The Radavist

Remember that Caletti Cycles road bike that Easton is raffling off? Well, here’s a look inside Caletti Cycles. I just want to add that I really love this Dream Bike giveaway. Kudos to Easton for supporting their local frame builders!

The holidaze got the best of me and I slipped on posting the latest Cold Rolled videos. Here’s chapter 04, which I might add, is pretty damn rad:

“Chapter Four is a humorous documentary segment featuring Noquemanon Trails Network lead trailbuilders Mike Brunet and Matt Belic that traces the thought process behind creating dedicated snow singletrack and the physical process of fabricating a special groomer to keep Marquette’s abundant snowfall ridable.”

I wonder how much of this has changed with the onset of the Polar Vortex?

Previously:
Cold Rolled Chapter 03
Cold Rolled Chapter 02
Cold Rolled Chapter 01

A new year, a new dream bike. Easton’s Dream Bike giveaway continues with this beautiful Caletti race machine.

“Easton Cycling has announced the fourth installment of The Dream Bike Charity Sweepstakes, a titanium Caletti race bike. The Dream Bike Charity Sweepstakes is a promotion giving away hand- built road bikes from Calfee Design, Rock Lobster Cycles, Black Cat, Caletti Cycles and Hunter.

All proceeds from each sweepstakes are donated to five charities selected by the frame builders. Each bike is outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace and Easton EC90 components including the new EC90 Aero 55 wheelset. To participate in the sweepstakes visit Easton Cycling’s Facebook.”

Check out more of this insane bike below!

Out of all the European frame builders, this name in particular resonates with me, as well as a majority of the rando crowd. Alex Singer’s shop in Levallois-Perret, Paris, France has become a mecca for cycling tourists. Kinoko cycles recently visited Singer’s shop and took some photos. See more at the Kinoko blog!

While I love custom frames and supporting local frame builders, the honest truth is, I also really admire brands like Surly, Raleigh, Fairdale and All-City. Why? It’s obvious. They make bikes that are accessible, fun and that’s what matters most: getting people onto bikes.

Of course, with a frame retail considerably lower than a custom one, you can do some pretty special paint or powder. Blue Lug’s custom Surly builds always pique my interest. Bright, clean and a lot more character than the standard, production bike.

This Krampus and Pugsley have me thinking of stripping and painting my Pugs something! See more radness at the Blue Lug Flickr!

Ya gotta hand it to Firefly and Eric Bones. This project came out so rad.

“We have designed and built thousands of steel frames in our careers, and we have developed a deep respect for the material and process. The Bones Project is our opportunity to use our knowledge and unique approach to frame building to push the functional and aesthetic boundaries of the most storied material in cycling.

The Bones Project exists at the intersection of manufacturing, art, and performance. It is a collaboration of designers, machinists, frame builders, and artists, most importantly the brilliantly talented local illustrator, designer, and muralist Eric Bones.”

See more detailed photos below and check out Firefly for the full scoop on this unique collaboration!

Sometimes frame builders end up with a frame to sell to the public and it just so happens that Vanilla’s got something to offer to the tall people out there:

“Available today, maybe just in time to sneak under the tree, is this 2013 Vanilla road frame. It’s roughly a 60cm, see specs here, and features brushed stainless steel head tube lugs, “V” dropouts and drive side chain stay. This frame also includes internal rear brake cable routing, hand carved and thinned lugs, two pair of bottle bosses and meticulous paint work by Coat Paint Shop.”

Check out more details here.

I feel like this is the route I’d go if I ever had a custom-anodized titanium bike. It’s simple, yet clean and refined. At this point, it’s what you’ve come to expect from frame builders like Firefly.

Also, why can’t more builders shoot their bikes like this? See more exceptional photography at the Firefly Flickr!

Bespoked UK has been working with Reynolds on a series of videos interviewing framebuilders who use 921 on their projects. The first of which being Ted James, aka Super Ted!

Photo by Kristina Nash

Chris Igleheart is one of the raddest builders. His history dates back to working at Fat City Cycles in Somerville. Last year, he moved to Portland, Oregon to continue building for himself and also for a couple of notable companies.

A few weeks ago, he was struck by a car on his commute home and he’s out over $15,000. There’s a YouCaring site set up and they’ve already raised over $9,000. One more big push will surely get him there.

I’m not telling you to donate, because I hate it when people do that, but if you would like to, do so at the I Heart IGLE YouCaring site!

These Dream Bike raffles from Easton are getting better and better. The third one is my favorite, and I’ve shot photos of it before at Interbike. Seriously, Black Cat makes some of the nicest bikes…

Check out more information on this Black Cat Dream Bike:

Easton Cycling has announced the third installment of The Dream Bike Charity Raffle, a steel Black Cat race bike. The Dream Bike Charity Raffle is a promotion giving away hand-built road bikes from Calfee Design, Rock Lobster Cycles, Black Cat, Caletti Cycles and Hunter. All proceeds from each raffle are donated to five charities selected by the frame builders. Each bike is outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace and Easton EC90 components including the new EC90 Aero 55 wheelset. Raffle tickets are available on Easton Cycling’s Facebook.

Photos by Fredrik Posse

It’s not everyday that PiNP does a Reader’s Rides post. In fact, it’s been months! When I received this email from Fredrik however, I had to share. The world of the fat tire road bike has expanded rapidly with the growing popularity of ‘gravel grinder’ rides. While I’ll say that cross bikes are the best all-rounders, some people want to tune their ride with a slightly different characteristics.

That’s what Fredrik achieved with his his new ride. Check out more below!

I love seeing frame builders getting much-deserved recognition, especially in print. Here’s an interesting project, 73 Degrees:

“Featuring Baum, Firefly, Seven, Richard Sachs, Enigma, Independent Fabrication, Tommasini, Crisp, Mercian and Pegoretti and Columbus, through interviews and some stunning photography 73 degrees takes you behind the scenes, into the workshops and into the minds of these iconic builders. With additional technical information to enhance the readers knowledge this is the perfect book for all those who love the hand crafted bicycle. With a foreword written by former Tour De France yellow jersey holder and Team Sky Directeur Sportif Sean Yates and with additional technical information to enhance the readers knowledge of all things frame building, this is the perfect book for all those who love the handcrafted bicycle.”

Pick up a copy of 73 Degrees Volume 01 here!

Side note: that page layout looks like a PiNP-endorsement, doesn’t it?

Ibex, one of my favorite wool apparel manufacturers recently featured Firefly, one of my favorite frame builders in their Circles series. That reminds me, I need to buy some new Ibex gear!

The last Dream Bike raffle was a huge success with the Calfee Manta Pro, this time Easton’s doing a different kind of Dream Bike with Rock Lobster! Find out how you can win by reading below!

“Easton Cycling has announced the second installment of The Dream Bike Charity Raffle, an aluminum Rock Lobster race bike. The Dream Bike Charity Raffle is a promotion giving away hand-built road bikes from Caletti Cycles, Calfee Design, Black Cat, Hunter and Rock Lobster. All proceeds from each raffle are donated to five charities selected by the frame builders. Each bike is outfitted with Shimano Dura Ace and Easton EC90 components including the new EC90 Aero 55 wheelset. Raffle tickets are available on Easton’s Facebook.”

See more photos and info below!