I heard that there will be an alleycat race in Erlangen (a bicycle city that I used to live in and also the origin of Siemens company) and that has been published in all newspapers. So I was thinking „wow, a real alleycat race – why on Earth did they publish that in the public newspapers“. Because usually these races are more underground and only people that ride fixed gear bikes know about it. But then I found the website for the „Bikenite“ and saw that it is rather a ralley than a real fixed gear only race. So it is more to get the word out to the public about riding fixed gear bikes and having a ralley where anybody needs to find and cycle to certain check points in the city. I hope that will increase the acceptance of fixed gear bikes in Germany.
Archive for the ‘Fixed Gear’ Category
Alleycat Ralley in Erlangen
Dienstag, Juli 20th, 2010Cycling and Juggling
Montag, Juli 19th, 2010Tom from the Peloton sent this link to a funny movie. It shows what happens if you are a cyclist and asking your wife or husband if you can go out for a ride. There is also the follow up movie of what kind of discussions you might encounter after your bike ride.
There is construction across from my shop so I assume there will be a new shop. I asked one of the guys from Wudaoying hutong and he said that someone wanted to open a bike shop but he did not allow that. As if I were to believe that. Does he really think that could frighten me?
Having a bicycle shop in Beijing makes you get the interesting as well as strange people come in suggesting various things. Especially Chinese people surprise me. I have been asked if I sell flags of various countries, or if I can help get some antique model trains from Germany. Advice has been to give my customers good customer service by requesting them to come back after 3 months and then open all the bearings and grease them so that they do not brake after 4 months. That would probably be a good idea if I were to sell the mass produced cheap low quality bikes that you get everywhere in China. A funny similar suggestion was to provide service to the elderly bike riders to repair their old bikes for free so that they like coming and then will buy a bike from me. That would be so funny of all the over 70 year old Beijingers would start riding flashy fixed gear bikes. I am happy the old cyclists already come and chat with me just because they know I love bikes and especially nice old ones. Another great suggestion was to do advertisement in the newspaper to get children to start the sport of trick cycling. That would be wasted money, I prefer to continue to perform in schools and show the children what trick cycling is and see if someone is interested. Another funny suggestion was to hire the Chinese cycling acrobats (that just stand together on one freewheel bike) to get more people interested in fixed gear bikes. Ha ha.
But a good suggestion of one of my Chinese friends was to find people to work for us. We are currently looking for an intern to help us with our website and office stuff. But we also are looking for a fixed gear bike mechanic or someone that wants to learn about single speed bikes to help us build up all the bicycles. Of course an intern is welcome. If you know someone that could be interested just contact me.
Tonight I went to the Beijing Jugglers meet up in Yuging Yishan bar. It is a bit dark but it is great to be able to use the space for free.
It is great to see that the group is growing and attracting beginners and professionals at the same time. It is really fun as everybody helps each other.
Ines on ZLOG
Mittwoch, Juli 7th, 2010A picture was posted on ZLOG from the New York City bicycle film festival.
Saturday in the Store
Samstag, Juni 26th, 2010Saturday in the store with 2 guys.
We got some bikes ready for the bike parts swap meet tomorrow. One was this pink girls bike.
The bike that was almost sold and the almost customer requested to have the horn added.
Or Quinn’s converted bike that he sold back to us when he left China.
And we also some special beautiful bikes like this red Flying Banana with Modolo wheels.
A group of young Chinese fixed gear riders came by and hung out at the shop for a while. The one kid is 15 years old and just won first place in the Chinese National drawing competition. Samantha is asking him to draw the shop for us. His friend has this bike.
And onother friend has this bike that we built up here at Natooke:
There they went.
In the evening we went to a rooftop party in Chaoyang district of Beijing. It was a great night to be outside.
From here you have a great view over the city and the central business district. And we could even see the moon that is on the top left corner of this picture.
Black Flying Banana Fixie
Freitag, Juni 25th, 2010Mark passed by the Natooke shop with his elegant matt black Flying Banana fixed gear bike.
I like the Oury lock on grips that he chose to have on his bike. Actually after taking this picture he decided for a new more classy Selle Italia seat.
Due to the upcoming bike parts swap meet on Sunday we decided not to do the monthly STC Friday Light Ride tonight. But next month we will have it again on the last Friday of the month.
Forever Keirin Ambassador
Donnerstag, Juni 24th, 2010My friend Tomity-san who is a professional track cyclist in Japan recently wrote this email to me:
I’m fine and still training everyday, Keirin racing every month. It’s long time no see. I’m sorry for the long time no message.
I am emailing you because I’d like to tell my retirement. I retire Tachikawa Keirin race (24-26th,June) this month and it retires from Keirin rider at the end. It ends about the history of my Keirin rider of 29 years.
It was you and everyone’s assistance that Keirin rider had been continued to me long. I wish to express my gratitude very much for it. Thank you very much.
