Big Fix Fixie

The "gearless leader" of the Big Fix, Michael "Mojo" Cosgrove, will be riding this wicked street fixie in the Big Fix. Frame by Independent Fabrication, hubs by Phil Wood, Campy crankset. About 14 pounds.

April 23, 2006: Big Fix Fundraiser

We went to Greg Ngo's fundraiser at Dos Coyotes restaurant in Davis, CA. Great event--friends of Greg and the Big Fix chowing down to raise funds for the ride. Photos and videos from the event are here

It's a Sign

It's amazing how quickly things can change. We were walking out of a restaurant today and for some unknown reason took a nasty spill and ended up with a knee injury that could have been, should have been, very serious. In an instant, the Big Fix started looking quite impossible. Info on the web said six weeks with the knee in a brace is the standard treatment.

Somehow, however, our knee seems fine (we went for a short ride tonight) and our hopes are restored. Divine providence? Who knows, but it sure seems like a sign to us that we're meant to do this ride.

From the Dawn of Rivendell

We chanced upon an article written in 1994 by Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works (the fine folks who make the Quickbeam we'll be riding in the Big Fix). You can read the article here: Page 1 and Page 2

Back to Rivendell

We're not in the Walnut Creek, CA, area that often, so when we had the chance to be there today, we took advantage of the opportunity to visit Rivendell Bicycle Works (makers of the Quickbeam fixed gear bike we'll be riding in the Big Fix). For our fellow Rivendellians(?), here are photos of the shop as it appeared on a bright and sunny California afternoon, and a close-up of the shop's new artistic sign.

We picked up a few essentials while we were there (water bottles, soap, and a book)
and had the chance to chat for a few minutes with Grant about the Big Fix. He
even showed us how to get the rear wheel out of our Quickbeam with a minimum of
muss and fuss (the secret is to hang the chain at the seatstay/dropout junction).

Big Fix News

The Napa Valley Register on April 8th ran a very nice story (page one, above the fold) about the Big Fix and our participation. Check it out here
We hope to see new contributions from Napa residents and businesses to help fight histiocytosis!

Into the Wind ...

... for almost 100 miles! Yuck! We rode from Millbrae to Monterey yesterday (about 120 miles in all) and happened to pick one of the rare days when the wind was blowing up the coast instead of down. Still, it was a gorgeous day--no rain, lots of sun, and some very pretty scenery. At the end of the ride was an industry party hosted by Phil Wood and Independent Fabrication, two sponsors of the Big Fix
More photos from the ride here

Winter(s) in the Spring

Despite rain earlier today, it turned out to be a nice night to ride to Winters, a great small town west of Davis. We stopped on the way home and bought some carrot cake for dessert (after 36 miles of riding, we deserved it). Photo at left: Winters tonight