The Aldrich Ave Daily

It is quite an interesting time to be working in the cycling industry. Technology rules all and with that new products seem to come out every other day. This years top item will likely be fazed out in a year or two. Its becoming harder and harder to keep up with things. Its almost as if you need to spend every free minute of your time scouring the internet to read up on new products. Our biggest parts distributor’s current catalog is a whopping 1600 pages! Thats not including the new products they will see weekly throughout the year. There are sometimes 20-30 different options for one part or accessory. Do I need bar tape from 20 or so different manufacturers each with numerous styles to choose from? How many choices for BMX chain wheels does a kid really need? Chains! Cripes, the options for chains are crazy. Something else that I’ve noticed that bugs me are the prices on some of these items. I was perusing through our new 2009 parts catalog and some prices really came out at me. How about $400 for a Bottom Bracket. Two cups, two bearings with a weight range probably around 60-100 grams for $400! How about cranksets that are now pricing up to $1500. For two crank arms and a chain ring. $10,000 complete bikes, $160 set of derailleur pulleys, $450 derailleurs and so on. Even mid level prices have shot up. You could blame rise in prices for raw materials. You could blame the cost of researching and designing these products. Whatever the cause, I guess there’s still some crazy bastards that don’t have the luxury of being sponsored that can afford these things.  I struggle myself keeping up with my bikes and their parts even with a discount.  I often ask myself why a company comes out with a product that for most riders would break the bank. Does the performance and reliability out gain the price? Am I going to notice the extra $100 I spent on that rear derailleur? I think in most cases thats a no. When it comes to a part I pick out for my bike the first thing I consider is longevity. I like my parts to last a long time. I take care of them well, and keep tabs on them. Why fix it if it ‘aint broke right? And with the eye gauging prices I saw coming for 2009 I’m glad I abide by this. 

Another trend I see sprouting up around the industry is companies creating their own integrated designs on parts. New “standards” from different frame manufacturers. Everyone is now coming out with their own proprietary headtube sizes, bottom bracket sizes, suspension products, on and on. I guess Cannondale really was on to something years ago when they started their SI designs.  I know this is a business and everyone is working on the next best thing. Come ride our product. Companies will say that the system as a whole works better. I’ve always been skeptical of this approach with bikes, even in my early days of wrenching learning what SI stood for. One thing I don’t like about this is the customer is usually limited to one option for that area. If I’m gonna spend well over $3000 for a bike, those are some critical areas that I would want so free reign as to what I want. I feel like its a way of the company to force the customer into spending more money through them. What if some company comes out with some new groundbreaking suspension design or a new type of crankset? Should I have to get an entire new bike to ride it? I don’t think so. Am I too bold to say its creating a monopoly over everyone else? Not entirely, but who’s to stop it? I guess in a way I wish things were more simplistic. Things seem to be getting more complicated. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for people that don’t work in the industry to keep up. I’ve had people ask me “Why are you still riding that bike?” or “You really should go full suspension, hardtails are dead”. Why not? I like what I ride, and it still works great. Besides, I can’t afford an entire new bike these days.

December for us Minnesotans was rough. Mischke was fired, the Wild played some of the worst hockey we’ve seen them play, we still do not have Senator number Two, and it was frickin’ cold outside. All the more reason to hang out indoors with some tasty pints eh? There are a few beers I’ve had over the past few weeks that I’d like to give my 2-cents on.

Flat Earth Brewery is based out of St. Paul. It is one of Minnesota’s newest micro-breweries. I’ve tried 3 of their beers. I had their Belgian Style Pale Ale many months ago so I won’t go deeply into that one because honestly all I remember is it was so-so.  The next one on tap was their Rode Haring Flanders Red Ale.  According to The Four Firkins it is a Belgian style sour aged about two years in Oak barrels. Supposedly the only brewery in Minny making this style.  I was really stoked to try this one out. I brought this one up to the family and had them try it with me.  Initial aroma was promising. Somewhat of a citrus aroma with a light red color. First sip and I was struck with something? What was that flavor? Never before in a beer had I tasted this? My dad hit it right on the nuts. “Tastes like green olives.” Indeed, that’s what it was. The general consensus between all of us was that. I tried a few more sips, but it still was there. Maybe I need to try this one again, or find another brewery with a similar style to compare it to, but my taste buds did not like this one.  Finally there is the Black Helicopter Coffee Stout. A traditional Stout brewed with Dunn Bros. Coffee beans. Going into this I was thinking a dark, heavy beer. Somewhat of a thicker consistency. The coffee beans are immediate when it comes to aroma. Very dark with a brownish, dense, creamy tasting head. However, not as thick as I thought it would be. Very smooth actually. A good combination of coffee beans and the roasted barley they use. Neither one overpowers the other. Great brew. All in all, I like what Flat Earth is doing. I’ve only tried these Three but looking at their website and you can tell they put some thought into each beer they create.

Two Brothers Brewing. Based out of Warrenville, Illinois. I’ve had the pleasure of having two of their beers. I’ve got a feeling these guys LOVE hops.  The first one was awhile ago, but I can still taste it. Its called Cane and Ebel. A “Hopped up Red Rye Ale”. The name speaks for itself. An ale brewed with Rye. They also add palm sugar to this. If you like the taste of Rye, give this beer a try. I think it has an IBU reading of 85.  The second beer I had is called Hop Juice Double IPA. The first sip I had and all I could think was WOW. 9.9% ABV and a staggering IBU reading of 100. This beer packs a punch. If you don’t like bitter beers, stay away. I’ve only had two beers from this brewery but its fast becoming one of my favorites. I plan on searching for more beers from these guys. Although the only place I know to purchase their beer locally is The Four Firkins. The closest state listed on the website is Wisconsin.

On a side note, Purple Palace Brewing will be kegging our replica of the Surly Furious in about 3 days. The Furious is one of my favorite IPA’s and to some one of the best American made IPA’s. The use of Simcoe hops comes out to play in this beer. We’re really stoked for this one. Initial tasting in the carboy and the hops really come out. We’re still extract brewing so most of our beers have a malty taste. We made our own IPA and it was OK, but needs work. The Surly replica however will definatley have a hop presence. Besides that, we’ve got nothing in the carboy’s. We’re in the process of moving into a new apartment so that is taking precedence over brewing. Once in the new digs, we plan on putting our All-Grain goals into full force. Looks like another Saturday night of snowfall. So why not drink a few. Tonight, myself and the family plan on frying up the rest of our Walleye and Northern’s from our Canada fishing trip and enjoying that with Ommegang Brewing Hennepin Saison and Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale. Cheers!!