In June of 2009 I made up my mind to move from one apartment to the other. I also made up my mind to make this move using only bicycles and bicycle trailers. After making up my mind to do this I did some research and found some great testimony to this from other individuals and groups having done this on the Internet.

Two days ago, after I'd decided to move I found out about a contest that Madsen Cycles was putting on. If you're interested in helping me win, click this link to their site and check out their cool bicycles (it'll open in a new tab/window).

Madsen Cargo Bikes

I started off on a Sunday afternoon by loading a few plastic tubs into the "kid trailer" I pull with my Schwinn Tempo road bike.

Schwinn Tempo and Converted Kid Trailer.

After the first load with the Schwinn I sent a text message to my buddy Captain E to see if I could borrow his Madsen Cargo Bike. I did two more loads with my Schwinn/trailer combo and then heard back from Captain E so I cruised down to pick up the Madsen.

Upon retrieving the Madsen and Captain E's homemade bike trailer I could tell that this game was ON! I rode it home and began to load it up with my stuff. I've moved a lot in my day and I have numerous plastic tubs to hold just about everything. This made loading the flatbed trailer a breeze.

The Madsen loaded up.

The consecutive loads went off without a hitch as well. I was able to stack tubs on the trailer and bulky, odd-shaped items into the Madsen's ample bucket.

The snowboards depict a common site in any Bozeman move.

Note the fly rods sticking out the top of the traffic cone.

Having things packed well from the get-go is important.

Furniture, skis, you name it!

The last load I had been contemplating since the start. When I set off to make this move using only a bicycle I assumed that the last load I made would be in my automobile. I justified that I would have to move my car from one location to the next and that it made sense to load it up with stuff. Although, as I proceeded further and further with the move I became more and more stubborn to move everything with cycles. The last item left was my boxspring, mattress, and bed frame. I solicited the help of fellow members of the Bozeman bicycling community whom I know are up for general jackassery such as this. Responses from SingleTrackM1nd and tjdzor came swiftly and with great enthusiasm.

The three of us sat in the sunshine pondering the massive load, first making attempts to put the mattresses on SingleTrackM1nd's Xtracycle. The weight was no problem for the Xtracycle but the size was. It became clear, quickly that the Madsen would have to be used as the width of the bucket was idea for balancing the width of the load of the bed.

After placing the load onto the bucket one test run was made unsuccessfully but I felt confident in my abilities so we re-secured the load and set off down the street. SingleTrackM1nd and tjdzor road ahead blatantly stopping traffic at the two major intersections, laughing, shouting, and capturing video along the way. The load was precarious and it required great concentration but in the end there was SUCCESS! A whimsical video was captured by tjdzor. Check it out:

This article blatantly stolen from Utilitarian Transports

The Cargo Commuter
It’s a bike you can comfortably commute on, yet still haul that bag of potting soil or massive discount box of diapers on. The rack was designed to hold one of those big rubbermade containers with the lid, but we’ve used everything from old suitcases to pails, or just piling the stuff on and tying it down with old inner tubes.

We take the retrofit candidate, inspect it, famesave it, and reinforce it (only if applicable). We then extend the head tube and add a sweet hand made front rack to the new headtube and frame of the bike. This brings the size of the front wheel down to a 20″. (or 16″ or 26″ etc.) We replace the old fork with a smaller one designed for the new front wheel, extend the steerer tube, and after all that we paint it, build it, and test ride it.

Attaching the rack directly to the frame provides the rider with a few nice things:

• Having the rack lower creates more carrying capacity and makes for a more stable ride.
• The 20″ wheel is stronger and can handle loads better.
• One can keep a close eye on their load while riding.
• Seeing how the rack doesn’t move when you turn the handlebars, there is no heaving when turning with big loads. (up to 150 pounds)

Ok, polo is on again for tonight. I've got the mallets and ball but i won't be showing up until around 6:30-7. Also, we've been having issues with cones, so maybe keep in mind where we might be able to obtain some.

See you tonight .


-DNA

From the Bozeman Daily Chronicle May 13th, 2009

Ergo, Polo is still on tonight, bitches. I won't be there til 6:30 or so.

-DNA

I'm busy. This will be concise.

Polo Tonight, same place. 6pm.

-DNA

Unless you want to go play with yourself. 'Cuz I don't think anyone else is going to be there.



-DNA

I got an email this morning from Ian:

My roommate's Masi was deprived of its wheels last night. The frame was not taken, although unlocked. I think the reason the thief left the frame was due to the "custom" paint job.

Put the word out, not too many people have white deep-v wheels

Thanks,

Ian

Good thing (for the thief) we don't live in Wyoming:

And while we're on the subject of bike thief related stickers:

Keep your eyes peeled
-DNA

Nine players. Three Taco'd wheels. Three mallets caught in wheels. Three times I hit the ground. Three new guys. One broken mallet. One damn great night of bike polo.

