Baltimore Bicycle Works1813 Falls Rd. Baltimore, MD 21201

New Website and Blog ... Go There ... Never Return to this URL ...

2009-04-16T12:16:00.003-04:00

Hello Blog readers,
Baltimore Bicycle Works has a new website and blog ... This blog is not going to be updated anymore, but please check out our new blog at our new website.

www.baltimorebicycleworks.com

or if you just want to get the straight blogn' go to:
www.baltimorebicycleworks.com/blog

PEACE BLOGSPOT!

I am out.

-Josh

BMX is intense

2009-03-23T09:13:00.002-04:00

So I just saw this video on The Come Up BMX blog, and since it features our friend and neighbor Ben Hittle, I figured I would repost it.

Ben is the lad with the short hair and ear plugs, looking real punk rock. If that doesn't give it away, he is the one doing the really technically tough wall rides and clicked tables.

The top level of BMX riding is crazy these days ... all of these guys are doing some great riding.

TheComeUp Texas Trip from www.thecomeupbmx.net on Vimeo.

Trek Bicycle Company squeezing workers

2009-03-23T08:33:00.002-04:00

From Bicycle Retailer and Industry News:

Trek Furloughs 300 Employees

As BSNYC would put it "The Great Trek Bike Making Company" has decided to increase profit by squeezing its workers in Madison. The plan has workers temporarily laid off during these early spring months to increase profits. This is despite the fact that according to the same story, bikes sales are up over last year.

I hope these workers are able to make ends meet with less money in their pockets.

Winter Clothing Sale

2009-03-15T09:40:00.003-04:00

We currently have all of our remaining winter clothing on sale for 25% off of the listed price.

Come in and pick up a long sleeve wool jersey, a pair of knickers, or a pair of knee warmers.

We also have recently become an authorized Chris King dealer, some come check out their incomparable angry bee hubs.

Happy Meal

2009-02-24T09:10:00.002-05:00

I am pretty sure that the food being sold through that drive through is more harmful to children/ society in general than the drugs.

http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/McDonalds-drugs-Edgewater/f7YalKera0OEdJKRY8EUHQ.cspx

" ba ba ba ba ba ... I'm lovn' it "

found via Baltimore Crime

Amsterdamize TV

2009-02-22T20:53:00.003-05:00

I just saw this on Amesterdamize TV. I made reference to it earlier. Some good stuff.

MASH ... I am sorry.

2009-02-20T19:29:00.004-05:00

I was wrong.

MASH is tuff as nails.

Don't count out your fixed gear brethren ... definitely not these fixed gear brethren.

picture via MASH blog

every once in a while there is some good news

2009-02-20T11:32:00.000-05:00

NY Officer Famous for Shoving Cyclist During Critical Mass Has Been Fired

Via Urban Velo

"The Starbucks Problem"

2009-02-14T23:23:00.002-05:00

A fellow worker in Minnesota writing about the possibilities of a wider revitalized labor movement, based on rank and file solidarity. Thanks to the ever impressive wikileaks we can now hear the adversaries of workers talk clearly about their rabid resistance to any force that could check their power.

http://tcsbuxunion.com/2009/02/13/the-starbucks-problem/

MASH to ride Tour of California

2009-02-13T09:05:00.003-05:00

... I still can't decided if this is a joke or not.

MASH SF to ride fixed in Tour of California

... maybe they are planning on being some sort of low-tech first wave of foot soldier in the war against The Govenor of Califorinia, Shimano electronic shifting, and skynet. I hear people have seen Christian Bale riding a fixie.

I think they underestimate how brutal a pro tour stage race is going to be. If the had a team in full skin suits, with new carbon wunderbikes ... I doubt they would finish stage one. Seeing as they are riding tight jeans, and steel fixed gears, I doubt they will finish the first climb.

I have visions of a MASH domestique working his heart out to bring a water bottle to their number one guy ... so he can fill his bong without stopping.

on a lighter note about the looming Apocalypse

2009-02-13T08:41:00.002-05:00

Shimano is going to be unveiling its new Dure Ace electronic shifting at this years tour of California.

