FIX MEMPHIS

Memphis Bicycle - Bombay Bicycle Club

2012-02-01T16:18:00.001-06:00

This picture doesn't tell the whole story. For Crimma my mother gifted a book: "Cooper Young; A Community That Works" (in which our good friend Anthony Siracusa gets a favorable mention!) and after I read it it got me thinking of a neighborhood a little closer to me: Overton Square. It gets a few mentions in the CY History (as a place to come watch a man parachute from a hot air balloon) and I've heard Em's grandmother talk about Overton Square as the place to be when she was growing up. Then I stumbled upon this history of Overton Square and I was like woah! I remember TGI Fridays when the sidewalk area was glassed in - Ryan, Jay, Cliff, Kevin and I would grab some Sunday brunch to cure our Hi-Tone hangovers. Midtown Bikes was right next to Memphis Pizza Cafe and I remember when The Public Eye was torn down. But I really wish I could have gone to the Bombay Bicycle Club. I only know those little doors and that plaque.

But the Square is on the rise again with the help of Loeb Properties and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Alleycat Prizes

2012-02-01T10:34:00.000-06:00

Do you readers make, or know of anyone local that makes bicycle related products? I'd like to try to do a bunch of locally made products for prizes.

I've got some ideas knockin' round my noggin that I'm going to try to lay down before May.

Let me know in the comments or send and email: fixmemphis(@)yahoo.com. Thanks!

Levi's 511 Commuter Jean

2012-01-31T22:09:00.000-06:00

Levi's has for some time had a cycling oriented jean on the market: the 511 Commuter Jean. Features that set this jean apart from regular jeans: gusseted crotch, u-lock holster, and reflective interior seams that show when you roll up the pant leg. There are a few other features but those are the majors. Emily got me a pair of these jeans during the holidays. I'm particular about clothes, so I tried them on and liked the fit. I don't like super skinny jeans. I'm over that. I don't want people to know how many keys are on my key ring or what kind of phone I use. Maybe you think I'm getting fat? I like to think that my thigh muscles are getting bigger. I ride almost daily, after all.

Regardless, as with all Levi's I go as long as I can stand before washing, which in this case was about 3 to 4 weeks. Three to four weeks of commuting and working in a bike shop. So maybe I should have washed them earlier. But check this: they SHRANK when I washed them. My other Levi 511's never shrank. Now when I wear them I have this upside down triangle look to me. These things are just another pair of tights now.

The lesson: Don't Wash your Levi's. Ever. I think it's the real reason Febreeze was invented.

2011 East Bay Hills Mixed-Terrain Rally Cat Video

2012-01-29T19:06:00.000-06:00

2011 East Bay Hills Mixed-Terrain Rally Cat from Hans Kellner on Vimeo.

Searching the internet I came across this video at www.hanskellner.com

CX = Commuter Cross

2012-01-29T11:15:00.000-06:00

View Commuter Cross in a larger map

When I drove a car to work I got absolutely ill at the thought of taking the same roads everyday as I'm sure many others feel. No one wants to be a part of the "rat race." Aside from people yelling different slurs there isn't much to differentiate 4 years of bicycle commuting the same route. When it starts to feel monotonous I'll ride a different bike or switch up something on a bike, like handlebars or tires. When I switched from street tires to cyclocross tires on my Surly Steamroller it opened up a wider range of options, from variations on my existing route to new routes completely. It made commuting incredibly fun again. The downside to commuting on a single-speed when you're on pavement, gravel, grass, or singletrack is that there isn't a perfect gear ratio. I would either spin out on the pavement or be pushing too tough gears through the grass. This is the reason I got a Surly Cross-Check and built it up with SRAM Rival. Steel frame, tire clearance, 20 speeds. When I so desire (which is a lot) I'm able to choose a route that not only breaks the monotony but also shaves minutes from my commute, giving me a more "as the crow flies" route.

Here are some features on my commute:

View Commuter Cross in a larger map
Gravel road cut-through from Jefferson to Court.

View Commuter Cross in a larger map
Cobblestone breezeway. This and another set of cobblestones makes me feel all Paris-Roubaix in the morning.

View Commuter Cross in a larger map
The medians of East Parkway. If enough people rode/ran these urban greenscapes we could have a really nice long singletrack. You can see something similar along Southern at Audubon Park where years of Cross-Country practice has worn a path into the grass.

And those are just variations on my normal route. I find, though, that there is a huge span in the middle and end of my commute that is mostly or all pavement. It would be really cool if I could be off-road the entire or most of the commute. But not, like, riding in people's yards or anything. I'll see what I can do.

I Usually Yell, "WTF"

2012-01-27T17:49:00.003-06:00

I'm Guilty Of Saying Some Of This

2012-01-24T07:57:00.001-06:00

But I hear it more from other people's mouths.

What I really love is that it was posted by peopleforbikes.org. If you haven't signed the pledge, do so now.

I'm gonna go make sure my brakes aren't rubbing.

Hydrobikes For Sale!

2012-01-22T08:36:00.000-06:00

I promise we're not in Florida!

Schwinn Panther

2012-01-20T08:07:00.000-06:00

We walked into this little restaurant yesterday and this classic, original Schwinn Panther is displayed on the wall.

So many people have come into the shop with an old cruiser with a Schwinn headbadge and think they have something like this, even the ones that don't actually have a Schwinn headbadge! "Well my partner told me he heard of someone with this bike and they sold it for a hunnit thousand dollas!" I'm serious! Then I have to tell them that the Roadmaster in their hands isn't worth a hundred pennies and if they restored it it would be worth less than the parts and labor it cost to do the job.

Also, it's pronounced like win with a sh on the front; not shwine and there is not a single r in the word. Serious, again.

BTDubs, we're not in Florida.

To All The Girls

2012-01-17T21:51:00.000-06:00

Peddler Bike Shop is hosting another Ladies Night Out, an opportunity for women to gather, have some drinks and learn how to fix flat tires!

