WATERCAT!

I'm still looking for a few volunteers to manage checkpoints. If you're interested send an email to fixmemphis@yahoo.com.

As always, profits will benefit Revolutions.

Rapha's Delta Ride

I'm swooping this before Mr. Josh Gorman can post about it... Nice story about what sounds like a hellish ride. Click the banner.

Let's be a feature in Driven

Many of you have seen Driven Magazine in the shops around town and some of you probably met Terie when she covered the New Gears Alleycat. Terie phoned me the other day and wants to do a feature on fixed gear riding in Memphis. We've scheduled an interview/photo shoot for Thursday May 28th at 9pm at the Young Avenue Deli. That means get your bike fresh'd. If you won't be able to make the big group photo shoot but still want to participate I've got some questions from Terie that you can email to her:

QUESTIONS FOR DRIVEN MAGAZINE’S FIXED GEAR STORY!!!
PLEASE ANSWER THEM AND E-MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO: TERIEB@DRIVENMAGAZINE.NET
THANKS, AND I’LL ASK MORE QUESTIONS AND TAKE PHOTOS WHEN I SEE YOU ALL AT YOUNG AVENUE DELI NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT AT 9PM!
TERIE BOX

1) Who are you? Name (or alias), age, day job?
2) How’d you get into fixed gear cycling?
3) How often do you ride your fixed gear now?
a. I ride it in alleycats and other events
b. I ride it every weekend.
c. I commute to work and some other places when the weather’s nice.
d. I don’t own a car. My bike is fused to my feet.
e. Other: please explain
4) Tell me your favorite thing about fixed gear biking.
5) Tell me your least favorite thing about it.
6) In a sentence or two or four, describe the culture that surrounds fixed gear cycling…for example, if someone rides a fixed gear bike, they also probably:
7) What else do you have to say about it? Let loose!

Joe Birch is a helluva nice guy

Joe stopped in the shop today to buy a lock and drop off some flyers for the Gibson 5K. We started talking about the BFF and I gave him a flyer. He said he would mention the festival on the air. So thank you Joe Birch!

BFF on the Brooks Blog

Check us out on the Brooks Museum's blog, "Beyond the Frame", posted by yours truly.

http://beyondtheframe.wordpress.com/

Tickets!!

Quick update. Tickets are selling online for the BFF now and we have a pretty good idea of how many out of town visitors we will have. Seating is limited so if you want to ensure your spot I would suggest getting your tickets online at http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/. To find out what screenings you might want to attend go to the link above or catch one of the many schedule postcards around town. The price is 7$ per screening. If you want to see all of the shows $21 total. Let's all have an amazing time and show our guests some of that cyclists hospitality! Thank you to EVERYONE who has a hand in this project. If anyone has questions I might have an answer just e-mail me (astrokinetic77@yahoo.com) and I will get to you pronto.

                                               Be excellent to each other,

                                                                                              Corey

BICYCLE!?

POLO!!

Tonight at 5pm behind the Peddler. We've got a new ball!

Bike To Work Day

I picked this Vimeo off of bikeblognyc.com. I thought it was nice to see what a city with a lot of committed commuters looks like. And yes, today is National Bike To Work Day.

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

I know you're pumped about Roller Races

and if you want to ride your bike make sure it has a 48/16 gearing. Otherwise you will be riding something that might or might not fit.

I Like Bike

I know some of my friends are planning on touring this summer but this sounds like an even better way to go about it:

Bicycle Film Festival

Just a quick update. The Bicycle Film Festival site has the complete schedule of short films and features posted. Tickets can now be purchased online from the site and your name will be placed on a call list at the Brooks. Thanks ya'll! Check out Mr. Gorman's post below...absolutely Amazing.  

Memphis-Helena with Rapha Continental

Friday morning Mike and I walked over to Bob's Barksdale to meet the traveling Rapha Continental team. All together, this table full of skinny white guys consumed more breakfast than I think our waitress had ever seen. Typical orders consisted of two eggs, biscuits, hasbrowns, bacon, a short stack and the odd plate of country ham and grits. And biscuits and gravy. Bikes and kit took a little bit to get together, but we finally made on our way and to the river for pictures and our first flat. Despite a recognizance ride on Tuesday, the river had risen enough that our route to West Memphis was partially underwater. Not that it mattered to much as Cole demonstrated that we could just ride through it. The water only reached the hubs - that's ok, right? The second was a little deeper and somewhat faster, so some of us had a Stand By Me moment crossing an elevated railroad trying to avoid the flood. Finally we found open road on which the Rapha guys could drill it into the wind (and I could hold on for dear life). Daniel (the Rapha contact and organizer) and Cole were great, always offering me the best protection from the wind and keeping me with the group as much as possible. Everyone was great making sure that if I created a gap, someone dropped back to help me back up. Even with 500 miles on the week, they were strong and fast tearing up the Arkansas chip seal. Unfortunately, between the pace and the gravel on the levee, I couldn't find the time (or breath) to take any more pictures. Despite being only twenty feet tall, the loose twelve mile gravel levee was described as "the longest, flattest hill I have ever climbed." The roads were great all the way to Mariana where we took a much needed (and later than expected) break. As we headed south to Helena through the St. Francis National Forest I quickly fell off the back. The hills and gravel exposed my weak-sauce riding and I couldn't keep contact. At a crucial juncture, everyone took a left and I took a right when I came to it several minutes later. They got a ride on wet, gnarly roads, where I got a ride on nicer, hilly roads. Buy I also suffered three flats which led to me riding my final 7 miles on a sloppy tire before Dave and Adam found me.

