To Ninerr Is Human, To Heckle Is Divine; Illustrated

Like the geological separation of the super-continent Pangea or the lifting of the Blog's corpus from its warm bed on a sub-freezing morning as its beloved cat Mimi clings to its stomach to feed parasitically off of the precious warmth, Joshie's Niner build continues at a pace that could best be described as "labored".

Most normal folk with a modicum of interest in their new frame would be scrambling for every part necessary. Sadly, Joshie seems to be stuck in neutral, assembling the components piecemeal, accepting orphaned parts from whatever kindly soul happens to be strolling past. "You look like you could use this Tektro v-brake noodle more than me, buddy" "Thank yee kindly sir!" So far, Joshie has an XX fork and a Niner frame. That's a start.

The new tubeless American Classic wheels came in today to much ballyhooed fanfare. Wider rim for 2010 makes these Stan's daddy. Throw a brake on there and a couple platform pedals and you're "trail-ready". Does anybody make white 29er tires? But The Blog digresses. So yeah, at this rate, Joshie's niner, who The Blog has named "Ronnie Lott" and/or "The Ghost Of Steve Walsh", should be completed in time for the 2010 World Cup. Predictions for the cockpit? Eleven81 adustable stem, Nitto track bar and Ergon GC2L gripshift grips. You can take that to the bank...

PCC Bike Move Redux

Holy moley! What a weekend gentle blog readers. Rain and stultifying temperatures in the forecast meant riding outside was out of the question as The Blog has recently developed a certain disdain for anything under 40 degrees, and that includes bicycling. Luckily, the rain held off for Palmetto Cycling Coalition's bike move. The plan was simple: move Rachel and her PCC office to their new location on Devine Street. 20+ hardy souls showed up on all sorts of cargo-outfitted conveyances. The Blog saw Xtracycles, Burley trailers, flatbeds and even a BRAND NEW Eleven 81 trailer! Huzzah! Dave Carson's mustache was probably all a-twitchin'. After everything was loaded and secured, the group took a circuitous but hill-less route through Shandon to the new locale. One tends to forget when riding with a fully loaded trailer that your bicycle's inertia has multiplied significantly. Attempting to stop, I didn't apply enough brake so I rolled a bit more than expected and slammed my ankle on the trailer's hitch. Guh. Luckily there were no witnesses to my pathetic attempt with long haul cycling. How do the dudes in big cities with those giant cargo bikes do it? They're the REAL heroes. So anyhoo, we rolled dirty, 20+ deep to the new office without incident. There waiting for us were a couple jugs of coffee, fruit (!), bagels (double !), free buttons (triple !) and an I-Pod speaker dock playing Bad Brains mash-ups. You wouldn't guess by looking at her, but Rachel loves Bad Brains. Seriously. If you consider her Rasta Lion neck tattoo and "BDBRNS1" vanity plate, she might be the biggest Bad Brains fan in the Metro. Did anyone ever see them at Rockafellas? The Blog saw them when they toured for "God Of Love". What a snoozer! Just kidding. They rocked the house until HR threw a temper tantrum. Anyhoo, PCC is at 2500 Devine street. Go by and say hello to Rachel in her new, cavernous, potentially haunted, most definitely built on an orphan burial ground, office!

First of all, check out this Rivendell Atlantis! Sorry for the wonky angles. I have swimmer's ear and my equilibrium is all out of whack. I'm constantly at a slant!

Not sure about those cantis. How 'bout (BKST4505 for those of you playing along in the online catalog) some Paul's?
The Burley Flatbed Trailer (TRAL2230). These fellows won't be in our 2010 catalog which is a shame because they're awesome for hauling things that are flat and bedlike. They actually hold quite a bit considering I pulled two people around who were sitting atop like so many Ghandis on a train's roof. Shops, please inquire with our inside or outside reps. Only a few left...
The world's easiest trailer attachment. Average installation time: 17.8 seconds
Michael was rolling the new-for-2010 Eleven81 trailer. That Tupperware thing was full of stolen arrowheads and priceless artifacts. Rachel! How could you! Tsk tsk tsk...
Another Flatbed sighting! They're everywhere, like neutrinos and Peruvian flute bands.
Bah! File cabinet! How fun pedaling your doom machine sucka! This thing was also crammed full of arrowheads. Rachel!
Waste basket snuggly secured to an Xtracycle. Word up.
The Blog flossing his new Madras Pumas and scandium Kona. And yes, I haven't ridden this bicycle since October. Who are you to judge me?!?! I am NOT AN ANIMAL!
The rabble!
Back of Rachel's new office complete with handy dandy loading dock. Wait a sec, where did that Easy Up come from? Who brought all this coffee and food? What's going on here!?!?!?