Next week, same time and place. More people = more heckling = more fun. Come on down, it's a great time. We'll even let you use our mallets and bikes (for a while- then you gotta build your own).



-DNA

Hardcourt Bicycle Polo

Wednesday Nights - 6:00 pm*

Hawthorne School at Rouse and Mendenhall

*I redundantly request that you also be there as well.

This weekend the Gallatin Valley Bike Club is holding their annual Bike Swap at the fairgrounds. You can drop off bikes on Friday night and if you're looking to buy show up on Saturday morning. If you're a GVBC member you get in an hour before the rest of the unwashed masses. It costs $10 to join. Seems worth it to me.

Anyway, the point of this post. I have a small apartment. I share this apartment with seven bikes (honestly, the best roommates I've yet had). I'd like a bit more room so I've decided to bring the bike I ride the least to the swap- my Cannondale Cyclocross bike. This sassy little number is all hot to trot in her sultry red paint and Avid BB7 disc brakes. I've enhanced the already stellar braking by bumping the front rotor to a 7". Like any hot-blooded trailer park princess this baby's fast and has no problems letting everyone know it. She's got a Girl-Next-Door charm to her with Tiagra drivetrain but a hint of foreign mystique emanates from her Velocity Deep-Vs. Between her unyielding frame and Specialized Houffalize tires she'll run you ragged and begging for more. Oh yeah. This honey's well-proportioned with her 54cm seat tube, 55cm top tube, and 120mm stem.

All this, and I'm asking $1000. It goes to the swap at $1100. If you're interested in an unrelentingly fast 'cross specific bike (none of this 'freeroad' crap here) and you're about 5'7" to about 5'11" shoot me an email. It's at the shop until 6pm tomorrow night. I'd say it's got about 500-600 miles on it.




-DNA

This guy seems to think bikes don't belong on the road. The comments are amusing since he is pretty much being berated up one side and down the other.

You can send this asshat an email at colmanz1@msu.edu

I have no words for this level of stupidity.

Case

Here we are, back to the time of year when we start to (maybe a little hastily) don the sandals and shorts. This is also when we start to get excited about the coming season.
We've got a few things going on in the Bozeman bike community that I find especially titillating. The Bozeman Bike Kitchen has a great new space. The Montana Mountain Bike Alliance is actively advocating for protecting the wild lands surrounding us. This summer brings a stage race with Main Street sprints and there's also a 500 mile super endurance race.
We've also got some fun in store. Remember the awesomeness of Bike Polo? Yeah, that's right. It's returning with a vengeance next Wednesday. Show up at the basketball court behind the Hawthorne school. 6pm to start, maybe going a bit later in the summer.
Oh, there's more. Late Summer into early Fall we'll be starting up our Clunker Downhill "races". Get an old cruiser at a yard sale, make it work, and we'll meet up at Moser for some ridiculous fun riding inappropriate bikes on trails and gravel roads.
And don't forget about Rockysprints. Save for a few special events through the year there's only three more. Just imagine drag racing, except in a bar. Instead of explaining it, just check it out here.

Sound good? I thought so.

-DNA

p.s. There will also be alleycats. If you have to ask, big man...well...just stay tuned.

Wednesday, April 15th, 6pm 'til it's dark

Hawthorne School at Rouse and Mendenhall

C'mon down - - unless it's raining - - then don't bother

After a lengthy absence we will be putting on Rockysprints this Sunday, April 5th. Still at 317, Still $2.50 Sierra Nevada specials for anyone racing. No more Monday nights.

3pm, SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY at 317. See you there.

-DNA

Free bicycle touring clinic. April 5th, Bozeman Public Library.

Last night I dropped by 317 to discuss Sprints. As you may know, we've been having significantly fewer people show up than last year. Part of the problem, I suspect, is that Monday night is not when people like to go to a bar- and I can't blame them.
So Ryan and I discussed two things- moving Sprints to Sunday afternoons and having only four days in which we have Sprints.

So far, the dates for Rockysprints at 317 are April 5th and 19th and May 3rd and 17th. Times are looking like they'll go from 3in the afternoon til 7 in the evening. I'd love to get a good crowd, these events are most fun with at least 30 people.

So Sunday, April 5th show up at 317 at 3pm. Go for a good ride in the morning so you feel like you've earned some fun, if you must.

-DNA

Hey all. Tonight after work I'm going to be trying to talk to the fine folks at 317 to see about switching up what day we have Rockysprints. We've been getting only about 10-12 people a week to ride, and the last time there were only three. Including me.
I'm going to be shooting for Sunday afternoons, probably from 3 through 7. Leave a comment if you like this idea or not. I'll post here when something is figured out.

-DNA