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Issue #26 July 20112 FREEkoozieswith your paidsubscriptionBrad QuartuccioEditorbrad@urbanvelo.orgJeff GuerreroPublisherjeff@urbanvelo.orgOn the cover: Matt Reyes does a tweaked footplant onthe bank at Midwest Mayhem. Photo by Kevin O’Meara. Seemore of Kevn’s photos from Midwest Mayhem on page 56.Co-conspirators: Bruce Carver, Alex Hansen, SamerFouad, John Harris, Leyna Krow, Lenny Maiorani, Jose Sandoval,Jeffrey Pepito, Ed Glazar, Aaron Thomas Smith, RogerLootine, Lacar Musgrove, Robin Walker and Andy SingerUrban Velo, PO Box 9040, Pittsburgh, PA 15224Urban Velo is a reflection of the cycling culture in currentday cities. Our readers are encouraged to contribute theirwords and art.Urban Velo is published bi-monthly. That’s six times peryear, on the odd months. Issues are available for free downloadas they become available. Print copies are availableonline and at select bicycle retailers and coffee shops.Printed in Pittsburgh by JB Kreider - www.jbkreider.comAll contents © 2011 Urban Velo, no unauthorized reproduction(online or otherwise) without written consent.YES this includes international subscriptions!While supplies last, order a subscription toUrban Velo and you’ll receive two koozies inthe mail. The koozies come in assorted colors—you don’t get to choose, but we’ll be sure tosend you two different colors.6 Issues = $18 US/$40 WORLD6 Issues = $18 US/$40 WORLDURBAN VELO.ORG

Features36 Blessing of the BikesJohn HarrisEach spring, New Yorkers head to The Cathedral Church of St. John theDivine for an all-inclusive ceremony that includes the anointing of bicyclesand the blessing of urban cycling.42 A Woman’s Place is in the Bike ShopLeyna KrowNot only are women comfortable entering a bike shop, many of themare dedicated employees and talented mechanics. Sometimes they evenown the place!48 Almanzo 100Aaron Thomas SmithIt’s been said that riding on gravel is like learning to ride a bike all overagain. Over and over. Every year, scores of racers in rural Minnesotagather for another 100 mile lesson.Contents: Ben Schultz of Machine Politics and Joe Burge of the Beaver Boys joust inthe final game to decide the Midwestern Bike Polo Championships 9 in BloomingtonIN. Photo by Bruce Carver, www.brucecarverphoto.com

Departments12 Editor’s StatementBrad Quartuccio14 Publisher’s StatementJeff Guerrero16 I Love Riding in the CityReaders share their tales of city cycling.56 Midwest Mayhem GalleryKevin O’Meara62 ResidueRoger Lootine65 Product Reviews & News77 Out in the StreetLacar MusgroveThe biking community gains ground in New Orleans.82 Vintage: Love It or Leave ItBrad Quartuccio88 DIY Nipple DriverBrad Quartuccio90 No ExitAndy Singer10 URBANVELO.ORGJorge Mogley cutting through the NYC madness. Photo by Alex Hansen, wegetweird.tumblr.com

Editor’s StatementBy Brad QuartuccioDrying out by the fire after a wet day of Allegheny National Forest bike camping with old friends. Photo by Brad QuartuccioIcan still remember the first day that I rode on twowheels. It was in a neighbor’s driveway, and for whateverreason I had decided that particular summer daywas the day to remove the training wheels from my departmentstore, 1980’s bmx-like bike. With help from childhoodfriends that I’ve long since lost contact with, the trainingwheels came off and I turned circles in the driveway beforegoing home and announcing my achievement to my parents.Amongst my friends at the time I was the last to learn toride on two wheels, I’ve never been a particularly gifted athlete.It’s crazy to think how influential that single momenthas been on my life up until now—I’ve been seriously in lovewith bicycles ever since. I can’t say I remember much aboutbicycle riding before that time, but I can’t say I remembermuch about life that didn’t involve riding a bicycle since.For most kids the move to two wheels is just a steptowards a move back to four. While I admittedly own a carand put a fair number of miles on it, my life has been shapedby the people I’ve met and things I’ve done on a bicycle, notin an automobile.Each issue reflects at least some part of that story formany of our contributors. Some never stopped riding sincethey were a kid, others picked it up as an adult, and othersstill are truly just getting started. We’ve all come to it fromdifferent angles, at different times with a certain fascinationwith community and machine keeping each of us comingback. Not to mention, lots of fun. If going really fast on twowheels didn’t feel so universally good, I doubt many of uswould be as obsessed. No matter how serious it gets I tryto keep in mind what first got me hooked.We want your words. Send your editorial contributions to brad@urbanvelo.org12 URBANVELO.ORG

iriding in the cityNAME: Mike SchademanLOCATION: Bangkok, ThailandOCCUPATION: TouringWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?I left my home in Brooklyn, New York with an old1980’s Fuji racing bike on September 3rd 2009 in anattempt to cycle around the world indefinitely. I’m writingthis from Bangkok, Thailand after pedaling nearly 12,000miles across eight countries and I’m just getting warmedup! I love traveling by bike and could never picture anyother means for transportation. By bike you get to reallymeet people and take time to notice the nuances of aplace, not to mention you get to hear things and smellthings, which is something that motorists can’t say.Before this trip my favorite activity was crossing into16 URBANVELO.ORGManhattan and cycling through insane traffic as fast ashumanly possible. Now when I get to a big city like Sydney,San Fransisco, Jakarta, etc. there is nothing more fun thanshedding my panniers and flying around as if I actually hada purpose or a sense of where I was going.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?New York City, those who cycle there know why...Why do you love riding in the city?Cause it’s totally badass!Check out brooklyntobrooklyn.blogspot.com

iriding in the cityNAME: Emerson LehmannLOCATION: São Paulo, BrazilOCCUPATION: Digital PlannerWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?São Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil with a populationof 10 million people. The city is not bike friendly, in factit’s not pedestrian friendly and is overly designed for cars.Recently a project started connecting a lot of parksin a “Sunday bike lane” where families can ride and thegeneral culture is changing a little bit.The whole bicycle culture is soaring in small but vibrantgroups, and we have it all—from fixies and bike polo, CriticalMass, people getting to work or using bikes for work,you name it, we have it.18 URBANVELO.ORGThe city got so filled up with cars everywhere thatbikes became a very economic, fast and fun alternative tomove around, since you cannot get a break from traffic noteven on weekends.I am a commuter myself and I love to ride every time Ican. There’s another São Paulo for riders. In a car you canonly have a framed view of the magnificent urban murals,but on a bike you can appreciate it, and still get to yourdestination before a driver.I surely hope for a better structure for all riders, butso far I can live with just a shower at the office.Check out www.baselunar.com.br

iriding in the cityNAME: Bina BilenkyLOCATION: Philadelphia, PAOCCUPATION: Marketing and Events DirectorWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?I live in the City of Brotherly Love, and I know thatit’s based on Greek words (Philos = love and adelphos=brother) but I’m still not sure how or why Philly got to becalled that. Certainly William Penn couldn’t have knownthat this town would evolve (or should I say devolve?) intoone of the most aggressive cities in the nation. From theattitude of motorists to the skinny cobblestone streets,from the random trolley tracks to the no-bikes-allowedtunnel that sends you careening into Kelly Drive, riding inPhilly is always an adventure. Am I coming off negative? Idon’t mean to be. We have a thriving bicycle communitywith strong advocacy. Bicycle commuting has increasedtremendously in recent years and cross-town bike laneshave been added. Bike messengers have always beena common sight. With its universities, arts and culture,20 URBANVELO.ORGshopping, and history, there’s so much to see and do inPhiladelphia by bike.Photo by Ricky WongWhat was your favorite city to ride in, and why?Do places with 50,000 people count as a city? I reallyenjoy riding in Lancaster, PA. What’s not to love about therolling hills, the “clip clop” of horse’s hooves and freshlymade whoopie pies and root beer? I’m hoping to do someriding in Madison, WI during the next show I’m planning. Ikeep hearing what an awesome bike town it is!Why do you love riding in the city?It’s always exciting while bordering on scary. And it’s aheck of a lot faster than sitting in traffic... for most cyclistsanyway. With my speed, or lack of, it’s debatable if I’mfaster than sitting in traffic.Check out www.heartlandveloshow.com

