Training pants

There are very few things in life I'm good at, and of those even fewer have ever proved to benefit me. Thus far, my penchant for effortlessly taking multiple naps in the same day or for inhaling an entire box of Little Debbie® Oatmeal Cream Pies in one sitting have yet to manifest meaningful results or even practical uses.

What I am good at is embarrassing myself, and at subjecting myself to undue torture for the sake of wasting a lot of time. To sufficiently exploit these abilities I have decided, not without exhaustive excogitation, to become a truly dedicated novice amateur non-competitive strictly recreational cyclist.

Becoming an amateur non-competitive athlete isn't something to be taken lightly; and as such I've been reading about cycling training, events, and culture. I found an issue of Cyclist Magazine from 1988, and Dan even let me borrow some biblical book to aid in my enlightenment. The magazine has far more pictures so naturally I've focused my attention on that, but it's hard to elucidate any usable advice when I can't stop giggling at the 80s style hair-dos. (More like Hair DON'TS!)

By now I'm assuming that you are astonished, shocked, and likely curious of the hair in my magazine. You might even be impressed but confused with my resolve to dedicate my recreational time to one seemingly healthy yet fruitless endeavor. Well it turns out that in cycling, like in soccer, goals are good make. My summer training regiment is actually to prepare me for this. The D2R2 is a 107-mile randonnee primarily on dirt and gravel roads through Old Deerfield, Massachusetts. It is here that my brutal, couple-days-a-week training will bear fruit.

I have nearly twelve weeks from today to become confident and capable in a saddle for seven+ hours. Currently, my athletic capabilities wane around mile 30 but my confidence dissipates just after I'm done clipping my right foot in.

And readers, here it goes: along with life-changing avant-guarde design creations I will be keeping updates of my training progress here as well. So please, join me in my cycling toddlerhood and help me pick out some good training pants.

Decisions

I rather painstakingly took seventeen thousand photographs of my fabric and put it up on flickr. I then-more painstakingly, heart-wrenchingly, even!- edited them down to 25 or so, now go check it out and make me make you things.

Philadelphia!

For all you fearing that Camp Cupboard would lose creative momentum from the constant distractions of a "big city", I wish for nothing more than to assuage these (in all likelihood, non-existent) fears. I left the original "camp", my tiny and uncomfortable 350 square-foot studio apartment, for a surprisingly cozy yet nearly-as-tiny 432 square-foot house.
Philadelphia neighborhoods are populated with row homes, multi-level houses built mostly out of brick, usually with only one or two rooms per floor. My house is the archetype of Philly style dwelling- the trinity house. One room per floor, on three floors. The house even stands on an archetypal Philly street- an alley maybe six feet wide, which cars can't really drive on, with some of the pavement eroding to reveal cobblestones.
Dan, ever the proponent of non-traditional living arrangements, has a book written by Lester Walker titled Tiny Houses. The trinity, or bandbox as they used to be known, is the only multi-storied tiny house extensively chronicled. For your educational benefit I've scanned a page:

In conclusion, I'm sufficiently confined enough to fresh-squeeze creative juices with slightly more privacy and room for visitors. So start visiting.

Don't call it a fanny pack.

Like most artistic people, I like to think that my ideas are better than everybody else's.
Like most narcissists, I'd like everybody to agree.
And like a used car salesperson (but with better hair), I'm going to give you a pitch complete with erroneous back plot in an attempt to thoroughly convince and dispel any and all doubts.

I've been toying with the concept of the cycling hip-pouch for some time now, and over the past year refining my ideas and constructions to reach the apex of good design with logical and utilitarian features.

The hip pouch is especially appealing to the bicycle user frequenting bars, restaurants, clubs, shows, and even errands-running (return your dvd to the video store with my pouch! yeah!!!) for a multitude of reasons.

First, it makes easy carrying for that necessary evil: the U lock. Don't you dare put that thing on your handlebars! Or down your pants! Or in your septum-ring hole!
And mini-locks are great and all, but that banging racket from locking them directly onto the seat-stays while riding can't be good. And the the minis that fit in your pocket mean well...that you are sitting on your lock. No, thanks.

Inspiration to design bags which aid my fellow riders was not wholly unselfish. Impetus was also derived from being perpetually annoyed by every kid wearing her or his (mostly empty) jumbo size messenger bag as if it were some essential utilitarian fashion necessity-like a belt or maybe shoe laces. Aside from the Linus van Pelt-esque security issues evinced by such dedication to the messenger bag, it simply takes up too much space. When you are at a show in a 12x20 room it should oblige and encourage you to take up the least amount of space possible, for your and everyone else's benefit.

All right, let me re-orient my tangential self and describe the bag.
The dimensions are around 6" wide x 5" tall x 2" deep, big enough for a surprising amount of your junk, while narrow and low-profile enough to not induce premature hip dysplasia. See how much I care about you?

Features include a reflective strip with a gap to place a clip on light, a U lock holster that fits both standard and mini U-locks, a wide belt loop to provide stability while on your blet as well as structure to the bag, waterproof lining, double velcro closures for multiple flap positions, reflective stripe and belt for visiblity, all with a pleasing and seemingly simple design.


Currently these are for sale at the best bike shop in Gainesville, Fl- Bikes and More www.bikesandmoregainesville.com, and for sale through Me (nvanderson@gmail.com).
So go to BnM, or email me, and pick one up. Forty dollars, removable belt included.

"So Long!" And..."Why it's been so long?"

All right chickens. It's been a pathetic two months of blank blog-ed-ness.
I've got back posts saved up and forward posts in the ole' noggin anxious to escape.

I've successfully moved out of Gainesville, Florida, to Philadelphia,PA.

With the multitude of new directions I'm taking "IRLs", I've decided to make this blog more personal than I had originally planned. I'm still making things and designing like mad, (those are the back-logged posts I still need to clean up and slap up here), but as I've left so many loved ones back in the Purdy Souf I'd like to keep this blog-a-log up dated for "all y'alls" to keep track of my Mid-Atlantic shenanigans.

So revel in your Internet voyeurism and enjoy your new found interest in my affairs.

Business Casual Style Points & Awards

Sunday April 6th---> Whip out your pleat-front khakis and subdued neutrals, starch your collars, comb a perfect line into your side-parted coif because I've been trudging away in my studio to bring yous guys some sweet prizes.
Only a week and a half to prepare!
Race sponsors include:Recycled Bicycles

Bikes & More

Villin Cycle Works

The Top / The Atlantic

White Industries

Surly Bikes

Velocity

Camp Cupboard Designs

Dan L. Industries

Arena Baggage

Camp Cupboard Designs

As sticking a flag into dirt is the uncontested method of determining new land allegiances and ownership, creating a logo officiates and legitimizes every design endeavor subsequently undertaken. So kittens, here's some cabins.
Welcome to Camp Cupboard.

Saturday!

Forty dollars.

These are for sale at Bikes N More-----> bikesandmoregainesville.com

Ride Safely