When an OYB 7-Way bag customer mentioned digging into his new issue of “Boneshaker: a Basic Field Manual for Utility Riding” I knew I had to check it out.
Basically, it’s a bike culture journal. It’s a bit like “Urban Velo” only smaller (yet) in format and with lengthier articles and essays. More meat/text/literaryness. (…Not to take anything away from the colorful layouts of UV.) So that…it’s ideal for bathroom reading. Or hip-pocket action. Handy for many saddlebags, too, I’m sure. Compact. I note that it’s all a wee bit small seeming to me, with my hands and eyes. I’m used to zines, which can be small, micro even, and still darn good in terms of readability (or not!). Put on yer readin’ glasses for this one!
$6, 160 pages, 4×6 size, paperback.
It has a bit of the feel of the old Bridgestone catalogs in terms of production style.
Here’s what they have to say about the contents of the current issue, number, uh, BA 42-500:
Boneshaker BA 42-500 is our largest issue yet—weighing in at over 150 pages—which is both unexpected and yet totally awesome. In it you will find and enjoy a brilliant ride journal from a trip across British Columbia, an intelligent musing on vintage cycling posters, considerations of the state of cycling in Cleveland and Pittsburgh (riding in the Rust Belt!), an article about the retro-direct gearing system, a review of BikeSnobNYC’s new book, pieces on bike lights, guilt, Breaking Away, bamboo bicycles, Russia, reformations, “the bicycle face,” and best of all—a lengthy and engaging profile about two bike-powered farms in the West. Far and away the most fascinating and varied issue of the almanac to date, 42-500 is both visually rich and literarily marvelous—a collection from artists and writers across the land that further lights the way of the weary.
Now, I’m also hip to the Wolverine Farm Publishing project that produces Boneshaker. It’s a non-profit. It looks like they have a bookstore in a bike shop (cool!) and a more literary journal and various events and they have a bike-based bookmobile (yeah! that’s what I want!). It looks like there’s a farm/CSA in there, too, near their homebase of Ft. Collins, Colorado. In short, they promote 3 distinct but related things: *bike culture, *sustainable ag, *literaryness. Sounds good!
[Order direct, or, if you want, you can order it from Amazon, which will send a cut of the proceeds to OYB: www.amazon.com/Boneshaker-Bicycling-Almanac-Transportation-Department/dp/0982337205/jeffpottersoutyoA/]
https://www.wolverinefarmpublishing.org/publications/boneshaker.html
