Giving Tuesday With Pedal It Forward
We are thrilled to welcome Pedal It Forward into our nonprofit program. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Pedal It Forward’s "mission is to increase the number of people using bikes for health, transportation, or recreation. ... Simply put, we collect used bikes, fix them, then distribute to those in need through our 60+ Pedal Partners. We serve rural and urban low-income kids, adults and families, at-risk youth, minority and immigrant populations in Northwest Arkansas."
Pedal it Forward has listed several items on BikeList and plans to add more in the future. By purchasing these items on BikeList you can be sure that 100% of the purchase price will go to supporting a great cause.
Seller of the Week: Michael Blackshaw
This week’s seller of the week is Michael Blackshaw (AKA ace_metric). Michael is a former bike shop owner in Orlando, Florida who has listed some super cool stuff with us, including this polished silver build kit!
How did you get into bikes?
Born in ‘81 and it probably started with Big Wheels--aka fixed gear trikes! ;) I’d hit the hills and skid holes through the plastic front wheel!
What is your favorite bike ride?
BMX was the theme of childhood, growing up on Long Island, where the older teenagers dug pretty amazing dirt jumps in the woods between my house and elementary school as well as a couple other wooded areas around town. As long as I was home by dark, it was full on open shredding and exploration.
What bike do you ride the most?
I just finished a Soma Valhallen 27+ hard tail so that’s getting the most love at the moment, although my Bombtrack Hook ETC is getting jealous.
Campy or Shimano?
C A M P Y !
Any big plans for the next year?
Possibly before the end of the year I’ll be renting my house in Florida to travel nurses and looking for an industry job that’s fully remote or on the West coast.
How to Avoid Scammers on Facebook and Instagram
And of course you can avoid scammers by buying and selling on BikeList!
Have you been scammed on FB or IG? Let us know in the comments below!
Seller of the Week: Kurt Boone
This week’s seller of the week is Kurt Boone (AKA 85messlife). I first met Kurt at the Philly Bike Expo–he was my neighbor! We got to know each other over the weekend and I learned about his love for the New York bike messenger scene. Kurt has listed several of his books for sale on BikeList, along with the Giordana cycling caps he designed. But my favorite item is the custom Ortlieb messenger bag collaboration he did with illustrator Roloworld @roloworldnyc. Ortlieb bags were my go-to as a commuter in Seattle and this one is one-of-a-kind!
How did you get into bikes?
I started riding bicycles when I was 5 years old when my father put me on training wheels. I felt in love with bicycles from that point on. Riding bicycles almost every day all through high school. Having all kind of bikes from 5 speed to 10 speeds. I was a paperboy on bicycle too for a short time. I was also a fan of tour deFrance. Watching the race on American TV Wide World of Sports in 1970’s. After graduating from high school in Queens New York I stop riding bicycles. I didn’t get back into cycling until in my late forties and I started hanging out with co-workers who were bicycle messengers. My job in the courier industry was as a foot messenger. But instead of hopping back on a bicycle I became a documentarian of urban cycling culture. Writing books, working for Urban Velo magazine and designing t-shirts and cycling caps. I trademark my brand Messenger 841. In which I still sell merchandise. My next book will be drawn on my collection of urban cycling memorabilia. Tentatively titled “Urban Bike Culture” by Kurt Boone. You are hearing it first on Bike List.
What bike do you ride the most?
I don’t ride much these days and don’t even own a bicycle at the moment
What is your favorite bike ride?
As in question two I am not riding bicycles at the moment. But I do have sales rep job with Ortlieb selling messenger bags to bicycle messenger themselves and to messenger companies
Campy or Shimano?
I can’t answer that one. I am not a bicycle parts guy. But Shimano NYC did sponsor one of my bicycle messenger events in the past.
Any big plans for the next year?
I am currently working on cycling cap design collaboration with Ortlieb that will be released so time next year.
BikeList is the Official Podium Sponsor of the Finale of the Legendary MFG Cyclocross Race Series at Woodland Park in Seattle This Weekend
More details at mfgcyclocross.com
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Under the covers there's a lot of work that went into this feature. We basically built our own blogging tool into the BikeList platform and migrated all of our blog content off of WordPress. Having all the blog & listing data together on one platform will open up a lot of cool features in the future.
