DRAFT Magazine

In Wisconsin, there are three unmistakable signs that springtime has arrived:

1) Spring training.

2) Bikes.

3) Cold rain.

Ernesto Martinez-Ordaz, a legendary beer cyclist who I wrote about here, combines all three.

First, behold his custom-made Brewer’s Bike:

Honoring the city’s cycling and beer-themed major league baseball traditions, this bike has its origins in Ernesto’s wife’s cousin’s garage.

“It had been hanging there for 20 or so years,” Ernesto explained. “He noticed I had been just looking, and looking, and checking it out. He simply gave it to me and said, ‘I am never going to ride it - it’s been there for about 20 years.’”

Ernesto took it home, stripped it in less than 10 minutes, and made it a single speed Brewers Bike to give back to his friend Ryan.

“He’s a big fan,” Ernesto said. “So am I, but I think he needed something to just go around town, off road, on the road, etc. Something worry free and single speed. A do-it-all bike.”

Finally, he found some old logo Brewers stickers on eBay, used some of his old parts and BAM! it was a brand new bike.

“He’s already seen it, and he is very excited to ride it!” Ernesto said.

The other sure-fire sign of spring: The Milwaukee Bike to Work message list lighting up with everyone’s accounts of biking in the rain. Like Ernesto’s:

“It was the kind of weather that chills to the bone because your clothes are all wet,” he said.”I did not know it was going to be raining hard as I left the house.”

He wore shorts and leg warmers that got instantly wet, warm weather gloves, wool socks, and neoprene booties. Wet, but at least warm.

“18 miles of pure awesome!” he reported.