Emily and I had a conversation the other night about women's bikes vs. what women want in a bike. Emily's conclusion is that if there were bikes that were upright, could go anywhere, and colored pink or purple that they would sell like Pronto Pups!

Why don't you join the conversation and see if there's a perfect bike for you. Click the link above for the Facebook page and more info.

Things Are Tough All Over

2012-01-17T08:58:00.000-06:00

I just poached Kermit's flickr and couldn't help myself.

Peace, Y'all

2012-01-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

Untitled, a photo by fixmemphis on Flickr.

Safety first. Riding second.

New Bike Shoes!

2012-01-16T07:22:00.001-06:00

You know I'm big on riding in gum-sole wedges so here are my new Winter/Spring (and Summer, if they last that long) riding shoes!! ahhh they're so cute-and on sale!

you can buy them here.

Overton Park Web of Trails

2012-01-15T11:43:00.000-06:00

View Overton Park in a larger map

So I tried to avoid much of the OFT but even so, this isn't all of the trails. There is some pretty cool stuff to ride and see for a flat urban park.

More Neon!!

2012-01-14T20:15:00.001-06:00

Found This On My Way To Work

2012-01-14T08:58:00.002-06:00

Pretty cool. It's only worth about $10, though. Glad I had the Porteur rack.

Pret-A-Porteur

2012-01-13T21:01:00.000-06:00

A play on words - you might be familiar with the French phrase "pret-a-porter" which means "ready to wear" which makes this bike "ready to carry", not to be confused with "portage" which is a term for carrying the bike itself. Sadly I'm not the first to use "pret-a-porteur", TCB Racks out of Portland has a front rack called the "Pret a Porteur". Pretty sweet rack. But on to the bike! I built this at the request of my best man Ryan for his girl Jenny. It's an Italian Benotto frame (Italian BB with a heart cut out of the bottom) that I blindly threw a bunch of components at and this is what turned out:

The basket is removable for walking around the farmers market or grocery store.

The Velo Orange Milano handlebars give a nice sweep back to put you in a comfortable upright position.

It's a six speed so that should make things a bit easy on the legs.

Jenny gets back into town in a few weeks so we'll have to wait and see how she likes it.

Red Trail

2012-01-13T08:33:00.002-06:00

View Red Trail in a larger map
I went to this trail with plans to run it but my knee started hurting so I just walked it. It's a "new" trail so it's pretty tight. In the summer it will probably be pretty overgrown but hopefully it gets ridden enough that the trail gets worn in. There are a few felled trees that look passable on a mountain bike but on a cx bike will require some dismounts.

The Joy of the Internet: Bicycle Vanity

2012-01-12T19:19:00.007-06:00

Bicycle vanity can mean two things; always thinking about how cute you look on your cuter bike or this pretty thing:

I have been searching for inspiring house images for a makeover for our own home and came across this unique photo on Pinterest. Pinterest is basically twitter, but images only. This allows you to save paper by not ripping out pages of magazines, and rather "pinning" images you desire onto innumerable categories on your pinterest page. Happy decorating (and don't use this idea)!

If I Had A Dog

2012-01-12T17:41:00.000-06:00

We would kick it like this:

Em and I have been talking about a dog but I think we've shelved the idea. A cat is enough for us at the moment. The bike, the forthcoming Fairdale Weekender, looks pretty rad as well; disc brakes, 1X8 or 9, I think the swept back bars in the earlier post are better suited for the bike. Or maybe something with just a bit less sweep like the Surly Open Bar:

Gnome Home

2012-01-12T08:36:00.000-06:00

View Old Forest Trail in a larger map
So this is what I meant by "Get to "gnome" them." As you can tell from the photo below, Gnome Home is stop #13 on the Old Forest Trail. I suggest starting from the beginning and riding the whole trail to find the location.

I saw that Brett had posted a tentative schedule so I want to go ahead and get this on everyone's calendar. As for when you should expect a race: I'm thinking May 28th, Memorial Day. Hopefully most everyone has the day off of work or can get the day off. You got a problem with that?

Stolen Bikes Alert!

2012-01-11T15:04:00.001-06:00

Ty from Living Loud In Midtown just had two bikes stolen. Read about them at his blog and keep your eyes open for them!

http://livingloudinmidtown.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/stolen-bicycles/

Em's New Bike

2012-01-11T12:23:00.000-06:00

You might recognize some of these parts from the old pink Benotto. I bought this Bianchi the other day and have been aiming for a chance to build it up. Everything swapped over perfectly.

King headset and Shorty 6 brakes? Yep. So what kind of weird bottle cage is that? Glad you asked. It's the Ahearne Cycles Spaceman Bicycle Flask Holster!

Oh yes.

I'm Freaking On This Bike!

2012-01-10T22:08:00.001-06:00

It's so bright like a fishing lure! I want at least one bike like this! There's also a certain color scheme of the Project One Trek Madone that I find desirable. It kind of resembles these Nike's that I just got:

Maybe since I have the shoes I can hold off on the bike for awhile!

Lime Trail - Overton Park

2012-01-10T08:16:00.002-06:00

Obviously someone has been doing some trail maintenance in Overton Park, clearing and marking a small, fun loop on the North side of the park. I don't know if "Lime Trail" was the intentional name, I just did it because of the sign color. It joins the Old Forest Trail (OFT) as the only marked trails inside Overton Park, though there are plenty of offshoots that weave a web of unofficial trails. These trails are perfect for beginners as well as cyclocross. Get to "gnome" them.

