News Release

Contact Mike Vanderscheuren Adam Ziskin
Banjo Brothers O2 Rainwear
612-310-7795 952-543-1894
mvander@banjobrothers.com adziskin@rainshield.com

For Immediate Release

Minneapolis Bike Industry Companies 02 Rainwear, Twin Six, Handsome Cycles and Banjo Brothers Team Up Again for Cutters Ball III “Return of the Moocher” on February 18th at 7pm.

The Annual Party Features Free Food, Free Booze and a Healthy Dose of MPLS Bike Culture for Local Cyclists and Visiting Bike Shop Personnel Who Are In Town for an Industry Tradeshow

February 1, 2012 – Minneapolis, MN— For the third consecutive year four of the cycling industry’s emerging new brands, Handsome Cycles, 02 Rainwear, Twin Six and Banjo Brothers partnered to host the Cutters Ball. The Cutters Ball is an underground, unsanctioned celebration of Minneapolis Bike Culture for local cyclists and a free social event for visiting bike shop staff that are in Minneapolis for an annual trade show. The free party takes place in South Minneapolis, in the workspace of custom frame builder, Peacock Groove.

The event was the brainchild of Handsome Cycles’ founders Jesse Erickson and Ben Morrison who recruited the other local companies into the mix. For those not familiar, the “Cutters” reference is in homage to Breaking Away, 1979 Academy Award -winning cycling film. Like the “Cutters” from the film the four brands involved have all bootstrapped their respective companies to success with a combination of street smarts, hard work and a commitment to game-changing products.

The annual event which is by all accounts, “just a damn good party,” does create a venue for like-minded cyclists to brave the normally frigid February temperatures ton seek out free food from Jimmy Johns, beer from Pabst Brewing and music. For those in town from other cites, it presents a unique opportunity to dive head-first into Minneapolis cycling culture. For the four brands involved, they hope the long game will result in better brand awareness and a deeper network of industry contacts.

To raise the profile of this year’s event, the brands are going a step beyond their normal use of social media and bike-friendly websites to promote the event. One hundred select dealers, culled from the customer lists, media contacts and sales targets from the four brands, will receive a one-of-a-kind screen printed seat cover designed by industry pioneers Twin Six. The item is bound to become a collectible. The seat cover’s hang tag will come with it a Top Talent VIP distinction and details of the event.

The Cutters Ball takes place Saturday, February 18th from 7pm-?? at 2718 East 28th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event is free. Host sponsors are Twin Six, Banjo Brothers, 02 Rainwear and Handsome Cycles. Other sponsors include Hed Cycling, Peacock Groove, Kurt Kinetic, Jimmy Johns and Pabst Brewing Co.

About Twin Six
Twin Six is a fashion-forward cycling apparel company located in Minneapolis who offers finely designed cycling lifestyle apparel and a whole mess of other good stuff.

http://www.twinsix.com

About Handsome Cycles
Handsome Cycle Co. was started a few years ago by a couple of guys in Minneapolis who wanted to create classically styled, versatile bicycles for a price within reach of the many—not the privileged few.
The Handsome line of bicycles have been crafted from steel because of its comfortable ride and its tried and true reliability. But steel is not handsome—people are. Handsome is about people riding bicycles that reflect the individual’s style and riding needs. So, please take a long, handsome look—better still, a handsome ride.

http://www.handsomecycles.com

About 02 Rainwear
Developed by Rain Shield, Inc., O2 Rainwear is a national biking apparel line offering affordable protection from the elements for anyone who rides — from serious cyclists to casual rec riders. We’re based in Minneapolis, one of the most active cycling communities in the country. Our own passion for cycling means we get it: we understand why you’re out there, rain or shine, and we know what you need from your gear to keep you going back for more. Since 1997, we’ve been creating O2 Rainwear products to help you make the most of your ride.

http://www.o2rainwear.com

About Banjo Brothers
Founded in 2003 by Mike Vanderscheuren and Eric Leugers in Minneapolis (not brothers), Banjo Brothers make a line of high quality, well-built and affordable panniers, waterproof backpacks, grocery bag panniers, handlebar bags, seat bags, messenger bags, and more for bike commuters, recreational and urban cyclists.

http://www.banjobrothers.com

About Breaking Away
Breaking Away is a coming of age story which follows a group of four male teenagers in Bloomington, Indiana, who have recently graduated from high school. Breaking Away was acknowledged as the eighth best film in the sports genre by the American Film Institute.

