The Pedal Pusher

Gary Fisher’s late night ride in the district

Christian — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:37:32 +0000

This is one of those opportunities I'm really sad to have missed. Gary Fisher, decked out in an awesome reflective tweed outfit, took part in a nightime ride with the Revolution Cycles's crew. I'm ill with envy. You can check out more here. (sorry about the sloppy links, can't embed links via iPhone)

(recap)

http://www.arlnow.com/2010/03/10/riding-the-mt-vernon-trail-with-gary-fisher/

(photos)

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/revcycles/with/4421671572/

Key West (day 1)

Christian — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:24:32 +0000

I arrived in Key West late last night. This morning i got a chance to hit the streets and one of the first things i noticed was simply the sheer amount of bicycles. Aside from all the rentable beach cruisers, this city is packed full of interesting bikes. I've seen cruisers, pursuits, tall bikes, trikes, and all sorts of other contraptions. I've got to hand it to the locals, they never let an old bike part go unused. But one of my favorite features about the bikes here is how utilitarian they are. I've seen bikes with holders for beers, fishing rods, squeegies, mops, dogs, and more. Look, if you want to haul it...they know the way.

Can a cracked headtube be rewelded? For that matter, can aluminum be rewelded?

Christian — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:20:07 +0000

The answer to that question will soon be revealed. Yesterday I responded to a posting on craigslist for frame repairs. Today, I dropped my cracked Casati off with Bruce (welder) over in Arlington, VA. I'm heading off to the Florida Keys this evening for a week of R&R....when I return, I hope to find my beloved bicycle ready to be built back up. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about rewelding aluminum; the debate is a heated one. But, for $50 I figured it was worth finding out for myself. I'll let you know.

The crack

The good olde days.

Vintage Schwinn Catalogs

Christian — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:38:11 +0000

All you Schwinn collectors should bow down to Tom Findley for gathering and posting this incredible collection of vintage catalogs from the years 1971-1980.

Incredible Tour de France prank

Christian — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:32:54 +0000

You've got to see this one. Joke or not, this would be awfully fun to experience.

TOUR DE FRANCE - BONUS (REMI GAILLARD)
Uploaded by nqtv. - Click for more funny videos.

Just in time for St. Patty’s day

Christian — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:29:11 +0000

TwinSix continues their tradition of timely bicycle related wares. Their new t-shirt is perfect for those who have grown tired of the "kiss me I'm irish" shirt.

Goes on sale March 6th at 9am.

Beautiful bicycle related design work by Caleb Everitt

Christian — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:22:47 +0000

Because I actually get paid to be an Art Director, I spend more time looking at design blogs than I do bicycle blogs. (I know I know...it's not by choice). But from time to time, I'm blessed to come across work that combines my two passions. Today I am blessed. Check out the work being done down in Austin, TX by Caleb Owen Everitt. He may or may not still be a part of PTMARK or on his own now. Either way, PTMARK has some great design work as well.

Recycle-A-Bicycle

Christian — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:04:14 +0000

Looking for something to do with your unwanted bicycle parts? Consider planting a bicycle garden. Brought to you by the Recycle-A-Bicycle program.

Why did I ever leave New England? It’s a hotbed for bicycle builders

Christian — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:42:20 +0000

After spending my life growing up there,I moved away from New England back in 2001. After a quick stop in NC, I landed here in Maryland. Clearly I had no idea how good I had it. New England is a hotbed of bicycle builders. Had I know that, I may not be sitting here at my computer blogging about bicycle builders....I could have been one myself. Heck, I come from family of welders! I have blue collar blood with a white collar mind. I think I missed my calling. Uuugh, what am I doing in front of a computer! (although, I do use a massage chair on wheels at my desk...so it's not that awful).

Seriously, if anyone at these shops would like to barter some design/advertising work for a frame building course. I'm available. I'm not offering some half baked concept and design work. My skills are legit.

Check out this impressive list of builders. (sorry if I've left anyone off)

Alternative Needs Transportation (ANT)
Holliston, MA

Hot Tubes
Shirley, MA

Igleheart Custom Frames And Forks
S. Hamilton, MA

Independent Fabrication
Somerville, MA

Parlee Cycles
Peabody, MA

Peter Mooney Cycles

Belmont, MA

Seven Cycles
Watertown, MA

Zanconato

Sutton, MA

Richard Sachs

Chester, CT

Why don’t I have a helper monkey named Vito?

Christian — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:06:37 +0000

Yesterday the Bike Snob took the time to walk us through the whole stolen clown bike debaucle. It's amazing how quickly problems arise and end in this day of instant social media. Seems like everyone is happy again....well, except for the guy who had his ANT bike stolen.

The first paragraph, wherein the Bike Snob talks about his morning routine is bye far my favorite from this post. It's paragraphs like this that keep me coming back.

Big fuss over stolen clown bike: Identity of the Bike Snob NYC revealed

Christian — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:01:20 +0000

Anyone who attended the NAHBS was well aware that a bicycle had been stolen on the first day of the event. Flyers of the stolen ANT bike were posted everywhere. Monday someone posted a fake craigslist ad....that was actually quite funny. The copy went like this...

clown bike for sale - $75 (downtown)

Date: 2010-03-02, 7:32PM EST
Reply to: sale-k9cte-1625702653@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

found this out side of the Marriot Friday and it looked like it had been there awhile so I took it home but it's kinda gay. I really don't want to lose my hood pass so I'll let it go cheep.

When the ad went live, tweets were spreading like wildfire. Somehow someway the guys at geekhousebikes and the owner of the bike got the police involved. Turns out it was all a big joke. You can read geehouse's take on the story here.

Now how does the Bike Snob factor into this? Apparently he was one of the first to tweet. Is that an admission to guilt or involvement? I think not. But, none the less the guy from geekhouse decided to track down the well kept identity of the Bike Snob as some sort of payback. If geekhouse is correct then the identity of the bike snob is Ben Schumin.

So what does that mean to you and I? NADA. Will it stop me from enjoying his columns? NOPE.

Moots Gristle 96er

Christian — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:29:31 +0000

I may own a Dean, but my heart has always belonged to Moots when it comes to titanium bikes. (Kent Erikson's work...is quickly climbing the ranks though and I'll be sure to talk more about them later). While at the NAHBS I spent a lot of time at the Moots booth checking out their new lineup. Later while thumbing through their catalog I came across this setup that I have been toying with in my head. I've got some extra parts laying around and think it would be fun to try this setup. If anyone has ridden this bike or a bike with a similar setup I'd love to hear from you.

29 inch in the front / 26 inch in the back

Urban Velo covers the NAHBS

Christian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:23:48 +0000

If you'd like to get a look at some of the best bikes from the North American Handmade Bicycle show....I promise you, there is no better source than Urban Velo. Their shots are professionally staged and lit. No iphone shennanigans here.

A sample of the quality you can expect.

When it’s OK to steal a bike.

Christian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:27:53 +0000

I found this video over on the Freeman Transport blog today. I myself have exercised this ethical ruling on two occasions. Both times involved bikes being dumped in my back yard and left there for several months. Neither bicycle were remotely rideable before or after being locked, and to this day I'm still baffled as to how they wound up there.

the ethics of stealing a bike from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

Llewellyn Bikes

Christian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:23:52 +0000

The NAHBS was full of incredible bicycles. The majority of them seemed entirely too perfect to be designed by mere mortals. Despite all of that, the bikes built by Darrell McCulloch really stood out to me. It won best paint but in my mind it could have won best of everything. Judging from the crowds of people that always seemed to be hovering around this frame, I wasn't that only one to think that.

Do you need a Llewellyn bike?

1.Need functional and rational engineering

2. Want a superb riding bicycle.

3. Understand craftsmanship

4. Appreciate beautiful form in a bicycle

5. Must have a unique bicycle for your self.

6. Durability is to be desired.

If one or more of the above is you,

Then Llewellyn Bikes can satisfy your needs.

If not, you must not ride a bicycle with any passion!!

I am Darrell McCulloch, the only person behind "Llewellyn Custom Bicycles"

No chrome on this. This is all done by hand polishing the steel.

North American Handmade Bicycle Show – Winners

Christian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:55:19 +0000

The winners were announced from this past weekends show. Not a ton of surprises here for me. I was sad to see that my favorite builder Llewellyn walked away with only a win in the best paint category.

Here is a short list of the winners. The full list can be found here.

Ellis Cycles – Best of Show

Bilenky – Best Road Frame

Richard Sachs – Best Track Frame

Crumpton – Best Carbon Fiber

Ericksen – Best Titanium

North American Handmade Bicycle Show

Christian — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:49:16 +0000

Like many other bicycle zealots, this past weekend I made the pilgrimage to Richmond, VA for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. The crowd size was almost as impressive as the bikes themselves. To try and go through the entire day in one paragraph will belittle the event. Instead, I'll likely spend the next week bringing to light some of my favorite builders of the weekend.

However, there was one truth about myself that was revealed. I'm a steel and titanium guy. Time and time again I found myself drawn to the builders using these beautiful materials. Aluminum bores me, Carbon seems like cheating, and bamboo is just too ugly.

Oh, and before I die, I'll build a frame on my own.