iriding in the cityDo you love riding in the city?NAME: Diego VegetalesLOCATION: Barcelona, SpainOCCUPATION: Vegan Food DeliveryWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?I live in Barcelona and it’s a really good place to ride ifyou want to enjoy the landscape, you have the sea and themountains close by.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?My favorite place is still Barcelona because I live hereand the weather is good if you compare it to the northerncountries. It is always raining there!Why do you love riding in the city?Riding my bike makes me feel great when I’m passingthrough the cars. Hearing angry taxi-drivers yelling at youfor silly reasons makes me stronger and faster, they have towait till the next light turns green and I do whatever I wantwith my two wheels. I’m free when I ride!Can you answer a few simple questions andfind someone to take your photo?We want you to represent your hometown!NAME:LOCATION:OCCUPATION:Where do you live and what’s it like riding in yourcity?What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?Why do you love riding in the city?Or just say whatever you want about riding in thecity. Poetry anyone?Email your responses to jeff@urbanvelo.org22 URBANVELO.ORGCheck out www.vegetalesapedales.com

iriding in the cityNAME: Tran Thu HangLOCATION: Ha Noi, VietnamOCCUPATION: Freelance Doll ArtistWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?I live in Ha Noi. My country’s capital is crowded andmost people ride motorbikes, so our traffic is dangerousand there are a lot of accidents. However, some streetsare very quiet, so I choose them.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?I don’t know... Anywhere that it’s quiet and spaciousand the main mode of transport is by bicycle.24 URBANVELO.ORGWhy do you love riding in the city?I can move easily in the crowd. Plus it makes me strongerand helps me to relax.Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city…I hope that more and more people will begin to ridebicycles in my city (especially for short trips) because it willhelp reduce pollution and accidents.Check out ga-doll.deviantart.com

iriding in the cityNAME: Jason and Kellie CyrLOCATION: Tampa, FLOCCUPATION: Bike Shop OwnersWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?We live in downtown Tampa and own a bicycle shophere (City Bike Tampa). Riding here is excellent becausethe weather is very predictable and there are lots of greatplaces like restaurants, parks and museums to visit on twowheels.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?Before Tampa it was Boston... anywhere along theCharles River would do, rain or shine.Why do you love riding in the city?What could be more fun than cruising past cars stalledin traffic on a sunny Friday afternoon on your way to sharea few post-workday cold ones with other fellow urbancyclists who share the same passion? No stuffy attitudes,just love for the Bay area and leaving the SUVs at home.Check out www.citybiketampa.comNAME: Fabrizio Cercatore and Andrea LeporeLOCATION: LaSpezia, Italy and Sacramento, CAOCCUPATION: Founders of HOT ITALIANWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?Fabrizio: I am from LaSpezia but live in Sacramentopart time. I love riding in Sacramento because the streetsare flat and the weather is sunny most of the year.Andrea: One of my best memories of Italy was ridingbikes through LaSpezia—around cars, scooters, pedestrians—butfeeling safe and inspired.Why do you love riding in the city?Fabrizio: I like to go out at night with friends and I loveriding my bike home at night when the streets are emptyand quiet.Andrea: When I’m riding, there’s nothing else I wantto be doing.Check out www.hotitalian.net26 URBANVELO.ORG

iriding in the cityNAME: Joshua Knoblick and Zoe BaldwinLOCATION: Newark, NJOCCUPATION: Director of Operations and Board Chairat Brick City BicyclesWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?We live, ride and work in Newark, NJ. During theday, it can be a challenge to fight through aggressive commutertraffic, but that’s half the fun! At night, the streetsare ours; the city empties out and every lane feels like abike lane. Night riding in the Brick City is definitely ourfavorite, whether headed to a black-tie affair or just overto the gallery.28 URBANVELO.ORGWhat was your favorite city to ride in, and why?We both love NYC—the energy and their bike lanenetwork. The fact that you can ride from the HudsonRiver front all the way to Brooklyn in a bike lane the wholeway is still a little astounding. Toronto is a very close secondfor Josh, but Zoe prefers trolling for Italian ice aroundAsbury Park.Why do you love riding in the city?Interacting with urban environs on a bike is the bestway to get to know any city. We feel more connected toa city on a bike than on foot, and 1000 times more thanin a car.Photo by Samer Fouad, behance.net/shamefuldesigns

Rider: Wizard ★ Photo: Lingo2012 SE QUAD FIXFRAMESET AVAILABLE FALL 2011SEBIKES.COM

iriding in the cityNAME: Chris BradyLOCATION: Heber City, UTOCCUPATION: Aquatics DirectorWhere do you live and what’s itlike riding in your city?I have been living in Heber City,UT for two years now. It’s more of atown than a city, really. Heber Cityis located about 15 minutes fromPark City and 40 minutes from SaltLake City. My small “city” of 9,715people, at 5,600 feet of elevationand with a 3.5 sq mi area is totallyflat. Only Main St. has stoplights andmost of the town relies on drivercourtesy at all other crossroadsbecause we have very few stop signstoo. Drivers are good at yielding tobikes. There are a few of us regularcity cyclists here, a small communitythough. Most of us are avid road andmountain bikers too—Utah hassome amazing mountain, road, andtrail rides! It is sunny almost all ofthe time; it rains a little before thesnow comes. We can cycle all yearround as long as you dress for it.What was your favorite city toride in, and why?My hometown, WashingtonDC of course! Washington is supereasy to get around—the roads arewide, the city is pretty flat. Amazingsights, shops, bars and restaurantseverywhere! DC is a top pick visitfor anyone wanting a bike friendly,flavorful urban adventure.Why do you love riding in the city?City riding is fast and easy! Findingbike parking is a cinch; I alwaysget a spot in front. I go where andwhen I want, no need to worryabout traffic congestion, one-ways,stoplights or road signs.30 URBANVELO.ORG

8 ball airmailpretty pink blackdanapop bullseyedutch orange blue star candy swirl checkerboardWatermelondaisy stripe danger red dazed & amused gold sparkleflower poweramerican argyle chartreuse glo-brain vanilla skyunion jackl•ve modern dots powder blue pink 8urban cautionstars & stripesblackishswirltattoo olivepurple pedalspaint fight

iriding in the cityNAME: Tanaya WidigdaLOCATION: Jakarta, IndonesiaOCCUPATION: Event OrganizerWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?I live in Jakarta, Indonesia. In west Jakarta, to be precise.The traffic here is very crowded. And it’s differentin every part of Jakarta. In the west especially, cars andmotorcycles are everywhere and traffic jams every morninguntil 10 pm. Everybody spends hours in the street justto reach their destination. Riding a bicycle here in Jakartais the best way to kill the traffic jam.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?Definitely Jakarta. Where the streets are the jungle.Why do you love riding in the city?The thrills. In Jakarta street jungle law, motorcyclesbeat cars, bicycles and even pedestrians on the sidewalk.It’s crazy! They’re everywhere and very rude. I ride atrack bike and brakeless in Jakarta, I love riding my bikehere, it gives me the most thrills I have ever had becausewhen riding in Jakarta you never know what will happenin front of you. The motorcycle, the busses, the Bajajs(the orange three wheel vehicle) only God knows whenwill they make a turn.Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city.Ride your bike wise and ride safe with helmets andmaybe a brake.Check out prismataurus.tumblr.com32 URBANVELO.ORG

RALEIGH AMERICA MODEL YEAR 2011: STEEL ROADPORT TOWNSEND·Reynolds 520 Butted Chromoly· Canti Brakes· Sora Drivetrain·Vittoria Randonneur Touring Tires·Front Rack·Full Metal FendersR A L E I G H U S A . C O M

iriding in the cityNAME: Andhika RizkyLOCATION: Jakarta, IndonesiaOCCUPATION: Bicycle Store Manager, Mechanic and Graphic DesignerWhere do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?Riding in Jakarta is like riding in an industrial area where the black smoke and pollution are the main air we breathe.All the cars, busses and diesel engines spew just like an octopus with the black ink.What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?I haven’t found the best city to ride yet but Bali seems fun.Why do you love riding in the city?Because I live in Jakarta and I got all my friends ride here too, so we have fun riding together. The best time to ridein Jakarta is at the peak hour when the traffic jams are the worst.34 URBANVELO.ORGCheck out prismataurus.tumblr.com

