This looks cool. I'll have to keep a watch for new episodes.
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Monday, October 3, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Sufferfest “A Very Dark Place” review
Let me get this out of the way first and foremost. I received an advance preview copy of The Sufferfest's new video “A Very Dark Place” at no charge to review. I also have an affiliate link with The Sufferfest. I could potentially make a commission from any sale from following the link on the right sidebar. Honestly, I haven't made enough to cash out yet, but hopefully I can buy a cup of coffee or a beer one day from it.
As we enter fall (autumn for you folks who are artsy) and winter, most of us lose daylight riding time. Sure we can attach lights and ride in the dark. And if you bundle up with enough clothes, you can stay warm enough to ride, even to sub-zero temps, not that I do much of that more then riding to work. The only other option is to ride a trainer or rollers indoors.
Indoor riding is a great way to stay in shape, and even possibly build some fitness. But it can be really boring. I mean really boring. Sure you can crank up the tunes. That works for a bit. In the old-school days, we would pop in a tape of races we taped off the TV in the summer. Now you can pop in a dvd or load some You-Tube clips. If you are really motivated, you can even set up structured workouts based on heart rate, cadence, perceived exertion, power or any combination.
The Sufferfest has put together videos that combine race/ride footage, music and a structured workout. All in one package.
“A Very Dark Place” is 50 minutes of suffering. If you've ever watched other trainer workout videos, you usually get a nice coach telling you to go hard or ease up at certain points in the ride. Good, but not always motivational. The Sufferfest videos throws that out the window and motivates you by occasionally putting you down and egging you on.
The music matches the intensity, and the soundtrack for “A Very Dark Place” is indie rock. It works well and keeps your interest. But I do tend to like more electronic/industrial or even dance/rave for riding rollers.
The structure of the workout starts with a warm-up, a couple 30 second sprint efforts, and 5x 4 minute very high intensity intervals with 3 minutes each to recover, and a 4 minute cool down.
I did my Sufferfest riding 3.5 inch rollers. I should have rolled up a towel and placed it under the rear drum for added intensity. All through the video they have cadence/intensity cues, and it didn't really match up to my workout. This is in no way the fault of Sufferfest. A stationary trainer with resistance or variable resistance would work great. Crank that intensity up and you're good to go. But for me, even if I was in the biggest chainring/smallest cog combo, I wasn't able to get the intensity high enough with the lower cadences.
The above chart of my workout shows my heartrate with cadence over time. You can see the distinct intervals, but they didn't rise up as hard as they should have.
The 50 minutes went by very quicly. I was concerned that the 4 minute intervals would be impossible to keep going thru. The other day, I did a workout with just an iPod and a general idea of some sort of intervals. I only had 3 to do, and the last one I wasn't able to hold for the full time. But with the added motivational cues of the Sufferfest and great video footage, I was working hard, but each change in intensity came up quickly.
If you are looking for a way to stay motivated to ride the trainer indoors check out The Sufferfest videos. It may not be the same as riding outdoors, but at least it makes the suffering bearable.
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
As we enter fall (autumn for you folks who are artsy) and winter, most of us lose daylight riding time. Sure we can attach lights and ride in the dark. And if you bundle up with enough clothes, you can stay warm enough to ride, even to sub-zero temps, not that I do much of that more then riding to work. The only other option is to ride a trainer or rollers indoors.
Indoor riding is a great way to stay in shape, and even possibly build some fitness. But it can be really boring. I mean really boring. Sure you can crank up the tunes. That works for a bit. In the old-school days, we would pop in a tape of races we taped off the TV in the summer. Now you can pop in a dvd or load some You-Tube clips. If you are really motivated, you can even set up structured workouts based on heart rate, cadence, perceived exertion, power or any combination.
The Sufferfest has put together videos that combine race/ride footage, music and a structured workout. All in one package.
“A Very Dark Place” is 50 minutes of suffering. If you've ever watched other trainer workout videos, you usually get a nice coach telling you to go hard or ease up at certain points in the ride. Good, but not always motivational. The Sufferfest videos throws that out the window and motivates you by occasionally putting you down and egging you on.
The music matches the intensity, and the soundtrack for “A Very Dark Place” is indie rock. It works well and keeps your interest. But I do tend to like more electronic/industrial or even dance/rave for riding rollers.
The structure of the workout starts with a warm-up, a couple 30 second sprint efforts, and 5x 4 minute very high intensity intervals with 3 minutes each to recover, and a 4 minute cool down.