The streets of Richmond were barren

Your host

Parking was sparse outside of the Convention Center

Giro d’italia to DC is officially announced (kind of)

Christian — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:10:13 +0000

Last night the Giro d'Italia to DC story was officially announced (technically it was a reception) at the Italian Embassy. The guys from District Cycling were on hand covering the story.

Adam and Gregg of District Cycling

Mayor Fenty receives a custom Colnago.

Adam says too heck with the Mayor and the tall italian from the Knicks

Bittersweet arrival of my new BMC

Christian — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:27:04 +0000

Yesterday was a bittersweet day for me. At about 10am a package arrived for me at work. Inside was my shiny new frame. There are quite a few bike lovers here at Discovery so I had a great audience for the unveiling. The general consensus is that the frame is a thing of beauty. It truly is. The next 7 hours were torture. I had to work and I had to wait...when all I really wanted to do was get home get building.

When I got home, I immediately got to work. The first thing I realized was that the tubing on the BMC is so unsual (right down to the teardrop seat post) that my DIY bike stand was rendered useless. Throughout the next 30 minutes or so I slowly started to build...but each time I found myself gaining some momentum, I was quickly turned back. #1. I don't have the right wrench for a campy bottom bracket. #2. The new fork is much deeper than my previous one...which means that my brake mounting nut is too short. #3. The downtube is unusually sized rendinging my clamp on front derailleur uselss. #4. This one I actually had anticipated...the fork needs to be cut. Problem is, I don't have any extra spacers laying around. So, despite my best efforts, all I have is a pretty thing to look at. Nothing to ride just yet. Which is killing me when I factor in that I'm waiting on a new headset for my Dean. I'm bikeless (aside from my bmx's) at the moment.

Park's BBT-4 wrench. I need one.

Something so small can cause so much pain.

This will be an unexpected $70+ purchase.

Another little culprit

NAHBS Preview from Independent Fabrications

Christian — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:33:13 +0000

My oh my...what have we here! Seriously, the Independent Fabrication boys have outdone themselves with this one. Makes me proud to say that I still refer to Boston as home.

Built for Phil Wood ("Build it strong. Keep it simple. Make it work.") this titanium machine is gorgeous. I can't wait to get up close to this one this weekend.

2012 Giro d’Italia is coming to the District

Christian — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:58:10 +0000

This is irrefutable proof that there are perks to having an avid cyclist as mayor. I have no idea how or why a portion of this Italian classic is being raced on American soil....but I'm not complaining. This event will draw the best of the best riders. Thank you Mr. Fenty. You can read more about it here.

MASH is throwing an alleycat race at the NBHBS

Christian — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:44:26 +0000

MASH is putting on a race this weekend with the winner receiving a hand-built, hand-painted fixed gear bike valued at $2000.......that's no joke. For those of you who are unaware of MASH...check here. For those unfamiliar with what an alleycat races is...check here.

courtesy of Prolly is Probably

BOUND FOR RICHMOND! The 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show

Christian — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:33:40 +0000

The 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virgina, February 26-28. We’re expecting a great showing from the handmade community for our first show on the East Coast! Exhibitor registration is off to a great start, with builders like Crumpton, Richard Sachs, Vanilla, and Independent Fabrications already commited. The ever-growing list is available here. Trust me. The lineup is sick.

Last time I was in Richmond I drove away in a beaten down 1971 Mercury Cougar. I wonder what the city has in store for me this time.

@mellowjohnnys wants to see your bike shop

Christian — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:57:41 +0000

Today, @mellowjohnnys put out a request to all of their followers to share photos of their at-home bike shops. I decided to participate. Gone are the days when I had 17 bikes crammed into this room. Now, I've got a pretty manageable fleet. I boxed up the Ellsworth and the BMC hasn't arrived yet, so I'm one short. But...here is my current stable from left to right.

#1. This Fuji frame, #2 Sarah's Gary Fisher Mullet, #3 Dean Duke, #4 Shogun Samurai, #5 Schwinn Varsity, #6 GHP Pro XXL, #7 Hutch Pro Racer , #8 Schwinn Thrasher frame, #9 Casati Cometa, #10 DIY Repair stand

It’s over. The fixed craze has gone too far.

Christian — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:01:26 +0000

Maybe I was a bit harsh on this beer brewed by the guys at Lakefront Brewery. Because you know what,....I'm guilty of always purchasing wine with bicycles on the label. And who doesn't love Fat Tire Ale?

and the winner is…2009 BMC SL01

Christian — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:43:19 +0000

Friday night, I pulled the trigger on my new road bike. Once again I threw caution to the wind and purchased a frame without test riding it. However, at least I took the time and had a proper fitting done.

I chose the BMC SL01 for a few reason. #1. Technology: I loved the theory behind the carbon/aluminum hybrid. The more I read about it, the more I was sold on it. #2. Cost: I was able to find the frameset (frame, fork, headset, seatpost, seatclamp) marked down from $999 to $699 on Competitive Cyclist. That price tag came in $150 cheaper than the CAAD9. No doubt I'll use that $150 for some other upgrades. #3. Availability: I called two local shops to track down a 56cm CAAD9 this weekend and the best they could offer was mid March. That sealed the deal. I'm not waiting until mid March to get back on the road.

So there you have it, soon enough I'll be starting a new chapter with the BMC. I can't wait to get to know it.

Surly Long Haul Trucker

Christian — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:30:22 +0000

Got hit with an email blast yesterday. The ad for Surly's Long Haul Trucker caught my eye. It's been out for a while now. But I had never seen any images of it with this unusual wheel setup.

As much as I love Surly products and this frame. It reminds me of a less awesome version of this.

BMC SL01 vs CANNONDALE CAAD 9 1

Christian — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:31:38 +0000

There is nothing more exciting and enjoyable for me as a cycling enthusiast than shopping for a new bike. In that sense, I suppose I'm very much like a woman shopping for shoes. I love looking at the colors, checking out the new materials...etc..etc. I find that thinking about and building up a new bike is almost as much fun as riding it.

I wish I had the disposable income that would afford me to purchase whatever frameset I wanted. When there is no price tag too high, there are some incredible incredible machines. But, when you give yourself a sub $1000 frameset price tag...the process becomes a bit more challenging. But, I'm definitely one of those guys who enjoys finding great deals.

Which brings me to the top 2 contenders vying to be my next road frame. The BMC SL01 (recommended to me by a friend at my LBS) and the Cannondale CAAD 9 1 (recommended to me by Gregg of District Cycling). After getting their reco's, I've sat down and read a ton of reviews on both of these rigs and they are all favorable. But as always, I welcome all comments from those who have a history with either of these bikes.

BMC SL 01

The face lift performed to the Road Racer SL 01 for 2009 was so thoroughgoing, that we sometimes wonder why BMC didn't give it a brand new name. It bears virtually no resemblance to the original generation of the Road Racer -- one of our all-time best selling framesets, a real favorite to riders looking to extract maximum value for their money. And perhaps, in fact, this is why the name didn't change. Even though its design is all-new, the Road Racer is still THE standout model for ROI.

The silhouette of the Road Racer is all-but-identical to the Race Master SLX 01. The reason for this, of course, is its use of the BMC Streampost, a design detail first introduced on the Race Master. From a distance it might look like the same sort of integrated seatpost commonly seen on high end Ridley, Scott, and Giant frames. It's not the same thing, though. While it offers the beauty, the stiffness, and the aerodynamics of an integrated post, it has the adjustability of a standard post.

You'll be surprised by the thinness of the carbon walls used on the Streampost. This thinness is a function of the fact that no clamping forces are put on the Streampost. At the bottom side of the post is a wedge (not unlike an old quill stem) with a small bolt you pretension to put outward pressure on the seat tube, thereby giving the post some grip inside the frame. A carbon fiber cable connects this wedge to the locking bolt at the top of the post. Once the wedge is pre-tensioned you can still adjust the post up and down. And once the post is perfectly positioned you simply turn the locking bolt to hold everything in place. This locking bolt is literally an on/off bolt. It puts no tension on the frame. The first time you use it you'll be surprised at its elegance and its ease to use.

Other details give it great similarity to the Race Master. It uses the same seat tube and CNT carbon fiber chainstay, which provides the same stiff-under-power ride quality you get on the Race Master. The critical difference between the two frames is what gives you your cost savings here. The Race Master is a "mixed material" frameset -- a way of saying that BMC makes extensive use of carbon fiber in the main triangle to shed weight. In contrast, the main triangle of the Road Racer is made completely from hydroformed, triple-butted, 7000-series aluminum.

The down tube and seat tube of the Road Racer are as wide as the bottom bracket where they mate to it. Ditto with the chainstays -- they're as tall as the bottom bracket shell where they connect. This massive surface area is all about power transfer. Hydroforming is the only technology that allows BMC to morph the shape of the aluminum tubes into different profiles along their length. This gave BMC the ability to put stiffness where it's needed without forcing the Road Racer to ride like a jackhammer. Stiffness here doesn't translate into harshness. It's also why the seat tube can be built with such oversized dimensions at the BB shell, but then transition into a wind-cheating airfoil profile for the bulk of its length.

