Earth Bicycle Service

Stand by your Local bike nonprofits. NSPM-7 has drawn a target on just about anything and anyone you might care about. Ride safe friends...

🚨 A volunteer bike repair shop in Minneapolis has been named by federal prosecutors as part of an alleged "antifa" conspiracy. No evidence was offered, according to newly released court records.

The Grease Pit is a community shop where people learn to fix their own bikes. It appeared on a PowerPoint slide shown to a grand jury, listed alongside labor unions, a teachers union, and Veterans for Peace. The records, filed Thursday in the case against 15 Minnesota activists, describe a months-long Homeland Security surveillance operation with undercover agents at boxing lessons and art club meetings, plus license plate tracking outside a church.

"With no evidence, the government alleged to the grand jury that the conspiracy in this case extends far beyond the defendants to include the AFL-CIO, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Monarca, Veterans for Peace, and the Grease Pit bicycle repair shop, among others," defense attorney Kevin Riach wrote in a court filing.

None of the organizations named has been charged with any crime.

Another Specialized Crossroads frame turned into the sturdy urban commuter bike that it excells at being. Nice but affordable handbuilt wheels with beefy rims, 40mm touring tires, simple and inexpensive 1x9 drivetrain, crankset and bottom bracket from the beautiful and durable era of Shimano stuff, and of course full fenders. It also has mounting points for a front and rear rack. All the stuff you need to leave your car at home!

Ciocc!

My wife has scored a couple real bangers lately. This is the most recent frame that she’s found, an early 90s (I think) Ciocc with awesome crimped Deda zero tubing. The frame was pretty weathered, but cleaned up well enough that I thought it was worthy of the Sachs new success stuff I’ve had stashed (including NOS hubs laced to NOS open pro rims!), along with some very pristine Campagnolo Athena bits. This finish is impossible to touch up, because it’s metallic silver base with clear blue over it. Luckily the chipped blue clearcoat is nearly matched by blue sharpie!

Do you want a cool old bike rehabilitated? Message me!

I’m notoriously critical of the trajectory of the modern bike industry, but every now and then something comes along to give me a little bit of hope. I’m closely watching this company in Ashland Oregon who are producing some amazing high end derailleurs.
https://www.facebook.com/madronecycles

Yeah.

PSA: wear your headbone doubler

This is one of the weirdest cheapo bikes I’ve been asked to service this year. Normally I decline work on BSOs (bicycle shaped objects), but the client had a deep personal sentiment toward it, so I replaced a bunch of parts and made it comfortable for an adult to ride. It’s the ‘Art Sensor Twin’. The only suggestion I can find for the brand is a sticker that says ‘TINY GO’. Everything else is in Japanese. It’s a very strange bike, plastic wheels (22” x 1-3/8”, a size which I’ve only ever seen on wheelchairs), rear drum/band brake, and the coolest looking rack I’ve seen in a while. Check out the little curve where the rack stay bends around the dynamo headlight! Slick. I went to some length to find replacement tubes because the originals had Dunlop valves, and nobody knows how to inflate them any more. With a new saddle, seatpost, stem, bars, grips, and front caliper, it’s actually a respectable ride if you don’t mind 155mm crank arms. Worth the effort…

I just completed this custom build for a young rider who has found an enthusiasm for biking. It’s not high end, but it is the right combination of sturdy, reliable, and affordable. It’s always been a disappointment to me that most of what is marketed as ‘youth’ bikes are pretty poor quality, and meant to be disposable. This here is what I wish all kids could ride. I would have been nuts about this at the age of 12.
Do you want a custom built bike? Message Earth Bicycle Service!

Spring is coming! I just rebuilt this 1985 Schwinn Traveler frame as a chill comfort commuter. I took it as a challenge to make it as affordable as possible, without compromising on performance, using the most sturdy and reliable components possible. Alternate saddles, pedals, and accessories available. Only $240, and way better than anything you could buy new for that price. 😉
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/d/portland-1985-schwinn-traveler-frame/7829503901.html

After several years of collaboration, with Earth Bicycle Service, sister mobile service Sprocketfly is winding down it’s operations. I’m helping to sell some of the extra gear. For sale are 2 feedback sports ‘Ultralight’ model work stands, and a super nice Surly ‘Bill’ trailer. Unfortunately marketplace won’t let me create new listings from the web version without downloading another stupid app, so you’ll have to dig the full description on Clist:

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bop/d/portland-feedback-sports-ultralight/7824676210.html

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/d/portland-surly-bill-trailer/7824041937.html

I’m terribly pleased that my wife found this well preserved Klein Quantum frame listed for FREE on marketplace. I recently rebuilt it as a sassy hot rod for her speedy enjoyment. Her stipulation was ‘all polished silver stuff’. So, it’s the ever reliable mix of 9speed Dura Ace and Ultegra components, and I hand sanded and polished the seatpost and stem to comply with the polished theme. I even gave it the weight we**ie Real Design Ultrasphere wheelset. Only the best for my angel on wheels…