Weekend Reading: How To Buy Your First Bike From The Bike Shop

So good! (Thanks Marianna For the heads up) Read the rest here:

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In 2003 I walked into my local bike shop and bought my first new bike. It was exciting, exhilarating, and even a little scary. Dozens of bikes and 10 years later, I have found myself in a place where I can help others through their first new bike buying experience at the bike shop. I have worked as a bicycle sales associate for almost 8 years, and I have been a professional bike fit specialist since 2007. I have heard and seen just about everything in the bike shop.

You have decided that it’s time to head to the bike shop because you need a new bike. Whether it is your first new bike ever, or you’re buying the bike to try a few sprint triathlons or even to participate in the Pan Mass Challenge, there are a few things with which you’ll need to get familiar before busting down the door of your local bike shop.

“I’m not a serious biker” was usually one of the two most popular opening statements I heard when working with someone at the bike shop. First off, YES YOU ARE! Don’t undervalue yourself during our first interaction (or ever, for that matter). I already think that you are a serious biker because you are here at the bike shop to buy a new bike, one of the greatest investments that you will ever make and never regret. Don’t worry–I am not going to judge you because you can’t name the entire Shimano component family. I’ve been there. New bike shopping is exciting and it is a learning experience.

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Weekend Reading: Bikes And Gender

I LOVED this:

The Gender Candy Store: Biking While Genderqueer

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I got a big dick swagger to me. I sit with my knees too wide. One of my favorite activities is listening to punk rock, drinking cheap beer, and performing bike maintenance squatting on my kitchen’s dirty linoleum.

I’ve wanted to be one of the boys forever, and sometimes I feel like I am one. I have boy days. I don’t flash friendly smiles, I don’t show off my jigglier body parts. I throw on a loose Cadence t-shirt and some cut off jean shorts that need a laundering, I get drunk on malt liquor half-sleeping in the sun in Humboldt Park, I jerk off to porn & take a blunt nap, I wake up and go to the bar and sneak in the men’s restroom because why do girls always take so long to pee, anyway?

I have my girl days, too, where I watch Earth Girls Are Easy and do my nails and sing elaborate parodies of 1960s girl group ballads to my dog. I mean, twenty percent of my wardrobe comes from the Target Little Girls section, and I read Japanese fashion magazines for teenage girls in the bathroom obsessively. I even had the cutest Hello Kitty Kawaii Town of all time.

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There’s incredible diversity out there. It’s my favorite thing about the human race. There are people out there who were born intersex, or who were born with a brain that doesn’t match the sex of their body, people who choose to present themselves androgynously and fuck you very much if you want to know if they’re a boy or a girl. When we try to fit every person into a specific little blue or pink box, it discriminates against everyone who can never possibly fit in those little boxes, and everyone who doesn’t even want to.

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Bike Art Salon Wed The 27th

Got this in the email, looks awesome!

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March 2013 Salon: The Intersection of Bikes and Art

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How Its Made: Mass Producing Bicycles

Obviously not all bikes are made this way, but hypnotic to watch. If you know more, leave the links in the comments.

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Vermont Bike And Brew Challenge

Got this in the email, looks simple fantastic if beer and cycling and Vermont are in your interest groups.

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The Vermont Bike and Brewery Challenge is a cycling tour of over half of Vermonts’ world class Breweries. Between August 25th and 29th a group of us will ride 200+ miles through some of New England’s best scenery, as well as tasting some of the tastiest beer in the world. Riders are encouraged to come for all five days or just one. The trip is free, and more information including lodging options are available at www.MountMajor.com. We will also post details through the meet-up if people want them!

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London Mayor On The Future Of Bikes In The City

This guy is a spot of alright, juice bits start about 3 min in.

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Back To The Drawing Board By Ashlie Taylor

Another awesome art event at Broadway Bicycle School.

Opening Reception: Friday, July 13th, 2012

Time: 7-9pm

Door 3 Gallery is proud to host this months “Friday the 13th” reception for Ashlie Taylor. Featuring the struggle between wood and fire. Ashlie Taylor is a local Somerville artist. For more of her samples check out her website:

www.ashlietaylor.com

In addition to pushing a pencil – Ashlie can turn a wrench too. She is one of the many multi-talented mechanics in the Broadway ranks. Stop by for the opening, but if you can’t make it – the show will be up till August 1st! We’d love to see you.

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Broadway Bicycle School 3 Gallery Art Showing

Another great event at Broadway!

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Date: Thursday, May 10th

Time: 7-9pm

Free and Open to All!

Door 3 Gallery is proud to present the artwork of Matthew Lazure, local artist and designer. This series uses found images and broken glass to
reinterpret imagery. Matthew is a graduate of MassArt, Boston (1994) and works currently as a set designer and scenic painter. To see the diversity
of his work, check out his website :

www.matthewlazure.com

We hope you can join us for music, festivities, great art and vittles! Thats right, in addition to the art we bring on the snacks and libations.

Hope to see you Thursday, but you can view the art work till the first week of June during regular business hours right here in Broadway Bicycle
School.

More info here

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