surprisingly enjoyable. Most of the riding I do is purpose driven. I don't ride fast, but I'm usually riding with a mission- to get from A to B. One reason I choose cycling for transportation is that it's faster than walking, so what would be the point of riding at a walking pace?

There was something very satisfying about riding deliberately slow. It gave me extra time to pay attention to the details of the bike, the road, and the neighborhood. It was like bike meditation. I think it really helped set the tone for the rest of my day.

While I was writing this post I looked up "slow bicycling" and found this. Although, it's not always possible to take a nice slow ride, I'm really looking forward to incorporating more slow rides into my life.

It's September. And then October.

2010-09-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shop closures I'd like to tell you about:

Sept. 11- CLOSED for the Maine Lighthouse Ride... conveniently combining my love for bikes and nautical architecture.

Sept. 18- CLOSED for cyclo-crossing.

Oct. 16- CLOSED for more cyclo-cross.

Oct. 24- CLOSED... and more cyclo-cross.

Big 3

2010-08-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, college students. I'm glad you're back, this town is quiet without you. I'm also glad you've decided to use your bike for transportation. It really is the best way to get around the city. You need some stuff to go with that bike, though.

1. Helmet
Please, just get one. I know you're good at riding your bike, but there are a lot of obstacles out there- drivers, cabs, buses, feral pedestrians, cabs, potholes, other cyclists, cabs. It's like Frogger, without the extra lives. Your friends and family would be heartbroken if something happened to your noggin. If that's not enough to convince you- how much are you spending on school? You will only get a return on that investment if you keep your brain intact. Think about it, your brain is getting expensive.

I can keep going... There are 100,00 good reasons to wear a helmet.

2. Lock
You can't buy a new bike for $38, but you can buy a u lock and keep the bike you already have. I know the cable locks are tempting (they are light and cheap), but don't do it (because they're light and cheap). No one can claim that a lock is "theft-proof". You can't promise something like that. But I can say that I had a heart to heart with a guy yesterday about his stolen bike. He had been using a cable lock, and now his bike is gone. He wanted me to be sure and tell everyone to use a u lock. True story.

3. Lights
If you're going to ride at night (or dusk, or dawn), you need to get some. It's the right thing to do. Nobody likes a bike ninja. Without lights people don't know where you are, and if they don't know where you are they have a harder time not running you over, or walking out in front of you. Reflectors aren't enough because pedestrians don't have headlights. You have to watch out for all types of travelers.

There are definitely other objects out there that could make your bike traveling life easier (pump, rack, fenders, rain pants, xtracycle, gloves, clipless pedals... I can keep going...), but start with these three to keep you riding, and safe.

Tubular Technique -or- Why do I have a raging headache?

2010-08-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

To start I need to give credit where credit is due. I first learned about techniques for gluing tubular tires from Eddie at Cycle Mania. His method involved something about taking one shoe off to use your foot to hold the valve in place. Or something like that. It was a long time ago. I learned the method I currently use from Molly Cameron, Pro 'crosser, and Pro vegan (although that has nothing to do with this). As far as I know Molly learned from other Pros and added a healthy dose of trial-and-error. So it's time-tested and all that...

Reasons for using tubies vs. clinchers aisde, today we're just talking about sticking a tubie to the rim. This method requires lots of time, lots of glue, and lots of ventilation. I like a nice thin glue- Panaracer Pana Cement to be exact.

Here are the steps (more or less):

1. Stretch out the tire by mounting it on the rim DRY and inflating it to the recommended max. Let it hang out like this for a while. Don't skip this, you'll thank yourself later.

2. Cut off a finger from a nitrile glove and put it on your finger. Use this protected finger to begin spreading on thin layers of glue on the tire's base tape and on the rim- 4-6 layers on each. You could use a brush, I suppose, but I think it's messier. Just use your finger. It helps to inflate the tire so it holds some shape. Wait for each layer to fully dry before applying the next layer (this is where the lots of time comes in), so that the solvent from the glue can fully evaporate (this is where the lots of ventilation come in). Take time with this- you don't want to start with a mess. The glue should only be on the base tape and in the 'trough' of the rim.

