Sun sets on the bike commuting season in MN

In Minnesota, bike commuters have a decision to make sometime around November – do you continue to push through as the weather turns cold, snow and ice have hit or are around the corner, and the sun merges into the horizon at an earlier hour, or do you hang it up until spring?  Although I respect those who decide to push through the winter – commuting in ice, snow, slush and skidding cars is not for me.

So each October or November there is a day where the bike commute takes on extra significance – the crisp morning air and the quickly darkening evening sky are savored one last time before the tires leave the payment until spring.  For me, that day this year was November 20.  Even though the weather is still execptional for a Minnesota fall, with the holidays around the corner, that fine Friday commute was probably the last of the season.

For those of you who continue to commute through the winter in the midwestern states – ride on, and I respect your determination.  For those of you riding through the year in the southern states, count your blessings.  If you wonder what would make someone stop riding in November, come on up to Minnesota in January and hit the road.  It is very likely to be a eye-opening experience.

Feel free to weigh in with your comments – do you commute year-round by bike?  If not, at what point in the year do you decide to hang up the wheels – on a set day each year, or based on the weather?  For fixed gear riders who commute through winter, do you make any adjustments to your bike as the weather changes?  Comments are welcome.

Fixed Cyclocross

Fixed gear riders – check this out!  I just got an email from Martin, a fellow fixed gear rider in Minnesota (the home state of FixedRiders.com).  Turns out Martin makes riding a fixed gear look as easy as walking down the street.  To make things more interesting, he decided to try cyclocross on a fixed gear.

For those of you who know the run/bike/sprint/climb/carry challenges that cyclocross presents, you know that doing cyclocross on a fixed gear is remarkable!  Here’s a guy with bike-handling skills, ambition, and fearlessness. 

Anyway, kudos to Martin for making a challenging race even more challenging by going fixie, and thanks for sending pics and your story to FixedRiders.com.

Everyone else out there who has a story or comment to share about their fixed gear riding experiences, let us know by email to info (at) fixed riders (dot) com.  Or, add a comment below any of the posts.

Fixed Riders custom cap unveiled

FixedRiders.com has teamed up with Cognition Caps to introduce an incredibly cool one-of-a-kind custom wool cycling cap. Cognition Caps, based in Madison, WI, is widely known for incredibly well-designed, well-made custom wool and cotton cycling caps. Since this small shop in Madison has produced great designs in the past, we wanted to work with them to introduce a special Fixed Riders cap that was a custom color and design that we could introduce and offer at a special rate through our site.  Lucky for us, they agreed to work with Fixed Riders to create something special.

At last, the wait is over, and the design we have been working on can be unveiled.  Before getting into the details, I have to mention that Lyle at Cognition is exceptional to work with, and I wish this shop many successes.  They are not only one of the few “handmade in the U.S.” cycling cap vendors, but they are  cyclists and enthusiasts themselves.  Whether you buy a Fixed Riders cap or not (and we strongly suggest you should), we would recommend Cognition Caps for any cap you might be interested in.

On to the reveal.  The Fixed Riders cap is a brown lightweight wool cap, available in sizes (rather than one-size-fits-all) with a slammin orange stitching.  FixedRiders.com is displayed in subtle and classy script, and there is a sprocket in orange on the back.  Ordinarily a pre-made design hand-made wool cap is appx $22 (with custom at a higher cost), but Cognition has teamed up with Fixed Riders to offer a special limited time pricing for the custom Fixed Riders cap.

If you order your custom wool Fixed Riders cap through Cognition now, and mention you want the special pricing you heard about on FixedRiders.com, you can get your custom Fixed Riders cap for $20.  Buy it now here. Seriously, I don’t think you can buy a tire for that price, and you’ll look much better wearing this cap than wearing a tire.  I can almost guarantee that.

It’s tough to find a better way to support two great causes with one $20 bill — support Cognition Caps and your favorite fixed gear website by ordering the Fixed Riders cap.  To order your custom Fixed Riders cap, simply email us through the Contact page, and we’ll put you in touch with the fine folks at Cognition.  Or, you can email them directly at:  Orders AT Wear Cognition DOT com.

Visit Cognition Caps here, and remember to buy your $20 custom wool Fixed Riders cycling cap before the limited time offer expires.  These are great gifts for cyclists, would be great to stock in a bike shop, and would make cool prizes for an alleycat race or track race.  With a Fixed Riders cap, you can look sharp while showing the world you are a fan of cycling and fixed gear, all by throwing on a nice lid.

