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March 22, 2007
Deford goes all Dr. Phil on A-Rod
Frank Deford goes all "Dr. Phil" on A-Rod. Enjoy!
February 24, 2007
When Photoshop Goes Bad
January 11, 2007
Coogs on Patrol
Friend of Banjo, direct marketing and catalog circulation guru, Jim Coogan asked us for a favor just prior to Christmas.
It seems Jim had an old vanity license plate just collecting dust in the garage and he asked if we could customize a Banjo Brothers 2000 Cubic Inch Messenger Bag by attaching the license plate to the top flap. We said no problem and Eric set off for the hardware store in search of just the right parts. Meanwhile, we thought Jim was either "on something" or "onto something."
It turns out Jim was actually "onto something" because the bag turned out great. Not only. we're told is the bag unique, it's also less likely to be confused with another bag or even worse, stolen. If you'd like to know how we did, just shoot us and e-mail at bikesales[at]banjobrothers.com and we'll tell you how we put it all together.
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Devin Coogan sports a Banjo Brothers Bag with a custom license plate attached |
January 02, 2007
Denny Green Tirade
November 02, 2006
bags
August 09, 2006
More Kudos from the Soggy Bottom 100
----Original Message-----
From: eric s. [mailto@]
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 1:20 PM
To: custumerservice@banjobrothers.com
Subject: Thank you!
Thank you for the great swag! Will be using your bag on my new bike.
I'm one of the Soggy Bottom racers in Alaska. We all had a hard time with your assortment that you sent...Decisions, decisions. Which one to take, one for the mtn. bike or the small one for the road bike. Great bags. Will be looking at your other products soon!
August 06, 2006
More Soggy Bottom 100 News
Hours Ago
#1
GreenGoat
mtbr member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 111
Soggybottom100 report
I can sum this race up in one word, Awesome! This is only my second year of endurance racing but I have completed some rather challenging epic's and this one had all the elements of a good time.
I found out about it while planning a hiking trip to the Kenai peninsula last year and quickly changed my plans to try this race instead. As race day got closer, I begin to gather statistics regarding the route, elevation gain, actual distance, terrain ect ect. The 10,800 climbing didn't seem too bad for the 109 mile distance and I thought it wouldn't be terribly difficult. Unfortunately, this relief mindset also crept into my training and I slacked off on the base miles big time the last few months before departing.
Upon arrival in Alaska, I visited a local bike shop and spoke with a guy who had completed the race his first time in under 12 hours. He gave me some really great insight and the skinny on the trails. I figured 12 hours would be ample to complete this, it's only 100 miles. Looking around the mountainous landscape while I was driving to Hope, Alaska where the race starts and ends, the meaning of "unsupported" really begin to sink in. If you breakdown en-route to one of the two check points, there is a good chance you'll have a looooong walk ahead of you. Thoughts of wrecks, bears and getting lost in the back country plagued my thoughts that evening and I got very little sleep the night before the race.
Why can't all races start at 9am? Most of the races I've done start ridiculously early, 5am or 6am, 9am is definately a respectable hour to set out on this kind of journey all caffeinated and ready to go.
All fifteen riders lined up in front of the Seaview bar and awaited the announcement to go. Upon commencement, two distinct groups formed and a gap grew between them. Not really knowing what to expect, I fell into the second group and just casually peddled along listening to a chorus of bear bells jingling. The route started out on a flat gravel road for 5 miles which led to a small bridge which marks the Ressurection trail head. The first 10 or so miles of the singletrack trail were well used and follow a river in a cool pine forest. The group of riders I was in begin to stretch out and I realized that I would not be keeping up with first two guys in the group who quickly dropped me. By mile 17, I begin to have leg cramps and more folks passed by. I couldn't believe it, although I had been climbing for over an hour, the climb was very gradual and I had completed much worse at home in the heat without cramping. I stopped and stretched, took some ecaps, and drank some water at one of the many creek crossings. I hung out there for I don't know how long and just spaced out on where I was and took in my surroundings. It was a surreal experience, much like some of my first mountain bike trips many years ago. The cramps subsided and I continued on.
A few miles later and the trail climbed out of the trees and into an exposed valley. I was surrounded by towering peaks on both sides and my spacing out "problem" got even worse. You could see a long way yet it all seemed so close. I blissfully forgot I was in a race and my pace slowed down considerably as I pondered all sorts of crazy things. The sustained climbing soon ended at Ressurection pass and then came the loose, rocky, shale descent. Luckily my spacing out subsided long enough for me to concentrate on the trail. It narrowed considerably and in many spots was fairly overgrown. Every once in a while my foot would strike a hidden rock which would send shock waves of pain up my leg. Overall, the descent was really fun and I enjoyed the sight of snow patches and the pristine alpine lakes around me in the 60 something degree weather.