2a. Did I mention that you should be in a well ventilated area? Do it for your brain.

You can use your index finger. I cut mine with a pair of IKEA scissors a couple of years ago, and it hasn't been the same since...

3. When your tire and rim are both fully layered but dry you want to do one last wet layer on the rim. It should be slightly thicker than the other layers. Keep this layer nice and neat, too.

Spread the glue around the spoke holes, try not to get glue inside the holes.

4. All of this next step needs to be done while that last layer of rim glue is still wet. Let the air out of the tire. Put the rim on the ground and support it on both sides with your feet. You should so this with shoes you don't mind getting glue on. Start by inserting the valve, and applying pressure equally with both hands, stick the base tape to the goopy rim. As you get to the opposite side it'll get tight. This is where you benefit from stretching the tire and keeping the glue job neat. Keep pushing the base tape up and over into the glue on the rim, without dragging the tire sidewall through the glue.

Those are the very same rain boots I use to wade around in the shop basement.

5. When the base tape is fully stuck to the rim, inflate the tire to not quite the max, and stick it in a truing stand to see that the tread is on straight. The base tape and tread might not line up exactly, especially if the tire is old. That slightly thicker layer of glue should still pretty wet so you can push the tire around on the rim with your hands to get the tread straight.

6. Now here's a cool little trick- after the tread is straight, deflate the tire and roll it on a broom handle. Why? This helps to push the base tape down into the lowest point in the 'trough' of the rim. If you don't do this, you'll find that sometimes the tire hasn't made contact with the center part of the rim, and you've wasted all of that glue you very carefully applied.

7. Inflate it back up and let it sit. Seriously, for 24 hours, or more, in a well ventilated place. That allows all of those nasty solvents to evaporate.

I know there's more than one way to glue up tubies. Some people like using a thicker glue, some people like tape, but this how I do it and it's served me well. If you want to know more about it, I'd be happy to geek out... er, answer questions for you.

CX

2010-08-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

It's almost 'cross season. If you're unfamiliar with cyclo-cross (or 'cross, or CX, or CCX, or cyclocross), you're not alone. It's a tiny, crazy, sometimes muddy, wicked fun niche in the world of competitive cycling. If you want to learn a little more before we continue, you can read the wiki article or check out Cyclocross Mag.

Ready? Ok. I love 'cross. It's fast, difficult, there are tons of variables (weather, the course, the crowd of spectators) that keep it interesting. I started racing just a few years ago out in Eugene, OR. I started out on a single speed mountain bike (which drew uncreative, but accurate, taunts of "Mountain biiiiiike!" from spectator/hecklers). Here's a pic from my very first race. Look at how fast it looks like I'm going.

Since that first season I've gotten a real deal 'cross bike. It's the one I rode to Maine. It's been stripped down to it's single speed race weight now. I've even acquired a set of used tubies (more about tubular tires in a future post. Stay tuned.).

I completely missed out on last year's season because A) I just moved and hadn't fully unpacked my bike stuff by 'cross season... and B) I hadn't ridden my bike very much last summer so I felt pretty out of shape. I mean, if you're going to compete, you should do some training, right? Excuses, excuses.

This year: A) All of my stuff is unpacked, and B) I probably have ridden my bike less than I did last year, but... No excuses this time. During the time I've spent NOT riding, I've been mentally preparing to not attach any ego to my race results. And it's still early. There's time to fit some riding in. Right? Right. It'll be kind of an experiment- can I be totally out of shape for racing and still have fun? I think so. But there's only one way to tell for sure. Let the experiment begin!

Six months

2010-07-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

If Hub were a baby, she would be rolling over and able to sit in a high chair.

It's been busy here. There's been a nice variety of bikes- from a couple of high performance full carbon TT bikes to hi-ten steel "I found this bike in the basement of my building" bikes.

I like fixing them all. Every bike presents a problem solving challenge that keeps my brain happily occupied. I've also really enjoyed talking with all of those various bikes' owners. Good people ride bikes. (I'm sure good people drive and take the T, too, but I don't talk to them while I'm working...) I'm very grateful to be doing the work I'm doing. So if you've brought your bike in, Thank You! for a great first 6 months. And if you haven't yet there's still time- maybe by the time you bring it in Hub will be crawling and eating Cheerios.