View Lime Trail in a larger map

Cycle Memphis Video

2012-01-09T09:29:00.003-06:00

Danny Wilson posted a little edit of the Cycle Memphis January Ride on YouTube:

Time To Embarrass Anthony Siracusa

2012-01-08T11:45:00.002-06:00

The Cycle Memphis ride last night was well-attended and pretty easy in terms of SAG: no blowouts, only a slow leaked that had to be pumped twice before changing it at the halfway stop. A small audience watched as I demonstrated the proper way to effortlessly change a rear flat on a road bike. Afterwards we were talking about rim wall depth and difficulties with fixing flats and it reminded me of the Space Race Alleycat which had a flat-fixing checkpoint. To make the checkpoint a bit more challenging everyone had to change their rear tube. There are several people you would expect to be able to do this in no time at all but one person was having a particularly difficult time. That person is Anthony Siracusa:

The riders had already been to the top of a garage downtown, picked up a package and were now rolling up to the Pink Palace for the flat-fix checkpoint:

Anthony removes his rear wheel with the confidence of a trained mechanic:

The tube goes in the tire and the tire goes on the rim:

WTF Mate? It's leaking!:

Let's try this again:

Okay, count the number of tubes in this photo. One in the tire, 2 on the ground. Third time's a charm, right Anthony?

Okay, now you've got it. Load up that bag and rejoin the race, in which you've fallen considerably behind.

I think in a race some time after this one (maybe Memphis Downs?) Anthony flatted and just said "eff it!"

Sorry Anthony. You know I love you, brother. We'll do something in May so you can redeem yourself.

CX Nats 2012

2012-01-08T00:18:00.003-06:00

USACycling.org will be streaming live coverage of the 2012 Cyclocross National Championship Elite Womens and Mens races on Sunday, January 8th from Madison, Wisconsin. I tell ya, any city that has vending machines for cyclists KNOWS their bike stuff.

I don't think I've ever shown these on here. If I have I can't remember how I labeled them. The photos were taken in Madison, WI this past summer. You can't really tell from the photos but this was right outside of a bike shop. That's pretty handy, it lets mechanics focus on more involved repairs. Now imagine if these were at "destination" spots, i.e. FedEx Forum, Harbor Town, Shelby Farms, etc... where do you think a good place would be?

Okay, take a break from that thought and watch the Elite Nationals here: http://media.usacycling.org/2012CX-NatsStream.html Womens at 12PM and Mens at 2:15PM CST. Victory is betting on Compton and J-Pow. Compton sure, but is it time to discount 4-time Nats champ Ryan Trebon?

Someone should make a complete stats page for cyclists. People would visit it quite regularly and advertising would def pay for it. I want 51% of the profits, though: my idea.

Cycle Memphis Route Posted

2012-01-07T07:54:00.001-06:00

View Tonight's Route Looks like we're either going to Kosher Kroger or Whole Foods so if you need to pick up any groceries bring a backpack/bag/basket/trailer.

Em and I are pre-gaming at the Deli around 6:30.

Parting Is Such Sorrow

2012-01-06T23:53:00.001-06:00

It's time to thin the herd... some more. This Gitane is sparkly green, approximately 57cm, and made from unbeatably comfortable steel. The headset, crankset, and bottom bracket are all from Stronglight and in wonderful shape as this bike really only gets ridden 2 - 3 times a year for Tweed Rides or tune-ups. MKS pedals with double leather straps securely hold your Oxfords while the Nitto handlebars have enough backsweep to keep you comfortable. You'll prob want to change the Ideale saddle, though, as it's less than, er, ideal. I've carried the light blue accents on the decals over to chain and tires, which wrap some Mavic Open Sport 700x23's. There is not a lot of clearance in the fork and stays but I've managed hybrid 28's. It's seen a few variations and I'm including two extra handlebars. The first are traditional road drops with the original, quite stunning stem, the other some track drops with light blue grips. I'm offering it local for a week or two (check out that original Memphis Hightailers sticker!) then it's going up on the bay. Price: $350

More pictures on the Gitane Flickr Set. Low light, bad photos, blah, blah, blah.

This One's For Doug

2012-01-06T21:55:00.000-06:00

You Look Better In A Helmet

2012-01-05T23:05:00.000-06:00

Cycle Memphis

2012-01-04T09:32:00.001-06:00

Dress Warm! I'll carry some extra layers in the trailer.

Follow The Arrows

2012-01-01T10:30:00.000-06:00

Formerly the British Television Advertising Awards, or BTAA's, the Arrows are jolly good fun. Lets take a pedal over to the Brooks Museum on January 26th and engage in some of this fun ourselves, shall we?

You'll recognize the song and you'll recognize (should recognize) the clips, but this was never a real commercial, though it seems like a natural fit, doesn't it?

More information here.

More Surly Love

2011-12-22T07:44:00.000-06:00

Too much fun!

I'm not sure that there is another bike company out there that has quite the cult surrounding it as Surly.

The Ring

2011-12-19T22:32:00.000-06:00

John: So is your left hand heavier, now?
Me: No, it's titanium, it's super light.
John: You really are a bike nerd.

Porteur-roller

2011-12-18T12:58:00.000-06:00

Installed

2011-12-14T19:11:00.000-06:00

The Gamoh Porteur Front Bike Rack

Installed it on the Surly Steamroller (after switching out the front fork for a Cross Check fork and mounting some Avid Shorty 4's and an extra long link wire to fit over the mounting bracket) the other day. Today was the first day I got to ride, loading up 30 records for sale at Shangri-La, then later a quick trip to the grocery store for dinner items. Of course we utilized the Madison Ave. bike lanes and Em (my wife) felt very safe and loved them. From our counter-top lunch perspective at Kwik Chek we saw several people ride by (Cara and Don).

Pictures soon.

Starry Nights Holiday Bicycle Recycle Bike Giveaway

2011-12-13T21:51:00.000-06:00

For the past few weeks several fellows from Peddler Bike Shop, Cirque du Velos and Shelby Farms Park have been tuning up bicycles at Revolutions Community Bike Shop to give to bicycles to 21 children from the YMCA.

There are still a few days to help out:

Build – December 14 (Wednesday) 6:30pm-8:30pm

Teach – December 15 (Thursday) 3:30pm-5:00pm

Build – December 15 (Thursday) 6:30pm-8:30pm

Build – December 17 (Saturday) 8:00am-12:00pm

Build – December 18 (Sunday) 2:00pm-5:00pm

The official giveaway will take place this Monday, December 19 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Shelby Farms Park Starry Nights. If you can't make it for the giveaway, join us at Peddler Bike Shop at 6:15 for a group ride out to Starry Nights via the Greenline. Be sure to bring $5 for the entry fee, cash only at the gate!