After a few switchbacks, the trail settled back into a densely vegetated terrain and the rockiness smoothed out. I do remember a fairly technical rocky downhill section that was brief but adrenaline producing. After that section, there was a picturesque 2 or 3 miles right beside a lake. I stopped there as well and ate. No photo of that lake with the mountain backdrop would do it justice. I would have been content to have just stayed there the rest of the day and fish. My break ended and I got back to work navigating the trail, attempting to avoid the whip of the blister producing plants that dangled at neck height. All I could smell was fresh vegetation and there were so many shades of green. Soon I could hear the Sterling highway and the roar of a river to my left. Without warning, the first check station appeared in front of me.
My bike had been having shifting issues the last 20 miles and I was genuinely concerned that my chain would break on the way to the next check station. Another rider and the race promoter tried several fixes to cure it's ails but we never did resolve it. I just conceded to find a comfortable gear and stick to it for the remainder of the race.
20 minutes later and 40 miles into the race, I left the check station and began the backtrack to the last check point 30 miles away. I felt revived from my break and picked up my pace as I knew I would be climbing for a while. This quickly ended after passing the serene lake section and getting to the technical rocky section I had descended hours before. The guy at the bike shop said the whole trail was rideable but after falling down twice on rocks, I felt no shame in walking up the section.
The remainder of the 15 or 20 mile climb up to Devils Pass trailhead went by relatively uneventfully and I was happy to see the Devil's pass cabin signalling the start of a 10 mile descent. The leader of the race was already finishing the climb up the pass that I was about to descend. He didn't even look winded, on a single speed no less! The beginning of the trail was exposed and gradual. I was just starting to enjoy the break from the climb as I coasted along for several miles. This quickly ended as the descent grade increased and the terrain became extremely rocky. In several spots it was pretty much all jagged, wet, rock with a drop off on one side. I bounced, slipped, and slid around on these sections and my hands began to ache from white knuckling the brakes. Several riders from the first group passed me climbing up as I descended. I envied them as I was fairly rattled from the rough rocky descent and generally prefer a nice steep climb over a bone rattling downhill.
The lush greeness of it reminded me of central america. I half expected to see a smiling Juan Valdez coming up the trail leading his mule with fresh coffee. No such luck. Toward the bottom of the trail, the rocks became less frequent and the descent alternated with short climbs. I got too comfortable again and inexplicably wiped out descending a short hill. I have no idea what happened I just suddenly found myself on the ground entangled in my bike. Shortly after, I arrived at the last check point.
I knew I would have to climb the 10 miles I just descended and I was worried about my energy level and how long it would take. Even though I had my light, I really did not want to find myself riding through an unfamiliar forest at night in bear country so I kept my break under 10 minutes and started the climb up with as much energy as I could. It went went by more quickly then I thought it would even though I chose to walk a few of the really rocky sections and stopped to soak my battered feet in a crystal clear, snowmelt fed creek. The sight of Devil's pass cabin again brought a smile to my face as I knew it was 20 miles of easy downhill to the finish.
The easy downhill soon became torturous to my backside as every rock, root, and bump reminded me that I ride a hardtail and my seat sucks. The trail wound down back into the trees and the lack of light under the canopy hastened my pace. It seemed like it was going to get dark any minute and my eyes began to play tricks on me. The only "bear" I saw turned out to be a burned stump. I must have looked like an idiot, standing in the middle of the trail, feverishly shaking my bear bell waiting for the stump to run into the woods.
Familiar landmarks from the morning became evident and I knew I was getting close to the bridge. It was pretty much dusk when I got to the bridge and I carefully switched to the big ring and powered down the road to the finish and more importantly, bar.
Aside from an extremely sore butt and a few bruises, I finished in one piece, 13.5 hours after I started. So much for the easy 12 hour completion initially envisioned. The winner completed it in an inhuman time of 9.5 hours on a singlespeed.
This was one of the most memorable, scenic, challenging, and fun epic rides I have ever done and I will definately be returning to better my time. A big thank you to Carlos the race promoter and Banjo Brothers , the generous sponsors. I learned quite a bit from this experience, mainly:
Alaskan riders are phenomenal competitors.
I'll never equate ride difficulty soley on the statistics to again.
Any race that starts and ends at a bar is worth doing. BEER!! Now that's motivation.
Incredible scenery can be overwhelmingly distracting.
Riding in 60 degree weather rocks.
Although it's 100 miles in the back country, you can't get lost, just follow the trail and never turn left
When planning your race calendar for next year, definately consider making the trip up. You will not regret it.
http://www.aksoggybottom100.com/
August 03, 2006
The Banjo Brothers Conquer France (Sort of)
Tandem Boy and Girl - Mark and Maria completed their junket to the French Alps. They brought the Banjo Brothers along - (the bags that is). Now that brother Mark is back stateside, it seems he's started to post the epic journey online. He was kind enough to snap a couple of shots for us. Check 'em out. Good looking bags I say.
