First Riding Impressions of the 3 speed Fixed Gear Hub

Pulled this off the Traitor Cycles site.

"Recently got back from a trip to Taiwan where we met up with Alan from Sunrace/Sturmey Archer to see what they have cooking. We are looking at using one of their standard 3 speed internal geared hubs for a Luggernaut complete bike we are working on. In addition to their standard 3 speed hub Alan wanted us to tryout out the new 3 speed fixed gear hub. I have been really curious about this hub as to how it would perform. They had just finished building up a prototype for us to test out so we got to get some riding in.

First impressions where the hub shifted perfect and all gears felt very smooth. You didn't notice much friction or drag at all. The gear range is pretty huge and I immediately thought this would be perfect for bike polo setups to have a gear you can actually pedal to the event and then a super easy gear for the game. Downside is that there is a little pedal backlash when you attempt to skid stop. If you just slow your cadence down normally you don't notice anything but when you try to skid the rear wheel you definitely notice it. It is not really meant to be on a fixed gear with no brakes. You will definitely want to have a front brake with this setup. The engineers did not recommend that we skid stop the bikes but we did it anyway to see how it would feel.

Overall I think fixed gear purist will not be into this setup but I do think there is a market for it for around town bikes and commuters that like the idea of a fixed gear bike but still want some gear range and the use of a front brake. The other major thing to note is the rad shifting options they have for the hub. They are offering their own bar end shifters which are very smooth and I got to check the prototypes out in person. They are also making a version called the Thumbie that is a bar con shifter that mounts to a flat bar."

Alcohol Olympics

Watch the Camera Guy....

WTF?!?

God Damn!

Ines Visits Orlando from bulius.com on Vimeo.

Ive seen some pogos, but this one is just sick!

昼_Ecopark_pogo from HaLu7 on Vimeo.

Vid of the Day

yfg nasty 3! from kr!$+＠1k? on Vimeo.

Jay-Z feat. Santogold - Brooklyn (We Go Hard)

Jay-Z on iLike - Get updates inside iTunes

Director Evan Roth created this neat music video for the song released by Jay-Z and Santogold called “Brooklyn (We Go Hard)”. The song is reportedly to be used in the upcoming 2009 release of Notorious, a film based on the life and death of The Notorious BIG.

Thursday Polo

Thursday Nights. 7:30 PM in Pullman.
Open to anyone and any bike.

Currently played on the top floor of the parking garage underneath the Fine Arts Building.

If you are coming from Moscow, take a right after the first light, it is called Stadium Way. Then once you get to the second light, park on the left. We play in the parking garage between the second light and third light.

Stealth

Cannondale designed a stealthy new concept bike and then ruined it up by putting flat bars on it. Integrated flat bars at that...Honestly, how are you going to break the sound barrier on flat bars?

Where's the integrated monocoque Cetma rack? How am I going to carry a 12 pack of Pabst on this thing? Sheesh.

Ok, it looks really cool and is entirely monocoque, including the chain and seat stays. Cannondale claims that it won't go into production at the moment, but that elements from it will appear in future Cannondale models.

On the Line Trailer

Hood Thongs

Hood Thongs are coming to a head and crotch near you!

I wonder if the nipple tassels are included? I just pre-ordered mine, you can get yours here.

Great Depression posters for modern times

Artist Nick Dewar made the poster above showing a portion of a bicycle and said that he “can’t think of a single step that would change the nature of our society more than everyone abandoning their automobiles and cycling instead”. Well said and I couldn’t agree more.

Check out ReadyMade for the other posters...

Punk Rock

Check out this Punk Band....

the new fixed scene...

No More Barspin Problems

Polo Headset

Feel like your missing something in your game? Not able to cut around your opponents with grace and ease? This might be the answer. A polo specific headset...ok not really but would add some bling to your special polo bike, if you have one....

GOLDENPOINT?!?

how come we know this bike so well... and we don't know these chicks at all??
....it is always the same story!

