Sunday, November 15, 2009

Social Media: Pros and Legal Cons...

This was forwarded to me. I won't be able to attend (I'll be riding), but there are probably more that a few who should attend. It seems like a good (smart) idea. Just because one can say/write anything on the interweb doesn't mean it's okay or proper or legal. The following is the text of an e-mail that was forwarded to me:

The global bicycle industry has proven it is on the cutting edge of harnessing the commercial power of social media to build brands and win customers. Lance Armstrong’s daily “tweets” during the 2009 Tour de France were followed by millions. During Interbike, industry leaders held “tweetups” and provided real-time discussion of new products, reports on seminars, cyclocross and crit race results and thousands of photographs. A critical mass of manufacturers, distributors, bike shops and advocacy organizations are all finding social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Flickr useful to spread the word about their products and causes. However, social media also poses legal risks. Defamatory statements, trademark infringement, passing off, profile hijacking, rogue employees and false advertising by violating the FTC’s new rules relating to truth in blogging are just some of the issues bicycle companies must now consider when jumping into the stream of social media.

In this one hour webinar discussion, learn the pros and pitfalls of the commercial aspects of social media.

Featured Speakers:

  • Chris Matthews, Global Marketing Integrations Manager, Specialized Bicycles;
  • Carlton Reid, Executive Editor, BikeBiz.com;
  • Thomas M. Williams, Esq., Partner, Howrey LLP; and
  • Eric T. Fingerhut, Esq., Partner, Howrey LLP/Founder, ICLA.

Instructions for signing up for the webinar appear below. For more information, please contact Eric Fingerhut, eric.fingerhut@cyclinglaw.org, 202-383-6804

==================================

Topic: ICLA - Social Media: Pros and Legal Cons
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Time: 12:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (GMT -05:00, New York )
Meeting Number: 744 749 576
Meeting Password: (This meeting does not require a password.)

Please click the link below to see more information, or to join the meeting.

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To join the online meeting
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1. Go to
https://premconf.webex.com/premconf/j.php?ED=101389012&UID=0
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: (This meeting does not require a password.)
4. Click "Join".

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To join the teleconference only
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Conference toll-free phone number: 1-866-5028312
Conference toll/international phone number: 1-719-3875595
Attendee access code: 259422

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Burly Surly Cross Check...

What my idea of a Surly Cross Check should be. If FFF (Fatties Fit Fine), why not specify the fatter tires instead of the skinny-ish Ritcheys? Add a granny ring to get up some steeper hills (or use as a bailout when all day in the saddle results in fried legs). Some folks just want a bike like this to ride the dirt and not race. With the bigger tires, this Cross Check just looks tough.

The result is a Surly Cross Check, Black Mountain Cycles style. Standard price is $1050 for a complete, unmodified Cross Check. With the changes I made to this one, it can be yours for $1095. This one's a 54cm, but bigger or smaller sizes ain't a problem.

From Bikes for sale

From Bikes for sale

And the Tiagra "double" front derailleur works just fine with three rings and a bar-end shifter.
From Bikes for sale

From Bikes for sale

From Bikes for sale

From Bikes for sale

(What's playing: Neko Case Whip the Blankets)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Hurt...

Some great footage and a great soundtrack. Beloki's crash still makes me cringe. Dave Z's crash in the TTT was heartbreaking. It was hard to watch Michael Rasmussen go through such agony in the TT after working with him briefly during his mountain bike race career. Passing your two minute man is an incredible feat. Blowing past him is the stuff of legend.

It appears the youtube clip can't be embedded so click here to check it out. Thanks to my buddy Brian for posting it.

(What's playing: Patti Smith Gloria)

Bruce Gordon BLT...

To complement the new touring section, I've got the new Bruce Gordon BLT (Basic Loaded Touring) frameset in stock. It's a definite classic touring frame with its 1" threaded fork and quill stem. The bike I have here is what Bruce calls a 56cm (60cm to the top of the seat tube - add 4cm to Bruce's size to get the center to top seat tube length). It's plenty big to fit my 6'3" frame.

The bike is nicely appointed with a custom specified tubeset appropriate for long distance touring. It would also make a great city or commuting bike. Other nice touches are: threaded cable stops for derailleurs and rear brake, CNC dropouts that will eliminate eyelet fatigue, rack boss locations that match up to the BG racks.

The frameset includes frame, fork, stem, headset, front cable hanger and Made in Petaluma genuine Bruce Gordon racks. You can have them powder coated the standard black or the ultra-cool blue.