Which makes it official:

at 10 am Febuary 14 Skynet will become self aware.

I am pretty sure this is a picture of the Governor of California at last year's race.

I think we also now know why Christian Bale is so irritible ... he is going to be busy trying to shoot the derailleurs of of lance's new black and yellow live strong Trek. Funded by the Kasak state ... just like Borat.

closely following bosses hoard their gold, to the detriment of society as a whole

2009-02-13T08:14:00.002-05:00

Again ... more good news from the BRAIN

Turns out REI is firing people and blaming our new depression. (we should really spend some time and figure out a name for this depression ... I can't believe they decided to call the last one "great" because it seems for everything I gather like it sucked real bad.)

REI is a cooperative, but it is a consumer cooperative as opposed to the Baltimore Bicycle Works which is a worker cooperative. Being a worker cooperative gives people more control over their workplace because decisions are made democratically and because positions of authority and responsibility are accountable to all of the people who own shares of the business.

A consumer cooperative gives the patrons of a store deals in exchange for their membership. Not a bad thing in the least, but it is ultimately a business model for a regular old hierarchical corporation.

If the workers at REI got to vote on the direction of their company, I doubt they would vote to loose their jobs while simultaneously opening up new stores. Yet that is what they are going to do.

Old letter to the editor about bike industry

2009-02-10T23:53:00.001-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49810-2004Dec8.html

"150,000 members"

2009-02-10T23:23:00.003-05:00

I saw this article at this blog after doing google searches for bicycle worker stuff.

"Getting back to the late 19th century, workers began to use this new tool for political purposes as well as transportation. Activists pedaled to workers who lived further away from town centers, allowing for greater inclusion in union meetings and other worker organizations. The Workers Cycling Federation was a political organization that distributed flyers and literature at public events. With over 150,000 members by 1913, the Federation “had a chain of bicycle shops, a bicycle factory, and a bi-weekly newspaper called The Worker-Cyclists, all owned collectively and run co-operatively.” The Socialist Wheelmen’s Club joined the fight for workers’ rights by distributing political literature between Boston and New York.

Thus, the bicycle had a prominent place in workers’ lives both then and now. Class issues still divide bicyclists, with “lycras” and racers sometimes pitted against messengers and commuters. Bicycling is still often thought of as transportation for the poor, and it often is! Cars are very expensive to own and maintain, putting them out of reach for many low-income folks. I’ve heard of die-hard bike commuters renting cars to go to job interviews because they were worried about the negative image of bicycle commuting.

Being poor in America (or anywhere) is tough, but the bicycle has definitely helped to make transportation more affordable for the working classes throughout the past century."

source: Biketivism and Technology: Historical Reflections and Appropriations. Zack Furness.

interesting stuff.

The Trap

2009-02-06T14:49:00.002-05:00

I have just finished the documentary The Trap by Adam Curtis.

I suggest it highly to people who care about freedom.

If you don't want to spend money on it, it is available on the website

www.freedocumentaries.com

If you have more than three hours to kill ... I also suggest checking out his other recent works:
The Power of Nightmares

The Century of the Self

Mr. Curtis has a very convincing argument to make in all of the films. They are all generally centered on the idea that the power elite in Britain and the United States are imposing (and have imposed) a flawed ideology on the people they govern with disastrous results.

He is also narrates his films, and his British accent adds substantially to his gravitas.

Canadian bike shop bosses shell out to train workers

2009-02-04T11:44:00.003-05:00

I just got this article forwarded to me from mi amigo Kevin.

Wheels turning to train jobless as bike mechanics

It is interesting to me for a couple of different reasons.

One, it means that the people that own bike shops in Toronto, Canada are organized to a point that they understand common needs for their industry. They are combining to meet those needs, in a manner that places long term profits ahead of short term profits. I have never seen anything like this from the retail bicycle shops in Baltimore.

