Back Alley Blog
Check back often for news, events, ramblings, musings, minutia, etc.
SOMA(tic) Tangerine Wolverine
Earlier this summer, SOMA launched the Wolverine and billed it as a MonsterCross adventure bike and a 29’er with drop bars. The Gate’s Carbon Belt Drive compatible frame boasts clearance for 45mm tires with fenders, sliding drop-outs, a full suite of braze-on’s, Tange Prestige tube set, understated retro graphics, and it’s all dressed up in the color of the year. I was keen to bring a couple framesets into the shop, even build one up for myself, when Justin, from the local club, Point83, gave me the green light...
read moreOregon Outback round-up
The guys at VeloDirt put on one hell of a ride. The first running of the Oregon Outback left from Klamath Falls, OR on Friday May 23rd and went through the rolling hills and high desert of central Oregon, across the entire state following decommissioned rail beds, gravel roads, OHV trails, creek canyon roads, a bit of highway, and some of the most scenic areas the wild west has to offer. The crew at Swift Industries offered their newest, lightweight pannier sets for some field prototyping (performed flawlessly, ample stowage, clean design....
read moreShortest Day/Longest Night Get Dowwn Downhill
This Saturday, we’re hosting a lil greasy thing I’m calling the Shortest Day/Longest Night Get Dowwn Downhill. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been scouting the bum trails, alleyways, foot paths, marginalized spaces and watching the way the rainwater works it’s way down and through these areas. I’ve come up with 4 routes, with starting points along Capitol and First Hill, as well as Beacon Hill. There will be a social-paced group ride up to each of the starting spots, and then we’ll unleash riders in...
read moreFreedom, Winter nights, and our new shop video
Yeah, it’s been a while. We’ve been busy riding our bikes. But we have a couple of cool things in the works… My friend, Tanner, from Portland has been putting in tons of miles and was curious about getting into a dyno hub/light system to increase his nighttime funtime. We went back and forth on options and he went for the absolute best – a polished SON28 hub (with ISO rotor mounts) hand laced to a 700c Velocity Fusion (32h) rim, powering a Edelux front light and Toplight Line Plus brake tech rear. Perfect. I love it...
read moreIt’s a New Era. Tim’s 2013 Surly Neck Romancer. None more black.
Tim just did himself a solid and scored the first Surly Neck Romancer unleashed upon the West Coast. Heck, it just might be the first of it’s kind west of the Rockies. He’s got some adventures to look forward to.
read moreAllez! Alley! Tour de France 2012 is on!
Come join the fun in Nord Alley during our lunchtime screening of the latest stage of the Tour de France. Come by to get stamped and receive a discount from your favorite Pioneer Square lunch spot. There will be drawings and special features and events throughout the month. Follow the action on Twitter, #AllezAlleyTDF.
read more2012 Bike Expo!
If you’ve never been but always wanted to, why not this year? Get you and your lovely together and ride over for a fantastical cycling extravaganza. The sponsors always do an amazing job. This year will feature even more Made in the Northwest new and cutting edge products. We’ll be there with our friend, Tarik and his classy handmade leather fender flaps, and also our new collection of custom Dank Bags top tube pads. I’m personally looking forward to mingling amongst the comradery that exists in the Seattle bike...
read moreWho Art-ed?
Lots of folkers have had their eyes caught by the lights involved in the alley art installation. It’s a good thing. Real good. Truly good. Balls good. There’s an amazing energy involved in the presence of public art. After the artist has packed up their tools, the dust has settled, and toys have wound down… a whole new magic takes over. When have you allowed a work of art to express itself? Beyond your impression and interpretation of what YOU want it to mean, do you allow yourself to bask its expression? I don’t know,...
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Hello world!
Start your digging! There’s so much to get down with. Back Alley Bike Repair moves into Pioneer Square’s Nord Alley, between 1st and Occidental, between Main and Jackson (314 1st Ave S). Building upon what 4 years of JRA Bike Shop became within the Pioneer Square community, Back Alley Bike Repair moves its HQ into the artistic, Nord Alley, and brings it’s world-class service and custom builds into a historic and unique space, transformed into an urban parlor and cycling emporium. While we work on that, we are tossing around...
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