The Road Racer is available in 6 sizes and in two colors. It comes standard with an Easton carbon fiber fork built with an aluminum crown and steerer. It comes with an FSA threadless headset and the Streampost carbon fiber seatpost. It requires the use of an English bottom bracket and a braze on front derailleur. This one comes in around $699.

Cannondale CAAD 9 1

ALLOY PERFORMANCE:

The CAAD9 is the best alloy bike at any price. Cannondale's quarter century of aluminum design experience means the CAAD9 is the most refined and technologically advance alloy frame on the planet. In short, it outperforms lesser carbon frames.

BB30:

Now on the CAAD9! The BB30 was invented to give riders everywhere more power from every pedal revolution. Shave weight, maximize pedaling effort and ride faster. With the Hollowgram Si SL, it's the lightest crankset/BB combo in the world.

VERSATILITY:

As an Elite frame in Cannondale's road line, the CAAD9 has Pro-Tour geometry that’s at home in continental pelotons. But it’s equally suited for multi-day charity rides and remains a cult favorite when knocking elbows at the local crit race.

PRICING:

This one is a bit tougher to get an accurate price on because of Cannondale's relationship with bike shops. I'm going to have to walk into a shop and negotiate the price. But, the entire bike retails for $2999. So, I'm hoping that I can get the frameset for a price near to the BMC. But we shall see.

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Christian — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:07:51 +0000

Another item sent from Fancy Seeing You Here. This poster is designed locally in Rockville, MD by El Jefe Design and is available for $25.

Candy Cane

Christian — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:03:12 +0000

This fun photo was sent to me to me via Fancy Seeing You here.

Cutters Ball

Christian — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:52:06 +0000

For those of you in the MNPLS region, you may want to check out this event taking place at the Angry Catfish Bicycle and Coffee Bar. Still puts a smile on my face every time I see that Cutters shirt.

Online Fit Calculators: Competitive Cyclist and Wrench Science

Christian — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:48:24 +0000

After my recent ride on the Ellsworth I've decided to delve into this 'perfect fit' thing a bit more. To help with that, I went over to the Competitive Cyclist's website and to the Wrench Science's website too do a little online fitting. Both of the sites are full of gorgeous bikes. We're talking about the best of the best here. As for the fit calculators themselves, they share several of the same measurements. But there are differences, so it's interesting to see their fitting theories in practice.

If you've got time, and a person to help...I really recommend taking the time to run through their measurements. Not only did I find out that I'm riding the wrong sized frame, but I also found out that I'm no longer 6'2" (maybe I never was) like I had thought. I'm now a weeneriffic 6'1".

In the end, you can see that both systems rendered similar results. And what does all this mean? Well, it means that if you've got $600 laying around, you can get your hands on a gorgeous Ellsworth Flight frame (sells for $1199). For an extra $50 I'll toss in the carbon fork and Cane Creek integrated headset.

My results from Competitive Cyclist.

My results from Wrench Science

GamJams CompuTrainer Time Trial: Back in the saddle again

Christian — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:26:18 +0000

This morning I participated in the GamJams CompuTrainer TimeTrial Throwdown. Before I get into how I fared, I should note that Conte's in Bethesda is a gorgeous bike shop. If you've got deep pockets and a love for cycling you will not find a better place to pick up some seriously top end gear. I'm not top end, so I seldom shop there. But that's beside the point.

When I arrived at the event, the shop was buzzing. It felt like Target on xmas eve. I couldn't believe how many people were there. I immediately felt a surge of adrenaline...and nerves. The first group of riders were already warming up. Amongst them was Adam Austin, the guy who won this contest, writes for District Cycling, and happened to be at the Mellow Classic when I was there. That's how I know him. He's a cool guy, but that being sad, he deserves all the blame for my suffering today.

Watching the first race was a bit unsettling, guys that were clearly in better shape, sporting team jerseys and riding sweet machines were laboring. They were sweating buckets. When all was said and done the winner finished the 10mile course in about 27minutes.

Now it was my turn.

For those who haven't seen or tried a CompuTrainer...you're missing out. It's a pretty slick piece of equipment. The tension on the trainer adjusts to the incline on the big screen tv in front of you. Because you can see the hill coming in front of you, you're able to anticipate the need to drop a gear and vice versa. In addition, the big screen provides, MPH, Avg MPH, Watts, Avg Watts, RPM, Mileage Traveled, Distance behind leader...and a few others that I had no need for. I should note, this was my first time ever on a trainer, which means that everything from here on out is going to be awful in comparison.

My group turned to be a small one. Very small. It was just myself and a very likable and older Cat 4 rider named John. Because this is my first year of serious racing, I'm a Cat 5. Here is a quick equation of what that means for the non racers out there (Cat 5 = bum). I secretly had hoped I'd have been alongside a svelte Cat 1 rider who was going to push me.

So the race begins and being the baffoon I am, I realize that my ipod is in my pocket. Instead of sprinting out of the gates, I spend the first 4 minutes with my hands off the bars fiddling with my shuffle before realizing that it's not charged. So much for my motivating playlist. My idiocy is once again reconfirmed. The best part of that little stint was hearing the guy running the event telling me that "this is a race, you shouldn't be doing that." Having him scold me (jokingly of course) for talking and goofing off and generally making light of the event would become a theme. "If you can talk, you're not going hard enough" In hindsight, I should have listened to him...turns out he coaches a cycling team.

The ride was fun. I was cruising along, asking him about wattage output and what is good and what is not. Turns out I produce a decent number for an unfit slob. I averaged 220watts for the 10mile ride but at times got it up over 350. No doubt, those numbers occurred when I turned my hat around and utilized the Lincoln Hawk power generator maneuever. But alas, not even the hat could help propel me up the final 8% grade with any sort of pace to be proud of. For 9.75miles I felt strong and may have held back more than I should. But, for that last .25 I gave it my all and was not rewarded for it. That hill owned me. Owned me.

In the end, I finished in under 33minutes, and I won my group (John and I) by a more than comfortable margin. Actually, it was entirely too comfortable. After the first mile the race was all but decided. I really wish I had been pushed by someone other than myself. I had quite a bit left and definitely would be lying if I claimed to have left it all out there. But oh well. It was my first ride of the year. I had a great time and it'll serve as a great barometer for things to come. I'm not sure what my next race will be, but I'm officially looking. I know I'd be up for another one of these GamJam events. It was a blast.

As for the Ellsworth. It certainly turns head. I'm not sure I own a bike that gets more 'beautiful bike' comments. But, I left a bit concerned about its viability as a serious racing bike for me. The frame is huge. I installed a super short MTB stem on it so that I could reach the bars, and yet I'm still stretched. Also, not one, not two, but three separate people commented on how much power I was pushing thru the bottom bracket and how much the frame was flexing. That power is important to me. I want it transferring to the rear tire, not the frame. I don't have a ton too spare. I should point out that, that little flex is what makes the Ellsworth sublime on longer group rides. Nothing harsh about it. But, I want harsh and stiff, so at this point I'm not sure what to do. Seems like it might be fun to go out and test drive some of the new geometry's and see what's out there. Sure will be tough though, because man oh man...the Ellsworth is gorgeous.

On the eve of my demise

Christian — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:19:34 +0000

Somehow, someway I found myself signing up for a ComputerTrainer Time Trial today. I'm not sure how it happened actually. What I do know is that I'm in serious trouble. This undboubtedly has the potential to be one of the most humiliating and humbling experiences of my adult life. To say that I'm in bad shape is a gross understatement. Unlike some of my peers who spent these snow laden days sweating to their precious Sufferfest videos. I drank my face off and shoveled. When I wasn't shoveling, I was drinking my face off, eating fatty foods, and building a spectacular near Olympic caliber luge in my back yard! Tequila and luge runs. I'm fairly certain that's not in the how to be a good cyclist handbook.

If that wasn't reason enough to be worried. Consider this, I've never once ridden on a trainer, and this will be my 2nd ride ever on my Ellsworth. DOOMED.

So, on the eve of my demise I am racking my brain to come up with as many excuses as possible. (A skill, I should point out, that every never-do-well cyclist must have). I've got a few solid excuses already....so I should be fine come race day. Fact is, the bulk of my training for this event will take place tonight, while I sit back and watch the Sommers brothers. See..that was another good one right there! Sweet.

But, truth be told, I'm anxious to get my ass handed to me. It'll be the wake up call I need for this upcoming season. I've been slacking too hard and for too long. It's time to get serious again. And nothing motivates like humiliation!

My Leadville Trail 100 rejection letter

Christian — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:05:36 +0000

Dear Leadville Trail 100 Family,

We deeply regret that we were unable to accept your application into
the 2010 Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race.  We really wish we
could accommodate every interested rider, but we simply can’t.	Our
goal and primary obligation is to offer every racer the nation’s
highest quality athletic experience with the utmost degree of safety,
medical care and racer support.  The ever increasing numbers of
returning racers and new applicants are testimony we are meeting our
goal.  We do not keep a waiting list and cannot yet accept entries for
2011.

There is still ONE way you can gain entry into the race. For the third
year, the Leadville Trail100 has partnered with Carmichael Training
Systems to host three 2-day mountain bike camps in Leadville in July
2010 in preparation for the LT100 MTB Race.  Camp participants will
earn guaranteed entry into the race and the race entry fee is included
in the camp fee.  Athletes who are unsuccessful in the lottery will
have first priority to get into a CTS LT100 Camp. Call CTS today at
866-355-0645 or visit www.trainright.com to reserve a camp spot and
we’ll see you at the start line on August14. 