Two, it means that the retail segment of the bicycle industry in Toronto is experiencing significant growth to the point where the bosses are not just hiring new workers, they are paying to train workers to do the job.

Three, is a question of the nature of these jobs. What is their pay? Is the work full or part time ... or is it seasonal? What are the conditions? Will these workers be able to maintain a life of dignity with the wages they are paid for their work?

It reminds me a of a quote I found when doing research on unionization in the early American bicycle industry (though the quote is in reference to the English bicycle industry).

The Economic Journal The Quarterly Journal of the Royal Economic Society By British Economic Association, Royal Economic Society (Great Britain), JSTOR (Organization), Ingenta (Firm)

I think this program will be a good thing. Give people training in an industry, especially one that is growing. Give them jobs. This is what we need to be doing especially now.

The only thing is that we need to be defending and improving these jobs. We need to make sure that work is dignified, reliable, high paying, and not subject to the whims of the bosses.

Obama is being unfair to the poor CEO's

2009-02-04T10:08:00.002-05:00

I saw this on the Huffington post and I had to share.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a9O1h4.cb0Kg&refer=us

... these people don't know what they sound like to the rest of us, do they?

Bikes I Dig

2009-02-03T12:07:00.003-05:00

I am going to start a segment here on our blog called “bikes I dig”.

So here goes our first segment of bikes I dig.

photo via CleverChimp

This is a Surly Big Dummy equiped with a NuVinci continuously variable transmission rear hub.

The Big Dummy is a long wheel based cargo bike. It is like a fully loaded touring bike on steroids.

The NuVinci hub is one of the most interesting designs I have seen on a bicycle component ever. Really interesting. I only barely understand how it works and it makes me want one real bad. I am thinking about putting it on my steel peugot.

Check the video.

I hope there are alot more bikes that look like this in the future.

This is lame

2009-02-02T11:43:00.002-05:00

The bosses that run the banks in this country are really starting to irritate me.

CPSC delays enforcing lead regulation, Trek lawyers rejoice

2009-02-02T09:54:00.002-05:00

Just off of the presses of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (otherwise known as "The BRAIN") is a story about the CPSC, lead, and stuff that kids are going to be handling.

A little back story.

(from the CPSC website)

CPSC Overview

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

So ... these are the people that make sure that you don't get asbestos toothpaste and chromium teddy bears.

So congress got this law passed last year that said that manufacturers who were putting lead into children's toys (which includes bicycles and helmets) needed to stop. Well, no, that would be crazy. What it really says is that these bosses need to reduce the amount of lead they were putting in their products that they were selling to kids to 600 parts per million.

But what is all the fuss, what did a little lead ever do to a kid?

(from The Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning www.leadsafe.org)

About Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental hazard threatening children throughout the United States, affecting an estimated 310,000 children under the age of six. Children under 6 and pregnant women are at the greatest risk for lead poisoning because lead inhibits the proper physical and cognitive development of in children and infants. Even low levels of lead poisoning can cause hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, learning disabilities, lowered IQ, speech delay and hearing impairment. High levels of lead can cause severe mental disabilities, convulsions, coma or even death.

Lead poisoning is completely preventable, yet hundreds of children in Maryland are diagnosed with elevated levels of lead in their blood each year and thousands of children go untested. Because of lead's effect upon a child's brain, thousands of Maryland children fail to reach their full potential and hundreds of communities are prevented from the benefits of the child’s long-term productivity. Studies have shown children who are lead poisoned are more likely to become involved with the juvenile justice system and that lead poisoned children are seven times more likely to drop out of school before graduating. Because of lost wages and the burden on taxpayers caused by anti-social behaviors and increased special education needs, it is estimated that that general public loses millions of dollars each year.

Lead poisoning causes irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system as well as the heart and red blood cells resulting in:

Learning disabilities
Lowered I.Q.
Hyperactivity
Attention Deficit Disorder
Speech Delay
Hearing Loss
Slowed or reduced growth
Behavioral Problems
Violent or Aggressive Behavior

High Level Poisoning can result in: Serve Cognitive Disabilities, Coma and Death.

