BAXTER, IA (BRAIN)—Phil Wood, the man responsible for sealed hubs and bottom brackets, died this week on his farm in Baxter, Iowa. He was 84.

He started the Phil Wood Company in 1971 as primarily a hub maker, though he offered other components. He sold the business to Peter Enright and a group of investors in 1991.

“I feel so lucky to have talked with him about a week before he passed away, and he mentioned again that he was so lucky to sell the business when he did,” said Enright, Phil Wood Company’s president.

“We talked off and on over the years, usually to catch up on news about his friends in the bike business. But he was quite happy to return to the farm after selling the business to help raise his granddaughter,” Enright added.

Wood was a problem-solver working at Food Machinery Corporation. Had he not been bothered chasing bearings for a hub he was rebuilding for his daughter, sealed-bearing hubs might have taken years to hit the bike market, Enright noted.

“He was complaining to Spence Wolf about why no one offered a sealed bearing hub and Wolf told him to make his own hub. A little while later he asked Spence how many he should make. It took Spence a bit to remember what he was talking about. He said make 50 hubs and the business was launched,” Enright said.

Wood’s family is deciding on funeral arrangements at this time.

“I’m glad he and I were able to have that last chat. He was a little bothered he wasn’t as ambulatory as he once was but he was content to move on,” Enright said.

—Matt Wiebe

text from Bicycle Retailer, seen first on Tracko.

In an attempt to let the world know how committed they are to their footwear line, Chrome announces their Turds For Gold Shoe Exchange. For two days only, Chrome will be slinging a new pair of shoes to anyone that sends them a worn-out pair of kicks.

“There are a lot of great shoe brands out their but few, if any, are made to handle the harsh demands of riding in the city,” says Chrome Marketing Director, Matt Sharkey.

“Our shoes are built to hold up under the toughest conditions and are designed 100% to address the needs of the everyday city cyclist. Not only did we want to build a shoe that was durable and functional, but we also paid close attention to overall fit and timeless style.”

The exchange begins on Wednesday, March 17 and ends promptly the next day on Thursday, the 18th. Packages must be post marked by 3/18 to qualify and should include a return shipping address and shoe size info.

Please ship all packages to:
Chrome Industries
Attn: Turds for Gold/Sharkey
580 4th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Need some new kicks?  Better hustle… seen at Pedal Consumption.

Once again, its Cinema Velo time. This weekend we’re showing the classic 1976 Paris-Roubaix documentary A Sunday In Hell. Come check out the carnage.

“You can see every bead of sweat on the cyclists and every smashed-up ankle. It really makes you never want to get on a bike again. But it is an amazing film.” – Nick Fraser, BBC commissioning editor

Beers, as always, are provided. They do go fast, though, so you may want to BYOB just in case. Doors open at 7:30, movie starts at 8. Come on out!

Your official mascot for the Duke City Classic. This rad little dude will be plastered all over spokecards, shirts, beer coozies, your girl’s boobies, whatever you got…

Full schedule, locations, maps, and sponsors coming soon.

how convenient…

Once again, Cinema Velo at Fixed&Free.  This week we have The Triplettes of Belleville, super awesome, creatively animated goodness.  And beer.  7:30 pm at the shop, movie starts at 8.  Hope to see you there!

Your favorite LBS got some national press… peep the whole article here.

Young Guns Change Rules of Retail

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Imagine starting a bike shop in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, without the help of bankers and as a young 20-year-old with little to no retail experience…

The triumphant return of Fixed&Furious is this Friday, 7pm. It’s a little last minute, I know, but the Crankfather came to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse. We’ll be joining forces to bring you the F&F Spring Sprint Series. The way it will break down follows: Feb. and Mar. will be regular nights, with sprints, footdown, etc. The top 3 or 4 finishers from each night will advance to the finals, held on Friday, Apr. 9. We will be providing over $150 in prizes and gift certificates for the finals and there will also be prizes for footdown, longest skid, and best trick. Fear not, the 40′s of O.E. will still be there, and we will also have grudge match/pickup sprints on Apr 9 if you didn’t make the finals but still want to race. If you can’t make it this Friday, mark your calendar for Mar. 26. If you’ve never been to a Fixed&Furious, it’s one of the most fun events we’ve got going. Don’t miss!