I did my Sufferfest riding 3.5 inch rollers. I should have rolled up a towel and placed it under the rear drum for added intensity. All through the video they have cadence/intensity cues, and it didn't really match up to my workout. This is in no way the fault of Sufferfest. A stationary trainer with resistance or variable resistance would work great. Crank that intensity up and you're good to go. But for me, even if I was in the biggest chainring/smallest cog combo, I wasn't able to get the intensity high enough with the lower cadences.
 |
| Clicky to see full size |
The 50 minutes went by very quicly. I was concerned that the 4 minute intervals would be impossible to keep going thru. The other day, I did a workout with just an iPod and a general idea of some sort of intervals. I only had 3 to do, and the last one I wasn't able to hold for the full time. But with the added motivational cues of the Sufferfest and great video footage, I was working hard, but each change in intensity came up quickly.
If you are looking for a way to stay motivated to ride the trainer indoors check out The Sufferfest videos. It may not be the same as riding outdoors, but at least it makes the suffering bearable.
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Bike art - Kim Naumann - Curiouser & Curiouser Design “A ride in the Countryside”
A very nice marker on paper illustration of “A ride in the Countryside”. Another great Flickr find.
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Scott Bike | Grems graffiti project
Follow this link. http://www.scott-sports.com/thegremsproject
Make some graffiti on their wall.
Win a fixed gear bike.
Sounds simple. I guess we'll see. Go ahead and have a go at it.
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Trainer Road
I'm pretty interested in this. I'd need to get and Ant+ stick for my computer, but I already have the speed cadence sensor, as well as the heartrate strap, so no big deal there. I'd have to see if they would set up virtual power for the drum size of my rollers and I'd be set up to do some indoor sessions with real structure.
I think it would really make winter roller sessions that much more bearable.
They are now in beta sign up, so if you have Ant+ accessories and stick, you may want to check it out. Link: http://www.trainerroad.com/
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Monday, September 26, 2011
Cav won the worlds
Mark Cavendish wins the World Road Race Championships in a sprint! I'd say he was spinning the big ring!
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Bike art - Tor "Bikes of San Francisco"
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Sunday, September 25, 2011
Orange fixed gear rolling again.
 |
| Chain and cog |
 |
| Old vs new |
 |
| Bike is happy now |
Ordered an IRO 17 tooth 3/32 cog and a SRAM PC1 chain. The cog is machined from Cro-moly steel, finished in matte black. Not sure if it's a treatment or a coating. Hopefully it's durable. The chain comes with a special snap link, that I'm sure works well on singlespeeds, but I don't trust it on a fixed drivetrain. Seems to me that there could be compression forces when slowing with your legs. And that could cause the snap link to un-snap. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyone use one with a fixed gear?
I wen't out for a shake down spin today and the drivetrain seems smooth and silent again. I think I'll be riding this for the Tuesday night cyclocross at Eastwood.
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Saturday, September 24, 2011
View SportTracks logs on your Android phone (Android Activities Viewer)
Looks like it will also connect to Garmin Connect if you use that service too.
Seems cool to me. Gonna give it a try and let you know how it works.
Or check it our for yourself. Click this link (https://market.android.com/details?id=sk.flashdev.sporttracks.viewer), or visit the Android Activities Viewer site here: http://activitiesviewer.blogspot.com/
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Friday, September 23, 2011
Minnecycle - Minnesota handmade bicycle show
I just found out about this today, though I guess it's been in planning for a long time. Too bad, because I'd like to check it out. Looks like some great local framebuilders are attending.
Some info can be found here: minnecycle.org
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Races to think about - Holzinger Hot Lap (DETAILS)
This is a follow up to this post that announced my interest in possibly doing this race. In case you can't read the type in the above image, here's what it says:
----------------------------------------
HOLZINGER HOT LAP TT 2
HOLZINGER HOT LAP TT 2
October 8th, 2011 . WINONA, MN
Grassroots errort strongly encouraged by 29nSNGL*
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The Year of the Golden Eagle
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Sign up at NOON. 2pm START. 1 LOOP (roughly 9 miles) 60 second intervals.
Party starts and ends a Holzinger Lodge in Winona, MN (2 hrs south of Mpls)
6 pack entry. Yes, 6 pack of beer is your entry (CANS ONLY. Lodge rule.)
RSVP NEEDED: bladecollins[at]29nsngl.com
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Whoo-hoo! Grassroots racing seems to thrive in SE MN.