We would also encourage you to consider entering the awesome 50 mile
“Silver Rush” on July 17.  It’s a tough, demanding and incredibly
beautiful ride in Leadville’s historic east side mining district.
Also new this year is 24 Hours of Leadville on Sept. 4 & 5 – for when
100 miles isn’t enough! Try it solo or grab some of your friends and
sign up as a team. In addition, we are offering a special $50 discount
on the 24 Hours of Leadville race by including this Code: 24Pb on the
race application. Simply download it from the web site, fill it our
and mail it in! 

Last, but certainly not least, we always need and welcome volunteers
to assist the mountain bike and running events.  Not only is it very
rewarding to help other riders and runners achieve their goals, but
preference in the 2011 entry process is also given to those who
volunteer for any of our 2010 races.

We are sincerely grateful for your enthusiasm and dedication to the
“Race Across the Sky”.

					In appreciation,
					Ken Chlouber
					President, Leadville Trail 100

Leadville Trail 100
www.leadvilletrail100.com

Have no fear…KTRACK is here.

Christian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:59:15 +0000

Frustrated by the snow? Had enough of your trainer? Looking for someway/somehow to ride in this snow? If so...then you may want to consider this interesting conversion kit created by KTRACK. For about $530 you can create a monster like this.

Ktrack is a universal tracted rear drive kit that will transform your mountain bike into the ultimate all terrain riding machine. It is designed to provide traction for previously unridable surfaces such as snow and sand.

Bodega x BaileyWorks x Independent Fabrication launches 2/12 Paper Labels Project Preview

Christian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:26:49 +0000

This is a very cool collaboration from three killer New England outfits. PAPER LABELS is a design project uniting BaileyWorks (Portsmouth NH), Bodega(Boston) and Independent Fabrication(Sommerville MA) – Three local DIY crews hellbent on creating the best in their respective fields. Since 1993, BaileyWorks has been hand crafting the most durable and elegant courier bags to survive the daily abuse of Bike Couriers. Independent Fabrication transforms metal and carbon into rolling pieces of art - bespoke bicycles measured and tuned perfectly to the individual with the meticulous care of artisans.

Valentine Bike Chain Pendant

Christian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:35:40 +0000

If you're scraping together nickels for this upcoming Valentines day....consider this DIY project from the Pedal Princess. that I found over at Cyclelicious.

How to make a Valentine out of Bicycle Chain - More cool how to projects

Heavy Pedal

Christian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:53:03 +0000

For good reason, Heavy Pedal's wares have been making the rounds on the bike blog circuit. They've got some really cool t-shirts and free downloads available to all. The site itself is really well designed, I love the logo and the ashphalt background. Most definitely the work of an accomplished designer. Well done. Heavy Pedal. Well done.

Want to drink and pedal? The Wisecracker makes your dreams come true.

Christian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:37:34 +0000

Found this one via a Bikesnobnyc tweet last night. It's made by Ahrens bicycles who also make some pretty sweet looking frames.

Mountain biking and beer go together hand-in-hand. The WiseCracker bottle opener is your key to opening pure liquid enjoyment after any ride. No need to fumble around looking for your keychain opener...just use the opener that's clamped onto your bike! If you're looking for the seat post version, it is available in very limited quantities. We are phasing out this product due to high manufacturing costs. It's made for 1-1/8" steer tubes.

2010 Thought You Knew Us Calendar

Christian — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:39:32 +0000

The TyK Project was created to address modern day stereotypes of women. Frustrated with being pegged as either mechanically savvy but asexual, or cute but inept with their bikes, these PinUps showcase the dual nature that women cyclists embody.

The Ladies of TyK are everyday cyclists. They are not models. These women ride the streets of Chicago for a living, for transportation, or just for fun. But once in the photo studio, they’re given a chance to show off their femininity.

The Ladies who participate in the TyK Project learn to embrace their sexy side, too often crushed down in favor of being taken seriously.

The PinUp Calendar forces people to look at the women they see every day, dirty and greasy, riding their bikes out on the street, as feminine and sexual beings. It forces people to realize that just because a woman is wearing a dress doesn’t mean she’s unable to fix a flat.

The Proceeds from the TyK Project go directly to the Chicago Women’s Health Center [CWHC]. Providing health care and health education to women in Chicago, they have long filled a gap in the US health care system. TyK is proud to give CWHC a leg up.

Below are a few snapshots from the 2009 Calendar. Calendars are available here.

Death Spray Custom handlebars (not wrap)

Christian — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:28:54 +0000

Death Spray Custom partnered with Cinelli to create these featherlight carbon handlebars. No vinyl wrap or stickers.

WOOLPOWER: HIGH PERFORMANCE GARMENTS FROM SWEDEN.

Christian — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:08:26 +0000

From time to time I feel compelled to recommend a product to my readers. Today is such a day. I'm here to tell you that WOOLPOWER is heaven sent.

After being blasted by over 2 feet of snow this weekend, I finally found myself with the opportunity to break out a mid-layer garmet I have been dying to put too the test. Recently, I scored a Woolpower Full Zip Jacket 400 for an incredible deal of only $50 at MidwayUSA. (sorry, price is already back up to $117). Not cheap, but even at $117, I think it's worth it.

I'm not going to go into great detail about why I loved it. Fact is, the garmet did everything it claimed it could. It was warm and comfortable, it wicked away moisture like nobody's business (layers above and below were soaked, but this layer was dry), it was even self cleaning like it claimed. In short is was arguably the best purchase I've ever made when it comes to clothing. I couldn't possible love it more. I wish I had bought 2. In fact, I am going to get a 2nd, and probably several other garmets from Woolpower in the upcoming weeks. It's that good.

My new favorite article of clothing.

I'm usually against labels, but I love this product so much that I'm even excited about the label stitched into the back collar

Woolpower are HIGH PERFORMANCE THERMAL UNDERGARMENTS. FROM SWEDEN. Material comes in various weights, each of which has a different function and advantage. Woolpower garments are available in 200, 400, 600 och 800 g/m².

Woolpower garmets, as you may have gathered, are primarily (2/3 wool, 1/3 synthetic fibers). They refer to it as Ullfrotté Origina. It was developed by Woolpower AB in Östersund in the early 1970’s in collaboration with the Swedish military, scientists, doctors and survival experts. The textile is highly wear resistant and consists of fine Merino wool, polyamide/polyester and air.

ULLFROTTÉ ORIGINAL IS 80% AIR
The material is knit so that one side is smooth, and the other has terry loops. The lofty terry loops, in combination with the crimp in the wool fibers, creates a knitwear capable of trapping a lot of air. Up to 80% of the material actually consists of air, which means that the material has an excellent capacity to trap body heat. The more air you can keep still around the body, the more heat you can retain.

Oh, almost forgot. One of the coolest features of this garmet, and undoubtebly a source of pride for those manufacturing it, is that each garmet is created by one seamstress. No assembly line here. One seamstress, one garmet. And to prove it, Woolpower has each seamstress affix their own label onto it. Bye the way, thank you Lise-Lotte Rundstrom...I absolutely love my jacket.

The finished, shaped pieces are sewn together to create a finished garment. Each garment is sewn by one seamstress.

The UCI Bans Ritte Racing’s Bosberg

Christian — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:33:51 +0000

Oh man, have I mentioned how much of a fan I've become of Ritte Racing. These videos are great.

Once your done with that video. Check out the behind the scenes footage from their recent shoot.

Revolution Cycles Snowmageddon 2010 Photo Contest

Christian — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:04:01 +0000

From Revolution Cycles

Due to the overwhelming success of the Snowpocalypse of 2009 contest, we’re bringing in another 2 feet of snow and giving you another chance to participate! We’ll deliver the snow (approximately 16-24 inches of the white fluffy stuff), and all you have to do is venture outside and snap some photos of bikes and snow. You can be on the bike, you can find a bicycle-like object buried in the snow, or you can fashion your own bicycle-snowman creation. Get creative! Think bikes! Win Revo-cash-money!

I Have a Photo. Now What?

Submit your image to our facebook wall and title it SNOWMAGEDDON Photo Contest. You can add more to the description, but make sure the contest title is included. One image per person, please.

Contest Details

We're giving away a $10 gift card to Revolution Cycles! The gift card is good at any and all of our locations. One winner will be selected for the photo contest. Each participant may submit only one photo. The Revo marketing machine will be judging your submissions based on originality/creativity and relevance (we want to see bikes! And snow!). Please post your submissions by Friday, February 12th and we'll announce the lucky winner on Monday, February 15th.