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of theWords and photos by John Harris“We bless what is good and what you do is good.”With these simple words, The Reverend Canon Thomas Miller began servicesfor the 13th annual Blessing of the Bikes at the Cathedral Church of Saint John theDivine in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights.The cathedral, known for its dedication to civil rights, all-night Ravi Shankarragas, animal blessings and the first female cathedral canon in the history ofChristianity, also sets aside one Saturday morning each spring to anoint bikes andbless the idea of urban cycling. This year’s service was brief, at times humorous, attimes solemn and punctuated with the harmony of hundreds of ringing bike bellsrising through the massive cathedral space. The event bestowed a brief but sinceremoment of community and reflection upon our loose and roving alliance, beforewe split in different directions for breakfast or a Saturday ride.URBANVELO.ORG37

Blessing founder and organizerGlen Goldstein characterizes thewelcome he received when hefirst approached the pastor withthe idea for a bike blessing: “Youhave a home here.” And over theyears, the service has grown toinclude as many as 500 cyclistsand is one of the few events forwhich the cathedral’s giant bronzedoors have opened. Glen’s brainchildactually came from a newspaperarticle his mom had mailedhim about motorcyclists holding asimilar event. He summarizes theblessings conception as, “Coolthings happen if you ask,” and tellshow the bishop, who would jogthe cathedral on rainy days, suggestedthey bring the bikes rightup the front stairs and inside themain cathedral for the anointment.Finally, some respect!Tourists of every flag wanderand mingle during the ceremonyand a choir was rehearsing in thechapel, but for the moment, themighty Cathedral is given overto urban biking and the risksand rewards that come with it.Bike bells ring again and serveas hosanna for this highly nondenominational,non-traditionalservice. Actually, if you’re patient,you can ride around no-handedinside the largest church buildingin the U.S.Saturday April 30th was notparticularly warm, but it was alsothe day before the Five Boro BikeTour and the unofficial beginningof Bike Month, so a good crowdwas expected. Around 9 am, the“tribes” began to gather on thecathedral steps. Baskets of croissantsand danishes were passedaround. Parents with kids in theirchildseats, tattooed fixies, andlots of lycra filled the steps by9:30, about 300 helmeted pilgrims38 URBANVELO.ORG

Photo by Lenny Maiorani

Ispent last summer working at one of the largestbike shops in Seattle. On the first day of mytraining, my manager sat me and two other newhires down to watch a video on sales and customerservice. The video showed two shop workers—onemale, one female —acting out different situations onemight encounter when trying to sell a bicycle. Then,after each scene, they would review with one anotherthe technique they had just implemented. In one suchscene, the male employee was working with a femalecustomer who admitted she knew little about bikesand asked if maybe a female staff person could helpher instead, as she’d feel more comfortable workingwith another woman. The employee agreed. Afterward,he asked his colleague to explain why the customerdidn’t want to work with him. She told him,“When a woman goes into a bike shop, she feels thesame way you would if you went into a fabric store—pretty out of place.”When I heard the woman say this, I thought ittotally absurd and totally backwards. And I laughedout loud. But I quickly realized no one else in theroom was laughing with me.I share this story for two reasons. First, becauseit illustrates a misconception that is so wrong, it’slaughable. To suggest that women feel the same wayabout riding bikes that men feel about sewing playsto the most base kind of gender stereotyping—thatbikes are boy’s toys and therefore something womendon’t have knowledge of. This is to say nothing of theequally offensive implication that a man has no placechoosing fabrics and stitching himself up a dapperoutfit.In recent years, cycling has become an incrediblypopular sport for women, so much so that here in thePacific Northwest, it seems like of every two peopleI see on a bike, one is female. There are women’scycling clubs all across the country and women’s racingteams at numerous universities. Basically, thereare a lot of women out there who take riding seriously.As one such woman, I know way more aboutbikes than I do about fabric.Another reason I share this story is that as funnyand wrong-headed as the employee in the video’sfabric store comparison is, there’s a little bit of sidewaystruth to it. Unfortunately many female cyclists,including those knowledgeable about the sport and itsequipment, do feel uncomfortable in bike shops. Eventhough cycling is as much a woman’s sport as it is aman’s, the bike shop is still very much a man’s world.Name: Jen FeatheringillCity: Portland, ORShop Name: Bike CentralExperience: 10+ yearsAfter college I moved to Portland from Birmingham AL.One of my roommates was a bike messenger and I wantedto ride too so I had my old mountain bike shipped to me.I used it to commute around town and then got a job as abike messenger for three years. I did some crits around thesame time but really liked track racing. I started workingpart-time at the shop and eventually went full-time and quitbeing a messenger. Making the transition from messengerto bike shop was easy. I started going faster when I stoppedbeing a messenger.I think that having a female working behind the counteris good because customers, men and women, are lessintimidated by women than men. Sometimes girls just wantanother girl to show them a cycling outfit.There is an element of macho attitude in bike shops,but we don’t see it here much because it’s a smaller shop.Customers will sometimes call and ask for the service managerwhen they hear my voice. People that come in the shopthat don’t know me will gravitate to my coworker Deanfor help—it’s okay, I don’t let it bother me. If something isbeyond my ability or knowledge, I have no problem lettinghim handle it.Photo by JOSE SANDOVALURBANVELO.ORG43

Name: Hannah DrakeCity: Denver, COShop: Salvagetti Bicycle WorkshopExperience: 4+ yearsGender does play a role with certain customers. I have had men not let mehelp them because as a women, how could I possibly know more than themabout bikes? This has been a rare occurrence and seems to be almost exclusivelylimited to older men. I have also run into a few women who feel like theyneed a man to help them and have trouble accepting the fact that I am perfectlycapable, if not more knowledgeable, about certain bike related things.I think that being friendly, knowledgeable, and having confidence in yourabilities can go a long way. I have been able to make friends with most malecoworkers and then work as a team, each of us working with each other’sstrengths. As a woman you just have to work a little bit harder at first to getpast the stereotypes, and once you do everything runs smoothly. I have neverlet being a women deter me from being a valuable part of my bike shop.Women bring a new element to the shop that men cannot. How manywomen do you know that have a man pick their clothing out for them? So, whywould you want a male bike shop employee to pick out all the women cyclingclothing? Bike shops with women employees are better suited to meet theneeds of other women and this will help grow the female cycling market. Themore people we can get to fall in love with riding bikes the better.Photo by Lenny MaioraniWhen I was hired at the shopin Seattle, I became one of twogirls out of a sales team of fifteen.At the time, I thought myselfpretty bike-savvy. I was ridingeveryday and doing most of myown repairs. But my male colleagueswere playing in a differentleague. These guys were buildingtheir own wheel sets for fun. Theywere competitive polo playersand cyclocross racers. They tookpride in passing one another onthe road into work.It quickly became clear thatI’d been hired to correct an imbalance.Were I a man, my resumewould have never passed muster.I never felt like the guys at theshop treated me with a lack ofrespect because I was a woman.But I did feel they treated me witha lack of respect because I was sofar behind them in terms of bikeexperience. Admitting ignoranceabout something that in all honestya bike shop employee shouldknow, inevitably earned me eyerollsand snarky remarks. Oftenbeing the only woman in theroom compounded my feelingsof incompetence and inadequacy.Even though my gender likely hadnothing to do with the way I wasreceived—in fact, it may verywell have saved me from worsetreatment—it did have somethingto do with the way I regardedmy own work performance. It’simpossible not to feel like a representativeof your gender whenyou’re the only member present.And I felt like I was doing a crappyjob of proving that girls do have aplace in the shop.Eventually I caught up. I neverreached the level of expertise ofmy male colleagues, but I leanedenough to get by and made a fewfriends on the sales floor. Still, the44 URBANVELO.ORG