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Just have to say
 |
| Just so you know, this isn't my picture, and it's not the squash from our yard. Deal with it. |
Even better, the squash just decided to grow in our yard as a volunteer plant. Not even sure how we got the seed as we have never grown it in the past.
Free organic food, provided by God. (Not that all the other food isn't either) Thank you.
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Thursday, September 22, 2011
A little something about a person in the bike industry
I was lucky enough to have worked for a period of time in bicycle retail. It really was some of the most satisfying years, in enjoyment of what I was doing, and in terms of relationships I have made. I have seen the rise and fall of some great companies and products. While I sometimes purchase and ride mass produced bikes, mainly because of personal economy, I have a love affair with small bike builders. The guy's and small companies scraping to get buy, doing what they do because of love of the sport and passion for what they do. It's those guys that are what is great about the bike industry, and a reason I'd like to find a way back in, though maybe not in the direct retail area.
Anyway, I really have no idea what I'm saying, as this is really just supposed to be some words to intro a post I came across a small framebuilders blog. It struck me as interesting and I wanted to share it. Follow this link to have a read: http://overopinionatedframebuilder.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-all-make-memories-that-we-can.html
Here's a small snippit that I found interesting:
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Anyway, I really have no idea what I'm saying, as this is really just supposed to be some words to intro a post I came across a small framebuilders blog. It struck me as interesting and I wanted to share it. Follow this link to have a read: http://overopinionatedframebuilder.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-all-make-memories-that-we-can.html
Here's a small snippit that I found interesting:
I'm ready to let my work tell the story of the crooked and makeshift path of what I have done these past decades-I'll do this and let folks decide if what I have done has validity or merit in this year of 2011.Hope you read it, find it interesting, and maybe think about buying a bike from one of the small builders. At least once in your life.
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Races to think about - Murphy Menace 50
This would be for next year (2012). I might be able to do this. A 50 mile mountain bike race in the twin cities. Assuming they do it again next August (2012)
http://www.threeriversparks.org/events/M/murphy-menace-50.aspx
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http://www.threeriversparks.org/events/M/murphy-menace-50.aspx
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Joey really is ok, and tells his story
Read about it here: www.cxmagazine.com/joey-joey-speaks-tells-story. In a world with no heros, I think we can all now look up to Joey.
Re: http://anello-grande.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-think-joeys-ok.html
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Re: http://anello-grande.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-think-joeys-ok.html
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I think Joey's OK
This is like one of my nightmares. I better get on doing some barrier hopping practice.
Update: Joey really is ok.
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Premium Rush - Movie Trailer
I'm so happy that Columbia decided to do a sequel to Quicksilver. Just kidding. This here is the trailer to a new movie out in Jan. 2012 - Premium Rush. Guess they can't use Triple Rush.
I'm sure this movie will cause all kinds of controversy with the bike advocacy and safety groups. As well as all the hipsters complaining that mainstream media has taken over their underground activity.
Oh well, I think I'll actually pay to watch this in theaters. Can't be that bad right?
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Races to think about - Holzinger Hot Lap
This is actually one for this year (2011) still yet. The 29nSingle guys are putting on the Holzinger Hot Lap 2 - Year of the Golden Eagle, on October 8. No info (seriously there's no info except the date) can be found here: http://29nsngl.com/post/10203062889
I recognize a bunch of Rochester riders in the above slideshow/video, I only hope I wouldn't get too much greif for running gears and squishy bits.
UPDATE: details here (http://29nsngl.com/post/10560238011) and here.
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Races to think about - Dakota Five-O
I've heard people say good things about the Dakota Five-O. So I might be interested in doing this for 2012. It's held over Labor Day weekend, so it could be a good family getaway on the last weekend before school starts.Heck, it's not only a race, but a ride/tour also. So potentially I could do it with the whole family.
Anyway, it's a 50 mile lollipop loop in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Looks like the fastest riders finished at 3:45 to 4 hours. I think I'd be really happy with 4:30 to 5 hours.
Registration is on Jan 1st. for $65
Click to dakotafiveo.com
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
Bike art - Bethany Ng “I like my bike”
Great poster by Bethany Ng (website: http://www.bethanyng.com/main.html). It's simple, elegant, and great. She also has a poster at ArtCrank Interbike.
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Bike art - Paul Shipley “The Fantastic Fausto Coppi”
Here's the latest from Paul Shipley. I think it's his best work so far.
