Yo fellas!
This is Todd of the PBC. I Just wanted to make sure that everyone has seen our new Disk Commuter Dropouts. Very handy if you like to use disk brakes and run fenders AND have a rack. These bastards are Fantastic for all-around function. Plus they are hot! Nice job on the design Mike!
Listen, we have enough non-UCI Cyclocross races here in Oregon to keep you busy for years. You can run Disk. It really is OK to have stopping power! Richard Simmons might not agree but it is the truth.
Chow!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Scott Wolfe's Cross/Commuter
AR Custom Cross frame
There never seems to be a slow moment lately at Prol. It always seems like there's too much to do, never enough time in the day. So small projects get pushed around, and we get down to what is the point of it all: making frames. The latest project was an interesting challenge: build a bare-bones full on race cross frame for a 6'6" racer!
I especially like making frames for people that truly need custom frames, many times really tall, or short, people. Since they fall outside the bell curve, it's hard to get something that fits and performs well.
AR is a competitive racer, does time in Europe, and is friggin' tall, so when he contacted us about a cross bike, I was immediately excited to work on his frame. We got the dimensions of his frame nailed down, got his positioning right for his size. Then we used even-more-than-normal oversized thin tubing to give him the stiffness and light weight that is needed. And here it is:
I can't wait for him to get some miles on it!
I truly enjoy projects like this. This frame has made me push the bounds of what I'm used to from a design standpoint. Getting a tall frame that is strong, light, and stiff is challenging, but completely possible. This frame hits it, this thing is going to be a fast and fun race bike for someone who wants a nice steel ride. It's great to get challenged with projects like this. This is the first frame that we've made that's actually too "big" for me. Granted, with a 100mm stem I could pull it off, but it's the biggest frame we've made to date.
It's inspired me to look at things a tad differently, and allowing me to think of what I want to try next. From the sizing from a design standpoint, to the design from a performance standpoint, even down to the color concept, this frame and fork have allowed me to see things in a different light, or maybe just from a different angle, and that only helps make the next ones better. It is all a progression, there will never be a point in which we don't learn something from each frame we make, every project we do makes the next one(s) better and better. Progress, and progression, are good things.
Cheers!
Mike
Proletariat Bicycle Co.
I especially like making frames for people that truly need custom frames, many times really tall, or short, people. Since they fall outside the bell curve, it's hard to get something that fits and performs well.
AR is a competitive racer, does time in Europe, and is friggin' tall, so when he contacted us about a cross bike, I was immediately excited to work on his frame. We got the dimensions of his frame nailed down, got his positioning right for his size. Then we used even-more-than-normal oversized thin tubing to give him the stiffness and light weight that is needed. And here it is:
I can't wait for him to get some miles on it!
I truly enjoy projects like this. This frame has made me push the bounds of what I'm used to from a design standpoint. Getting a tall frame that is strong, light, and stiff is challenging, but completely possible. This frame hits it, this thing is going to be a fast and fun race bike for someone who wants a nice steel ride. It's great to get challenged with projects like this. This is the first frame that we've made that's actually too "big" for me. Granted, with a 100mm stem I could pull it off, but it's the biggest frame we've made to date.
It's inspired me to look at things a tad differently, and allowing me to think of what I want to try next. From the sizing from a design standpoint, to the design from a performance standpoint, even down to the color concept, this frame and fork have allowed me to see things in a different light, or maybe just from a different angle, and that only helps make the next ones better. It is all a progression, there will never be a point in which we don't learn something from each frame we make, every project we do makes the next one(s) better and better. Progress, and progression, are good things.
Cheers!
Mike
Proletariat Bicycle Co.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
San Diego Custom Bicycle Show
A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to attend the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show from April 3rd to the 5th. The concept sounded good: road trip, sunny San Diego, bicycle show, talking bikes for 2+ days, visiting old friends, and get a few rides in = sign us up!!! So after a few last minute phone calls, reserving booth space, getting in touch with folks, logistics, etc, we figured out a few loose plans.
