Trackin’ Up The North

I've been trying real hard to learn how to blog lately.  I googled "How to write a blog" and everything, but none of that seems to be taking.  The first lesson I read was aptly titled, "Think of a title," but thinking isn't something that comes easy to me, so instead of that I grabbed a record album from my stack and the first one that ended up in my hands was a song compiation from a Duluth (MN) radio station that was released in the 80's.  I bought this album because it contained a rare track by The Replacements, and I paid way too much for it of course, but how can you put a value on an obsession with 80's punk?  OK, maybe the Mats weren't really punk, but they did make probably the best punk rock video of all time, which pretty much sums up my life in the eighties.

Trackin' Up The North might sum up how normal people feel when they come here during the winter months.  Honestly, I can't understand what brings them back for more.

For the past several years Surly has hosted a Pugsley Race at QBP's industry-only Frostbike event, which took place last weekend.

Due to the depth of the snow this year, what started as a "race" turned into a derby circle around a bonfire.  No one complained about drinking luke warm Hamm's while attempting to knock their commrades of their bike and into the fire or onto the ice.  Go figure.

Rather than me blathering on about it why don't you look at some pictures?  And if you'd like to see more you'll need to go here.  Meanwhile, I'll be sharpening up my blog skills and finishing up the Hamm's and stale pretzels.

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FROSTBIKE IS UPON US

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Sometimes Shit Goes Right

I think it's safe to assume that we are all in agreement about bike thieves - that they are worse than puppy-kicking Nazis wearing Zubas who listen to Creed. Well, last night one of them met one of us and we won.

You might recognize industry debutante Hurl Everstone from his stock photo below

Last night the aforementioned Hurl, Burnsey, myself, the Mayor of Fruita, Brake Dancin, and a whole batch of real live bicycle luminaries were warming up for the big Frostbike industry hoe-down at One On One Studio. Late in the evening, Everbeard and Burnsey stepped out onto the loading dock out back just in time to see a personage of the crack head demographic making off with one orange Las Cruces of the Salsa variety that was not his own. Burns immediately gave chase on foot, but our man Hurl had the presence of mind to mount up on the crackhead's discarded Huffy and rocket toward justice.

Two blocks later, as cracky-McStealsalot slowed for traffic crossing 4th street, the Bismarck Bruiser rocked a bike cop take down that would have made Ditka proud and nabbed the Salsa back. At the same time he barked a great William Wallace-esque yawp The stunned theif scurried off into the night half blind from the glory of Hurl's grizzled visage. The triumphant return to the shop was met with a volley of high fives and fresh beers.

Our collective hats are off to the man from North Dakota and his heroic save (second one this week really.) It ain't every day that freedom-hating bike jackers get thiern.

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Beinvenidos Larry

As many of you may already know, we've whipped up a new tire for use with Pugsley. Larry (the tire) is designed to have a bit more bite and to keep your front wheel straight (if not narrow.) Well, Larry has arrived in large numbers at our distributor and is good and ready to enhance your snow-laden stupidity. Get one today.

Say hello to Larry again for the first time again.

In other news, bikes are still awesome. This weekend, in conjunction with the bicycle industry event formally known as "QBP Open House," but now living post-op under the title "Frostbike," we'll be hosting a bunch of bike shop geeks at the Head Office and dusting off the Pugsley Relay Rally Really? ride. It will look a little like this:

 only with more people, more snow, and fewer video cameras. Hope it works out.

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Arrowhead 2010

Here's my account of the 2010 Arrowhead 135 Ultramarathon...a race from International Falls, MN to Tower, MN on the Arrowhead State Trail.  It's a wee bit verbose, so I've linked it HERE .

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