This is the previous winner

More fun from Ritte Racing

Christian — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:50:05 +0000

It's no secret that I've become quite of fan of Ritte Racing. In fact, I have a hunch that you'll likely spot me in one of their kits later this year. Now, if I could only drum up the loot in order to score one of their beautiful Bosbergs.

eBay + beer + iphone = ramen noodles until my next paycheck

Christian — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:31:22 +0000

There is one thing I should have figured out about myself by now...and that's to not track ebay auctions while I have a beer in my hand. The lethal combination has wobbled my finances on several occasions. A carefree $500 here and $900 there, never feel as fun in the morning. In defense of myself, I must say that I always score great deals when I'm in this wide-eyed tunnel visioned state. I've scored a Dean Duke titanium frame for $600, some Mavic rims laced with DT Swiss/Hugi hubs for $200. Both exceptional deals. The problem is not in the purchase price. The problem is in my lack of forthsight when it comes to bills and/or holidays that are on the horizon. Alas, the deadly combination of eBay, beer, and my iphone reared it's head again last night. While I should have been focusing on the pub trivia on hand, I was instead watching a set of new 2006 Mantiou R7 Platinum forks. By now you know how this story ends. For the purchase price of $242 (shipping included) I am now the owner of these. That $242 isn't bad at all. I thinks it's a great deal. But if you combine that with the possible $275 charge if I win the Leadville 100 lottery along with Valentines day and what you get is trouble.

Time to look under some sofa cushions.

A mere 2.9lbs. I do like that.

Snotcycle 2010 photos

Christian — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:48:14 +0000

As part of my daily cycling fix, I stopped over at District Cycling today. While there I came across a recap of the 2010 Snotcycle race held in Leesburg, MD. What made this event special was the sudden and heavy snow that led to a beautiful and brutal event. Thankfully for all of us, Bruce Buckley who goes by SEPants on Flickr was out there taking photos. The colorful jerseys amidst the snowy white forest made for absolutely stunning photographs. Below are just are small sample. More can be found here.

I chose not to enter this event on account of being as fit as a sloth. But, man oh man, I can't tell you how much I regret that decision. Sometimes just showing up is enough. I'll consider this a lesson learned.

Yakkay Bicycle Helmet

Christian — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:27:40 +0000

These new entries into the helmet community from Yakkay are undoubtedly inspired by equestrian helmets. I could definitely definitely definitely see these catching on with the lasses. Or if you're a Polo playing bicycle riding lad.

From their website: The main function of your bicycle helmet is to protect your head. But that doesn't mean you have to compromise on your style when wearing it. If you are among those who use your head, you are using a helmet, and if you are also among those who appreciate looking stylish - you wear a YAKKAY helmet.

YAKKAY helmets are specially designed for you, so you can feel safe and stylish at the same time. Available in 4 styles.

A Beautiful Klunker

Christian — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:01:46 +0000

Came across this one in the gallery section over at Rat Rod Bikes today. It's a gorgeous ride. Also, it's worth checking out the trailer for the Klunkerz movie which documents the origin of mountain bike racing.

Juice Lubes

Christian — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:36:48 +0000

I have no first hand knowledge of these products, but I was drawn to their packaging and website. Judging from the reviews the products work as well.

Nicholi Rogatkin: The Future

Christian — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:20:46 +0000

Wow, wow, wow. I just happened to be flipping the channels tonight and caught a rebroadcast of Nike 6.0's BMX competition held in Huntington Beach. Competing in the event was this little kid who was tearing up the park. I was so blown away that I peeled myself off the coach just to dig a little deeper. What I discovered just blew me away. Nicholi Rogatkin is a 13 year old Boston native (love that part) who pulled his first 360 at 12 years of age. This kid is ridiculous. You can read what ESPN has to say about him here.

Check out the video of him as a 12yr old landing his first 360 in his backyard. I'm stupified.

DIY SPD Cleated Sneakers

Christian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:02:28 +0000

If you are one of those guys who loves the feel of being clipped in but hate sounding like a tap dancer whenever you walk around on hard surfaces..then you really need to look into this clever DIY project from DJ CATNAP. Check it out here.

I Love My Bike Book (website)

Christian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:27:02 +0000

For those of you following the exploits of Matt and Brittain, I received news today that the site detailing their project is up and running.

Hi everyone,
Well the west coast tour is over and we are pleased to say it was a success!! It was great meeting everyone and seeing all the beautiful cities. We will try our best to make it back out soon
We are currently working on finalizing dates for March. Anywhere/anyone you feel we should see, feel free to let us know. We will be in NYC next week!! (location TBA)
Brittain and I want to take this time to thank everyone for having the same passion for bikes that we have and for everything that you have all done to help spread the word of what we are doing. This all started with an idea to get the cycling community together as a whole; in one format or another. Now it has become greater than we could ever imagine. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this and other projects. Again, thank you all so much.

The web site is up and running. www.ilovemybikebook.comWe put some random photos up. We will be putting more and more up as we get a chance to sift through all of them. Let us know what you think.

That is it for now. Hope all is well, Matt and Brittain

Tweed Ride

Christian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:42:44 +0000

Apparently word of San Diego's Tweed Ride has reached Portland. If there is one thing that Portland does well....it's bicycles. I expect a huge turnout for this event and am anxious to see the photos. Head here for more information.

Cycling Jerseys that make a statement

Christian — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:38:40 +0000

Looking for a new jersey? Consider one that may keep you safe. Available here.

A keyhanger for bike lovers (DIY project)

Christian — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:15:48 +0000

Loren, the head honcho over at Walkietalkietees passed this one along today. Found on Freshbump is this clever recycling idea: a key hanger for every bike lover. By using the inner tube of your average bike tire, with additional valves, you can create an cheap and interesting hanger up your keys. Perfect for any sort of key...

A perk of working at the Discovery Channel

Christian — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:09:37 +0000

Like any other job, sometimes my gig bites it. But, when I look around my cubicle and see these posters...I'm reminded that sometimes this job has its rewards. I've got a set at work, a set at home....and a few extras in a drawer. These incredible posters were created by Travis Coburn. Not surprisingly, replacing Lance failed.

Bicycle houseware

Christian — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:53:38 +0000

Was your attempt to hang your beloved bicycle on the living room wall "in the name of art" thwarted? How about placing your beautiful Hutch BMX helmet on the mantle? Veto'd again? If so, I feel your pain.

Good news, if you're a guy looking to sneak some bicycles into your homes' decor without ruffling your gal pal's feathers...then I may have struck gold. These items below are definitely gal-pal friendly. You can see an even wider selection here.

How bad do you want a Titus?

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:29:47 +0000

It's not often that I find something cool and bicycle related on Adsoftheworld. Today, however, was one of those days. Check out this crazy ad campaign cooked up by TDA Advertising & Design and Titus. If you're willing to legally change your name, get married in Titus jerseys or get a tattoo of a Titus you could earn yourself a free bicycle.

Does cycling lower your IQ?

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:21:37 +0000

Check out what Adam over at District Cycling has to say about this troubling topic.

Winners of the Copenhagen Bike Share Competition

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:58:41 +0000

Check out these interesting and innovated bicycles that have won Copenhagen's Bike Share competition.

The first is called the OPEN BIKE, from LOTS DESIGN, KOUCKY & PARTNERS, GREEN IDEA FACTORY. Download the pdf of this winning design.

The other first prize winner (not sure how they can have 2 first prizes) is called the MYLOOP by THOMAS COULBEAUT. Download the pdf of this winning design.

Chrome Ivan rolltop bag

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:42:12 +0000

I recently got an email from a friend and fellow biker telling me about how a recent purchase...."I got the Ivan backback from Chrome with some Xmas gift cards... love it. I was a big fan of their shoulder bags, and I think I'm an even bigger fan of this roll-top." Thanks Tyler.

With that, I present to you Chrome's Ivan Rolltop Pack: Our medium sized all-purpose pack with a seam-sealed, roll-tight, waterproof compartment (beer cooler). Made in the USA. Guaranteed for Life.

Haiti Race in NYC

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:15:06 +0000

I won't be making the trek to NYC this weekend, but if you're in the city...this is an event worth getting behind. Details are on the flyer.

Cool Poster

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:12:12 +0000

As a designer I love coming across cool bicycle related artwork. Today I was lucky enough to come across this, which is available here.

Depending on the size, prices range from $17.64-$34.45

People love $1 stickers

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:07:23 +0000

I was checking out Pedal Consumption today and noticed that they had recently printed a run of stickers of their logo. The $1 price tag clearly proved to be irresistable. The stickers are already sold out. Not sure I have the following quite yet to warrant such a high price tag. Perhaps free would be the route to go for The Pedal Pusher.

Registration for the Leadville 100 is closing soon

Christian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:55:47 +0000

Because I desperately want to get into this event, I find it hard to write this post. But, I would be doing all of you a great disservice if I didn't mention that the online registration for the lottery to get into the Leadville 100 is rapidly closing. That's right, you have to enter and win a lottery to getting an entrance into this emasculating event. Registration closes on 1/30.

Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, August 14, 2010
Must be 21 years of age, acceptance to race by lottery only, $15 application fee, $275 automatically charged if accepted from lottery (entries close 1/31/10 at 5 p.m.), applicants notified of their status by 2/8/10

High in the moutains of Colorado, this is the race credited with bringing Lance Armstrong out of retirement. Also, unlike other races where you sit back and spectate as the pros rocket by....in this one, you're on the track with them. To get a sense of what you're up against, check out this video

Got questions on how to enter, how to volunteer, or how to train for that matter, CLICK ON THE PHOTO, and head over to www.ultrarob.com. Rob has raced the Leadville 4 times and crewed it twice so he's got a real good sense as to what works and what doesn't.Oh..and he's pretty handy with a camera (his photo above)

EMS Deluge Jacket review

Christian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:45:30 +0000

Growing up in New England as the son of a tireless hiker I spent a great deal of time shopping at Eastern Mountain Sports. I don't think my father ever let us pass one without entering to see the latest and greatest. Because of this, I have a life long affinity with the EMS brand. After an Autumn that was full of more rain than I can ever recall it was time for a rain shell. When christmas rolled around I returned to New England to being my search. There are two schools of thought when it comes to buying gear. Method #1) Buy something inexpensive and hope for the best. Method #2) Spend a lot more money than you'd really like too, but wind up with a product that will last. I'm a Method #2 guy. So for me, any shell that was not made with Gore-Tex was out. Gore-Tex, however, is not cheap. Not remotely. As fate would have it, EMS carried the most affordable gore-tex shell on the market. As a bonus, it only came in the Livestrong color palette.

Now aside from a zipper that requires some careful attention, I couldn't be happier with the jacket. I recently took the Deluge on a photo shoot to Dutch Harbor Alaska. As I had expected, the week was full of rain and driving winds. The jacket did not disappoint. Not only was it was great at repelling water but I was amazed at how well it blocked out the wind. In fact, once the wind was curtailed I found that I never needed a heavy jacket like most of my colleagues.

This morning I decided to give the Deluge a shot at becoming my cycling shell. I wasn't terribly optimistic because I've never had any luck with hooded jackets while cycling. But today all of that changed. The adjustments on the hood worked unbelievable well. The hood was snug and never fluttered about. It stayed on for the entire 20mile ride at speeds close to 40mph. (ok..that's a gross lie. More like 25mph). The only adjustment I had to make with the hood was to flip up the short brim as it interfered a bit with my visibility.

So...to sum things up. This jacket rocks. It packs down into the size of a ziploc bag. It repells water and wind equally as well. It looks good. And to top it off, it's cycling friendly. $180 very well spent dollars.

EMS Men's Deluge SYNC Gore-Tex Jacket

Designed to keep you dry, the ultralight and highly packable Deluge SYNC jacket features Gore-Tex PacLite for waterproof, breathable, windproof performance.

Features/Benefits:

SYNC-compatible: snap in a fleece for warmth without bulk
100% nylon ripstop fabric backed by Gore-Tex® PacLite®
Gore-Tex® PacLite® construction for lightweight, yet complete waterproof protection and breathable comfort
Fully seam-sealed; fused seams at hem and cuffs
Ultralight at only 11 ounces—ideal when weight and space are critical
Designed to be stashed at the top of your pack for quick access
Two-way zippered underarm vents release excess heat
Fixed hood with dual adjustment
Articulated elbows for easy motion
Two waterproof hand pockets
Waterproof center-front zipper with interior storm flap
Adjustable Velcro® cuffs
Hem cinch cord
Classic Fit: slight ease around body

Snotcycle

Christian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:59:21 +0000

If you're feeling fit (I'm not) and your live in the Mid Atlantic region you may want to check out second annual Snotcycle Moutain bike race taking place in Leesburg, VA on January 31st. The race is sponsored by Plum Grove Cyclery.

This is a "weather be damned" rain, sleet, the nastier the better, race.

We will be using Go Time Racings new Chip Timing system, having a little schwag, and a good old fashioned "Fear this", Screw the economy, rebel yell hella good time. If we are lucky, we may even have an unannounced visit from Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who hail from nearby Middleburg.

I dont want to hear any of the following crap:

My drivetrain will get damaged
My spandex will get dirty
I will slip in the mud
My toes will get cold
The bourbon in my water bottle tastes funny with cow crap in it

Each lap is approximately 8 miles of rolling single track. Run in the clockwise direction, meaning racers will begin the race through the camping area and enter the new extended pine section first.

You can find out more and register for the event here.

Pretty in Pink

Christian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:21:02 +0000

I'm posting this simply because I love how the bike was photographed.

Spoke Count: An art exhibit at the Chorus Gallery

Christian — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:13:32 +0000

Spoke Count is a collaborative installation featuring 100+ small works about bikes by various artists. It is estimated that there currently exist over one billion bicycles in the world- this show will attempt to visualize this (growing) mass of our favorite revolutionary transport.

Unfortunately the entry window has been closed and there are no details as to when the exhibit will occur. But, if you're in the Boston area this looks promising.

RITTE VAN VLAANDEREN: Serious racers who don’t take themselves so seriously.

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:20:04 +0000

Chances are you'll never see this team pulling the peloton up the French Alps, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth mentioning. Their story is really entertaining and it would appear I'd be a perfect candidate for their team. Makes me wish I was still living in SoCal. But, guys....if you're looking for a DC representative, I'm available. Aside from their racing team these guys also have a killer bike they call the Bosberg for sale. If you look very closely and with great focus, I've been told there is a bike in the photo below.

Feetbelts

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:48:38 +0000

Now I don't think these can hold a candle to the tried and true Hold Fast's pedal straps. But, I could be wrong. What I do know however, is that because the name Feetbelts is so clever I'm giving them some love.

Riding in Anchorage

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:20:25 +0000

Although I didn't get a chance to ride myself while out there, I left the city of Anchorage very impressed with their biking community. Despite the extreme cold and snow and ice covered roads the riders were out. The most shocking thing to me was their attire. Unlike myself and my wimpy mid-atlantic brethren, the riders out there weren't covered as if summiting Everest. With dedication like this, it's no wonder they are ranked as one of the fittest cities in America.

One of several 'skirted' riders I saw. God bless them.

Alaskafied 1903 Felt Bicycle

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:44:22 +0000

I stumbled across this modified 1903 from Felt while in Anchorage.

A stock 1903 from Felt

The 1903 features:

Cruiselite Rust-Free Aluminum Hydroform Frame
Springer Fork & 1-1/8” Oversized Threaded Headset
Aluminum Adjustable Quill Stem
Super-Wide Felt 50mm Aluminum Rims
Heavy Duty 12g Stainless Spokes
1-Speed Shimano Coaster Brake Hub
Felt Oversized Aluminum Double 5-Star Front Hub
26 x 2.125 Antique White Quick Brick Tires Front & Rear
Front & Rear Shorty Fenders

MSRP: $499

1979 Victor Vincente of America “Topanga”

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:20:34 +0000

I found this over at Velo Cult. If you haven't checked out that blog, you should. They do a great job of there. Some of the photographs are simply breathtaking. Definitely makes me want to elevate my game a bit.

Seeing this bike reminds me of something I used to do as a kids. I'd take a 20" bmx frame and put smaller wheels on it and remove the brakes. Basically...doing our best to turn it into a rideable clown car. Then I rustle up some friends and we'd find the biggest and scariest tree filled hill and try to see who could make it down without leaving their teeth in the trees.

This is a very rare and extremely cool vintage mountain bike with a great little side story to go along with it.

Some history to start things off. This was built in 1979 and it is the second Topanga bike that Victor Vincente of America built out of the 25 he made. In a way both him and Joe Breeze built the first mountain bikes as they both built them in different parts of California without knowing about what each other was doing. This bike has both 20 inch wheels which has some logic. Back in that time 26” rims were steel and low quality. BMX rims were light and strong. Also BMX tires were the best for off road. In the early days of mountain bikes builders were either influenced by 1930’s beach cruisers, BMX or even motorcycles to a lesser extent.

I’m Highfalutin

Christian — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:05:20 +0000

I'm getting fancy schmancy over here. I recently finished mocking up my business cards. Why do I need business cards you ask? The answer is, I don't. They'll likely end in a fish bowl at nearby restaurant in hopes of scoring me a years worth of pizza or something. None the less, I enjoyed designing them and I plan on letterpressing them with the help of Sarah.

San Diego’s Tweed Ride

Christian — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:07:38 +0000

I found this over at Velo Cult. I'm not sure where these fine chaps and lasses were able to score all of this tweed, but it sure looks like fun.Trust me, I'm just scratching the surface on photographs here. Check out there rest on the Velo Cult blog. I wonder what other themed bike events are still waiting to shared with the world.

Handlebar Tattoo

Christian — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:50:25 +0000

After a week away, I've been blown away by how much material I've missed on the blogs I read. Today, I've finally started to work my way through them. I started, of course, with the Bike Snob NYC. I found this gem there.

Now, I'm not one to condem tattoos...I have one myself, but this one is just preposterous. I'd really like to know if she's a bmxer, or was she dating someone who spent entirely too much time out riding and was hoping to keep him indoors. I do applaud the mushroom grips though.

Bike friendly city

Christian — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:00:28 +0000

For all of you unbalanced schleps, myself included, who haven't mastered the 'look at me, I'm way cooler than you' balance technique you're in luck. That is of course if you live in Copenhagen. The officials in that city sure do love their bikers. Check out these hand and footrails. The footrest reads “Hi, cyclist! Rest your foot here… and thank you for cycling in the city.”

2010 Garmin Cycling Kit

Christian — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:51:07 +0000

I don't know what's happening. Is there some sort of 'craptastic' design movement I'm not aware of? By all measures, the Radioshack jersey which I feel fell seriously short of the mark looks magnificent in comparision to team Garmin. Ok...maybe that's a bit too far. The Radioshack kit isn't more magnificent than anything.

