Bicycle Race Tailgating

So much stuff has been happening lately (filming, Passover(s), Paris Roubaix, working like crazy busy) that it will be nice to take a minute and relax. Last year's Tiger Lane Crit Series was incredibly fun, filled with awesome bicycles and great beer; not to mention Trek LiveSTRONG U23 rider Nathan Brown putting the hurt on the 1,2,3's!

This year I'm going to finalize a comprehensive plan for bicycle race tailgating consisting of six main elements (this list actually started with 4, so if I add elements as the race draws closer don't be surprised.):

1. Bicycle
2. Trailer
3. Cooler
4. Beer
5. Water
6. Chairs

Those are the essentials. There may be another element: grill. (See, I'm already starting to add stuff) That would open up several options for food but I'm kinda thinking a 1/2 and 1/2 slab from Central BBQ, a wholly Memphis way to enjoy a race.

If I Had A Dog

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:

Grocery Getters

There has been some recent hullabaloo in regards to the Memphis Farmers Market's recent institution of a voucher program. It seems that some people are having issues with the new program and the amount of people it is attracting. One patron experienced "Problems getting into and out if [sic] the parking lot from people stopping their vehicles to let someone off or pick them up..."

I've said before that one of the advantages to riding a bicycle is front-door parking and it just so happens that there are 3 bicycle racks located at the Powerhouse: 1 here, 2 here. That's 36 bikes that can be parked right at the "front door", closer than you can get in a car! The possibility of those racks becoming full is a dream for the future but in case it does happen, there are three other bicycle racks within walking distance of the market: here, here, and here.

Now that we've solved WHERE to park your bike, let's get your groceries back home safely.

If you're single or not very hungry a simple basket may be the best option for you. There is a copious amount of baskets out there. Here are several options for a variety of budgets:

The Wald Basket #135 is sized at 14x9x9, appropriately sized for a grocery bag and priced at $25. This model bolts to the handlebars and axle giving ample support for your heavy items. I hear watermelon is in season!




The Sunlite Liftoff Front Basket is for those who don't want to keep the basket on the bike all the time. The handle also makes it easy to carry it around the farmers market so you have a place to put your tomatoes and eggplants. The liftoff basket is priced at $15 and is about the same size but won't carry the same amount of weight as the bolt-on basket.



The Minoura King Carrier is the front basket for those aiming to keep some style to their ride. Wooden slats grace this welded steel rack that is slightly larger than the previous baskets and has a weight limit of 40 lbs. These extras add up, though: pricing is at $130. All of these baskets can be obtained through your LBS (Local Bicycle Shop).



There are some of us who can't fit enough groceries in a basket. That's where the trailer comes in handy.

Most of you know I have a BOB trailer that I find very useful. It's been to the MFM and laden with 3 blueberry bushes. Mostly it just goes to Schnucks because Em and I are at work on Saturdays. For the 4th I fit a cooler full of ice, beer and pasta salad in the trailer and hauled around midtown. I opted for the single rear wheel design because it tracks behind the bicycle better and doesn't affect my turning. This is the BOB Yak with Drysac which retails at about $359.

The Burley Nomad is a two wheel design trailer that can haul up to 100 lbs. whereas the BOB is rated for 85 lbs. The Nomad pictured here has a cousin in the Burley Flatbed, which is the Nomad sans cover. Another advantage to the Burley is that it disassembles and folds down for storage. Similarly priced at $349.


Burley recently introduced the Travoy which would be like if a bike cargo trailer mated with rolling luggage. You are sacrificing some cargo capacity with a 60 lb weight limit but gaining more ease of use, storage and mobility. You can easily unhook the Travoy, roll it around the market, fill it up then hook it back to the bike and be on your way. It has several options for bags with a "Market" line and a "Transit" line making it an invaluable commuting tool priced at $289.


Understandably some people aren't ready to drop $250+ on a bicycle trailer so what's the cheap solution? Purchase a used kids trailer like this one on Craigslist for $50. Most kids trailers have a weight limit of about 100 lbs. While I might not trust my (future) children to a used bike trailer I would certainly haul around some groceries. Kid trailers also have the advantage of folding down for storage.

For more info on carrying goods check out one of my favorite websites: utilitycycling.org There you can learn about making your own trailer and about Xtra-cycles and extended bikes, trikes, and bakfeits.

Opportunity Knocks

A few times a year we (Peddler Bike Shop) get a call from someone at the University of Memphis who has lost their lock key and needs us to cut their lock or someone who is handicapped and needs us to change their flat tire. This past Saturday was the first time that I (though I'm sure there have been others) took a call from someone out on a ride with a flat tire and they wanted me to bring them a tube and change their flat.

A. We don't do that.
B. We don't do that, especially not on Saturday.
C. We don't do that, especially not on Saturday, even more so when we're short-staffed and there's a sale going on.

That's not to say that the Superman in me wouldn't love to get on my bike, race through Memphis streets to save an unprepared cyclist, because I would. But I have bigger responsibilities at the shop. Though I really love that you as the stranded cyclist are loyal to my shop even when my competitor is closer.