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Photos from the Soggy Bottom
Here are some great photos from the Soggy Bottom 100. Enjoy.
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More good news from the Soggy Bottom 100
Chris was a winner of a Banjo Brothers Seat Bag. Here's what he had to say about it:
Hi,
I was also a participant in this year's soggy bottom 100 in AK and was really happy to receive one of your seat bags. It really helped me out not having to carry two tubes, a repair kit, med kit, emergency blanket and other necessities on my back. I was really surprised at how much you can get into one of those things. It's like a trunk J
Thanks again for sponsoring a great race with a great product.
Chris R
Boise, Idaho (soon to be Anchorage, AK)
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July 25, 2006
Soggy Bottom 100 Stories
Carlos, the organizer of the Soggy Bottom 100 sent me a link to this post from the blog entitled "Up in Alaska".
Thanks to Carlos for asking us to participate and thanks to Jill for the mention. Enjoy.
Jill's subarctic journal about ice, bears and distant dreams of the midnight sun
Date: July 22
Mileage: 106
July mileage: 576.2
I am really starting to grow into mountain biking, and not because I'm a natural. Quite the opposite - every pedal stroke is a small struggle - but it's always a challenge, and I'm completely addicted.
That said, I took a decent thrashing in yesterday's Soggy Bottom 100 - trail rash, bumps, bruises, bent fender, broken spoke, seatpost askew, flat rear shock, mud in my teeth. Through it all, my workhorse of a mountain bike motored on and carried me to the finish in 13 hours 17 minutes - which isn't as fast as I had hoped for, but after a few violent spills and some hard lessons about the demoralizing power of downhill, I'm pretty glad to be one of about half in the field to just have finished 106-mile course.
The ride got off to a great start Saturday morning, launching from the cheering crowds of the Seaview Bar and Campground in Hope. The 16 or so riders split off into two packs of eight, of which I happily joined the back and coasted six miles to the trail. When we hit the dirt, I started passing people. I was feeling great - better than great. Without even putting in a hard effort, I managed to climb to the front of the "back" pack and hit Resurrection Pass - mile 25 - before 11:30, just under two and a half hours in. I believed I was on solid pace to finish in about 12 hours. Then I took my first fall.
For most of the course, the trail snakes through the loose boulders and gravel of open alpine tundra and the roots and overgrown vegetation of the forest - all very beautiful, but very much remote wilderness. Sometimes no wider than two bike tires side by side, the trail left little in the way of exit points, and my technical riding skills don't really include bunny hopping at 15 miles per hour. I was only two miles into my descent when I first bit the gravel - hard. Never one to take personal injury gracefully, I took to holding my brakes with a kung fu grip while I brooded on my sore, swollen right elbow. The next 18 miles of downhill went pretty well - except for the fact that it took me nearly two and a half hours to ride that stretch. And to be honest, I was a little relieved to hit Cooper Landing and flip a U-turn for the subsequent 18-mile climb.
I know my limitations with my set of technical skills, and I also know that in mountain biking, falls are going to happen. But it's hard for me, during the long haul, not to let them get to me. I took two more dives near the pass going back up, and by the time I hit the Devil's Pass Trailhead, my pace having slowed considerably, I was feeling a little discouraged. Ironically, my turning point came just after a fall about halfway up Devils Pass - my worst fall, actually. Locked in a steady climb, I felt an encouraging surge in strength and upped my speed through a narrow stretch of overgrown trail - at this point, thinking I still had a chance to finish in under 13 hours. Moving about 7 mph, I completely overlooked a big boulder and hit it head-on, bouncing sideways and tumbling over what turned out to be a very steep embankment. I first touched down about five feet below the trail, landing on my shoulder and flipping a half somersault as my bike sailed overhead. For what must have been several minutes I lay there on my side - my bleeding, battered legs "pinned" beneath a 30-pound mountain bike, soaked in the prickly discomfort of rain-drenched devils club and staring almost helplessly up that steep hillside. As those silent seconds passed, my situation became a whole lot clearer - and and a whole lot funnier.
I realized that for nearly 50 miles of the physically difficult course, I had become so consumed with "not" falling that I had completely lost track of my forward motion. In fact, I hardly even noticed any actual fatigue while I was dwelling on what are really just a few silly bumps and bruises (and, from what I learned after returning to the start, were actually on the low spectrum of injuries acquired by competitors during the ride.) At that point I had been alone long enough to feel no shame in talking to myself, so I launched into an audible self-lecture about not being such a baby as a clawed my way back up the hill. I returned to the trail, righted the front wheel, mounted the odometer back on and took a long look up the pass - with wispy clouds blanketing the peaks over an open sea of purple lupine. I was filled with a strange reassurance that these sort of moments are rare - moments to experience what it's like to be completely alive.