That’s right – Cinema Velo’s 2nd installment is this weekend – another night of friends, bike flicks, and beer. This week we’ll be showing the Kevin Bacon classic Quicksilver.  If you’re unfamiliar, just think Footloose with bike messengers.

Hope to see everyone there!

More at Cranks505.com.

Next saturday, Isaac BurlyMan will be throwing a hill climb race from Downtown to Tramway.  Race starts at Raw Muzik, 2412 Central, at 2:30 pm.  The race is free, and there is some major bling up for grabs.  Come Race!

Afterparty at Fixed&Free coincides with the first night of Cinema Velo – free beer and bike flicks on the big screen – MASH SF and Macaframa double feature starts at 8pm.  Don’t miss…

I received this email from Grey at Fat Tire today:

to whom it may concern,
I am sending this email on behalf of my boss, Stevie McCambell of
Fat Tire Cycles.  Last night his 2006 Eddie Merckx Gara Pista was
stolen.  The bike is a 54.5, it is equipped with newer (2009) American
Classic 420 wheels, Shimano Dura-Ace track cranks w/47t Dura-Ace track ring, Easton TKO track bar, Easton EC90 stem, Thomson seatpost, Selle San Marco Aspide saddle, Sugino red anodized 16t splined cog, Izumi ”super toughness” track chain, and Shimano XTR SPD pedals.

I don’t have a picture of the bike, nor could I find a picture of the
2006 frame on the internet.  It’s a pretty “loud” bike, red, white,
blue, and I think a little gold mixed in, and I think it says “Eddy
Merckx” in about 16 different places, it may be a ltd edition frame
but I’m not sure.  Wheels are also pretty distinct in red and white
with bold “American Classic” lettering.

I was hoping we could get the theft and description some blog
exposure, and maybe the bike will be recovered.  Thanks for the help
guys!

Damn, this has got to be hottest track bike you could possibly steal in all of ABQ-its obviously gonna stick out like a sore thumb wherever it shows up so keep your eyes open. I also was unable to find an image online, until I cracked open the Cranks505 archives and discovered this:

All points bulletin on this one.  That’s like $5,000 worth of bike right there.

EDIT: Due to the pinche Super Bowl, the first night of Cinema Velo will be Saturday, Feb. 6, not Sunday.  Subsequent movie nights will be on 1st and 3rd Sundays.

Movie nights at Fixed&Free kick off in two weeks with a San Fran Double Feature – Mash and Macaframa in one night…

Beer will be provided (holla!).  Get out of the cold and check some great flicks, bring your homies!  This will be a regular event at the shop, every 1st and 3rd Sunday.  Don’t miss it!

I mean macaframa or mash?  Mash has gotta be an all time classic not topped by other fixed gear videos but maca is newer and maybe less viewed(?).  Fixed and Free Movie night needs to start with a bang.  Any suggestions for fixed videos or feature films? 

Don’t say American Flyers.  No amount of bike theminess can redeem the bad acting, writing, music or ridiculous bad guy.  Rae Dawn Chong was a babe!  Check her skills – two thumbs up there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA3DZ0v9Kw8

Fantastic all season helmet vented with removable ear muffies.  3 colors including padre’s throw back brown and orange, or bro-range, scheme.

NEW CYCLING CAPS.  Yes the drink company that sponsors rodeo stars, enables college student sex and fuels fixie angst is rep’d on a nifty cap.  Handsome.

Not trash talk.  There’s a link on the side bar for a discussion blog.  I’m almost afraid to open the lid on this.

http://eldukecitytrack.wordpress.com

Scratch the recumbent, I’ll take this instead.

Starting in 2010, Fixed&Free will begin stocking high-performance recumbents only. We’re sooooo over this whole “traditional bike” thing.

Low Fashion.   All mishka apparel is marked 1/2 off.  $40 for flan. $20 for T’s.

Jacob Chavez’ and group When May Ends is playing with Annie Jean Trio at kevin Sanchez’ houz’ close by on Carlisle this Sat. the 12th. Meet at the Fixed & Free shoppette at 7:00 pm to ride over.  We know how to get there.