A visit with Kevin Kinney of Vulpine Adaptive.

NOTE: Added 01/15/08. Kevin has decided to do a limited run of his Icebike Mitts. Details on his Empire Canvas Works website.

NOTE: Added 11/23/2007. A large number of people have discovered this entry by searching for Vulpine Adaptive or IceBike Mitts, etc. If you are looking for more information on these products, here is what I know. I have not personally talked with Kevin since February of 2007. At that time he had two companies, Vulpine Adaptive and Empire Canvas Works. What I have heard is that Kevin shut down Vulpine Adaptive to concentrate his energy on the Empire Canvas business. It is a line of top quality natural fiber winter clothing. I would assume that would mean he no longer makes the IceBike Mitts. That's a shame. But if you want to know for sure, there is contact info on his Empire Canvas Works website.A few years back when I was developing my winter biking skills I came across the Ice bike website. I remember reading a review of some Ice Bike Mitts on that site. They were made by Vulpine Adaptive. At that time I didn't realize that Vulpine Adaptive was located right here in Duluth. Last winter when I was teaching my Winter Camping classes I was promoting a company in Solon Springs, Wi that made winter tents and winter clothing. That company was called Empire Canvass Works. Turns out Kevin was making all the clothes for Empire Canvass and now owns that name outright. What a small world.

This week, with my Pugsley nearing completion and my entry fee for the Arrowhead Winter Ultramarathon in the mail, my mind is processing a lot of thoughts about preparation for that event. I decided quite awhile ago that I wouldn't wait to the last minute to get my equipment and gear put together. I emailed Vulpine Adaptive last week inquiring about the Ice Bike Mitts and Kevin answered. He suggested I call and arrange a time to stop by. Today I called. After work I rode over to Kevin's home. He works out of a two car garage behind his house. All of the manufacturing of the items takes place in this space. A large cutting table takes up most of one side of the garage. The rest of the garage is stuffed with supplies and misc items including 14 machines mounted on wheeled tables. This way he can set up his work area in many different configurations depending on what he's working on. He says that in the winter the van also gets parked inside. It's literally amazing he can do all that he does in that small space.

During our 50 minute visit Kevin described many of his products and some experimental products. When the converation turned to bicycle commuting, something Kevin is very familiar with, he described his homemade Nicad battery headlights, his cycling clothing he made and even his own design for shoe covers. He also descibed the best winter commuting fenders you can't buy.

Then it got even better, Kevin offered to sponsor me in the Arrowhead race. I think what that amounts to is reduced pricing on whatever Kevin makes for me. I'm starting with the Ice Bike Mitts and shoe covers. Then I would like him to make me a cycling jacket. He showed me one he made for himself. It has various thicknesses of insulation for different parts of the body and numerous venting options. The sleeves vent and the entire back panel unzips and drops down into a pocket on the back. We both agreed that the large companies that manufacture cold weather cycling clothes consider 40 or 50 degrees to be cold. It is really hard to find clothing that is made for bitter or extreme cold.

Kevin also said he used to make bikes too. He had his current ride in the garage. A Surly CrossxCheck that he had modified by cutting out a rear dropout and welding in a disc brake compatible dropout. He hasn't seen a Puglsey in person yet so I'll be stopping over next week after I get the Pugsley so he can have a look. He's doing a batch of Ice Bike Mitts next week. I'll be able to try on and pick out a pair when I'm there at that time.

Wednesday mileage: 55
Thursday: 26 mi

September: 142 mi
2006 total: 5,509 mi