So I finished the ride. And I'm glad I did it. It was tough for me, but not in the ways I expected - which is an all-around great life lesson. I surprised myself with my physical capacity in climbing and also learned a little more about my limitations, with more understanding about how far I have come - and how far I have left to go.
Carlos, the godfather of Soggy Bottom and an all-around great guy, said it best when he quoted William Blake ... "you never know what is enough until you know what is too much."
So thanks, Carlos, for inviting me to the Soggy Bottom (And also to Carlos' sponsors, such as Banjo Brothers, who help keep this "nonrace" alive.) I had an amazing experience, and met some great people. It's a little sad that just as I'm starting to become a part the Alaska endurance mountain biking scene, I'm leaving it for the far away climes of Juneau. But I'll be back. Bumps and bruises can't keep me away.
Also, I'm sorry I don't have any good pictures. This photo I took the night before in the Hope Campground. I tried to go really light during the race so I left the bulky digital behind. In neglecting to bring nonessential items, I also neglected to really bring much in the way of food. But more on that tomorrow. Now, it's time to sleep.
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July 18, 2006
Richness
1. Texas Tuxedo
Denim jacket, denim jeans, often accompanied by a bolo tie and denim shirt. May include cowboy boots and/or cowboy hat.
Slim is dressed up for his birthday. Check out his Texas Tuxedo.
Need I say more? (Definition courtesy of Urban Dictionary)
http://banjobrothers.com/DarkStar/dark.mp3
http://banjobrothers.com/DarkStar/dark.mp3
July 10, 2006
Soggy Bottom 100
Although the Banjo Brothers could not make the ride, we did help fill the kitty with Banjo Brothers stuff - spreading some "banjo love" way up north, in Alaska.
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Banjo Brothers is a proud sponsor of the 2006 Soggy Bottom 100 |
July 05, 2006
Fixed Gear Gallery Messenger Bag Review Is In.
Well Dennis and Co. from the Fixed Gear Gallery finished their comprehensive review of the Banjo Brothers Messenger Bag.
All in all Eric and I feel pretty good about how the bag fared versus some of the more developed companies who manufacture messenger bags. After all, our mission is to make well-made products at an incredible value. One of the toughest things about these reviews is that a Messenger Bag is such a personal thing. One man's cool feature is the bane of some other guy's existence. We think these reviews were very even handed - even on the features they didn't seem to care for.
One small innacuracte statement on the site was the part about buying online from us - we do not sell direct to consumers but rather we push all our sales through our dealer network. In the event you do not have a local dealer, we go to great lengths to line you up with a partner online who will process your order.
If anyone does read the review and has further questions, just e-mail us and we'll do our best to make sure you get your questions answered.
Mike
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June 24, 2006
Bike Repair Day- AKA The Gator
Well the one-er looks very rakish with the set of Freddy Fenders and a new rack installed tonight. All the hardware needed to install my arse. I guess it's OK. The missus managed the destroy the threads on the Burley Moose Rack. If you've got one, the 10M x 1.5 tap does the trick. $3.00 which is better than $80 for the replacement. Thanks to the guys at Settergren Ace for having all the stuff. The one speed will now be the uber utility bike. It's more fun to ride than the Fuji, but since the Fuji pulls the trail-a-bike it spends more time on the road. Also, the Surly Pacer (a.k.a. - Cash) got a pair of Continental Ultra GatorSkins. These came courtesy of Gene. Thanks Gene! There's supposed to be a long-ride in the morning - 7:00am (gulp -it's near midnight.) Time to sleep.
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The Burley Moose Rack
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June 20, 2006
Unbelievable
Thank's to Gilby for this tip. All I can say is Wisconsin?
June 19, 2006
Riding deprivation.
OK - after three 140+ weeks of mileage, I had a total slacker week. My junk miles were totally affected due to the fact the Fuji was on the shop. I did get a pair of Shimano PD-324's for the Fuji and some new grips. I brought the bike to the folks house and crap - it stayed on the car. Back at it this week, though.
June 11, 2006
Homage to the Lunatic?
Who says the Banjo Brothers aren't creative. My daughter celebrated birthday no. 6 on Saturday and asked Dad if she could have a "hula" cake.
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Homage to Ray or a stylish, tropical themed birthday cake. You decide. |
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Waves upon a tropical shore. Note the island, the clear blue waters, and tropical green island. That's a graham cracker sand beach for those keeping score at home. |
June 06, 2006
Hinckley to Duluth Ride
I have been promising to post these for a bit now - and I have decided for reasons of vanity not to post the fat-arse pictures of me. As I had hoped to do, this ride served as a kick-off of sorts to dropping some weight. I have challenged myself to try and ride a minimum of 125 miles per week with a stretch goal of 150. Anyway, the ride was 75 miles from Hinckley, Minnesota to Duluth, Minnesota for a panel Eric and were asked to participate in for the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. The goal was about 5 hours of ride time. The course is mostly flat and the May departure nearly always means a tailwind. The weather was nice, although by mid-afternoon it was quite hot. The tailwind delivered, and as out of shape as I am, we still hit 19 mph on the straightaways. We averaged nearly 15 mph for the entire trip. The two flats I got slowed us slightly as did my general lack of physical condition.