Name: Amanda SundvorCity: Portland, ORShop: 21st Ave BicyclesExperience: 4 yearsI prefer working on bikes, I’m not much of a salesperson. I liketo get dirty. I got into this in my twenties, kind of late. A friendof mine gave me a bike, I never had a bike as a kid. I got instantlyobsessed and have never stopped. I started working for a Kozy’sCyclery in Chicago before moving to Portland. They were hiringfor a bike builder. I was honest with them and told them I didn’tknow how to do stuff on bikes but I knew what a derailleur was.They were like, “Cool, you know what a derailleur is!” and hiredme. I think it helped that I was girl, and they were willing to helpme learn. I built twenty bikes a day for a while before becoming amechanic. I just knew I wanted to be a bike mechanic even beforeI started working on bikes.I think there was a lot more macho attitude in Chicago. I’dsee it everyday I worked out there, not so much in Portland.When guys would come for help and speak to me they’d act likethey knew what they were talking about, especially when theycame in with their girlfriends. There is a big difference betweenthe two cities.Photo by Jose Sandovalexperience was something of a wake up call forme. Before I was hired, I’d certainly given at leastpassing consideration to gender politics in thecycling world. But I’d never really thought aboutthe ways in which the experience of female customersin bike shops is linked to the presence offemale shop staff, and how that impacts to wayshops hire and train their employees.For many women, no matter how comfortablethey are on a bike, a shop with an all malestaff might not be the most comfortable environment.Those male employees can be thenicest, most helpful guys on Earth, but they’restill going to look like a roomful of bros at firstglance.Of course, this isn’t a fair judgment. Butgender stereotyping is a two-way street. Justas male shop workers often still hold onto falseassumptions about female customers, so too dofemale customers hold false assumptions aboutmale shop workers. As a result, many womenworry that they won’t be taken seriously at abike shop staffed entirely by men.To have women on staff is an easy way for ashop to dispel the image of the No Girls Club.And so the token girl at the register or on thesales floor has become a staple at many shops.This isn’t to say that all female shop workershave only been hired as some part of bikeindustry affirmative action. There’s no shortageof women who are knowledgeable and excitedabout bikes working in the retail side of theindustry. I think it is important to acknowledgethat these women are often playing a dual role inshops—both the job they were hired for and thejob of girl-ambassador, proving to other femalecyclists that the shop is a welcoming place forwomen.This puts a certain amount of unwantedpressure on female shop employees, but ultimatelyI think it’s a good thing. Instead of fightingtooth and nail for the right to work alongsidemen as mechanics, sales persons, etc., as womenhave had to do in so many arenas, the doorsto the bike shop are being opened for us. Thatdoesn’t mean it’s always easy for those whochoose to go inside. Misogyny and gender-basedmisconceptions still thrive in many bike shops.For women who are up for the challenge, it’s agolden opportunity.46 URBANVELO.ORG

ALMANZOALMANZO100GRAVEL ROAD RACING IN MINNESOTAWords and Images by Aaron Thomas SmithThere’s something to be said for a gravel road. Theyare simple yet different, a departure from the safeconfines of asphalt and concrete that most of uscut our teeth on. It’s a visceral experience. No longerwill you simply glide along at speed—momentum and balanceare in a constant battle between you, the bike andthe scattered matter beneath. It awakens a part of younot felt since you first started to ride.Riding on gravel is learning to ride the bike again.Over and over.Chris Skogen, founder and operator of the Almanzo100 has been taken by this experience. So much so, thathe’s created what may be the gravel racing experience.Accessible to anyone with a bike and desire (there is noentry fee) you simply send in your post card come Janu-ary to register. The event betrays it’s simple entry. Theroads, climbs, views and twisted routes will leave youwondering what you’ve got yourself into more than once.You’ll never feel regret, it’s far too beautiful to allow forthat.Set in Spring Valley, MN it’s out of the way even for usMinneapolis locals. A small town whos most frequentedbusiness could be it’s A&W Rootbeer, it has taken theAlmanzo in with open arms. The roads surroundingSpring Valley are a maze of mostly gravel. They windtheir way through farmland and the surrounding smalltownships in meandering trails established more by thefarmers who first settled here than a cubicle jockey atthe Minnesotan Department of Transportation.Perfect.48 URBANVELO.ORG

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We’ve sent in our postcards, trained through a horrendous spring, andwaited patiently. Finally, we’ve made it. All of the 450+ starters are standing,shivering in the rain and now are singing happy birthday to Skogen’s son.A tradition from years past, it helps calm the group and establish a sense ofcamaraderiee. I’ve arrived with three teammates who’ve lined up in their rainjackets and knee warmers at the front of the group. The rain, which has thoroughlysoaked the ground from storms moving in the evening before, continuesto come down softly. The temperature and windchill will be the worst factorof the day. Most seem woefully ill prepared, myself included. As we say in Minnesota—uffda.We start out and the front group takes off. I allow myself to slip back intothe pack and settle in. Finishing today will be a challenge enough, no need topush it. My road tires sink into the wet slop and even though we’re only fourmiles in I’m caked from head to toe. My glasses are of no use anymore. I lookaround expecting to see depression, broken spirits—but there are none. Grinand bear it, my companions’ body language demands, and so I do the same.Once you look up, it’s hard not to want to continue. The farmland and foreststhe route cuts through are gorgeous in their own humble way. The local “wildlife”although doesn’t think much of the long chain of cyclists passing by, most ofthe cows take a quick glance and then get back to chewing their grasses. I can’timagine that the trucks passing by think much more of us.The first major climb approaches and it’s breaking wills left and right. Someare trudging up on the right side while others grind up with the occasionalslip of the rear wheel. Up the bluff the road winds, groups gathered at variedheights. Some for a quick break, others a bite to eat. I manage to make it upentirely in the saddle, but I can tell I’ve burned a few major matches by doingso. At the top I stop and meet up with a group who will be dubbed the “PugsleyBrigade.” Astride their fat tired winter rigs they speed on top of the wetslop while others sink lower into it. With them blocking the wind and theirjovial spirits we make quick work and get motoring. We pass a gentleman ridingan old restored three speed and sporting a fine vest/knickers/shirt and tieensemble. Later, he’ll come in somewhere in the top ten. I’m certain I did notsee him loosen that tie of his either. I have nothing but the utmost respect forthat fellow.Eventually the bearded, fat tired train rumbles by my teammates at the sideof the road. Having gone up with the front group they’ve now found themselvessidelined with a flat. Joy is a word I have a hard time using to describe my emotions—thiswas far better than joy. Forget trust falls, spend ten plus hours inwet limestone gravel on two wheels and you’ll learn who you can trust fast.An Oreo or two are shared. At this point, an Oreo is the most wonderfulthing in the world and I share them with my teammates as a conquering heromight divvy up his newly acquired lands. The flat fixed, we start to fly and soonwe’re thirty miles in. I push the pace but it proves too much. An opportunityfor photos and I’m off the bike letting them press on. Another Oreo, but nowI’m out. Bitter sweetness takes hold in a way I’ve never known. I savor everylast morsel. I don’t realize it at the time, but I’m already way past bonk and intounknown food deprivation territory. Distracted by the taste of gravel and thewet rain having soaked every inch of me I would soon pay for this mistake.Photos taken, I run into two other friendly faces and press on. The nextten miles are arduous work. Where once we were chatty, the conversation

Aaron Smith: How did theAlmanzo 100 get started?Chris Skogen: There was a groupof us in Rochester that were ridingkind of regularly, doing a coupleof local events around the area. Afriend of ours moved to Mankatoto attend school and I figured weshould ride over and if we weregoing to ride over we shouldinvite people. If we invite peoplewe should race and if we race, weshould race on gravel because itwould be a lot harder and so it wasborn. [May] 2007 was the first one.Twenty people signed up, thirteenshowed up and four finished.AS: Started in 2007 and then?CS: Did it again [in 2008] and 65people registered in the secondyear, that’s when the Ragnarokstarted up. The pulse was startingto come about, just kind of wordof mouth. Jeremy Kershaw camedown to the race in 2009, he wasfrom Duluth. He went back andstarted up the Heck of the North.AS: And then that became the AllGravel Race Series (AGRS)?CS: [The AGRS] came out of mydesire to kind of unify these things.They’re happening in the same way,they’re all free, they’re all graveland they’re all about 100 miles. Itmade sense to me to try and tiefocused on the absurdity of our situation, now we are silent. Faces caked withmud and pain grimace through every pedal stroke. Still, every hill is a race wonand every decent as thrilling as anything you’d find in the Alps. The rain, forall its soaked horribleness, actually increases the traction and allows us to zipdown into the valleys. A worthy reward for the arduous climbs.One descent goes down into a quick 180 at the bottom leading up a soulshattering hill. With no momentum, you must start at the bottom with nothingand work your way up. Many are walking, few are riding and on the side thereappears to be a truck. As I bike up their cheering and jeering distracts my twofriends and myself and we find ourselves in the care of the 29nSINGL crew.These dedicated hard men have made themselves a beer stop and graciouslyoffer up a cold one. Usually I’m not one for beer during centuries, but I makean exception and take a swig. Most likely my best decision of the day as thebeer somehow numbs the pain and emboldens the spirit. I wish them well andtake off on my own.Finally we pull into the first stop, Preston. At this point we’re just aboutas far as we’ll get away from Spring Valley. Highway 16 connects the two smalltowns and provides an easy route back for those who are looking for a way outof the next 60 miles or so of the glorious gravel. As soon as I pulled in, Prestonis lined with well wishers (clean) and riders (mucked) all figuring out rides, foodand support. Those who have the will to press on head right over the bridgeand to the checkpoint. They rarely spend more than a few minutes in the town.I head left towards the local grocery store where I hear there’s hot food andmany participants gathering to ride back via 16. As soon as I step into the cyclistcrowded small town store I spot the fried chicken in the deli to my left. Thebonk has made itself fully known and with wild abandon I attack a thigh, a drumstickand hotdish. Unfortunately, the hot food, warm store and good companydo nothing for my body temperature. Now having stopped moving it plummetsuncontrollably and I shake while pouring the warm water into my mug full ofpowdered mix for hot chocolate. My race is over.Having run into my friend Greg and his lady at the store we decide that the52 URBANVELO.ORG

