Kelli’s Stinner ‘Cross Bike with Airglow Paint

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Kelli’s Stinner ‘Cross Bike with Airglow Paint

In Los Angeles, a ‘cross bike’s limitations are self-prescribed. You can ride just about everything on one, as long as you’ve got the right equipment and the willpower. Bigger tires and appropriate gear range are paramount. Things like blinged-out componentry are just added bonuses to the spice of life. And in LA, the spice must flow.

Kelli‘s not necessarily new to cyclocross but this is her first legitimate ‘cross rig. Her husband Ty reached out to Aaron Stinner to make a bike that would embody race pedigree but still be at home in the hills and mountains of Los Angeles county and beyond. When she’s not running her women’s cycling team, LA Sweat, she’s trying to take on more off-road riding and this bike is more than enough motivation to do so.

PAUL Components, 3T, and a Luxe Wheelworks Chris King to H+Son Archtype wheel build all compliment the absolutely mind-fucking beautiful AirGlow paint job by Hill Clarke. If you like to geek out on painting procedure and process, make sure you check out Hill’s Instagram.

Before the comments open up, YES, technically the tires are on backwards here and yet the bike didn’t explode upon hitting the dirt. ;-)

Giro: Women’s Spring ’14 New Road Lookbook and Kelli Samuelson Interview

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Giro: Women’s Spring ’14 New Road Lookbook and Kelli Samuelson Interview

I really have to commend Giro on the Spring 2014 New Road Women’s line. When I first saw it at Eurobike, it really impressed me. Not only did they keep a similar style as the men’s line with the same colors and silhouettes, but they made garments specifically for women. Holler Jen!

Here are two videos from the Spring 2014 lookbook shoot, one of which is an interview with Kelli Samuelson on cycling apparel for women. After all the talk I heard from the female consumer market when the men’s first season dropped, I hope it’s received well. They really went all in on this line.

Keep an eye on Giro for more!

Nice videos Chris!

Marc and Kelli

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Marc and Kelli

These two kids are some of my favorite #FixieFamous celebs. Marc and Kelli are like a match made in Vice Magazine. When they’re not in sleeveless shirts, they’re kitted out in the hills of LA and SF. While Marc has been racing track (and looking for alleycats) the past few years, he’s just started branching off into road racing, which inspired Kelli to do the same. I caught up with these two, the day after a race and took some photos of them.

Click on the above photo to launch the gallery, or here to open in a new tab.

A Girl and Her Bike: Kelli and Her LOW

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A Girl and Her Bike: Kelli and Her LOW

Personal obligations sometimes get in the way of hanging out with friends but even if I only get to say hi for a few minutes, it’s worth it. During the Mash TT on Saturday, Kelli rode Marc’s LOW track bike and finished only 15 minutes behind the leading guy group. Unfortunately, she dropped her team in the process. Here she is, smiling ear to ear after a quick change out of the kit and into street clothes. Marc, when are you giving her your bike dude?

I miss all my Cali friends. Ride safe girl! For a higher-res file, click here.

Sometimes You Meet the People and the Animals: Racing the Spirit World 100

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Sometimes You Meet the People and the Animals: Racing the Spirit World 100

Riding through a landscape gives you a deeper appreciation for that place. It’s sensory. You breathe the air and you feel the sun and the wind and the weather. You muscle over the hills and your tires surf through the sand and over the rocks. You learn why roads exist and where they lead and who lives among them and what grows there. Sometimes you meet the people and the animals. Sometimes you share the space with fellow travelers and sometimes you ride alone. The farther you pedal, the more your mind becomes part of that space– the space between your body and your bike and the earth. Your mind is in the sky and the tall golden grass. When your body and mind relinquish control over expectations and judgments and find connection to your surroundings, you enter the spirit world, a place of truth and acceptance.

Broken and Coastal: Volume 02 Available Now

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Broken and Coastal: Volume 02 Available Now

Portland’s Broken and Coastal magazine is now available for free web reads, downloads and print. In this edition, “Kyle Emery-Peck documents BMXers that ride Mountain Bikes; Kelli Samuelson shows us why running an elite-level women’s cycling team is Worth the Sweat; Marius Nilsen takes us on a Norwegian adventure, climbing over 10,000 meters in two days.”

Head over to Broken & Coastal for more!

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Introducing the Juliana-SRAM Pro Team

Our friends over at Juliana bicycles, the sister company to Santa Cruz, have just announced a SRAM Pro Team for 2015. Featuring Anka Martin, Sarah Leishman and Kelli Emmett, the team will be competing in various enduro races around the globe. Huge props to Juliana and SRAM for taking the leap and supporting these women as they chase their dreams. Read up more at the Juliana Blog and see a few photos below.

Also, hi Anka!

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Team Cinelli Chrome is Disruptive by Nature

This is just a trailer, but it’s looking pretty good!

“7 riders, a year-long season, 10+ races, 2 wheels, 1 gear ratio, 1 passion, tons of friends, fun, laughts, beers toasted and hours training and chasing the dream all around the world!

#TeamCinelliChrome:
Neil Bezdek
Alfred Bobé Jr.
Giovanni Bocchi
Paolo Bravini
Alessandro Bruzza
Kelli Samuelson
Giorgio Vianini”

Team Dream-Designed Caps for the Ritte Women’s Team

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Team Dream-Designed Caps for the Ritte Women’s Team

Photo by Matt Irwin

This is a long one, so I’ll just paste it in, ok?

“The ladies from Ritte asked me to help design a cap for their trip to Ras Na mBan stage race. Kelli sent me the Ritte logo, asked me to match the “fabulous” font on their team kit and said “make it look Team Dreamy!”. The caps came out pretty cool & everybody knows both TDBT & Ritte like to party, so Matt decided to have a little fun with the imagery. Hope you guys dig them…because I sure do!

The team will use the proceeds to help take them to Ireland where they will participate in the country’s premier women’s stage race Ras Na mBan which takes place over six stages in five days and covers 427km. This is the second year running that the Ritte Women’s Team will compete in the event.

The Ritte Women’s Cycling Team is a boutique-sized assembly of determined women who share a passion for racing bikes. In a culture of power profiles, recovery tights and carbon bottle cage bolts, it’s nice to be reminded there are still girls out there who just wanna go fast and have a blast. Because bikes are fun. Riding is fun. Racing is fun. Oh, and winning races every now and then ain’t too shabby either.

Pick up a cap, look “FABULOUS” & help these ladies get to Ireland.”