#Covid-19

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Surviving in a Time of Pandemic: Portland Design Works’ Story

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Surviving in a Time of Pandemic: Portland Design Works’ Story

As the person behind the marketing of a small brand, I typically have a strategy that I like to think of as, “appear bigger than the bear.”  As a tiny brand hustling to compete with some very large brands, we aim to appear larger than we are. My theory is that if we want to be competitive, we need to look like a worthy competitor. You know, if you need to scare off a bear, you should try to look bigger than the bear. The current situation has led me to take pause and give up the ruse. Sometimes there’s more to the story than super sexy photos of bikes. I don’t know about anyone else out there, but I am getting lonely here in my home office. I miss my co-workers. I miss shooting hoops in the warehouse in the afternoon and walking to get a slice of pizza, making awkward small talk in the pizza shop.

Help the Navajo Nation in Kayenta During Covid19

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Help the Navajo Nation in Kayenta During Covid19

All photos by Josh Weinberg

Our friends at Four Corners Guides and our buddy Chris Reichel gave us a heads up on this one.

The Navajo people are suffering terribly from the coronavirus and Four Corners is looking to raise $2,500 to send funding specifically to our pal Jon Yazzieour host in our this trip – and his chapter in Kayenta, so that food and water can be purchased and delivered to Navajo elders and others in need.

You can donate directly to the Kayenta chapter if you like visiting the Kayenta Township OR, please consider donating $5, $10 or $20 on this GoFundMe page.

On the fence about this fundraiser, well, consider these data points:
-62% of Navajos live in poverty
-40% don’t have running water, with many of those unable to even afford containers to hold water. Think about that? How would you feel if you couldn’t wash your hands 10 times per day, as many of us are used to?
-Around 30% live without basic sanitation
-According to the LA Times, there are about 175K residents and only four inpatient hospitals.
-Furthermore, there’s a lack of grocery stores. Where once Navajo elders would drive to bigger cities for shopping, they are now stuck at home.

Thanks for joining me in supporting our friends!

Longing to Escape: Barcelona Awakens After 50 Days of Lockdown

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Longing to Escape: Barcelona Awakens After 50 Days of Lockdown

When I was growing up, every night, my father would hang his next day’s clothing over the living room chair. I thought it a peculiar habit at the time.
But over the years, I learned there was wisdom in his actions.

This practice particularly helps on days when my body awakens long before my mind. There’s no precious time wasted starring at the wardrobe trying to make decisions that the mind is not capable of making. How is a brain expected to function when it has yet to leave the bedsheets?

Pandemic Praxis: Delivering PPE in NYC by Bicycle

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Pandemic Praxis: Delivering PPE in NYC by Bicycle

My mom has a habit of pulling over and sitting in silence every time an ambulance drives by with its sirens on. She would say a short prayer and only start moving once she felt done. It’s one of the starkest memories I have, her hushing us in the backseat of her ‘88 Honda Accord, trying to instill a modicum of reverence into our young, dumb hearts. I often forget about this but it’s been making its way into almost every dream, every night, for the last 6 weeks.

Get a Deal on US Made Titanium: All No.22 Bicycle Models on Sale.

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Get a Deal on US Made Titanium: All No.22 Bicycle Models on Sale.

Just announced on Friday, No22 is now offering all of their models at a discount. Expect percentages like 22% off, 60% down.

Here’s the word from No22:

COVID-19 has affected all of our lives. For us at No. 22 this unprecedented time has lead to a hard hitting, state-ordered “pause” at our Johnstown, NY factory. While our machines sit idle and our talented and dedicated team waits on the sidelines, now is the time that we could truly use your support.

To earn that support, we’re offering the only discount we’ve run in more than seven years.

Take 22% off any No. 22 frameset or complete build, including 22% off finishes and custom geometry (accessories excluded). Then only pay 60% up front, and the remainder in eight weeks.
Please note that given the current closure of our factory, we can’t currently commit to our normal 12-week lead time.

Our sales team is still running full tilt so email us at sales@22bicycles.com or contact your local dealer so that we can set up your order and help with any questions.

Here’s to better days ahead.

Head to No22 to browse their models. If you’d like to support them in other ways, they have a shirt pre-order live too!

Ride Often, Shop Local, Stay Safe!

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Ride Often, Shop Local, Stay Safe!

In the midst of this uncertainty, bicycle brands are uniting, and they need your help. How can you help? First, they want you to get out and ride, respecting local outdoor activity ordinances of course. Second, they want to ask you to support your favorite local bike shop, and it’s easy. The fact is now you can get whatever you need from your favorite local shop delivered directly to your home. Just call your preferred shop to place your order for home shipment today!

Shops can sign up for retail to home delivery service through QBP or Hawley. Just about every shop has a QBP or Hawley account. Some suppliers are offering to ship direct right now as well. Most shops will have access to these types of services. QBP is actively contacting shops right now, as I’m writing this to enable them to sign up. If everyone calls their shops to express interest in this program, most retailers should be “in the know” by next week.

Retailers in the service can literally create a cart on QBP.com and change the shipping address to the customer’s residence. The sale goes to the retailer but the product gets delivered to the consumer at their house.

Sounds good right? Holler at your LBS to see what they have to say!

State Bicycle Co’s Social Distancing Challenge

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State Bicycle Co’s Social Distancing Challenge

It’s refreshing to see brands use these troubling times for some healthy and fun competition, all while benefiting key organizations. State Bicycle Co is running a social distancing challenge to see how far you can ride between now and April 5th in timed increments of 30, 60, or 100 minutes.

Here are the details:
-Riders choose their division we have 30/60/120 min options for Men and W/T/F and indoor and outdoor options.
-Riders can ride up to their allotted time but CAN NOT go over.
-State will have leaderboards to see who can ride the most DISTANCE over the set time.
-Registration is $5, everyone gets a patch who submits a ride, all profits 50/50 split between Aids Life Cycle and No Kid Hungry.
-State is encouraging people to ride solo only if they can not ride safely outdoors, as they have an indoor option.

See more information at State Bicycle Co.

IMBA Updates MTB Safety Measures During Covid 19

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IMBA Updates MTB Safety Measures During Covid 19

“Right now, protecting each other is more important than mountain biking. Staying home is essential to safeguard our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19. Our trails will be waiting for us. IMBA wants to make sure we will all be there for our trails.” —Dave Wiens, IMBA Executive Director

IMBA has released an updated number of safety measures to help us fully comprehend the magnitude of this pandemic we’re all in. Read IMBA’s updated procedures for how to safely ride in the current environment.

Riding on the road still maintains many of the same principals. Avoid crowded bike paths, or routes, take the road less traveled. Ride solo if possible, or with a household partner. If you must ride with a friend for safety or other reasons, maintain social distancing. Be safe out there, y’all. Remember, the safest place to be is indoors. Wash your hands!

This Pandemic is Not a Vacation

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This Pandemic is Not a Vacation

There have been a lot of discussions surrounding how to behave socially during the Covid 19 pandemic, yet a lot of the basic precautions are being ignored, and certain actions are affecting smaller communities across the globe. While we all should be self-quarantining, socially isolating, and staying at home over the foreseeable future, more importantly, we need to acknowledge that this pandemic is not a vacation.