Bike Hugger 

I’m in Asia on vacation, and one of my amusements is finding interesting mini velo and folding bikes. Here’s my current object of obsession, the Gios Panto. I saw one parked outside a bike shop while in Taiwan.

Late this afternoon, right as the sun is setting, Bettie and I will emerge from the Hugga HQ garage draped in black and riding like a bat of out hell, hell-bent on scaring the Underoos off the neighborhood children. The spooky plan includes scary sounds played on an iPod connected to a speaker and a basket full of candy to give away, after the children realize it’s just that guy in the ‘hood who’s really into bikes …

Readers,

What do you have planned for your bike and Halloween?

I’ve seen Easy Racers a few times and caught up with the bike and cyclist while riding with Pam and her new Pink Bike.

Whether or not a commuter will ever pin a number on, turn a pedal in anger, or race their bike, they’re as competitive as anyone and this bike is built to be an “ultimate commuter.” Dude is reducing his commute time being low and all aero. In the video, we’re clipping right along. On the hills, I think he’d go like 4 mph and 64 on the descent.

Note: we rode next to the West Seattle Freeway, a noisy road.

Knickers (manpris), flat cap, sport coat, safety bike …

I don’t keep old bikes. It’s become a bit of a problem really, but every year about this time I get involved in “the shuffle”. I sell my race bike in order to buy a new one for the next season. This year I sold my Trek Portland rain bike making way for my new Baron. My wife is convinced it all makes for a very complex money drain, but somehow it all seems to work out.

Bright pocket pants, bright bags, and fun.

Uploaded by Timbuk2 Designs | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

In white for Pam’s Pink Bike. Women are so picky about their saddles, don’t know if that’d work, but it looks nice. Also in black.

Uploaded by Hugger Industries | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Continuing our Pink theme, just spotted this pink and turquoise Brompton.

Uploaded by Soggy Semolina | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.

Best known for its aquarium, Jazz festival, Steinbeck, and Cannery Row, Monterey also has an impressive bike path that’s a central tourist activity. We rode it on Saturday to the Lighthouse and back. For tourism, it’s high on the list, but just for riding, Santa Barbara still has the best we’ve ridden.

Since the summer of 2006 Byron has integrated an Xtracycle longtail cargo bike into his family’s life and blogged about it here on bikehugger. The affectionately named “Bettie,” has seen several iterations. Bettie 1.0 was a Karate Monkey equipped with an Xtracycle Free Radical. Most recently, Bettie 2.5 has emerged as a Surly Big Dummy with custom mounted Stoke Monkey electric assist. No matter where we go, the sport utility bike turns heads. When we’re spinning up bike blended smoothies at a crit race, or just out with the kids at soccer practice, everyone wants to know more about Bettie. We’ve become such fans of Xtracycle cargo bikes, that we’ve doubled down. I’m pleased to unveil “Barney” Big Dummy. Mark V, recently completed the build of Barney at Elliot Bay Bikes. You can check out photos of Barney step’in out with a down low glow on his first trip to “Full Throttle Bottles,” Beer store in Georgetown. We look forward to comparing Barney’s Rohloff drive train performance to Bettie’s Nuvinci after I get a chance to put some rubble under Barney’s tires.

Uploaded by Dapper Lad Cycles | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.