Pedaling Wears

Bike Nashbar ⇒ is a mail-order bicycle, bicycle parts, and clothing seller currently owned by Performance Bicycle ⇒. The company is known for mailing multiple copies of the print catalog to whoever ends up on the mailing list. The vintage of the free shirts under consideration date back to a time when the company was independently owned by the Nashbar family. Throughout both ownerships, the company either sells a large variety of stuff for cheap or sells a large variety of cheap stuff depending on one’s perspective.

In addition to Bike Nashbar, the Nashbar family also used to operate Spike Nashbar for volleyball equipment along Tennis Nashbar. Spike Nashbar was sold at the same time as Bike Nashbar to a company other than Performance Bicycle. The purchaser changed the name to Spike Volleyball and went about their business for a short period of time before going bankrupt. Tennis Nashbar got no love from the tennis community leading to an early winding-down.

Three Days

I worked in an order fulfillment center operated by the company for three days. The task was so repetitive. Most, but not all, of my co-workers were unwilling to engage in small talk. The pay was minimum wage. There was no reason to engage in work that made me cranky alongside people that I did not identify with for the same rate that I could have gotten anywhere else. I decided to quit.

Exits And Entrances

I went to the main office to talk to the general manager that hired me. That boss was not in, but the second in command was. I told number that I only made it through the third day for the sake of my own honor. He laughed and thanked me for getting through to the end of the day. He told me that he knew I must have something going on upstairs to know that the job was terrible. He felt that workers at a nearby General Motors plant that made upwards of $16 at least got paid well enough to learn to deal with the repetition. Minimum wage was not enough for him, so he went into management. I agreed and laughed. Maybe I should not have laughed with a boss insulting his own employees like that behind their backs, but I will probably always appreciate his candor.

Previous to my employment with the company I took my car to a car wash. I ended up having easily the longest conversation I have ever had at such a venue with the attendant. Non-donor Liz heard mundane stories of me through a mutual friend and was glad to finally meet me. Once I was hired at Bike Nashbar, I was surprised to see that Liz working there as well. She seemed less interested in talking to me at this point, but was still cordial. That was to be the last time I ever saw Liz.

The first time that I ever met non-donor Laura was working on the line. We had a conversation about the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area during a slow spell. I would working with Laura at a different job. Sadly, I did not recognize her at first with glasses when I reported to the new place years later. In between Bike Nashbar and the new job she found time to marry and have a kid. I ended up leaving that job as well. I do not know if Laura was so lucky because the responsibility of children limits options.

About The Shirts

I remember wearing the Chainring shirt to grade school without comment. Then this shirt was lost in a closet for years. I was happy that the shirt still fit.

When the Landscape shirt was donated to me it was probably the softest from wear that has ever been donated. I like to receive clean, wholly constituted shirts at various states of wear. I also enjoy the design on this shirt.

Silhouette is among my favorite designs in my collection. The only downside of that shirt is that there is so much paint on that design that the fabric is somewhat less breathable. This is one rare case where I let form take over function.