Fixed gear video

We want to showcase unique fixed gear videos on FixedRiders.com.  So whether you are Macaframa, Mash, or an individual rider looking for a way to show your riding skills to an audience of fixed gear enthusiasts, send us an email through our Contact page.

Let us know what you’ve got, and we’ll consider a post featuring your video.  Now is your chance to get the recognition you have been hoping for – send your video to Info at Fixed Riders dot Com.

For an example of what we are looking for, check this out:

Video from Macaframa

Handmade cycling caps

We all know that there are countless cycling caps out there, many of which are riddled with so many logos they make you look like you are racing Nascar.  There are, however, several companies that make fine handmade cycling caps.  Handmade doesn’t mean they outsource to China to have the label stitched in, it means they actually design and produce the caps here in the U.S.

Red plaid from Octopus

I find that very few products are actually crafted by humans any more, and I’ve grown to appreciate those who support the cycling and fixed gear industry with their own craftsmanship, whether its bike builders, messenger bag makers, or cap makers.

Blue plaid from Cognition

There are two companies I have direct experience with who make fine handmade cycling caps, Octopus Caps (in Ohio), and Cognition Caps (in Wisconsin).  Both of these companies are small shops where you can actually speak with (or email) the designers/owners/artists who make the caps.  Each company has a unique style and personality, and having a cap from each company I can confidently say each has a fine and well-crafted product.

How you pick a cap that works for you is a product of your own taste and what you’re looking for.  One thing that makes Octopus unique is that they make caps from recycled wool, and have some very distinctive patterns.  Cognition caps come in wool or cotton, and they have some great styles and patterns as well.

Either company can make a custom cap in the style and size of your choosing, and each company has excellent quality, customer service, and a website that gives  you a good idea of what they can do.  Fixed Riders supports both Cognition Caps and Octopus Caps and we suggest if you are having trouble deciding which company to buy a cap from, buy one of each!

We also have a big announcement, as we are working on a custom FixedRiders.com cap collaboration with Cognition.  The Fixed Riders / Cognition custom cap should be available for sale in the next couple of weeks!  Leave a comment or use our Contact page above if you want to be on the list to receive one of the first run Fixed Riders custom wool cycling caps.

This cap will be a very special and unique chance to have a cool design not previously offered by Cognition, with special FixedRiders embroidery so you can support your favorite fixed gear site while wearing a tremendously well made custom wool cycling cap!  Let us know you want to pre-order one today and we’ll be sure you are on the list.

Thursday Night Lights

I attended the August 6th Thursday Night Lights at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, MN.  If you have never been to one of these events, you should make a point of going (more information about the Velodrome races can be found here).  The track races on Thursday nights are extremely fast-paced, exciting, and well organized.

Even if you have never been to a track cycling race, you will be able to follow the action, as the announcer explains the different race formats (such as Scratch, Miss and Out, Unknown Distance, Madison, etc.).  The event is very interactive, and there is a concession stand, drawings for prizes, and an opportunity to watch the races from the stands or alongside the track.

I’ve added a few photos in the Fixed Gear Photos section of FixedRiders.com, and have a few on this post.  The entire photo gallery of velodrome race pictures has been uploaded to the fixed riders Flickr page, here.  Take a look!  Also, be sure to attend a Thursday Night Lights Velodrome race in the near future, and be sure to print our July 29 FixedRiders.com post which explains how you can get a free Peace Coffee drink from the concession stand (Track Shack) at the Veldorome.

Fixed 62 miler (Tour de Tonka)

Having never ridden any serious distance on a fixie, I set a goal for trying a 50-miler this summer.  Tour de Tonka is a ride around the Lake Minnetonka area in Minnesota, and is in its 4th year.  Routes range from 16 to 75-mile rides, and I decided to try the 62-miler on my fixed gear.

62 miles on fixed gear

First, if you have never ridden the Tour de Tonka and live in or near MN, I’d recommend trying the ride next year.  This year it was held August 1st, and in 2010 it will be August 7th (see TourDeTonka.org) for more details.  This event is extremely well run, had around 2000 riders, and very well-marked routes with police escorts and continuous directional guides, and great rest stops to refuel or catch your breath.

Although the 62 miles was grueling with hills, wind, and only one gear, it was a fun and scenic ride, and a terrific physical challenge on a fixie.  Riders on the tour were extremely friendly, particularly when seeing a fixe riding the route.  I commonly heard comments like – “great rig”, “awesome”, “I can’t believe you’re riding a fixie”, or “hey, that guy’s riding a fixie”.

The good news about riding a fixie on a road ride like this is when you get passed by a bike with gears, you have a decent excuse, and when you pass people with gears on the climbs, it earns some respect.