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Ok, so I didn't take this pic, but I'm not exaggerating, it was like this on Saturday.

Aloha from the downpour in Honolulu, my Bikey Commuters… Of course it is I, Mir.I.Am, with Diary of a Wimpy “Winter” Commuter hailing from my desk at work!  Today’s commute was an ill-prepared twist of fate for yours truly, as the sunny “winter” weekend kept everyone in bikinis and barbeques during the day, and under covers and blanket during the breezy eves.  All of those lunchtime ocean dips from yesterweek disappeared like the last Taco Bell Baja Chalupa at 2:56am on a Friday night.  Sneak-attack rainstorm hit me from all directions signaling the official end of the weekend on my morning commute today.  However, optimistic rainbow ponies had me convinced that a tank top, cardigan, and Vanya Chrome pants was all I needed for my commute AND my office attire for the day.  ”Come along, pretty princess, rainbows and magic pony power will keep you dry on your way to work!”

The worst of Winter Woes in Honolulu - Pony Attack!

YOU’RE NOT MADE OF SUGAR – WHAT’S A LITTLE RAIN?  Since moving to Chinatown, my commute has been shortened from 25 miles RT down to 3 miles RT (don’t judge, peeps) keeping most rainy winter commutes to a short fifteen minute ride on my fenderless Bumblebee bike.  So, one can imagine my shrugging shoulders when I exited my apartment building stairwell in a tank top despite the light drizzle underway.  Nothing more than a Mr. Mister, so I grabbed my booq “Mamba” backpack (review in near future!) and clipped in… Two blocks later, I was caught in puddles and soggy socks!  What’s the rush? I thought, as I pulled over to clip on some front and rear lights and fully embraced the cyclist-in-a-wet-cardigan look and decided that the more drenched I arrived at work, the better!  And, to no one’s surprise, I arrived with everything drenched except for the spot on my back protected by my backpack… great way to start the week, boss.

BIKE COMMUTE OFFICE STASH:  Luckily for me, I keep a stock of clean (ish) and dry work clothes stashed at my desk at the offizle.  A quick dry towel usually reserved for aforementioned lunch time swims was helpful in toweling off my hair and wrapping my shoes and socks for a (fingers crossed) drier commute on the way home.  My Vanya pants  + no fender = Bikini change-O to solve our soggy bottom issues before throwing on a work dress.  A comb, a pair of heels, and some Witch Hazel for good measure made my wimpy winter commute nothing more than a pony’s daydream…  Tonight I’ll make sure to pack my reliable pink rain jacket for good measure!  Time to restock the office clothes pile to save me on some other day when I leave the apartment decaffeinated and less-than-prepared.  My wardrobe change and Cycle Lady bathroom arsenal debunks the myths that cycling to work is unprofessional.

Stay Dry, Bike Commuters, and enjoy your winter however warm, cold, wet, or windy it may be!  Take it slow, enjoy the ride, and ride on, my little ponies.  For some really BAMF articles on real, non-wimpy winter commutes, check out this snowy article by Elizabeth!

Last Chalupa Standing - Here's to you, all-weather Bike Commuters!

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But today’s morning bike commute got me reconsidering the backpack. Truth be told, I’ve been thinking about getting another bike commuter specific backpack for a while now. It was seeing that bike commuter this morning sporting a hot pink Chrome rolltop bag that reignited the spark and interest in a backpack. Talk about hi-vis! I could see this hot pink pack from a block away and it actually brightened my mood on this otherwise gray Friday! (sorry I missed the photo op)

Also, just yesterday another biking friend emailed me about his collision with a pothole last August that resulted in him fracturing many ribs and a having a collapsed lung. The staff at the trauma center told him that if he had not been wearing his small backpack he would have been paralyzed. Saved by the backpack?

So – my meandering commute this morning not only took me in a less than direct path to work, but also has me looking back into backpacks again. What goes around comes around, right? This time around I think the options in commuter backpacks have come a long way.