I will say that I do really like the shorts on this kit. However, the rest makes me want to tear my eyes out.

Hmmm...I can see some white on that jersey. Shouldn't a logo be there?

The Tool Kit: an essential purchase

Christian — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:21:17 +0000

Jeff Spicoli once said, "Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it." Now, I'm not sure if Spicoli had the right set of tools to repairs Jeffersons' sweet TA, but he was onto something there. With the right set of tools any of us can fix almost anything on a bicycle. Bikes are simple machines, which is what makes them so timeless. For years I made do with some basic tools that I had acquired over the years, and for the most part they got the job done. But, from time to time, there were projects I wasn't able to tackle without specific tools. Of course, that doesn't mean I haven't tried (I've mangled a few bottom brackets back in the day with the old hammer and screwdriver technique).

Those days are gone now. Today, with my make shift repair stand and my tool kit and Sheldon Brown I can fix just about anything. There is something satisfying and therapeutic about working on my bikes. I pour myself a glass of whatever I'm drinking, turn on some tunes, and the world disappears.

Spin Doctor Pro Tool Kit available now for $129.99 at Performance

The Ellsworth Flight makes its debut

Christian — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:52:04 +0000

I woke up this morning to find it 54º and sunny outside. That's a far cry from what we had been having here in MD/VA/DC. It also happened to coincide with me finally (3 weeks of waiting) getting my order in from my local bike shop. With my Ellsworth Flight finally road worthy it was time to take it out.

This was my first ride on the bike so there was definitely a lot of stopping and adjusting going on as I tried to dial it in. After almost 30 miles I'm not quite sure I've got it quite right yet. The bike itself is stiff and blazes along on the straights and downhills. It definitely has some get up and go. I didn't push it on the downhill turns so I can't say for certain how it handles, but from all indications it tracks the turns nicely. The one part that I didn't like about the bike was the way it climbed. Granted this could be a product of my inactivity, but there was something about my position on the bike that made it really difficult to get any sort of momentum going on the climbs. And when I got off the saddle I felt like I was too far forward over the handlebars which is very odd because the frame seems altogether too large for me. It's probably poor fitness but I can't rule out that it's the geometry or the sizing of the frame in relation to me. Either way, it's as close as I've ever come to quitting on a climb. But I'm going to hold off on final judgement until I've had some time to get back into shape. The holidays and my recent trip to Alaska have reaked havoc on my fitness (12lbs heavier than my racing weight in Texas and less than 50miles ridden)

Still...I can already tell that it's not going to be that magical fit that I had with my Casati Cometa. Which incidentally, I intend to take to a welding shop and have it repaired. Stay tuned on that one. I've never seen or heard of anyone trying to repair a cracked headtube. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't wind up with a fork thru the heart.

I didn't catch the right light today. I'll have to head back and take some better photos later.

Reporting from Dutch Harbor

Christian — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:19:30 +0000

I'm standing on the Wizard looking out at one of the endless incredible views to be had in Dutch Harbor.

Since arriving on the 9th I've seen rain, snow, sleet, and driving wind.s I've seen gorgeous mountains, frolicking sea lions, and an astonishing amount of bald eagles. I've also seen a ton of crab pots, captains, crew members, boats, and the bar at the Grand Aelutian (nothing else to do here).

But, I'm sad to report that aside from the abandoned bike below, I saw no bicycles.

For the life of me, I wasn't able to figure out what all the blue was on this bike. It looked like paint...but it was everywhere.

Martina Jančíková: My vote for the hottest female biker.

Christian — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:21:15 +0000

As part of my quest to bring you the latest and greatest in the biking world, I make Chicks and Bikes a daily stop. It's hard work, but I begrudgingly do it. Yesterday I found a photo of a very talented looking rider. Sadly, there was no name attached to the photo. But in this day and age, that can easily remedied. After closer inspection I was able to make out the event name. A couple of keystrokes later I had found her. The name of this disarming young lass is Martina Jančíková.

It got me thinking. I wonder how many other beautiful riders are out there. If you've got a favorite. By all means...share. The comments are open.

I've traveled to Texas for an event. Just not sure I could make it too the Czech Republic

Fixie Crew coasting along

Christian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:30:53 +0000

Now I don't like to bash other cyclist out there. If you're out there and pedaling then you're alright with me. But, I have to say, this recent collaboration from Specialized Bicycles, Whole Foods NE, Capo Forma, and with the promotional support of Bike New York and Bicycling Magazine is a joke. I mean...come on! This piece is so out of touch with cycling that a member of the Fixie Crew is actually seen coasting on his bike! Now there is still hope for this series, but only if this is the last we see of the Fixie Crew.

Thankfully, I'm not alone. The Bike Snob NYC has a great writeup on this comic affair.

In the meantime, feast your eyes on this cornucopia of crap.

PEDALING: NYC - Episode 1 "Pizza Fixation" from Jim Fryer/BrakeThrough Media on Vimeo.

I Love My Bike book

Christian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:57:14 +0000

This looks promising. I was already planning to attend North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Richmond next month. This is just added incentive. I'm going to check in on this one. To find out more, email them at ilovemybikebook@gmail.com

Off to the market

Christian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:42:15 +0000

Last night my brother sent me an image of this crazy shopping cart contraption. It got me curious, so I checked out the url on the photo. Thereifixedit.com turns out to be a pretty interesting site. It's a museum to Crapsmanship. It also has a handful of interesting bike photos.

I wouldn't recommend any high speed cornering with that thing!

I'm somewhat baffled by this one. I need to see how this one works. Seems like very limited space for 2 sets of legs. But, I applaud the ingenuity.

This is one seriously treasured bicycle.

Removing paint from an old bike

Christian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:10:04 +0000

This weekend I plan to begin a build I've been seriously dragging my heels on. The first step on turning my bizarre Fuji into a single speed cyclocross beater-iffic bike will be to remove the Marlboro red paint. After speaking to a friend who also restores bikes, I'm going to give his method of using Mar- Hyde Tal strip extra strength paint remover a go. The idea of a spray and wipe method sure sounds like a dream compared to my old, sand, sand, prime, sand method. I'll keep you posted.

My weapon of choice

Woodgrain Bags from ReLoad

Christian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:47:46 +0000

I was checking out the goods at ReLoad this morning and came across this sweet collection of Woodgrained messenger bags. Not sure if it's the fact that arguably my fondest memories as a kid are of me spending time in my dad's workshop building furniture...but whatever the reason, I'm a sucker for anything wood grained. You can read here to find out how this collection came to be.

Heads up. Be prepared to spend in the $200 range for these bags. (available in an array of sizes and shapes)

ReLoad also has a host of other products available on their site. One of which....I'll be purchasing very soon.

1985 Profile Champ Pro XL

Christian — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:25:48 +0000

After seeing the Roaring 29'er from Peirera I decided to head down memory lane and dig up some photos of the Profile Champ Pro. Man was it worth it.

Profile's Champ Pro never quite caught on with the same fervor that their cranks did. Because of that, even on BMXmuseum which is the end all be all of bmx collections they are in short supply. But...what a beauty Quinonsem has built.

Frame: 1985 Profile Champ Pro XL

Serial#: N/A Profile didn't use serial #'s

Fork: 1985 Profile drilled for front brake

Tubes: 100% Cro-Mo

Handlebars: GT XT bars, aka Anderson bars

Number Plate: NOS Original Haro Tech Plate & number

Stem: Original Hutch Western H race stem

Grips: NOS A'me Unitrons red over white

Seatpost: NOS GT laid back post

Seat: NOS white Kashimax Aero

Seatpost clamp: NOS DC MX double hinged

Levers: NOS Dia-Compe tech 4

Front brake/pads: N/A

Rear brake/pads: NOS Dia-Compe MX-901 and NOS Grey Peregrine pads

Headset: Mint GT Epoch race

Cranks: Mint Profile 3rd Gen A cranks with retro spider

Pedals: New Hutch bear traps (JDB)

Front sprocket: Mint Sugino 43T Chainring

Chain: NOS Chrome Izumi Rear

sprocket/cog: NEW 16T Shimano

Wheels: NOS Chrome Araya 7x with Red Bullseye's, SS spokes and red ano nipples

Tires: New re-issue Tioga Comp III's yellow label

Tubes: 20 x 1.75 w/red valve caps

Roaring 29′er from Pereira Cycles

Christian — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:46:44 +0000

This machine was built by Pereira Cycles out of New Jersey Portland, OR. This is what they have to say about it. You can also check in on Tony's blog here.

"Winner of the "Best Off-Road Bicycle" award at the 2007 North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Inspired by the 1923 Elgin cruiser displayed on my mantel. An aesthetic exercise in practicality, the Roaring 29er combines classic styling with modern geometry and top-shelf components to turn heads on the race course or wherever else you ride it."