From the artist:
Campionissimo : The Fantastic Fausto Coppi: Painting in Acrylic, watercolour and InkView the rest of Paul's work at this link: http://www.veritasart.co.uk/gallery_256487.html
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Bike art - John Vogl(The Bungaloo) “Night Ride” for ARTCrank Denver
18x24" print available on thebungaloo.bigcartel.com/product/night-ride for $20.
If you have or know of some bike art that should be shared with the world contact me at anello.grande@gmail.com or via the twitters below.
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Bike art - ArtCrank @ Interbike sneak peek
ArtCrank posted this slideshow/sneak peek of what they have at Interbike. If you are at the show, be sure to pick up a poster.
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Soulcraft is now doing custom stems
I like steel bikes. And I like steel stems. My roadie is a tig welded 853 Gunnar frame. On it is a steel Salsa stem that I think is from the last year of Petaluma production. Both have had thousands of miles ridden on them do their jobs well.
So if you don't know your bike industry history, Soulcraft was born from the ashes of the QBP purchase of Salsa and moving it to Minnesota. When starting, Soulcraft's main focus has been frames. Looks like with some Paragon Machine Works stem parts to work with, they are getting into full on stem production, building stems from 4130 tubes.
And not just off the shelf stems, but total custom. From 50 to 150 mm extensions in 1 mm increments, and any angle from -20 to +20 degrees in single degree increments.
Of course custom stems are not cheap. We're talking $300 for black powder coated. Add $100 for other colors.
They have some cool tools on their site to help with getting the right stem, of you already know some measurements and what you need. Like say you want to slam your stem, but don't want to move the bar position. They can guide you through that. Or say you want to move the bars down a couple mm's and back. Knowing what you are currently running, they can help you figure that out. However you're on your own, if you are starting with a frameset from scratch on a new build. I guess for that, you may want to find a dealer with an adjustable sizing stem and get fitted.
Currently they are doing 1 1/8 x 31.8, but will start doing other sizes and even quill stems pretty soon. This is great for those of us with old classic bikes and just need a new stem for it.
Check it out and order yours at SoulcraftBikes.com/stems.php
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Bike art - RockShox DIY Totem sticker pack
Then again, they had thousands of entries, Not sure where anything I could have come up with would have been among them.
I do think the finalists are great. Some great artwork there.
Below are a couple of my faves. Click through to PinkBike to view the rest of the ten finalists and vote for your favorite.
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Monday, September 12, 2011
Bike art - ArtCrank Interbike 2011 promo poster by Big Table Studio
This is the promo artwork for ArtCrank Interbike, by Big Table Studio from up in St. Paul. Very well done, captures the spirit of Las Vegas. I'm looking forward to seeing more artwork from this show.
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Friday, September 9, 2011
2011 Trek (Gary Fisher Series) Paragon Headset info
This is from Cane Creek for future reference:
Based on the information you have provided, your headset falls within the tapered standard and requires:Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Top Headset:
SHIS:ZS44 - 1-1/8" ZeroStack (ZS) Threadless
Bottom Headset:
SHIS:ZS56/40 - 1.5" ZeroStack (ZS)
Bike art - Bomobob “Le Tour” photo print
Here's an interesting Etsy find. Three bikes in the major color/jersey patterns of the Tour de France, yellow, green and polka dot. Purchase one here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78061067/bicycle-photo-bike-print-bike-art-tour
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Thursday, September 8, 2011
Matisyahu - Elijah's song
Great song. Here's the story. Matisyahu befriends a young boy, Elijah, with cancer. They talk about recording a song together. Like many things in our own lives Matisyahu allows the idea fall off his radar. Soon, the Elijah gets really sick and is in the hospital and can't leave. Matisyahu visits him and they record the song there in the hospital finishing up at around midnight. In the very early hours of the morning Elijah passes away...
Never give up, never quit just keep moving on Your a survivor just keep on living strong. When you fall down just keep on moving along, Elijah it’s the time of your song. - Lyrics from Elijah's song.Elijah came up with the ideas for a majority of the lyrics and music. Matisyahu set up a page where with a minimum $1 donation you can download the song including a special version with Elijah singing with Matisyahu in the hospital. Just follow this link to donate to The Elijah Memorial Fund. http://matisyahuworld.com/elijahssong
Preview - A Very Dark Place
Sufferfest Studios has just released this preview of their upcoming training video “A Very Dark Place.” It's scheduled to be released in October and looks like it could be an intense one with images of on bike suffering.
