man, I've been addicted to this guys channel lately, his shop is very close to my in-laws, I need to head up there. russ always with his finger on the pulse

@ericsande5345

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, I get it - I found Bike Farmer a few weeks ago and love the sarcasm and self-deprecation. He works like I do in my garage. I have some classic Italian steel but everything about them is "practical".

"People just want to buy a bike, not a culture or identity". Well said. I feel that here in France, it's very much like that.

@No_ReGretzky99

2 ай бұрын

USA is getting this way with everything 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😢😢😢

@SurpriseMeJT

2 ай бұрын

@@No_ReGretzky99 It's why I left. The American culture is garbage.

@Koen030NL

2 ай бұрын

@@No_ReGretzky99 Its because they have been preaching cosumerism for the past 70 years or so. At least thats what I think.

@matztertaler2777

2 ай бұрын

here in Germany, it is all about the culture they want to fit in : Ebike and Gravel is overwelming represented., Nearly everyone you see in traffic rides a ebike today.

@ditto1958

2 күн бұрын

Most people- I wrote that onto intentionally- MOST people in the area where I live ride on pavement and they don’t ride up a lot of hills. Not all, but most. Most people would be best served by light bikes with skinny wheels and tires. Yet in the 80’s and 90’s the bike companies told everyone they needed “mountain” bikes. They looked cool and also rugged. But they were heavy and had huge knobby tires. Not good for pavement. Then they sold us all “hybrids” that weren’t good for paved roads OR trails. Bicycling could be way more popular if the bike companies would market and sell bikes to people that work good for what they are going to get to use them for.

The "trick" is to have bike companies support bike infrestructure the same way car companies pushed freeways.

@iMadrid11

2 ай бұрын

Now the car companies are vehemently anti-bike. They see protected bike lanes as a threat to their business. Since bikes allow you to zip through traffic without delay. When cars see empty protected bike lanes and segregated bus rapid transit lanes. They see them as parts of the road taken away for cars. When in actuality benefits move more people traffic than private cars with usually just 1 person driving a car.

@christopherharmon9336

24 күн бұрын

@@iMadrid11 You're going to see transit organizations fight bike lanes and especially e-bikes in the not too distant future. When "the poor" discover e-bikes, public transportation is done. The public transit industry claims they exist to help society, but what do they build? $2500 per month apartments, called Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) around stations, and stations which go to sports arenas. Transit is nothing but man-made waterfront property.

@telepopepic

22 күн бұрын

A big YES!

@rollinrat4850

3 күн бұрын

In many big cities, its not even particularly safe to use public transit. I forgot which city, but recently all the bus drivers called in sick one day because they're sick of dealing with criminals. Id prefer taking my chances on a bike to get around. Ive managed to survive so far.

Hi Russ - I was hoping you'd connect with the Bike Farmer so this was a real treat. I love all aspects of cycling but it's refreshing to hear someone talk about cycling for 'normal' people. Keep up the great work!

@gearmonger8616

3 ай бұрын

It must be so great to be so normal, so smart and so anti-everything. Really great to hear.

Excellent interview, Great things happen when the two BEST youtoob Bike Channels get together!!!

Who doesn't love a 30 year old Trek hybrid? So much of this video resonated with me. I run a small workshop from home and actively avoid the industry trends and associated malarkey. 98% of my customers are families who just love riding bikes and I really enjoy getting them back on the road and keeping them mobile. I'm not going to get rich doing, but I am enriched by it. Keep up the great work both of you and thanks for this video, I loved it.

Been watching the entire catalog from Andy, The Bike Farmer! I love his style, desire to keep old bikes rolling, and he loves the utility of the simple machines. Great!

Russ, thanks for being such a key part of this sensible biking community. It was great seeing Andy on here. He's a lot of fun, and i enjoy his stuff.

The collab we needed! This is my mission too because you can have a decent bike for a few hundred bucks and invest the rest. Plus recycling quality durable parts is another awesome perk!

