Banjo Blog

  • Banjo Brothers Five Things With Cyclist Chris Smith, aka Smithers MPLS

    FIVE THINGS WITH THE LEGENDARY CHRIS SMITH -AKA SMITHERS MPLS

    FIVE THINGS is a feature on the Banjo Brothers Blog. It’s a short interview about life and bicycles with a notable person. This week's notable person is cyclist Chris Smith, a.k.a. Smithers MPLS.

    "I don’t have a favorite bike. For me, a bike is just a tool to accomplish a task. I have favorite rides and choose the appropriate bike for that ride, or sometimes the inappropriate bike in order to make the ride more entertaining."

  • BANJO BROTHERS FIVE THINGS WITH  THOMAS "HURL" EVERSON

    FIVE THINGS: CARS-R-COFFINS' THOMAS "HURL" EVERSON

    FIVE THINGS is a weekly feature on the Banjo Brothers Blog. It’s a short interview about life and bicycles with a notable person. This week's notable person is cyclist Thomas "Hurl" Everson.

    Now, an elder statesman among cyclists in Minneapolis, Hurl is known worldwide for his iconic Cars-R-Coffins brand, represented by a simple line drawing of a four-wheeled coffin. Birthed by a ‘Zine, the sentiment behind the brand still resonates with cyclists and not just out of nostalgia. A carefully curated set of goods still exist bearing the mark and are as much a form of artistic expression as a means of paying the bills.

  • FIVE THINGS RAD DAD EDITION: CYCLIST JAMES ORIONE

    FIVE THINGS RAD DAD EDITION: CYCLIST JAMES ORIONE

    The Rad Dad Edition is a variation of Five Things articles leading-up to Father’s Day. This post-Father's day entry is a bonus edition. These blog posts show how kids and family-life factor into these Dad's bikestyle! Rad Dad #4 is James Orione. James is also the founder of Bridges Through Yoga an organization that brings yoga to where people are and Person of Color led. Bridges Through Yoga also facilities conversations about race through yoga.

  • 5 COSA CON JON DICUS

    CINCO COSAS ES CON CICLISTA JON DICUS

    CINCO COSAS es una entrada semanal del Blog por Banjo Brothers. Se trata de una breve entrevista sobre la vida y las bicis con una persona notable. La entrada de esta semana es con ciclista Jon Dicus.
  • Luke Breen Perennial Cycle Five Things

    FIVE THINGS WITH LUKE BREEN OWNER PERENNIAL CYCLE MPLS

    FIVE THINGS is a weekly feature on the Banjo Brothers Blog. It’s a short interview about life and bicycles with a notable person. This week’s FIVE THINGS is with Perennial Cycle owner Luke Breen.

    Luke and the Banjo Brothers' relationship goes back all the way to Banjo Brothers' inception in 2003. Breen attracted attention to his store in 2016 when he dumped the name of his shop (Calhoun Cycle) over the controversial history of John C. Calhoun, described as one of the most aggressive segregationists and proponents of slavery in U.S. History. It was a risky move considering the brand equity Breen built over the past 20 years. 

  • FIVE THINGS WITH MUSICIAN AND CYCLIST JOHN LOUIS

    FIVE THINGS WITH MUSICIAN AND CYCLIST JOHN LOUIS

    FIVE THINGS is a weekly feature on the Banjo Brothers Blog. It’s a short interview about life and bicycles with a notable person. This week’s FIVE THINGS is with John LouisMinneapolis-based singer-songwriter, year-round cyclist and co-founder of Minneapolis' first listening room, The Warming House.  Star-Tribune Music Columnist Chris Riemenschneider wrote "Singer/songwriter John Louis [is] equal parts John Prine and Robert Earl Keen." We caught up with John this week on a sunny Wednesday afternoon to get this take on Banjo Brothers Five Things.