Bike Hugger 

Mark V wrote for us during Interbike and offered his perspective on the culture of the event and the bikes he dug - he’s back writing for us almost daily and starts his hugger tenure with Heart of Bonkness.

Have you ever bonked really bad on ride? Not like you’re in a race and suddenly you realize you can’t chase the break. I mean, you’re on a long training ride in the middle of nowhere and your blood-sugar level falls through the floor, you start sweating weird and get light-headed. You only brought 2 gels with you, and you consumed the second one an hour ago.

Suddenly you start thinking that the wet pile of leaves next to the road might be a good place to lie down and sleep.

On the front page of the NYTimes Style Section are members of the Black Label Bike Club preparing for a tall bike joust. The article is about the “5,000 Burners, as festival-goers are known, gathered Oct. 14 for a decompression party, part reunion and part fund-raiser for the Burning Man organization.” The Black Label Bike Club has as WikiPedia entry that credits them with contributing to the tall bike culture.

NYTimes has now covered one bike niche to another. From Campy Record owners to tall bike jousters.

Messengers on break near Market Street in San Fran.

We’re rush ordered another run of Bike Hugger shirts to meet demand and we’re currently sold out of the mediums! Wow. And the others come in waves from Amazon, with a rush just this week.

Our friends at REI sent a link to Novara Flicks, an action-packed video of their 07 product line, including behind-the-scenes with the designers.

Of note is their updated brand and it’s focus on “freedom” and grabbing yourself some. I’ve talked a lot with Novara about brand and they’re very passionate about cycling. Also, having ridden with them during their legendary lunch rides, I also learned that they can take pulls, and ride you mercilessly into the ground.

Coffee and cycling go together, always have, and I travel with my own grind and french press to make sure wherever I am, I’m fully caffeinated. I use a Bodum travel press and it works great.

Now, I just discovered the Aerobie AeroPress and it looks a little big for travel (would work in the Scicon bag), but I bet makes one mean cuppa joe. It’s a french press with a filter and air pressure.

A reader sent a blog about riding in San Fran and a 925 at the Golden Gate Bridge.

I’ll be in San Fran tomorrow for a seminar about blogging. It’s a day trip, so I won’t have my bike, but San Fran is a great town for riding.

6 seater…people mover, by pierre pouliquin.

World’s greenest minivan.

A reader sent us a post from Stippy.com on bike valets in Japan, who keep all the bikes orderly. Imagine that, riding up to a building, handing your bike to a valet, and having it parked!