Race Day!

Happy Race Day, NASCAR fans! It's time for the All-Star Race here at Lowe's Motor Speedway. If you are coming to the track tonight and live in the area, bring your motorcycle and park it in the Kryptonite Motorcycle Parking Area right in the front of the track! And, don't forget to stop by the Kryptonite tent and say "hi", as well as enter to win some great locks and an Ingersoll Rand Thunder Gun!

See you there!

Let's go racin'!

Checkin' Out Lowe's Motor Speedway

Craig, Roby and I went over to Lowe's Motor Speedway today - you know, the track where we are the official motorcycle parking area? Yea, that track. One of my very favorite places EVER!

I'll blog more after the All-Star Race tomorrow, but here are a couple of photos.....

The guys checking out the special All-Star car showcased in front of the Speedway's offices

Our sister company, Club Car, hooked us up with one of their cool, brand new vehicles. The guys LOVE this! I'm sure there will be stories about them driving this around...

Yes, this is a Kryptonite banner in the infield of Lowe's Motor Speedway!!! This gate was open today, but is going to be closed tomorrow so the banner will stand out a lot better. There are a ton outside the track, too! And stickers everywhere. The track did a great, great job for us.

More photos later in the weekend, but if you are coming out to Lowe's Motor Speedway for the All-Star Race, please come by the Kryptonite tent - we are right in the front of the track - near the Toyota demonstration and next to the Crocs tent. You can't miss us. We look forward to meeting you all!

Go Hendrick Motorsports!

More Mellow Johnny's

Once you are a part of the Kryptonite family, you are always part of the Kryptonite family. I know a lot of companies say that, but we truly mean it. People who have worked here find it hard to pass a bike or motorcycle and not sneak a peek to see what lock is protecting it. I'd dare them to try, actually. It's just part of who we all are now.

One person, more than most, still has the Kryptonite blood running through his veins - Mr. Chris Fallon. He's still in the bike industry - he and his partner, Bill, make some incredible jerseys as Earth, Wind and Rider. He is also a daily reader here on our little slice of the blogosphere. He'd be the world's best blogger, too, if he ever decided to do that....but, I digress.

Got a cool email from Chris yesterday (about the whole Mellow Johnny's posts) and wanted to share it will you all.


I followed Tim's link to Bike Radar that had some nice pix of the opening.

One shot in particular (from an artistic and ironic viewpoint) caught my
eye. #20 of 21 titled "closing time at Mellow Johnny's". I liked it
because it showed a cyclist peering through the closed doors with a 40+
year old beat up Raleigh 3-speed (one that is certainly loved and cared for
by a real cyclist if viewed with a keen eye). The irony is that all the
previous shots showed the real high end multi$$$$$$ machines on sale at the
shop but the guy outside looking in, while a true cyclist, is on what most
people would consider an old wreck. But, the bike has great value to him as
is evidenced by the fact he has a $120 saddle on it, and a $60 lock on the
seat post.

Spying and identifying the Mini would have been a real problem in the old
days (due to the angle of the photo) but some very smart people at
Kryptonite decided to put an orange tip on it so . . . there it is, and
here it is . . .

Chris, I love the way you tell a story...and I love that you saw the Mini...I'd even missed it when I first saw the photo. I know, I know....it's in your blood.

Lowe's Motor Speedway Here We Come!

Ok, this is a huge week here at Kryptonite. Seems like just about every member of our team is out and about. Dave Perewitz is down at Myrtle Beach Bike Week with his new cool '66 Shovelhead. I talked with him the other day and he's pretty excited about it.

Eric is off to Bike to Work Day in Washington, DC. We've been a proud supporter of this event for years and year. This will be Eric's first time and he's looking forward to it. If you are going, please see him under the yellow Kryptonite tent and say "hi".

But, I think I have the best end of the deal. As a friend said to me this week, "Talk about combining work and pleasure ... it's your dream trip!" She's known me a long time so she's right.

Don't get me wrong, we all love what we do here at Kryptonite. I don't think we could do our jobs as passionately as we do if we didn't. But, my friend is right....guess where I'm going? Guess...Ok, the title of the post gives it away. I'm like a small child right before Christmas.

Roby, Craig, Nicole and I are going to be at Lowe's Motor Speedway this weekend for the NASCAR All-Star Race! We are the official motorcycle parking area for the speedway this year and we are all stoked about that.

Our ad in the Fan Guide

If you are going to the track on Saturday night c'mon down on your motorcycle. There's plenty of room to park and the Kryptonite Krew will have a yellow tent near there (you can't miss us) so come by and say "hi".

On Saturday afternoon from 1-3pm Nicole Hoffman Roesch will be signing autographs. All day we'll be taking entries for a cool prize pack, too. A Kryptonite security package that includes a New York Fahgettaboudit chain, Evolution series 4 Disc Lock, a KryptoLok series 2 Mini and a Superman padlock. On top of that.....we've also got a Street Legal Thunder Gun! I'm not kidding....ok, it hasn't arrived yet so I might only have a photo at the tent...but it's on order and I have my fingers crossed...but, regardless, whoever wins will get it next week. Winner announced right here on Tuesday!

We'll also have lanyards and stickers and one of the new cool Club Cars to display (and ride around in....beep, beep).

I'm so excited I can barely contain myself!!! Do come by and say "hey" to this fellow NASCAR fan...and let me know who you think is going to win the All-Star Race. I already know who (hint below) but you can weigh in, too.

Ride safe and see you at the track!

Look for this ad in the Lowe's Motor Speedway program!

#24

Biking in Boston...and Austin

Got a couple of quick tidbits for you as we get into the middle of Bike to Work week:

This weekend the Boston Globe had a great piece about Specialized creating versions of their new bikes to specifically fit different cities around the world. They've got one for New York, London, Seattle, Chicago and, yes, our little Boston!