Bike Smut

2011-12-05T17:01:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you remember Confessions of a Pedalphile which took home several awards at last May's Bikesploitation. Yes, you do, because it's damn funny. Well the gents from Corduroy Wednesday are bringing another bike related film festival to town this Thursday, December 8th: Bike Smut.

Bike Smut
Five in One
423 North Watkins
8pm Doors, 9:30 Show
$5 Donation

Tell me how it goes!

Saturday Morning Video

2011-12-03T08:36:00.000-06:00

Emily and I are getting married today!

Abandoned Bike

2011-11-30T08:17:00.000-06:00

I thought that this was just one of those quintessential Southern scenes.

Starry Nights 2011

2011-11-29T08:59:00.000-06:00

Starry Nights, the annual holiday light display in Shelby Farms Park opened last night. At least, I'm assuming it opened. I didn't go because of the rain. Every Monday is run, walk, or bike night; no cars allowed. Last year was a nice display and I'm looking forward to a nice cold ride through the park this year. Get ticket prices and more info here.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-11-26T07:55:00.000-06:00

Oregon Manifest 2011 Constructors' Show from oregon manifest on Vimeo.

A rear rack that folds over to form a sidecar? OMFG!

Abandoned Bike

2011-11-20T10:45:00.001-06:00

This would make a really great Tweed Ride bike, if someone were so inclined.

Smart City Memphis Rides the Bike Lanes

2011-11-17T18:17:00.001-06:00

Smart City Memphis has posted some in depth, informative articles on bicycle infrastructure. Go here and read them, leave a comment if you feel so inclined. You definitely won't have to wade through any "cyclists should register their bikes" or "stay on the sidewalks" type of comments you see on The Commercial Appeal and Memphis Flyer websites.

Bike Walk Tennessee

2011-11-07T07:54:00.000-06:00

Bike Walk Tennessee, a statewide organization of bicycle and pedestrian advocates held its annual board meeting in Memphis this past weekend. While the meeting was not open to the public there was a meet & greet session which I attended and which was rather informative. You might think that we have enough issues to deal with in Memphis so why should we care about the rest of the state? Think of it like the wheel of a bicycle: you and I are the rim; we're touching the ground, seeing everything that is happening and translating our desires to those who have taken it upon themselves to head up local organizations like Outdoor Chattanooga and Livable Memphis, or the spokes. They then pool their efforts at the hub, or Bike Walk Tennessee, to get bills introduced into laws that say we don't have to sit around at red lights waiting for them to change if there are no cars coming. Or the new "Due Care Law" which jumps the penalty of hitting a cyclist from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor, or $50 to $500, and up to a year in jail for killing a cyclist. The author of that bill? Memphis's own Mark Hicks:

The new law took effect on July 1st of 2011, so the guy from this video who was so worried about his truck will see a stiffer penalty.

After the meet & greet we took a ride to show some off some of the Memphis facilities: the crossing light at the Greenline and Highland, our rebel bike lanes on Broad, our real bike lanes on North Parkway, the Harahan Bridge (and a quick beer at Martyr's Park) and the repaved Madison Avenue to finish up with more beer at Bosco's where Dr. Spaceman sat next to us. Here's our route, it stops at Martyr's because my phone battery was like weahhhh:

View Memphis Bike Facility Tour in a larger map

Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

2011-11-06T09:02:00.000-06:00

Do you remember all of those surveys you took and meetings you attended earlier this summer? Well, the MPO has posted the updated bike/ped plan for public review at http://memphismpo.org. Take a few minutes and check it out.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-11-05T08:33:00.000-05:00

Self-Reliance Grows in the Utrecht Traffic Garden from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Cycle Memphis 5.0

2011-11-04T20:26:00.001-05:00

I should be around for this one.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-10-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, the relevant part of this video is that 3 years ago we (Citizens of the USA) were in the same energy crisis that we are in today. The non-relevant part is that I had an Aerospoke front wheel.

Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop from Revolutions on Vimeo.

Chrome Midway Pro

2011-10-28T08:45:00.000-05:00

On our recent trip to Chicago I stumbled upon the Chrome boutique in Wicker Park. I really hadn't planned on buying a new bag but I figured I'd go in and take a look. We skipped past the bags and headed right for the shoes. Now I definitely don't have as many shoes as Em but I have quite a few. Several friends have some Chrome shoes and they like them but I was interested in the SPD compatible models. Until now I would wear my cycling shoes and carry a pair of regular shoes in my backpack and I'm always looking for a way to reduce the amount of stuff I need to carry. I opted for the Midway Pro, a mid-top shoe that will give me a bit of ankle support and also be a good winter shoe.

My first ride was pretty positive. The cleat bridge is pushed more forward than my other shoes so I had to make some adjustments mid commute but after that I was on the ball again and riding comfortably. The next morning I was a little flustered when my cleat released as I was taking off from the light at Cooper and Union. Thinking that it was just a fluke I tried to purposefully pull out from that spot again and I hit my knee on my handlebar! Now I was hurt and frustrated. I took it easy the rest of my commute. I know that I can put a shim under the cleat to improve the cleat/pedal interface but that would negate the purpose of having an SPD street shoe - the cleats should not contact the ground when I'm walking around.

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Anyone else with these shoes experiencing this same issue? Solved this issue? I'm going to keep riding them because they still do their job; maybe they will improve with wear?

Tool de France

2011-10-27T08:40:00.000-05:00

From the same crew that brings you custom painted Surly's. I think I need to visit Japan.

The Next Level

2011-10-25T21:00:00.001-05:00

I started the bike rack map as a way to showcase the artistic racks found around town as well as give people an idea of the plethora of places to which one can ride a bike. It's been a tremendous project and one that has been a lot of fun; after all, I get to ride my bike and take pictures, two things I really enjoy.

