Back to basics

You may have noticed a few aesthetic changed to the blog and home page. I know people fear change (cue the torch wielding mob) but this one is major only in your head. All we've done is made the blog and homepage look better (and more similar) so that we can finish the website upgrades. Yep, we're finally adding the blog to the homepage (hopefully). It won't change how you see the blog or your feeds, all we're doing is making so that that pesky page that redirects here doesn't need to redirect. That, and protecting ourselves from ninjas by cloaking our website in a veil of darkness. You can never be too safe.

October 6th Chain Links

Yesterday someone asked me why I "only put up offbeat news" in chain links. To him I reply, "my news is normal, you're the offbeat one." Here's 3 more links to titillate and amuse. We have a surfer's best friend, a analysis of bike culture, and speedo man in court.

First: I read about 1/2 of this article before i became sick and disgusted with my own culture. Maybe you'll do better.

Second: Ever nearly died trying to carry your surfboard to the beach on your bike? Apparently you're not alone (even if you probably should be) because someone invented something to help you out!

Finally: RIP speedo man! Long live bike short man!

(Photo Credit: Surf Rack from uberreview.com)

October 5th Chain Links

I'm exhausted from a long weekend of bikes and it looks like I'm not the only one. Here's 5 fun and sometimes funny stories about bike from the webosphere. Our subjects for today are philosophy, criminal justice, political science, art and design, and common sense.

First: Let us expound on the philosophy of the bicycle as it related to the automated human conveyance.

Second: No more campaign promises. All I ask is more taxes to fund more bike lanes.

Third: Art is in the design and flow of both humanity and their creations. Not only does the butterfly flap it's wings but so to does the air to hold the flier aloft.

Fourth: We all know from last class that your best method for catching a crook is the follow the evidence. In this case the evidence leads to several arrests.

Finally: If duct tape can be torn by hand, it is likely not the best method of securing your valuables.

(Photo Credit: Zig Zag Bike from crookedbrains.net)

Odds and ends

A few updates for the masses.

First, we kicking off a weekly email (Wednesdays or Thursdays) that will update those on the list with all of the GBP's upcoming events including sales, promotions, events, and classes. The email will also contain a list of our known new bikes (eg: the ones we've finished fixing since we opened the Saturday before) and some of the project bikes we expect to finish soon. Think of it as a more formalized version of the blog.

Second, we now have a new bigger warehouse (WOOT!)! That means that we have more space to store all those funky and, frankly, disturbing creatures we call "in progress" bikes. The extra space allows us to be more productive (hopefully) and it certainly allows us to store more stuff. The "more stuff" also means we can again offer a service which I missed, the used spare parts exchange. Currently we only offer accessories (seats, pedals, waterbottle cages, etc.) but starting in the near future we will have a list of used parts available for sale. The prices for these parts will range from $1-$5. Alternatively, you can always buy a parts bike for $10 and pull anything you want. Check the shop for details.

Third, we took in almost 30 bikes this weekend with about 1/2 being brand name mountain bikes. We also got in a pair of road bikes, a cruiser, and two hybrids. Here's a partial list (whit i remember) of what came in.

Ross women's road bike
Men's road bike (large)
Sun cruiser
Pacific MTB (thumb shifters)
Men's and Women's Fuji MTB
Gary Fisher men's MTB
Trek 820 (sold)
Mongoose MTB
Off brand cruiser

There's more but I can't remember the rest. We'll post a full list in the email.

Open Today (Sunday)

We have so many new bikes that we just don't have space for them all! To help make room we're clearing out the warehouse by selling what's left for just $5 a pop. On top of that we have about 2 dozen bikes ready to ride in stock. Stop by today from 3-7 for you're chance to get a good bike on the cheap.

Bike Rack Sale!

Did you know that the GBP will take trade-ins on bike racks? We do and several people have taken advantage. In fact, we have so many racks we're running out of room! To clear space for more inventory we're marking down all our bike racks for quick sale! Here's a sample of what we're offering.

3 bike 1.25" hitch racks from $20
4 bike 1.25" hitch racks from $40
Your choice 2 bike rear tire rack or trunk mount for $25

We also have some higher quality hitch racks from $50!

Considering that even the walmart version of a rack will cost you twice this much, anyone looking for a rack can't afford to miss this!

Also of note, we have some new bikes in the shop including an older Giant fixed frame MTB. We currently have a good selection of bikes starting from $25 (fixer) and ranging up to $600 for a high end Trek MTB as well as bike frames starting at $15.

October 1st Chain Links

Welcome to October! To celebrate here's 6 links to bicycle news stories we at the GBP found "interesting." Feel free to interpret interesting however you like but bike theft and recovery in Dublin, No need for bells in Tampa, Counting bikes in the NW, Making money in Missouri, and a crazy guy in LA topped my list of interesting today.

First: We linked to a story a few weeks back about Dublin having bike rentals and them not being stolen. Woops, guess reality caught up with them. Then reality caught up with the thieves.

Second: Ding dong the bell law is dead! (See what I did there, I'm so clever! Please, no more rotten tomatoes.)

Third: One bicycle, two bicycle, cow drinking coffee, three bicycle... all in a day's work for WA DOT.

Fourth: The economist in me says "W00t!" for this result but the environmentalist in me says "why not invest the $1.5 mil and buy 7,500 $200 bikes for residents?"

Finally: At least he's not wearing a grape smuggler.

(Photo Credit: Crazy Bike Dude from ladowntownnews.com)