Aurumania Gold Track Bike Crystal Edition

Aurumania, a Scandinavian bicycle company, has created a very limited edition track bike that is completely covered in 24-karat gold and decorated with 600 Swarovski crystals. It is quite possibly one of the most expensive bikes in existence, worth a grand total of almost $117,000. The exclusive bike company includes a 10-year no-questions-asked guarantee should you somehow mess this baby up while you show it off to your less than rich friends.

And hey, since you’re buying such an expensive bike, the company might as well deliver it personally to you anywhere on the planet with white-glove service. Oh, they do. Wow. Maybe, just maybe, this bike is worth the huge price tag.

If for whatever reason you cannot afford this beautiful bike, maybe you might be able to afford the lesser non-crystallized version. Still decked out in gold, the standard Aurumania gold track bike is only just over $30,500. The company also sells a gold-plated wall-mount for your bike so that you can keep it out of reach of poor, oily fingers. However, the bike rack will cost you over $7300, which alone is enough to get you several very, very, very nice non-gold, non-crystallized bicycles. It’s your money though, so do what you want with it.

Mini Monster Truck Rally

Metal Heart from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Gnarly Unicycle Kid

Monster Bike

Read more about it HERE.

Best of Police Reports This Week

08-M11248 Noise Complaint
Incident Address : Friendship Square
Time Reported: 01:31
Cad Comments:
Rp reporting that there is a large group of people that are standing around in Friendship Square that are screaming and yelling. It is friendly, just very loud.

M11253 Civil Calls
Incident Address : South Jefferson St
Time Reported: 03:32
Cad Comments:
Rp reporting that he is upset because he pays rent and his water is shut off and he is upset because he feels exposed. Officer responded, no report.

08-M11287 Found Property
Incident Address : Sweet Ave
Time Reported: 14:11
Cad Comments:
Rp said a bike is parked by the two fountains, purple mountain bike, thinks it could be stolen because it's in an area where no one would be in a building etc.

08-M11296 Suspicious Person/Circumstance
Incident Address : Idaho Ave
Time Reported: 19:31
Cad Comments:
Report of a thin white male being duct taped to a pole in the area. Officers responded. No report

08-M10968 Noise Complaint
Incident Address : South Mountain View Rd
Time Reported: 00:52
Cad Comments:
Report of a subject yelling while playing on his Nintendo. Officer contacted and warned, no report.

08-M10976 Welfare Check
Incident Address : East D St
Time Reported: 09:48
Cad Comments:
A male is walking down the street hitting himself in the head,

08-M10979 Suspicious Person/Circumstance
Incident Address : Sweet Ave
Time Reported: 12:47
Cad Comments:
Gold colored mini van was driving around in the parking lot about 15 minutes ago. Near the child care center.

08-M11014 Non-Injury Traffic Accident
Incident Address : Deakin Ave
Time Reported: 14:40
Cad Comments:
Rp was pulling into the parking lot and a bicyclist ran into her car and went over the hood. Happened around 9 am. Officer contacted RP.

Moscow/Pullman Bike Polo Vid

Bike polo every Thursday night at 7:30 WSU Fine Arts parking garage. See you fools there!!

Eric and Bill in Canada

Eric and Bill in Canada from Bill Bottriell on Vimeo.

Riding Around Moscow

Riding to Class from Graham Mathew on Vimeo.

Trick Sess

a single gear in a single day from on Vimeo.

Bike Polo - Pullman

Thursday (tomorrow) at 7:30 in the top floor of the parking garage underneath the fine arts building at WSU campus.

If you are coming from Moscow you will take the first right once you are in Pullman, up stadium way until you reach the third stoplight. Park on the street to the right (Wilson Road) to avoid parking in the garage. On the opposite side of Stadium Way is the Fine arts Building. Ride to the top floor.

We have made 10 sweet mallets so you do not have to bring one.

We look forward to having numbers.

See you guys there! See posting here.