Van Dessel “The Country Road Bob”

Christian — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:11:34 +0000

Came across the magnificent Van Dessel outfit out of based out of New Jersey while using my tried and true 'click and wonder' technique on the web. I immediately fell in love with the Country Road Bob bike. The set up precisely what I had in mind for the Fuji I've yet to get started on. A couple of clicks later I came across their WTF (Whisky Tango Foxtrot) bike which is rumoured to be replacing the Country Road Rob. (I hope they keep both)

Our most beloved bike. Year after year, we fall for its single-speed charms. And we're not the only ones. Perhaps you heard what the folks at GQ said: "...the most perfect bike we've seen...you will rediscover the pure happiness you felt when you first mastered riding a two wheeler." That line still gets us all choked up. And how do you improve on "perfection"? Well, somehow we did it. A shade lighter and with the curvy style it had years ago, now along with charm, our Country Road Bob is kinda sexy too. Go ahead, swoon.

Complete Bike - $999
Bike Weight as Pictured: 21 lbs

The killer looking WTF

Build your own Bamboo bike

Christian — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:04:00 +0000

I love getting content for this blog from friends and readers. This morning I woke up and my friend Molly who runs this blog had sent along this. Now I've seen plenty of Bamboo bikes before. But, I had never been aware that you could take a class and learn to make them. That could be handy...at least for me. I've got bamboo growing like crazy in my back yard.

Based out of Brooklyn, the Bamboo Bike Studio is a very cool outfit that offers weekend workshops on how to build a bamboo bike. Here is what they have to say about their class.

In one weekend, you’ll learn how to turn raw bamboo into your very own masterpiece.

Wondering what to expect from a Bamboo Bike Studio Full Bike Weekend Workshop? First off, our Red Hook studio is a friendly and laid-back atmosphere. We take the two-day Bike Building course seriously, but in the end we’re here because bicycling is fun. Bring your own iPod, bring your dreams of a perfect ride, bring expectations of tackling new skills; leave any anxieties about pretentious cycling culture behind— for the next two days, this is your workshop.

On Saturday you’ll work with our experienced bike builders to select an ideal mix of bamboo for comfort, strength, and speed, then choose a geometry that fits your body and riding style. Next, you’ll learn to use hand-tools and our antique drill press, turning seven pieces of bamboo into your bicycle’s frame. After lunch, you’ll choose the fabric of your choice to join and lash your frame together.

On Sunday we’ll put your component package— pedals, chain, wheels, and handlebars— on your frame. After learning a few basic maintenance techniques and a final safety check, you’ll ride off on the best bicycle you’ll ever own— the one you built!

Tuition for Full Bike Weekend Workshops is $932.

For those with their own components, we also offer Frame Weekend Workshops. Build your own bamboo frame from scratch, just as in the Full Bike Weekend Workshop, then add components on your own or at your local bike shop–a perfect option for experienced mechanics with their own tools and components.

Tuition for Frame Weekend Workshops is $632.

Contact bikes@bamboobikestudio.com if you're interested.

10 Tips for biking in the snow by Jill Homer

Christian — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:55:46 +0000

This is a direct lift from a 2007 NPR article found here. It may be old, but it's still usefull information.

The article was written by Jill Homer who is a newspaper journalist and cyclist in Juneau, Alaska. Her self proclaimed specialty is riding in horrible conditions - really, the worse the better. I like that. You should all check out her blog which is aptly titled Up in Alaska.

1. Think surface area. If you've ever used snowshoes before, you know that all that mass at the bottom of your feet can mean the difference between coasting atop power or wading knee-deep in it. Snow bikes work they same way. They incorporate wide tires with a flat profile in order to distribute bulk (you) as evenly as possible, allowing for maximum flotation.

2. Fat is the new skinny. As long as there have been bicycles, there have been weight-weenie types trying to shave grams off wheels. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see a spoke-free wheel sporting tires as thin as razors. But once you slice into snow, skinny tires might as well be razors. Snow-bikers know that fat means float, and have been developing bicycles to accommodate increasingly larger wheels for years. I predict that not too far in the future, someone will build a bicycle frame with room for motocross tires. Look for it.

3. There is no shame in walking. Cyclists hate to admit when they come to a hill or an obstacle they just can't conquer. I have seen cyclists blow out their knees and face-plant over logs just to avoid suffering the indignity of getting off the bike and walking. Snow-bikers have no such pretensions. We know that bikes are not ready-made for snow, and vice versa. If snow is too soft, or too deep, or too wet, we simply step off and amble along until we can ride again. We learn to enjoy it, like walking a dog, but without the constant slobbering.

4. When in doubt, let air out. Often, snowy trails are what we would call "marginally ridable." By letting air out of tires, you can increase the surface area and improve your flotation. Sometimes it means riding on nearly flat tires at a pace a snail wouldn't envy, but, despite what I said in the previous paragraph, it's still better than walking.

5. Learn your snow types. It's been said that Eskimos have dozens of different words of snow. Snow bikers also understand the myriad varieties: powder, sugar, corn, hard-pack, sandy, slushy, and so on. Each type comes with its own challenges. But understanding the nature of the white stuff you are trying to ride atop, you can adjust your riding and wheels to meet the conditions.

6. Don't be disappointed when you fail to set a land-speed record. Snow, like sand, puts up a lot of resistance, and snow bikers are not known for their speed. I have often heard accounts of cyclists who said felt like they were careening down a hill, only to look down and see they hadn't even breached the 10 mph barrier. In snow races, 10 mph is considered fast. Eight mph is average. Six mph is respectable, and four mph isn't uncommon. When asked to describe the nature of the 2006 Iditarod Invitational, which was plagued by cold temperatures and fresh snow, third-place finisher Jeff Oatley said, "It was about as intense as a 2.5 mph race can be."

7. All brakes are not created equal. When contemplating what brakes to put on their bikes, cyclists have all kinds of reasons to choose between disc or rim. But snow bikers, who often find their rims coated in a thick layer of ungrippable ice, have the best reason of all: Rim brakes could mean an icy death by gravity. Go with disc.

8. Re-lubricate and be free. There is nothing that will slow down a snow biker faster than having their hubs freeze up, which is always a possibility when the mercury drops below zero. We have to lube up our moving parts with a special low-temperature grease, sold widely in cold regions like Fairbanks and Minnesota.

9. Stay away from moose tracks. Common injures for road cyclists include road rash and head injuries. Mountain bikers have problems with broken collar bones and bad knees. Alaska snow bikers are always being tripped up by the deep, narrow holes moose leave when they walk through the snow. Avoiding these minefields will help curb post-holing injuries like broken ankles.

10. Stay away from dogs. We talk a lot about fear of angry moose, grumpy bears and rabid wolves, but our most likely animal to have a dangerous encounter with remains the sled dog. They approach so quickly and quietly that we sometimes don't even have time to jump off the trail. A collision can be disastrous -- imagine tangled lines, confused canines and a lot of sharp teeth. Add to that an annoyed musher who's likely packing heat, and you stir up the kind of fear that convinces snow-bikers to give those racing puppies a wide berth.

Alaska bound

Christian — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:01:50 +0000

From time to time my job sends me off to some pretty cool destinations. Yesterday I booked a flight to Alaska for an upcoming Deadliest Catch project. I've never been to Alaska so I'm stoked. Now, because I'll be puddle jumping out to Dutch Harbor I will certainly be leaving my bike behind. But, it did get me thinking about how the folks out that way get around on two wheels. It' really great to see how many bike companies have responded to the need for a snow loving bicycle. Here is a quick list of some of the best of the best 'Fat Bikes'

Wildfire Design's Fat Bike. Built in Alaska

Viscous Cycles Thunderwing

The most popular fatbike out there is undoubtedly Surly's Puglsey

There are certainly a few other manufacturers out there, and there are even some bikes that will accomodate a straight conversion to a fatbike if you're inclined to do so.

SpeedVagen – Built in house, by hand, the Vanilla Workshop

Christian — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:18:49 +0000

Wow...wow....wow. I come across a lot of bikes each and every day that are fantastic. I reckon it's inevitable when you log a couple of hours each day looking for them. But, it isn't very often that I'm blown away by one. Today, I'm blown away by Vanilla Workshop and their racing machines called SPEEDVAGEN. These are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful machines I have ever seen. You really need to check out their site and observe all the details that go into them. I officially have a new bike crush.

Frame, fork, seatpost $2850 for stock and $3450 for custom. Sadly not for the poor. Sadly not for me.

Dear Speedvagen, would you kindly accept my beautiful Ellsworth Flight as a trade?

Vanilla Bicycles

Christian — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:05:34 +0000

Judging from the looks of these beauties, these bikes are anything but plain vanilla. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. Check them out here.

Love the part paint part chrome look. Might have to try that on my new build.

Graffiti to love

Christian — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:19:13 +0000

Came across this one today. I love when graffiti becomes more than just a mindless tag. This was created by the artist Blu. I wonder if it's available as wallpaper.

Crushing cars like Godzilla. Love it.

The scale of this piece is impressive.

Heaven from above

Christian — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:22:46 +0000

One of the spots I stopped in on while I was back in Boston was a place called Sel De La Terre on Boylston St. It's attached to the incredibly over priced french restaurant called L'Espalier that once took $270 from me for a dinner for two while I attempted to impress a girl. Sel De La Terre really isn't my typical joint (I prefer Bukowskis' Tavern up the street a way) but, I was really a fan of their decor. Hanging from the rafters were several old bicycles adorned with festive lights. And actually, the place wasn't that bad...heck, they even sold Narragansett beer which is the New England equivalient of Pabst.