Peep This: Mellow Johnny's

Bike Race Winner, Author, Philanthropist, Bike Shop Proprietor. Lance’s commuter-focused bike shop, Mellow Johnny’s, held their grand opening this past weekend and yours truly was lucky enough to score an invite to the event. Landed in the ATX (Austin, TX) on Friday morning to the captain’s welcome of “Welcome to Austin, the temperature is a balmy 94 degrees and not a bit of it dry.” 94 degrees? That’s only 4 degrees from a Nick Lachey solo. To put the swing of temp into perspective, it was 50 when I got on the flight. I wasn’t even sure that my pomade would work at such a temperature. I later found out that 90 degrees was really the cut-off temp.
I dig A-Town. I know I’ve gushed before about the capital of the Lonestar Republic before but I have to reiterate that it’s a great spot. Great music, cool vibe, stellar nightlife, beautiful people, bike friendly, 94 in May.  You don’t even need a car. The pedicabs might as well race and the bike lanes are generous and widely used. Our hotel was across the street from where one of the more forgettable seasons of The Real World was filmed (pictured on the left) which I thought was kind of funny. My Trek comrades don’t catch the show but having watched it since the San Fran season, I’m a bit of a Real World sommelier. Best season? London; and if you have beef with that, bring it, I will destroy your argument. A couple culinary discoveries the Trek squad made this trip were The Elephant Room on Congress (between 3rd and 4th) which treated us to live jazz and perhaps the city’s best Old Fashioned.  Two floors up is home to Kyoto the sushi haunt where we refueled for the evening. The tempura was light and the wasabi cleared your sinuses. One of the more enjoyable meals I’ve had in all of Texas.
Back to bikes. The shop is located in a building that’s been in transition for years but has retained a lot of its original charm and materials. The natural fibers make for fabulous aesthetics and the wall candy ain’t too bad either. Hanging from the rafters are more than jus a few of the bikes that have sat under the greatest cyclist of all time but there’s some chi-chi custom jobs thrown in the mix as well. The winner of the North American Handmade Bike Show (wooden rims and grips) hangs above some open counter space along with a few custom-built choppers from a builder in SoCal.  At the end of the rows of bicycles is a full-on wall size mural done up by a famous graffiti artist. I have no idea what the painting is of or what it represents other than it’s really cool and makes me want to start freestyling. The bathrooms come complete with full showers that are open for commuters to use. The attached coffee shop, “Juan Pelota” serves up liquid offerings with a mix of sandwiches and salads. I’m told “Juan Pelota” is south-Texas spanish slang for “one testicle”, a play on words that was certainly not lost on the locals I talked to.
Lifestyle bikes dominate a lot of the floor space with a wide selection of brands and styles represented which is nice to see if you have a little something to do with marketing them.  There’s a great road and mountain bike selection but you can read the other blogs if you want to read about those. The shop’s apparel selection is crazy diverse with brands like Mash and RVCA getting some decent shelf space. When was the last time you went to buy jeans at a bike shop? Start thinking about it.
Overall, the grand opening was off the richter with celebs like Gary Fisher and Lance himself dropping by to shake hands and kiss babies.  Former Wallflowers guitarist and author of Mike and the Bike, Michael Ward, dropped in to read his book and sing songs with the younger attendees. All I could think was “I wonder if any of these kids has heard Bringing Down The Horse?”

The Road To Mandalay

If I could go back to school, I'd major in journalism. If you can make it as a writer, you may just find yourself leading an incredibly interesting life. It's tough going to be a journo but the perks can be huge. Recently, my boy Porter Fox (all-world writer, lives in NYC, yes i'm jealous) retraced the Rudyard Kipling Poem, The Road to Mandalay by bicycle for a story he was working for a mag that I will forego mentioning right now. Gotta keep the suspense, I'll post it when it drops. The trip took him and a friend through modern day Vietnam and Burma and presented some interesting challenges for equipping his gear needs. He needed a bike that could take some bumps but the terrain would be almost 50/50 dirt and pavement. Some of the areas were going to see some pretty gnarly drops so we immediately went to a suspension fork. The frame needed to be able to take some abuse so we went with the Trek 6700 and 6700 WSD. The pavement was what threw us. While the 6700 is a mountain bike, Porter and his companion would find their lives and travels made much easier if we could get them some slicks. My compadre, Natascha (Bontrager Diva), kicked in some wide slicks with some puncture-proof aspects and we wished the travelers all the best.
Porter got back to the states and hooked me up with the video from his time riding through Vietnam. The helmet-cam provides some interesting views and a great view of the country-side and locals.

