When you support your local bike shop you support your local bike community

Attempting to actively blog and keep up with the demands of a sustainable MBA program is very difficult. I've been researching so many companies that are doing some really awesome things. I'll get inspired to blog about something I researched but then I realize that 'd be much better off directing my energy into either one of the 1,500 word papers due that week.

Despite all that, I wanted to write this post that was inspired by my recent visit to Livermore Cycles. I was there to pick up my three bikes that were finally shipped here from Massachusetts. I love bikes, they are so simple but so beautiful at the same time. I sometimes lose hours looking at bike catalogs or walking through bike shops.

While I was picking up my bikes I had a conversation with one of the employees about how the shop provides free tubes/tires and tune-ups for some of the unemployed/homeless/disabled residents of our town. Often these residents have no other mode of transportation because they can't afford a car and don't have a driver's license. This is not unique to our town though, this is a worldwide reality. What many people don't realize is that these bikers wouldn't be able to continue biking if it weren't for the charity of the local bike shops.

These bikers often have little or no money to spare and can't afford to pay for parts. Often, the local shops will repair the bikes for free because the problems are minor and can be fixed quickly. When Livermore Cycles repairs a bike for free they sometimes attach a sticker or placard that says some to the effect of 'If you'd like to contribute to the upkeep of this bike please stop by Livermore Cycles and donate to the ____ fund.' All of the regulars have a fund set up and there is also a general fund for the 'once in a blue moon' crowd. Even if no one ever contributes to the funds Livermore Cycles will continue to repair bikes for free.

I've heard similar stories from friends that work in other bike shops. I'm sure there are plenty of shops that turn people away or only repair items if the biker can cover the cost of the parts but it seems that many local bike shops just accept the fact that there will be certain people that can't afford repairs but also can't afford to be without their bikes. This kind of community service is awesome and also why I'm such a fan of supporting local businesses. I'm proud to support Livermore Cycles with my business because I know that they are supporting the local biking community.

This is a picture of one of Boston's most famous bikers, Tricycle Louie. His real name is Louie Evans but people know him by his tricycle and his distinctive warning that he cries out every few yards. He travels about 1,000 miles a month around Boston frequenting a few locations where he has unknowingly formed a fan club. When his tricycle was stolen a while back his fans got together and raised enough funds to purchase a new one and set up a fund for future repairs at his favorite shop, Back Bay Bicycles.

Another Tuesday, another taco

Per tradition, everyone gathered at the pre-wife's parent's house for Taco Tuesday tonight. Taco Tuesdays are my favorite Tuesdays. Tonight's was fun because Ryan shared a phrase that he had just invented... Bomb Dollaz. It means nothing & can be used for everything so its fun to say. Be on the look out for stickers, shirts & snowboards bearing the phase someday. It's gonna be bomb dollaz!

I have many great taco memories:

- My first Taco Bell taco. We stopped here before driving 3 hours from Pensacola to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. I was a little concerned for my well being as I had heard many stories about people goin Jackson Pollock all over the place after eating there but I manned up & went for it. I used fire sauce too. I figured might as well fight fire with fire. No Jackson Pollock here so I guess my logic was solid.

- While moving across the country we stopped and got lunch at some sort of mexican-ish restaurant. I asked for some packets of the hottest kind of sauce they offered. At the time this really impressed Dre' and he acted as my hype man telling everyone about the time that I ate a taco with two, TWO, fire sauces on it. I can't remember the location (I'm pretty sure it was St. Louis & maybe Del Taco) but I remember Dre's stories. Dre' rules almost as much as tacos and I'm pretty sure he won't be mad at me for saying that either.

- Speaking of Dre' and tacos, I also remember when I moved to Colorado after being in Pensacola for a semester and Dre' was super pumped about some sort of lime sauce taco at Taco Bell. We went and saw Joe Dirt at the theater & then stopped to get this magic taco that he wouldn't shut up about. I remember it being really good but its not around anymore, WTF Taco Bell?!?!? By this point Dre' had conquered the fire sauce as well & he was proud to tell me that he wasn't sure what all the hub bub was about cause it ain't so bad.

- But nothing will beat the time that I ate 10 stand 'n stuff tacos, passed out in a taco coma & woke up just in time to see Big Papi hit a game winning home run for the Sox. They were crunchy shells completely stuffed with ground beef, refried beans, black beans, corn, lettuce, hot sauce and probably weighed close to a pound each.


Another reason tacos are so great is that the ingredients used to make them so awesome are produced by many different kinds of farmers. Your taco dinner is made possible by many different people working hard to bring such deliciousness as beef/turkey, dairy, veggies, avocados & beans. I'm thankful for all the awesome farmers that contribute to this awesome meal & hope they get to enjoy a Taco Tuesday of their own.