Speaking of earning some respect, I only saw one other fixie in the entire group, and this guy was riding a Puegot frame with no brakes.  I had a brief conversation with the guy, before he tore off and kept up enough of a pace I never ran into him again.  I believe he was also riding the 62 miler.  Peugot 62-miler guy – props to you for some impressive riding!

For those of you who have ridden 50 miles or more on a fixed gear, add a comment below this post.  I’d love to have some posts from people who have done distance riding on a fixie, to help encourage others out there to help represent the fixed riders who might want to show up and crank out some distance in an upcoming road ride.

If anyone wants to organize a group of fixed gear riders for next year’s Tour de Tonka, drop me a line using the “Contact” page.

Want free coffee?

Thanks to the generous folks at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, FixedRiders.com can offer you a free hot or cold Peace Coffee drink at the Velodrome, from now until September 10, 2009, with the requirements below.

Details: Free Peace Coffee drink for friends of FixedRiders.com.  Print this post and bring it to the National Sports Center Velodrome during any Thursday Night Lights event. Present it at the Track Shack concession stand for your choice of one FREE hot or cold Peace Coffee drink. Limit one drink per person with coupon. Offer expires September 10, 2009.

For more information on track cycling and racing at the velodrome in Minnesota, check out the National Sports Center website here: http://nscsports.org/sports/cycling/index.htm.  If you want more information on the Thursday Night Lights races (where you can watch some awesome fixed gear racing on the track and get your free coffee), check here: Thursday Night Lights.  It has always been well worth your time to drive (or bike) out to the velodrome to see the races; now there is even more incentive!

Special Announcements

Just like a fine wine or a vintage bicycle, FixedRiders.com improves with age.  Thank you to those who have been visiting and supporting our site.  In recent weeks we have had several exciting changes that we want to share with you.

• New site — we moved the FixedRiders.com site from a Blogger site, to a WordPress site.  You can now find us at FixedRiders.com or FixedRiders.WordPress.com.  We hope you like our new format, which now allows us to have a dedicated photo gallery page, a better layout for links and updates, a great tool for comments, and more!
• New opportunities – we recently have developed collaborative relationships with the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, MN, as well as Octopus Caps (purveyors of fine handmade wool cycling caps).  In the near future, you will soon see a special promotion offer from the velodrome offered to FixedRiders.com readers, and we hope we will be able to bring you special offers from others as well.
• Bike featured on FixedGearGallery – FixedGearGallery.com is one of the most prominent and successful fixed gear websites around, and it has loyal readers from throughout the world who post photos of their fixed gear bikes.  Check out post 9800 to see a familiar Capricorn!

We invite comments, photo submissions, and feedback.  Drop an email to info AT fixed riders DOT com.  We welcome new sponsors, friends, cross-promotion opportunities, and suggestions for posting events and products of interest to the fixed gear community.

Thanks for supporting FixedRiders.com and tell your friends to check us out.

Velodrome — track racing!

The history and advancement of fixed gear bikes, and bicycle racing generally, is well-steeped in track racing and velodrome heritage.

Although velodrome track racing is alive and well as an Olympic sport and an enthusiastically and passionately followed sport in many countries, it is not front and center for American sports enthusiasts.  Track racing tends to be a bit unappreciated, and doesn’t get the attention or respect it deserves.  Hopefully FixedRiders.com and the velodrome at the National Sports Center in Blaine can help correct that.

Fortunately, in Minnesota, we have been gifted with a great resource, the velodrome at the National Sports Center in Blaine.  Not only is this a training ground (with lessons and classes available), but it is the host to many spectacular racing events (Thursday Night Lights during the summer, for example).

For those of you who became familiar with fixed gear riding through track racing, you may already know about (or watch or participate in races at) the Velodrome.  If you are a recent fixed gear convert, be sure to check out track racing in your area (and the velodrome in Blaine if you live in or near MN) to witness a track race first-hand.

FixedRiders.com has established a collaborative relationship with the velodrome cycling program in Blaine, and you can find race results, upcoming events, promotional updates, and more information directly through FixedRiders.com.  Watch here for updates and new information about the velodrome in the near future.

In the meantime, be sure to bring your family or friends to Blaine to check out a race, and ride your bike to the races to make it even more of an exciting event.

For now, check out the following links:

• Race results / summaries
• Race video from the velodrome on blip.tv
• Velodrome cycling page at National Sports Center website
• Racing photos from Lisa Lardy Photography

Looking for directions to the velodrome in Blaine, MN?  Find them here.

Be sure to follow FixedRiders.com in the near future, as we continue to add more fixed gear community resources, events, updates, and more information about the exciting events at the velodrome.