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

"Do you know what time it is in Japan right now? It's tomorrow. It's the future." - Rob Lowe, Thank You For Smoking

Direct from the land of Godzilla movies and Hello Kitty comes one of the most ingenious bicycle parking ideas ever imagined. Nevermind that the Japanese are lightyears ahead of us in cell phone, car, and just about every other technology that matters in the 21st century but now they're upping the anty on the one of the bike commuter's greatest challenges. A safe place to park your bike can mean the difference between doing your part to save the planet or catching the subway home in full lycra. Anybody who's familiar with the NYC Subway system will recognize the metro-style cards that engage the door opening. This video is unbelievable. The whole system looks like the beginning of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka. I feel like it should play the crazy factory music from Pee Wee's Big Adventure. I can't understand a word that anybody's saying but hey, that never stopped me from watching seemingly endless hours of "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge".

Don't worry, even if you do ride the rail with lycra, you're still not the weirdest person on the train. I guarantee it.

Lance's City Bike

What you are currently looking at is the latest edition to a very prestigious family of bicycles. Personally handled by one of our pro team engineers,this slick new ride is headed to a certain someone down in Austin, TX. Hey, you win 7 Tour de France's you get some perks. A bit of a jump from the normal carbon fiber bedazzled gems that are usually crafted by our boys in the Loo, this incognito ride is all steel, sports a flip-flop hub (it can run as a fixed gear or freewheel singlespeed), and rocks a mustache bar that would make Rollie Fingers jealous. The bike now has deep dish rims on the wheels and an aero brake but I couldn't score a camera fast enough to beat the shipping guys.
Lance digs the urban scene (who amongst us doesn't, right?) and hasn't exactly logged much shuffleboard time since retiring from pro cycling. While stumping for cancer research funding and shooting a scene or two with the Hollywood types, The Man has also had time to open up a commuter-focused bike shop in his native Austin. Mellow Johnny's (a play on the word "Maillot Jaune" which is French for "Yellow Jersey") is probably one of the coolest names for any store be it bike shop or whatever in one of the coolest cities in the US. If you've never been to the capital of Texas, go. Hit up Sixth Street, stay at the Driskill, eat at the Hula Hut. The locals tell me that the Hula Hut is totally a tourist hang-out but it's a decent spot to eat, people watch, and enjoy the view of the lake. Anyways back to Mellow Johnny's. One of the first of its kind, a shop that focuses the lion's share of its attention on commuting is a real breath of fresh air. While the enthusiasts will keep the high end moving, it's the people that will use the bicycle to make real change.

Yesterday was Earth Day so I should probably say something about planting a tree or ride your bike or hug a deer or something. Fact is, I carpooled since the weather was looking less than friendly. There's something about passing all of your co-workers on their bikes while you're in the back seat of Kitty's, (retail merchandising girl) Subaru, that makes you feel bad that you didn't ride. Anyway, HR held a breakfast for all those who rode their bikes, walked, or carpooled and it was probably sweet justice that by the time I could go collect on that there was only a banana left. So my Earth Day message is this: If HR offers free breakfast, don't shuffle your feet.

Go By Bike Month

Trek is deeming May as Go By Bike Month. In conjunction with our 1 World 2 Wheels program, Trek is encouraging all those subjected to $4 gas, a worsening environment, and horrid commutes (that means you) to take your shorter trips in the month of May by bicycle.  That grocery store you drive to is probably less than 2 miles from your house. Go by bike. That coffee shop with the mochas that make each Saturday morning worth looking forward to is probably less than 2 miles from your house. Go by bike. The post office where you'll be sending your taxes in next week is probably less than 2 miles from your house. Go by bike. And fast, you've got 5 more days people.

Now, I'm not one to get preachy. My high horse took off with my soapbox a while back but I have to be honest with you. 2 miles on a bike is nothing. Seriously. You could be the most out of shape person you know (God knows I am) and you can still ride a bike 2 miles. Most people will tell you it's a solution for the planet and this and that but I'm telling you to get off your butt and ride your bike a little. Don't think of what you'll save. Americans, as a people, are not good savers.  Americans are good at getting. If you need proof of that please refer to the Revolutionary War, Manifest Destiny, Louisiana Purchase, and exorbitant credit card debt. So let's talk about what riding a bike will get you:

- A better day. Riding a bike will change your day for the better, I promise.
- Fit. Riding a bike actually burns calories at a higher rate than driving a car. And you're less likely to pull through the drive-thru.
- A better attitude. Riding a bike = exercise. Exercise increases endorphins. Endorphins improve mood.
- Away. Dogs barking, kids are screaming, phone's ringing, tv's blaring. I'll bet you can't hear it from two miles away.
- A new outlook. Riding a bike gives you time to think. It may even give you time to reconcile.
- A better world. Think of yourself as one more solution.
- A rightfully deserved bigger ego. Driving an SUV is easy. Going by bike is a commitment.