One of the little unspoken truths about trade shows, whether they are big or small (and we've done them all), is the amount of planning, coordination, and details that go into these events. How do we get there? What do we bring? Where are we going? Flyers? Business cards? Booth? Schwag? Beer? Don't get me wrong, they are fun and truly enjoyable when you're there, we have many more to come! The trips to and fro can make for some long days, stress, and tests of your mental as well as physical strength, along with calling in favors from just about everybody you know. As we knew this, we felt fully prepared for the trip, or so we thought. . . .
So the plan was this:
Thursday, April 2nd: Leave Eugene, drive to San Luis Obispo, see the boys, drink, etc.
Friday, April 3rd: Head to San Diego, detour in LA for Kim's birthday, get to show, set up, dinner, drinks, catch up with Tony.
Saturday, April 4th-5th: SDCBS!!!! Oh, and fish tacos somewhere in there.
Monday, April 6th: Back to SLO, ride Madonna, Mac n' Cheese, more beer.
Tuesday, April 7th: Drive home.
So, all collected and ready, here we go! The car is loaded up, three bikes on top, one in the trunk, bags in the backseat, iPod plugged in, gas tank full.
Todd is ready to roll!
Heading South on I-5 from Eugene/Springfield, the rolling OR hills make for some pretty scenery. Then as you get close to the California border, you drive thru the little hamlet of Ashland, home of the Shakespeare Festival. While not in the mood for an afternoon play, we were hungry, and no drive south on I-5 is complete without stopping at Pangea, a little panini/wrap shop in downtown Ashland. Delicious, wide selection, tasty, and organic, what else can you ask for? They even have beer AND espresso! Check it out if you're ever in the area.
Now adequately fueled up with coffee and food, we continue to drive. Here's Todd somewhere in the Central Valley of California, otherwise known as hell. He was a good sport on the drive, didn't get car sick once (!), and even withtstood the onslaught of angry punk rock that seems to be constantly streaming from my iPod lately.
Finally pulled into San Luis Obispo at 9pm. SLO is a beautiful little town tucked neatly just inland from the coast halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I did a small stint living there, and have friends that are still there. It's a great place to stay, ride, eat, drink, and catch up with some old friends!
Pulling into town, the coolant light on the car popped on. Hmmm, oh well, it's been a long 12 hr drive, let's deal with it tomorrow. We need a beer!
Here's Don, he works for some big conglomerate in SLO and plays with bicycle parts all day. He makes sure your bike works better than it possibly should, and you don't even say thanks! One of the wittiest and funniest people you'd ever meet, along with being a great person and awesome friend. Oh, and he graciously lets us roll into town pretty much unannounced and opens up his (and Dillon's!) place. Thanks man!
Another SLO resident is George, now infamous for the Hive. Check them out if you haven't, they'll be mulit-millionaires any day now. Oh, and their parts are light, strong, cool, and pretty.
PLUG PLUG: http://bythehive.com/
George is the second wittiest and funniest guy I've ever met, he drinks more liquor than I can, and always rides as slow as me without making me feel like a total weezer.
Glad to be in SLO, lots of catching up, eating, drinking, and merriment commence. If you ever make it to SLO, no visit is complete without a stop at McCarthy's, the local "Irish" pub where you can get a real pint of Guiness, or a Tecate can for $2 (this is California, remember?). Although it's been relocated from the original sight, the spirit still seems intact. Plus it's the closest bar to where we're staying. Here's my artsy "Moon over McCarthy's" shot:
As the night progresses, things get a little fuzzier. I do know that we made a stop by another SLO landmark, the infamous TA's. Nope, it's not a sleazy strip club (SLO's too upscale for those, drat!), but a late night taco shop. One quick stop, then off to the house for some well-needed rest. Here's the "long" walk home.
It was a good night!
Waking up a tad later than we wanted (and a tad more hung over than we wanted), we finally grab our stuff, load up in the car, and off we go . . . . . . or not. Hmmmm, transmission slipping, well maybe it needs to warm up. Oh, let's check the coolant. Wait, why does it look like muddy water? Uh oh.
Car problems. I hate these things. Wait, isn't this why we make bikes in the first place? I really hate these things. Quite a few phone calls later, we get the car to the transmission shop. Still need to get to San Diego in the next 8 hrs! Shit. Well, let's rent a van. No vans. SUV? Nope. Uh, how about a big friggin' landboat? YES!!!! Introducing the Chrysler 300.