Fast forward to Tuesday when a customer and I are conversing about the aesthetics, anti-theft advantages and cargo capacities of Dutch bikes, bakfiets and "xtra-cycles" and she mentions that her husband and friend were on the greenline this past weekend and experienced a flat on a trail-a-bike. She relayed her idea for a mobile flat-fixing service. When I asked how much she would pay for such a service she said "$20. Most people when riding have a $20 bill on them." (paraphrased)

That implies, of course, tube and labor. At a shop you will pay about $6 for a tube, $6.60 with tax. Leaving you $13.40 for your labor. For a young high school or college kid with a love of cycling and free weekends you might be able to make some dough. Start-up costs would include several tubes in various sizes, a floor pump, sizes 13, 14, 15, and 17 wrenches preferred but an adjustable wrench would suffice, a few tire boots, and a backpack to carry everything. Then as you got established several different tires and a trailer to carry everything. So minimum would be about $100, after 8 jobs you could start making profit.

To be honest I'm not sure if the demand is fully there, but perhaps it's just because the service isn't available.



Then this customer and I started talking food carts: hot dogs, ice cream, gyros. That's a whole other post right there.

Shopping Trips

Last week, due to my impressive powers of persuaion, I convinced Emily that we should ride our bikes to the grocery store. Really I think she only agreed because I agreed to go to Home Depot and get some paint so we could paint our apartment. 'No prob,' I said and thought that we could just make one outing: Home Depot then grocery store. After all, what is the use of a trailer if I can't haul a large amount? It turns out that a couple of gallons of paint weighs a little more that I had anticipated.



So we dropped the paint at the apartment and headed out for trip #2: the grocery store.



The Bob drysac would barely close over all of the groceries. There's no way I could have fit all of the paint and the groceries in one trip. Emily even took her cruiser bike with the front basket (which she just used for her purse and cardigan). Perhaps I should maybe get her a cute wicker basket for the rear rack?



I felt bad for pushing Emily to do this with me, but because she was smiling once we got out riding and this past week she's been telling me that she is excited for the next time we go to the grocery store, I don't feel bad at all. I'm partly attributing her good experience to the beautiful weather and the Memphis drivers who are becoming more aware of cyclists, though.

He-Man Trail Maintenance

So after riding the Old Forest Trail in Overton Park a couple of times I got tired of hopping off the bike to jump over one particular fallen tree:



I had planned on building a bridge over it with a pallet I had cut up and some chicken wire. I was ready, trailer packed even.



Then Emily and I decided to go for a ride and review the situation. Upon closer inspection the tree was cracked in several places.



Upon realizing that I wasn't going to be able to build the amazing bridge from my imagination I went into a Hulk-like rage and tore the tree apart. It actually happened so fast that Emily wasn't able to capture it with the camera. Here's the aftermath where I'm looking upon the tree with disdain, and also sorrow.



Then I cleared the other section of the fallen tree. Emily helped.




It was honestly more strenuous to cut the pallet than it was to move the tree. So now I have some sweet pallet halves and some chicken wire that I have no idea where I should put to use. I would love to do some kind of trail stuff in Overton Park but they might just be used for a bonfire Thursday night. If you have any ideas about where to use them please let me know. By the power of Grayskull we can build some stuff then go grab a pint.

Thank you everyone!

To start: Thanks to everyone who made it out! Jonesboro guys: Sorry you didn't make it to the finish/afterparty; we cheers'd you for coming out and having fun.
Next: All you guys who said you'd be there: Pat Boyd, Alex Carr (We really missed you and your house!), Jonathan Cisco, Rocky (to name a few; but mainly Pat Boyd who I talked to almost every day before the race and who said he'd be there...) you guys missed a super fun race and really good beer and pizza. Your loss, DICKS!
Finally and ESPECIALLY: Thanks to all of the volunteers: Alona and Wes, Matthew Writt from the Memphis Flyer, and Kermit. This would not have happened without your initials. And extra thanks to Terie B. from Driven Magazine for including our small world in her wonderful publication.

The race started with 9 laps around the East High School Track. The racers had to drink a beer before, during, or after their 9 laps. They were then given a manifest consisting of 4 checkpoints and a final destination: 208 North Main, 209 South Main, a Grocery Store (their choice) where they had to purchase a can of black-eyed peas, the U of M Clock Tower, and the final destination of Midtown Bikes. Two different manifests were handed out which had the checkpoints in reverse order.

Enjoy these few photos and check out the rest of the sets:




The Results:

1st Place: Chris Spencer
2nd Place: Russ "Shithead" Griffin (Should not have taken backroads.)
3rd Place: Isaiah Flowers (who stopped at home to get his ipod)

1st (and only) Girl: Erica

1st Cruiser: NOBODY

1st Hurl: NOBODY (Really, I was totally expecting someone to evacuate stomach.)

Most awesome part of the race: Beer handoff to Russ Griffin. (The man knows how to caress a bottle.)

Kermit's set HERE.
Fix Memphis set HERE.
Matthew Writt's set HERE.
More sets to come.

Stay tuned for a February "Tour De Pizza Cafe" with everyone's favorite cross-country traveler Sean Quigley.

This is what a trailer is for:

3 Wheels. 4 1/2 Miles. 48 Beers. 576 Fluid Ounces.