If this sounds like I'm stopping the project then I've got you fooled. What's happening is that the City of Memphis is taking over the project; building upon what I've started!

It's a big project. Believe me, I've been doing it for a while by myself. For this phase, though, the City is seeking volunteers to help with the project. Per an email from Kyle Wagenschutz:

If you are interested in becoming part of a team of volunteers that will be working to locate, map, and document the current availability of bicycle parking in the City of Memphis, please consider meeting with us on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 from 5:30pm-6:30pm at Republic Coffee, 2924 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38111 (in the back meeting room). Please respond to kyle.wagenschutz@memphistn.gov to RSVP your attendance.

Hope to see you there!

Memphis Pedicab Company

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

There's a new startup that's servicing downtown: Memphis Pedicab Company. The intent is to provide downtown workers an easier way to travel across downtown in a door-to-door fashion. They're posting pictures on their facebook and the people look like they've just won Cash Cab! That may be because the rides are FREE! The drivers work for tips!

There has been a pedicab company in Memphis before, as Paul Ryburn remembers and this Daily News article from 1998 but per my emails with MPC (this might not work: MPC is my abbreviation for Memphis Pizza Cafe.) it is not the same company. I'm with Paul in hoping that they stick around.

Think you'd like to try your pedal mettle? Contact MPC through this craigslist ad: http://memphis.craigslist.org/lab/2630237057.html.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-10-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

2010 Arkansas Cyclocross Series Episode 2: Memphis from Bully Otter Sports on Vimeo.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-10-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

Become a co-director!

Mobile Music Machine

2011-10-14T12:08:00.000-05:00

Live From Memphis, with the help of the National Ornamental Metal Museum and Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop has built a bicycle with a stage! They've taken it out for a test ride or two and tonight they will be riding around downtown with local musician Grace Askew performing. Ride-alongs are encouraged!

Check the pictures here.

Hey Man, You're Missed!

2011-10-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

Man on bike - m4m - 31 (Midtown)

Date: 2011-10-09, 4:24PM CDT
Reply to:
Reply To This Post

Hey man, I was in a parking lot when you rode by. I pulled up next to you and we agreed to meet back at the store in 30 to 40 minutes. What happened? I want to meet you

Location: Midtown
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 2641041476

Broad Avenue Art Walk

2011-10-13T10:00:00.000-05:00

Friday marks the 6th annual Broad Avenue Art Walk. Last years Art Walk was a pretty awesome affair with us having a bike shop set up. This year Victory Bicycle Studio is moving to Broad Ave but the actual move is planned for the Monday/Tuesday after the Art Walk so there won't be a bike shop set up. But that doesn't mean there won't be anything bike related happening. Nathan Berry will have an exhibit of cyclists in casual attire and I'm sure there will be lots of other artists with bike-themed pieces. Take a look at the website for more info.

Greenline Missed Connection

2011-10-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've totally been waiting for someone to post a Greenline Missed Connection. I was hoping for it to be two strangers passing on bikes but I'll settle for one on a bike and one walking, so here it is:

Beautiful girl on the Greenline - m4w - 35 (germantown)

Date: 2011-10-01, 9:11PM CDT
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I was riding a filthy bike across the bridge in haste to get to ride some trails at shelby farms and I came across you walking your dog and taking photographs. I'm reallly shy so when I rode up to you, I spent most of the time, talking to your dog and smiling...sorry, but you were too pretty for me to just open up an impromptu conversation with. If you would like to catch up on that conversation we could have had, please let me know. I'll buy the drinks, and you just e-mail me back with the color of my jersey in the subject line...

Location: germantown
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Cyclocrunk Charging $15

2011-10-12T10:44:00.001-05:00

As a testament to its appeal the producers of Cyclocrunk have upped the entry fee from $7 to $15 this year. Why the increase? Insurance. The Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association (TBRA) is covering the race so that also means you need a race license. If you don't have a race license, you can purchase one at the event for $5.

In addition to being insured I've been told that there will also be another surprise. We'll just have to wait until tonight so find out what that surprise is.

Madison Avenue Repaving Begins

2011-10-10T19:34:00.000-05:00

I wanted to post this picture this morning but I was having L-USER problems. So now that I'm not on a phone...

No word yet on what striping option Mayor AC Wharton has decided to pursue.

Riding home on broken pavement was quite fun, though.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-10-08T07:56:00.000-05:00

Cyclocrunk

2011-10-07T08:33:00.001-05:00

Cyclocrunk dates have been posted! This year the crunk will take place on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays. Click the link for all the details!

Different Day, Different Route 4

2011-10-03T19:15:00.001-05:00

View Commute Day 4 in a larger map

Different Day, Different Route 3

2011-10-02T19:13:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you skip class.

Different Day, Different Route 2

2011-10-01T18:15:00.001-05:00

View Commute Day 2 in a larger map

Saturday Morning Video

2011-10-01T08:26:00.000-05:00

This was 10 years ago:

Different Day, Different Route

2011-09-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

For the next few days I'll be posting different routes from Midtown to Campus which will culminate with the Bike To Campus Day. (Of course if I had multiple places to stay I would post routes from various places around town.)

View Commute Day 1 in a larger map

Memphis Bicycle - La baguette

2011-09-28T16:56:00.001-05:00

La baguette, a photo by fixmemphis on Flickr.

Cycle Memphis 4.0

2011-09-28T07:49:00.000-05:00

Click pic to be taken to the facebook page.

Oregon Manifest 2011

2011-09-24T21:47:00.002-05:00

The Oregon Manifest, for those unfamiliar with the event, is "(a) design/build competition to create the ultimate modern utility bike", or in other words, a commuters candy store! Custom made bikes, fenders and bags! Can I get an "Oh my!"

Unfortunately for me, as the name suggests, the event takes place in Oregon. But that doesn't mean we can't look at lots of pictures taken by Jonathan Maus of http://bikeportland.org/:

Sidecar! It looks like it's mostly for ice/beer or well, why would you want to put anything else in there?

