The Radavist

I catch a lot of flack for saying things like “these are the best brakes” and “I’ll never ride another set of brakes again”. Rightfully so. What I’ve learned in the past is to say things like “these brakes impressed me, both in design and stopping power” and “modulation is king!”

Writing product reviews ain’t easy, especially when a company gives you their product to test out, which is not the case here. I bought these brakes because I believe in supporting the US-manufacturing economy.

EE Cycleworks is a small shop, that produces a handful of components, all of which are incredibly well-designed – from an aesthetics standing – and from what I can tell so far, are easy to service.

Check out more below!

It’s been a long, long time since I first posted about Ben’s Columbus MS road frame. Last June, in fact. Chris and Ben both tracked down all the parts needed to build this beauty up and I gotta say, it’s one of the best road bikes I’ve seen come from Bishop. Which is saying a lot, considering my own and Michael‘s are still two stellar beauts.

Catch more of this insane road bike (if you can indeed catch it) at the Bishop Flickr!

I know this isn’t entirely all that surprising but I found this photo series that Chris Bishop posted to his Flickr very interesting. This is for a Di2 disc bike. It’s great to see new technology integrated elegantly into a traditionally-brazed steel stem but the contrast still gets me every time!

See you this weekend Chris!

Photos by Shannon Ayres

So… if Chris Bishop isn’t going to NAHBS this year, who’s going to win it? I’m partially joking but Chris’ latest work is mind-boggling. Ryan’s 650b Randonneur frame is absolutely stunning and I still can’t believe how many details are packed into this bike. Head over to the Bishop Flickr to see more!

Photos by Shannon Ayres

Wow. Just wow. I have nothing else to say… Chris Bishop once again delivers an exceptionally-classic and tasteful track bike. Brian is one lucky dude. Check out more photos at the Bishop Flickr!

Photo by Keith Teket

With a killer paint job from Fresh Frame, custom components by Drillium Revival and the exceptional hand of Chris Bishop, this might be the best track bike I’ve seen all year. I’m seriously blown away here. See more at the Bishop Bikes Flickr!

Ohhhh man. I can always post a photo of a Bishop Bikes seat cluster. It’s like Chris’ signature and he didn’t hold back on his latest work. See more of Brian’s track frame at the Bishop Flickr!

Photo by Keith Teket

I know this photo shows very little of the actual frame, or of the Campy 80th group, but you’ve gotta have a reason to go to the Bishop Flickr, right? That and the seat tube cluster is what I would consider Chris’ speciality.

Photos by Keith Teket

Chris Bishop’s Columbus MS track frame made the rounds on the internet almost immediately after it was built and documented. I’d say that it was one of his most popular frames to date. So popular that when Ben put a deposit down, he specifically requested the road version of the beloved MS track frame and that’s exactly what he got! See more at the Bishop Flickr!

One of the biggest critiques I abhor reading online is “too bad the fork is drilled”. This is Chris Bishop‘s answer to the track bike’s conundrum: to drill or not to drill? Drill away! He’ll just add a stainless brake hole embellishment to cover it up when you don’t have a brake. So rad.

Alex has not had the best luck with bikes over the past few years but Chris Bishop was looking to change that. As a native Baltimoron (is that right?), Alex has always admired Chris’ handywork, prompting him to save some money for a frame and what a bike it is. This Keirin-influenced machine has aero stays and an aero 3 Rensho fork.

You’ve gotta check out more at the Bishop Flickr.

This year, like before, I’ll be working hard and partying harder at the 2013 NAHBS. I’ll do my best to bring you the bikes with the most class and sass as well as something a little different. I’ll have Flag Hatchet stickers on me, as well as passes to the Outside is Free party, so come track me down. Bourbon sips are appreciated!

If you want some eye candy from last year, check out the 2012 NAHBS archives!

Usually when you see Campagnolo Pista hubs with drillium, chances are, they came from the Paramount facilities in the 70’s, complete with Paramount track bikes. Rumor has it that they misdrilled them too large for spoke holes and had to re-drill them, giving the flange a nice, light, facelift.*

While the technological advancements (i.e. weight) of hub designs have improved since then, there’s still that nostalgic allure of a classic Italian component with little circles cut out of it. As others have noted “nothing is lighter than a hole“. Drillium Revival are the minds behind this masterpiece hubset pictured here. Their holes were drilled intentionally and will be gracing one of Chris Bishop‘s 2013 NAHBS bikes.

Oh and they didn’t stop with the hubs. They kind of went all out! See more drilled, milled, profiled and polished Campagnolo Pista at the Bishop Flickr.

*source: Cicli Devotion

Last summer, Chris King gave me one of their soon-to-be-reissued purple NoThreadSets and all I could think was “this will be perfect on the Bishop”. For whatever reason, it sat on my desk, staring me down until the other day when I finally broke out my headset tools and installed it. This, along with the new Tune Skewers I ordered from Fairwheel Bikes (hey, no one could order them locally) brought just the right amount of purple to the already classy Bishop road.

See a few more shots below.

I used to drool all over myself when Aaron Hayes from Courage would post photos of his bikes, so it should come as no surprise that I’m doing the same now. Chris Bishop inherited these iconic track ends from a current client of his / ex client of Courage. It’s a long story, but I can’t wait to watch it unfold at the Bishop Flickr.