As I mentioned in the photocaptions, part of the tour was to road test some fully-loaded gear. I had two Waterproof Panniers loaded without about 35 pounds of clothes, gear and stuff and a large seat bag. Eric had the Saddle Bag Pannier and a Handlebar Bag. There was no threat of rain, but the Waterproof Panniers were easy to pack and held easily a couple changes of clothes, shaving gear, two pair of shoes and miscellaneous crap. The large seat bag is nice and I've become quite addicted to it. Eric liked the Panniers and the extra-weight didn't adversely affect the ride. Eric had some hand issues because with his bars had too few hand positions with the handlebar bag in play and he cinched that down on top of his rack with the handy straps on the saddlebags after lunch.
It's worth mentioning this was the longest ride ever for me in one shot. I do like to bike and have done tons of 30 miles trips around the city and on various paths, but Eric is the 800lb gorilla when it comes to the biking expertise in our partnership. I play the role of the 36 year-old novice. Since I am fully capable of breaking just about anything, I'm always a good test case for our products. Earlier in the spring Eric and Gene helped set me up with my first road bike - and that's what I was riding. It's a Surly Pacer, which I'm told is very old-school. I had ridden the bike all of 4 times before this ride, with the longest ride of the year about 10 miles. Eric's done 200+ miles in a very long day in the saddle, so essentially this was child's play for him.
The ride from Hinckley starts by going into Hinckley proper - which means across the bridge from Tobies about 2-3 miles back. The trailhead has ample parking and we just dropped the car overnight. After we were loaded up we got going about 10:30am. We stopped in Willow River for the 1st off the bike break. I flatted due to a faulty rim strip after that. We got a new tube put in but flatted again within about 30 minutes of the fix. The second fix involved some 3M electrical tape but that held. We could have used a presta valve adapter (next time) and I might favor the CO2 with a pump back-up given my recent experience on the way out to the Coon Rapids Dam, but alas for another time. I had a patch kit which saved us on the 2nd flat. My bike repair skills at this time are worse than my riding skills, so I watched mainly as Eric performed surgery.
Lunch was in Barnum, about half way. I new we wanted the Little Store but the trek out involved a somewhat steep climb from the trail to the gas station. We probably could have held out as there was a c-store right off the trail about 5 minutes out of Barnum with among other things "fresh meats". Eric downed a Coke among other things and told me how Coke became a popular drink in the Tour de France. We saw remarkably few people for most of the trip. Granted it was a Tuesday morning, but still. We had at least one 20 mile stretch where we saw nobody. The terrain is wooded and quiet, but it's not breathtakingly beautiful. You don't hear the highway and the trail is super clean and debris free. The ride is very smooth on these early sections of trail. It must deviate from the old railroad bed somewhat as there are a few small rolling sections, but it is overall flat enough that a guy, should he desire, could pull a trailercycle or a Burley the entire way.
The trip gets progressively more interesting from Barnum in. The terrain changes as you get closer to the St. Louis River and to Lake Superior. Carleton is about 14 miles out and this little stretch was the best of the trip. With the two flats and various stops were closing in on 5pm. We peddled harder on this stretch and we were aided by the downhill. Ironically, the last 7-8 miles are the worst in terms of trail condition with various potholes and bumps. It's also a shock when the trail ends in West Duluth by the Duluth Zoo. We had to navigate about 40 blocks east to my sisters' place through some treacherous traffic and pot-hole filled streets.
After a shower and some decompressing we hit the Fitger's Brewery for some food and beers and the Grandma's in the West End for a nightcap. If you've not been to Fitger's, the beer list is outsanding and the food is pretty good too. We did make a stop at our only Duluth Shop, the Ski Hut and got the grand tour from Chris White (a.ka. "whitey") Whitey clued us in that the local bike guys usually pass on the trail for rides in the freshly resurfaced Highway 23. I've driven 23 from Banning Junction and will attest to the great condition of the road and the stellar biking opportunity.
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The Clubman Complete with SaddleBag Panniers |
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Note the rock cliffs as you enter Duluth via the Willard Munger Trail. |
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June 01, 2006
Mark’s Blog
Mark's a good buddy of Banjo Brothers. The tales of his upcoming tandem ride through France will be featured on his Tandem Boy and Girl Blog. Give 'em a visit and tell 'em Banjo sent ya.
