Makin' stuff

Chris Scuglia, of Cielo, came into the shop today and we got to talking about H Plus Son and he turned me on to this video.

Production from H Plus Son on Vimeo.

Xmas time

I spend me holidays with Pete Rubi and James Wilson. We are holiday orphans. The Tongs take us in and let me sleep on their floor. Goddamn we party.

Nick Danger Third Eye

Growing up, I used to listen to this every Sunday with my friend Sara while eating Swedish pancakes. As I got older it became a Christmas treat. I have every word memorized. I have it on vinyl, but I found it on Youtube and someone made computer animation to go with it. It is a sweet treat indeed and my Christmas gift to you. This holiday try not to eat until you puke and I will do the same. Merry Christmas, hosers.

Tonight Jam

Dunn's ride

Our pal, Jeremy Dunn, of the Rapha and Embrocation Magazine fame is leaving for France for the next 20 days and brought in this Focus for Kyle to build up so he can sport this ride while he's over there.







Pink chain ring bolts to "lock it up".


I wish the picture was a little further over and then you can see KV's buttcrack. Not because it is amazing, its because I have to see it ALL DAY LONG and I shouldn't be the only one who suffers.




This is why Kyle makes the big bucks, skill, focus, determination. Take notes folks, this is how you kill it at life.


Jeremy and his test wheelie.

Oh, Portland

I get to see this everyday on my ride to work and depending on what the weather is, it looks different almost everyday. Today, I was quite taken with the view. I feel luck to live here.

Rubi hearts Brown

Same page, Pete. Same page.

Safety matters to my face.

This is the third time the Dremel disc broke while I was using it. One time it hit me in the throat and this time it was straight into the goggles at what felt like 35mph. I turned it off, stepped back, and took a second to reflect on how much I love to see. Thank you safety glasses for reminding me why I wear you.

Familyless?

Yeah, me too. I am not going home for the holidays and originally I was going to lock myself in Wall Fort, the secret room/fort in my bedroom, and drink until I went blind, but it looks like I am DJing instead.

Soooo....

.... this came into the shop the other day. Its our holiday card from our friends at Portland Design Works. I love it and it scares me all at the same time. I know those guys pretty well and I can say confidently, I am sure that's what they were going for. Dude, Murph as the dad?! I can totally picture him on the Wonder Years or something.

Right Now Shop Laugh Time

Backyard Blam Presents: Cross Up at the Lumberyard

Get a hat on because it's going to blow your mind.

Old man Champ

If you don't know....

.... now you know.

Trusty Switchblade's Wednesday Morning Jam

Right now....

I am installing a Patterson Transmission on my Hole Shot Globe, but right now I am waiting for my toast so I thought I'd share a sneak peek.



and listening to this.

sooooo good


This is the full version that has more parts where its just the music and not the dude singing, but I mean really.... c'mon, how could I NOT post that video? Look at that guy! Right?

For you not in Portland

I talk about 21st Ave Bicycles here a lot because I love it so much.... and I work here. I thought I'd post some pictures of the shop for everyone who has geography working against them. We do our best to keep it looking as good as we do... which is pretty damn good.




That's my hand.


Sean makes all of our sweet signage.


I am going to go out on a limb here and say we are the only bike shop in Portland that has a pinball machine.


We also have this guy.... Rubi. Not only is he hilarious, he's an amazing artist. I found out at our Kraft Knight that he drew this cover for Cog Magazine. He is super humble and he mentioned it while I was cutting up for a collage I was making. I was like, "why the hell didn't you say something before I chopped it up?!" Then I punched him in the ear. I kid... it was the nose.

Thinking forward

Today Sean was working on our friend Joe's bike and when he test rode it, he noticed the saddle was squeaky where it interfaced with the rails. He wanted to drop some lube in there, but couldn't find the little straws that connect to the lube bottle so he used a spoke instead.
Wow, Sean is such a handsome dude. I mean, look at that hair. He must comb it a lot.






He used the spoke as a guide. Sean is a smart dude.... smart dude.

Finally

You guys may remember this teaser:



I waited for the full length video to come out for what seemed like forever. I was so excited when I got to watch it today and it was everything I had hoped for.

Watch it HERE

Sugar Wheel Works

I have heard a lot about Sugar Wheel Works, but had never been in there nor had I met Jude Kirstein, so this weekend I decided to change that. She shares her space with Sweetpea Bicycles and I've got to say, it looks like women own it. I say that because it looks great and has a warm , inviting feel to it. Sorry dudes, it's a well known face that women have greater attention to details.







This is the Brian Palmer Tasting Room where you can try out different wheel so you can decide what wheel would suit you and your bike the best.



















It's always nice to meet other women in the bicycle industry because there is not too many of us. When I lived in Chicago a woman in a bike shop was few and far between. Out here in Portland there is a lot more woman, but it's still a pretty male dominated field, which I don't mind. It is nice to talk shop with a fellow lady though. It doesn't happen too often.

A day to myself

I have the day off and picked up the new iPhone 4s. I am stoked because now I have my camera back and can post so much sweet stuff... and I mean sweet. After I got that, I headed over to Portland Design Works to see if Dan, Murph, or Erik wanted to grab some lunch. No dice, they all decided they were going to never eat food again.

Perspective.

It's pretty chilly right now here in Portland, but every time I get bummed out about it I try to remember where I am from and say to myself, "it could always be worse". Seeing this list helped me out. America's 25 Coldest Cities.

I hate snow so much....

Just Plain Neat

This came in on a 13lbs Look. It's an eccentric crank arm and you can change the length without removing it. After packing this really, really sweet bike in a box I said to myself, "self, why the HELL didn't you take a picture of the whole bike, idiot?" Then I decided not to be so hard on myself and eat a cookie that my friend Jen brought to the shop today.

80's Keanu Reeves Coke Commercial

My friend Eric sent this my way.

Hangin' with Papa Tong Jam

3rd year is a charm

Lights by PDW

Our buddy James Wilson made another video for our friends at Portland Design Works. I never get tired of seeing videos of my friends being sweet.

Bicycle Lights by PDW from PDW on Vimeo.

KV's Lumberyard photos

Me and my right hand man, Sean.