Bike Tips by Silk Road Cycles

We asked our friends over at Silk Road Cycles to help us put together a list of bike tips to get everyone safely back on the road this Spring.   Brendon was kind enough to share his bike tips below.

As an urban cyclist your main focus should be on safety.  If you don’t ride year round, here are a few spring tips.

1. Inspect your tire pressure.  They should be inflated to the proper pressure.  Every tire is different and the recommended tire pressure (PSI or Bar) is indicated on the tire’s side wall.
2. Visually inspect tires for cracks.  If there is, it is time for a new one.  Cracks in the tire can be very dangerous and could lead to a blow out.
3. Check your brakes.  Make sure your brake pads are in working condition and the rubber has not harden from weather and age.  Second make sure that when you use your brake levers they compress and release smoothly.  If not it might be time for new cables and housing.  Over time, cables can become corroded and seize.
4. Lastly get on the bicycle ride a few meters and make sure that you can come to a quick stop.

These few tips will get you going for the season.  But as most bicycle mechanics will tell you, it is always recommended to have a spring tune up performed on your bicycle.  This will save you money and headaches in the future.

Tune ups at Silk Road Cycles include:
$45 single speed tune
$60 multi speed tune
$80 tune and wipe down of the frame and drivetrain
$125 tune and full clean

Stop in and say hello.

 Toby’s Estate – One Pedal at a Time

While it’s no secret that we’re big fans of bikes, we are also big fans of Oz – er, um, Australia that is.  Couple Australia with coffee and you’ve got a match made in heaven - drop this place down not too far from our offices and we’ve found our newest addiction.  Toby’s Estate is not just conveniently located – it’s a ridiculously cool shop on a fabulous block in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

 

Go to Toby’s Estate for the coffee but be sure to do yourself a favor and indulge a bit in the menu which retains a hint of Toby’s Aussie heritage – vegemite anyone?  Not only are the coffee and snacks brilliant, but the space itself is outstanding – lots of natural light, communal tables, and of course – the requisite bags of beans stacked chest high against the wall.  This once time worn block of Williamsburg has been massively overhauled over the past few years and now houses an outstanding music venue in addition to an abundance of restaurants.

Pedal on over to Toby’s Estate and in the meantime, we’ll be putting our landlord on notice that we just may be vacating our space and setting up shop at Toby’s.

The Lobster Joint – One Pedal at a Time

Ever since Ben Sargent shuttered his pots, pans and butter crusted griddle for reality TV, we’ve had an empty place in our hearts – er – our stomachs when it came to a neighborhood joint for bringing New England to Brooklyn.  Enter Greenpoint’s Lobster Joint and it feels like Ben never left.

Tucked away at a not oft travelled section of Manhattan Avenue, this crustacean corner makes you forget your day of dodging taxis and squeezing your way on the L train and long for the docks of New England.    The Lobster Joint slings  Dollar oysters your way from 4-7 on weekdays, clam chowder that’s to die for and of course the delicately dressed lobster roll – you cannot go wrong here…literally.

And lest we forget, the Lobster Joint has some well sourced and brilliant beers on tap as well – keeping with the New England theme.

Pedal on over to the Lobster Joint – you can thank us later.

Mast Brothers Chocolate – One Pedal at a Time

On a recent excursion wandering our namesake’s borough, I was overwhelmed with a case of fatigue.  Usually when I’m struck by this syndrome I turn to the old standby- coffee.  This instance happened to find me in Williamsburg and also serendipitously at the same time I was aware of a tour happening at Mast Brothers Chocolate.  Being the resourceful person I am, I surmised that some cocoa based rocket fuel might be served at said tour.  Done deal.

Expecting a Wonka-esque wonderland, I was relieved to discover a subdued open plan space with all facets of the chocolate making process visible to the customers and only a small fraction of the space tastefully dedicated to the sale of these artisanal bars and cocoa products.  The sample counter had unusually large mounds of chocolate for the taking.  I took, a lot.

After being revived by chocolate, Derek, the Mast Brothers‘ manager and director of PR appeared in front of the group that had been gathering and foraging.  Quite a charming young man who very warmly guided us through the factory explaining the ins and outs of making single origin chocolate (small/huge side note- the cocoa beans from Dominican Republic were personally sailed up to NYC by the Mast Brothers, just because they didn’t want to be responsible for any pollution going into your lungs)

Of course most tour attendees are slightly interested in the process that makes whatever product they enjoy but let’s be honest, they’re either usually looking for some sort of free buzz at the end, be it alcoholic or a more stimulating jolt such as chocolate.  Derek cracked open a few of his favorite bars and we were treated to cocoa that had such diverse flavors as bacon. Who’d a thunk it!?

