Awesome!

stole this from the famed Stevil at how to avoid the bummer life. so awesome

Merch for sale

I will have a merch table at Track or Treat, buy my stuff. please

Thanks Scott

got this in the mail yesterday from a buddy in Portlandneat

Track or Treat Trick Contest

Organized by Vinnie and Carney show up at 9pm at the spot.

Tricks and Drinks tonight

I'll be there around 9:30 or earlier.

Channeling GoatHork

B.Rose would be proud.

Police Crackdown

I received the following in an Email today (some information removed to protect senders anonymity)

Fellow cyclists,

It was brought to my attention this morning that the downtown precinct of the Minneapolis police department has brought it upon themselves to start enforcing Minnesota Statute 2007, 169.222, or parts of it anyway. The before mentioned statute outlines all Minnesota law relating to bicycles as vehicles on public streets. Most of which were designed and implemented in order to promote the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike. While this is all well and good we need to know our rights and protect them. Please read over the entire statute here
The reason for this plea for fellow cyclists to know the law stems from a conversation I had this morning with a customer before the store opened. I rolled up to the parking lot at approximately 9:45AM this morning and was greeted by a fellow cyclist that was waiting for us to open. I asked what he needed and he mentioned a light. Simple enough I thought. I let him in early. He was eager to inform me that last night downtown on Hennepin Ave and & 7th Street he was pulled over by an officer of the law and written a citation for not obeying Statute 169.222. He then proceeded to mention that he witnessed at least 2 other cyclists being pulled over. The reason? He had no front light on his bicycle. The fine? One hundred ninety dollars!?! Yeah, $190. I physically looked at his ticket, which did not state in any recognizable terms his actual offence. Nor the officer that gave it to him. This gentlemen even showed the officer his broken light bracket and front light that would no longer stay put atop his handle bars hoping for some kind of mercy or warning in the matter. None was to be served.

I could mention at least a half dozen examples off the top of my head where I have been personally let down by law enforcement officials in the recent past, including incidents of shop lifting and assault in which police response time was delayed to the point of being completely ineffective. All I can hope is that these peace officers were not out writing citations to citizens trying to ride their bicycles home after a long day at work.



Good luck out there, sounds like we might need it.

All-City shirts

first time i've seen All-City merchandise in a store.

Homie

So I guess the meetup is at T-Rock

Spotted at One on One

check out the nicest wheels that you're likely to see on a steam roller. I believe that Zito said they're for sale, but I'd watch out for a ZTD.
If you're interested he can be found at One on One.

also of interest was this awesome 86 peugeut.

B.Rose's BMC singlespeed

stopped by CRC today and snapped a few pics
B.Rose's BMC single speed, now with super decadence. under 13 pounds holy balls!



Also saw this Big Dumb Camera setup. nice.

Homey Fall Fest

Don't forget that Homey is the day after Track or Treat. grab a mountain bike and show up at Liqour Lyle's around 10:00.

Our associate Todd Johnson (itod) made a quick little video. check out that slider and fakie manual..


mess around from todd on Vimeo.

maybe you should start riding your fixie again.

TnD

Really good Tricks and Drinks last night, thanks to all who came out. Show the fuck up~!

Grass Track Racing

Does this seem like an awesome idea to anyone else? Verb?

Guerilla track racing in a park
http://www.hertford.net/events/grass_track_racing.asp

The famous Andy Larson over at Trash Bags sent this pic of the completed race trophy bag. This is one of his first bags and I'm predicting that years from now the winner will still be using and gazing at this beauty with eyes of admiration, and answering questions about how they ever procured such a wonderous accessory from a real life working messenger. Thanks a bunch Andy, can't wait to see it in person.

Also Halloween is Andy's birthday, so make sure to feed him lots of beer. I'm sure he'd like that.

I'm sorry to keep harping on this but I would like to once more encourage you to support local companies by buying their creations. It's a big deal that Minneapolis now has one of it's own stitching bags of their own design. If you're looking for a new bag, buy local.

Chrome Bag

Chrome sent over his lovely little white bag. I'm kind of scared to try to print it, because there's no way to cover up a mistake on white.

