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A labor of love, the House jerseys from Ornot are by no means club fit and not really race fit either. They’re redesigned to fit just right, with a slimmer, articulated cut, including a shortened center front. Even the zipper has been redesigned to be lightweight, allowing the jersey to lay as flat as possible. Available in three designs and in stock now at Ornot.
Handlebar bags are the best. I use one to carry my camera, or tools, a jacket or even a corndog. Think of them as a reserve tank for those long rides where your jersey pockets are already stuffed and you would rather not wear a backpack. ORNOT clearly feels the same way about bar bags, which is why they teamed up with Rickshaw to make their own. Head over to ORNOT for all the details!
Sea Otter, ORNOT
Words and photos by Nich Barresi
Sea Otter is great. There’s lots of new bike stuff, racing, camping, beer, and friends, but we had a hankering to get out on some dirt roads after hanging out with Ritchey on Friday. We had heard of an abandoned dirt road down in Los Padres National Forest and we felt this was the perfect opportunity to check it out (and maybe test out a few new products). Indians Road can be accessed by Arroyo Seco Campground and leads south into the wilderness. Our plan was to camp near the trail, ride it in the morning, and then get back to Sea Otter in the afternoon.
We spent the evening in the woods and woke up to birds chirping and warm morning light kissing nearby hilltops. Try waking up like that at Laguna Seca campground… After a bit of camp coffee and ride preparation, we were on our bikes and headed up the hill.
The pavement ended first, and then our ride, temporarily.
Matt managed to slash a nice hole in his brand new tires’ sidewall 10 minutes into the ride. We booted with a greenback, threw a tube inside, and were on our way. Enter ‘day long anxiety about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a blown out tire’. We knew we were on borrowed time with a boot, but we weren’t about to give up so soon.
Indians Road is a pretty special place. The road was shut down in ’94 after winter storms caused two landslides along the road, and it remained closed due to pricey and non-ecological repair estimates. The military finalized the closure after 9/11 when the stated the road, which is right next to Fort Hunter-Liggett, would ‘require an increased law enforcement and USFS patrol’. The double track road is now overgrown and full of fallen rocks and sand. There is some dodging of said rocks, and of course a climb over the landslide, but it is certainly rideable on skinny(ish) tires. All together, it is an extremely enjoyable ride very similar to what you might find in Marin, but with a more Southern Californian look.
While you’re only 20 miles from Arroyo Seco campground, the remoteness of the ride and the great expanses you see along the way make it feel like you’re really “out there”. Be sure to pick an instagramable lunch stop…don’t worry, there are plenty.
Little did we know, Murphy Mack (Super Pro Racing) went and planned a route straight through Indians Road for his Spring Classic this weekend. Their ride starts down south and heads up through this same portion of Indians Road, and then into the valley via Arroyo Seco, and up to Gilroy. Should be an epic day for those who go. We never did make it back to Sea Otter, but it was a fair trade by every measure. After sampling a bit of the Indians Road goodness, it’s safe to say that we’ll be planning another longer trip. Hopefully not in the middle of the summer when this place must get HOT, Ornot.
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San Francisco-based ORNOT just launched their extensive cold weather gear. It’s all made in the USA and designed with vibrant, bright fabrics the brand is known for. Thermal bibs, long sleeve jerseys, jackets and other products for men and women are stocked and ready for ordering. Head over to ORNOT for more information.
I love it when brands look to nature for inspiration. These new ORNOT socks looked northwest to Mount Tamalpais. Scoop a pair up at ORNOT.
The North American Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), Paragon Machine Works and Ornot have pulled together a fundraiser to get more kids on bikes. In this video, Ornot features Kurt Wolfgang with SF Composite as he coaches MTB racing to high school students.
If you’d like to support NICA, pick up one of these Paragon Machine Works stem caps at NICA.
ORNOT’s made in California line is expanding just in time for fall riding and cross racing. In stock now are their new Blue Line jersey and limited edition Team Skinsuit. Both of which are looking very sharp.
In a response to that Rapha & Team Sky: The Little Things – Rice Cakes video, SF Composite‘s mtb team made a parody with ORNOT featuring everyone’s favorite gas station delight, the corn dog. This is too good… and for what it’s worth, it’s a playful parody, no harm intended!