This car is friggin' huge! It has room for a bike in the trunk, and TWO bikes in the back seat! Didn't even have to take the rear wheels off, just throw them in!
Spacious interior.
Ok, it drives like crap, but it's actually not a bad highway car. Todd even started liking it!
Finally getting on the road 4 hrs late, and missing a dear friends birthday lunch (sorry Kim!), we headed south on the 101. Here's the lovely view south of Santa Barbara.
I don't care what anybody says, California is rad!
Hitting North Hollywood at 4pm, Todd even got to see one of the marvels of the world, LA traffic!
Beautiful LA skyline. Plenty of time in traffic to take pictures. We'll stop thru on the way back.
Well, after 2 hours in traffic (covering approximately 50 miles), we finally were moving again on the road to San Diego. The worst is behind us! Just North of San Diego, we saw a good omen:
I LOVE California.
Finally making it to San Diego at 8pm, we swing thru the Bike Show, pick up our badges (missed the dinner, damn!). Exhausted, we head over to my friend Tony's place, get settled in, and have a beer to settle down. Tony was in preparations for his annual PBC Invitational, a bicycle pub crawl that raises money for charity. Look him up if you're in the area, the next one's only 11 months away!
Anyway, Tony pointed us in the direction of one of the two main necessities whenever visiting San Diego: Sushi and Sake! Here's the remnants of our sushi platter and sake bottle:
Waking up the next day relatively rested, far less hungover, and motivated to have a good day at the SDCBS, we head on out to the show to set up and talk bikes all day. Not a bad way to spend the weekend!
Here's the booth:
Tiff's fixed gear commuter bike on display:
Eli's versatile disc-specific cross/commuter bike:
Headbadge, ooooooh:
Todd's MTB:
The show was a blast! What can I say, I LOVE standing around talking about bikes all day, showing off what we do, explaining our view of bicycles, how we make bikes, what we make them for, who we make them for. Every new person is a new bike conversation. It's truly wonderful and enjoyable, and I feel happy to do these kinds of events. Many many thanks to those of you that stopped by to see us, see our bikes, and to say hello!
As always, it's great to see other companies, what they do, how they do things, what their view of the bicycle/culture is. We met lots of great people, ran into old (and not-so-old) acquaintances and friends. Here are a few of the people/organizations that we saw and want to give a nod to:
Sendero Cycles
Gypsy Cycles
Form Cycles
Midnight Ridazz/AIDS Lifecycle
Argonaut Custom Bicycles (OR represent!)
Sadilah Handmade Framesets
Ybarolloa Bicycles
CyclArt
Winter Bicycles (Eugene, OR represent!)
Velo Cult Bicycle Shop (THANKS FOR THE BEER!!!!!!!)
Henry James Bicycles Inc.
White Industries
Campagnolo
Bilenky Cycle Works
Of course, MANY MANY thanks a million times over to the organizers of the show. It's probably one of the hardest and most thankless jobs, so they deserve much respect and admiration for putting on a good show!
While there, the nice folks at MTBR.com stopped by and talked with me. You can see the whole thing here:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=70136467630&h=jaA13&u=aQzwZ&ref=mf
Yes, it's a beer in there. I hate cameras, and video cameras are even worse!
Anyway, after meeting lots of nice folks, the show wrapped up and we needed to celebrate! And what better way to celebrate in San Diego than with the OTHER necessity when visiting: fish tacos and tequila!
Much love and thanks to Tony for his tour-guiding; great places to eat and drink, great conversation, beautiful sights and scenes of San Diego/PB, fun times.
After a great night, we crashed and woke up ready to return to SLO. So we loaded up the 300 and hopped on the road. Apparently some of us weren't quite ready to leave San Diego yet.
Yes, it'd been a long weekend so far, and we still had 1000 miles to go! But first, a short stop was in order:
Yep, LA, Hollywood! Believe what you want, LA and Hollywood RULE! Tons of good bars, restaurants, world famous music venues, great people, beautiful scenery, and awesome riding. I love LA, and I always have a great time whenever I am there.
