Bikes and Pieces

Carbon footprint of a bicycle.

shopdude — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:31:26 +0000

When setting up the “plan” for the shop I did a little research on the carbon footprint of a “new” bicycle. The idea was to point out that either buying a good used bike or getting that old dusty thing hanging in the garage tuned up and running would be a whole lot better than buying a shinny new bike (especially one of those cheap things from one of the big-box-stores). Given the choice between buying new bike and not riding that old bike and thus using a car, bus, train, etc. I would certainly tell you to get a new bike from a bike shop. The below article from “Slate” www.slate.com put out some compelling numbers.

“Two Wheels vs. Four” How far do I have to ride my bike to pay back its carbon footprint?
By Brian Palmer

“Choose wisely grasshopper.”

Habitat 500 mile bike ride

shopdude — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:46:13 +0000

This is always the hardest part.

Asking you to donate to something you may or may not see. This year I’m hoping to make sure you get to see it and the people who will live there (post ride). I do, however, get to see what your donations build. Every year I do the ride we have ridden to the house that your donations help build. You see, when I ask you for a donation it’s marked to go to the “bike.home” project for Habitat for Humanity. To me it’s a very tactile donation. Your donation goes directly to a thing, something you can touch, a place where people live, a family, and a home. If you wanted you could drive to the “open house” ceremony every year that we help build a “bike.home” home and take a tour. You could walk through the house and meet the family who will be living in the house you helped build with a financial contribution. On the Habitat for Humanity 500 mile Bike Ride (HFH500) I get to preview that house.

Please make a donation to Habitat for Humanity on my behalf, I’m rider #114. This year I’ll post pictures of the house so you can see it too!

Mail your contribution, by July 5th 2011, to:

Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota

2401 Lowry Ave NE, Suite 210

Minneapolis, MN 55418

Or you can try:

The contributions I raise go towards the bike.home project on Razoo

If you use this site a 2.9% processing fee is deducted from the amount. That a small amount compared to some of the other services, Network for Good @ 4.5% or First Giving 7%.

Or stop by the shop and drop me a check by July 9th.

Either way, Thank YOU! in advance.

Make sure you mark it for HFH500 and on behalf of Mike Kmiecik, rider #114, and please let me know so I may send you a thank you and receipt.

Thank you.

-Mike

PS: the shop will be closed July 9th through the 16th while I’m out on the ride.

Bit on KARE 11

shopdude — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:51:45 +0000

Here’s the bit from KARE 11 earlier this week…

…enjoy!

Water water every where.

shopdude — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:17:42 +0000

Several weeks ago I noticed the CITY out checking waterlines and various other things that the CITY is checking to justify their existence and show us “your tax dollars at work.” About a week after that I noticed a bit lower water pressure here at the shop and just assumed the CITY figured I had too much pressure and dialed back a bit. Turns out the whole building’s (3 businesses) pressure is down and it’s now a “broken water line.” Coincidence? The CITY says “NO!” and on top of that my building owner and “Supplier” of coffee, who from here on out will be kindly referred to as Supplier, is responsible for the repair. What!?! The CITY comes out and tinkers with a water line, possibly breaking it, and now we have to pay for it?!? Is that like having to pay for the constant stream of oil coming into this country too. Our government “breaks it,” the Alaska Pipeline, or entirely makes a big mess of things, the “conflicts” abroad, and then WE (notice the big we) have to pay for it. Nice (dripping with black greasy wet sarcasm).

Suffice it to say that replacing the thing the CITY broke is going to take a couple of days and I really can not run the shop having to ride two blocks home every time I need to “use the facilities” or wash stuff like a bike parts or my hands. Thus the shop, in addition to normally being closed on Sundays and Mondays during the winter, will be closed on Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th.

For those of you who know me, you’ll know then that I’ll be at home working on that other home improvement project. Just one more reason I “love” this CITY.

If you need some work or something from the shop I’m only a phone call and a short walk away.

Mr P. and the Snowman

shopdude — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:47:38 +0000

The night before the last “big” snowstorm my niece’s 4th grade teacher got a call stating that school would start an hour late. The next morning they called off the late start but forgot to call Mr. “P.” When the kids got to class they learned that Mr. P would be late and were asked to write stories about why he might be late. Below is her story.

Bike racks – for vehicles

shopdude — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:42:47 +0000

Dear Customers,

For your vehicles:

I do not “stock” them but have both Yakima and Thule roof rack systems available (normally next day) and then Thule, Yakima, and Saris for trunk or rear mounted systems (again, normally next day). I also have a couple of other systems available for pick up beds. If there is a particular set up you’re looking for send me the details and the year make and model of your vehicle and I’ll get you a cost.

