AllYearGear.com

  • Detroit Alleycat: Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow

    In case you missed it, the April Detroit Alleycat was a great time as these photos show.

    The theme was “drug wars”, so basically you got a brown bag at the start containing “medications” and directions. You had to ride to the different locations, deliver the medications, and get paid. You had to be at the bar by 6pm. Whoever got there first with the most money won.

    The key to doing well is knowing your streets and choosing an optimal order and route between all the stops. Fortunately Skeez and I know the area pretty well. Our team made all the sales. There were around 50 teams (over 115 riders) and we finished 7th or 8th.

    The after party was at TV’s on Grand River at 4th. They had $2 beers and grilled cheap food for us on their outdoor patio. The decor was very, very mod and cool.

    The next alleycat, called The Gay Velocipede and the Darling Buds of May is scheduled for May 7th, 8PM at Hart Plaza.

  • A Sign for Earth Day

    Stop Driving!It’s common seeing “customized” signs in Detroit. Most aren’t worth commenting on. However, since it is Earth Day, I thought I’d post this one from North Corktown.

  • Hanson Group Runs

    Hanson's RunningRunners in the Royal Oak-area are lucky. While we don’t have the mountains and trails, we do have the weekly Hanson group run.

    What moves this run ahead of the others is it attracts runners of all speeds and it’s year-round on every Thursday. And it’s been this way for about a decade or so. It’s just a dependable way to get a good run in, whether it’s 4, 6, or 8 miles.

    The run starts on Thursdays at 6:30pm from their store at 3407 Rochester Road, just north of 13 Mile. There are other Hanson group runs in the Detroit-area as well.

    I used to bike to the shop to start my runs. It’s a bit of a pain because I can’t always ride the 2.5 miles in my running gear, so I’d have to change. Still, the ride home offered a nice cool down. Now I’m running from my house to the 2 mile mark to join the group in route. That eliminates the need to drive and gives me an additional 2-2.5 mile run home.

    Of course the run is free and the store provides water at the end. You can pay them back by buying all your running shoes at the shop. The Hansons do a whole lot more for running in Metro Detroit than these groups runs, including the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project.

    It always feels good to give them the support in return.

  • Detroit Tigers Opening Day Ride

    Opening Day at Comerica Park

    Today was opening day for the Detroit Tigers.  With temperatures edging into the fifties and the rain staying north, I rode downtown.

    I started by riding past old Tiger Stadium.  The streets and parking lots were full of cars and Tiger tailgators.   Cabs were circling like vultures looking to give rides over to the park.

    I headed down Michigan Avenue and made a stop at the Urban Bean Company.  The owner Josh hustled outside as I pulled up so we could talk about my Kona King bike.  He’s got a Kona Chute.  Josh has really gotten the coffee shop going now.  He’s added the cold beverages and baked goods.  He’s got the Tiger’s on TV.  He’s just picked up a hookah.

    After a quick coffee and muffin, I rode around and past Comerica Park.  The streets were buzzing with excitement for the upcoming Tiger’s season.

    Then, while riding home, I made a quick detour at Holbrook to ride past the striking workers at American Axle in Hamtramck.  I didn’t have a horn to honk for support or even a bike bell — probably a good thing on the latter.  They did  have the Tigers game on the radio.

    Unfortunately Detroit ended up one down on Kansas City after 11 innings.

  • Detroit Bikes! Spring Training Ride

    What the world needs - Mexican Coca-ColaYou know biking in Detroit is getting bigger when you get 30-some people showing up for a bike ride in freezing temperatures — and these aren’t your lycra-clad racer types that have been riding all winter.  These are normal people.

    Last Saturday’s ride was called Spring Training was more than a cycling-baseball pun.  The ride connected various spots in Detroit where professional sports are played or were once played. Comerica Park, Ford Field, and Joe Louis arena were the obvious choices.  The old Olympia site and long-gone baseball fields were not.

    We also included a ride on the east Riverwalk and a stop at Mudgie’s deli in Corktown.  At the latter, I enjoyed a Mexican Coca-Cola — made with real sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup.  It was refreshing despite my disheveled look in the above photo.

    Thanks to Detroit Synergy and Tom Page for a great ride.  Thanks to Sue “Sumoe” Moretto  for the photos.