Big Blockbaby, you’re much too fast

them together in a way that wouldencourage more people to comeout. I was seeing more and moreriders coming out to the racewho otherwise wouldn’t. Noneof these are novel ideas really, thegravel racing is something uniqueto this part of the country, but it’sbeen around forever. The peopleare coming out for a race that’scompletely free from fees andlicenses. The only thing that weask is that you are self-supportedand that you don’t take help fromany outside source. Basically it’s,“Here are your directions, I’ll seeyou at the finish line.”AS: What is spirit of the Almanzo?Not necessarily just the Almanzo,but all of the AGRS races—whatmakes them so special?CS: I don’t know what it is, honestly.Having been to other [moreformal] races I think when you cantake away the expectations fromanything in life it allows everyoneto enter in the same place and findcommon ground.AS: What do you think the impactof an event like the Almanzo is?CS: Part of me likes to believe thatwe’re changing the way peoplerace bicycles, but the other partrealizes that people have been racingin the more traditional way fora long time and that’s not goinganywhere. I tell you what—there’sa lot of money in promotion, anda lot of money is paid to peoplewho promote events, but I don’tthink you get with those eventswhat you can get at Almanzo. I’dlove to make money at it, but I willmake my money any way I have toso that I can get more people onbikes and experiencing that thrillof being apart of something that’s,fucking, pretty amazing.54 URBANVELO.ORGfifteen miles back to Spring Valley would be best with company instead of tryingto go it alone. Although the gravel has been left behind, it’s still been a longday and we frequently find ourselves slowing up to catch our breath or easeour aches. We pass a few others bravely making their way back solo or withother small groups. Disappointment crosses the faces of a few, but only for amoment. Like throwing yourself headlong into any new endeavor, you mightnot make it but you can be proud of how far you did go. We three pull intotown and head straight to the showers. I meet back up with two of my teammateswho tell me that our last, Ben has found his second wind and is finishing.After a recovery meal of A&W, I take the Subaru and go to pick him up. His bikesits outside the high school gymnasium, the exact color of the roads he’s justspent the last nine hours on. We get him cleaned up and check out the AlmanzoMarket. Unfortunately, it’s long past the time most were through to have completedand so the vendors have almost all cleared out. Skogen and his army ofvolunteers, though, are still milling around waiting for riders to come in. Eachand every one gets a handshake and a pat on the back from Skogen himself. He’llend up waiting there for the last few riders till late into the evening. One of theclassiest promoters I’ve ever met, and his actions back it up.It’s the Tuesday after and I’ve finally gotten the time to clean out the bike.A bottom bracket has been sacrificed, as well as a few other small items. Thegravel dust seeps into every crevice and takes time to evacuate properly. As Iclean it off the only thought on my mind is the beauty of the route. It’s a sideof my home I’ve never seen before—a side that was worth discovering. I lookdown at my phone and see I’ve received a text from one of my teammatesreplying to my insistence that we go down and ride those same roads to enjoythem with less epic conditions. He agrees wholeheartedly.I take the fork off and find a good amount of gravel dust in the headtube.Another bearing shot.Uffda.Check out www.almanzo.com

Midwest Mayhem GalleryPhotos by Kevin O'Mearapresented bywww.panaracer.com56 URBANVELO.ORGCheck out onlineegos.blogspot.com

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Midwest Mayhem GalleryPhotos by Kevin O'Meara58 URBANVELO.ORG Check out onlineegos.blogspot.com

Midwest Mayhem GalleryPhotos by Kevin O'Meara60 URBANVELO.ORG Check out onlineegos.blogspot.com

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Life in MotionMessenger Spotlight: Marco7 years as a messenger in Philadelphia, PA. Ridingat least 8 hours a day for 260 days a year.That’s over 2080 hours of product testingin the real world.Do your tires have this much ridingon them?KWICK TRAXKWICK ROLLERSPORTKWESTKLASSICSKADENCEKendaTire.com

PRODUCT REVIEWSTorker InterUrbanWhen most bike companies develop their line of commuterbikes, they assume that most people want a singlespeed or an upright bike with an internally geared hub. Andwhile that may not be entirely untrue, there’s a significantportion of the community that appreciate a traditionalroad bike. I’m talking about an affordable, steel-framedbike with drop bars and gears.Enter the Torker InterUrban. At just $569 retail, theInterUrban is one of the most affordable road bikes onthe market. And unlike a bike purchased from an onlineretailer, a Torker bought from a brick and mortar bikeshop comes with an added level of service and security.Appearance wise, the chromoly frame is attractive yetsubdued. The graphics are simple and tasteful and the onecolormetallic blue paint job is rather elegant. The weldsare reasonably clean and the straight blade steel forkmakes the bike look sleek and contemporary.The bike ships with entry-level Shimano components,but I’m pleasantly impressed with how well they work.And the frame is certainly worthy of upgrading with betterparts as the original equipment eventually wears out.I’m also pleasantly surprised at the quality of the restof the components—Tektro dual-pivot brakes, Alex rims,Kenda tires, FSA cranks and house brand stem, bar, seatpost,saddle and hubs. Everything on the bike is perfectlyfunctional, and in the case of the saddle, especially nice forthe price.One thing that may throw some people for a loop isTorker’s geometry. Essentially, their bikes are long andlow, meaning you’ll ride a much smaller labeled frame thannormal. For example, the 44 cm frame I’m riding has a 527mm top tube, which is comparable to a 48 or 50. In fact,I ended up swapping the stock stem for a stubby 70mm.So, how does it ride? Like a bike. Thank you and goodnight…Seriously, though, it’s really kind of unremarkable, butin a good way. The steering isn’t twitchy like a racing bike,and it’s not overly flexible like a lightweight steel bike. The28mm tires smooth out rough pavement nicely, and thesteel frame, cushy cork bar tape and perfectly paddedsaddle take care of the rest. The bike isn’t a featherweight,but it doesn’t feel heavy on the climbs, or carrying it up anddown the stairs.Check out www.torkerusa.comVisit www.urbanvelo.org to read these reviews and more.URBANVELO.ORG65

