Fear And Loathing In Las Vagueass Well here we are and where are you? Busy as hell at Interbike 06. What could it be? Random chance? High gas prices? Who knows. Dirt Demo was the usual thing. Dr. Nick calls the air 'tartar control' because of the dust, and damn if the dust isn't still better than the smog in LV. First hour of the first day of the show proper was like the start of the Kentucky Derby. Small people were trampeled. It was great. Seems so far no one besides me has seen all the f*cking bats flying…

Several friends, family and beings from other worlds (ZEKE) have approached me, emailed me, sent telegrams, death threats, love letters, and ransom notes to ask me what is the new “thing” Surly is introducing at Interbike. First, let me say that just because I am the newest and most vulnerable (not to mention the cutest) one around here, doesn't mean that I'm gonna spill. I will tell you this much, though. Our new project almost didn't make it here in time for Interbike. In fact, the prototype didn't show up at the Surlyville garage door until 8:36 a.m. Wednesday of…

Two great tastes that taste great together. There was still beer in the keg when the All City Championship Alley Cat post-race gathering, in back of One On One Bike Studio, was shut down by the fuzz on Saturday night. It was decided that the party should move on down the road a piece. My rig…the FreeRad Instigator Stokemonkey Hack…the FISH…was best suited for keg-moving detail, so the keg was loaded onto the sidehack, with the tap still on, and lashed down with ¼” nylon rope and parachute cord. ROPE ROCKS! I always carry rope. Bungies generally suck for holding…

7km into my commute to work, I heard and felt a “thump” coming from the back wheel of my Xtracycle. I pulled over to find a heavily-damaged tire. I had a Mr. Tuffy tire liner installed. So I figured I'd proceed, hoping the tire and tube would stay intact until I reached my destination. Other than the subtle mental torture of riding with a messed up rig that was destined to fail at any time, I rolled along for another 13km without difficulty. Then I heard the psss…psss…psss…of a tire that was soon to be flat. I got another km,…

24 Hours of OH MY GOD! That's POWERful. -----