I understand there are obstacles. Traffic is sketchy, there's limited bike parking, and it may still be cold where you live. Here's how to combat those. Start small and plan ahead. Ride around the block to get the legs warm today. Tomorrow ride around the neighborhood. The day after tomorrow, ride a mile from your house and back. Work up to it. Start now. By May you'll feel comfortable with the 2 miles distance and may even venture further. Map a route before the trip to avoid scary traffic spots and wear bright clothing. It's spring after all. If it's still a bit frosty there are two key items you'll want. Windproof gloves and a scarf. I know it seems simple but those are the two things that'll keep you comfy.

Nobody's saying you have to throw your car keys in the garbage disposal. Just think twice when you pick them up. If Pavlov could make dogs salivate just by ringing a bell, surely the jingle of keys can trigger your thought process. How far are you going? do you really NEED the car? Can the few things you're picking up fit into a backpack, purse, or basket? If you ask yourself those three questions you might be surprised at the answers. If you're curious on what it takes, check out the tips on our 1 World 2 Wheels site or send me a comment. You can just call me Niccoret cause I'm here to help you kick the habit.

Don't Drink The Water

So my bracket this year (just like yours) is total garbage. Four #1 seeds? That’s not supposed to happen. I didn’t even pony up for the office pool this year just based on the layout of the tourney.  No way to win with so crowded a pool. I have a circle of buds from the old school that have the “No WAGS” pool. WAGS standing for Wives And Girlfriends. The rule was implemented after a fifth straight year of the pool being won by somebody whose name ended with “istie” or “acy”. Pools should not be made upon who has the cutest mascots or the best color schemes but for some reason (and because God obviously did not look the other way when I was in college) the Maryland Terrapins had “the cutest turtle” mascot the same year that they also had the best backcourt in the country and “Carolina Blue” just happened to be the color closest to “Tiffany’s Blue” the same year the Heels cut down the nets.  The final straw came in 06 when an excited ___-istie claimed victory by leaping from her barstool in a crowded establishment and declared to the patrons “I picked Florida because I was there for Spring Break!”  Maybe it was because she yelled it right at her (then) boyfriend and self proclaimed “Bracketologist” Tyler, maybe it was because she then launched into the “I-just-took-your-money dance, maybe it was because everybody hated ___-istie before this outburst but for one reason or another we didn’t see much of ___-iste after that night. It was probably because Tyler was already onto another ___-acy by then. 

I swore this was going to be my year. My Badgers were looking strong after the conference season and tournament title, I knew Carolina and UCLA were not going to disappoint, and I had a dead-on hunch that Duke was not long for March. So what happens? Kyle’s new girlfriend, Stacy (of course), does his pool (unbeknownst to his homies) since he was out of the country and she wuss-bets him into a perfect Final Four by taking all #1 seeds. So now the guys who have given Kyle the business over the past weeks for filling out a bracket that held as much bravado as a Chihuahua in a tutu have to lay our bags of silver at his feet and it’s all because some “acy” snuck back into the pool. Well, I’ll give up my silver but I want the world to know it’s dirty money. The pool has tainted water this year my friends. Tainted water. 

Hats Off To This Guy

You may have seen photos of what is commonly known as the "old timey bicycle". The one with the ridiculously ginormous (does webster even recognize "ginormous" as a word yet?) front wheel and the comically tiny rear wheel? The Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather of the 29'er. The name of this monstrosity of engineering is actually the "Penny-farthing", referring to British currency sizes of the late 1800's and how they relate to the size of the wheels. No only would you need a bowler and well-defined and waxed handlebar mustache to look appropriate riding one, you would also need to be dressed in the habberdashery of the period. Three piece suit with a pocket watch chain. A monacle wouldn't hurt your case too poorly either. You'd have to use words like "bully" and discuss how the Panama canal is a just a mere dream and whether or not you believed that Stanley would ever find Dr. Livingston but at least you wouldn't look silly riding the bike.

That is unless you're going to ride one over the Himalyan Mountains.