It's a purple bike and seems fairly cool:
"There are big nods to messenger culture, including drop handlebars in bare chrome, a white chain (yes, it's really white), and white-painted rims and hubs. Flip the rear wheel around, and you can ride the bike as a fixed-gear, meaning you're always pedaling, whether you're accelerating or slowing."

Cooler still....our friend Chris is quoted as the counter to the 'fab' review...he's a Stah (as we say in Boston)....
Chris Rowe, a messenger who used to paint frames at Independent Fabrication, the high-end bike maker in Somerville, sums up a few common complaints. "The tribal graphics are kind of weird," he says of the paint job. "The track handlebars are wrong - for messengers, three-speed or downhill-type bars have been a Boston tradition since at least the early 1990s. And most of us ride steel frames - they break less than aluminum, and they're comfier on Boston streets."

Today, the Boston Globe has a piece about Mayor Menino taking a 'ceremonial ride' to kick off Bike Week in the city that has vowed to become bike friendly. It's kind of funny that the Mayor only rode a half mile yesterday since he truly is someone who rides his bike for exercise throughout the summer. Allez, Mr. Mayor!

Oh, and the Masiguy, Tim Jackson, has been crowing about Mellow Johnny's carrying Masi bikes (and that is completely fantastic!), but we've got some crowing to do of our own....turns out Mr. Armstrong's new shop not only carries Masi, but they also are an exclusive Kryptonite dealer. Yea...we're into world domination, too, Jackson!!

Ride safe, y'all!

IPMBA Conference

by Eric Anastasia, Eastern Regional Manager


A couple of weeks ago I attended the International Mountain Bike Police Association Conference which was held in Indianapolis Indiana. We were asked to support one of their training seminars "Tackling Bike Theft".

I joined IPMBA instructors Liz and Steve both whom are officers at University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. We covered all kinds of topics including "Proper Lockup Techniques" and that is where I came in. This got a lot of the group up and out of their seats to see proper procedures when it comes to locking either their bikes, or teaching the community in which they serve.

Besides the presentation that I took part in, I also got to speak with a lot of other safety personnel. Everyone I spoke to was very appreciative that we were there educating them on the topic that we here all know so well.

I also learned some things that I didn’t know or never noticed. Like that in large cities, like L.A. (probably Boston too), they use bikes to deploy EMS personnel in crowded events and parades. These people can be riding with gear weighing over 35 pounds (that could change the handling of the bike a bit). Also all the intensive training the Public Safety workers that use bicycles as a means of transportation go through.

All and all is was great to be apart of this conference, to not only teach what I know but to learn what they know and do on a regular basis.

Landry's Hosts Bob Roll

Friday night we were at Landry's Boston store for "An Evening with Bob Roll." Rob, Roby, Eric and I had a blast at the shop - everyone was so nice and they had everything planned perfectly. I think Bob's going to blog about it, but I thought I'd post some photos before then.

I just loved this display of the jersey and the old fashioned sign.

I might like this display just a teeny bit more, though. How could I not? It's what you see as you walk through the front door! I'm not kidding - it's right there. Have I mentioned that we love the guys and gals at Landry's?

Rob, Eric, Bob and Roby hanging out before the event

Packed house! I think there were a couple of hundred people there. Everyone had a great time.

Bob joins manager Mark Vautour and the rest of the Landry's Crew. I dig their shirts, don't you?!

After the event, Mark brought us to the Washington Square Tavern, which isn't too far from the shop. Gerry's the owner and made us feel extremely welcome all evening. He's a cyclist (if you can't tell by his shirt!)and hosts evening rides with the Landry's crew on Tuesday nights. But, better than that...yes, there is a "better than that"...the food is amazing! I've been raving about it all weekend to everyone I know in the area; both Roby and I have been telling everyone in the office today, too. It was the perfect end to a great event.

Thank you to Mark and everyone at Landry's for making us feel so welcome - and, of course, for being such a great Kryptonite partner!

THIS WEEKEND

There are so many things to do this weekend....here are only a few of the VERY coolest!

BOB ROLL at Landry's Boston store. Friday night at 7pm. C'mon out. Roby, Eric and I will all be there, too.....but we won't be offended when you tell us that you're there to see Bob...

Barb's Harley-Davidson in New Jersey is having their annual Open House on Saturday. Dave Perewitz will be there -- and, bonus....Susan and Jaren will be there, too!

Austin's latest bike shop, Mellow Johnny's, is opening on Saturday at 7am. They expect "special guests." Why's that so important? Lance Armstrong owns the joint. You figure it out. If you go let us know how it was....and take photos that you can share.

There's Cyclism Sunday on Versus! The Giro is going on, don't cha know!

And, of course, on Sunday it's Mother's Day. Celebrate by going on a Tour Day Neighborhood with mom. Just please make us and your mother happy and WEAR A HELMET, please!

Have a great, great weekend! And, Bostonians...we expect to see you on Friday night!

Kryptonite City

I love getting emails like this. David Bowman of Outdoor Gear Canada, our fabulous distributor in Canada, sent me an email with the subject line, "Kryptonite City".

When I opened it, he told me to look at the attached photos that his nephew, Nicholas Mirotchnick took in New York City recently. Seems Nicholas is a student in the city and this bike rack caught his eye.

How cool is that? And, before you ask...no, it wasn't staged at all. He just saw this walking by and thought he should snap it and get it to his uncle. After all - this shows just about 99.9% bike security ownership by Kryptonite on this New York City street. THAT is pretty darn COOL!

Look at all of those New York Chains! Guess we named that product appropriately, eh?

Thanks Nicholas, and David, for making our day!