If you commute with a backpack, what’s your preference? (Note: finding a pack that isn’t too big is an issue for me = is there one that’s “just right” for me?) I’ll be trying to figure that out.

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You have probably heard that the Petri/Johnson/Lipinski amendment to restore dedicated funding for bicycling and walking lost narrowly by just two votes in this morning’s Transportation Committee meeting in the House of Representatives. The bi-partisan amendment and vote took place against the backdrop of a very partisan and rancorous mark-up of the legislation – the two Republican sponsors of the bike/walk amendment, Reps. Petri and Johnson, deserve a huge “thank you” for taking on this challenge on behalf of the cycling and walking community.

You also deserve a huge “thank you”. The League’s on-line advocacy center reported yours was one of more than 18,000 e-mails sent to Members of Congress on this issue – a stunning number, and surely part of the reason we were able to put up such a good fight today. We are meeting this evening with our colleagues in the America Bikes coalition to determine our next steps, greatly heartened by your incredible support. If nothing else, today’s vote has shown the leadership of the House and committee chairman Mica that we are a force with which to be reckoned.

Notwithstanding other developments, we expect the transportation bill will be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives very soon: February 13th. As soon as we have decided our strategy for this next critical phase, we’ll be in touch again. Meanwhile, you can check the League’s website, or America Bikes for more information; and please follow us on Twitter and Facebook for real-time updates.

As you can see, more debating ensues on the House floor early next week, so there may very well be more calls to action from the League and/or your local bike advocacy group in the coming days.

From BikeCommuters.com, thank you for taking action with us.

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The proposed bill eliminates dedicated funding for bicycling and walking as we feared, and it goes much further and systematically removes bicycling from the Federal transportation program. It basically eliminates our status and standing in the planning and design of our transportation system — a massive step backwards for individuals, communities and our nation. It’s a step back to a 1950s highway- and auto-only program that makes no sense in the 21st century.

The bill reverses 20 years of progress by:

• destroying Transportation Enhancements by making it optional;
• repealing the Safe Routes to School program, reversing years of progress in creating safe ways for kids to walk and ride bicycles to school;
• allowing states to build bridges without safe access for pedestrians and bicycles;
• eliminating bicycle and pedestrian coordinators in state DOTs; and
• eliminating language that insures that rumble strips “do not adversely affect the safety or mobility of bicyclists, pedestrians or the disabled.”

On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will mark-up the bill and Representatives Petri (R-WI) and Johnson (R-IL) will sponsor an amendment that restores dedicated funding for Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Representatives Petri and Johnson can only be successful if everyone with a stake in safe sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways contacts their representative today.

The LAB has created a handy letter and contact tool so you can voice your concerns with your representative(s). Simply click on the Capwiz link, enter your zipcode and the system generates an editable letter for you.

Make your voice be heard…while we understand that the Federal Government cannot be expected to pay for everything, and that the states should be responsible for the bulk of bike/ped infrastructure, this proposed Act sets a dangerous precedent that jeopardizes decades of progress.

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Biking usually clears my mind. As daily bike commuter Phil Day from Chicago’s PBS station WTTW said in this updated segment about winter biking: “All you think about is what’s right in front of you.” ….and nothing else matters.

He’s right. Yet I often find my mind straying to random tunes or to thoughts of the tasks I have to do or any other number of meanderings. Most of the time the thoughts are fleeting and gone by the time I arrive at my destination.

Unfortunately all it takes is one such thought to distract me and cause a split second of lost focus. In fact just last week I nearly wiped out when my front wheel evidently caught a crevice in the road and I found myself suddenly struggling to recover my balance and stay upright…. My mind had wandered to my work “to do” list and thoughts about the impending winter weather and pondering just how frozen the roads felt below my bike tires; my last thought before I was in recovery mode was “it would probably really hurt to go down on this frozen ground”. One moment and one bad move = a close call.
We’ve posted about making such mistakes in the past and I even alerted cyclists to stay alert back when I was profiled (I could use some of my own advice sometimes).

