What I need Jam

Oh my god... I love this song!!!

Stoking bros

21st Ave Bicycles loves James Wilson... Backyard Blam loves James Wilson.... In fact, he is one of my closest friends. 21st's awesome owner, Park Chambers, loves all the videos James has made for us and all the work he does. We love him. He deserve so much more than we can give him, but Park gave us the green light to give James a token of our gratitude... Chris King hubs laced to Mavic Open Pros, built by me. He was planning on buying them anyway. I am not even making this up....building this surprise wheel set for a close friend who gives without asking, was THE BEST part of my week. No foolin.... being able to do something I love so much to make my friend so happy... well, there's nothing like it.

Kyle is more of a creep than I thought

He made this video with Comedy is Ok here in the shop a month or so ago... super weird.

Cat Bike from Comedy is OK. on Vimeo.

Morning Disco Jam

There isn't anything to look at while the song plays so you are just going to have to make due with you imagination. It's a hot, hot jam.

Guest Mechanic: Carly

I gave up my bench for a bit to watch a real pro in action. My friend, Carly, is about the most knowledgeable mechanic out there. Who knew you are supposed to use a pedal wrench on a saddle? Not me! I learned a lot from watching her work.

Customer Solutions vol.9: Steamroller

I am bummed Aaron's head got cut off in the picture because he sure is a handsome man. Usually in the customer solutions section I show you someone who took bike repair into their own hands and failed. I am pleased to bring you this one. That bike is the Surly Steamroller and has no braze ons to mount any of this stuff, so he had to get creative without making it look tacky... which he did. This ride sure looks classy.




I built those wheels.

Fatback X King Tim Jam

Turn it up. The sound is shit.

KV's Embro Article

Kyle is a writer.





VTT

By: Kyle Von Hoetzendorff


Why do I take so much joy from mountain biking? I spend days looking forward to short hours on my bike, and huge blocks of time watching other people ride their bikes on video. Whole paychecks have gone towards bike parts and whole weekends have disappeared to seemingly fruitless adventures. I have to start plotting the different options of recompense I will present to my lovely and tireless wife to make up for my frequent Sunday absences. Despite all the trouble and money—not to mention the constant and nagging injuries—when it comes to free time, mountain biking is in rare company in terms of quality, and if the Oregon weather is sunny and bright then there is nothing I would rather be doing. True, many people have obsessions like mine, industries have been built on these leisure activities, industries for the industries, and it is for this reason—the existence of an endless amount of options—that I am interested in exactly why I am so fascinated with mountain biking.

There are certainly things that I don’t care for in mountain biking. Among the distasteful aspects of the game, climbing ranks high. I am not a huge fan of pedaling up hills on my bike. Doubtless this sentiment is sacrilege to the majority of Embrocation’s readership, yet an inner guiding light that cannot be extinguished compels me to be honest in my admissions. Yes, there is a certain satisfaction that is derived from being able to pedal up hills quickly on a well-equipped road bike; and I grant that a good hard climb can turn into a euphoric high, but on a big tire mountain bike, plodding along at a snail’s pace, no thanks.


Read the rest HERE

Circulus: James Wilson

Check out James Wilson's Circulus promo

PDW Circulus Promo 1 from James Wilson on Vimeo.

IBIKEMLPS

Check out IBIKEMLPS Circulus pictures HERE

Circulus in Bike Commter

Check out Vince Rodarte's write up on the Circulus race HERE

Bike Portland's Circulus write up

Check out Johnathan Maus' article and pictures of the PDW's Circulus HERE


I get fired up...

Circulus: Dave Roth's Pictures

This weekend was a blast. Portland Design Works hosted a party with racing on their Circuls track. I had the privilege of djing. It was a magic evening. Check out the rest of Dave's pictures HERE

I am a creep.



Our MCs for the evening, Murph and Stevil



Drake


Ira


James Wilson hard at work

Gift Day

So, not only did were we given a pinball machine yesterday, Chrome came in and gave us 2 of only 20 made shop aprons. Then Cognition is in town from Wisconsin and gave me a hat. A couple different customers brought booze and then Oakley brought Kyle and I free frogskins. Best day ever? Yes.

