Inspired by the work of Tom Ritchey and the very first production mountain bikes in California, the Stayer Cycles stAyTB project is a collaborative effort with 2nd Life Bikes. The stAyTB project consists of a frame, fork, bullmoose bars, day rack, wheels, headbadge and other bits and bobs all beautifully and somewhat singularly fillet brazed and fashioned in Leytonstone, East London. Let’s check it out.
“Ritchey”
Search Term – Change
Radar
PNW Components Coast Handlebar Gen 2 Review: Short Reach Drop-Bar
After riding the PNW Components Coast handlebar for almost a year, John’s got a lot of praise for them, along with a few notes. Let’s check out this short-reach drop-bar below…
Reportage
2024 MADE Bike Show: Bike Rack Spotting!
While the 2024 MADE Bike Show was filled to the brim with fantastic custom and bespoke builds, we needed to stretch our legs a bit and look outside the event facility as well. The bike racks around the event’s perimeter were filled with patina and beausage, contrasting the clean and polished builds inside the show. Did your bike make it into our Rack Spotting gallery? Check it all out below…
Reportage
2024 MADE Bike Show Part 06: Blaze, Breadwinner, Donkelope, Mischief, Mosaic, Outer Shell, Stellar Werks, Terraplane
Our 2024 MADE Bike Show coverage from Portland, Oregon, continues with Part 06. Click on through below for selects from Blaze, Breadwinner, Donkelope, Mischief, Mosaic, Outer Shell, Stellar Werks, and Terraplane.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Matt’s Relstone “Project VA” Custom Gravel Bike
Project VA is an annual project from Guy Stone of Relstone Cycles. Each year, Guy builds and donates a custom bike to a veteran, and this year, he fabricated a custom steel gravel bike for Matt. Check out the latest Project VA bike and all the amazing details below with photography from Scott Payne…
Reportage
Off Course Bike Shop: Melbourne’s Commuting, Touring, and Adventure Hub
While John and Cari were down in Melbourne for the Roobaix and MADE Australia, they made sure to roll by Off Course Bike Shop, the city’s dedicated commuting, touring, and adventure hub. What they found inside this industrial space exceeded their expectations of what a modern bike shop could be. Let’s check it out!
Reportage
Kona Ouroborus Supreme Review: Next-Gen Gravel
Since posting our first look back in April, John’s been putting in miles on the Kona Ouroborus Supreme and finally wrapped his head around not only how to classify this bike but also what its best use case is. Is this the next stage in the evolution of gravel bikes?
Reportage
A Look at the Crust Bikes Australia Wheelhouse: Stupid Tourist Break-Away Bike, Lugged Lightning Bolt, and More!
John and Cari were in Australia earlier this month, and since they were on the same continent as Matt and Cheech from Crust Bikes, they had to visit them at their home in New South Wales. While there, John documented a selection of bikes from their shed, including some prototypes and soon-to-be-released future cult classics. Let’s check it all out!
Reportage
Crust Bikes Scapebot Review: The Yes Man
The Crust Bikes “Scapebot” is the third iteration of the original Scapegoat. The frame fits a wide variety of tire sizes and has a unique geometry that is both modern and harks back to the golden age of ATBs. True to form, Spencer has been using this bike as his touring rig for years and decided to put the most outlandish tire clearance claims to the test. Check out his long-term review of the Crust Scapebot below…
Radar
Mike Varley’s ‘Dropping In’ Article from 1991
We’ve got a story coming up tomorrow that references this Mountain and City Biking article written by Black Mountain Cycle‘s Mike Varley from 1991 about drop bars on mountain bikes. Also known as dirt drops, Mike discusses the benefits of the unique riding position offered by these off-road drop bars in the original article text below…
Reportage
MADE Bike Show Australia Gallery 02: Palmer, Prova, Simpatico, Skingrowsback, Squid, Stinner, Stridsland, Wondercross, and Woods
Today, we’re continuing our MADE Bike Show Australia coverage with a selection of stunning machines, ranging from road to mountain and everything in between. Read on for selects from Palmer, Prova, Simpatico, Skingrowsback, Squid, Stinner, Stridsland, Wondercross, and Woods…
Reportage
Inside Paul Brodie’s Shop: a Lifetime of Tinkering
A lifetime of tinkering has led to some very interesting work out of Paul Brodie’s backyard shop, from influential early mountain bike designs to motorcycles made from the ground up. In advance of Brodie’s 40th Anniversary show in Vancouver BC this weekend, Morgan Taylor visited Paul’s shop to take a peek at the multitude of in-progress projects.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Daniel’s Trek 830 Monster Track Double Converted ATB
The internet can be a valuable tool for problem-solving vintage conversions. Its users have often figured out compatibility issues or clever hacks to get you to your desired goal. That’s the case with Daniel and his vintage Trek 830, that he converted to a drop bar gravel bike. Let’s check it out!
Radar
Saturday RAD BAZAAR Finds!
Today, we’ve got a fine selection of used goods from the Rad Bazaar, our Group Ride subscribers‘ selling platform, featuring some unique offerings. Let’s check it all out!
Radar
How To Remove Seized Parts from a Frame: Vintage MTB Restoration Series – Episode 02
For part two in this Vintage MTB Restoration Beautiful Builds video, John shows how to remove seized parts from the frame as he tackles a stuck bullmoose quill insertion on this Ritchey Annapurna with one easy step!
Reportage
Fitz Cyclez Shop Visit: NorCal Terroir
During his sojourn to Northern California in April, John Watson wanted to document one framebuilder in particular whose work had caught his eye. John Fitzgerald has been building elegant custom steel bicycles under the name Fitz Cyclez for just under two decades, yet he tends to fly under the radar. He doesn’t attend the big bike shows, and he’s not really interested in marketing his brand. But as anyone who’s seen a Fitz in the wild can attest, his work speaks for itself – and his work is seen often throughout Sonoma County and the greater Bay Area, thanks to Fitz’s popularity within the randonneuring community.
To tell the tale of Fitz Cyclez from the eyes of a local, John Watson tapped Santa Rosa’s own Nicholas Haig-Arack to interview John Fitzgerald. Take a peek into the world of Fitz Cyclez.
Radar
Saturday Rad Bazaar Finds
Today, we’ve got a fine selection of used goods from the Rad Bazaar, our Group Ride subscribers‘ selling platform, featuring some unique offerings. Let’s check it all out!
Reportage
Readers’ Rides: Fergus’ Bishop Randonneuring Bike
While John was catchin’ up with Ritchey before Sea Otter, he had a chance to document Fergus‘ Bishop Bikes Randonneuring bike. We felt it’d make a perfect Readers’ Rides to give some insight into why Fergus loves this bike and randonneuring riding so much. Along with his relationship with Chris Bishop. Read on for some banger photos and words in this special Readers’ Rides!