Everyday Bicycling by Elly Blue

Hey there readers! We just got this new book in the shop, so I (Jaimie, the new PULP girl) decided to check it out.  

Wow. For a person with a very limited knowledge of biking, this is a great read. I wish I had had this book when I first started commuting to work by bike through downtown. It definitely would have eased my fear of sharing the road with cars.

In any case, this book is extremely well written and would be a fantastic gift/stocking stuffer for bikers of all skill levels, including those who haven't yet but their wheels to the pavement. 

In three words: 

Informative, Concise, and Broad

$10 for 125 pages of knowledge new and old will utilize for the rest of their biking days. Let's just say I know what my tip money is going towards this week. 

Cheers! 
- Jaimie

New Merch

We just got some new merchandise in the store. It's called a Clean Bottle.

Cute, right? But what's so special about a water bottle? Well, this water bottle offers up some pretty cool features. 

For one, It comes totally apart. This bottle can actually be cleaned in all of its tiny little crevasses. No longer must your water bottle smell like personified grossness. This water bottle is also 100% nontoxic, BPA free, and guaranteed for life and 10% of the profits go to eco and cycling friendly charities. 

As if that info wasn't cool enough, the story behind the marketing of the bottle is even cooler. 

Why yes, that is a water bottle running in the Tour de France... Best. Marketing. Campaign. Ever.


So come on and check them out! We have them in black, blue and insulated versions. 

Follow Kurt & Meghan at Tandemtours.Tumblr.com!

Do you ever wonder what a tandem bike looks like after flying across the country?  This is what Kurt & Meghan look like at the San Francisco airport after doing so.  Those two rascals are riding Kurt's infamous tandem around all of the North West and blogging their way into glory!  Follow them here!

We're stoked to follow them on their adventures!

Friday Fatty Rides...More then just a ride!

A lot of Friday Fatty Rides have been rain outs this spring. The rains can dampen some rides but the moisture can also bring amazing beauty to others.  The Kennedy Peak/Stephens Trail loop provided great views of the full Shenandoah River as it snaked through Page Valley. The Trail towards Kennedy Peak is a great piece of work with green moss filling in the gaps between the perfectly laid rocks.



Sam, Chris, Abe, Matt and Mark soaking it all in!

Friday was also a birthday celebration of one of the regular Friday Fat Friday riders, Mark Veerman. Happy Birthday Mark, thanks for all you do for the bike community!

The Ibis Ripley Demo is HERE!

We're in the process of building up Ibis' new 29'er full susupension carbon rig, THE RIPLEY!  It'll make a much better suited bike than a helmet with the DW Link suspension system providing a plush 120mm of travel in the front & rear.  Our demo build will have Fox CTD and full XT drivetrain components.  This light weight carbon rig has a through axle in the front & rear for maximum lateral stiffness.  Be sure to hop on it for a demo ride next week once we have it built up!

Tour De Fat DC 2013

On Saturday, June 1, Wootten rallied a posse of friends to join him on an inspirational journey to DC. Master Naters somehow recognized the costume laden beer drinking bicycle warriors.

The New Belgium Brewing Tour De Fat has been traveling around each summer to various locations with the sole purpose of promoting cycling, supporting bike coalitions & having fun.  The key feature for the TDF is a costume bike parade that is open to anyone on a bike.  This year, hundreds and hundreds of riders flooded the streets of DC for a ultra slow paced 5 mile tour.  This mass of slow riders passed by the US Department of Transportation building, a statement not to be taken lightly.  Ride marshals blocked traffic and surprisingly, the general DC driving population didn't have too many smiles to share. 

Following the parade, the beer began flowing and things just started getting weird.  There were married couples on stage, juggling bananas with their mouths, puppet shows, slow bike races, a crazy bike pit, live music, talent shows, magic shows.  Just about everything you could ask for on a day in DC.     

A staple to the TDF is a revivalization, where one person donates their car and promises to live life car-free for a year.  In exchange, they are given a free bike with commuter gear.  Last year's winner, one of the founders of the Black Women Bike club in DC sent the lucky guy off on a year of lifestyle riding, through a tunnel of supporters just below the stage.

After a killer finale by Beats Antique, the TDF leader informed the sweaty crowd that we'd raised $27,000 for WABA in a single day just from the beer donations.  That's pretty good for just one afternoon of lots of fun.

SBC's First Ibis Demo Day