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Mark and Maria Enjoy a Cool One During the Solvang Century |
May 24, 2006
75 in the Saddle
Eric and I rode the Munger to Duluth for a slick mid-week 75er. Sure I held him back and he could have dropped me like a hot potato but we made it. The hammies are a little tender but the taint - well it's OK, not bad. We averaged 14.7 MPH. Two flats. Two stops. And a Little Debbie Oatmeal Cookie at 6:00pm to stave of the post-ride pre-dinner woozies. It's a nice trail, plenty flat and in pristine condition until the pock-marked section from the Buffalo House to Duluth. A big thanks goes out to the folks at 3M. That $3.47 roll of electrucal tape in Moose Lake made for a nifty temporary rim strip.
Pictures to follow.
Technorati: 3M, Munger Trail, Little Debbie
May 11, 2006
You Say You Want a Revolution?
Thanks to Bill of Revolution Bicycles for becoming the latest Banjo Brothers dealer in the Sunshine State. And thanks for Erik DeKold, the new rep whose burnin' up shoe leather writing orders in the SE for the Brothers Banjo.
Follow the link to the Revolution website or visit 'em in person at: 3125 4th St. N. - St. Petersburg, FL 33704. Phone 'em at 727-822-2453.
Test Post
Please work.
April 13, 2006
My New Ride
Look out. There'll be another fat cyclist on the road this spring to join the other Fat Cyclist.
It's a Surly Pacer, Black, nickname: "Cash" for the original "Man in Black" himself.
Yes, folks I have my first ever road bike and I have the evil Dr. Lew, Eric and Peter to thank for providing some of the parts and more importantly the time to build it up. While I have ridden oodles of miles on the one speed Eric gave me long ago and my old Fuji Mountain Bike that I've used to pull the Burley and the Burley Piccolo. From what I understand, the bike geometry and set-up at this point is pretty close to the Rivendell's which Jim sells over at Hiawatha Cyclery.
On another note, the new information for the Banjo Brothers Pocket Messenger Bag is now up on the main website. For people who have found that item through our promotions and write up from FixedGearGallery you may also purchase the bags from our partners at Penn Cycle.
Also, this post would not be complete without a "shout out" to Smithers for the mention on this blog. It should also be noted that this post is being done with BlogJet. I an currently evaluating it to see if will make posting less cumbersome and easier. So far so good. The WYSIWYG editor is very slick and it makes it easy to post and align pictures and text wraps. It also makes it easy to change fonts and font sizes, make bullet-ed list etc.
April 05, 2006
Technorati
Gotta do it.
April 04, 2006
Smithers Minneapolis Sighting
Yes, he was Fit' n Big - as advertised. Team Banjo ran into blogger legend, Smithers Mpls at Flanders Bros. Cycles today.
We'd give you a link to Gene, our uber-radical Banjo Brothers IT and Guarddog Watch and Clock jack of all trades guy - but alas, Gene's been busy with other stuff - like helping Eric build my new bike.
Details to follow.
March 28, 2006
Vote for the Fat-Man and Win Free Stuff
Our buddy Fat Cyclist is in a battle of supremecy to be named to the Best of MSN Spaces in the "What's Your Story" section. Apparently they have gone from some random editor bestowing greatness on you to a polularity contest.
Here's what Fatty has signed up for:
Vote For Me and Get Free Stuff
Realizing that I have no chance whatsoever of winning this contest on the strength of my writing, I will instead open a contest, wherein I will give away stuff to random people who comment during the week. Here’s how it works:* If I lose: I will give away my copy of A Sunday in Hell, the documentary about Eddy Merckx racing Paris-Nice.
* If I get third place: I will give away the brand-new Microsoft® Wireless Laser™ Desktop 6000 wireless keyboard and mouse (retail value: $99) I purchased as a Christmas present for a family member, but then never got around to sending, as well as the Sunday in Hell video.
* If I get second place: I will give away a brand-new, never-used, retail copy of Microsoft Office Pro 2003 (retail value: $499) that I got as thank-you schwag for participating in a recent usability study. And the wireless keyboard/mouse. And the Sunday in Hell video.* If I win: I will give away my one-of-a-kind prototype Banjo Brothers messenger bag, and the Office Pro box. And the wireless keyboard/mouse. And the Sunday in Hell video. I will also give away other valuable prizes which I have not listed here, but which I suspect you would like.
How does Fatty win?
You win by going to >http://whatsyourstory.msn.com/, voting for me, leaving a comment sometime this week, and then getting randomly selected. Or -- if you aren't able to leave a comment in my blog because you're not in the mood to register for a .NET Passport, just go vote anyway (you don't need to register for anything to do that) and send me a comment via email: fatty@fatcyclist.com. I'll post your comment for you. Then all you need to do to win is get randomly selected.