Have a feature you'd like to see on BikeList? Let us know.
First Annual BikeList Gift Guide!
What time is it? It’s time for a one-of-a kind clock, crafted in Iowa by kzombified!
See all the clocks on BikeList!
Books always make great gifts and we have several authored by Kurt Boone
See all the books on BikeList!
Or how about a hat? Our charcoal/white Richardson 112 trucker is very popular!
See all the hats on BikeList!
Finally, how about this cool limited edition lithographic print! All You Need is Lugs! Original Rivendell lug design by Richard Sachs!
See the print!
The Return of the Motomag
My obsession with bicycles can be traced back to the Motomag. Skip Hess came up with the idea for these wheels after watching neighborhood kids jumping bikes and doing tricks. He pitched the design to several wheel companies but they all passed. So in 1974 he took matters into his own hands and started to produce the wheels himself in Simi Valley, California. He founded BMX Products and then shortly after that, Mongoose. The rest is history.
I probably saw my first Motomag a year or two later and was smitten. I was seven or eight years old and riding a Schwinn. Countless lawn mowings and paperboy routes later, I was finally able to buy my first Mongoose.
When I heard these wheels would be re-issued, I knew I needed a set. I bought two pairs, and one of them we gave to Spencer. Spencer is a newer generation of BMX rider and had never even heard of these wheels. So it was fun to see what he’d do with them. Take a look.
They are trading for a premium on eBay. But you can buy them now in BikeList for just $250!
Seller of the Week: CJ's Bike Garage
Welcome back to another edition of Seller of the Week: the blog series where we ask our favorite sellers five easy questions!
This week’s seller of the week is CJ's Bike Garage from Cornelius, North Carolina. CJ has been an awesome friend of BikeList since the beginning, and even repped us at the City of Rock Hill Cycle Swap. And yesterday he just listed a full SRAM Red eTap groupset!
How did you get into bikes?
I got into bikes after buying a used full suspension bike from my local bike shop at the age of 15. The owner noticed I was able to swap out my own pedals for a test ride and offered me a job. At the end of high school, I decided to take an alternative route and join an apprenticeship program for a machine technician. I work in a manufacturing maintenance position now. I stuck around in the bike industry by working for myself, servicing bikes, building and cleaning up bikes to sell. Always out riding, hanging out at bike events and racing in the occasional gravel race.
What bike do you ride the most?
The bike I ride the most is my 2018 Cannondale Synapse Carbon. The only original thing is the frame and fork. All decked out with Di2 and carbon bits!
What is your favorite bike ride?
My favorite bike ride locally is Lake Norman State Park. A great selection of mountain bike trails local to home. New River Trail is another favorite for gravel and only a short 1:30 drive.
Campy or Shimano?
As a diehard Shimano fan I have to say Shimano. But I do have a respect for Campy and hits history. Would love to try out the next 1x13 groupset.
Any big plans for the next year?
The only major possible plan for next year is the RAGBRAI ride. The ride across Iowa. My Father and I might take on the task of riding 450 + miles over 7 days.
Product Review: Panaracer GravelKing SK 700 x 35
I’m going to start doing short product reviews–a quick blog post along with a 60 second or less video/reel. Let me know what you think!
I bought these Panaracer GravelKings about a month ago from Jenson USA for $49 each. I have about 100 miles on them so I thought I’d give a quick report. These are the Panaracer GravelKing SK in 700 x 35. They are folding with tan sidewall, and come in at 380 grams. I’m running these old school with tubes on Mavic Open Pro rims. This gen Open Pro has an inner width of 15 and my calipers put these GravelKings on them a hair over 34. I used to run 32s on MA40s and Open Pros so I wasn’t too worried about these, but you probably don’t want to go any wider with these rims. These are also about as big a tire as I can stuff in my old IndyFab Planet cross. I weigh about 160 pounds and am running them around 45 psi rear and 40 psi front. I’m riding them about 95% of the time in dirt and gravel and they roll great. They aren’t too bad on the road, either–but obviously this is not a road tire. I like the grip and find that they work well in both the dry and the wet. And they are extremely predictable and progressive cornering. I also like the way they look. Classy! I’ll report back when the rear tire is ready to be replaced but so far I’m really digging these!