PRODUCT REVIEWSPlanet Bike Grasshopper Bamboo FendersThere is no doubt about it—wooden fenders look classy on just about anytownie or touring build. Up until now they’ve largely been a small manufacturergame, and mainly a one of fashion since most wood fenders have had a flat profileless than ideal for actually keeping water off of your bike and body. This pastyear Planet Bike introduced the Grasshopper Fenders, an upscale $135 per pairoffering that is as functional as it is stylish.The fenders themselves are made from a three ply bamboo laminate witha marine grade finish applied to make sure riding them hard and putting themaway wet doesn’t sink in and cause them to crack or rot. I’m not certain howit’s done, but the fenders feature a curved profile like every plastic and metalfender out there. All the mounting hardware is stainless steel and pre-installed,with a variety of bolts and spacers to make it possible to mount on most “standard”700c configurations with or without racks and disc brakes. While notrequired by law stateside, the front fender features Euro-style release tabs forthose occasions that your fronttires picks up an errant stick oryou really stick your toe under thefender, saving you from a faceplantor busted hardware. The fendersthemselves are 45 mm wide andprovide coverage up to about a700c x 35 tire.Installation is as easy as it getsthanks to the pre-installed hardwareand independently adjustablev-stays on each fender, though thefenders themselves can’t handletotal hamfist installations as wellas plastic ones can—you shouldnot force fit these fenders like youcan other varieties. After sometown use and particularly roughforest road and trail touring thefenders are no worse for wear,even if I’ve managed to lay the bikedown a few times and made use ofthe front release tabs on an occasionor two. I wouldn’t expect thefenders to be as durable in theface of abuse as plastic or metalversions, but style comes at aprice both to the pocketbook andto practicality. Some may be criticalthat the fenders do not wrapfurther down the tire and need aflap to fully protect your feet andany followers from road spray, butpersonally I didn’t find the coveragea problem though my opinionmay differ if I was regularly spendinghours in the saddle in the rain.Are bamboo fenders for you?That is for each user to decide.They are certainly no more practicalthan other materials, especiallygiven the price premium, butthen again few things that lookas good are. No doubt, these getnoticed on the bike. People aredrawn to them, and they can turnan otherwise ho-hum build intoone that looks like a million bucks.Check out www.planetbike.com66 URBANVELO.ORGVisit www.urbanvelo.org to read these reviews and more.

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PRODUCT REVIEWSDZR Strasse ShoesI first encountered DZR shoes this past fall at Interbike.The owners, Shane and Fabio, are two of the nicestpeople I’ve met in the bike industry, and they invitedme to try a pair of their clipless cycling shoes out. TheStrasse shoes are designed to be comfortable and stylishwhile providing the pedaling benefits associated with cliplesspedals.Right out of the box, these shoes were comfortableenough to wear all day. I spent more than eight hourson my feet the first day, and was no worse for wear. Thesoles, while slightly stiffer than most casual shoes, are flexibleenough for walking and grippy enough for use withplatform pedals.As far as pedaling performance goes, these shoesaren’t in the same league as carbon fiber soled racingshoes. They do work quite well, however. The real benefitis that they look and feel much like a casual shoe when you68 URBANVELO.ORGstep off your bike. The cleat is recessed enough that youshouldn’t sound like you’re wearing tap shoes—at leastwhile they’re new.As for durability, I’ve had absolutely no problems withmine—no stitches popped, no glued rubber parts pullingapart, etc. Your mileage may vary, however, as some ofmy friends from the bike polo scene have reported somedamage. This is no surprise, though, as I’ve seen just aboutevery manner of bike, clothing and accessory chewed upand spit out on the polo court.A few nice touches are the recessed reflectors on theback, and the elastic loop on the tongue for keeping thelaces out of your drivetrain.The Strasse shoes retail for $110 and come in US men’ssizes 8-13. A similar model, the Tosca, is available in USwomen’s sizes 6-10.Check out www.dzrshoes.comVisit www.urbanvelo.org to read these reviews and more.

PRODUCT REVIEWSVetta V5 Rear BlinkieIn the days of ever higher powered and more complicated(and expensive) lights out there, it’s refreshing to seean $18 blinkie light like the Vetta V5. None of those fancyhigh powered LEDs with erratic blinking modes here, justa 5 LED V-formation of lights with a single easy to find buttonand two modes—blink and off. The LEDs are brightenough to be seen but not painful to look at, these are notthe new-school ultra bright LEDs that can be seen from 2miles away. The V5 takes a pair of AAA batteries makingrechargeable models for late night commuters a reality,and runs a reported 80 hours on a pair of alkaline batteries.In a nice design touch, the V5 acts as a reflector whenoff further adding to your night-time visibility even if youforget to turn it on or run out of juice unexpectedly.The V5 ships with a thumbscrew seatpost mount andthe shims to make it fit just about any bike out there, andthe battery cover has a plastic clip if you prefer to mountit on your belt or bag. For those who prefer a steady modeon the light you’ll have to look elsewhere, but I find I neveruse anything but blink and off anyway and wish all of mylights had just the two choices. Even if I really like thehigher powered super-blinkies out there, the V5 has itsplace. It seemingly lasts forever as compared to brighterversions, and you can’t argue with the price. Check yourlocal shop—just about anyone can get Vetta products infor you if they don’t already carry them.Check out www.vetta.com70 URBANVELO.ORGTimbuk2 Light Brite Swig BackpackAlthough the name Timbuk2 is virtually synonymouswith messenger bag, these days they make a variety of bagsincluding tote and travel bags, accessory holders, bicycleseat packs and backpacks.This bag’s main design features are its highly reflectivestripe, its water-resistance and its laptop compartment.As promised, the reflective material is industrial strength,and the bag’s water resistance is excellent. The main flaphas gussets that help keep water from entering from theside. This works impressively well, as does the sealed sidezipper.At just 12” x 5” x 17” the Light Brite Swig isn’t a giantamong backpacks. However it will hold a 17” laptop forpoint of reference. I’ve found it to be perfect for regularcommuting and running errands. It’s a very comfortablebag, with just enough padding and ergonomically cut shoulderstraps. It’s also got a nice big tab for attaching a blinkielight, and a built in bottle opener on the shoulder strap.The latter I could live without, but it seems to impressother people.The Light Bright Swig Backpack comes in black withred or blue accents, retails for $120 and comes with a lifetimeguarantee.Check out www.timbuk2.comVisit www.urbanvelo.org to read these reviews and more.

PRODUCT REVIEWSPrinceton Tec PushThe Princeton Tec Push is a serious, self-containedcommuter headlight that both looks the part, and performsaccordingly. The Maxbright LED lamp delivers 100lumens, and the red “side pipe lighting” provides some elementof 260º of visibility, or can be turned off if you preferto do so.The mounting bracket is simple and effective. Whileit’s nothing to write home about, it’s reassuring to notethat the design has been tested not only on the streets,but on the mountain bike endurance racing circuit.The Push uses three AAA batteries. Of course builtinrechargeable battery packs are nice, but the nice thingabout using standard batteries is that a fresh set is commonlyavailable at the corner store. The claimed burntimes are 4 hours on high, 14 on low and 63 on flashingmode. Your results will vary depending on which batteriesyou’re using.Available in red, blue or titanium, the Push retails for $50.Check out www.princetontec.com72 URBANVELO.ORGNutcase Classic HelmetRegular readers of the magazine are most likely familiarwith Nutcase helmets, as they’ve been advertising fora couple years now. But it’s only been recently that a boxof their helmets arrived on our doorstep. The first on thechopping block was this Union Jack themed classic helmetfrom their street collection.Minus the graphics, the classic helmet looks very muchlike a standard skate/bmx helmet. And that’s not terriblyfar off the mark, as it features the industry standard ABSshell and EPS foam liner. It has eleven small vents in thetraditional skate/bmx helmet pattern, and meets US andEuropean government standards for helmet safety.The quality of the construction is above average forthis style of helmet, and the straps are notably nice. Thething that really sets Nutcase helmets apart from the competitionis the unique magnetic buckle. It’s a bit hard toexplain, but essentially the clasps slide together sideways,and the magnet keeps them in place. Rest assured, oncethe buckle is secured, it isn’t coming open accidentally. Thenice things about this system are that it’s easy to operate,even with gloves on, and you’ll never pinch your skin closingthe buckle.The S/M size helmet fits 52 cm – 60 cm heads, and theL/XL fits 61 cm – 64 cm. Each helmet comes with four setsof pads to help customize the fit.The Classic helmet retails for $50 and comes in anarray of styles and colors.Check out www.nutcasehelmets.comVisit www.urbanvelo.org to read these reviews and more.