The End Is In Sight

Ugh, what a weeeeeek. So weak. Wique? Anyhoo, huge news from Palmetto Cycling Coalition, especially if you have a bike trailer!

Huge news from Joshie. A NEW FRAME! And guess what, it glows in the freakin' dark! Big boy stepped up into the 29" world and got a new XX fork to boot!!

This Only Gets Me To Normal

Rachel Kefalos from Palmetto Cycling Coalition was kind enough to share with The Blog pics from last Friday' Festivus Bike Parade in Five Points. Lots of colorful bikes and lots of colorful riders, some sporting Incredible Hulk Fists....
MICHAEL! The pride and occasional shame of Inside Sales. Get that man some eyedrops!
Gamecockz....

Five Points Festivus, Part 2 from Rachael Kefalos on Vimeo.

So low key that you might not see me, incognito and takin' it easy

Soon we'll get back to blogging but for now, The Blog has been perusing this site as of late checking out the vintage goodness. Anybody got any other good places for vintage bicycle perusal? Just wonderin'...

Upping the Ante

Chris Maret in receiving found this little number on his lunch break. You think you're hot stuff? T-Shirt war folks. The Blog is throwing down the gauntlet. By the way, Geoff (background) LOVES The Boltonizer...

It's Hard To Soar With The Eagles When You're Surrounded By Turkeys

Another late night at Hawley means The Blog has precious little time to spin yarns so tonight's post is another informative "heads up" for a "happening". If you're in Columbia tomorrow night, do yourself a favor and head to 5 Points around 6 PM and get your Festivus groove on. Bring a bike decked out in lights and a list of grievances to air. Oh boy, The Bloggy has a few hundred. I'm lookin' right at you RAMIKO! Rachel from Palmetto Cycling Coalition will be handing out lumps of coal to kids on fixed gears while The Hawley Company's very own Joshie will be awkwardly standing in a crowd of revelers who give him the creeps. Happy Festivus big guy!

One for the treble, two for the bass...

Well heck, when was this monstrosity announced? That's what happens when you're neck-deep in equally monstrous things at work. Life passes you by as you hunt down images of BB30 bearing assemblies and Eleven81 handlebar brackets. The Blog ain't complainin', but still, this race should've been on its radar...Best thing is, it's cheap. Worst thing is, it's in February. Actually, that's the second-best thing about it. Dust off the whale blubber skin suits Joshie, we got a race to win (abandon)!!!!

"Squancelcius is a beautful name for a baby!"

Combining my love of pilgrim-loving Native Americans and my love of temperature. But that's neither here nor there. So tired. So very, very tired. Saw this on another blog and thought it would be nice to share it. NC Winter Cup CX series dates:

As a Campy Lover, This Makes My Heart Hurt...

As a unicorn hater, this also makes my heart hurt...CLTH5417 for those of you following along. Very few in stock, they won't last, they depict something that displeases The Blog. This isn't rocket science people. Walk into your LBS, purposefully, and demand your unicorn socks. NOW!!!!

Rank Amateurs: CX-RATED!

Hendersonville Cross, CX3, CX4, blah blah blibbity blah blah! It's Thanksgiving Eve you scurrilous cretins! Shouldn't you be pretending to enjoy quality time with your inlaws OR STUFFING YOUR GAPING MAW WITH CANDIED TREATS!?!?!? Once again The Blog beseeches your forgiveness in regards to the hastiness of this post. There have been "strange occurrences" within the hallowed Hawley halls that require our undivided attention. Ever heard of "Cloverfield"? Well instead of NYC, shift locales to our breakroom and you might understand what I'm gettin' at!


Joshie on Saturday. You can tell cuz it's sunny and theres no mud. Lookin' good in those Craft knickers, pretty boy. I wouldn't mind - (edit)
This fella rode with his seatpost upside down for 45 minutes! Can you imagine that?

And now, we move on to Sunday....
Ole Bloggy and his baggy Craft Pro Warm billowing out from beneath his jersey. Does it get anymore amateur hour than this???Caught slippin'

This fellow stood perfectly still in this position for hours...
Challenge's FANGOS (TIRE84249 for those of you playing along in our online catalog) devour the mud!!!

Hendersonville UCI Cyclocross with Actual Pics Of Racing!

Sorry for the tardiness of these posts, but The Blog is knee-deep in something so foul at work, it cannot be spoken or written of. So let's distract ourselves with some full-color action from the Pro race... The WALL!

Jake Wells from Mafia Racing rounds a corner at speed. Let's hope he doesn't roll a tubular!
Oh no! A rolled tubular for Jake!Jake runs to the pits under the watchful gaze of a very handsome looking 'stache...Gangsigns...everywhere...in Hendersonvile!
Pro roadie from Fuji? Will gives him a lil cowbell action...