Shopcast

Are we really a week into August already? The calendar seems to think so. That means "back-to-school" is just around the corner. Whether you're groaning or sighing with relief at the coming of September, we hope you'll enjoy our Bags! Bags! Bags! posts for the next few weeks, dedicated to the back-to-schooliest bags in the store: backpacks. This week we're all about the Metro Backpack from Banjo Brothers.

Designed for cycling, The Metro Backpack is a high quality backpack that boasts loads of organizational features that are sure to put you at the head of the class. Twelve different interior and exterior pockets make your gear, books, sack lunch, etc. easy to find (homework tonight?) and the bag itself easy to pack. In addition, the Metro has a padded sleeve for your computer on the go, cinch straps to expand or contract when you're carrying a little or a lot, and plenty of spots to clip your keys & lights or tuck your phone—there's even an included outer phone pouch. The Metro is built with the same attention to detail and value as Banjo's waterproof gear, but instead of a plastic waterproof liner, this most compact member of Banjo's backpack line applies the hanging liner system used in the company's messenger bags, making it functionally waterproof as there are no seams to the outside. At 1100 cubic inches it’s big enough for the commute and can still claim a stylishly compact profile.

Eager to learn more? We thought so! Scroll down to get the details on our special Back to School promotion, and read up on the Metro Backpack at PerennialCycle.com.

I received a note and a few pics from Mark, one of our Brompton US Championship 2012 Racers. Mark and his partner Deb were riding on Vancouver Island and had a flat on the rear of Deb's Brompton. Mark decided to try and patch the flat without removing the wheel. This seemed like great info to pass on as it's a nice trick that could work on any bike.

Thanks Mark!

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Hey Perennial Cycle-ites,

Just thought I’d share this with you. Deb and I were on a little tour of Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia via Bromptons when Deb encountered a flat on her rear tire. All of the gearing and whatnot on the rear wheel can be a bit intimidating so thought I’d try a quick patch job without removing the rear wheel. I was able to pop the tire bead off and expose the tube and locate the metal staple in the tire pretty easily and made a pretty quick repair of the flat in about 10 minutes. One thing I’d do differently is pop the bead off the non drive side. Wouldn’t recommend this for all flat repairs, but this one proved to be easy to find the leak and the Park glueless patch held on the first try.

This may be old news, but I had not done this before. I actually saw them doing this on the Amazing Race in Africa, as one of the challenges, where the street mechanics often don’t have the proper wrench to remove the wheel or the axle is actually welded to the frame.

I have since watched the YouTube video from Brompton on the repair and now know that removing the tire wouldn’t have been that big of a deal, but this sure seemed quicker and cleaner, without having to remove and readjust everything.

Have got about 25,000 flight miles on the Brompton's B&W case and have been amazed at how well it’s held up. I use the Brompton in our tradeshow display and to get around while traveling. Did have a wheel housing crack due to some rough luggage handling and a drop onto the wheel, but it was easily replaceable with pop rivets and a lightning fast wheel assembly replacement from Perennial and Brompton.

Thanks Perennial staff and Brompton for all your help.

Cheers!

Mark and Deb

• • • • •

Here are a few pictures. Two are from their ride and the others are Mark at BUSC • 2012
You can see from the great duct tape Union Jack helmet to the custom spray painted sport jacket that he's an awesomely creative guy.

I'd guess that Mark had all the tools he needed to make the repair, but for what he specifically did I'm thinking he used a tire lever (we like this one from PDW for the Brompton as well, the included wrench will remove the wheel) and a glueless patch. It's also possible Mark didn't have a tire lever; the Brompton tires can be wrestled off without one if absolutely necessary.

If you haven't seen the technical videos that Brompton has available (Mark mentions one in the note), you should check them out here.

This Saturday Perennial Cycle will be back at Fulton Farmers Market with a focus on bags and panniers. Fulton Farmers Market is all about local fruits & veggies, crafts, and ready-to-eat food, so the natural choice was to bring along our friends from Banjo Brothers, our favorite locally-owned bag maker.

The folks from Banjo Brothers will be bringing along some great takeaways (including a coupon so good we can't share the details here):

• A limited quantity of a 4-color postcard designed by local artist (and cyclist) Adam Turman that is, in his words, "Totally mailable, framable, or hang on your fridgeable."
• A sample size of "Dude" or "Cowgirl" soaps from the local natural bath and bodycare company Bodylish, whose hand-made, all-natural soaps are perfect for everyone, but are especially good for cyclists of all stripes.
• A coupon good for a special offer on Banjo Brothers bags at Perennial Cycle

The peak season of fruits and veggies is just taking off, so if you're heading to the market by bike you'll want to have a bag that will help carry serious quantities, particularly if you're an experienced (or first time!) home-canner. Whether you’re heading home with a coffee cup and a handful of carrots or several pounds of cucumbers and tomatoes, if you're aiming to pedal it, we can help you find a way. We’ll have a sampling of grocery panniers & shopping baskets on display as well as a group of bikes well equipped for market shopping.

What: Bag Day with Banjo Brothers at Fulton Farmers Market

When: Saturday, July 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 49th and Chowen in S Minneapolis — between Xerxes and France Aves. just off of W 50th St.

Saturday is going to be a beautiful day for a bike ride and thanks to our tent-mates Banjo Brothers it's going to be an extra-special day at Fulton Farmers Market. See you there!

Today’s post is part of a new series of entries dedicated to showcasing Perennial Cycle’s involvement in local farmers markets during the summer. Be sure to watch the Shopcast as the weekend approaches to see where you’ll find the Perennial Cycle team throughout the season.

In our last post we featured the Civia Back-Roller Classic, the perfect partnership of Civia's urban styling and Ortlieb design. This week's bag comes from another of our favorite utilitarian city bikes: Linus. Just like Linus's bikes, Linus's Market Bag combines simplicity and reliability with a personality and style that, as Linus likes to say, "makes you feel like you’re in an old French movie". Oui, oui! we say!

Available in three colors, the Linus Market Bag is made from rugged 22oz cotton canvas with a classic look that's sure to always be in style. Leather straps and brushed brass snaps mean this bag is built to last. Carry it in the market by its handle or with the included leather padded shoulder strap. The Market Bag also comes with a small padlock that can be attached to the bag's built-in D-ring for extra security when leaving the bag on your bike.

In the above photo, you'll see three straps on the inside panel of each side of the bag, two at the top and one along the bottom. It's a snap (!) to attach the straps to the top rail of your rack and along the bottom portion of the rack's stay. The three-point attachment ensures your groceries won't bounce on the ride home.

The best part about the market bag? It's incredibly versatile. It can hold a little or a lot and will fit on almost any bike rack—Linus or otherwise. That's what makes the Market Bag so perfect for an afternoon shopping run. Even my L-XL Nutcase Helmet fit inside. The side flaps snap shut on either side, and for those of us who don't want to make the effort to secure the snaps each time, there's a handy magnet sewn into the center of the flap to hold it in place.

On its interior, the bag is wide open—no space is wasted with separations or compartments. With a firm, flat bottom the Market Bag is ready to be loaded up with veggies straight from the farmers market, grocery bags, or pastries and deli treats... as in my case.