February 26, 2009
Howdy, folks. Fleck here. Did I promise a trip report from my excursion across the pond? Oh, I believe I did. Sorry to be delinquent but we've been a little busy with some stuff that vaguely resembled work.
There are only a handful of things I want to mention about England. I'm throwing in a few photos to keep you awake and numbering my points so you don't lose your place.
1) In the middle of the winter, when you depart a place that is frozen and white (MN) and you land someplace that is wet and green (UK) your eyes can freak out a bit. And by "freak out" I mean optical psychedelia -- rods and cones getting all Lebowski after sipping Jackie Treehorn's caucasian. All right, maybe it was just the jetlag, but I swear I was the grinningest, most cheerful person in the UK for the first couple of hours after I landed. Rain and 50F seemed mighty fine.
Two spot-on chaps. The bloke on the left was basically my guide. He's Patrick from our UK distributor ISON. He didn't even know that some pubs serve cider on ice!? On the right is John from KHE Bikes. He's a jolly German who loves Jack and Coke and G-N-R. His accent and tone make you nervous that your papers better be in order and ready at all times. We took a few hours to stroll around Cambridge, hub of Surly distribution. You may have heard of the ritzy community college they have there. One of the oldest in the world, I'm told.
2) If you ride a bike in the Old Country, mind your brake levers. They drive on the left and the brakes are opposite what you'd expect (left-rear; right-front). I'm just lookin' out for you. If you talk to any cyclists there they'll insist we're the ones who are arse-backwards. Go figure. Speakin' of bikes, have you ever been sleepless, lying awake at night with a burning question gnawing at your pickled gray matter? I know that question: I wonder who's the #1 Surly dealer in the UK? Well, wonder no more because it's the crew from Brixton Cycles a swell shop located in a quaint little neighborhood south of London center:
That's Lincoln on the left and Mog holding a pretty rad deck he just unpacked during my visit. The bike geeks at Brixton are "keen cyclists" who ride everything. Mog sez they sell what works and that's one reason they stick with Surly. Their stack of employee bikes -- well used Cross-Checks and LHTs -- attests to that. They're a co-op and cater to transportation cyclists of all ilk. Right out their window is Stockwell Skatepark, a spot that unites BMXers, boarders, in-line skaters and, yes, freestyling fixsters. Even though we think it a tad queer that they call the Pug purple color "rhubarb" we love them anyway. They're kicking ass in London for all the right reasons.
3) If you like good beer, and I know you do, set aside all notions of what you'll find across the pond. It's good and tasty in its own right, but our domestic brewers' renditions of English styles are typically bubblier and higher octane. Still, don't pass up a chance to quaff anything a well meaning Brit buys you at the bar. Especially take time to sip a Fuller's in London:
For crying out loud they still deliver the stuff by horse-drawn wagon! I will offer one bit of caution for American beer drinkers, however: Don't you dare ask if the pub will let you take home a growler.
You never know what other gems you'll find. Obscure beers from the continent abound. A beer hound can become frazzled, lose the scent. Stay calm and focused. Two hands means only two at a time. No pushing. And please maintain an open mind, suspending any judgmental tendencies:
4) People often say the food in England is either bland or outright horrible. I had no complaints, but was rather impressed. I mean, just look at the gourmet varieties straight from the convenience store shelf:
You won't find sweetcorn or cress blended into our workaday Chuckwagons or Manhandlers. And you know another thing people often say -- breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Pish-posh, I reply. But I took on a whole new view with a daily start that looked like this:
My cholesterol level dropped 30 points as soon as I cleared customs back in the States.
That's a wrap. In real snooze, did anyone bother to tell you the new Fixed Disc Hub is in stock and ready for your, or your shop's, wheelbuilding pleasure? HU0231 is the number. Check it.