Mind E-Racer Re-Cap

Moscow's fall semester alley cat has come and gone. Everything went really smooth with just under 40 racers coming out to compete in Mind E-Racer. With the race starting at East City Park, riders were given their manifest a few minutes before the race began. What everyone didn't know was that at one of the stops during the race they were going to be given a second manifest.
Once the race was on, people had to take Mind Erasers at one stop. Go to the University of Idaho library and find the title of a book of the given call number. The title was race appropriate, "Mash." From there you could continue finding things around campus or head out to the mall where we had Claire signing manifests. People then began their trek back into town only to find the second manifest at Mikey's Gyros. There were another four stops that included One World Cafe, Taco Bell, Student Union Building, and the Bagel Shop. Once finished with the second manifest it was an all out sprint to the finish for those that found the end location at John's Alley Tavern.The Mind E-Racer Trophies.

Zach taking home the Chrome Bag. Stoked!

At the end location we had the movie Mash playing on the big screen.

The spoke card for the race.

Beer drinking at Mikey's.

Thanks to everyone that came out and particapted in the 2008 Mind E-Racer alley cat race!

Thanks to the local buisnesses that gave out some swag for the event!

Mikey's Gyros, Paradise Creek Bicycles, Follets Mountain Sports, One World Cafe, John's Alley Tavern, Moscow Food Co-op, Miles making Mind Erasers behind Chevron, Claire at Sprint signing manifests while working, Irene handing out 2nd manifests and making riders chug beer and the U of I libraians for yelling out "Mash!"

I would also like to give a big thanks to Traitor Cycles for hooking it up with t-shirts and equipment. Chrome Bags for sending out a SICK Metropolis Messenger Bag. Check these compnaies out and support them!!

Coming next spring, MASHscow 2!!

Raffle Items

Don't think you'll be able to get a top three finish and win one of our awesome trophies? Well not to worry we have been accumulating swag all week and here are some of the companies/business that have thrown product our way. Traitor Cycles, Chrome Bags, Paradise Creek Bicycles, Moscow Food Co-op, One World Cafe, Mikey's Gyros, Follets Mountain Sports, and others!

Argonaut Article

Alley Cat Race to Hit Moscow

Written by Rob Todeschi - Argonaut

Thursday, 09 October 2008

Biking enthusiasts have the chance to compete in a third annual alley cat race at 2 p.m. Saturday at East City Park. Saturday’s race is called Mind E-Racer and is the product of Graham Sours, last year’s MashScow coordinator. Sours said he hopes Mind E-Racer will bring in the old familiar faces from last year’s race and newcomers to the alley cat competition. Described as a biking scavenger hunt, Sours said last year’s MashScow had between 35 and 40 participants hitting eight stops around Moscow before making a final stop at Sours’ place for a post-race party. The stops are yet to be determined but Sours said bars, restaurants and businesses around Moscow will be along the route. “I like that it’s laid back,” Sours said. “You look at a structured race and there’s a course, but with this, you don’t know the route.” Sours is a junior in the business department and has been doing alley cat races for years. He worked for a bike shop in Boise through high school and during his senior year he participated in his first race. Since then, Sours has raced in Oregon, Montana and Idaho. “No one else puts this on,” Sours said. “After last year’s race, people are stoked. You can get your Lance Armstrong on or you can relax and have a few throughout the race.” Sours said Moscow is great for an alley cat race because of the small hills, flat roads and limited traffic. The mystery of the race is what attracted Doug Shaw to Mind E-Racer. “You don’t know where you’re going. It’s a mystery,” Shaw said. Mind E-Racer will be Shaw’s debut in an alley cat race. Through word of mouth and a flier on Facebook, he said he was excited to get out and see what the hype was about. Shaw said he knows to expect a “good time and a little buzz.” Whether it’s the increase in gas prices or the desire for exercise, it’s obvious biking has grown in popularity in Moscow. The bike racks across town and campus are loaded with bikes of all sorts. Mind E-Racer has no restrictions on whom or what type of bikes can compete. Sours said “whatever has two wheels and rolls” is more than enough to compete in Saturday’s race. Along with the array of bikes, Mind E-Racer and last year’s MashScow have tapped into a wide range of participants from living groups, Greek housing, off-campus students and people traveling in from around the Northwest. Alley cat race styles are determined by the organizer. Sours said he’s heard of races being dry, meaning no stops at bars. He’s also heard of races being strictly bars and strip clubs. Sours said Saturday’s race will likely be somewhere in between with a few stops for drinks and a few at restaurants and businesses. Sours said he wanted Mind E-Racer to be a change from last year but build on the excitement and fun surrounding MashScow. “It can be competitive in the sense that no two races are alike,” Sours said. “It’s spontaneous. You don’t know what’s happening.”

