Interviewed

This marks the first interview during which all questions were about being a 'business owner' and not a 'woman business owner'. Thanks, Kristina!

Bike Care Night, March 19, 7pm

If you've ridden at all this winter, your bike is probably a little gross. The roads have been coated in a slurry of salt, sand and road grime for months. Even if you haven't been riding this winter, your bike still needs some occasional TLC.

We're teaming up with Pedro's for a night of Bike Care. Wednesday, March 19th at 7pm, here at Hub Bicycle World HQ.  We'll be talking proper cleaning and lubrication, and why it's important. It's FREE and open to all. Come by for some knowledge, refreshments and hang time with other bike-minded folks.

What is Team Monster Truck?

Team Monster Truck is the team for people who like bikes and comradery. We do some racing, and lots of riding. Also practicing skills (CX and MTB) and #cannolifriday.

This team is just about a year old and I, for one, am really proud of how far it's come. I can't think of another group that's as welcoming, encouraging and enthusiastic as this one.

 If you are curious about cyclocross, mountain biking, road racing, bike camping, dirt rides, or eating cannoli follow the team on Twitter or Facebook (an official team website is coming soon, thanks to our very own Jessie C). Or stop by the shop on any Friday evening, you'll probably find a team member or two to talk with.

Cannoli Friday

If you haven't heard, Fridays are pretty awesome around here. It started months ago when friend, lawyer, local bikelebrity and safe biking enasthusit, Josh, brought a box of cannolis from Modern Pastry to the shop to share. Since then we've been observing Cannoli Friday nearly every week. Except last week.

This week, Cannoli Friday is back, and we're putting it to good use. We'll be collecting donations for The One Fund Boston. Stop by this afternoon (after 4pm-ish) for a delicious pastry and good company and give a few bucks to help our neighbors.

"I can't wait for this week to be over."

You said it, Springfield NBC affiliate reporter.

The last seven days been stressful scary awful. In both a small and big picture way. For me, they started with a broken thumb last Friday (yes, it was bike related and yes, it's hard to work without a thumb). Then Erich broke his arm, reducing the Hub Bicycle Mechanic Team down to two working right arms. I want nothing but to do the best work in the quickest turn-around time. We're still cranking out the same quality service you've come to expect, but at a slower pace that I'm finding difficult to be ok with. All of that seems small potatoes, though.

Sunday night was the wildly fun and successful Midnight Marathon Ride (yes, I rode, broken thumb and all).

Then the Marathon on Monday. My dear friend, Josh, said it best with this post on his website Bike Safe Boston. Sad, unsettling, angering- I can't say it any better than the hundreds blog posts, tweets, and columns that have come out over the last week.

Yesterday I arrived at the shop wicked early to try to get some work done. I looked out the window shortly before 7am to see a CBS news van pull up on Cambridge St. Shortly after that Fox, CNN, AP, NBC, ABC, etc... It was surreal to be watching a live stream of the news shot from a helicopter hovering over the building I was watching the news in. I didn't know the two that lived in the house on Norfolk St, but I did know a lot of their neighbors. I recognized so many faces in the crowd that gathered in front of the shop (many evacuated from their houses, some still in pajamas)- both of folks who are customers and those I see when I walk to the bank, or post office or lunch. I know that this is also not a unique feeling, but this past week reinforced my love for the city and this neighborhood in particular. Some terrible people lived here, but so, so many more good people do, too.

Today the news crews are gone. Many folks have remarked at how well and quickly things seem to be getting back to normal. We're getting back to work, and continuing to will broken bones to heal up fast. So, thanks for your patience, and continue to stay safe out there.

Bell

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.