We needed to drop in and grab lunch with our good old friend (well, she's not old, she's still young and exciting) Kimmy! She'd just had a birthday that we missed (damn car), but needed to stop in, drop off a small present, catch up, and enjoy the warm LA sunshine! This was Todd's first visit to LA in many years, so I was stoked to show him around. Here's Todd and Kim on the walk to lunch.
One of the greatest things about LA/Hollywood is seeing all the sights that we've seen a million times on TV or movies. Yes, this is the actual star for the great Richard Pryor:
Say what you will about pop culture, but there's no messing with Richard Pryor, that man was true genius. And to think that he was standing right here once upon a time. Sweet!
After lunch, and wishing we had far more time to hang out and enjoy our time with Kim (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMMY!!!!!!) and LA, we hit the road up to SLO. After following the coast, you head inland on the 101, another beautiful drive.
On the drive, we got the phone call about the VW. Bad news: blown transmission and transmission cooler with a $3500 bill. Ouch! Went and picked it up and drove it back to Don's place. The last drive in my Jetta. It was a good car. I bought it brand spankin' new with 77 miles, got 10+ years and 170,000 miles out of it, many memories, three moves across country, countless road trips, she was a great car. We held a moment of silence for her.
After the moment passed, we got to business: figuring out how we're getting back to OR. Oh, and cooking dinner for Dora, home-made Mac 'n Cheese! The secret, lots and lots (and lots and lots) of cheese! Yummmmmmmm!
After checking, we figured that the best (and cheapest) way to get home involved taking the train. We can bring up to four bikes and all our gear. Not to mention, another adventure! I'd never been on a train for more than two hrs. Sign us up!
Of course, nothing is easy in this world. We had to have all the bikes boxed up and ready to go for the train station. A hectic morning of dealing with the car, getting train plans in order, and boxing bikes was in store. First, we converted the living room into a pseudo-workshop.
Don, being a savvy mechanic and bike boxer was there in a big way to lend a hand. Many thanks and appreciation is owed to him for all of his hard work, help, support, and friendship thru this weekend. The least we can do is buy him lunch!
Thanks man!
After getting everything ready, loading up, a trip to the train station, we're ready to go! Eugene here we come, in 21 hrs!!!!
For anybody who hasn't had the chance, the train is a pretty cool way to travel. It gives you a chance to sit back, relax, and watch the country slide by. Here's a shot of the sunset somewhere between Salinas and San Jose.
We're definitely down with the train! Next time, we'll plan it better, bring some snacks and a few flasks full of whiskey for the ride. Anyway, after 23 hrs (well, it IS the train, you didn't expect it to be on time, did you?) and two total demolitions of Todd at Cribbage (skunked twice!), we finally made it to Eugene. Another phone call and another friend coming thru for us, we load up to head back to the shop. Here's Ben's truck loaded up with the Proletariat show supplies.
After we got to the shop, it was time to get back to work, still had the bikes to pull out of the boxes and build back up. Bike building party!
We finally made it! 2000 miles travelled, one broken down car, multiple modes of transportation, many gray hairs grown, great food eaten, lots of beer drank, tons of friends to see and spend time with, it was finally over. What an amazing trip! Whew!
After some time to reflect, I've come to realize a few things:
1. It's amazing to me to see the support that we have from our friends and family. The trip was long, stressful, and had many complications and wrenches thrown into the works. And all thru it, we always had the unwavering help and support from these people. It would have never happened without them, and they are as much a part or Proletariat as Todd and I are. I personally might have had a mental breakdown several times without their help, and I am so grateful and happy to have these people in my life. Thanks, you know who you are! :-)
2. We are, more than ever, committed to the ideal of Proletariat, making high quality bikes for good people. There's nothing else I'd rather spend my time doing than hanging out and working on bicycles. Making the "perfect" bike to suit whatever your needs are is our goal, we work ridiculously hard at it, and take so much joy and pleasure from doing it. Many many thanks to anybody who stops by to meet with us, checks our work out, and supports us in our dream.
And after all of this, all I can say is, when's the next show? Sign me up!
Thanks for reading.
Mike
Proletariat Bicycle Co.
