This music video is absolutely fantastic. For all those of you who’ve had your bikes stolen, this is the song is for you. Gotta love the mopey indie rock stylings, how fitting.

Written and performed by Shank Bone Mystic, an artist from Brooklyn New York:

An exercise in catharsis, here is a song I wrote set to a video of a man stealing tires off my bike from outside my apartment in Brooklyn. Video is from neighborhood security cameras.

Best line in the song: “I can get new ties, but you’ll always be an asshole.” Well said, well said.

via Metafilter

Photo from Flickr by meaduva

Below is a message from BikeChain:

Welcome back everybody, Bikechain is back in business!

We will be opening Monday and will be open for our regular schedule of 12-5 weekdays only. Come by with your ailing bikes to keep them in tip top shape for the summer season.

Keep updated on our website for schedule changes as we settle in to the new season, with a new crew of staff and volunteers.

Great timing! I should really check my breaks, and oil my chain, and clean my gears, and fix my pedal, and pump my tires… heck, maybe I can just get one of the BikeChain people to build me a new bike.

BikeChain is located in the basement of International Student Centre, 33 St George Street (map).

Bikechain is soon ready to re-open for the summer season, and they’re looking for a part-time summer Coordinator:

We are looking for someone who is enthusiatic about sustainable transportation and is experienced with managing volunteers.

The position will start immediately and run until September 5th, with the possibility of extension.

If you are interested, please send me (bikechain [at] utoronto [dot] ca) a copy of your resume along with a cover letter explaining relevant experience and why you would be a good fit for this job.

P.S. Sorry for using the same picture of bikechain so many times! Haha, if you or anyone you know has pictures that they wouldn’t mind having on blogUT, you should send them our way! We would REALLY appreciate it!

Image from Flickr by ravenswift

We’re all gearing up for summer. So, with that in mind, are you in need of new bike or some bike parts? The good people at Bikechain are running a Bike Swap this Sunday at MEC:

Buy and sell bikes and bike parts. Arrive early to drop off your gear, consign it and we’ll sell it.
Get some great deals on bikes, bike parts/equipment. Make sure your old bike goes to a good home.

When:
Earth Day, April 22nd

Schedule
8-11am – Drop off bike gear for sale
11-2pm – Buy bike gear
2-3pm – Pick up proceeds and unsold gear

Where:
Mountain Equipment Co-op
400 King Street West (map)

If you’d like help run the event, send BikeChain an email: bikechain@utoronto.ca

P.S. did you know, the title of this post is an example of a spoonerism

This is the last of BikeChain’s series of workshops and the topic this week is “Cycling in Toronto”. Toronto’s a pretty dangerous place to bike in. The street car tracks have almost done me in more than once, and I’ve had one or two close calls with cars. I imagine the workshop will feature some very useful tips from the bike-riding road warriors at BikeChain.

When: Thursday, April 5, 2007, 6 – 8 pm
Where: BikeChain, basement of International Student Centre (33 St George Street)
Details: Refreshments will be provided.

Again, Bikechain is open weekdays from 12-5pm. If you missed the workshop or have any problems with your bike, you can drop by and get one of the friendly and knowledgeable BikeChain staff to help you.

With the fantastic weather we’re getting these days, you’ve probably been itching get on your bike and ride around town. Riding downtown if kind of hectic, so it’s a good idea to make sure you’re brakes are in top shape, incase you need to respond to some emergency situations. Learn how to fix up your brakes at this upcoming BikeChain workshop.

When: Thursday, March 29, 6 – 8pm
Where: International Student Centre (33 St. George Street)

Again, Bikechain is open weekdays from 12-5pm. If you missed the workshop or have any problems with your bike, you can drop by and get one of the friendly and knowledgeable BikeChain staff to help you.

So that messy white stuff has pretty much cleared away, and the temperature is a-rising. So put on your biking hats (aka helmets) ladies & gents and let’s get pedalling! But wait, oh no! What’s that squeaking sound when you pedal?

If you’re like me, you stored your bike during the winter by tossing it outside and letting it fend for itself in the rain and snow… (yes, I know, I’m a horrible bike owner… but hey, I think it builds character for my bike). Now it’s spring time and it could definitely use some polishing up.

Just in time for biking weather is BikeChain’s Spring Tune-Up Basics workshop, happening this Thursday, March 22, 6-8pm. You’ll learn how to clean your gears, align your chain, and other fancy bike tune-up stuff that I don’t know about… yet.

Where: International Student Centre (33 St. George Street)

P.S. In addition, Bikechain is open weekdays from 12-5pm. If you missed the workshop or have any problems with your bike, you can drop by and get one of the friendly and knowledgeable BikeChain staff to help you.