Mind over matter

2010-07-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Portland, ME is one of my favorite spots on the planet (so far). At 115-120ish miles from Cambridge/Somerville, it seemed doable in a day by bicycle. The thing is with how much time I've been putting in at the shop I haven't had much time for riding/training. I usually get in at least 50 miles a week commuting, so there's that, but as far as actually blocking out time to get in shape, I've got nothin. In fact, the longest ride I'd done in 2010 was 32 miles (Tour de Cure! Check back next week for more about bikes and diabetes...). Details, details. Plus this was kind of an impulsive idea, so I didn't have weeks to prepare. This is where mind over matter comes in. I figured if I got on my bike and kept pedaling eventually I would get there. And to be fair, I do commute by bicycle, and it's not like I sit in a cube all day, so I'm probably more active than the average American-Canadian. So that was the plan: 1) Get on bike. 2) Pedal. 3) Don't worry about it.

I packed up the ol' cross bike with the one pannier I have. I can now say with confidence two would be much better for balance, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I fueled up for/ on the trip with a highly effective cocktail of fruit snacks, peanut butter M&Ms and mate. Pretty much the food of the gods. I had a full set of travel tools, but no mechanicals (natch). Although I did get to help a guy with a flat in Ogunquit. One thing I forgot was sunscreen. I'm pretty sure the burn on my shoulders goes down to the muscle. I printed out directions from Google, but I scrapped them right away. The directions were pretty easy- get to 1A, take 1A to 1, arrive in the Greater Portland Area.

A few highlights:

-I saw a squirrel eating/smoking a cigarette. Stay classy, Medford.

-Speaking of smoking, I totally smoked this lady:

But I think it was the flag in her jersey pocket that was holding her back. Patriotism is not good for aerodynamics. (She caught back up with me during a re-fueling stop.)

-New Hampshire is very serious about their state motto.

-I talked to a couple of motorcyclists at stop lights on Route 1. Super friendly. Much more friendly than the drivers in Ipswich.

-Based on my field observations, the only vehicle available in Quebec is the Dodge Minivan. One such minivan pulled over to ask me directions to Old Orchard Beach. Way to play into the stereotype, lady.

11 hours and 123.4 miles after leaving my front door I arrived at my final destination. Not bad, I think. Another nice thing about traveling to Portland is taking the train back into Boston. Other than the sunburn and a couple of detours (why is it so hard to leave the Greater Boston Area by bicycle?), it was a (relatively) easy and wicked fun trip.

July July

2010-06-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that July is not a fall month, it happens to be one of my favorites.

This July I'm going to be closing up the shop for a couple of weekends to take care of some bikey stuff. For example:

Hub will be closed July 3, 4 and 5. I will be celebrating the birth of this nation by riding my bike to Portland ME. I'm going to shoot for getting there in one day. I'll let you know how that goes...

Hub will be closed at 5pm on Friday July 9, and closed on July 10. I'm going to go lend a wrench to the New England Classic. Super epic.

Independence

2010-06-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

My first memory of feeling truly independent came courtesy of a bicycle. I was sent out to pick up some lunch while hanging out at my dad's office for the day (i.e.- get out of his hair so he could get some work done...). I was probably 10, and while I was cruising the mean streets (or, sidewalks) of Pinardville, NH it occurred to me that 'I don't need anybody to go get lunch'. I DON'T NEED ANYBODY! I'M GETTING MY OWN LUNCH! I CAN GO ANYWHERE! A very cool realization to have. I rode my bike a bunch as a kid, mostly for fun, but when I lived close enough I'd ride it to school. There was always something extra awesome about biking with a purpose- getting lunch, going to school or the post office- it made me aware of my status as an independent human being exercising her freewill (or at least as much freewill as you can exercise as a kid).

So fast forward to last weekend. I had a few bike parts to bring from home to the shop, and a quick stop at the farmer's market. As I was carting parts and groceries on my bike I thought I DON'T NEED ANYBODY! I'M RIDING MY BIKE TO WORK! I CAN GO ANYWHERE! I'm legitimately an adult so, I really can go anywhere. I even have a motor vehicle that I could drive to work or the farmer's market or any number of places. But I never feel like an independent human being when I do that- I just feel like an adult running errands.

