Ok, so soon, I’ll get back to building frames. I just need to finish some component designs first and machine them up! 

Meanwhile, I am really excited to be able to say that I was able to make a tank of fuel last 1 month! Yes siree, today is May 21st and the last time I filled my gas tank was April 21st! 

I drive a 2004 VW Passat Wagon with 160-something thousand miles on the clock. I did the timing belts at 140k and that’s about it. (engine wise) It’s been paid off for a while now so all I’ve been paying on it is fuel, oil changes, tires and brakes. My last job was 36 miles each way and I was starting to hate the accelerated wear and tear on it. 

As an added bonus, I’m going from 2 tanks/week to 1/month! At ~$3.10/gal that’s about $280/month I’m saving! 

Maybe I’ll get a cheap fat bike for winter duty but for now I have the best dang blue commuter/cross racer to ever come out of my garage! 

To celebrate, I just ordered a new Timbuk2 Tuck Pack roll top back pack. I absolutely LOVE my Timbuk2 Raider pack but it is really only good for carrying a few things. Since I eat a lot, I have room for my days food and that’s about it. The other day I wanted to bring a few other things and the Raider pack was TIGHT!!! 

As you can see my Raider pack is pretty full and this is just enough food to get me through a 10hr day! 

The Tuck Pack is a simple bag with a large opening on top, a side access zipper for a laptop (which I never really plan to carry) and a front pocket that opens vertically. Timbuk2 makes a lot of packs with vertical zippers so you can get to your stuff by pulling one arm out and slinging the pack around to your side. 

Probably the coolest aspect to me since I don’t like the idea of wearing grey/black when I ride (you know, the color of pavement) is that this pack is flaming bright ass, stare into the core of the sun orange!!! Also for added visibility there is a strap towards the bottom of the bag for an additional tail light. BE SEEN!!!!

And it looks great with a Yellow Lab!

But then again, what DOESN’T look great with this handsome son of a mother. By the way, for this pic (above) I put the Raider pack INSIDE the Tuck Pack! 

Chillin’ with a seal at the Minnesota Zoo. To give you a size reference, I’m 6’3″ and about 200lbs. 

If you ever read a review and the reviewer has nothing bad to say about the product they are reviewing then they were probably paid for the review! So, onto what I don’t like about the Tuck Pack. There are very few pockets inside. True it has a laptop sleeve but there are really few places for other smaller stuff. I always keep a small first aid kit, a tube, keys, a spare shoe laces, patch kit and other random things in my bag. The first aid kit fits into one of the few pockets inside the main compartment really well but my tube is just tossed in the bottom. No biggie really. The front pocket is the same. Large with no added pockets. Now, for the FRONT pocket, that is A-OK with me but the only thing I feel is a MUST that the Tuck Pack doesn’t have is that little safety latch for your keys. You know the one that’s on a little piece of “ribbon” for lack of better terms? I really miss that! I will probably add my own soon! 

Still, I would highly recommend this bag! Bang for the buck, it’s unbeatable!

My bro-in-law, @unfunnymike on IG, introduced my wife and I to Timbuk2 about 6 or 7 years ago when he worked for them. We have sinced gotten backpacks, messenger bags and even luggage and even my wallet! We haven’t been disapointed with any of it!   

Here is a link to the Tuck Pack if you wanted more detail. 
My wallet: