
Belle in command of the Pug Hauler 6000. Photo courtesy of Blacktop Cyclery.
If you like randonneur bicycles and steel frames that harken back to the French builders of the 1950s, you follow the Velo Orange company. And when you do that, you sometimes find a picture that links to the Flickr page of an interesting bike shop, in this case, Blacktop Cyclery of Bakersfield, California.
One of Blacktop’s newest creations is notable for its owner-crafted passenger accommodation, Patterson Bike Transmission (an internal planetary-geared crankset from the inventor of the Gripshift) and single-pedal design.
From Blacktop Cyclery: “The Pug Hauler 6000 (PH6K) was a Velo Orange (VO) Polyvalent custom assembly for a customer here at the shop who had a few special needs and requirements. As a one-legged cyclist with a penchant for climbing and centuries, co-piloted by his pug ‘Belle,’ this build presented us with a chance to really do something special…”

Pug Hauler 6000. Photo courtesy of Blacktop Cyclery.
I’ll say. See the specs and more pictures on Blacktop Cyclery’s Flickr page.
Now my question for you… is Peoria ready for a bicycle “boutique” like Blacktop? Cos I’d like to own/run one.
That would be fun, wouldn’t it?
I always thought a great business would have the four Bs: bicycles, books, bagels and beer.
I don’t know if you have been to Heritage Bicycle up in Chicago, but that would be right up your alley!
I’ll be working on a bike-brewpub business plan for the rest of today…
It’s on my list. It’s a long list…
I would like to add, It looks like that pug is a cute little one eyed pug as well.

Awesome bike, awesome build, awesome story, cute one eyed pug.
Good eye. I wasn’t expecting that.