One of the little unspoken truths about trade shows, whether they are big or small (and we've done them all), is the amount of planning, coordination, and details that go into these events. How do we get there? What do we bring? Where are we going? Flyers? Business cards? Booth? Schwag? Beer? Don't get me wrong, they are fun and truly enjoyable when you're there, we have many more to come! The trips to and fro can make for some long days, stress, and tests of your mental as well as physical strength, along with calling in favors from just about everybody you know. As we knew this, we felt fully prepared for the trip, or so we thought. . . .
So the plan was this:
Thursday, April 2nd: Leave Eugene, drive to San Luis Obispo, see the boys, drink, etc.
Friday, April 3rd: Head to San Diego, detour in LA for Kim's birthday, get to show, set up, dinner, drinks, catch up with Tony.
Saturday, April 4th-5th: SDCBS!!!! Oh, and fish tacos somewhere in there.
Monday, April 6th: Back to SLO, ride Madonna, Mac n' Cheese, more beer.
Tuesday, April 7th: Drive home.
So, all collected and ready, here we go! The car is loaded up, three bikes on top, one in the trunk, bags in the backseat, iPod plugged in, gas tank full.
Todd is ready to roll!
Heading South on I-5 from Eugene/Springfield, the rolling OR hills make for some pretty scenery. Then as you get close to the California border, you drive thru the little hamlet of Ashland, home of the Shakespeare Festival. While not in the mood for an afternoon play, we were hungry, and no drive south on I-5 is complete without stopping at Pangea, a little panini/wrap shop in downtown Ashland. Delicious, wide selection, tasty, and organic, what else can you ask for? They even have beer AND espresso! Check it out if you're ever in the area.
Now adequately fueled up with coffee and food, we continue to drive. Here's Todd somewhere in the Central Valley of California, otherwise known as hell. He was a good sport on the drive, didn't get car sick once (!), and even withtstood the onslaught of angry punk rock that seems to be constantly streaming from my iPod lately.
Finally pulled into San Luis Obispo at 9pm. SLO is a beautiful little town tucked neatly just inland from the coast halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I did a small stint living there, and have friends that are still there. It's a great place to stay, ride, eat, drink, and catch up with some old friends!
Pulling into town, the coolant light on the car popped on. Hmmm, oh well, it's been a long 12 hr drive, let's deal with it tomorrow. We need a beer!
Here's Don, he works for some big conglomerate in SLO and plays with bicycle parts all day. He makes sure your bike works better than it possibly should, and you don't even say thanks! One of the wittiest and funniest people you'd ever meet, along with being a great person and awesome friend. Oh, and he graciously lets us roll into town pretty much unannounced and opens up his (and Dillon's!) place. Thanks man!
Another SLO resident is George, now infamous for the Hive. Check them out if you haven't, they'll be mulit-millionaires any day now. Oh, and their parts are light, strong, cool, and pretty.
PLUG PLUG: http://bythehive.com/
George is the second wittiest and funniest guy I've ever met, he drinks more liquor than I can, and always rides as slow as me without making me feel like a total weezer.
Glad to be in SLO, lots of catching up, eating, drinking, and merriment commence. If you ever make it to SLO, no visit is complete without a stop at McCarthy's, the local "Irish" pub where you can get a real pint of Guiness, or a Tecate can for $2 (this is California, remember?). Although it's been relocated from the original sight, the spirit still seems intact. Plus it's the closest bar to where we're staying. Here's my artsy "Moon over McCarthy's" shot:
As the night progresses, things get a little fuzzier. I do know that we made a stop by another SLO landmark, the infamous TA's. Nope, it's not a sleazy strip club (SLO's too upscale for those, drat!), but a late night taco shop. One quick stop, then off to the house for some well-needed rest. Here's the "long" walk home.
It was a good night!
Waking up a tad later than we wanted (and a tad more hung over than we wanted), we finally grab our stuff, load up in the car, and off we go . . . . . . or not. Hmmmm, transmission slipping, well maybe it needs to warm up. Oh, let's check the coolant. Wait, why does it look like muddy water? Uh oh.
Car problems. I hate these things. Wait, isn't this why we make bikes in the first place? I really hate these things. Quite a few phone calls later, we get the car to the transmission shop. Still need to get to San Diego in the next 8 hrs! Shit. Well, let's rent a van. No vans. SUV? Nope. Uh, how about a big friggin' landboat? YES!!!! Introducing the Chrysler 300.
