Allrounder

Striking that balance between ordinary and extraordinary is the where the  joy is at for me.  To shed praises on a bike ...
02/24/2020

Striking that balance between ordinary and extraordinary is the where the joy is at for me. To shed praises on a bike built for myself (and I didn’t build this for anyone else) may be little self-indulgent. But how else do you really learn anything unless you completely fall in love the process?! Every bike that comes through the stand teaches me something new or reteaches something old and in the process builds up volumes of ideas about what can be done. Mostly ideas about helpful products that may never become a reality. This project was a big dumping ground for all that curiosity and experimentation (minus the ability to make new components). At first glance it looks like a bike. It should. It is. Pretty and basic. Shimano 105 even. But in the details it’s truly unlike any bike I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait to share the details in the coming days.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year
12/09/2019

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

  This photo will always help me to remember that time when we didn’t have any money for a  storefront.  But we did have...
12/09/2019

This photo will always help me to remember that time when we didn’t have any money for a storefront. But we did have a cheap three-speed cargo bike and some scrap Ikea futon to turn into a workbench. It was hard work being a mobile bike repair family but it’s a stepping stone we’ll always be proud of.

(Part 3 of 4) Got this old photo from a few years back.  That red bike she’s riding- it’s that 1990 Trek hybrid model fr...
09/14/2019

(Part 3 of 4) Got this old photo from a few years back. That red bike she’s riding- it’s that 1990 Trek hybrid model from the last post. We might not have met if it weren’t for that bike as she wandered into Manifesto Bicycles, the shop where I was working at just a few years ago. She had a big tour planned with some friends, riding from Portland to SF, and wanted “to know if there’s anything glaringly wrong with the fit.” I remember those words so clearly, which were received rather deafly by the folks a the front counter. Manifesto didn’t do ”bike fits” really. So they pointed to me, the mechanic in the back. I’d been a fitter several previous shops, but Manifesto had been my much much needed refuge from all things “industry”. I’d been recovering from a bad case of SBCU-induced propaganda and never wanted to propose ever again that I knew what anyone else’s body needed. Not under their wing anyway. But deep down I knew I could help. I thought I could maybe help her figure out how to figure it out. So we made an appointment and figured some things out. And after a few appointments we concluded that another bike would be a better investment. I found one for her on Craigslist, a $500 Trek 400 Elance. The original bike wasn’t incapable of fitting her with drop bars. It just handled so poorly when it did. Too slack of a head angle cause the wheel to flop at lower speeds, feeling heavy and sluggish hard to control even. It was really meant for flat bars or riser bars. A year later, after we realized we were a fit for each other, we used it for a “Mama bike” and installed some risers with a little backsweep. Pregnancy isn’t aero.

(Part 2 of 4)“When you want to get there fast, the 790 delivers.” 1990.  Bikes were at a crossroads.  Aluminum frame opt...
09/13/2019

(Part 2 of 4)“When you want to get there fast, the 790 delivers.” 1990. Bikes were at a crossroads. Aluminum frame options were well under way. Lugged steel was began to sink beneath the talk of lighter and faster. Greg Lemond was winning. Bike touring was for old people. Trek had the beginnings of something good. Bikes with clearance for 700x40 tires. Lugged True Temper Cromoly frames with a really cool seat cluster. But for some reason they were super high off the ground, and steered just fine as long as you didn’t have to turn much.

(Part 1 of 4)
09/10/2019

(Part 1 of 4)

Monica here printed a pretty rad baby hat for our first official Allrounder ambassador, Jeff.  He’s just the sort of war...
09/02/2019

Monica here printed a pretty rad baby hat for our first official Allrounder ambassador, Jeff. He’s just the sort of warm, kind, curious, and mildly wreckless type we simply cannot help but love. Proud that he’s willing to test drive the new colors in France in the coming days. Safe journey and to all those riding

03/01/2019

I have this idea for a fortune cookie : You will have joy and amazing hubs.

01/17/2019

Seen here: Monica in love with grocery shopping in the rain. We’ve got the the people's poncho that’ll change your rain ride life foreverrr.

On behalf of the Allrounder Bicycle family, I want to thank you, as we are now 1 year into business in Emeryville.  We s...
12/31/2018

On behalf of the Allrounder Bicycle family, I want to thank you, as we are now 1 year into business in Emeryville. We started on a prayer, but your support has made us feel so welcome here. We are grateful for every purchase, of course, but also your hugs or high fives, encouraging words, likes and tags, referrals or some combination of all these. Happy new year as we get through each day together!

12/21/2018

Looking for a dog/house sitter Monday evening the 24th - through Thursday morning of the 27th.

Address

Ypsilanti, MI

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 12pm
5pm - 6pm
Tuesday 11am - 12pm
5pm - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 12pm
5pm - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 12pm
5pm - 6pm
Friday 11am - 12pm
5pm - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+15108336839

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Allrounder posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Category