The frameset package with US made racks is $975. Check out the specs on Bruce's site for more information including geometry.

From Bikes for sale

From Bikes for sale

Not one to hide the fact that the frame is made in Taiwan, the down tube decal says "Basic Loaded Touring" in Chinese (Mandarin to be precise).
From Bikes for sale

The threaded cable adjuster is a nice touch for the rear brake.
From Bikes for sale

The classic Bruce Gordon rack in powder coat blue looks great on the gray frame and matches the blue in the decal nicely.
From Bikes for sale

That's a 37c Schwalbe Marathon tire there and it's got plenty of clearance for fenders.
From Bikes for sale


(What's playing: The Rolling Stones Rip This Joint)

Shop makeover...

With the help of friends Ken & Amanda, I got more slatwall up in the shop to convert a corner into touring central - racks, fenders, panniers... The touring section complements the touring bikes I have in the shop - Bruce Gordon BLT, Surly Long Haul Trucker, and Raleigh Sojourn. The touring bikes and cyclocross bikes I plan to focus on reflect my like for bikes with sensible, large volume tires and drop handlebars.

There's more merchandising to do to reorganize the clothes and other accessories in the shop. Big thanks to Amanda for helping with this project.

From Shop Photos

Sport being ever vigilant with the birds on the skylight.
From Shop Photos

From Shop Photos

Touring bikes from Bruce Gordon, Raleigh, and Surly.
From Shop Photos

Relocated the other couch to the work area. Might be too tempting for me to take breaks during the day now. Might have to do somthing about the chipped paint on the floor now.
From Shop Photos


(What's playing: Tom Waits Blind Love)

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Another 2-tone Potts...

For those who may want to see more Potts 2-tone paint schemes. This is a friend's bike who bought it new back in the day.


(What's playing: Exene Cervenka Willow Tree)

Friday, October 30, 2009

Almost forgot...

...the before picture.
From Potts


(What's playing: Johnny Paycheck Take This Job and Shove It)

What's in the stand...

Steve Potts custom from the late 80's early 90's. It's a 6-speed bike which would, on paper, put it in the 80's, but one could still get 6-speed parts new from Shimano into the early 90's so the parts aren't necessarily a good indicator of the year of the bike. The brake levers are later (and original to the bike) than the shifters and derailleurs, so I'm thinking early 90's.

Local bike. Lots of miles in its tubes. Lots of miles in its future. The bike had been sitting in neglect for the past couple of years and needed a throrough cleaning, new cables, fresh grease in all the Grease Guard ports, and new bar tape.

From Potts

From Potts

From Potts


(What's playing: Bob Dylan Song to Woody)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Things that make you scratch your head...

I recently had a repair in the shop. The bike had experienced one of those moments when something catches in the rear derailleur and eventually rips off the derailleur hanger and twists the rear derailleur into a pretzel. Easy fix, but when I got the parts together to do the install, I realized that both the rear derailleur and derailleur hanger cost the same. Actually, that's not correct, the hanger cost me more than the derailleur. A derailleur with at least 30 parts that required someone to assemble it costs more than a piece of machined aluminum. Kinda makes ya scratch your head.

Something else that should make you scratch your head: this sells for more than this. Go figure.

(What's playing: Tom Russell If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy Tonight)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Rawland, Surly, Salsa frame sale...

I should probably use this here blog thing to actually "sell" stuff. So, here are some frames that have been attached to the wall and should be built up and under you - yes, you. The prices below include shipping to anywhere in the lower 48. First come, first served.

Up first is a medium Rawland dSogn. New w/ fork. $395 (includes shipping).
Next is another Rawland - a large dSogn. Gone.

Since it's cross season, I'll include this black Surly Cross Check frame. It's a Surly. It's a 56cm size. It's versatile. It's cool. It's black. Black is the new black. Run it single or geared. It's yours for $395 shipped to the lower 48 states.

Finally, I've got a couple of Salsa Fargo framesets. One's a medium and the other is an XXL - man-sized. Both include forks and seat collars. Fun Guy green and ready to be built into your vision of a 29"er that can do it all. Yours for $595 shipped to your home (or place of business) in the lower 48 states.
Well, that's it. Please don't ask about one of these frames in a size that's not listed here because what you see is what you get. Only these sizes. Only these colors. Thanks for reading. E-mail or call to place your order. The contact info is up there on the upper right side.

(What's playing: Rev. Horton Heat Baby I'm Drunk)