Velocult.

4 June 2009

Spent a couple days in the hometown of San Diego, aka the Whales Vagina, running around visiting family, and checking out how much the area I grew up has changed over the past few years. Seems like once I made the move north, a ton of amazing little bars, cafes, and restaurants sprouted up. One in particular I want to mention is the Blind Lady Ale House. Cozy atmosphere, great beers on tap, and some excellent pizza and desserts. The other place I made an effort to check out was Velocult. Always interested in looking at another bike shop, I hopped on Mom’s too small cruiser and rode down to South Park to check out the space.

I was amazed about the collection they have on stock, and to find out that they were almost all for sale as well was incredible. Specializing in steel, they only had maybe 2 frames that were aluminum, but regardless a lot of really nice bikes were placed throughout the shop. The shop itself was nicely laid out and open, a great thing for the San Diego warmth. I found a few cruisers they had built that I really wanted. I need to figure out a way to get one shipped up to SF for the next time I am back by the bay. If you are in the area, check out Velocult. They have a really nice little spot, and from what they mentioned, all the frames will also be available online shortly.

// Jonathan

INSIDE OUT.

31 May 2009

Six months ago I signed on to help Specialized Bicycles as a creative director and brand-manager to re-vamp their Globe line of urban-focused bikes. In the past half year I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most talented designers and creative minds within the cycling industry; and have had the opportunity to see the inner-workings of this incredible world. Experiencing a design go from drawing board to first prototypes, through the marketing, engineering and financial/budgetary filters; and on to final production has been a truly enlightening and incredible process.

Last week I headed to Taichung, Taiwan to oversee final-production and a photoshoot of the bikes before their formal, world-wide release at the end of June.

I spent a week shuffling between the factory and the studio, squeezing in rides at 05:00 in the morning to better beat the 95 degree heat and 95% humidity. I lost a full eight pounds of water on one particularly fast ride with colleague and former world-champion track sprinter, DON LANGLEY –they don’t name a bike after the slow ones!

After racing to finish work, we headed North, to Taipei for a day of much needed ‘rest’. We caught up with the local Nabiis crew to join them on the FIRST STAGE of their 10 day, 800 mile epic around the circumference of the island. On Saturday a group of 24 embarked on what will no doubt be an incredible and not-to-be-forgotten ride.

Most are taking on this monumental journey with riser bars, toeclips and vans and a messenger bag. It was truly inspiring to see the energy and excitement with which they attacked each of the climbs and descents on the first leg of the ride.

Endless mountains and local road-side stands provided nourishment and drinks in the hot and humidity throughout the day.

Massive respect to all the NABIIS RIDERS and especially to Gus, Martin and Chek whose hospitality and warm-hearted kindness made our stay a GREAT one! The world will be eagerly watching as your tour unfolds!

_garrett chow

Bicycle Thief

28 May 2009

French prisoners get their own Tour de France.

Close to 200 prisoners will take to the open roads as they cycle around France next month in the first penal version of the Tour de France, though they will be accompanied by scores of guards on bicycles.

The 196 prisoners will cycle in a pack and breakaway sprints will not be allowed.

More here.

Ryuta Nakajima

27 May 2009

Ryuta Nakajima has been making one drawing a month for 10 months. They are a part of bigger component that will be based in drawings, photo, video, and paintings. Will keep you updated as this project transforms!

Project title:
The Application of Behavioral Ecology as Metaphor in Contemporary Painting:
Cuttlefish camouflage and Art (2009)
color pencil and acrylic paint on paper
30″ x 24″ x 10 drawings set.

He also just produced a shirt with MASH for our summer artist series. It will be available later in the week!

Fixed City.

26 May 2009

A new documentary focusing on German Fixed Gear culture is coming out later this summer. Stoked to see friends Maria, Henne (Artoo), and Gary in the trailer. Should be a nicely done vid!