This is what I'm talking about: 2 Flasks! One for gin, one for vermouth, and the olive jar in the bag!

Okay, besides booze, let's see what else we can carry. As part of this years event three well-known builders teamed up with three design firms to come up with some treats. View them all here and click on each one to see their diary of their builds. My favorite:

Part of the event is a ride challenge where builders or selected riders take their designs and put them to a true test: 51 miles of varied terrain! While some of the designs had really cool integrated features I feel they wouldn't last a good 51 miles, but then, how many of us ride 51 miles on our daily errands?

View the rest of the flickr set and be sure to read the articles on bikeportland.org

Saturday Morning Video

2011-09-24T08:23:00.000-05:00

Commutication Breakdown from Sim-1 on Vimeo.

Back To School

2011-09-23T20:34:00.000-05:00

The University of Memphis is hosting their second environmentally conscious day. In conjunction with this, Economics Prof. Doug Campbell will be leading a ride from the First Congo parking lot to campus. I'm no longer in school but I work right there so I'm planning on joining this ride and I hope more people will as well. Get more info on the Facebook page.

Grocery Outfits

2011-09-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Let's hope that nobody gets any ideas to go shopping like this for the hell of it!

Schnucks-Salt/Pepper hair bike shorts - 28 (Memphis)

Date: 2011-09-09, 8:06PM CDT
Reply to:

Looking for the good looking guy in Schnuck's off Poplar around 730 tonight. You had S&P hair wore black bike shorts...very good looking! Hit me up if you get this, and if your interested!

Location: Memphis
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Proof - Everyone Loves Portraits

2011-09-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

More of this, please, adamhite. Plus bikes.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-09-17T08:38:00.000-05:00

CLINIC from SuperLuminal Films on Vimeo.

Reverberation

2011-09-16T08:48:00.000-05:00

My first bicycle helmet was a Giro. After wearing it one time it ended up on a shelf and collected cobwebs. It looked like this: a styrofoam beer cooler with a lycra cover. I remember trying to figure out which direction was the front. Of course my mom got it for me, but that wasn't the kind of helmet that Cru Jones wore at Hell Track so I ditched it. I'm sure a lot of people have a similar story. Maybe they actually wore theirs.

Lots of people think they look like a mushroom in a bicycle helmet. (Though we all know you'd look hotter in a helmet. I'd like to see a new ad campaign featuring two pictures side-by-side. First picture of a busted-up face, second picture done-up all proper with a helmet.) Some don't like the aerodynamic look and crucial ventilation of modern helmets, opting instead for a skate-style helmet. Over the years the options in that style of helmet have increased considerably. Companies like Bern, Nutcase and even Giro themselves have had a skate dome-style design in multiple color and graphic choices, some of which have a built-in visor. One problem I've seen with several of these helmets is that they are rather large and some don't have the adjustability of modern helmets. Not to mention the weight!

I'm sure Giro had gotten much of the same feedback so they produced a new helmet for 2012: the Reverb.

From Giro:
Smooth, simple style with the comfort and convenience riders need for life on the roll. The Reverb’s light, cool feel is matched with a tough In-mold shell that resists dents and dings, and a self-adjusting Auto Loc™ fit system allows you to slip into the helmet quickly and securely without extra adjustments – even when wearing a cycling cap. A wide range of colors are available to fit any style, and the removable cap-style cotton visor offers a bit of shade without compromising the cooling flow of air through the helmet on warm, sunny days.

Pretty cool, eh? It uses the same retention strap as the Prolight. It's essentially a piece of elastic attached to the chin-straps which have just enough adjustment. This means that not only is it a sleeker, better ventilated dome-style helmet but it's also light weight. And several of the colors take cues from those first Giro helmets; the same way that fashion often reverberates (yeah, I said that.) through the decades.

And speaking of the other colors, as I was checking out the catalog I noticed that two of the helmets have a very familiar name associated with them: Sasha Barr. Maybe you know him? You've probably seen some of his work at Sub Pop or Chocolate Skateboards. You've almost definitely seen the Revolutions logo. His portfolio can be seen at thisisthenewyear.com. He's been sending graphics to Giro who put them on the Reverb. From the catalog and website you can't really see his designs so I bothered the crap out of him and he sent me these photos. Remember, exclusive content:

Sasha was kind enough to give a history lesson and let us know his thoughts on Memphis:

-You were part of the original thursday night ride crew, correct?
Correct. OG Thursday Night Ride

-When did that start and what was the catalyst?
Geez, I don't know if I can pinpoint the exact year, but I'd guess between 2002-2003. We'd have to confer with Jon Driskell and Anthony Siracusa. The three of us have been friends and riding buds since we met around 2000/2001, and somewhere early on we all got too busy with either relationships or work to find the time to ride our bikes together. I believe the Thursday night ride started as a Tuesday night thing, just one night a week where the three of us would devote time to hang out. We'd ride around town or just sit on a porch and catch up. Eventually Matt Cole and I started living together and he'd start coming on the rides, then folks from Outdoors started joining, then folks from Revolutions, and it just grew from there. I guess sometime it became Thursday nights, but I can't remember when. 2006-2007 were the "glory" years for me(I moved in 2007), where it really took off. That's when it really picked up momentum as a community thing and lots of people were hearing about it and joining in. Adventurous crews of 20-30+ people just down to hang out and ride around any time of the year. Good people and good memories for sure. I hear there's some people still doing the Thursday night thing, and I'm glad someone's out there holding the torch. Hopefully it will remain a Memphis tradition for a while.

-Do you still have your "faggots night out" spoke card?
Of course. I took if off my bike not too long after moving out here, I didn't want to come find my bike all beat to hell on the sidewalk somewhere. For those of us who were around for it, we know it's not about anything hateful, but to the random passer by I could see it stirring up some anger. That spoke card, to me at least, really represents a fairly normal part of Southern America. "Faggots Night Out" came from the Thursday night rides, when some random dude in a giant pickup truck yelled at us when were rolling down Front street, "What is it, faggots night out?" And then someone else yelled it at us again a week or so later. Might of been the same dude, I don't know. Either way, that's the South for you. Of course, a bunch of people riding bikes, it's totally Faggots Night Out. To me, it's hilarious. Thanks to Josh Gorman for putting that on a spoke card.