Yet, I will continue to daydream, hopefully not about what I have to do at work that day or what I have to do when I get home. RL has listed all of his random thoughts while bike commuting. I’ll just keep singing wistful songs to myself. Who needs an iPod and headphones when I can entertain myself? In winter, I don’t even have to worry about someone in a car hearing my off-key humming; their windows are closed up tight.

What do you “muse” about during your bike riding commutes?

Fellow bike commuters: We’ll be calling this and future such posts “Friday Musings”. Every once in a while on a Friday we’ll post some light-hearted musing for your TGIF enjoyment. (kind of reminds me of the concept of “Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey“)

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His BMX birthday party in California got rained out over this past weekend…so be extra-nice to him today!

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Heritage Bicycles General Store storefront

Back in August 2011, a new storefront display along my bike commuting route caught my attention… and I couldn’t help but wonder who was moving in…. (the tune of “How much is that doggie in the window” streamed through my head as I pondered that handsome bike!)

A new storefront along my commuting route captures my attention on Lincoln Avenue.

A month later on PARK(ing) Day I met with store owner Michael Salvatore (and got a sneak peak of the shop) when I paused on my commute to work to say “hi” to this new neighborhood shop – located in the Lakeview neighborhood just south of the Lincoln/Southport/Wellington intersection.

I even got to take the inaugural Daisy Mixte Bicycle for test spin.

Elizabeth takes the Daisy Mixte for a test spin

Heritage Bicycles General Store owner Michael Salvatore in the shop's bike maintenance space

From the interior’s humble beginnings, Salvatore vowed to transform the space into his vision for a bike/coffee shop.

The interior undergoes construction, beginning in fall 2011

The coffee bar goes from this:

….to this:

And the refurbished long table goes from this sandy piece of reclaimed wood:

To an open table space that invites groups to gather over a cup of coffee:

This week Heritage Bicycles General Store opens its doors to the community for a “soft” opening, with the Grand Opening scheduled for this Saturday, January 28.

When I first met Salvatore, the target opening date of Heritage Bicycles General Store was November 2011, pending city permits and paperwork. Now, nearly two months later (after navigating the city of Chicago’s permitting process), beautiful handcrafted bikes adorn the storefront windows and offer spaces for cozy window seating.

And the bikes? At the moment, Salvatore admits the shop looks more like a cafe than a bike shop and the bikes are sparse. A few bikes decorate the space and are available for purchase. But more bikes are in the works – literally.

Back in 2007, Salvatore and his wife moved to New York City and he became co-founder of New York’s Bowery Lane Bicycles, which started back in 2008 in an attempt to bring bike manufacturing back to the U.S. As he noted, “Ninety-nine percent of bikes sold in the US are not made in America. We [Bowery Lane Bicycles and now Heritage Bicycles] are a part of the 1%.,” explains Salvatore of these Dutch-inspired bicycle designs.

Founded in Manhattan in 2008, Bowery Lane Bicycles is committed to making affordable bikes in America that meet the actual day-to-day needs of urban cyclists. We actively support urban cycling and the goal of reclaiming city streets for safe and sustainable transportation.

BLB took an unorthodox approach to bicycles and branded itself more as a fashion brand than as a bike company and its bikes have been a success.

Jump ahead to 2011 – Salvatore and his wife decided to start a family of their own and so he decided to return to his family’s roots in Chicago (to his “heritage”) and thus was born Heritage Bicycles, a sister company of Bowery Lane Bicycles:

After spending three years helping establish Bowery Lane Bicycles (BLB) in New York City with partners Sean Naughton and Patrick Benard, Michael wanted to bring these beautiful bikes to his home town, Chicago. As a fifth-generation Chicagoan, he decided to not only bring BLB’s Breukelen and Broncks line to the Windy City, but to also add Daisy, the first offering from the Heritage line.

Heritage Bicycles seeks to bring bicycle manufacturing back to Chicago community with frames “built with American steel, welded and assembled locally.” The shop offers full mechanical services on-site via a couple of full-time mechanics and graduates from West Town Bikes, a program that educates youth with a focus on under-served populations.