The harmful effects of lead poisoning are permanent. The ONLY cure is prevention.

Oh .... I guess that is what lead poisoning does.

So this is the story from the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News ... With snippy interjections by yours truely.

CPSC Delays Testing Deadline

BETHESDA, MD (BRAIN)—The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Friday pushed back the testing deadline for lead content in children’s products, spurring a collective sigh of relief from manufacturers in the bicycle and other industries.

*Collective sigh of relief on part of manufacturers spurs collective groan from those not making profit poisoning kids*

The requirement for third-party testing and certification to verify children’s products are meeting a strict new lead limit was scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 10 as part of the Consumer Product Safety Information Act, but will now kick in one year from that date at the earliest.

Manufacturers are still required to meet the new lead limit of 600 parts per million, but won’t have to pay for costly third party testing, an expense that posed a threat to smaller companies.

*costly third party testing = effective third party testing*

Bob Burns, head of the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association’s legislative committee and Trek’s legal counsel, praised the Commission’s decision.

*I guess the great Trek bicycle making corporation was one of those "smaller companies" threatened by the prospect of not poisoning kids*

“We view this move by the CPSC as a very positive sign,” Burns said. “They were handed a poorly-thought-out-knee-jerk-reaction law by Congress and they were given no additional funds to administer that law. The CPSC’s decision to delay the testing requirements shows that they are a practical federal agency that knows how to balance the need to protect consumers with the realities of the world.”

*"Realities of the world" should be read in this instance as a substitute for the words corporate profit.*

The Commission voted 2-0 to delay enforcement of the certification and testing requirements based on “substantial confusion” among manufacturers about the law.

*Nice ... a 2-0 vote by the commission overturns the intention of a law passed by congress ... democracy inaction*

“The Commission has received literally thousands of e-mail, telephone and written inquires as to how to comply, when to comply, what is required in support of the various certifications, what form the required certifications must take and who must issue them,” according an announcement written by Lowell F. Martin, an attorney for the Commission.

The BPSA filed a petition last week asking the Commission to exempt lead contained in steel, aluminum and copper alloys from the law because small bike parts like valve stems and spoke nipples made of those metals exceed the lead limit. That petition is pending.

*The BPSA is the corporate lobby group, the Bicycle Product Supplier Association*

For the latest on the CPSIA read the March 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.

—Nicole Formosa

So, congradulations BPSA, Trek, and all of you other guys who value profit over the wellbeing of our children and society as a whole. You have won the day.

How we look to others and post season crossing

2009-01-29T10:09:00.002-05:00

So I just saw this article thanks to Barry Childress of Baltimore Spokes it is an article by the managing editor of BikePortland.org Elly Blue about Baltimore's progress toward being a bicycle friendly city. It is an interesting perspective from someone who is from what many think of as the urban cycling nirvana: Portland (cue angelic chorus).

I also wanted to make sure to shout out Jim who lives here in Baltimore, but works for Proteus Bicycles down in College Park. He is organizing a cyclocross race down in College Park, MD at another bike shop that will go unnamed (alright, it's proteus) and it looks to be a real nice event. So for all of you who just haven't gotten all the suffering out of your system this cross season, this race is the equivilant of that one last hit of cocaine/heroin/marijuana/caffine/jenkem or whathave you before shipping off to the Amy Winehouse Memorial treatment center.

I am not going to be able to go, I am going to be sitting here working. But I wish the organizers and participants well and that the event goes off well.

Alright you cats, get out there and ride in this awful slosh.

Commuting to work today

2009-01-28T12:11:00.002-05:00

I saw this video this morning on the Drunk Cyclist blog, and I think it is how most people feel if they commuted to work down the hill today.

Mud Wrestling Downhill Mountain Bike Racers- What A MESS!!! (and - video powered by Metacafe

I didn't actually take a spill this morning, but I was riding so slow that I was going backwards for a minute there. It was weird, I think that the earth's rotation was messing me up.

Makes a guy want to invest in Nokian Tires.