I had no idea Matt from Ornot was taking video with his RX100 the whole time we were riding Up the Devil’s Ass. You’ll see all the party boyz and girlz of cycling in this one.
And if you missed my ride photos from this rad day, check them out at Riding Dirty Up the Devil’s Ass.
California-based cycle wear company Ornot was recently at one of the Bay Area Super Prestige races and shot a great video recap. I love how orderly races like this appear, it’s like everyone has a place in queue as they race. Check out some photos from the event here.
Ornot is a small, new label based in San Francisco. Founded by the belief that you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money, only to look like a rolling billboard. All of their garments are made in California and are minimally-branded.
Check out the full Ornot line here. I will say one thing: kudos to them for developing a women’s line at the same time as a men’s line and making them the same design!
Also, damn, I miss riding in California already!
On his way to last month’s MADE bike show in Portland, OR, following a weekend in Fairfax, CA, for our premier of the Camera Corner documentary, Josh spent an afternoon with long-time friends of the site – artist Chris McNally and designer Jessica Chan of Tunitas Creative – and documented their collaboration on this month’s Group Ride giveaway item.
Below, get to know the San Francisco-based artist/designers and take a detailed look at making one-of-a-kind Day Totes up for grabs this month for Group Ride subscribers, as well as $150 gift cards from our friends at Ripton.
For Hailey Moore, summer in Colorado is a full-steam-ahead season, a fleeting trio of months when the alpine is most accessible. Read on for Hailey’s 2024 Summer Product Picks and a closer look at the gear that keeps her going this time of year.
In the heart of Santa Cruz, California, John Caletti has spent over two decades honing his craft as a master frame builder at Caletti Cycles. From his early days of building steel frames to his current reputation for creating exceptional custom titanium bicycles, John’s journey is a testament to his dedication to the art and science of frame building.
A visit to Caletti Cycles reveals not just a workshop, but also a place where passion and precision intersect, where each bike reflects John’s commitment to quality and innovation. Join us below as we explore the inception of a unique builder/photographer relationship between John Caletti and Chris Corona, delving into John’s background, his perspectives on the cycling industry, and the vibrant community of makers that defines Caletti Cycles.
Today, we’re sharing the news that Ben Frederick from The Small Monsters Project has partnered with Mosaic Cycles and has a custom-painted MT-1 that matches the new Ornot x Small Monsters Project Trail Shirt. We sat on this one for a little bit to let the Sea Otter buzz die down so let’s check out John’s photos and a press release straight from The Small Monsters Project below!
The Radavist thanks 1-Up USA for sponsoring our Sea Otter Classic 2024 coverage!
Josh and John were at Sea Otter Classic this week, covering people, products, and bikes on display. We’ve pulled together a few über galleries for your enjoyment, so let’s get into Part 02!
The Paramo Ultra from Colombian bicycle builders Scarab Cycles is arguably the brand’s most versatile offering. With clearance for thicc tires, sliding dropouts, and comfortable geometry, the Paramo Ultra is inspired by the unrelenting high-elevation Andean mountain terrain where Scarab is based to provide a capable ride experience in even the most demanding pursuits. And because every Scarab is built to order based on a rider’s size, discipline, and style, no two builds are ever the same.
Josh has ridden a Paramo Ultra for the past six months both in Colombia where it was made and on his local roads and trails around the Sonoran desert. Below, he shares his thoughts on the build as well on Scarab’s overall approach to fabricating custom bicycles in the mountains outside Medellín…
While our favorite stories are always ride and event coverage, people love flocking to The Radavist for our opinion on products. We view ourselves as the bike industry’s press corps, offering nuanced takes on hot items each year, while pushing back ever so slightly on the long arm of the industry’s marketing. This year, we cracked a lot of hard nuts but walked away with some compelling products—some of which deserve extra recognition—all while deciphering the world of bikes we know and love, and penning opinion pieces that garnered lots of eyes throughout the past twelve months.
Let’s check out The Radavist Product Awards and our Top 10 Articles of 2023 below!
