Swervy pretty much wrapped it up, but I wanted to add a couple things.
SSWC was more --and less-- than I expected. More because Berlin was never on my list of places I wanted to see before I died, but now that I have seen it, I am enamored of its culture, character, and cool attitude towards beer and public displays of affection (ie, feeling each other up. yowza!). I want to go back. Public transit is exceptional, the people of Berlin were never anything but cool, and there were bikes everywhere. The people there for the race, from 20-some countries, were tops across the spectrum and my cockles were warmed by the obvious shared love of bikes and having a good time. At least I think it warmed my cockles. It warmed something, anyway.
The event was less than I was thinking it would be, however, because while single speed bicycles have made the leap to other countries and other cultures, there is work to be done to translate the ideas behind the ride. For example the idea that racing, while fun, is not the point. Very hard to convince UCI folk of this, as far as I can tell, but the number of participants of the derby made me feel that perhaps there's hope. Yes, Virginia, there really is a type of riding wherein whiny slack has a home, and it doesn't mean you're not core. Sometimes the best way to meet and connect with people is NOT to compete with them. Get it? Also, I was a bit disappointed that there was not beer along the race route (only at the beginning/end), as this just seems like a no-brainer (no pun intended). Also, the motorbikes acting as race support made the course a noisy, messy, stinky mess when they passed by. Finally, my only beef with the whole organization of the thing involved the lack of actual riding. There was a ride with Joe Breeze...which cost money. There was a bike tour of Berlin, which I heard was fun. But everyone took cabs to the pre-party (which wasn't very far away, I might add) except us...we rode. People warned us about bike theft, but geez, we live in MPLS. Not NYC exactly, but bikes get nicked here all the time. We have locks and know how to use them. And the event itself was held 50km away, by necessity no doubt, but taking the bus supplied for chartering folks to and from the race was a surprise 10 euro charge. What the hell?
All in all, though, far more to cheer than jeer. Phaty, Alti, etc: you guys had it all wrapped up, and that alone deserves a pat on your collective back. You done good, showed us all a great time, and kept us from getting kicked out of the Generator on several occasions.

One correction to Swervy's revue: I didn't somehow happen to place DFL. I strategized carefully for last place. Sure, I am not fast enough or crazy enough to actually try to win an event like this, but I'm not DFL slow either, certainly not on a course like that. I had competition for last place and I took it seriously. I know the racer geeks took no notice, or if they did, probably feel the same about trying to come in last that I do about trying to come in first. But in a mixed field of serious racers and for-fun riders alike, in an event only recently taken seriously as an athletic race, I refuse to go quickly into that dark night. Instead, I heckled, had a few beers, and waited until Swervy, the motorbikes and I were the only ones left riding the course. And I'd do it again. Hopefully next year. When we know where it is, we'll let you know right here on the good ol' Surly blog. Cheers.

My sausage gut and the crew have just returned from Duetschland where the Singlespeed World Championships took place. This is a scattered review of what I saw through the bottom of a liter mug.

Held in Berlin, Germany, Mr.Bloggins, myself and our ladies took an extra week to soak in all things German before the events began. Two words: Germany rocks! There are tons of museums and art galleries to get your culture on, the food is amazing unless you're an herbivore with allergies to cabbage, the transportation system kicks ass, the people were really nice and the countries' history is in-your-face real.

At some of the art museums, you can still see bullet holes in the walls and newer stone blocks where the war torn structures have been rebuilt. You can appreciate the fact that these people have endured a really tough 80 years and are proud to have moved on. Talk to any German about politics and it's likely they know more about the US political crisis we're in right now than most Americans do. Plus, they're likely to tell you exactly what they think.

The food was surprisingly diverse, as we ate some of the finest Turkish and Italian meals we've ever had, in addition to excellent local fare. If you think Germans are known for their sausage and beer, there is a good reason for that. I don't think there was one morning I didn't wake up and want a bratwurst and liter of beer for breakfast.

My lady and I took a side trip down south to Munich for a few days. Located in the state of Bavaria, this is the region of most beer consumed per capita than anywhere else in the world. Munich itself has 6 of the oldest and most established breweries in the world. It is also home to the original beergardens, which are more abundant than coffee shops in Seattle. It was such a nice place that I asked my lady to marry me outside the Lowenbrau beergarden after a couple liters and a serenade by dueling accordians. She didn't take me seriously until I flashed her the titanium ring I made before the trip. Why not 4130 you ask? Titanium is hypo allergenic. She said yes.

