This is just a couple of blocks from the shop. I came upon it on my way to lunch; luckily I saw it before I turned my head to check for traffic (I was passing a car parked there at the time). Be alert, and assume you're invisible!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Road hazards
When you're riding your bike in traffic, look out for dangers like this one. Construction crews rarely take into account the needs of bicyclists. As far as they're concerned, cars are the only road users, so you end up with wheel-sucking voids like this one:
This is just a couple of blocks from the shop. I came upon it on my way to lunch; luckily I saw it before I turned my head to check for traffic (I was passing a car parked there at the time). Be alert, and assume you're invisible!
This is just a couple of blocks from the shop. I came upon it on my way to lunch; luckily I saw it before I turned my head to check for traffic (I was passing a car parked there at the time). Be alert, and assume you're invisible!
And now for something completely different...
Everyone knows I don't ride off-road much, you know, since the road starts right outside my front door and all. But after seeing some video and photos of the trails near Possum Kingdom Lake, and knowing there was a group who knows the trails going, and the promise of great Chili and Beer afterward (Thanks Curtis!), Jason and I had to go check it out yesterday.
The trailhead is at lake level, but there's a lot of climbing because the trail goes all the way to the top of Johnson's Peak, where there's an incredible view:
The terrain is classic Texas... limestone and cedars, beautiful red oaks that are changing color right now, lots of prickly pear cactus, and these incredibly scary thorns the locals call "horse cripplers." Somehow, despite all that, none of us had a flat, so somebody up there must like us. Here's one of the cactus patches:
It was a great group to ride with, and it was also really cool to ride with Roger (shown below sharing his water with his dog), who built most of the trail and knows his way around better than anybody.
Friday, November 25, 2005
Happy Day after Thanksgiving
It's here... the day after Thanksgiving, when everybody and their third cousins goes either to Wal-Mart or the Mall. Or the really crazy might go to both.
It's also the day when bike shop guys sit around wondering why anybody would want to go to those god-forsaken places. So come see us... please. We're lonely.
It's also the day when bike shop guys sit around wondering why anybody would want to go to those god-forsaken places. So come see us... please. We're lonely.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Holiday Gift Registry
An idea just hit me, kind of out of the blue, but I think it's a good one:
Most of you reading this blog are pretty avid cyclists. If you're like me, you have family that starts asking around the holidays what you might like for Christmas. There's always something I want, but sometimes I don't want to ask for it because, lets face it, the majority of our relatives don't exactly know their way around a bike shop.
Enter the Panther City Bicycles holiday gift registry. Next time you stop by, look around for a few items you wouldn't mind unwrapping on a holiday morning, whether it's the latest gadget you can't live without, or just something you'd enjoy but not necessarily buy for yourself. We'll write your choices down and put them in a card file for you.
If aunt Mildred tells you you're difficult to shop for, just send her in here. We'll pull your registry card, help her pick an item in her price range, and she'll be done. You'll both be happier, and so will we. We sell gift certificates too, but unwrapping a package is so much more fun...
If this holiday project works, we may expand it to a year-round registry. Use it for birthdays, graduations, even weddings.
Most of you reading this blog are pretty avid cyclists. If you're like me, you have family that starts asking around the holidays what you might like for Christmas. There's always something I want, but sometimes I don't want to ask for it because, lets face it, the majority of our relatives don't exactly know their way around a bike shop.
Enter the Panther City Bicycles holiday gift registry. Next time you stop by, look around for a few items you wouldn't mind unwrapping on a holiday morning, whether it's the latest gadget you can't live without, or just something you'd enjoy but not necessarily buy for yourself. We'll write your choices down and put them in a card file for you.
If aunt Mildred tells you you're difficult to shop for, just send her in here. We'll pull your registry card, help her pick an item in her price range, and she'll be done. You'll both be happier, and so will we. We sell gift certificates too, but unwrapping a package is so much more fun...
If this holiday project works, we may expand it to a year-round registry. Use it for birthdays, graduations, even weddings.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Listen up, fixed gear riders!
If you've ever shopped for an affordable complete fixed gear bike, you know there are not all that many available. And good luck finding any of the few that are available in a local shop....
Same thing probably applies if you've ever shopped for a high-end track racing bike. What percentage of road bike manufacturers makes a track bike?
If you've ever wished you could talk directly to the brand manager of a bicycle maker and give him input that would directly affect what bikes would be available the VERY NEXT YEAR... your chance has come. Tim Jackson, brand manager of Masi Bikes, has a blog much like this one where he gives news about the brand and sometimes directly asks consumers for their input. Kind of refreshing to see a manufacturer listening to the voices of his most loyal customers, rather than relying solely on the abstractions of demographics and marketing study types.
So go to Tim's "MasiGuy" Blog and tell him you'd consider one of his fixed gear bikes. Encourage him to keep the lines of communications with consumers open; I don't know of a single other brand manager doing this, and I think it rocks.
Same thing probably applies if you've ever shopped for a high-end track racing bike. What percentage of road bike manufacturers makes a track bike?
If you've ever wished you could talk directly to the brand manager of a bicycle maker and give him input that would directly affect what bikes would be available the VERY NEXT YEAR... your chance has come. Tim Jackson, brand manager of Masi Bikes, has a blog much like this one where he gives news about the brand and sometimes directly asks consumers for their input. Kind of refreshing to see a manufacturer listening to the voices of his most loyal customers, rather than relying solely on the abstractions of demographics and marketing study types.
So go to Tim's "MasiGuy" Blog and tell him you'd consider one of his fixed gear bikes. Encourage him to keep the lines of communications with consumers open; I don't know of a single other brand manager doing this, and I think it rocks.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Layaway now for the Holidays!
As you can see, we have more kids' bikes on the floor now than we ever have in our illustrious 7.5 month history. Now's the time to pick out a Haro or Free Agent bike for your little one and put it on Layaway for the holidays.
We've got lots of adult bikes, too, if you've got a more senior rider on your list. Choose from our Haro, Masi, Breezer, or KHS lineups.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
A little hero-worship
This is kind of old news, but here's a picture of me and Jason with one of my all-time biggest heroes, Georgie Hincapie (and my Favorite for the '06 tour, by the way). (Yes, I'd have a hard time even cheering for Jan Ullrich over Georgie. Maybe they'd be my co-favorites)
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