-You visited memphis a few weeks ago. How has the bike scene changed since you moved away?
Since I was staying with Anthony, our only mode of transportation was via bike. The one thing that stood out to me was how much I enjoyed riding a bike in Memphis. The streets are big and wide, there's hardly anyone on them, and everything is so flat. I know everyone is working super hard in Memphis to get bike lanes and awareness, but I gotta say, there's nothing better than riding around Memphis through the neighborhoods. It's a rad place to ride. Once you get all the neighborhoods figured out you almost never have to commute on the busy streets. The one thing that stands out most in my mind about Memphis is how much I truly miss riding my bike there. All the old routes through Chickasaw Gardens or Evergreen or Linden to downtown or midnight ride through Overton Park or just cruising down Harbert.... Good stuff.

-Does the black hole theory apply to you; do you think you'll ever move back?
I honestly have no idea. I've found I'm the kind of guy who really likes having a job, and to be honest there's just not many options for me in Memphis. I really like my job here, so until I get fired or they go out of business, I'm sticking around Seattle. Plus Seattle and the Northwest is an incredible place to be. It's taken me about 4 years to get settled here, so I gotta stay the course! The main lame thing is I'll never be able to buy a home here, but I actually have a pretty incredible rental home with a whole street full of amazing neighbors and a rad landlord, so I'm not really concerned with owning any time soon. Seattle also has like 20 incredible skateparks, which the South can't really shake a stick at(Although I'm stoked on Tobey Park). I didn't leave Memphis because I hated it, I just wanted to try something different. I feel incredibly lucky to have found the things I've found here in Seattle, so for now I'm just doing Seattle. I think about Memphis/ TN stuff all the time. Even though I grew up outside of Nashville, I initially tell most people I meet that I'm from Memphis. Memphis is a big part of who I am.

-Do you use a bike as your main transportation in seattle?
When I was still living in Memphis, I'd say I went most places every day by bike. Upon moving to Seattle, a place when compared to the South is very bike friendly, I find I ride my bike rarely. Here I just walk or take the bus, both things you can't really do comfortably in Memphis. My commute from home to work is only about 4 miles and I ride to work on occasion, but to be honest it's not a fun ride. Even with bike lanes it's nerve wracking- tons of traffic, parked cars, skinny streets, spandex warriors racing you... someone actually got hit and died on my work route while I was visiting TN. Even with all the bikes lanes and bike awareness, there's still plenty of people driving cars that will run you over either maliciously or because they're not paying attention. The last time I rode to work a guy in an SUV literally almost ran me over as he swerved in to the bike lane to go around another car. I punched the back of his car, but he had no idea I was there. If I hadn't of been paying attention, I would of been under that dude's tires. I'm just trying to have a good time and get to work, I'm not trying to stress out at 8 am. I'll ride my Bennotto(my fixed gear) around our neighborhood for little errands, or to a park, or on any of the really amazing paved bike trails, I just don't like commuting here. I typically just take the bus to work. Lame, I know.
My girlfriend Meagan actually commutes by bike everyday, though. She works a couple miles from the house and can use this amazing paved bike path along the water as her commute to work. I got Mike Crum to build her a frame earlier this year, it turned out to be a really nice bike. Thanks, Mike.

-What does memphis lack in its bike scene, like what would entice you or creative professionals like you to move back (besides a helmet law)?
I can't really say about the bike scene, it seems to me to be the same as it's always been. But I'm not totally in touch. Seems like there's always been people on bikes in Memphis, maybe in the last number of years the people are finally starting to get together and communicate, which is a good thing. I remember back in 2000 or 2001 when people from Decleyre and wherever tried a few Critical Mass rides down Union. People have been trying to get noticed on bikes for as long as I can remember. Folks like Anthony and Kyle are obviously fighting super hard for more awareness, and that's amazing. It seems like in that regard things are changing for the better. They're getting the attention it needs.
I think I would just have to be done with the Northwest to consider moving back. I got no hard feelings about the South, I'm just doing my thing up here for a while.That's great. Thanks to Sasha Barr and Giro!

Cooper Young Festival

2011-09-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Cooper-Young Festival is this Saturday. They tried to get valet bicycle parking but weren't successful as far as I know (nothing about it on their website or posters) which is upsetting. I'm sure many attendees will opt for the convenience of a bicycle versus the hassle of trying to find a parking space/paying to park in someone's yard. But maneuvering through a crowd with a bicycle isn't very fun. Last year I re-routed my commute home through the festival. While it was great to see my friends operating their booths and I looked super bad-ass with a bicycle and it was 6:00PM (an hour before the festival ends) I still had to be very careful. I can only imagine what it will be like at peak hour with 120,000 humans milling about.

So park your bike. CY has several ginkgo-shaped bicycle racks that will be situated behind the vendor booths; that's if you can get to one. The picture above is actually a bike rack as well, located before the Art Trestle, behind Toad Hall Antiques. I suspect that there will be more bikes than available bicycle racks so Tamara Cook, CYBA Director suggests locking up to the long fence right after the Art Trestle:

View Larger Map

That would make a pretty sweet picture, bicycles lined up for half of a block. Or some enterprising CY resident might just allocate their yard to bicycle parking instead of car parking (Doug? Ryan?). It would also be cool to get a picture of everyone with their bike and see the different frame styles, colors, tire choices, bag/basket options...

Okay, sorry for nerding up on you right there but maybe you agree: everyone loves looking at pictures of themselves (you do. You get excited when someone tags you on facebook) and everyone loves their bicycle (there's probably just one other thing that you'll get as "familiar" with as your bicycle) so combine the two. Maybe we'll do this at our upcoming alleycat(?).