// Jonathan

Street Tracker

25 May 2009

Gabe and I have filmed cyclists from Hondas for almost 5 years now. Granted we are on quiet scooters that try not to disrupt a cyclist. We now use a Honda ps250 as or follow/support, but wanted to take a second to show what I would rather get to tape with if performance outweighed noise for these rides.

Cinelli Down Under and VDB

25 May 2009

Many of you know Cinelli for their presence at the intersection of the art world and track bike culture. And hopefully for collaborating with us on a frameset. But like most Italian bike makers, their roots are in racing and they continue to be involved in competition as the title sponsor of the Cinelli-Down Under team.

It’s a Belgian-run team featuring a number of Australian riders. Nico Mattan, who was a pro for 15 years on major teams like Lotto, Mapei, Cofidis, and Davitamon-Lotto is the directeur sportif and brought into the program none other than his old friend Frank Vandenbroucke. Here’s Frank with Cinelli’s Antonio Colombo and the MASH x Cinelli bike (coming soon).

For those of you who don’t know VDB, he was once considered perhaps the greatest talent of his generation, a rider who could win one-day Classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege as well as stage races like Paris-Nice. Check out this stage finish from the 1999 Vuelta; VDB attacks the lead group with about 1500m to go and he could have won by 20 seconds if he hadn’t sat up.

Then again, he was dirty. Frank has been involved in multiple doping scandals, and famously told police that drugs found in his house were for his dog. He’s also had serious issues with drug addiction and mental illness outside of his racing career.

I always enjoyed watch Frank race. He rode aggressively with total confidence in his abilities, and looked as perfect and natural on the bike as anyone who’s ever ridden. His best days are well behind him but hopefully he can finish his career on a clean, positive note.

-Josh Kadis

Cadence.

24 May 2009

Starting something from scratch and slowly and deliberately crafting it into a successful company is what Cadence has done. Dustin Klein has turned what was a fun project for the CMWC in Seattle into a brand that he is carefully keeping small and developing in his vision. It is really nice to see something slowly grow and test the markets while Dustin has never wavered in his style or wants.

He just moved back to San Francisco where it all began and I have been able to spend some time in the studio with him and talking about the move back and what is in store for Cadence. He found a sweet little space that was formerly used by two of SF’s most well known artists and he has turned it into a pretty awesome little workspace. Plenty of space to take care of business and a bit of pleasure. I snapped a few photos while I was spending a day there. Excited to see what a new collection will look like.

It is always fun to check out work spaces, and this space is an amazing assortment of Dustin’s style and good things cycling and skating. Who wouldn’t want a spine in their office?

// Jonathan

Sutherland / Haggard / Family

23 May 2009

This Sunday, May 24, at 7pm, will not only be the record release party with AsDSSka and The Ladies’ Choir, but the unveiling of a new window installation by photographers Nicholas Haggard and Peter Sutherland. I won’t give away too much, but Haggard and Sutherland have been trawling forsaken freeways all the way to Palm Springs.

Family – 436 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, 90036

HOLY CRAP.

22 May 2009

Do you remember the first time you ever rode a bike?

You no doubt recall the elation and incredible swell of joy those two wheels gave you…

This is one of only 6 prototypes in the world.

Fabian Cancellara, who debuted the FIRST PROTOTYPE at the Tour of Romandie, will be riding this bike, nicknamed the TTR at Le Tour, in July.

Good luck, competition.

The pictured bike is now boxed and is heading for a place under the chamois of a teammate of Fabian’s, at SAXO BANK. I got a chance to take it out on the lunchride at work today and it was ri-dic-u-lous just how fast this thing goes. My friend, who wind-tunnel tested it tells me it has a 60% less drag coefficient over Specialized’s most aero road bike. It weighs 16.0 pounds as you see it built here –incredibly light for a TT bike. This is the fastest bike I’ve ever ridden.

I stumbled into a liquor store after the noontime throwdown and raised a glass to this incredible machine.

_garrett chow