Another Used Bike

2009-01-22T23:35:00.007-05:00

This is a recent used bike added to our line up. We've had a few go out the door since the last post, but we've kept up to date on saying what has sold. Check out the other used bikes HERE...

Bianchi Pista Fixed Gear - 55cm

Bianchi Pista fixed gear in a 55cm frame size. Color is Bianchi gang green. Bike has a brand new, never ridden wheelset with a fix/free flip flop rear hub. Comes with bull horn bars and equipped with a front brake and bar end lever. White Turbo saddle. MKS pedals and toe clips with brand new leather straps. Gatorskin tires with plenty of life left in them. Bike is in fantastic shape and is in 100% working order. Come on by and check it out in person.

$400.

New New Bikes in stock

2009-01-22T09:54:00.004-05:00

We are thrilled to announce that we have just received a mess of bikes from our newest brand : Jamis Bikes.

We have mountain, hybrid, road, touring, cyclocross, commuting, and kids bikes in stock.

We will put up pictures and more thoughts soon.

Everything old is new again

2009-01-21T02:48:00.005-05:00

Did you know there was an American Bicycle industry?

And that it featured unionized workers?

from:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Q8EUAAAAYAAJ&dq=machinists%20bicycle%20union&lr=&pg=PA308&ci=49,795,938,661&source=bookclip

strikebreakers union

2009-01-18T11:06:00.004-05:00

As you may or may not know, we here at Baltimore Bicycle Works are fans of organized labor.

The weekend, 40 hour weeks, an end to child labor. All good stuff in my book.

I just saw this on the internet. I believe it comes from one of Micheal Moore's TV shows. Either way, it is pretty funny.

Update: On the subject of collective bargaining and worker's organization, I just saw this piece on someone else's blog. It is about the US Air Hudson River landing and rescue. It raises an point that all of the 24 hour media that has been covering this story from every angle failed to bring up. All of the heroes of this story are union members.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/16/this-miracle-brought-to-you-by-americas-unions/

Alex got us fresh T's and other shop news

2009-01-17T12:37:00.010-05:00

Attention Baltimore cyclists and T-shirt wearers.

We have gotten our T's back into stock. They also come in white. At only $10, you can't afford not to buy one. Come in and pick one up, and rep us hard ... most likely under 8-10 other layers of clothing. It's cold out.

So cold, you might want to pick up a Swobo wool beanie. It had ear flaps to protect those little hearing units.

In other exciting BBW news, we have upgraded our chess set in the shop. So if you have a free hour (we don't play with a clock ... yet) come by and beat me in chess. Then buy a tube so I don't feel too bad.

That is me blogging it up in the background. And in the foreground it is our freewheel tool rook ... we lost a piece in transit. Too bad we didn't loose a king because crank pullers are very regal.

When I see all of you commuting hard women and men still churning those pedals past our storefront when the mercury dips below sensible, It warms my heart. Which is nice because the shop is expensive to heat. It also makes me think that what a great bike the SWOBO Dixon could be for you all. Understated style, huge tires clearance, disc brakes, and the SRAM internal geared 9sp hub. This bike is the ultimate all weather commuting machine.

.

Wood Grain Wheels

2009-01-15T00:58:00.007-05:00

This is a custom build up we did recently. Pake track frame in limited edition bass boat green. Wheel set is Velocity Deep V's painted wood grain.

Slim thug actually wrote a song about this bike.

See it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCZSVqI9V6U

Very small American bicycle manufacturing sector gets smaller

2009-01-14T08:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/2238.html

American Bicycle Group, the makers of Litespeed, Merlin, and Quintana Roo, has laid off 25% of their workers involved in manufacturing in their Tennessee facility, citing the current economic recession.

quoting from the article:
"According to Hurley [the CEO] , ABG will 'continue to develop new products during this downturn with confidence that the future will again be bright for our industry and ABG.'"

Nothing says confidence like laying off 25% of your workforce.

'"We regret the pain and discomfort of those laid off and wish only the very best for their future," Hurley added.'