And I win by having my vanity served.
BONUS, BONUS, BONUS, BONUS, BONUS, BONUS, BONUS, BONUS,
I, Banjo Brother # 1 have 12 Pocket Messenger Bags (Value $5) that I will giveaway to the first 12 people to: Vote for Fatty, leave a message on his blog in the comments section and then send me an e-mail to confirm your particpation.
March 25, 2006
Fixed Gear Gallery Review of the Pocket Messenger Bag
So cool. So timely.
The nice folks over the the FixedGearGallery have been nice enough to review the Banjo Brothers Pocket Messenger Bag.
Here's a portion of what they head to say - but as always we encourage you to take a look for yourself.
When was the last time you've seen anything cycling-related for 5 bucks? This little bag folds up real small, and there's a handy elastic loop to keep it together. Already got a big messenger bag? Keep this little bag in a pocket to bring home a hot loaf of bread, some scones, or anything else you don't want to get squashed in your big bag.
March 22, 2006
More Friends of Banjo
Uber Commuter Gilby Becomes A FOB
The Banjo Brothers have never formally met our latest uber tester (anyone know how to do umlauts in MT?) - but Ms. Gilby of Ugly Bike fame not only has a new job, she's got a screamin' set of waterproof panniers that she'll be testing for us.
March 18, 2006
Welcome to Friends of Banjo Peter Church
The Banjo Brothers would like to welcome Peter Church to our ranks.
PS - Pete, your e-mails bounced back.
Cheers - the Banjo Brothers.
Plus you can buy Pete's Surly Pacer here... Yours truly will be sporting a Pacer this summer as well thanks to Gene and Eric.
March 17, 2006
He Likes Us. He Really, Really Likes Us.
Sitting here in the world headquarters this Friday night, I wanted to take the time to point out a fell things and say a few "thank yous".
First to Jim over at Hiawatha Cyclery.
Jim wrote a nice piece about how the Banjo Brothers products have improved. Jim used to work at one of the bigger shops in the Twin Cities which is very influential in the local cycling scene. It means a lot that Jim thinks the products are improved. Why? Because we try each year to make the products better and his endorsement means we're doing our job.
Secondly, Jim has another blog where I first learned about him opening his shop. Anyway, Jim is a passionate fellow and a heckuva writer. Today because of Jim we recieved another lead for a shop in Kansas City, MO., called Acme Bicycle Co. While it's not a done deal yet, we feel pretty good that we have another shot at a new customer. The shop owner was influenced by Jim's write up which you can read here.
A few other good things happened this week too. Since over 75 shops recieved their gear this past week, there's been a hub of activity and contact with the shops. Most all of the feedback has been very positive. For instance, this is what one shop had to say about our grocery panniers:
"Your grocery panniers are the best I've ever seen."Jason Montano
Montano Velo
4266 Piedmont ave.
Oakland,CA 94611
510.654.VELO (8356)
www.montanovelo.com
Another shop called "The Touring Cyclist." already placed a re-order.
Lastly, I want everyone to know, now that we are in stock on the new 2000 cubic in messenger bag we plan to giveaway three of them through our giveaway program over at The Fat Cyclist. so be sure to check out his blog.
One last thing. This shop in Tuscon:
Ordinary Bike Shop
311 W. 7th Street
Tuscon, AZ 85705
Phone: 520-644-6488
Fax: 520-622-2017
Sold the first messenger bag to a gent in Phoenix who could not find the bag at his local dealer. Thanks to them and while I know I have recieved some e-mails from some of you who are frustrated by the lack of Banjo dealers in your area -please e-mail me and I will do whatever it takes to help you.
Cheers.
March 16, 2006
Updated Dealers
Here's a quick and dirty list of Banjo Brothers Dealers. By tonight, all of these will be updated in the dealer locator search within the site. In the meantime, send us an e-mail if you are looking for a particular product. mvander [at] banjobrothers.com:
March 13, 2006
Solvang Century
Good buddy of Banjo, Mark W. and his lovely wife Maria recently rode the the Solvang Century, the annual 60 and 100 mile ride centered out of Solvang, California.
Mark wrote: I thought I'd attach a few shots of the Banjo Bros bags that endured a hellacious (or was it a "hill-acious") 100 mile ride in Solvang. Temps were mid to high 30's, hail, some snow on the ground but we did it. Feel free to post the "Maria" shot on your blog; it's one of the best of the entire trip. Thanks again!
Man, he wasn't kidding.
Here are some pretty cool photos. Thanks Mark!
March 02, 2006
New 2006 Line: The Condor Has Landed
Yes indeed. The dueling Banjo Brothers and Gene will be at un unmarked warehouse in Minneapolis starting Friday at the crack a-- of dawn shipping out the 2006 line. That means the big daddy is in.