As for the events, our goal was to show up and make sure the lycra-clad racer geeks didn't steal the limelight. If you think the world championships implies there is a race going on that you should train for, you are partially mistaken. Kenny Bloggins and I somehow finished DFL together and are convinced we had more fun than the serious guys yelling at us to get out of the way.

Our part in the race was heckling people, including our own pink dress wearing Brother David Sunshine and the testosterone filled Mr.Horkey, as they actually finished the race. We did get one-upped by the Brits in the heckling category. Most of the time I was laughing too hard to think of anything funny to say. The "hey man, your bike is on fire" to the guys with flame paint jobs didn't get old. The "watch out for the tree at the bottom" mind trick finally got one unlucky guy, bucked him off his bike and bent his fork.

There were doping scandals as well. You see, sleeping is actually cheating. A nap could be punishable by more heckling, a full night sleep are you're not really taken seriously. Snoring loudly while being extremely passed out could get some mysterious toothbrush holders taped around your feet, as experienced by yours truly when I cheated on sleep dope one night.

In the lack of sleep category, The Brits again gave us a run for the money. There were some nights when we Surlies anhialated the competition thanks to the 24-hour Turkish food and beer stand 300 feet from the hotel. There were other nights (er, mornings) when the sun was up, they were still derbying and I went to bed while the Brits were still playing hard.

Then there was the nudity category. I, for one, didn't get naked that I remember. The Brits again, led by Shaggy's multiple nude-lap race, frequent short droppings and general disregard for staying clothed had us beat. Our Mr.Horkey got naked during the skid mark contest, only to be on-upped by some dude pulling a no-handed nude skid on a fixed gear. How do you top that? I think that guy was actually the German trackstand champion and I didn't even know there was such a thing.

Lacking in previous years SSWCs was the derby competition. The derby is basically a last person riding event where you must pummel, ram, out-trackstand or bash your opponents off their bikes. I can say we Minneapolis folk thoroughly owned the pavement that evening, as we've been in a super stealth training facility with olympic ladies weighlifters and bicycling circus bears. It practically brought a tear to my eyes seeing people get into the derby for the very first time. Thank you to all who helped destroy the hedgerow with us.

To Troy Rarick, you officially lost. But since you delegated your desires upon Mr. Ron Vommit, I would have to raise his hairy arm in victory for inspiring us all in the while-the-cat's-away-the-mice-play category. We shall duel again at Interbike.

Thanks to everybody who organized this damned thing, you Germans sure have your shit together. See you next year, wherever that may be.

Nick has said what I was going to. We're not here. We're not checking emails. We're not checking voicemails. We're riding our bikes in Beerlin. You should be there. But we'll be back before the end of the month, so sit on your hands. 'Most everything you need to know is right here on our website.
But if you missed this one, there's another single speed event coming up soon you might be able to make it to: The Midwest Singlespeed Championship in Jefferson City, MO. There's plenty of time to make plans (Saturday, September 11), so getcher hiney down dere. For mucho info, contact the Red Wheel Bike Shop at 573.638.BIKE. That is all.

-(oh my god, they killed) Kenny(!)

Just to let you know, Kenny Bloggins and I will be out of the office from August 11-24th attending the Singlespeed World Championships in Beerlin, Germany. Brother David will be joining up from August 19-24th. If you e-mail or call us during this time and it seems we're slacking in our duties to promptly reply, it's because we're 8 time zones away from our computers and phones. But we'll be thinking of you and representing the Surly name the best way we know how, by busting to the techno-David Hasselhoff in Duetschland. Seize you later.

We're happy to introduce to the world, LARGE MARGE. It's our new monster sized 65mm wide mountain bike rim, designed to help you go everywhere. Through snow, sand, loose rock, over the river and through the woods to Gramma's house you go. To give you some perspective on how huge this thing is, I layed it next to a 27mm wide rim with a measeley 2.25" tire. The Large Marge has a fat 3.0" slick tire on it and it could still fit a bigger tire, if one were made.




By the time you read this, the DH version in 32 or 36 hole will be available. The diet Large Marge with internal cutouts and wide ass rimstrips will be available in about a month. We'll also be writing some helpful hints for installing and removing tires with this rim. This will be available in the DOWNLOADS section on this here website. Get ready to roll over the world.