Nothing says regret like a press release.

And the downward swirling continues ... more layoffs, less economic security for working people, less workers can afford to buy, more layoffs ... and the downward swirling continues

Looking for more information on the companies website I noticed that they may be going back to an older method of procuring workers. This is under "frequently asked questions":

Can I visit the Litespeed factory?
We do indeed allow factory tours, but would really like it if we got a bit of a warning before you come so we can make sure we have a guide available. Call us at 423-238-5530 and schedule a tour and we will show you around. You'll be impressed especially by our amazing staff here.
Remember though, solid shoes and eye protection have to be worn and you have to be at least 14 years old.

Now perhaps I am paranoid, but I wouldn't go down there for fear of being Shanghaied (no offense intended for any of my Chinese readership ... who am I kidding, nobody is reading this)

Oh, and I am pretty sure that in the answer above they are now using staff as the singular not the plural.

BKW interview with BSNYC

2009-01-13T18:31:00.002-05:00

... so this is a link to one of the best bicycle bloggers interviewing one of the best bicycle bloggers.

if you don't know Bike Snob NYC ... (in the words of hip-hop mixtape king Clinton Sparks) GET FAMILIAR!

http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2008/02/burden-of-being-bsnyc.html

I think it is starting to show that I don't actually ride bikes anymore ... I just ride the mile to the bike shop, read blogs all day, and ride the mile home. There are definitely worse fates I suppose ... so please don't think less of me.

Planned obsolescence and the swiss army bike

2009-01-13T17:58:00.004-05:00

Planned obsolescence (click the link to go to the wikipedia article on the matter) has been part of our capitalist economy for the past eighty years or so. It is the idea that by introducing a new version of a product every year you can make the previous year's product obsolete in some way (either functionally, aesthetically or whatever) and put pressure on consumers to buy the product again.

Critics of this method of increasing production and profit say that it is wasteful and generally harmful to our society in a whole for a variety of sociological, psychological and economy reasons.

Here is an example of planned obsolescence in action:

the Trek 6500 model year 2008

the Trek 6500 model year 2009

... so when the blue bike is introduced in September it makes the silver bike obsolete even if they are essentially identical.

I recently got a chance to replace a spoke on a Swiss Army bike that was made in the 1940's. It is being ridden on the regular by a gentleman, so it has a real life, not just an existence as a wall hanging. This is an impressive machine. Not that I wouldn't prefer to ride the Loch Raven trails on that Trek 6500, but it is an example of a completely different production philosophy. Since these bikes are not produced for the purpose of maximizing profit for the corporation that they were produced by it doesn't make sense to come out with a new model every year. Instead they have only updated this bicycle three times in the over the one hundred years that it has been produced. This means less waste in production, greater ease for the consumer to find replacement parts, and a dearth of real world testing before improvements are planned and implemented.

Check out this funny video showing the swiss military riding on bikes and dodging fake bullets.

Now I don't think that we all need to go out and buy Swiss Army bikes ... they certainly aren't practical for all applications (though it would make the Tour de France's Alp D'Huez stage much more challenging for the riders and fun to watch for spectators ... if fun for spectators is measured in suffering for the competitors). But if we are at a stage of capitalism where our American president is forced to openly advocate for its continuation as our economic system ... then maybe it is worth revisiting if this is the best way to make and sell our products.

And I thought Al Gore had something valuable stolen from him

2009-01-13T09:49:00.003-05:00

I saw this story on the Bicycle Retailer and Industry News ....

http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/2230.html
“They’ve probably been sold for a $10 rock of crack.” —Peter Wicker, owner of Outback Bikes, a cycle dealer in the Atlanta area, who gave Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, Specialized bikes in November 2007. The Carters bikes were stolen earlier this month from the Carter Center in Atlanta.

When I first started reading the quote I thought that Mr. Wicker was implying that our former President and first lady had developed a habit themselves. Which would be tragic, unless you have seen "Little Miss Sunshine". Because as Grandpa will tell you when you young you are crazy to do herion, but when you are old you are crazy not to.

