It matters…or maybe it doesn’t. The Handbuilt Bike show has happened. Moots was there…IF were there. And they were buried under tons and tons of bearded, flannel shirt wearing, dickie’s pant clad, work boots that lace up to you knee sporting, only drink microbrew, underappreciated tradesmen….much like myself.
Only I was not there, nor would I bother you with my underappreciated awesomeness……or facial hair that shows how ‘extreme’ I am.
And thats cool. Supporting handbuilt bikes is really, really important but lets not drown in our own “super low key, but totally rad-ness”. I mean, its super laid back that the show had no title sponsor for a while. Thats cool, maybe I’ll just stop cutting paychecks and see how long it takes for my business to go under. It was even rumored that the show would tank…then all of a sudden Shimano throws in some cash and gets the nod. And some people were pissed. And by some people, it was the folks who wanted free entry to the show, wanted to drool all over the sweet bikes, and then have no plans of supporting the frame builders and no plans of buying a custom bike. Thats cool…I get people like that every day at the shop. Kim tells them to Fuck Off! Anyway, Shimano is great. They make great things, provide jobs to my friends and their families, and still that was not good enough for the underappreciated handbuilt bike show attendee drinking their fucking $9 soy latte. I dunno? Is Omish beard and cycling cap glued to your head the new black. Ask Mr Bilenky!
Steve, after all has been making bikes for 30 years and is booked out a year. I’m only booked out until May.
Thats cool. Jesus fucking christ…I wear the MLPS Mafia outfit to church and dental meetings.
or Single Speed World Champs
On to more important business. Today I got to speak with Ted, who is the founder of the company that makes Zero Gravity Brakes(Ciamillo Cycling) – the lightest and strongest brakes you can buy. He has put together a program that supports independent bicycle shops called the Elite 50. And yes, Dharma Wheels is in the elite 50…#48 of 50. Rather than sell his absolutely awesome brakes to mail order places….or even large industry distributors, he has elected to hand pick 50 custom shops to go through in the US. And just to tell you how popular and incredible they are. I’ve already sold two sets of brakes the first 1/2 day that the account was activated. Are they that good? Take a look…
Thats the ‘yang’ that keeps me going. Excellent customers AND excellent industry people.