You hit nail on the head. Andy is honest, funny, and shows he isn’t perfect. It also helps that he knows his stuff around a bike.

Really great to hear from another shop that is more or less a one person show - and are succeeding. Make me wonder whether shops like that (incl ours) are better navigating the post-boomlet waters than the bigger shops. Thx Russ!

THere's a bloke in the UK with a channel called 2nd Life Bikes. If you don't know him check him out he rescues 'crusty' bikes and sells stickers to put on them, There's the three horsemen of the tube.

@baileyf764

3 ай бұрын

Gary’s projects - the fourth horseman

It’s not flashy but services are always great money makers

"Practical bikes for practical people" is something I can get behind gladly. I'm a relatively high-end roadie/cx racer and love working on simple cruisers etc. and do it regularly. I manufacture grips for cruisers too. Any type of cycling is good. Just purchased the Bridgestone font Partypace shirt 🙂

Maddening for me over the years were all the brands that the likes of Trek would buy up and slowly grind into boring me-too copies of the rest of the lineup before killing them off. Klein and Gary Fisher in particular stand out as really iconic bikes that just withered on the Trek vine.

Fun to watch two of my favorite cycle youtubers chatting on here. Love the focus on practical cycling. Keep up the good work.

Been following The Bike Farmer for a while now. Glad you found him and did this video. You both are so authentic and down to earth!

Great to see WI own Bike Farmer on with you. Very good questions Russ. I keep my 40 year old Trek with a rack for grocery shopping and find no real need for disc brakes or carbon frames. Appreciate kindred spirits.

Wow. My two favorite bike guys in one video! I love both of you for different reasons. Keep it up, guys.

This was a great discussion. Bike Farmer, Path Less Pedaled, and Erie by Cycle are currently my go to cycling channels. You guys get it. I've been a serious cyclist since 1978, but kinda stopped with road bike technology at downtube shiters, and I still ride a rigid mtn bike (custom steel, however... very fun). Gila Proven!

6:38 ‘Practical bikes for practical people’, truly a path less pedalled 😊

@gearmonger8616

3 ай бұрын

Then where do the hundreds of "normal" bikes I see every week come from, if no one sells them?

@daniellarson3068

2 ай бұрын

@@gearmonger8616Somebody buys those bikes sold in the Big Box stores.

The key to sustaining the industry is advocating and rallying for more bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure; especially in the U.S.! People aren't riding bicycles because they can't! It's too dangerous. As a society we need to move away from the car centricity. Bring back our downtowns. Recreate walkability and community. Personally, we need to follow in the footsteps of the Netherlands.

the Dick Cavett of bike youtubers interviews the George Carlin of bike youtubers. Love it.

Two my favorite biking KZreadrs. Appreciate it guys!

I was a racer and worked in a bike shop in the 90's. But thinking about getting back into biking after about 25 years... i've been astonished at some of the changes and trends in the bike world. Fat tyres, weird ratio's, disktopia, 'steel is deceased',.and much more.

This was an unexpected vid event! A real treat listening to you two. Thanks for what you do and this particular video. May the opportunities to make your dreams come true present themselves. I believe in that. Get ready. Oh! You already are! Happy trails. 🐾🎶

It's funny to hear this as a dutch person. Over here a lot of practical bike shops for practical people is the norm and not the exception.

@markconnelly1806

3 ай бұрын

Few people commute by bike in USA

Russ,Andy. Love both your approach's down to earth simplicity. Great idea for a get together.❤

The Riv cap was an instant clue that this guy was going to be off the beaten track.

Both these guys are fun to watch! Want bicycling to become the biggest hobby in America.

I grew up in a working class community. It supported a bike shop, and I worked 5 seasons there. This guy's approach to a bike shop reminds me of that shop. That bike shop also made most of its money in repairs, and focused on selling mid- to low priced bikes that people in the community could afford. I still prefer shops like the one I worked in. It was friendly and not at all pretentious like so many shops can be.