After I read that the bike had been stolen and that it was this mystery thief with the drug problem the quote made more sense. But there are other reasons apart from a cocaine habit to steal a bike (though, living in Baltimore all evidence seems to be contrary) . My money is that this guy stole it:

So if you live in Atlanta ... be wary of people with Italian accents.

... oh and Bush ... you better keep an eye on all those Madones and Fuels that TREK / Revloution Bike Shop have given you. I have seen Burlesconi eye'n em.

Animal BMX goes to China

2009-01-11T11:54:00.006-05:00

Our global economy is a complicated beast.

Like all of our industries here in the United States, the bicycle industry is now dependent upon Chinese factories and workers to an unprecedented level. This is because our economic bosses are trying to take advantage of what they have viewed as a limitless pool of workers willing to rent their minds and bodies for wages less than two percent of the wages of their American counterparts.

The decisions that the "captains of industry" have been making over the last thirty years have devastated our economy here at home. With eyes fixed on raising profits every quarter, the longer term goals of our economy have been nearly totally ignored.

For an example in the bicycle industry, you can look at Huffy Bicycles. In July 1998 the Huffy Corporation closed its Celina, Ohio plant. It laid off 975 workers, many of whom had worked for decades for this corporation. The justification for this decision was that the company had to cut costs. This meant that they would fire unionized American workers (members of United Steelworkers of America) who made $11 dollars per hour (plus an additional $6 per hour worth of benefits), so that they could then hire Chinese workers who would work for 25-41 cents per hour.

The idea of cutting costs by reducing the CEO's pay was not considered as far as I can tell. In fact the CEO's pay was increased in the same year by 11.4 percent, bringing his yearly salary up to a respectable $771,091.00.

These are also decisions that are being made to increase the profit of a company that in that year of 1998 made $97,500,000 in profit out of the $584,000,000 in sales.

This is why real wages have not increased in our country in thirty years ... despite "the fundamentals of our economy being sound".

To quote Warren Buffet "There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning."

New York Times, November 26, 2006.

With all of this as a backdrop, Animal BMX company has gone to visit the production of their clothing in China. I have to give the folks at Animal props here, not for making their clothes in China ... but for going to the factory, taking pictures, and showing everyone the reality of how things are made on their website. That is something that is pretty unique in the bicycle industry. If you go to everyone elses websites it seems like if they don't make the stuff here it just magically gets made and appears on retailers shelves.

http://animalbikes.com/blog/news/shanghai
http://animalbikes.com/blog/news/shanghai-day-1
http://animalbikes.com/blog/news/shanghai-day-2
http://animalbikes.com/blog/news/shanghai-day-3

There are also some nice pictures of the sponsored riders doing some huge bunny hops and and barspins on the streets of Shanghai.

This isn't the whole story either though. In recent years Chinese workers have been making gains toward improving their working condtions (to the chagrin of the rich class Mr. Buffet spoke of).

I saw this article in the NY times a few months ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/business/worldbusiness/29labor.html?pagewanted=print

It tells the story of workers in China having their wages increase in a dramatic way because that limitless pool of poor migrant Chinese labor is drying up. As their example they use the Dahon folding bicycle factory. I think this is an encouraging sign for both the American and Chinese working class.

Heck ... Chinese workers have even organized a union at Wal-Mart.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/First_WalMart_union_begins_in_China_0803.html

Like I said, our global economy is a complicated beast.

notes:
http://www.responsiblewealth.org/shareholder/2000/huffy.html
http://www.nlcnet.org/reports.php?id=265

Current Used Bikes

2009-01-11T00:36:00.042-05:00

These photographs are of our current used bike line up. All bikes are in great working order and have been refurbished and checked over by our mechanics.

Surly 1x1.

Surly 1x1 Frame and Fork in black. Frame size is 16" (Surly small). Horizontal dropouts on the frame. Race Face cranks, stem, and seat post. Avid BB7 disc brakes. Surly hubs laced to WTB rims. FSA sealed 1 1/8" headset. WTB 26x2.5 tires. Shimano SPD clipless pedals included.

