If OYB went Pro?
February 01, 2010 - I just read a WSJ story about smallshop guys who offer knifesharpening services. The story spent most of its attention on evaluating the various levels of ordering/shipping service.
I wonder how much good it would do OYB if I could do same-day shipping and had a totally pro buying/shipping interface.
I wonder how many of my potential customer... > Read Article
Welcome to the HQ for Indie Michigan News, Stories, & Good Things to Buy!
January 09, 2010 - Hi! I'm Jeff Potter and I run this place.
UpNorth is about the independent culture and adventure scenes in Michigan. It's a love-child of the national local culture media empire, OYB (Out Your Backdoor), and hooks back to the Motherlode for national topics.
Now, everybody knows about Michigan's pro sports, car factories, golf, jetskis, real... > Read Article
New OYB eBay Store! (ski sale!)
January 08, 2010 - I'm launching an eBay store for OYB.
I've had a username there for a few years, outyourbackdoor, that I've used to sell luggage, books, magazines and other goodies. Heck, Martha and I have been eBaying since it started and we together have 1000+ sales with a 100% rating since, like, 1994.
But I'll soon ramp things up there. I'm even going to ... > Read Article
Donate! Help the OYB cause...
January 05, 2010 - I've had several people recently ask how they can support the OYB cause. I've been relying on my offerings of great books'n'goodies that you can't hardly get anywhere else as being the best way. "Money for stuff" is the only way I can understand making a living.
But I can accept that OYB *stuff* isn't right for everyone. Also, I don't want to ... > Read Article
OYB Full-On Shoulderbag
January 05, 2010 - [$24 postpaid in the US.]
Here's a shoulderbag that's just a shoulderbag. No options, no other uses.
I've been using one as a car-bag for a year now, and I really like it, so I figure I should let you all know about it and make it available as yet another way for you to support the OYB Way of Life.
Its specs are 4" x 10" x 11"; canvas.
... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Pannier --Classy! 4 Options!
October 23, 2009 - [$44.95 postpaid in USA for ONE pannier.]
Presenting the OYB International Model Perfection Pannier!
(Title courtesy of Herter!)
Dang, these items are sharp.
The base cases are high quality, very rare military surplus in good condition---used, with nicks, scuffs, stains and rumples. They have "beausage"---the beauty of use. Th... > More Info > Purchase
The OYB Bag --The World's Only 6-Way Bag!
October 23, 2009 - [$39, postpaid in US] The 6-Way OYB Bag is ready for action! Click on the PayPal button to the left under the picture and order away! Now available with extra options like top-straps, waterproofing and snug-mount stick! But read on, there's so much more! Hmm, this has to be about the world's longest product description, but what can I leave ... > More Info > Purchase
New OYB Luggage Patch!
October 20, 2009 - UPDATE 10/09: Here's my new LEATHER luggage patch. The stamp is done, the die is on the way. Patches in 2 weeks!
The photo is what the stampmaker sent me, showing a sample stamped in a sheet of leather. It'll be die-cut into an oval then riveted to the luggage.
The design image shows the shape and rivet locations.
It'll also functio... > Read Article
Safety on Ice!
February 03, 2010 - The rule of thumb is do not walk on ice if it's 3" or less.
4" of good, fresh ice is safe for one person.
When you go skating on wild ice, bring an ice spud or ax to test thickness before skating.
Now, according to Internet info, no ice is considered totally safe. It can vary a lot.
That's why we always have a Safety Plan!
Falling ... > Read
Article
When Snow is Low: Ski the Lakes!
February 03, 2010 - OK, say you have SOME snow but not a lot. The trails are thin. It's been cold a week or two. Well, go find yourself a nice, meandering, woodsy lake or swamp and go for a refreshing "big sky" ski!
Our local skiing is mostly in the woods. But it's great to get out and do some "big sky" ice skiing. Early in the season our local ice is strong enoug... > Read
Article
Cold, But Low Snow? ...Go for Wild Ice!
February 02, 2010 - OK, we're in the midst of our January Thaw right now. It's dragging out. We lost our sweet skiing snow. But now it's cold all over again. Yet we can't ski. Ugh. What to do?
GO WILD ICE SKATING!
The lake ice had gotten bad, what with the mixed weather of the last month, but after the big melt the lakes got all smooth. Now it's cold again and P... > Read
Article
OYB as an Outdoor Rec Program?
February 01, 2010 - The MMBA Show was interesting. I like throwing a booth a few times a year -- gets me outta the house. I got an Inspiration at this show. I'm starting to think that books aren't where it's at. Books were helpful to me as a kid, and have been hugely helpful to me throughout my whole life, but in general the peoples don't seem into them.
Going bac... > Read
Article
SUP: Now HUGE but still no canoes...
January 30, 2010 - That's Jennifer Aniston doing "Stand Up Paddling." So you know it's big.
SUP has a buncha websites, companies, races...and its own magazine.
Lots people do it on flatwater for exercise. They use windsurfer boards. (There's a guy who does it on our local lake.)
But I've yet to see any mention of people doing it in a CANOE.
Yet that's the... > Read
Article
All I ask for is a little awareness...
January 29, 2010 - I don't care what people do, only that they aren't ignorant about obvious things.
Like Michiganders who say they don't like the winter because it's cold.
Ugh!
Nobody likes the cold. Nobody can stand the cold. Cold kills. If you're cold you eventually die. That's why anyone who grows up around here, in reality (rather than in fakeyland) kn... > Read
Article
MMBA Expo: Mt-Bike Show this Sunday!
January 28, 2010 - This Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, is the MMBA's Annual Meeting and Bike Expo. It runs most of the day at the MSU Pavilion in East Lansing.
There's a free indoor dirt track for your winter riding pleasure.
And the main guest speaking is Dave Wiens of Colorado, a retired mtbike pro racer and 6X champ of the Leadville 100...where he beat Lance two yea... > Read
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Here's
a Quote...
"Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you."
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