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PRODUCT NEWSThe Custom Road Bike is perhaps the most comprehensivebook on the modern road bicycle we’ve seen.Chapter by chapter it covers a given part—forks, hubs,headsets, spokes, tires, etc.—with crisp studio photography,history and parts advice. The 224 page hardcover editionis available for $50. www.rouleur.ccThe Harlot Scarlet-X Tech Knickeris made to fit, and designed by, a woman.Comfortable, stylish and functional, theyleave very little to be desired. They aremade of breathable nylon and spandex witha water resistant coating and retail for $85.www.harlotwear.comThe Bishop wallet is Chrome’s takeon the urban cyclist’s billfold. It’s madefrom the same stuff as their venerablemessenger bags, with four card slots, afull-length billfold compartment and achange pocket that snaps shut. Retail priceis $35. www.chromebagsstore.comThe Bolle Tetraare classic black shadesfrom a company thatspecializes in highperformanceeyewear.They feature premium,coated polycarbonate lenses, durable nylon frames andmoisture absorbing rubberized contact points that keepthe glasses in place. Starting at $69, the polarized versionretails for $99. www.bolle.comFixcraft has recently introducedtheir version of a modifiedBern Watts helmet drilled toaccept a baseball face cage. You canof course DIY your own, or justpurchase the package outright fromFixcraft for $73. www.fixcraft.netBaskets are awesome foraround town shopping trips, butcan be anywhere between pain-inthe-assand impossible to mount onmany bikes. The Origin-8 CargoUnit Handlebar solves these problemswith a one-piece bar/basket combo that will fit nearlyany bike with a 25.4 mm stem clamp. www.origin-8.comThe All-City Fuzzy Bars are cromoly steel with a full3” rise, 10.5° of sweep and a 22.2 mm “bmx standard”clamp diameter. You get what you pay for—the MSRP onthese bars is $50, but you only need to see one or two barsbreak before a few extra dollars starts looking like cheapdental insurance. www.allcitycycles.comThe Soma Anti-Jack mini u-lock featuresa 3” wide hardened chromoly shackleand comes in three lengths. Available in blackor white, MSRP ranges from $36 to $40.www.somafab.comFyxation relaunched their online store, and with itintroduced the picturedpedal/strapcombo kit. $55 getsyou a pair of FyxationGates nylon bodiedpedals and a matchedset of Velo City Bagspedal straps, with asavings of a few dollarsover if you purchasedthem each separately.www.fyxation.com74 URBANVELO.ORGVisit www.urbanvelo.org for more product news.

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OUT INTHESTREETThe Biking CommunityGains Ground inNew OrleansBy Lacar MusgroveWhen a bicycle tourist known as Mr. Drewarrived to New Orleans in 1881, he declaredthe city streets the best in the country forbicycling. He was probably speaking of the condition ofthe pavement, more than anything. But even if the pavementof the streets has fallen into disrepair, New Orleansremains in many ways very bicycle friendly. The city is flatand compact, dense with small, bikeable streets. Manygrumble over bike riding conditions—rough roads and alack of dedicated bike paths—but the recent marking offof bike lanes on the larger boulevards represents someeffort by the city to accommodate and encourage cyclists.And a proposed greenway through the heart of the citywould include a three-mile bike path. The parks servicehas already built a bike path along Bayou St. John, theold route of the New Orleans Bicycle Club which, in the1880s, made weekly rides from what is now the CentralBusiness District to Spanish Fort, near Lake Pontchartrain,to promote bicycle riding and the improvement ofthe roads.Photo by Robin WalkerURBANVELO.ORG77

Bicycling is popular all over New Orleans, but there isone neighborhood in particular where the bicycle seemsmost entwined with the lifestyle. The Bywater and theFaubourg Marigny, historical downriver suburbs of theFrench Quarter, were built mostly in the nineteenth centurywhen the invention of the streetcar made it possibleto live beyond walkable distance. As in many other cities,the advent of the automobile doomed the streetcartracks. The neighborhood now stands as a collection offreestanding houses, mainly Creole cottages and Victorianshotguns, built on small blocks. When rents began to risein the French Quarter in the 1980s, first the Marigny andthen the Bywater became popular with artists, musicians,and bohemians who moved into the troubled neighborhoods,put down roots, and formed tight-knit communities.Being further downriver, the Bywater especiallyremains a place where those with fixing-up ambitions canbecome homeowners relatively cheaply and still live in thecity. The density of houses makes for conditions close butnot cramped. The lifestyle is urban but almost everyonehas a backyard in which to keep dogs, grow vegetables, oreven raise chickens. Public transportation in New Orleans,and especially downriver from the Quarter, is scarce, anddistances around the neighborhood and from the FrenchQuarter are a little too far to make walking entirely practical.But owning a car isn’t necessary if you have a bike. Bikeriding in the neighborhood is not only a matter of conveniencebut a part of the culture. Like growing backyardgardens, the bicycle stands as measure of independenceand resistance to the excesses of consumerism. This is aneighborhood where people proudly shop for furniture onthe side of the road. To not own a car is to be freed froma major expense, and freedom from expense is importantto people who’d rather spend their time making beautythan money.Much of the Zeitgeist of the Marigny/Bywater neighborhoodrests on a do-it-yourself attitude. In the Marigny,a warehouse of copper-colored brick houses the Plan BCommunity Bike Project. Besides the bike shop the warehouse,known as the Ark, houses a book collective calledthe Iron Rail and artist studios on the upper floors. Theidea of the bike shop, which is run by a loose collective, isthat they provide a space, tools, parts—mainly reused—and assistance for people to fix their bikes. Use of theshop is free; it’s expected that you pay something for thedonated parts. Volunteers spend time repairing bikes, so ifyou need one you might be able to just go in and buy one.Or, you can choose from the stacks of broken frames inthe back and rebuild one yourself. You can leave the bikein storage while you’re working on it and, when you’refinished and ready to ride off, what you pay for it becomesa matter of negotiation with a volunteer. You cannot, however,pay them to fix your bike for you. Missionaries ofself-sufficiency, they want people to learn to do the workthemselves. The money they make selling bikes and partscovers rent and other overhead costs, which total about$1500 a month.In the exposed brick of the front wall three windows,several panes either broken or sooted, stretch halfwayfrom the high ceiling. The room is lit by those and onestrip of fluorescent lights suspended from the ceilingacross the length of the shop. There is no air-conditioning,and a rusty box fan squeaks in one of the windows.Four bike stands hold two bikes each. Tools clink againstdusty, grease-stained linoleum. On the far wall are twowork-tables and bins of parts. Wheels dangle from rackson the ceiling, fenders in varying states of rust and dentare arranged on a rack in the corner. Besides parts andpeople who know how to help you, the shop has specialtybike tools and stands. In exchange for an ID or whateverother collateral they trust you won’t willingly leave without(your shoe, for example), you can borrow a greasycanvas roll of basic tools.Despite seeming to be an overwhelmingly positiveentity in the neighborhood, the collective recently hadsome trouble with the local police. On April 9th, AshWednesday, officers from the 5th District of the NewOrleans Police Department arrived at the Ark and toldthe volunteers they had to leave or face arrest. The shophad been closed for two weeks for the Carnival season,and the volunteers were cleaning and organizing in preparationto open the next day. The police claimed they wereresponding to a complaint that the shop was operatingwithout the proper permits. The officers were unable,however, to specify which permits were lacking. This wasthe first difficulty the shop had had with police in its elevenyears of existence. Although the 5th District continues todeny as much, the broad assumption is that the shutdownwas a retaliation move following an incident a few daysearlier, on the Sunday before Mardi Gras.On that Sunday, as the building shivaree of Carnivalwas filling the streets of downtown New Orleans withcostumers and brass bands, the 5th District Police clashedwith an unpermitted costuming parade, the Krewe of Eris.Earlier in the evening, as Eris entered the French Quarter,some people associating themselves with the parade haddamaged property, and the revelers were driven out ofthe Quarter and back into the Marigny by patrol cars fromthe 3rd District. There officers from the 5th District surroundedthe group, attacking and arresting several peace-78 URBANVELO.ORG