Hey rest of Portland....

Does your other bike shops have a pinball machine in it? What's that? No, they don't? Huh... That's weird because ours does. That's right, 21st Ave Bicycles, as of today, has a pinball machine with open play!! Next level beats!

21st's helping hand

Today I was out by the Steel Bridge doing repairs and repping 21st. We teamed up with the BTA because they were trying to get people to sign a petition for a bike share program here in Portland. I helped a lot of folks. That's a good feeling. I saw my teammate, Chris. I saw a sweet single speed Tonic Fab cross bike. It was big fun.

New 21st T Shirts

Our new shirts are done. Come and get it!

Untitled from James Wilson on Vimeo.

The most attractive bike shop in Portland.

Commuter Support

I am here to help!!! From 5-7 I will be set up at the west side entrance of the Steel Bridge for commuter support in the name of the BTA and Twentyfirst Avenue Bicycles . I will have tools and a stand for basic adjustments to keep you on the road and shredding the gnar. Come hang out and tell me how strong I am... that will get you everywhere.

PDW pick up

Right now Murph and I are picking up the sound system for Saturday's Circulus party at Portland Design Works' Mother Ship, but earlier he and Erik took on Gus and Ryan from Cyclone. Murph has got the moves. Who knew?

1,002

It's funny... I've been really paying attention to when I would get to my 1,000th post and then when it came, I spaced it. Maybe I should lay off the herb. Maybe not. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. Tonight I stayed after to build some wheels. I don't have a shop at home so to have a job that allows me to work on my own projects after hours is pretty amazing. I love what I do and all this after hours work just helps me hone my craft. Building wheels is a different beast than bike repair. I want to be an expert at both.... I think I am well on my way.

Hell Yes Jam

Sean Light's speed read

When you see Sean in action, you are always seeing him giving it his all. When he eats... HE EATs. When he works.... HE WORKs and when he reads.... Well...,

Come Party With Us

Yes you read correctly. Not only will you get to see some sweet racing, you also get to hear me lay it down on the 1s and 2s. Legit. In case you didn't know.... I kill iT. So, come on down to come and get down... and race your bike a bit.

Summer Reading

Closing Shop Jam

This song takes a little bit to get started, but once it does..... oh man. I love it. I just love it.

TS rides from 21st

Unfortunately, I will be working Wednesdays at the shop, but that doesn't mean that you can't come in and say hi. I mean, the ride starts at the shop. Why wouldn't you come in? Doesn't make sense.

Jimmy Jam

Rev3: Neutral Support

Day two of my first experience being a race mechanic and it was so rad... my head might explode. Today was neutral support so after last minute adjustments before the race started, we headed out in the car and drove up and down the course looking for people who were broke down on the side of the road. We would stop and fix their problem and they could continue their race. It was a half Ironman meaning we were out there for awhile. It was a lot of fun and I know it's something I want to do again. Fo sho. It's really exciting to do something that I love to do so much and in the same time help someone continue their race. You kind of form a bond with that person and you get to cheer them on every time you pass them. I think I'm in love....

I don't need a bracelet to tell me what I already know, but apparently it helps other people identify me as such. Not everyone is as perceptive as I am.

Wow, doesn't Muck look super intelligent in this picture? I think so, and super fit to boot.






This is just one half of the bikes in this corral and Muck and I were the only two mechanics on duty. Uhhhh... we crushed it.


This is Meredith. She pretty much DOMINATED the woman's pro race. That picture I posted from of Muck fishing out that valve extender from that wheel yesterday was hers. By some miracle he got it out, glued up her tubular, and she was able to ride to victory. So.... in a way, we won today too. Although, I win every day.


This is Muck's friend, Courtney, from Boulder, CO. Super nice lady.

Muck is a seasoned race mechanic and this was my first one. He drove so I could jump out and take care of business when people needed roadside help.










I was surprised to see how many people who were just out riding their bikes on the race course.... especially since there was a bike path that ran parallel to it. Although, I wish this guy was racing and I wish he would've won. Nice flags.