Ruby Scoops for the birthday boy (my now 10YO kid)
Haute Cycles Open House
It’s bike month! Last night there was an open house at the Richmond Bicycle Factory in the Southside that started with a ride-out from Scuffletown Park in The Fan. Roughly 4.5 miles of party pace cruising with 20-30 riders and their dope bikes was a fantastic warmup (after my already 37 miles of riding before I showed up).
It’s super awesome that we have production and custom bikes made right here in town, and we all got to see the operations for Haute Bicycle Co., Far Far (Robbie from the late, great Wheel Simple), Chumba’s Richmond production situation, and G.O.A.T. Bike Co. So many cool people making cool things just across the river from me. There were snacks, beverages, and good vibes enough for twice the crowd. I even ran into an old coworker from my first job!
Check out some more of the sights around the shop:
Alex Melton posted a real banger yesterday, a perfect intersection of my late teenage pop punk interests and the Paul Simon music that was one of my favorite songs (and videos) from my childhood:
Good lort, I got to ride 50+ miles on the #bike today. What stupendous weather, too.
Shorter John Roberts: “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah”
I was taping a frame and fork to prepare for clear-coating and I was starting to add little tape nubs in every little M5 hole (bottle cages, etc.) but then I realize since I have an M5 tap I can just chase those threads afterward if there are any issues adding a bottle cage or rack or whatever :-P
I’m really not a music festival kinda guy, but day-um, the lineup for this year’s Iron Blossom Festival in Richmond is super tempting. LCD Soundsystem? Angine de Poitrine?
Feels like I leveled up as a home #bike mechanic today. I successfully converted a rear wheel with a solid, nutted axle to a quick release axle!
Flyweight
So uh…yeah. New bike day, I guess? Check out this bright orange, sub-16 lb., 2013 (I’m pretty sure) Motobecane Immortal Team road bike.
MASSIVE shout-out to my friend Ross for giving me this bike that he was otherwise going to leave in the alley. Of course, I’m not a carbon road bike dude, so I’m not going to keep the bike as-is. But this thing has a full 2x10 mechanical Dura Ace group, Mavic Kyserium wheel set, Ritchey WCS carbon seat post, and butted Ritchey WCS road bars.
I’m planning to keep at least the brifters (I mean, seriously, 2x10 mechanical DURA ACE!?) and front derailleur. The BB feels good and has outboard 24mm cups in silver. The rear mech is maybe too short for my needs. I’ll have to check whether the bars are too narrow (they probably are). So here’s what I’m probably going to put up on Marketplace:
- rear derailleur
- wheel set
- carbon seat post
- handlebars, probably
- stem (not original, but still Ritchey adjustable angle stem)
- I love the rim brakes—beautiful color, Dura Ace, quick release, maaaaybe mid-reach? but I think they’re too narrow to be useful for me
- probably the crankset (52/39, outer ring not changeable)
- the rear cassette, if it’s in decent enough shape and cleans up okay
- the frame itself, as long as it doesn’t have any cracks
I’ve now bought quite a few things on Marketplace, but haven’t sold anything yet, so I’m going to be pretty slow getting around to that, but I’m hoping I can offload some of these things and maybe set the proceeds aside to get me a proper wheel truing stand :-D
Astonishingly good weather, loads of #bike riding, bagel sandwich, coffee, lunch with my friend, more coffee, and the ding-dang onset of the weekend.
Today was the first day in 2026 that the sun set at 8 PM in Richmond, Virginia.
I know it’s not an original thought, but I can never get over how much Kash Patel looks like Amazing Larry from Peewee’s Big Adventure.
Gotta love how our president is so shitty that famous charisma vacuum King Charles doesn’t want any of his meetings with Trump on camera because it could be awkward.
Dude just rolled into the coffee shop dressed and hair-styled like hobo Bob Dylan.
Just grabbed the last two 700x38 Torreno Dry gravel tires from Outpost for $35 a piece! I’m guessing they were on clearance since Vittoria just renamed and re-jiggered their gravel lineup. But these are nearly identical to the “new” T30 tires. A steal!
I hope this morning’s humidity isn’t a preview of the next few months in RVA…
The only bummer about riding my #bike to the coffee shop is having to watch 5 other people who arrived after me walk in and order first while I lock up my wheels.
On a positive note, I did have a helluva #bike ride today in wonderful weather. I really can’t wait until we get some more of the Fall Line Trail.
I love it so much when I get a great review at work followed immediately by “no bonus because your division underperformed” and “maybe you’ll be lucky to get a raise at all”.
I love that I’m starting to see articulated Pulse buses in Richmond now.
Naming facilities and streets after people is a risk for tomorrow’s revelations. I can understand RPS considering funds wherever they can find them, but paid naming rights seems especially problematic.
Starting to hit that time in the school year where everything feels as if it is accelerating toward the finish line.
Head…spinning…
Two #bike rides today…can I make it three?
I love our goofy, delightful voting stickers here in #RVA.
When did Velo Orange start selling star ratchet rear hubs!? I think these may be some of the most affordable star ratchet hubs you can get from a reputable brand. Cheaper than DT Swiss, and available in silver! Disc and rim brake versions! Up to 36-hole!