Bike Hugger 

I’m back home in Seattle, getting caught up on postings, and photos. Mark V is on special assignment for Bike Hugger@Interbike and sobered up from all the crazy partying to email his day one report.

Fixed and Loathing in Las Vegas, Day One

by Mark V from Elliott Bay Bicycles

I strode out the plane, past the airport terminal’s slot machines, into the baggage claim. Next to me, the tanned blonde’s floral print top looked like a tarp pulled tight over a pair of F-16 jet fighter nose cones; nothing’s for real here in Vegas. But I’m not in this city of blackjack and 24-hr liquor stores to talk about reality … or aerodynamics. Byron said to find the fixed gear junk at Interbike, and that’s what I’m going to do … no matter how many $9 rum-and-cokes it takes.

The Magnetic Yellow Card, is a magnet cyclists can toss onto cars when a driver has endangered their life.

Byron sends along this photo from the floor of Interbike, which officially starts today. I’m sure we’ll have more details when the show is open and the bike isn’t locked down, but the long and short of it is: Surly is launching the first production all-in-one Xtracycle.

That means folks who love the idea of an Xtracycle will have one less obstacle to hurdle: No more kit-building. Also, I can’t see any reason the Stokemonkey wouldn’t work.

Questions for our eyes and ears in Vegas: Is Surly selling this as a frame or a bike? What are they calling it? What’s the availability?

She was enjoying the sun, the view, and riding her old cruiser bike along Alki.

As Todd said in email, “I got your zeitgeist right here pal!,’ and linked me to BikePortland’s post on Electra’s new Amsterdam bike. The concept of a stylish, simple transport bike, be it “working,” “urban,” “townie,” or sport-utility bike, can flow right into that mood of change that’s going on in cities.

Given a good alternative, I think people want to get out of their cars.