$575

Trek 820 mountain bike.

Trek 820 mountain bike with 26" wheels and a 15" steel frame size. Blue and silver in color, this bike has 21 speeds and uses Shimano components. Suspension fork. 26x1.95 tires. In like new condition.

$150

Diamond Back Approach hybrid. - SOLD

Diamond Back Approach hybrid bike. 700C wheel size with 700x41 tires makes this bike great for riding on the road or the trail. 17" steel frame, blue grey in color. 21 speeds.

$135

Giant mountain bike.

Giant mountain bike with 26" wheels. Frame is steel and 13.5". Color is dark purple. 15 speeds. In good shape, price is a great deal!

$75

Schwinn Cruiser - SOLD

Classic Schwinn Cruiser. Single speed with coaster brake, this bike is a great classic. Blue in color with a steel frame and 26" wheels with white wall tires. Bike comes with a rear rack and baskets installed. Bike has rust throughout but is in fine working condition.

$50

These bikes are all currently on our show room floor. Come on by and check them out in person or take one on a test ride. Also, take a look at some of our new bikes as well.

Anachronistic Photo update

2009-01-07T00:25:00.008-05:00

So I figured we would do a little photo dump here. Meredith my lovely fellow worker and fiance took all these nice photos before losing her camera - computer cable. They have been in a digital purgatory until now.

This is me in an empty work area ...

alrighty ... so we jumped ahead in the story and now the shop is all painted and almost ready to open.

and we are in the future again and we are open.

me. sitting around waiting after closing time.

-Josh

Urban Velo

2008-12-31T13:20:00.003-05:00

Urban Velo gave us a shout out on their website. They do a great magazine, and we will soon have issue 11 here in the shop. Thanks Brad.

-Josh

Some pictures of our in stock products

2008-12-23T17:09:00.005-05:00

We have the SRAM Rival Group in stock for the cyclist looking for a road/cross bike that will run smooth and look great.

We have a selection of winter apparel to keep you on the bike when the temperature drops. Merino wool jerseys, knickers, arm and knee warmers from SWOBO, base-layers from Craft, wind-stopping shells from Mt. Borah, and more.

We also have beautiful fixed gear components from Nitto, Sugino, Shimano, and Suzue. Get your bike ready to hit the track up at T-Town, or hit the streets of Baltimore in style.

More photos and products to come ...

-Josh

Attention Sunday Cyclists

2008-12-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

So, my fellow Baltimore cyclists, we are going to close up shop a little early today so that I can go celebrate Hanukkah with my kinfolk.

Hanukkah (if you aren't hip to it) is a magical time when the Jewish people get together to celebrate an "internal civil war between the traditionalist Jews in the country and the Hellenized elite Jews in Jerusalem."(quote from wikipedia article on the matter)

We are going to close at 5pm ... (in five hours), so if you have any pressing issues that you need the bicycle shop to solve now is the time. Otherwise we will see you on Tuesday at 11 am.

Shalom amigos.

-Josh

Some random photos...

2008-12-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos from around the shop...

Tommy is carving a lug for a shop bike

Here's Josh doing some grinding on our new welding table...

Welding table and welder in action!

Practice makes perfect...

Tommy contemplates the countless things to be welded...

Opening Day

2008-12-10T00:25:00.000-05:00

So internet readers,
Our bicycle shop's first day of operation is this Saturday the 13th of December. We will open at 11am and close at 7pm. We will continue to do so Tuesday through Sunday from here on out. We are also going to be updating the blog much more regularly. We have some more recent pictures of our renovations, and we will certain take a few on our first day.

I hope to see everyone there.

-Josh

more pictures

2008-11-17T23:25:00.000-05:00

Our Shop ...

setting up our workspaces

2008-11-17T23:23:00.000-05:00

2008-10-20T11:15:00.000-04:00

Photo: Brent
Awkward pose: Josh