The Radavist

A visit to New York wouldn’t be complete without me bugging Seth Rosko for at least an afternoon. In the past, I’ve tried to document his workspace but have never been 100% satisfied with the outcome, until this visit. The thing about Seth’s workshop is that it’s most likely smaller than your bedroom…

His shop measures roughly a four meter cube, barely big enough for two grown men to move about, much less a Bridgeport, jigs, tubes, component boxes and bikes. Every time I come back to see Seth, the shop is more dialed in and this time, I am confident with the documentation.

Seth’s been working a lot of keeping up with his grassroots racing support. A lot of up and coming racers in NYC are riding his steel bikes and that’s something he’s very passionate about. Cross, MTB, road, it doesn’t matter. If you pedal it fast in circles, he can build it.

Check out a few photos from my Shop Visit to Rosko Cycles in the Gallery!

While local developer group, Two Trees Management begins to plan construction on the lot across from the now defunct Domino Sugar factory on Kent avenue in Williamsburg, Ride Brooklyn snatched it up for a year-long lease. After working on the site for weeks, the Ride Brooklyn staff, along with volunteers have finally opened the gates to the first ever Brooklyn Bike Park.

This football field sized pump track offers various lines to rip on, depending on the rider’s skill level. When I was in New York a few weeks back, I stopped by to check it out and shoot some photos of this dirt oasis.

Check out more narrated photos in the Gallery!

The problem with going to New York City is that I spend more time photographing bikes, then I do actually riding them. Which, in this most recent trip, wasn’t as much as I’d like. Being behind a lens, staring down a unique beaut like this does have its merits. Especially when you’re so familiar with its builder and owner.

Seth Rosko was one of the first builders in Brooklyn that I spent a good amount of time profiling years back. We first met at Brooklyn Machine Works, where he was a designer and fabricator. He and Joe worked extensively on the Gangsta track back in the day, before setting out on his own.

Rosko builds unique, yet utilitarian, yet lightweight bicycles made for racing. Each year, more and more fledgling racers find themselves on a Rosko and that means that Seth has less and less time to work on his own bikes. Case in point: this 650B single speed MTB. It took Seth years to finish this bike but he managed to complete it in time for this year’s season.

Using the ultralight True Temper Supertherm tubing, Black Cat dropouts and Stan’s tubeless wheels, this thing is light. It comes in at 20 lbs with XT pedals.

Today is my last full day in NYC. This trip, unlike previous visits, I spent a majority of my days walking around the city, even in the rain. While I’ve visited a few shops and seen some friends, to me, New York is just as engaging by foot as it is by bike. Check out a series of narrated photos in this Friday afternoon Gallery!

From a company whose name resonates in the NYC downhill and street scene comes a new bike model, suitable for the modern rider. If steel is real then Brooklyn Machine Works are as authentic as they come. BMW’s history lies heavily in tried and true mountain bikes, so it should be as no surprise that when Joe decided it was time to develop a few new models, one of the first on the agenda would be a 27″ or 650B.

This bike is literally 10 days fresh and it’s already been put through the works. Fresh off the mountain, I was able to not only photograph this beauty, but take it for a spin around the block. I’m a sworn 29’r rider, through and through but even I was impressed at the zippiness and tight, responsiveness of this Made in Brooklyn masterpiece.

Don’t let the mix of parts distract you, Joe wanted to ride it as soon as he could get it built up. With the tapered fork, even with the smaller diameter wheel size, the 650B comes in 9 ounces heavier than the 29’r. It’s still a prototype, so some specs are to be tweaked but I think it’s safe to say “so far so good”… Check out more in the Gallery.

Without New York City, I wouldn’t be who I am today and quite possibly, this site wouldn’t even exist. The people here are like family and while I may be detached from their day to day lives, I still always roll through for a quick visit when I’m in town. Lauren and I arrived late Sunday, so yesterday was our first day in town.

I swung by a few spots in Brooklyn after my friend Harry and I took a morning spin around Central Park. Later, day turned into night and I turned to some of my old digs to meet up with some old friends. Beer, bros and bikes. Just like the Brooklyn I left three years ago.

Most of these photos are quick shots, or portraits but all came from the Sony RX100… Check out some narrated photos in the Gallery!

I don’t know about you, but I love looking at photos from the Red Hook Crit races from what I would consider photographers who are “new” to documenting cycling. Some of the best editorial pieces in cycling’s history were written by fresh eyes. Ever read Buzzati’s coverage of the 1949 Tour of Italy?

Two years ago at the Red Hook Crit in Brooklyn, I met Kathryn Friedman, a photographer who happened to ride bikes in NYC and after this year’s Navy Yard crit, she emailed me some photos. I figured I’d let the dust settle a bit from one of the most bloody Red Hook Crit events ever, prior to posting…

Check out a Guest Gallery from Kathryn Friedman below!

Few people know speed like Emiliano Granado. He’s one of cycling’s most creative and compelling photographers, known best from his work with Daniel Pasley on Manual For Speed and Yonder Journal. Emi’s in your face approach to documenting the sport often results in candid, up close and personal portraits in what many would consider the most inopportune time. Don’t expect podium or finish line shots from Manual For Speed because this is the real side of cycling. MFS spends every waking moment with professional cyclists. They know the tricks of the trade and in many ways, this experience makes MFS one of the most authentic resources for those wishing to see what it’s like to truly be PRO.

The Red Hook Crit Navy Yard was quite the race. A quick, technical course awaited over 100 racers and only 5 would finish. All it took was one big spill to split the field and with Neil Bezdek out in front, it seemed the race was determined after the first lap. Kyle Murphy from MASH SF held Bezdek’s wheel, placing him in second and Marc Marino from Team Chica Sexy won in a sprint for third. Everyone I’ve talked to about the Red Hook Crit Navy Yard said it was one of the fastest races they’ve been in. A true exhibition.

See all of Emiliano’s Guest Gallery from the 2013 Red Hook Crit Navy Yard below!