For your home, garage, or storage area:

Yup, got a whole bunch of these things available too. Just let me know what and where your looking to store or hang your bike and gear and I’ll get you some items and prices to compare.

Thank you for inquiring and have a great week.

This is very nice and completely unexpected…

shopdude — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:36:19 +0000

I received this note (below) today, it really made my day and week. “Thank you,” and “you’re very welcome” to the person who sent me this note.

__________________________________________________________________________

“Mike,

I wanted to thank you once again for helping me get my bike packed and ready to ship back to Maryland. I very much appreciate that you took precious time out of your work day to help me!

In appreciation of your help, I donated to another organization dear to my heart called Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS). Located in Deschapelles, Haiti, my husband’s uncle was a physician at this hospital for over 30 years. We had the opportunity to visit in 2004 where we met the local Haitians - desperately poor people, but amazingly appreciative of the small amount of health care they could receive at this hospital.

As you know, Haiti suffered terribly during the earthquake six months ago. HAS was not affected physically by the earthquake but since it was one of the only hospitals in working order, HAS was overwhelmed with the amount of Haitians that showed up at its doors in need of medical attention from injuries suffered because of the earthquake. Teams of physicians and their staff flew in from all over the world to help with the increased demand of injured patients. The hospital has recovered from its crisis mode of the earthquake only to recently be affected by a terrible flood that occurred very near to the hospital grounds. Because of severe deforestation on the island of Haiti, floods are not uncommon. Unfortunately, it is a constant cycle of need.

The hospital is in ever need of support – I donated to HAS in your name Mike, in appreciation of your selflessness and willingness to help out a fellow rider. I’m so glad I was able to meet you and hope to see you in a future Habitat 500!

All the best,

—- ——”

http://www.hashaiti.org/

____________________________________________________________________________

What about the details?

shopdude — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:16:15 +0000

So the linked article appears in the Star Tribune, from AP, who got it from WCCO (tv). My rant and question to the reporters who post this article. What about a helmet? Was the youth wearing a helmet? This, to me, is one of the most important issues of the article and it’s missing. They take the time to note that he died of head injuries but fail to mention if he was wearing a helmet. Here’s the WCCO link: http://wcco.com/local/fatal.bike.accident.2.1749484.html

“Still crazy after all these years…”

shopdude — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:41:09 +0000

Why not?! Purchased a batch of great “home mechanic” vintage frames and bikes from a super person in Duluth. If you’ve watched Craigs-List then you might have seen the posting. Well, now those bikes are available at my shop! Wow! Stop in and check out the first ten! I’ll try to get a couple of photos up on the web site or Facebook between repairs and tune-ups. Good Luck.

The track light is up and lighting up the place. A special and great big “THANK YOU” to my brother-in-law for the help on my “day-off.” It’ll take some time to adjust the lights to what I want but it’s much brighter in here and a bit more shop/retail-like in the place. All the bikes look shinny and new-ish with the extra light. Once again I’ve managed to up-cycle some old lights and track to make this little shop look better.

Thanks everyone for the early spring business and word-of-mouth work. I’m having more fun and loving my “job” more and more every day!

T-shirts to rags

shopdude — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:01:31 +0000

It might take a little extra time in making them but since taking over the space the shop has gone through only 1 (partial) roll of paper towels. The shop rags and towels are all down-cycled t-shirts cut to size. When they get too full of grease etc. they go in a bucket and then home to be washed. Once the shop acquires a good working second hand washer they washing will be done here. Drying will be done by line.

Looking around the shop I’m reminded of how much of the space was built up using up-cycled fixtures, building supplies, paint, etc. There are about 4 items that were purchased “new” for the shop. Two of those items were light fixtures which are too dim for the space. Turns out, if I had been more patient, a great set of track lights became available on K-bid. I won the bid and am cleaning, painting, and getting them ready to be set up soon.

A while back there was a great article in the Star Tribune talking about buying items at second hand shops, garage sales, etc. The idea was that most of the things people need can be bought at these places at a major savings. A person just has to get used to up-cycling being cool, trendy, a possibility. The key was to make a list of the things you need, maintain the list, find and then start shopping at these second hand shops and garage sales. The great thing about shopping this way is that you’ll support a lot more LOCAL businesses and people.

Take a look at “The 3/50 Project.” CLICK HERE