Yesssireee - 2000 cubic inches of pure sweetness. Updated dealer list to follow.
Feel the love.
March 01, 2006
When in Rome Try Shameless Plugs
A little background: The Banjo Brothers are not just die-hard cyclists, we're small business guys trying to eke out a living without having to sell our souls to the god of corporate bi-monthly paychecks. So far, our passions combined with some hustle have allowed us to build this business from a mere idea to a legimate, mortgage paying enterprise.
Anyway - to get to the point, the Banjo Brothers also have another business called Guarddog Watch and Clock. You can find the site here. Here's a look at our signature product:
The thing is, we've done pretty well with this little enterprise selling to hardware stores and catalogs like Duluth Trading Company where we've carved out a little niche. We have been toying with the idea of selling these into some of our bike customers, so I thought I'd take a little informal poll to see what you all think.
Our buddy the Fat Cyclist has suggested they make a great gift for your bike mechanic. His brother-in-law Rocky actually won a watch in one of Fatty's weekly giveaways. If you have any thoughts, send me off an email by clicking here.
Thanks.
February 27, 2006
I Need This!
Dick Enrico Collectors Edition Bobblehead.
Banjo Brothers willing to trade major league swag for a little Richard.
February 23, 2006
The Pocket Messenger Bag
We are just days away from being in-stock
on this nifty product.
> A handy bag for unexpected errands, extra capacity, or a post-ride refreshment stop. Fits nicely in a jersey pocket or seat bag until needed.
> Folds down to wallet size and elastic strap keeps it tidy
> Snap-down rain flap
> Tough 210 denier nylon with beefy nylon webbing shoulder strap
> Minimal seams for optimum water resistance
More Images:
February 20, 2006
CRC Coffee Shop - Open for Business
We're a little late to this announcement, but the CRC (Cars-r-Coffins) Coffee Bar is officially open. Here are the details via this nifty photo with the address.
Also, in other news, friend of Banjo, and the reporter who did the nice story on us, has become a victim of a dreaded corporate downsize. (Drat.) Anyway, he's started a blog to chronicle the experience. You can find it at: Out of Work on a Bike at Blogspot.
February 18, 2006
Peace Coffee (Brother)
Banjo Brothers is pleased to (un) offically announce that we have named Peace Coffee the official coffee of Banjo Brothers International, LLC. You can check out the Peace Coffee story here.
We are currently enjoying pots and pots and pots of the Birchwood Blend, which is of the medium roast variety. It has a tremendously mellow flavor and a great finish.
Fatty Sets Us Up: England Swings
Since Banjo Brothers began sponsoring the weekly giveways on the Fat Cyclist Blog we've been pleased to meet several fine folks from around the USA. Well as fate would have it, the "global reach" of Fatty's Blog has helped Banjo Products make their way across the pond. Here's Tim from England sporting the '05 Messenger Bag.
February 12, 2006
The Banjo Brothers Get A Little Local Publicity
Thanks to Rick Fuentes of WCCO TV in Minneapolis for digging up this little nugget.
In true investigative journalism fashion, Rick started noticing the prolifereation of Banjo Brothers supporters on the web. Well that led him to, well us. Take a look. (And no wise cracks.) Here's the link:
Welcome Hiawatha Cyclery
From one new business to another - Banjo Brothers welcomes Hiawatha Cyclery to the fold.
February 01, 2006
Woody Rocks!
Several FOBs - "Friends of Banjo:" have helped out this winter by road-testing some of the 2006 product line. In this case, we wanted to test the new cavernous 2000 cubic inch messenger bag in a more frigid climate. Enter Tim, from Bicycles and Icicles. Not only did he tell us the good, the bad and the ugly about our bag, he sent in this photo and a self-written caption:
"Tim, aka The Dumbass Behind the Bicycles and Icicles Blog, stylishly models the must-have cycling accessory for 2006 (a snow-splattered Banjo Brothers messenger bag) during his morning commute in Anchorage, Alaska."
Check out Tim's blog here.
December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas from the Banjo Brothers
Ho, ho, ho.
The Banjo Brothers want to take a minute to thank a few of the people who are helping us gain some major mojo in 2006. First off, to the hundred or so shops (and you know who you are) that took a chance on the Brothers Banjo, thanks.
Secondly, The Fat Cyclist. We approached him on a whim, a pure cold call and he's really helped put us on the map.
The friends and testers:
Lady Velo, High Priestess of the 27 Tooth Cog
I apologize if I missed anyone.
There's Erik and Dan who helped put together the website. Our fabulous reps. Our resident financial genious - Steve.
There's you and all the new friends we continue to meet in person and online:
Thanks again and we'll talk to you next year.
Mike
December 08, 2005
Strum on.
The new site is up. The products are on order and the wild ride that is the 2006 Bike season is underway.
Yahoo.
For our current entries, click here.
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