Didn't know about the Bike Farmer and am excited to deep dive on this fellow Wisconsinite's channel! Thanks Russ!

"Umpteen different options for that bike" is music to my ears!

What a great installment of my two faves! Would love to hear you guys chat more often especially now there's an across the pond aspect!

Just started watching bike farmer so was happy to see you chatting with him. I agree with many of his rants about the bicycle industry. I like that you both keep it simple.

Awesome! I love both of these channels!

Nice to get together with the Farmer.

Great interview! Real down to earth… keep it up!

Really cool to see this. I’ve watched quite a bit of Bike Farmer lately. Seems like a down to earth guy.

Nice convo with two of my “must follow” creators! Thanks. Cheeseheads rock!!

Wasnt sure if his mojo was offputting with negativity when his viral videos were made, but i love his restoration videos and i am converted.

Russ, you're an excellent interviewer! Great questions, really get Andy talking. This was fun, reminded me a bit of the Grant Peterson one.

It's the best when andy goes "ope" when he drops something on a bike farmer video

Thanks guys. I got a ‘94 Trek 750 and another 8 bikes just about the same.

Great interview. Two of my favorite channels.

Great conversation gentlemen!

Hey! My two favorite bike people! This is great!

Great interview. I've enjoyed both of your channels, and this crossover was interesting. I've learned a lot from both of you, so thanks Russ and Andy.

I hate “polished”. That is exactly why I watch your KZread channels. As well as Listen to live music and love a well used bike.

Really enjoyed this chat. Found it inspirational even though I'm not aspiring to be a youtuber or have involvement in the bike industry. My connection to bikes is as a user learning to do my own maintenance, my day job is in tech, and passion is adventure and art (atm primarily photography). I think I found this inspiring because a way to find purpose and direction seems to often be just stumbling through opportunities as they present themselves, and what ends up fulfilling is a novel(ish) mix of things that have mostly already been done by someone in some way. So cheers and kudos, and keep being inspired and inspiring! 🙏🤘

Great conversation. Love the no-nonsense approach to riding bikes. These days I always have a smile when I'm out riding in normal clothes and in Party Pace.

My two favorite bike curmudgeons on one screen! Love it. Excellent interview as always. BTW Russ, thx for the recommendation of the Surley LHDT and wider tread. I'm loving it. Def what I needed for touring.

Great video, I enjoy watching both of you guys ❤

Great video. I think Andy has it right. I works for Wisconsin Cycle Supply/GT bicycles/Riteway for 10 years. Before that I ran a shop. We were told to force dealers into a mold if they wanted to carry Our brand. Suppliers would force dealers to buy more than they need to. Bike shops have become homogenized. There's nothing more boring than a trek store. Now after promoting these brands for decades, the suppliers are now screwing the dealers. They are biting the hand that feeds them. Andy is doing it right! Great video.

Subbed, solid content. Watching him take apart old cup and cone BB's without talking over the top, +1.

Such a good conversation. Love it really cool insight

Bike farmer is awesome!

love his channel so much. great interview

I was in the bicycle industry for over 35 years including working in Taiwan for two years. I’ve considered getting back into design/manufacturing, but it seems like the bicycle industry now has lost its way and they don’t really know where to go, there’s a lot of money spending marketing products that most people don’t want don’t need or can’t afford. There is definitely an underserved market for basic bikes and keeping them running.

This is cool. My two favorite bike related channels.

Andy is the man. His personal collection is incredible too! Beautiful bikes

One point to consider is that most people don't ride bikes. Most cite road safety. Most kids don't bike anymore. Many companies focus on racers and serious cyclist crowd cause thats is mainly the only crowd buying many bikes and upgrades.

@BirdmanDeuce26

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's difficult to talk about "where have all the practical bikes gone" while not talking about the true underlying issue, which is the lack of safe bike/non-motorized vehicle infrastructure available in car-centric cities and towns for those practical bikes to exist. This is one of the reasons e-bikes have exploded in popularity (and not just for squids avoiding working towards their motorcycle licence) - e-bikes, with their motors, are the only bicycles capable of meaningfully keeping up in mixed traffic, without asking their riders to become MVDP.