Use this affiliate link to purchase Sufferfest videos (maybe I'll make enough money to buy a cup of coffee): http://goo.gl/8O1we
Or copy and paste this url for a non-affiliate link: http://www.thesufferfest.com/
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The Belgian Lunch Box
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| This is not a Belgian Lunch Box. |
Anyway, if you've never heard the term Belgian Lunch Box before, that's because it's new. I first saw it on the Twitters a month or so ago, and like the image it brings up.
Do you have a story of unpacking a Belgian Lunch Box? Or how about a photo of a pro (or any schmo on a bike) unpacking one?
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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Races to think about - Sandwich 50
I guess you could say that these "Races to think about" are on my radar in that I am taking a little look into racing in them. This one is in my backyard, 50 miles of Eastwood single track. I've been riding about weekly here most of this summer and it's been a blast to keep getting my @$$ handed to me weekly by the fast guys. Seriously, now that I have the equipment, there's no reason for me not to do this race. Unless I don't get in. It's limited to 75 registrants.
This race is also unofficially or (officially) known as the "MN State Marathon Championship race". Oh, it's also free for being a member of RASC ($20 individual/$25 family). So it's a good reason to join.
http://sandwich50.blogspot.com/
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This race is also unofficially or (officially) known as the "MN State Marathon Championship race". Oh, it's also free for being a member of RASC ($20 individual/$25 family). So it's a good reason to join.
http://sandwich50.blogspot.com/
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Bike art - ArtCrank Denver 2011 slideshow
This slideshow was posted on the ArtCrank site. Looks like some great art was shown, and some good times were had.
Looks like the next ArtCrank event is Interbike. It'll be cool to see posters for that event.
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Monday, September 5, 2011
Bike art - Chairman Ting wall art in progress
Check out this time lapse of Chairman Ting doing the wall in his apartment.
If you have or know of some bike art that should be shared with the world contact me at anello.grande@gmail.com or via the twitters below.
Follow me: @AnelloGrande
Now I'm missing a couple teeth
So I was mounting cyclocross tires on the orange fixed and I noticed that a couple teeth were busted off the rear cog. Not only that, but each tooth is cracked. I could possibly ride, but I think I'm gonna just shelve this whip till I get a new cog. I totally want a 3/32 Phil cog, but they are a little pricey. I may just go with a Surly, affordable and durable. Either way I'll be using the Paragon to play CX racer till I replace it. I did try to mount the CX tires on the front wheel, but wasn't able to get it on well, so I'll stay with MTB tires.
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Rochester cyclocross practice at Eastwood
Just a reminder that tomorrow at 6 pm begins the season of cyclocross practice races at Eastwood park. Meet at the east parking lot. Ride what you got. It's all for fun.
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Sunday, September 4, 2011
BB95 info (Trek 2011 Paragon)
This is for my own future information.
So BB95 is Trek specific.
BB90 and BB95 are Trek’s slip-fit bearing systems for road and mountain bikes, respectively. The road bottom bracket shell is 90mm wide, while the mountain-bike bottom bracket shell is 95mm wide. Both BB90 and BB95 shells have a 37mm ID for the bearing seat, which is molded directly into the frame. The 37mm OD X 24mm ID bearing is the same as you would find inside the threaded cup of any external-bearing system, and it is compatible with any of the standard external-bearing/integrated 24mm-spindle cranksets. Trek supplies bearing sets for all cranksets, and these bearings slip into place with finger pressure alone.From here: http://singletrack.competitor.com/2010/04/technical-faq/tech-faq-the-low-down-on-bottom-brackets_7192
- Lennard
So BB95 is Trek specific.
Bike art - Adam Turman “Ride Gravel”
This one is a little special. Local artist, and local subject matter. I'm not what you would call a gravel grinder. At least not exclusively. But living in this area, you are almost forced to ride gravel to escape traffic and hit dirt.
This print from Adam Turman isn't just about riding gravel in Southern Minnesota, but really captures what it's like to take a sunny spring romp on some gravel farm road. Print is 18x24 and sell for $35 here: www.adamturman.com/display_details.php?page=12&image=415
If you have or know of some bike art that should be shared with the world contact me at anello.grande@gmail.com or via the twitters below.
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Bike art - “UrbanDaddy Cycling Classic” projection art/roller racing installation
This installation crosses the line from race, event, installation art. It looks like so much fun. What a great way to spend an evening. Racing against some friends, with a great interactive backdrop.
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