So back to bags and baskets. You'll need something with which to carry all the goodies you'll score. Like this (the real reason for this post); the best thing ever purchased by anyone ever at the Cooper Young Festival. This has been with me for about 11 years:

Definitely click for larger images. It's too small for me now so Em gets to be amazing. Trust me, it was difficult for me to let her wear it but that's what you do when you love someone: you give them your favorite T-shirts.

Cyclocross Season Begins

2011-09-14T08:26:00.001-05:00

People have been packing their portable barriers into their backpacks, gluing tubulars, practicing their dismounts, and marking their calendars. According to the TBRA the first points race is going down in Unicoi, TN and brought to you by MSG Cyclocross.

There are 12 points races on the calendar this year, 3 of which take place in Memphis! There are a total of 31 scheduled races, though, 10 of them in Knoxville. So we're not necessarily the hotbed of cyclocross racing for Tennessee. But those are just the races that have paid the $50 calendar fee, so you won't see Cyclocrunk up there. (The dates have not yet been released but the promoters are working on the 2011 website. Photos from previous years can be found on their flickr.)

You will see a race in Covington, TN, the City of Covington BBQ Festival CX. My friend Greg is promoting this one and it sounds like it will be great! Check out the course map here.

And please, this year, more beer handups!

Saturday Morning Video

2011-09-10T08:49:00.000-05:00

I think someone is trying to sell one of these on craigslist.

Tandem Bicycle

2011-09-08T16:55:00.000-05:00

Runs On Fat

2011-09-08T08:14:00.000-05:00

Source: stumbleupon.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Customize Your BMX

2011-09-07T09:51:00.000-05:00

I came across this website which allows you to custom color a BMX bike. This isn't some Republic-Bikes-choose-from-these-5-colors type of customization. Full color charts on everything from the spokes to the bar end plugs!

http://bmxcolor.narod.ru/

The bad part about it is that you can't order the bike once you've designed it. You can, however, order a custom painted carbon fiber Trek Madone through their Project One Website and even get some Nike's to match through the NikeID Website.

Cycle Memphis 3.0

2011-09-06T13:15:00.000-05:00

The third Cycle Memphis ride is taking place Saturday night, September 10th. Details can be found on the Facebook Page

UPDATE: Route Posted!

Rapha Super Cross Series 2011

2011-09-05T11:48:00.001-05:00

Rapha has set up a series of cross races across the pond that will bring a more festival atmosphere to the races. Click the banner for all the deets. My favorite has to be the Tequila Shortcut!

More: http://rapha-focus.cx/

Stay Dry Out There

2011-09-04T12:53:00.002-05:00

Zodiac Bicycle

2011-09-04T06:25:00.000-05:00

I'm "The Agitator", Em is "The Contrarian", though she prefers process #2, so she's "The Mudder"!

Saturday Morning Video

2011-09-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

You practicing those dismounts?

Rally for Great Streets - Today

2011-09-02T07:43:00.001-05:00

From Revolutions:

Friday September 2, 2011

Bicyclists meet at Overton Square parking lot at 11:45am to ride downtown as a group or Rally in front of City Hall at 12:30pm. This is a great opportunity to show the mayor what we think should happen with our city streets.

www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=210491899006216
www.madisonbikelanes.com
www.madisonavenuememphis.com

From the facebook count 165 people have signed up to ride!

Missed Connections Bicycle Style

2011-09-02T06:39:00.000-05:00

The most anyone has ever yelled at me while riding is "Get a drivers license!" I have one by the way. But it looks like someone out there is yelling nice things at cyclists:

Ride my bike - m4w

Date: 2011-08-26, 12:53PM CDT
Reply to:

Last Friday morning 8/19 you yelled at me and said "I want to ride your bike". You were in a silver Toyota, I think. Would like to meet you. If you see this. What did you tell me you had?

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Slider Inn Bicycle Rack

2011-09-01T18:09:00.000-05:00

Slider Inn is a new restaurant recently opened in Midtown that serves tiny burgers. As we rode into the parking lot to lock up at their bike rack I caught a flat. Not just a regular flat, but a tire slashing, hafta put a dollar bill between the tube and tire type of flat. Once that was fixed we went in and cooled off with a cold beer and ordered some tiny burgers and sandwiches (they also have mini chicken sandwiches). Best part: spicy mayonnaise. Post cyclocross races: beer, frites, and spicy mayo.

Here's how it racks up:

Form - Standard
Function - Pass
Environment - Doesn't match but does have its own dedicated space.
Points of Interest - Slider Inn

Memphis Tricycle

2011-09-01T16:48:00.000-05:00

This street sign catches my eye every time I pass. It's on Evelyn, down the street from Black Lodge Video.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-08-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Lumberjack Rollers.

Memphis Bicycle - Rhodes Campus

2011-08-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

Metrocycles

2011-08-24T08:50:00.000-05:00

Metrocycles is a custom t-shirt company that incorporates a bicycle into city and state names. I spotted this on Urban Velo and when they didn't have Pittsburgh I thought for sure that they wouldn't have Memphis, but they do! Well, not as a t-shirt but as an oval sticker. I'm sure the t-shirts won't be difficult though.

Midnight Classic Jersey Making Party

2011-08-22T07:53:00.000-05:00

A couple of people are getting together this Friday night, the night before the Midnight Classic, to DIY some t-shirts to wear at said Midnight Classic. I've always loved screening my own t-shirts so I'm gonna try to make it over to this.

Here's the Facebook.

Start 'Em Young

2011-08-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

Owen Kennedy: Future Bicycle Polo All Star

Don't forget that Polo is tonight at Bluff City Sports.

Saturday Morning Video

2011-08-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

Nice Ride MN: Minnesota's Bike Share Expands from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Nice Ride is a bike share program in Minneapolis. Really cool at 1:55, putting the station on the street in front of a cafe patio so the patrons don't have to smell car exhaust. What if the Young Avenue Deli was like this? No loud Harley's either.