@DR_1_1

2 ай бұрын

In Europe there is some bike commuting locally, but a good part are e-Bikes now, the rest are young people who will switch to cars once they have enough money. Decathlon and similar shops provides a good part of these bikes for the common man. I suppose the real market is also upper end, people who buy the latest tech, higher prices meaning higher margins for the business.

@richardwolf6269

2 ай бұрын

Cycling infrastructure in most places suck! Our car culture makes people fat, lazy and angry!

You guys are a breath of fresh air. Real people, great advice and a normal perspective. In so many special interest areas people become esoteric, isolated and out of touch with regular people with balanced lives. Bikes, audio gear, cameras and musical instruments all come to mind. It gets so out there that customers just shut down and exit their interests. It is an eye opener when you walk into a shop with a focus of any of the areas that I just mentioned . You get THE look of the people working there and they size you up, evaluate you to see if you are worthy. As a result of that many customers just leave and never come back. Their interest declines and they just choose to not participate. You both are rather counter culture and it's nice to see you follow your truth and sharing it with others....keep up the great work and keep offering practical offerings to normal people.

This is great! Love the Bike Farmer! He’s like a nice version of Durian Rider. That would be a crazy interview for you to get! Also really like your connections with Bike Sauce, Spindatt and Lockedin. One on ones with those last two would be great. 👍

You two and Paul Suchecki are my favorite biking channels. I always tell people when they ask if I’m a cyclist. I say nope. I just ride a bike.

Love this. I had been watching both you guys. I also seem to like working on bikes even more than riding them.

In a word..."Genuine". Thanks very much, gentlemen!

Great interview. I’m a big fan of the Bike Farmer channel.

You both are great perspectives for enjoying riding. Cheers ☕️

Luv this episode! 👏👏👏

Thanks for this. Excellent.

Great interview. Bike Farmer drew me in with one of his Rando ride videos and then going over his equipment - later he gave us a chance to watch Dave Wages (Ellis Cycles) build a frame. Being rando-curious means I'm not his bread and butter viewer but he hits some notes that catch me. This makes me feel like suggesting 'Psychic Derailleur' as a worthy interview. He's backed off from Youtubing but speaks to the alt-bike world from/with a shop experience background.

Two of my favorites in one video, Sweet.

Thoroughly enjoyed this video!

At 58 years old, I finally decided to purchase a high-end bike. I've always rolled around on cheap Schwinns. I had my heart set on a Trek, Specialized, Gary Fisher or Giant. Oh Boy! The price of the base models! They must be making those things out of solid gold! Guess I'll stick to Schwinn and modifying them to my liking.

@DR_1_1

2 ай бұрын

So you expected a "high end" bike under $1000...

@richardwolf6269

2 ай бұрын

Go to bikes direct. Or pink bike or Craig’s list where you can find great deals on used high end bikes.

@johnwinn3254

2 ай бұрын

Check 2nd hand 5 yrs and older.bikes depreciate quickly

You mentioned Oceanside LBS. That brings back memories. I bought a Masi 3V from Two Wheel Transit bike shop in Oceanside in 1985. I think they've been gone for many moons now. Oops, that might have been in Huntington Beach. It was a long time ago.

It's kinda funny seeing what feels normal and good for me is basically the stuff that I got into when I started to really get into bikes in 2018, so like because I got into MTB first, 1x11 and disc brakes are the perfect balance of performance and reliability for me, but I hate internal routing and electronic shifting. Although if you ask me now: belt drive, internally geared hubs and mechanical disc brakes are the best for people who ride a lot. For people who don't, I think it's all about singlespeed or geared hubs and dual pivot caliper brakes. I still really really love my classic singlespeed comfy ladies bike and I really need to get it back up and running again.