Open work space

The flagship Heritage Bicycles design is the Daisy Mixte frame – a name that pays tribute to the “cow who was part of a reporter’s fabricated story on the cause of the great Chicago’s fire started in 1871.” Starting at $695, the basic specs (upgrades available) are:

Steel Frame
Small Frame Size – 43cm
1″ Threaded Fork
English Threaded Bottom Bracket
Track Dropouts
Steel Quill Stem
Velo Orange – Belleville Handlebars
Cork Handle Bar Grips
Leather Velo Orange Saddle
Crank w/ 44t Chainring
1/8″ Chain
27″ Steel Wheels w/ Coaster Brake
Kickstand
Fenders

Other options:
racks, headlights, saddle type, dual kickstand

The Daisy Mixte

Salvatore’s main goal is to get more people on bikes. Since his target is not the typical cycling demographic, he wants other Chicago bike shops to know that he is not out to compete with them. In addition to serving the greater cycling community, Salvatore notes that he really wants to “cater to individuals who don’t have bikes or are intimidated by bikes and bike culture. I want to outreach more and be involved with and promote cycling in Chicago.” Heritage Bicycles will only sell its own brand and a few Bowery Lane Bicycle designed bikes, as well as a few bike accessories.

In the back of the space, chic bicycle gear and accessories for “style that fits the bike” are on display, including a those from several local Chicagoans – including cycling hats by Kozie Prery and clothing by Nonetheless.

The Heritage Bicycle General Store shop space reflects Salvatore’s intent to maintain transparent operations. The space is open and airy and he hopes that it invites visitors to get to know him as the owner of this family-run business. He has nothing to hide and wants the open cafe and open shop to demonstrate his passion and be a welcoming space for everyone in the community.

Euro-inspired clean interior space

Vintage decor adorns the shop:

The rest of the space features an espresso bar, benches and tables crafted from reclaimed wood and bench covers of burlap coffee sacks, mirrors and chalkboards on the walls, plenty of natural lighting and built-in shelf space. The walls are painted white for a clean and minimalist look in this Euro-inspired cafe.

Burlap Coffee Sacks as seat bench covers

And the espresso bar brews up handcrafted coffee brews from Stumptown Coffee (a Portland-based coffee roaster), offers non-caffeinated sodas from P&H Natural Soda, and serves up small bites and pastries from the local Southport Grocery.

The espresso bar

Handcrafted Stumptown brews

The coffee bar is already greeting customers this week from 7am to 7pm for the “soft” opening. Yesterday morning I stopped in for a brew and to check out the completed space.

I feel like I’ve been invested in this place since its beginnings, as I have literally watched it take shape as I’ve passed it daily and seen its progress (and tracked it, too, via its Facebook page).

Demand Coffee + Bikes

(NOTE: due to the Grand Opening this weekend, Heritage Bicycles will not be open this Saturday or Sunday (January 28 & 29) except for the grand opening event.)

GRAND OPENING Celebration this Saturday, January 28, 2012:

From the Facebook event page:
Time: 6:00pm until 11:00pm

We are excited to open the doors and invite everyone in! It has been a long yet exciting 6 months since we started construction on our space and it all comes together on January 28th.

Please join us for an evening of drinks and fun to see our new space.

Light appetizers and treats courtesy of our friends at Southport Grocery.
www.southportgrocery.com

Wine courtesy of our friends at VineJoy.
www.vinejoy.net

Whisky Tasting from Spicebox Whisky

http://www.facebook.com/spiceboxcanadianwhisky

and beer provided by Half Acre

http://halfacrebeer.com/

What kind of bike do you want?

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Now if you’re going to whine that “$30 is too much money!”, well it just means you’re a cheapskate. But if you thought, “Wow $30, I can get a genuine BikeCommuters.com Cap and it’s made out of WOOL! Then sign me up!”…than means you’re alright in our book and you’re probably handsome or beautiful…or both.

So don’t delay, we only have a small # of these caps. Which means, once we’re sold out, we’re not making them again. Keep in mind that the money we make through the sale of the caps won’t make us rich. It’s merely a way for us to keep the lights on at the World HQ for BikeCommuters.com. With that in mind, we thank you for your continued support and if you do get one, please send us a photo of you wearing the cap…and we prefer it if you were wearing pants…we receive too many photos of naked bike commuters. Alan from Florida, yes we got your latest photo…

By the way, I forgot to mention that these caps are hand crafted right here in the USA!