I came to Mast Brothers Chocolate expecting merely a relief from fatigue but left it a more informed and aware destroyer of all things chocolate.  Do yourself a favor and pedal on over.

No. 7 Sub – One Pedal at a Time

Most of us on the Brooklyn Cruiser team have been fortunate enough to grow up in the Northeast where the submersible shaped sandwich known nationally as the sub and regionally referred to as the hero, the grinder or the hoagie, has been a mainstay of many a hungry street walker for quite some time.  The offering of ingredients of these behemoth sandwiches do not vary widely between purveyors, only quality and perhaps your familiarity with the owner determines loyalty of clients.  Creativity in ingredient combinations of the classics such as the eggplant parm, the Italian or the steak and cheese are almost as abhorred as trying to change the line up of a Big Mac.  This is far from the case at Brooklyn’s No. 7 Sub.

Lunchtime hunger pains recently led me to No. 7 Sub‘s  location in Greenpoint, (not far from Brooklyn Cruiser’s offices). I had no presumptions about the appearance of this place and based my expectations solely on past sub experiences of a steady stream of cylindrical white paper wrapped packages passed over a chest high counter and a handful of laminate booths filled with people greedily shoving the contents down their throats.  No. 7 Sub is something different. The classy dining room of dark wood tables combined with the wall mounted menu of sub choices and display of potato chips behind the counter had me confused whether to wait for my waiter or order from the stylish woman behind the counter. This confusion mixed with enticement continued when faced with my sandwich prospects. Pickled Rhubarb, curry mayo, Broccoli sauce.

These are subs? No. 7 Sub leaves no escape for the un-adventurous, so I went for it, and ordered a mysterious concoction with pork, shrimp, sweet potato and pickled rhubarb. What was I in for? … Deliciousness!   This seemingly garbage-esque mixture was obviously curated by a culinary maestro, it had all the hallmarks of a complete eating experience, salty-sweet and warm heartiness that kept me from doing the traditional scarfing method. I did not want it to end. It did.

I find great comfort in knowing that another Brooklyn based business continues to take risks, evading conformity and establishing Brooklyn as a place revamping American traditions.  That No 7 Sub is so close to our offices during lunch is a welcomed bonus.

Quick Fitness – One Pedal at a Time

Sometimes after I bike a lot, I look in the mirror and notice the muscle gain in the lower half of the bod, which has left the upper half shamefully disproportionate. This is usually the time when I bike my butt over to Quick Fitness in Greenpoint to give my upper half a fighting chance in the struggle for buffness.

Quick Fitness is in a converted warehouse with the most modern amenities.  Yes, it’s convenient as can be to our office but we like Quick Fitness mostly because of it’s airy bright environment which stands as quite a contrast to the warehouse/office feeling you get from most gyms.

Quick Fitness is like the romantic hole in the wall restaurant where you want to extend your stay as long as possible to the McDonalds like gyms where you just want to get your needed workout and hit the road.   Stop bench pressing your Cruiser and go check it out.

Sugar Couture – One Pedal at a Time

We know what you’re thinking because the thought crossed our mind as well – “That’s not edible.”  You’d be wrong like us.  No, this isn’t a sculpture, actually it is, but it doubles as a cake – one you might struggle to find the nerve to eat – unless of course you’ve tasted what’s buried inside, in which case it becomes impossible to deprive your tastebuds for even the slightest second by trying to preserve the artwork.

We have Brooklyn’s own Sugar Couture to thank for this tease and we assure you, it is indeed a tease.  Proprietor Penny Stankiewicz’s edible art have been featured in nearly every bridal magazine in North America but you have our assurances, as good as these cakes look, they taste even better.  We were blessed with a tasting awhile back and still have frequent cravings for Sugar Couture‘s passion fruit filling.  Unfortunately we’ll have to get in line behind the likes of Tony Bennett, John Mayer, Wyclef Jean, Hugh Jackman, Russell Simmons, Betsey Johnson and Donna Karan, all of whom are in the know on this one.

As these photos show, it’s about so much more than weddings.  Thanks Sugar Couture for delighting our eyes and tastebuds.

Let’s Go Bowling!

 A brilliant plan – and one we fully endorse at BC, especially if it is at the Brooklyn Bowl.  After biking over to this joint we need a refreshment before taking down some pins and the Bowl has all the watering hole essentials to provide. And if you find yourself weary from the trip and need something more substantial, the food is of the stick-to-your-ribs variety and will have you leaning in your lane chair and adjusting your belt to extents that would make Mr. Lebowski proud.

If bowling too many “snake eyes” has you down, you can find ample distractions in the lively clientele and if you’re there on the right night perhaps a musical act such as Slick Rick, Big Freedia or Samiam might be playing on the stage.

Spring/summer nights are fast approaching, so now is the time to form your local bicycle posse and start descending on these Brooklyn haunts.