Where do we even begin with this post? 2019 was a year that defies all previous efforts here at the Radavist. Never have the pages of this site been graced with more exceptional photography and words! While we’re known for our full-res galleries, we really made a push to include exceptional writing this year. While this isn’t a top ten list, we’ve highlighted some of the exceptional work below. Stories that really stood out from our normal, year-to-year Reportage. Or if you’re a nostalgist, simply flip through the mega-gallery. Keep in mind, this one will take a bit to load!
I speak for everyone here at the Radavist when I say I can’t wait for 2020! Your feedback last week really helped all of us hone our vision and where we should direct our pens and our lens glass.
We had set aside that Autumn weekend months earlier, just after having briefly met at a bike race called Lost and Found in late Spring. Matt was planning an extended bike commute through my town and asked to camp in my backyard. I told him sure, I have a fire pit, so it can really be like camping, but I’m going to barnacle onto that trip because it sounds fun. This trip took on many different names, with the goal to write some mockingly weird shit about it, and this one stuck: Tour of the Barnacle: The Chronicles of Holding On. The Barnacle Tour fell through, and a story that will not be told passed between then and this, but hell, we decided to stick to doing some exotic bike trip that weekend.
We’re going to give this interview thing a try, it’s not a new format, we’re not breaking the mold but in what has become a podcasted world the simple format of a written Q&A still holds some appeal; maybe you can’t wear headphones at work or the speakers in your puter/phone/watch no longer work, or maybe it’s the whine of vocal fry?
They told us not to ride bikes in Yellowstone National Park. Why? Mostly the roads: little to no shoulder and overrun by tourists in RVs. That’s enough to spur some questions for a potential traveler, and with a quick bit of research, you’ll find the camping situation looks dire – especially from a cyclist’s perspective. Where can you even buy food that isn’t in an overpriced restaurant? And what’s there to see beyond geysers and animals, anyway? Maybe they were right.
The Ken Burton trail has been undergoing extensive work here in Los Angeles all winter long with MWBA and CORBA logging in countless hours, along with the help of over 90 volunteers. While Upper Ken Burton is open, there’s still work to be done, in terms of linking Lower Ken Burton to Switzer PA, but for now, it’s open down to the Arroyo.
The Eddy Merckx Motorola livery might just be the most famous paint scheme in American cycling. I bumped into this bike while In Sydney a few weeks back. Gorgeous huh? But it’s not so peachy for Mr. Merckx these days. He’s facing charges in a Belgian police graft case… Yikes!
David Lucas Vivalidini and Alex Angus rode their bikes from Grand Rapids to Mackinac Island. This 270-mile journey took the guys only two days. Now that’s some randonneuring. I would hate to have to wear a bag that whole time. You guys have balls.
Last night was Dan G’s Late Night Frost Bite alleycat. I rolled out to the start of the race and then to the afterparty at Affinity and Bushwick Country Club. It was a blast. A lot of people showed up. Even some of the older cats who’ve been throwing and racing alleycats in NYC for decades.
Before you say it, no, the XXX does not refer to XXX-rated. In Amserdam, there are these bollards all over the city with XXX on them, referring to the coat of arms and flag of Amsterdam.
The Fixed Fixed Fixed opening event was last Saturday in Amsterdam at the Prestine Fixed Gear Shop. The show features work from the artist Jasper Faber of U-Turn / 180 Amsterdam. I’m not sure how long it will be open for, but if you’re in the Netherlands, be sure to head over to Prestine and check out their new store!
In this video the Tokyo Bicycle Messenger Association gives some helpful tips. I cannot wait to go. Who’s gonna be there? London? West Coast? Oz? Be sure to watch this video and read below as Eli Tokyo Jitensha-Jin gives some tips:
TKBMA (The Tokyo Bike Messenger Association) is putting the final touches on their preparation for CMWC (Cycle Messenger World Championship) 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. For those of you planning to come, we hope you’ve already registered online and have gotten yourself some plane tickets.
A lot of good advice for your visit to Japan can be found at cmwc2009.com (click on the English button). This video includes some other useful info. Like how to use one of Tokyo’s many old style “squatter” toilets. Also:
*Nudity is illegal, so keep your clothes on.
*You can bring your bike on trains and subways, but only if it’s in a “rinko” bag (cloth bicycle transport bag) or a box.
*You can drink the tap water.
*You must ride on the left side of the road.
*You need to be careful of “mama-chari” (grandma/housewife bikes) which most people in Japan ride. Many mama-chari riders don’t pay attention or follow basic traffic rules and are a real danger to themselves and others.
*You can find cheap and fun ready-made ninja food at convenience store located everywhere (all open 24hrs).
*In September the weather will be quite warm and humid. But, bring some rain gear if you have some, because typhoons and sudden rain are fairly common.
*It’s legal to drink on the streets and just about anywhere in public, but please be responsible and don’t drink and ride.
I’d also like to include some of my own advice:
*Tokyo’s streets are insanely confusing. Unless you plan to always be riding around with a local, a good map is a must. I think the only bilingual map worth its weight is “Tokyo City Atlas” published by Kondansha International. You can buy it at Amazon.
*Legally, foreigners must have their passports on them at all times. Unless you live here, in which case you must have your foreign registration ID card with you at all times. It’s possible for foreigners to wind up spending a night or two in jail simply for not having their passport on them. But, the police are really really nice here for the most part and are good at giving directions if you need them.
More and more videos keep coming outta the wood work. This comes from the Third Coast! Puckett’s got a nice line in the Trick Comp section, so be sure to watch it all.
The Austin Texas Death Pedal premier. Great job Dan. Thanks for the heads up.