We have two sizes available. Small/Med and Large/XL. See below for a sizing guide from the Walz Caps website. Just hit the drop down menu below and choose your size!

Size

Small/Medium Large/XL

Sizing:

Head (inches)

Hat Size

Small/Medium:
21 1/4″ – 23 1/2″
6 3/4 – 7 1/2

Large/Extra Large:
23 1/2″ – 25″
7 1/2 – 8

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Name: Victor Domingos

How long have you been a bike commuter?

I started about 10 months ago and have been bike commuting nearly every work day since then.

Why did you start riding your bike to work and how long is your commute?

Well, I have been a pretty sedentary person for decades. While I was in school, university and even when I started working. When I recently moved to this town, I realised that I spent a few minutes everyday getting the car out of the garage plus about 15 minutes walking from the nearest free car parking to the door of my workplace. And gas prices kept going up and up, also. I guessed that with a bicycle it would become easier to get out of the garage, and I could make a direct “door-to-door” trip, saving some time and making a bit of exercise. And hopefully I would be saving a few euros in gas… My bike commute is about 3km long and I am doing it 2 times a day, both ways. So, I ride about 12km each day.

How does Bike Commuting help you with your lifestyle (economics, health, relationships)?

First of all, it makes me feel good! Finally, after all those years, I am doing some exercise almost every day. And I was able to save about five or ten minutes in each home-to-work travel, which makes about 30m each day. It’s not a lot of time, but hey… I only have one hour for lunch and this way I am able to have lunch at home, and that’s great: I have lunch in the company of my wonderful wife. I eat healthier, and waste less money than if I was going to a restaurant. Also, I enjoy some fresh air everyday – it’s nice.

What do you do for a living and in what city do you bike commute?

I live and work in Braga, Portugal, at an Apple Reseller that has both a retail store and an online store. Most of my time, I work at the online store.

What kind(s) of bike do you have?

I own a 7-speed, 20-inch wheels, folding bike. It’s a Giant Halfway that has recently been upgraded with a pair of fenders and rear rack.

Any funny or interesting commuting story that you may want to share?

Well… The fact that I ride a folding bike was received with a bit of surprise at first. I used to go by a street where there is a school. One day, one kid saw me passing by and was so excited about my bike that he started calling for is fellows to see it “Hey, guys! Come here! Look at that a little bike… so small!”.

What do people (coworkers, friends) say when you tell them that you are a bike commuter?

It depends on the person. Some find it a bit weird, as if I was a bit crazy. But lots of people seem a little jealous and tell me that they would like to do the same, if… and then they list their personal reasons to keep using their car. Most people are frightened by the traffic speed in town – which is not that bad, I think.

How about bicycling advocacy? Are you active in any local or regional advocacy groups?

I guess my bike commute is already a soft form of bicycling advocacy. Every now and then people seem interested about it, and I just try to give them some useful information and take away any fear, showing that bike commuting is easier than it seems.
I am willing to participate in my local Critical Mass rides (which has happened last month for the first time), but at that time I am still at work.

On the web side, I have been a little more active. I started a Portuguese Facebook group which title means “We want cities that are friendlier for bicycles and cyclists!”

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154425347915508

And more recently I started a blog named “Sempre de Bicicleta”, which means “Always by Bike”. It is a blog mostly dedicated to bike commuting and utility cycling in general…

http://sempredebicicleta.co.cc/

Anything else that you want to share with us?

Sure! I am a big fan of your blog, and I must confess that it was a main inspiration for starting my own. I love your “Commuter Profiles” series, the product reviews, and so on. I wish we had a blog like yours here in Portugal!

We’d like to thank Victor for sharing his words and photos with us, and we’d like to remind the rest of you that if you want YOUR turn in the limelight, drop us a line at info[at]bikecommuters[dot]com or ghostrider[at]bikecommuters[dot]com. We’ll provide you with our questionnaire and simple instructions for submitting a profile for publication. We’re running low on profiles to post, so don’t be shy — get your face and your words out into the world!

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