This car is friggin' huge! It has room for a bike in the trunk, and TWO bikes in the back seat! Didn't even have to take the rear wheels off, just throw them in!
Spacious interior.
Ok, it drives like crap, but it's actually not a bad highway car. Todd even started liking it!
Finally getting on the road 4 hrs late, and missing a dear friends birthday lunch (sorry Kim!), we headed south on the 101. Here's the lovely view south of Santa Barbara.
I don't care what anybody says, California is rad!
Hitting North Hollywood at 4pm, Todd even got to see one of the marvels of the world, LA traffic!
Beautiful LA skyline. Plenty of time in traffic to take pictures. We'll stop thru on the way back.
Well, after 2 hours in traffic (covering approximately 50 miles), we finally were moving again on the road to San Diego. The worst is behind us! Just North of San Diego, we saw a good omen:
I LOVE California.
Finally making it to San Diego at 8pm, we swing thru the Bike Show, pick up our badges (missed the dinner, damn!). Exhausted, we head over to my friend Tony's place, get settled in, and have a beer to settle down. Tony was in preparations for his annual PBC Invitational, a bicycle pub crawl that raises money for charity. Look him up if you're in the area, the next one's only 11 months away!
Anyway, Tony pointed us in the direction of one of the two main necessities whenever visiting San Diego: Sushi and Sake! Here's the remnants of our sushi platter and sake bottle:
Waking up the next day relatively rested, far less hungover, and motivated to have a good day at the SDCBS, we head on out to the show to set up and talk bikes all day. Not a bad way to spend the weekend!
Here's the booth:
Tiff's fixed gear commuter bike on display:
Eli's versatile disc-specific cross/commuter bike:
Headbadge, ooooooh:
Todd's MTB:
The show was a blast! What can I say, I LOVE standing around talking about bikes all day, showing off what we do, explaining our view of bicycles, how we make bikes, what we make them for, who we make them for. Every new person is a new bike conversation. It's truly wonderful and enjoyable, and I feel happy to do these kinds of events. Many many thanks to those of you that stopped by to see us, see our bikes, and to say hello!
As always, it's great to see other companies, what they do, how they do things, what their view of the bicycle/culture is. We met lots of great people, ran into old (and not-so-old) acquaintances and friends. Here are a few of the people/organizations that we saw and want to give a nod to:
Sendero Cycles
Gypsy Cycles
Form Cycles
Midnight Ridazz/AIDS Lifecycle
Argonaut Custom Bicycles (OR represent!)
Sadilah Handmade Framesets
Ybarolloa Bicycles
CyclArt
Winter Bicycles (Eugene, OR represent!)
Velo Cult Bicycle Shop (THANKS FOR THE BEER!!!!!!!)
Henry James Bicycles Inc.
White Industries
Campagnolo
Bilenky Cycle Works
Of course, MANY MANY thanks a million times over to the organizers of the show. It's probably one of the hardest and most thankless jobs, so they deserve much respect and admiration for putting on a good show!
While there, the nice folks at MTBR.com stopped by and talked with me. You can see the whole thing here:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=70136467630&h=jaA13&u=aQzwZ&ref=mf
Yes, it's a beer in there. I hate cameras, and video cameras are even worse!
Anyway, after meeting lots of nice folks, the show wrapped up and we needed to celebrate! And what better way to celebrate in San Diego than with the OTHER necessity when visiting: fish tacos and tequila!
Much love and thanks to Tony for his tour-guiding; great places to eat and drink, great conversation, beautiful sights and scenes of San Diego/PB, fun times.
After a great night, we crashed and woke up ready to return to SLO. So we loaded up the 300 and hopped on the road. Apparently some of us weren't quite ready to leave San Diego yet.
Yes, it'd been a long weekend so far, and we still had 1000 miles to go! But first, a short stop was in order:
Yep, LA, Hollywood! Believe what you want, LA and Hollywood RULE! Tons of good bars, restaurants, world famous music venues, great people, beautiful scenery, and awesome riding. I love LA, and I always have a great time whenever I am there.