Apparently a gentleman is riding a penny-farthing around the world to raise awareness for various charitable organizations. Our SoCal outside sales rep, Greg, ran into him in a bike shop and scored a couple of photos. Check his website out. The guy is totally legit. That pith helmet is legit for sure. My favorite part of his whole bike are the waterbottle cages mounted to the little wheel. While i understand the need to carry water, i'm guessing those are really only for use in the dryer stretches of his journey. I think I'd just fine the biggest Camelbak I could get my hands on and hammer on through. I'd even use my handlebar mustache to hold the straw. Man, I wish I could grow facial hair.

Trekkies!: The Pedal Powered Snowplow

They say when a writer officially runs out of things to talk about they look around themselves. So that's what I guess I'm doing here. To stay current, relevant, and since Madison has officially reached 100 inches of snow and it doesn't look like i'll be riding anywhere for a while, I'm turning to my fellow hamsters at the wheel that is Trek Bicycle Corp.

You may have noticed that you just read the words "100 inches of snow" in the preceding paragraph. This winter has brought with it a ridiculous amount of snow and turned southern Wisconsin into a bunch of cranky, pain-killer abusing shut-ins. You'd be surprised how bad your back hurts after shoveling 100 inches of snow off of your driveway. I'm currently throwing back a mixture of Flinstone's vitamins, Excedrin, with a nice Prozac chaser. Not recommended. Throw in Brett Favre's retirement and people around here are starting to think "what's the point?".

Well some of us would rather innovate than whine and that's exactly what an engineer named Kevin Blake did. With 100 inches of snow a salesperson would sell snowcones. With 100 inches of snow a PR specialist would tell you that at least it was a gradual 100 inches. It took an engineer to build something in order to do something about it. Using a few parts of a "deceased" riding lawn mower, Kevin built the ultimate way to get some off-season spinning and move some serious powder at the same time. 

My fellow Trekkies are actually doing some pretty wild things in between bringing you the best bikes in the whole world. I'll do a feature once in a while where we lift the curtain a little and see what's going on behind the front desk. We'll tip our hats to the nerds of the world and call it "Trekkies!".

Don't worry, I'll be in a much better mood during the next post. I think the Prozac's starting to kick in.

Ballerific

If you're looking for lame video clips this is the wrong blog. Too many blogs place crazy amounts of useless motion in order to appear cool. Drawing on the talents of others in order to draw some sort of association of cool from the video. Knowing something exists does not make you cool. It's like that guy in high school who wore the Wu-Tang t-shirt but didn't know that the RZA was not an abreviation for something.

That being said, check out the video I posted (because it's cool and I want to be cool) and follow the instructions explicitly. If you don't follow the instructions exactly, the message will be totally lost on you.

The RZA was actually a member of Wu-Tang. Sixteen years later 36 Chambers is still a great album. itunes has the real version if you can't find it at Best Buy.

Changing The Google

Who doesn't love Google? Ask yourself what has enriched your electronic life greater than Google in the past couple of years? Whether you realize it or not, you probably interact with Google at least 10 times a day. Google is so awesome it became a verb. Ever Googled yourself? Try it. It's fun and totally not shameful. You can even tell your significant other you did it. Don't be afraid, you can't hide the Google under your mattress. You may be amazed with what you come up with. Thought you put that sophomore year homecoming photo with the semi weave/perm/jheri curl* away for good? Guess again, slick. 

Google Maps is potentially the only way I've found anything I was unclear of the location of over the past couple of years. It even works on Blackberry. Turn by turn navigation without the annoying British woman's nagging voice. I like to think of my Google Maps voice as a more pleasing bass like Barry White. You get there but you feel a little more sexy. If you get turned around just plug in your location and it'll give you new directions. I can credit Trek's entire Tour of California success to the fact that Google could find me no matter where I was.

One thing that Google Maps does not have is a feature on how to get from point A to B by bicycle. This addition would be HUGE for getting more people on their bikes if they knew how to get places safely. I'm guessing features would include avoiding major highways and intersections, finding close bike paths to use, and maybe a coffee shop or two on the way. There is a group attempting to get Google to add this as a Google Maps feature. GoogleMapsBikeThere.org has made it their mission to get the folks at Google to add the mapping feature. Check them out to get involved. You can sign an online petition that has more than 25,000 signatures. Think about it, bike directions anywhere in the world. That would be sweet.

*BLOG NOTE: I Googled the word "Jheri Curl" because I was unclear on how to spell it. I thought it would have started with a "G". Google knew how to spell it. What do you want, I'm a white kid from Wisconsin who was born after 1980.

**BLOG NOTE: The picture is an illustration of the Googlebot by Stuart Brown. It is not a depiction of how I feel about Google. It's just an awesome picture.