What Hub is doing to not hate on Mother Nature

2010-06-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Green is the new black. It's pretty trendy right now, right? Unlike other trends, not burning up the planet is actually important. Bicycles have always been ahead of the curve on this trend. I mean, it's the most efficient way to get around! And as we all know 'efficient' means, "adj. 1. performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste" So there you go- a bicycle shop is inherently more ecologically responsible than, say oil drilling or drag car racing, but there's always room for improvement. Maybe you're sick of hearing about what companies are doing (or at least what they say they're doing...) to improve their greeny-ness, but I want to tell you about some stuff going on here at the shop.

Recycling (obvi)

Paper. plastic, your totally hosed chain and cassette (and other metal parts), tubes!, tires all get recycled here, natch.

Reducing

I'll admit, I'm very excited and this news was the motivation for this post- Hub now has tubes in bulk! Flat tires are one of the most common bike problems, so at the end of the day the ol' recycling bin looks like this:

And while recycling is great- not creating the waste in the first place is even better. You can now get tubes they way hippies get their granola and nutritional yeast. They're the very same tubes you know and love, but without the packaging. The most common road and mountain sizes are available in bulk, and if you want your tube to come in a package you still can. I won't judge.

Cleaners/solvents/grease/etc.

There's a bunch of this stuff that goes into tuning a bicycle. It gets a little tricky here, because it's hard to find straight forward information about all of this stuff, as most of what I can find comes from the companies themselves. I'm not a chemist, so I have to take the company's word for it. So far, I've been pretty happy with Pedro's and Finishline. They seem to have a good balance of effectiveness and biodegradability. If any one has suggestions on how I can find more (objective) information on this, I'm all ears.

Other little things

Compact fluorescent bulbs. Check. Choosing 'Ground' for shipping product. Check. Choosing products packaged in paper/cardboard over PVC clamshell packaging. Check (that was the deciding factor between two great options for bike multi-tools). Fans over A/C. Check. Printing work orders on scrap paper before recycling. Check.

Thanks for reading. If you have any suggestions or recommendations on how Hub can be even eco-friendlier drop a note to: info@hubbicycle.com (I promise I won't print out the email...)

Bay State Bike Week!

2010-05-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Happy bike week. Check out all of the happenings here. The calendar is packed, and I'm pretty sure if you were willing to travel around the Greater Boston Area a bit you could get free breakfast all week...

Also don't forget to register for the Mass Commuter Challenge. We (that's the corporate 'we') will be out and about celebrating and supporting various events, so the shop hours will be a little wonky. The shop will open at 2pm on Weds May 19, and will be closing early on Weds May 26 for the Bike Bash. Annnnndddd.... the shop will also be closed on Saturday May 22 to lend a mechanic hand to the North Shore Tour de Cure. If you ride your bike, they will cure diabetes.

Oh man, fun events (all month... and this, too), safety summits, bike traffic (see fig. 1), new bike lanes, nice weather, same roads same rules... now is a wicked good time to be riding bikes!

fig. 1- bikepool!

To summarize: ride your bike, get free breakfast, the shop is opening late Weds, and closed Sat.

Frankenbike

2010-05-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

In addition to cranking out pro-style tune ups for the good people of the Greater Boston Area, I occasionally like to work on a bike or two for myself. I've just put the finishing touches on a commuter/off road/fire road ripper/monster cross trainer/ninja rider/etc. bike. It might be ugly, but maybe in an adorable way (uglorable?)? You know, for a bike made up of parts from other bikes:

Ta Da!
The details, in case you're into that kinda thing: Unit 2-9 frame, disc brakes, 32/13 fixed gear (shh... don't tell anybody) *cough*, ahem- single speed, 700 x 42 tires, 40 degree sweep handle bars!, because I've never said, "wow, I wish these bars had less sweep"

Comfy for your hands
It took a little tweaking to get this baby ready for bombing around town, mainly in the stem/handle bar zone, I mean it is a 29er mountain bike frame and therefore a little upright and mountain-bikey. So, why wouldn't I just get an appropriate townie bike? Well, I don't need to see the ocean everyday, but I need to know that if I did need to see the ocean I could. Which is why I can't live in the midwest. Similarly, I don't necessarily need to ride this bike off road everyday, but I need to know that I can when the mood strikes me. That's why all of the bikes I'm fortunate to own can be trail ride ready in 15min or less. Sorry road bikes, we just aren't meant to be.