We needed to drop in and grab lunch with our good old friend (well, she's not old, she's still young and exciting) Kimmy! She'd just had a birthday that we missed (damn car), but needed to stop in, drop off a small present, catch up, and enjoy the warm LA sunshine! This was Todd's first visit to LA in many years, so I was stoked to show him around. Here's Todd and Kim on the walk to lunch.
One of the greatest things about LA/Hollywood is seeing all the sights that we've seen a million times on TV or movies. Yes, this is the actual star for the great Richard Pryor:
Say what you will about pop culture, but there's no messing with Richard Pryor, that man was true genius. And to think that he was standing right here once upon a time. Sweet!
After lunch, and wishing we had far more time to hang out and enjoy our time with Kim (HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMMY!!!!!!) and LA, we hit the road up to SLO. After following the coast, you head inland on the 101, another beautiful drive.
On the drive, we got the phone call about the VW. Bad news: blown transmission and transmission cooler with a $3500 bill. Ouch! Went and picked it up and drove it back to Don's place. The last drive in my Jetta. It was a good car. I bought it brand spankin' new with 77 miles, got 10+ years and 170,000 miles out of it, many memories, three moves across country, countless road trips, she was a great car. We held a moment of silence for her.
After the moment passed, we got to business: figuring out how we're getting back to OR. Oh, and cooking dinner for Dora, home-made Mac 'n Cheese! The secret, lots and lots (and lots and lots) of cheese! Yummmmmmmm!
After checking, we figured that the best (and cheapest) way to get home involved taking the train. We can bring up to four bikes and all our gear. Not to mention, another adventure! I'd never been on a train for more than two hrs. Sign us up!
Of course, nothing is easy in this world. We had to have all the bikes boxed up and ready to go for the train station. A hectic morning of dealing with the car, getting train plans in order, and boxing bikes was in store. First, we converted the living room into a pseudo-workshop.
Don, being a savvy mechanic and bike boxer was there in a big way to lend a hand. Many thanks and appreciation is owed to him for all of his hard work, help, support, and friendship thru this weekend. The least we can do is buy him lunch!
Thanks man!
After getting everything ready, loading up, a trip to the train station, we're ready to go! Eugene here we come, in 21 hrs!!!!
For anybody who hasn't had the chance, the train is a pretty cool way to travel. It gives you a chance to sit back, relax, and watch the country slide by. Here's a shot of the sunset somewhere between Salinas and San Jose.
We're definitely down with the train! Next time, we'll plan it better, bring some snacks and a few flasks full of whiskey for the ride. Anyway, after 23 hrs (well, it IS the train, you didn't expect it to be on time, did you?) and two total demolitions of Todd at Cribbage (skunked twice!), we finally made it to Eugene. Another phone call and another friend coming thru for us, we load up to head back to the shop. Here's Ben's truck loaded up with the Proletariat show supplies.
After we got to the shop, it was time to get back to work, still had the bikes to pull out of the boxes and build back up. Bike building party!
We finally made it! 2000 miles travelled, one broken down car, multiple modes of transportation, many gray hairs grown, great food eaten, lots of beer drank, tons of friends to see and spend time with, it was finally over. What an amazing trip! Whew!
After some time to reflect, I've come to realize a few things:
1. It's amazing to me to see the support that we have from our friends and family. The trip was long, stressful, and had many complications and wrenches thrown into the works. And all thru it, we always had the unwavering help and support from these people. It would have never happened without them, and they are as much a part or Proletariat as Todd and I are. I personally might have had a mental breakdown several times without their help, and I am so grateful and happy to have these people in my life. Thanks, you know who you are! :-)
2. We are, more than ever, committed to the ideal of Proletariat, making high quality bikes for good people. There's nothing else I'd rather spend my time doing than hanging out and working on bicycles. Making the "perfect" bike to suit whatever your needs are is our goal, we work ridiculously hard at it, and take so much joy and pleasure from doing it. Many many thanks to anybody who stops by to meet with us, checks our work out, and supports us in our dream.
And after all of this, all I can say is, when's the next show? Sign me up!
Thanks for reading.
Mike
Proletariat Bicycle Co.
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