Finally in Helena, we were both impressed and dismayed by the deserted, but once-cool appearing town. With only a package-store available, we enjoyed a cold american lager watching the river below. When the van finally caught up with us, we raced back to Memphis only to find every BBQ joint in town closed. Cole somehow made a deal with RC at Central, who sent us on our way with an entire shoulder and a pair of gloves with which to pull it. After a brief stop for beer and veggie fare we had a quick sandwich on the front porch before calling it a night.

What was supposed to be a flat, easy century or so, broke a couple of us and was epic in it's own special way. Many thanks to Daniel and Rapha for bringing the continental team down here. I had a blast and think they did as well.
Check out the Rapha Continental Road Journal for a superior account and photos. Also watch for an upcoming book which will thoroughly document the ride with all of Brian's great photos, maps and more.

Update on Bikes not Bombs!

Hello everyone. We are only one day away from the first annual Bikes Not Bombs ride.  We just wanted to share a few details to help make everything go smoothly tomorrow morning. Registration will begin at 11:00am outside Lifelink Church, 1015 S. Cooper, (formerly Galloway Methodist) at the corner of Walker Ave. and Cooper St.  Please make sure that you arrive as early as possible.  THE RIDE WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 PEOPLE REGISTERED. The ride will leave promptly at 12:00pm and should return to Lifelink Church sometime between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Please bring your bike, your helmet, and a water bottle. Ride will average 10 mph, or a "beginner's pace." No children under 16 should ride unless they are on an extra cycle or in a baby carrier (it will work better this way, though it may seem a little "discriminatory")  $15 for the Bikes not Bombs event provides a t-shirt, spoke card, and schwag bag with some other stuff. All proceeds benefit Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop (www.revolutionsmemphis.com) Thanks everyone. We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow morning! -Revolutions Staff

BFF postcards and posters

Here we are champs! These should be up for grabs at the BFF table via Bikes not Bombs on May 9th.

May is National Bike Month

We'll be celebrating bicycles all month long (and in particular at the end of the month with the Bicycle Film Festival in Memphis) there are certain things you can do to help promote cycling. The main thing being bike to work. Bike to Work Week is May 11-15 and National Bike to Work Day is Friday May 15th.


Visit the League of American Bicyclists for more info.

Bicycle Film Festival Sneak Peak!

The story of FBM.

I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes Trailer from BAD BREAKS on Vimeo.

So who has the new bike tag?

I found these in the parking lot at the Coliseum a few weeks ago. Anyone know what's up with them?

Call for Volunteers

Hey everybody! I am organizing the list for the volunteers who will be helping out at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art on Friday, May 29th for the Bicycle Film Festival. I am coordinating the Brooks' volunteers, but i wanted to make a whole list of anyone who will be volunteering that night. So, if you are interested in helpin' out, please lemme know. I made a short list of duties that need doin' so read on up. If you can think of any other ideas for things to do, drop me a line (email).


1. Bicycle Valet
2. Photography/Film
3. Directing Visitors
4. Greeters

Ya'll have a great week and thanks for everything in advance!

volunteercoordinator@brooksmuseum.org <---That's me!

Bikes and Bands not Bombs

Saturday, May 9th, 2009 @ Noon
A historical tour of downtown Memphis by bicycle led by Dr. Josh Gorman.

Ride will leave from noon sharp at Galloway/Lifelink Church.

$15 for the Bikes not Bombs event provides a t-shirt, spoke card, and schwag bag.

$25 covers the tour, admission to the Bands not Bombs event, a t-shirt, a spoke card and beer all day.

Please bring your bike, your helmet, and a water bottle. Ride will average 10 mph, or a “beginner’s pace.” Children 12 and under should be pulled in a trailer, a bike tag along, or placed in a child seat. No children under 16 should ride unless they are on an extra cycle or in a baby carrier (it will work better this way, though it may seem a little “discriminatory”)

Ride should be back by about 2 p.m. for Bands not Bombs Festival.

I'm sure Memphis was a runner-up...

There is a new list of cities who are getting noticed when it comes to bicycle friendliness and bike related activities. Although Portland and San Fran aren't on the list,(it's more for cities that are up and comers in the bike realm), there are 7 places that i now officially want to visit and my bike says she wants to go, too.

1.Albuquerque
2.Austin
3.Miami
4.Minneapolis
5.Montreal
6.Pittsburgh
7.Salt Lake City

Check out the entire article and a glossary of bike terms here: http://www.good.is/post/sorry-portland/?gt1=48001

BFF meeting tonight

Meeting tonight at Alona's house. We are getting close to show time and the festivities so it's time for the brass tacks. BYOB n' Snacks. 6:00 in the pm...be there.