Win it at Track or Treat

and thanks much to our friends at Chrome

Track or Treat Prize Wheels

These beauties were built by the fine folks at Handspun and feature Velocity rims and All-City non-branded gold hubs. Packer Wheels.

They will be given out to the winner of the costume contest.



And I would just like to give a shout to Velocity, who if you haven't realized it yet, is a tremendous supporter of my races and has always been incredibly generous to this community. Thanks John!

Also the folks over at Handspun have been building all the prize wheels lately and donating labor and spokes. Big thanks to them. and of course you know that All-City loves you.

Holy shit check this out.

Tricks and Drinks on Tuesday

Sorry I missed last week, but this week's gonna be awesome, but I got a new plan if anyone wants to join.

I will be at the spot at 9 o'clock and will ride until 11 or so then make for Two fer Ones at the Triple Rock. This way it'll be easier for me to fall asleep at a reasonable hour, because I'll be loaded.

Making T and D more social and less late. neat. see you there. or not.

Also if it happens that we have a small crew I'd like to go out and ride the city.
I've kind of been down on doing tricks lately (slow progression, always going out and trying the same old shit), and I'm attributing that to the fact that I only ride once a week and it's always at the same spot. Last Thursday I went out and rode a bunch of spots downtown and am once again super excited to ride. If not many people show up, let's hit the town.

Also I've been meaning to go skidding and work on some skid variations but I never seem to make it out. So sometime in the coming few weeks I plan on organizing a little skid session to go out and hit hills and learn some new shit. I'll keep you posted in case you have ever wanted to learn to skid or learn some new skid tricks.

In fact I've been meaning to throw a "skid clinic" some night at T n D to try to get more people comfortable with the skid (trackstanding's ugly brother in terms of it's necessity in any fixed riders repertoire) and to get a chance to teach people any new skids that they may be wanting to try. Specifically I'd like to get more ladies into it, Anyway I'm hoping to do that before it gets too cold, but if you have any inclination to come down and ride and want to learn to skid, just ask and i'll be happy to show you anything that you want to learn.

I'm really excited about the burgeoning freestyle scene emerging here in Minneapolis, there were a whole bunch of dudes I've never seen before at Vinnie's contest and there were some really good tricks being landed. If any of you out there have any desire to come out and ride, please do so. I would love to see more people coming out and having fun on their stupid bike. And being part of a larger community helps your skills to develop so much quicker as you're able to learn and take ideas from each other.

And because everyone hates blogposts without any photos, here is a video that features the road under the stone arch that is fucking awesome for skidding. And yes I know the tricks in this video are getting dated quickly, but don't worry we'll have a whole new bag of tricks up our sleeves when we begin filming again in month or so. I am also hoping to have a full crew video this time with Vinnie and his boys throwing down and representing as well.


Bike Jerks All-City Championship from BikeJerks on Vimeo.

New Track or Treat Flyer

It won't be long now...

Camping with a Gangsta

Went camping, took the Gangsta with. superneat-o. juxtaposition, woo woo blah blah

your next tattoo

If anyone out there is bold enough to take up the Bike Jerks knuckle tatoo challenge I will happily provide them with a free hat, shirt, and hoodie. As well as publishing the photos on the blog.

Get your own knuckles at the knuckle tattoo gun.

Get your own knuckles at the knuckle tattoo gun.

You'll get a free shirt, hat and hoodie. and there's absolutely no way you would ever regret getting some stupid local company's tat on your hands. no way at all

Obama

this totally reminds me of those Jesus playing sports with you figurines


super dorky

Prize Wheels for Track or Treat 2

Hey kids,
sorry for the lack of updates the past few weeks. I'll try to be more dedicated.
Also sorry for missing Tricks and Drinks last night. I wasn't feeling super well, but I'm hoping to go riding tonight.

Anyway here's a Track or Treat 2 update

The prize wheels: Weird green Velocity Deep v's laced to Gold All-City protos with black spokes and gold nips. The wheelset is going to be banging and will be given to the winner of the costume contest. So for all of you out there who have no intention of ever trying to win a race but want free shit. this is for you.

put some time in and show up with a great costume.

Trash Bags!