Plus, with this frame there's no chance of a slow-motion-toe-overlap-in-traffic-while-I'm-trying-to-track-stand crash. There's metric tons of clearance. See:

There's still plenty of room with shoes on, too.
It's super fun. I don't ride fast (and I have no plans to start, it takes sooo much effort...) so, the fixed gear adds a little challenge to my favorite not-so-technical trails/fire roads. And riding bikes with one gear always makes me feel like a kid. True story.

Thanks for letting me geek out a little bit here.

So Neglected.

2010-04-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry, Web Log, it's been a while...

When I was in 7th grade, we were all assigned a book to read and then summarize in 2 paragraphs or less. I don't remember exactly what the point of the assignment was, something about communicating complex thoughts briefly, or learning to create Cliff Notes... The book I got to read was Roots. You know, the one that the 12 hour miniseries is based on. Two paragraphs or less?

I was assigned that book because in the words of my teacher, "Emily, you are a woman of few words." Um... thanks? Those words have been haunting me as I look over the half dozen or posts I've started in the last two weeks. I keep thinking, "That could be a good/interesting/informative post... I just need to add some, uh, words to it..." I guess I could try microblogging, but that seems to take a certain amount of consistency that I can't commit to... So instead, here's a regular blog post filled with microblog sized bits from the last two weeks.

1. Good bye, 1991. I've finally upgraded my CX bike with 10 speed SRAM! I dig it. The Double Tap business is very easy to use, and to get used to. I'm a sucker for efficiency, so I think it's the one lever for shifting up and down that gets me....

2. I'm not big on holidays. I have nothing against them, I just don't get excited. I do get excited for the beginning of mountain bike season, so trail opening day seems like a holiday worth celebrating. And it's coming SOON (this Thursday)...

3. Now is the perfect time to get your bike in and tuned for the season. Things are definitely picking up here in the tune-up department, but we're staying on top of it. Most bikes are back to their owners within 48 hours. Got a specific day you can part with your bike? Give a call and we can set up an appointment for you...

4. The NEMBA/Hub Women's MTB Maintenance Clinics were an epic WIN. Keep an eye out for other clinics in the near future...

5. Women of Dirt movie/fundraiser/raffle. Regent Theater, Arlington, Apr 21, 7pm...

Those are all of the unrelated chunks of bike-y goodness I have for now. Maybe next time I'll post in haiku form.

Buckets.

2010-03-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

More rain, more problems. The leak buckets are back out. The one thing I'll say about this weather is that, I think, it's easier to ride in. Here's why: When it's drizzling you have to make an effort to not get too wet. Rain pants, avoiding puddles, finding the clip on fenders, trying to decide if you can coast enough to keep your legs dry(ish). There's alot of fussing that goes into avoiding the moment when you go from reasonably dry to uncomfortably wet. In weather like this, if you make the choice to ride (100 bonus points!) you're going to get soaked. No rain pants or fenders will save you. So don't worry about it. Have fun, use your blinkies, and have a towel ready when you get home.

And- don't forget that Part 1 in the two part Women's MTB maintenance clinic is tonight!

Don't forget.

2010-03-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, March 27. All day sale. Opening Party 5-7pm.

On an unrelated note, I found this:

That is all.

Ha!

2010-03-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Bike name update:

I just came across this little gem, and I thought it was only right to share. A pink 'girls' bike with a name I can support.

Who wouldn't want to shred it on a Giant Awesome?

Spring!

2010-03-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's official. So with the longer days, and warmer weather it's time to shift the schedule:

M-F: high noon - 7pm
Sat: noon- 5pm
Sun: closed for riding bikes (mountain bikes... yeah spring!)