October 23rd Chain Links

This post marks 160 posts on the blog! Frankly, I never though the blog would last this long (several others died around 2 posts) but so many people read it (or say they do) that it's hard to stop. Speaking of hard to stop, here's three links to trends that will be very hard to stop in the next few years.

First: I chronicle bike thefts often because I believe that as bike usage grows theft will also grow (something about supply and demand). This city has the same problem as many others, but unlike others it acknowledges the problem and is working to solve it.

Second: China has had such a great track record for biking that this news is surprising. However, the pervasiveness of bikes might make China suffer from the reverse problem of most cities. Too many bikes.

Finally: I'm not a fan of critical mass. Civil disobedience is a useful tool to affect policy change but the idea of putting people in harm's way to make a protest is not civil disobedience, it's criminal.

Bonus: 10 cities just made for biking.

(Photo Credit: Bike Rentals in China from Chinadaily.com)

Tidbits from the news letter

It's the last Saturday of our month (we're closed on Halloween) so it's time to turn over the inventory. We're taking 10% off all bikes and marking all our Jerseys down to just $15! That includes our new arrivals! We've also got 1.25" hitch bike racks from $25!

The best part of the sale is we have a brand new single speed road bike in the shop. We've priced it low and it even qualifies for the 10% off!

No Chain Links Today

Couple a computer crash with work and what do you get? No chain links.

October 19th Chain Links

Man, was it just me or was last weekend the longest weekend ever? Seriously. It seemed like that sucker would never end! Thank god I was having fun all weekend or else it would have been kinda a downer. Here's a handful of links that shows how for every bit of bad there seems to be some good.

First: Imagine getting your entire inventory stolen in one weekend. I suppose GPS would help. I prefer the hidden camera myself.

Second: For every sane and well reasoned article there seems to be one nutjob looking to cause trouble.

Third: If you missed this weekend's State Mountain Bike Championships at Tom Brown, here are some pictures to soften the blow. Take notice of the types of bikes being ridden. I promise you that there are none of these.

(Photo Credit: Bamboo Bike from voanews.com)

October 16th Chain Links

Today is a day that will live in infamy. Today there are no chain links. Wait... what am I saying? There are lots of links! Unfortunately they're all depressing. Ok fine, only the first one's depressing. Geez, tough crowd.

First: Bike theft! It happens all over. More at 11.

Second: Give that man a Medal!

Finally: These would be awesome except for one problem. Guess what it is. (Hint: Green Lantern couldn't ride them because of this).

(Photo Credit: Yellow Bikes from thenews.org)

October 15th Chain Links

After a 3.5 hour meeting I'm down for some sweet chain links. Today's offerings center around two themes, theft and a new way to ride. I'm not giving you more than that. You'll have to click through the links to find out more.

First: This guy should have been working his magic here. Further proof that criminals aren't all supervillians.

Second: When we covered this bike Alfred University must have been listening.

Finally: It used to be so simple. Dad flings the child a death defying speeds on a 2-wheeler and you either survived or you didn't. Now we have this. Stoopid Japanese technology. What did you ever do for us?

Note: Shipmentoffail.com is hilarious but NSFW. Click through and you'll see why.

(Photo Credit: Funny Bike from Shipmentoffail.com)

October 13th Chain Links

Today's links may not be as globetrotting as usual but they do span the world of green bike gadgets. From reducing pollution, to reusing the number of gadgets, to recycling used parts, today's links make even the most environmentally friendly rider look bad. I'll even throw in a bonus link about how eating right and tasting good don't need to be independent concepts.

First: For the lazy among us, here's an alternative to the gas and electric bikes we've heard so much about.

Second: If you have an Iphone (or any other GPS phone) at one point or another you've contemplated playing with it while on a ride. Here's a way to hold it and a way to charge it both whole staying safe.

Third: Build it and they will come (on bikes).

Bonus: It has nothing to do with bikes but it's a good read about one man trying to make middle America healthy.

(Photo Credit: Hydrogen Bike from eta.co.uk)

New Extended Hours

By popular demand we have added another day to our roster of open days. We will now be open Wednesdays from 10am-2pm (sound familiar?). While Wednesdays will never have as big a selection of bikes as Saturdays it will have the major advantage of having two mechanics on duty. That means your repairs will get done even faster. Repairs dropped off any time on Saturday can now be picked up on Wednesday or the following Saturday (repairs dropped off before 2 can still usually be picked up on Saturday).

While Saturdays and now Wednesdays are our only open days, we're still looking to expand. To do so we need your help. We need volunteers to help run the shop on Saturdays and potentially Sundays. If you're interested please email Thegreenbicycleproject@gmail.com.

October 12th Chain Links

Happy Monday everyone. If you haven't already I suggest a nice strong cup of coffee and a swift kick to the head to keep you awake on this dreary, rainy, and likely bikeless day in Tally. If those don't work then how about some cool stories from Korea, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, St. Pete, and Macon to pass the time?

First: Costco has finally let me down. It's not a big deal though, I can always just go and get a $1 churro and feel better.
Second: I don't think I can support this but you gotta admit, it's a new way to get your bike back. I hope it works.
Third: Korea may be putting it's effort into the wrong bike related problem.
Fourth: These pics are just cool.
Fifth: I'm sorry I missed this. Maybe next year.
Finally: I'm glad I missed this.
(Photo Credit: Neat Bike Rack from aungst.net)

October 9th Chain Links

After yesterday's dearth of news, today seems slow. Here's a stat piece on the UK, a fluff piece from the city of chilli, and a slightly odd move by a big city mayor.

First: Stat's don't lie. Columnists do.

Second: It sounds good enough to eat.

Finally: Fixie. Check! Bag. Check! Swerving through heavy traffic. Check! City wide holiday. Check!

October 8th Chain Links

Flash! 8 links to make your day better. More at 11... or tomorrow. We span Japan, Europe, Philly, Wyoming, and Chicago in our glob trotting, news catching, linkathon. I even had to throw out several articles because they just weren't as awesome as these. Such is life.

First: Japan rocks. Their gov't even sponsors bike rental programs. I wish ours did.

Second: Sometimes one wheel is better than two. It even makes you look taller!

Third: How dumb do you have to be to ride a bike without knowing the law? Apparently, not very as people all over do it.

Fourth: If you build it, hipsters will come.

Fifth: Me wantie.

Sixth: Bike enthusiast, meet the future.

Finally: Fox never misses a chance to make fun of a liberal.

(Photo Credit: Bikes from Japan for Sustainability)

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)