The longest I've heard BF go without an oops :)

I enjoyed this conversation

Great interview with a great guy.

Best show on yt in awhile! Thanks.

Great conversation! I feel I'm halfway between you two & a racer. Seems like bikes got better & less expensive (when adjusted for inflation) from the 70s until I bought my most recent bike in 2017, a Carbon Fiber Kestrel RT1000, the last rim brake bike they made. Then everything went crazy price & tech wise. Basically, the same bike the following year with disc brakes was more than two times as expensive & heavier and things continue to get more complex & expensive.

good stuff guys. Thanks

This was great! Thanks for bringing the Bike Farmer to a wider audience. Between the two of you, I’m thinking I might need to put more time into my bike biz and less time being a wage slave.

I went my own way a long time ago. A serious cyclist since 1967, raced professionally, still ride today full time, no car. I live where four mountain ranges meet, 6000, 9000, 14,800 foot mountains nearly every direction. My road bicycle safety concerns in this extreme terrain led me to building heavy duty, very strong dependable machines. I start with a basic hardtail mountain bike with a lockout fork, add strong wheels, and strong tires, I build my entire bike around the tires, Schwalbe 26x2 Marathon Plus tires. These are the only tires in the world that would pass a DOT test, all other tires are a death wish. Then I add bar ends to the flat bars and aero-bars, SPD pedals, a rear rack and trunk bag, and I am done. The bike costs $300, and once equipped is $1000.00. This mountain bike makes the best road bike I ever owned. Since changing to these tires, I have never had a flat. Before using 700cx28 Specialized Armadillo, I would have a flat a week, Continental Gatorskins 3 flats a week. ( I ride 1000 miles a month, 95% of all roads are smooth excellent pavement). The aero-bars give a totally new position with zero stress to the hands (I'm a piano and guitar musician). The simple mechanical brakes work fine and are easy to maintain. I have NEVER bent a rotor out of true, and have been using discs on and off road since the year 2000. I have 4 of these road bikes each set up differently, so stress areas change from day to day. One bike is set up for flatter terrain with close ratio gearing. The other three are for extreme climbing on the road deep into the mountains. My rides are 2 to 7 hours long and I never stop, it is continuous. I use fat for energy and don't eat before or during a ride, my last meal before riding is at least 12 hours prior to the ride forcing my body to burn only fat (hydrocarbons) for energy. This fuel instead of unnatural sugars and caffeine are a perfect straight line of energy, no dips or peaks. And no energy loss from engaging the digestive system. Water only. The comfort and confidence on these bikes are wonderful, air pressure can be adjusted for bad roads or the front suspension just turned on. No pinch flats on the road with 2-inch-wide tires because the side wall is soooooo tall. full pressure is 60 psi and they run quiet, smooth and fast. This is cycling in 2024, super strong bikes, bike weight is unimportant for cruising at constant speed, fully loaded with 3 water bottles, tools, two tubes, air pump, is 37 pounds. I have ridden bikes as light as 22 pounds, makes no difference in time or speed. That 22 pound road racing bike is gone, sold, don't want skinny tires, weak 700c narrow rims any more. My whole racing life was breaking spokes, potato chipping a wheel in a sprint, just a constant annoyance of weak wheels. I had to switch to tubular rims because the clincher could not withstand the pressure of sprinting. Now I am using strong mountain wheels with those large tires, everything is good. Now if I can only find a shoe maker who still uses calves leather uppers so my feet can form to the shoe.... My gearing is still 8 speed cassette (11-32) with a triple 24-34-44 / 175 crank. Using Shimano/Suntour/Tektro; lower line components and they are strong enough. These bikes are very exciting to me, the frames are made in Taiwan, gorgeous paint jobs and welding, and as strong a frame as any top name manufacturer. bottom bracket flex is near zero. The frames all last about 25,000 miles (aluminum or steel) doesn't matter who makes them. I try to retire a frame as soon as any bottom bracket flex is felt, but I have cracked frames on the road four times. This is good riding in 2024! All the "high tech CRAP out there I don't bother with, still using a fantastically dependable ST/JIS cartridge bottom bracket and aluminum cranks. SRAM twist grips for Shimano because of the friction front shifting. I am a strong highly skilled rider who after racing began body building and now at 195 pounds 6 foot of muscle these bike are holding up to my power and weight, especially out of the saddle climbing and hard acceleration. Great bikes, very little money, very low tech. Remember when all bikes were 5 or 6 speeds, all the same chains and any shifter worked on all of them? This war on how many cogs you can cram in that space is ridiculous, everything has to match the speed count, even derailleurs and chainrings. STUPID for the recreational market, even more stupid is 1by's on road bikes, are you kidding? Maybe some are just too stupid to make front derailleurs work? You don't need lightweight anything for recreational riding, but they are still pushing this weight theme today. I am NOT racing, I don't want it, I want strong bikes. Now gravel bikes, wow that's a stretch, I have been riding gravel bikes for 40 years. 13 speeds, carbon everything, 16 pound bikes...bicycles now cost more than Honda Motocross racing motorcycles....how is that possible? It's all BS for a recreational market that reads marketing ads instead of riding their bike.