Mind E-Racer

Saturday, October 11th.
2 pm.
East City Park.
Bring $5.

Flyer

Lets Get Ready!

360s kid from james newman on Vimeo.

Alley Cat #2

Can you hear it...? Guess there is another alley cat in the works....

Mind E-Racer!

Stay tuned!

Huge Success!!

Thanks to everyone that came out on Saturday, for what we hope to be the first of many alley cats to come! There were 45 people that raced around the seven stops that included Rotory Park, The Alehouse, New Arboretum, Zumiez, Hot Topic, Rosauers and The Humane Society. Racers had to go to each stop and complete either a task of some sort or get a signature from one of our wonderful volunteers that helped us out. At Rosauers, racers had to purchase three cans of cat food which they brought to the Humane Society to donate. Below are pictures from racers having to eat hot wings from the Alehouse.

The race ended at one of the organizers house where good times were had by all. In the men's field, which included 41 people, Issac finished the 12 mile course in about 47 minutes, with Emmet, 2nd, and Charlie Olsen, 3rd, close behind. Geoff Hall and Conrad Piper-Ruth duked it out for 4th and 5th down the grueling dirt road driveway finish.

In the women's field, that consisted of 4 racers, Maia Benner finished 1st and 7th overall. Behind her was Autumn in 2nd and Renee in 3rd. For both the men's and women's fields, 1st place received a cash prize of $50, 2nd place received $30 and 3rd place received $10. We had a killer raffle afterwards for all participating entrants, that included prizes from The Alehouse, tons of great bike prizes from Paradise Creek Bicycles here in downtown Moscow, Smith sunglasses, Bell helmets, and other great prizes.

Thanks again for everyone that showed up, The Alehouse, Paradise Creek Bicycles, and our volunteers. We will keep everyone informed on when the next alley cat will happen. We are thinking about middle to late September 2008....see you all then!!

Training for MASHscow

MASHscow is right around the corner and we have been hitting the weights preparing our bodies for the festivities that are to come.



Good rep man.

Prizes and Raffle

With there only being 10 days left till the race, we have been running around Moscow hitting up businesses for donations both for our top 3 male and female riders, as well as the raffle. The cash prize is dependent on how many people turn out for the alleycat. The more people that come out for this event, the more money the top 3 get in the end. So yeah, get out on your bike and start putting some miles in to get ready for MASHscow!!

Flyer

MASHscow

Stand up to Pedal in MASHscow, your largest internal organ gets as much of a workout as your lungs and legs. This event beckons every man and woman who dares to race around on two wheels to compete in a scavenger hunt-type contest. This crazy thing called alley-cat racing involves some slamming—both hitting the pavement and the ingestion of the liquid courage—in order to continue on. Cuts, scrapes and near-misses only add to the sense of adventure and make for good storytelling from year to year. In the end, all riders gather to single out the champions and celebrate in one big group of cycle-loving comrades. Registration @ 4:30pm, Race starts promptly @ 6 p.m., $10 entry, East City Park, 3rd St. & Hayes, Moscow.

Alley Cat Anyone?