The race of my remainder is only Tachikawa Keirin race. I am training toward it. I plan to help Fuji cycle show room studio that the friend starts after it retires.
Hereafter, I want to associate with you through the bicycle. Picture with my team mate at Matsudo Keirin race (2,June)
I wish him all the best for this last race. And that your projects for the future go well.
Bikes in NYC and Advocacy
Dienstag, Juni 22nd, 2010My last few hours in NYC. I had to use this time to upload videos to facebook and youtube. Just outside the cafe that had horrible non-coffee drinks but free wireless internet were two single speed bikes. One of them was very colorful.
Then I went to a very nice and friendly bicycle shop that I visited a few days ago. It is called Metro Bicycles and is quite big and nicely sorted with very friendly staff. I needed to get some last few things before leaving the apple. Goodbye and hope to be back here soon!
I also tried to get in contact with the Transportation Alternatives group of NYC. They have worked a lot with the local government on setting up bike lanes and ensuring more safety for cyclists. Their work really shows. I see such a difference than 3 years ago. I wish that we in Beijing with our Smarter than Car initiative can also receive positive changes for Beijing so that the number of cyclists will increase as much as it did in NYC.
Flying Trapeze and Films and Girls Alleycat
Sonntag, Juni 20th, 2010Today morning after a long interview for the COG magazine on my trick cycling background and fixe gear bikes I went to my first class of flying trapeze. It was at the Espana Streb institute in Brooklyn.
They also had space for other aerial disciplines and people were practicing.
The flying trapeze was fun but less exciting than expected. It was not too difficult for me with my long gymnastics background and anyway the uneven bars and flying between had always been my favorite element. The class was first doing swings and then some figures and preparing for the fly. Then a catcher went on the other trapeze and actually caught me. Of course for this easy one there is no real feeling of flying because I just take my hands off my trapeze and he catches my arms. Here is the video of my fourth flying trapeze back end split with catch.
I will go again tomorrow and hopefully learn something more. Too bad that there is no school in Beijing.
Then I rode fast to get back to Manhattan to be part of the first screening of bike films. The bicycle film about me called „Riding in the Circle“ was screened in this session.
My friends had come to watch this movie. After the screening we went to a nearby cafe to have some lunch together.
When I went back to the movie theater the was a gathering of girls that were about to start the „girls only“ alleycat bike race. This was a picture before the handout of the manifest with the addresses of the checkpoints.
Then the girls checked the maps on where the alleycat checkpoints are.
Then the girls had to place their bikes on the opposite side wall.
Then there was a picture with all alleycat girls before the bike race started. These are the cool and fastest bike girls of NYC. Keep the rubber side down all the time.
The guys on the other hand were hanging out in the movie theater. I watched a lot of movies today of which some were quite disappointing.
Let’s Hear it for the Girls Trick Bike Show
Samstag, Juni 19th, 2010Today the different movie programs of the BFF were well attended. Especially the „Urban Bike Film“. There was a huge line in front of the movie theater.
And when we got in all the seats were filled up.
There was an alleycat race today and the prize ceremony was held before the Urban Bike Short films started.
And then there was a bikes rock cheering for the 10th year anniversary before Brendt was sent on some movie theater crowd surfing.
It was funny to see this bike outside with this huge spoke card.
I liked this card for a pregnant woman. I think if I am pregnant I will hang one on each of my bikes too.
The bicycle film festival girls had arranged the great after party on this Saturday.
I did a late night performance in the hope that the people watching the second screening of the urban bike shorts could also come in time to watch. But I think only a small fraction of those came in time. And the one DJ lady forced me to perform exactly at 1am.
Here is the video of my bicycle performance that Nora took capturing the feeling of the event. I love the song Fire by Jess Meider.
BFF Street Party in NYC 2010
Samstag, Juni 19th, 2010The bicycle film festival street party in New York was really great this year. Mainly because it was not raining so there were many people hanging out. Also there were quite some booths of local vendors. Like local frame builders that make bikes like this one.
Also Taliah Lempert (who does bicycle paintings and who’s exhibition I had gone 2 days ago) had a booth at the street party.
The fixed gear competitions were MC’d by John Prolly that has a famous blog called prollyisnotprobably.com.
They had ramps built up and there were quite some fixie kids jumping around. One of course was Ed Wonka Laforte that was in Tokyo with me last November.
Jumping around on the ramps was also Kareem Shehab who filmed the Death Pedal movies 1 and 2.
I randomly recorded the fixed gear ramp jumping on a video and will uploaded soon.
Then there was the bunny hop contest. It is amazing how high they can jump with the fixed gear bikes.
I did a performance at this street party. It was a good crowd that watched me do my bike tricks.
I did headstand and handstand and all my other tricks like the 180 spin while standing on the handlebar. I uploaded some more pictures on a webalbum.
Also it was great to finally meet Tom Mosher that started up the first forum on track tricks. Unfortunately he had an accident and needs to recover before he can re-start hard with tricks.