Minneapolis Messenger Andy Larson has started his own bag company called Trash Bags. He's signed on to sponsor Track or Treat and would like you guys to keep an eye out for his bags, and I would like to remind you to continue to support our own Minneapolis bicycle micro-econonmy
Here's some info about the bag: the Landfill is made to be the ultimate large messenger bag-- roughly 18"H x 24"W x 12"D, huge, but it still fits and rides nicely. super heavy duty 1000 denier Nylon outer with PVC truck tarp inner, plus a super heavy duty Bulletproof nylon pack cloth re-enforced double bottom. One large outer pocket, and a dual compartment inner pocket. It's going to be a great bag for those who ride everywhere and carry a lot, or perfect for messengers. And the heavy duty construction is with surviving MPLS winters in mind.

exact measurements of the other bags are forthcoming, but there will be two smaller models-- the "Dumpster" which will be a non-oversized messenger work bag, and the "Can" which will be more of a civilian / commuter model. I pledge not to make anything uselessly small, though. :)

Thanks Andy

MurderBike

I've been riding my Marinoni Pista as a commuter quite a bit this summer and the old gal recently got a new set of boots.

Dave (the headguy over at Handspun) was kind enough to hook me up with these bangin H+Son deep section aluminum rims, which have been laced to a set of new All-City pewter hubs by the expert wheelbuilders over at Handspun.
With this new edition the Marinoni drops any guises of civility and now shall only be known as the Murderbike. I'll be passing you on your left.

Ladies of Team Pegasus

In case you haven't been made aware, the ladies (and friends)of Team Pegasus are banding together to put out a 2009 Calendar that will benefit World Bicycle Relief and Team Pegasus. Starring in the calendar is Bike Jerks associate Minneapolis Minx.


This should fuel my fantasy life for weeks!

stolen from Goat Hork Blog

I am forwarding a forward...

How racism works:
1. What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
2. What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
3. What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to?
4. What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?
1. What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
2. What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
3. What if Obama were a member of the "Keating 5"?
4. What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are? This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Track or Treat hype

Sorry that I've been slacking a bit with the Track or Treat updates.

Expect some new metal flyers out soon.

and Handspun wheels and Twin Six have come on as sponsors

I have added another event, the miss and out (see previous post about miss and out), to the end of the program; which means that we have a very full schedule: the pentagram, match sprints, trackstand, miss and out, and costume contest. Because of the late hour and the number of events expect the alleycat to be the shortest and likely most fun alleycat races I have ever thrown. (with the All City Chamionship race this year, and racing a bit this summer and really enjoying shorter non repetitive (back and forth across the same ground) alleycats I now just want to throw the most fun and enjoyable races I can. Expect a short course and spectator friendly route and lots of nice traffic action. The best prizes at Track or Treat will go to the costume winners. You better show up with a costume.

see you soon!

Track or Treat Costume

Remember Costumes are worth a 5 minute time bonus at the alleycat portion of Track or Treat. It's Halloween for fucksakes you've got no excuse not to have a stupid costume. I'm going as Mario, maybe you would like to be my Princess Peach

Also we've decided to add men's and women's Miss and Out races at Track or Treat.

Miss and Out, Devil Take the Hindmost or elimination race is a massed start track cycling distance event. It is not a world championship or Olympic discipline but a popular event for spectators and riders at track meetings at a lower level and usually incorporated into Six-Day races.
The race is run for individual competitors. At the end of every lap or every set number of laps the last rider to cross the line is eliminated from the race. When just a handful of riders remain, they sprint for the finish.
Tactically, the real racing in a "devil" happens at the back of the field. With riders at the front riding steadily and those behind moving up on the elimination laps to find a safe spot, the race favours riders with nerve and track-craft.

Also expect a short and very fun course for the Pentagram Alleycat. Easily the shortest route I've ever planned.

All-City shirts

saw this photo of Austin rockin the All-City logo shirt on Trackosaurusrex

Candidates

Subject: Presidential candidates educational Background



Educational Background of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates


If you were The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts,
stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high
prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage
crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually
critical election year.

Let's look at the educational background of the
candidates and see what they bring to the job:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a
specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in
political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 out of 899
(meaning that, like George Bush, McCain was at the bottom of
his class)

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to hire to lead the most
influential nation in the world?

This is just something else for consideration.