ROLLTOP EXPANDING PACK

ful paraders. The incident got play in the media, and a videoof a police officer swatting a smart phone out of the handsof someone trying to document the melee led to that officer’ssuspension and an official investigation of the incident.The Krewe of Eris parade is associated in local perceptionand largely in reality with the entire bohemian/artist/punk/anarchist population of the Marigny/Bywater of which PlanB is a staple institution. So when police showed up at theshop five days after the Eris incident, people naturallyassumed the move was retaliation. Police told the mediait had been a “voluntary shutdown,” neglecting to say thatthey threatened to arrest anyone who didn’t “volunteer”to leave. They also failed to mention that when a business’spermits are in question, they must be given two to ten daysnotice to vacate or show permits. The volunteers of thecollective were given two to ten minutes. According to therepresentative from the Louisiana office of the AmericanCivil Liberties Union, the shut down was illegal.Not to be defeated, the bike collective took the shopto the streets, setting up a “Mobile Plan B” on St. RochAvenue, just a few blocks from the Ark. They brought outone of the bike stands, some tools, patches and tubes, anair pump, and a few bins of hardware and set up shop in the“neutral ground,” as the locals call the median. In March,New Orleans weather is mild, warm air stirred by a coolbreeze, and the neutral ground of St. Roch Avenue, flankedby old Victorian shotguns and shaded by oak trees, is apleasant place to hang out. On the first Mobile Plan B daya girl lounged on the sidewalk waiting for a friend to fix herbike. With her greasy yellow locks, lip piercing, black jeanshorts and patch-adorned vest, Emily was emblematic ofthe punk scene that frequents the nearby St. Roch Tavern.The other two girls with her looked more like any normalgirl you’d find on a college campus. Emily introduced herselfto me and asked what had happened to Plan B and if therewas a used bookshop nearby. She and her friends were visitingfrom Richmond VA, having brought their bikes alongwith them. She was disappointed about missing Plan B’sladies’ night on Tuesday evening, the shop night reservedfor women and transgendered persons. The collectiveoffers not just bike maintenance but the opportunity tolearn a valuable skill set.Local television stations in their coverage of the shutdownrepeatedly referred to Plan B and the Iron Rail asbusinesses catering to “young transients.” Never mindthat these are not businesses. If you live in New Orleans,“young transients” is code for gutter punks, aka unwantedtroublemakers. The media therefore, probably by gettingtheir information from the police, managed to stigmatizePlan B and the people who use it. Just as in 1881, cyclistspass through New Orleans on cross-country bicyclingtours. Hanging out at Plan B I’ve noticed that the place isa stop for such people, who could be called “transients.”They could also be called visitors. The shop, however, is aresource used by and important to the permanent community,including both renters and homeowners.I spoke with Victor, a volunteer who’s been activewith the Plan B collective since 2005, the year that multiplelevee failures allowed the force of Hurricane Katrinato flood New Orleans. He told me how Plan B, with thehelp of donations from all over the country, was able toresupply the city’s flooded biking population, selling usedbikes for ten or even five dollars to people who desperatelyneeded them. Victor attended the March 21st meetingof the Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association. Ina tone conveying the indignation of a great many, he toldthe Association, “I am absolutely disgusted, disgusted thata city that is so lacking in free social services would willfullyand illegally... shut down legal operations that arebenefiting this neighborhood because certain people don’tlike the way that certain people look.” Sitting in the grasson St. Roch Avenue I saw all kinds of people rolling by onbicycles, including older African Americans and a group ofthree middle-aged white men who smiled and waved asthey passed—a reminder that while Plan B may be an organizationof young white punks, they are not the only peoplewho need and use it.The new mayoral administration of Mitch Landrieu hasrecognized that. The Mayor’s Office sent the Mayor’s Attachéfor Cultural Economy, a new office, to meet with representativesof the collective. Scott Hutcheson was friendlyand sympathetic. In a city that runs low on public services,the police had illegally shut down a volunteer-based,completely self-funded community resource. Hutchesonassured the collective that he’d get them whatever permitsthey needed, although exactly which permits was stillsomething of a mystery, and gave Victor his business card incase the police come back. The shop opened again on April9th, exactly a month after the Ash Wednesday closure.The commander of the 5th District Police who orderedthe shut down action has been replaced.The positive outcome in all this is that due to all theattention, Plan B now has not only several hundred moreFacebook friends to ask for donations and volunteer labor,but the official backing of the Mayor’s Office, a kind of legitimacythese self-described anarchists weren’t looking forbut are happy to accept. And City Hall’s recognition of theimportance of bicycling to the culture of New Orleans is avery good sign for cyclists, from young punks to yuppies, allover the city.80 URBANVELO.ORG

Vintage:Love It or Leave It?By Brad QuartuccioAs urban cycling continuesto grow, so do the numbersof people lookingfor a deal on an older used bike.There is no shortage of peopleencouraging new and seasonedriders alike to check the usedmarket for vintage road bikes,and it’s honestly not a bad ideaif you know what to look for.There are a lot of steel roadbikes out there worth a coupleof hundred dollars and somefresh components, making for aquality and economical ride. Butfor every frame worth purchasingthere are countless othersbest left to the scrap heap, or atbest not worth more than freshtires and cables for a casual,around town rider. Manufacturingin general and bicycle technologyin particular has madeserious advancements over thepast 30 years—unless the usedbike you’re looking at was relatively“serious” in its day, eventhe most entry level bike availablein a bike shop today is leapsand bounds ahead of it in quality.Despite what well-meaning butless-than-knowledgeable friendsand unscrupulous Craigslist sellersmay say, simply being old andlabeled as “vintage” does not aquality bicycle make.Judging the relative quality ofa bicycle at a glance is fairly easywith a few pointers in mind. Thisis by no means the completehandbook on bicycle quality, buta good starting point for anyoneentering the used market.82 URBANVELO.ORGPhotos by Brad Quartuccio

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The blue dropouts on the left are a mark of quality. The red dropouts on the right are stamped and should be avoided.One piece and cottered cranks... Buyer beware!Wheel Size - Look for wheels and tires labeled as700c rather than 27” or any of the oddball Schwinn 26”sizes. There are few quality tires available, and switchingto the much more common 700c from 27” size is possiblebut requires not only new wheels and tires, but likely newbrake calipers to make up for the difference in diameter.Dropouts - Rear dropouts that look like they are cutor stamped from a piece of sheet steel are a telltale signof a low quality frame worth passing on. Look for cast orforged dropouts. If the dropouts themselves are luggedyou are most likely looking at a very high end frame in itsday, and one that should not be passed up.Cranks and Bottom Bracket - It should almostgo without saying, but one-piece cranks with an oversizedbmx-style bottom bracket shell and cottered cranks thatsport a press-fit pin to keep them in place are best left infavor of a square taper design.84 URBANVELO.ORG

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Tire choices are limited for bikes with 27” wheels.Although most vintage bike frames use a 1” threadedheadset, be wary of bikes with a knurled adjustablenut like the one pictured here.Lugs - These days just about any lugs are a sign of adecent frame, but in the past there were plenty of lowquality lugged frames on the market. Bulky, straight cutlugs are many times found on inexpensive frames notworth a high asking price—pointed lugs are more commonly(but not exclusively) found on quality frames worthbringing back to life.Headset - Just about any vintage bike will have a 1”threaded headset. Avoid bikes that have a knurled adjustablenut, as they weren’t quality bike when new and arecertainly not worth more than a few of today’s dollars.Rims - Steel rims are bad news. Not only do they notstay in true as well as aluminum rims, they have very lowbraking power especially when wet. Bring a magnet withyou when in doubt—if it sticks leave the bike, or at leastbudget for new wheels.Bulky, straight cut lugs can be a sign of a low end frame.86 URBANVELO.ORGRead more tech articles at www.urbanvelo.org/tech

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DIY Nipple DriverBy Brad QuartuccioLosing spoke nipples in the rim during a wheel build orspoke replacement can be a frustrating experience.Deep section rims popular on urban builds makeit even that much more likely, as the spoke bed rests athumb’s width away from the inner wall where the tire sits,and where you have to fish the nipple through to meet theend of the spoke. Commercially available nipple driversare available that hold the nipple and allow you to threadit onto the end of the spoke without dropping it inside therim, but they remain pricey and out of reach of most homemechanics and even small shops.For a number of years now I’ve been using a simple,DIY nipple driver to hold each nipple as I lace up a wheel.Using an old spoke with the elbow end cut off, I bend itto have a T-shaped handle, add a few rounds of tape for agrip and thread a nipple onto the spoke as far as it will go,snugging it up as tight as can be with a spoke wrench. Theshort length of remaining threads is just enough to catchon the backside of the nipple you’re lacing up, allowing youto easily place it through the rim wall and start threadingit onto the spoke you’re working on. Once the nipplecatches, a simple quarter turn back releases the tool forthe next spoke. Load, thread, release. Never lose a nippleinside of the rim again.88 URBANVELO.ORGPhoto by Brad Quartuccio

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