Man andy seems like a cool dude to work for and be friends with very positive and love ghis channel first video and subbed

I loved this podcast, bike farmer is a class act 👍👍👍 Guys you are a diamond in the rough and take me back to cycling growing up in the 80s & 90s. Hand me down bikes, shopper, your mums, your dad's ig you lucky, first road bike 2 sizes to big so you grow into it. Steel is real, MTBs hard tail n front back...Oh those days....Beautiful ❤

@cadriver2570

2 ай бұрын

Not sure about that - his comment replies on his channel are pretty childish and mean spirited.

@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST

2 ай бұрын

@@cadriver2570 Is this true or it you expecting nice replies to comments that are passive aggressive just because they disagree and think you shouldn't be allowed to speak, even when it is the truth.. So what is this?? Do you want to back this statement up with evidence to a comment made for Bike Farmer that is genuine... Care to explain Cab driver??

@cadriver2570

2 ай бұрын

@@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST Speaking of classy, nice reply. I simply read comments on his channel and his replies.

@THECONTROVERSIALCYCLIST

2 ай бұрын

@@cadriver2570 OK mate no explanation for what you said but everyone is entitled to an opinion. So here's mine on you like you had on me... You are either gate keeping for Bike Farmer, scared or just generally lurking in the shadows playing mind games.. Whatever it is upto you 👍

@sertaoexpedicoes

2 ай бұрын

I'm with you! t's a generational issue/feeling.

Bonus video! …..from two guys I greatly respect as relating to bicycles! Awesome stuff! Thanks, Key West Rick

Nice. 2 of my favorite bike KZreadrs.

Legend wearing Grado's too 🙂

More Bike Farmer please!

Thanks!

Good conversation

Andy is the Bob Ross of the online bike community.

Supremely awesome sesh !! I'm exprrimenting w/ boycotting car ownership atm because it's such a racket for shareholders !! From fuel to repairs its a rediculous scheme to funnel short term profits into shareholders pockets (and many fall for it thinking there are no other choices )!! Trying to use both bikes and PEVs to avoid these greedy schemes = not easy BUT the movement is growing !

I just discovered the Bike Farmer and LOVE his direct approach and cynicism!!

I remember the day he posted his bike shop asshole video in the Steel is Real fb group. I had seen it recommended it to me for days on KZread. Watched it that day and just kept watching. One of my favs lately. Also, newest member of the alt cycling network??

Bike Farmer is my new fave KZread channel!

Great discussion. Our views connect from the get go. Enjoy your ride. The Schwinn Varsity was great, but I first enjoyed the 3 speed "English Bike" Schwinn Racer.

Russ, I know you do Q&As, but have you yourself had an interview in recent years? I think it would be an interesting video. Great interview!