tag
Fairweather‘s frames blend fashion with functionality and Blue Lug in Japan know how to build them up just right. These frames are made by Toyo in their Taiwan facility, pack clearances for bigger tires and come in three sizes. Unfortunately, because it’s a Japanese company, the largest size they offer is a 55cm, but that doesn’t mean we can’t ogle these beautiful bicycles.
See more at the Blue Lug Flickr.
It’s labor day here in the US, so we’re all taking the day off… See ya tomorrow!
Inspired by the paint from old Dacorrdi frames, Adam from Stanridge Speed made sure Jen Malik’s race bikes look great before the mud. See more photos of these bikes at the Stanridge Speed Flickr.
If you’ve never witnessed this spectacle, you really should. This season. Go!
This is the ninth layout of the Radavist 2015 Calendar, entitled “Morning Wheelie”. The camera and location are noted on the bottom left of the document.
The Marin Headlands is an easily-accessed stomping grounds for many SF locals. Visible from the Golden Gate Bridge and Hawk Hill, trail runners, hikers and cyclists alike find refuge from the busy city life in its hills. Early mornings bring about a dense marine layer and piercing sunshine, which makes for an awe-inspiring experience. Throw in a wheelie and you’ve got all the ingredients for a killer photo.
This photo in particular was requested by multiple people to be the September calendar image. Thanks for the recommendation, y’all!
For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper*, right click and save link as – The Radavist 2015 Calendar – September. Please, this photo is for personal use only!
(*set background to white and center for optimal coverage)
Photo by Dan Chabanov
Last year, Dan showed us Richard Sachs’ house and studio just before cross season began. Richard calls this weekend “Team Camp,” yet it feels more like a family visit for Dan. This year, Dan returned to North Massachusetts to visit RS once again and wrote a piece about it for his Cross Column.
Check it out at the Athletic.
Dirt Merchant is no joke, especially on a ‘cross bike!
It happens every year. Frame builders get the request for a new ‘cross bike and while it’s not necessarily a bad thing, there’s always that one caveat: “can I have it in time for this year’s season?”
Last year around this time, the Mudfoot team was clamoring for their new bikes and one of the rider’s wife, Crystal, really wanted to get one as well. After some thought and a brief conversation with Megan from Moth Attack she decided to support not only a female builder, but an ex-LA frame builder. Megan re-located to Colorado a few weeks back, but her and Crystal stayed in touch.
The docket was easy: discs, 44mm head tube, an english bottom bracket and red paint! Megan delivered on all fronts and Crystal built up her new bike with Shimano Ultegra, Chris King, an ENVE CX fork and Easton parts.
Personally, I’d like to think this is the kind of ‘cross bike most people would want to order currently and It’s one of my favorites I’ve seen this year. There’s something about its size, simplicity and I love the various logo hits on the bike. Great job, Megan and Crystal, ENJOY!
In Los Angeles, a ‘cross bike’s limitations are self-prescribed. You can ride just about everything on one, as long as you’ve got the right equipment and the willpower. Bigger tires and appropriate gear range are paramount. Things like blinged-out componentry are just added bonuses to the spice of life. And in LA, the spice must flow.
Kelli‘s not necessarily new to cyclocross but this is her first legitimate ‘cross rig. Her husband Ty reached out to Aaron Stinner to make a bike that would embody race pedigree but still be at home in the hills and mountains of Los Angeles county and beyond. When she’s not running her women’s cycling team, LA Sweat, she’s trying to take on more off-road riding and this bike is more than enough motivation to do so.
PAUL Components, 3T, and a Luxe Wheelworks Chris King to H+Son Archtype wheel build all compliment the absolutely mind-fucking beautiful AirGlow paint job by Hill Clarke. If you like to geek out on painting procedure and process, make sure you check out Hill’s Instagram.
Before the comments open up, YES, technically the tires are on backwards here and yet the bike didn’t explode upon hitting the dirt. ;-)
Photos by Chris Riekert
The thing I admire about bicycle painters and designers in general is the ability to look at life’s struggles, or challenges as inspiration. In competition, it’s easy to get lost in the ferocity of rivalry. You can let it psyche you out, or take it as it comes. Here’s a back-story to this frame:
“Whats the point of racing without rivalry? In 2014, Dan Hughes of @sunfloweroutdoorandbikeshop and Yuri Hauswald (@yhauswald) were introduced as the “Mothra and Godzilla of cycling”. This weekend Dan and Yuri are going head-to-head at the Unofficial Gravel World Championship in Nebraska and to commemorate Dan’s winged persona, @swiznooski, dreamed up this metal-flake clad motif. Good Luck to the guys this weekend! And Yuri, you’re going down!”
See more photos of this insane project below…
For SF’s TCB Courier, the busy summer months aren’t easy with all their deliveries yet the hustle and bustle of a day to day life of a bike messenger aids itself well for staying in shape. Especially come ‘cross season. This year, the team will be racing on the new LOW ‘cross frames. These frames are decorated with blue and orange paint, with each bottom bracket stamped with the racer’s name.
How many more weeks?
Words and photos by Morgan Taylor
Pristine. That’s how every bike starts out. Every build has its moment of perfection before it succumbs to a life of abuse – cross bikes especially so.
When I walked into Kelowna, BC’s The Lions Cyclery, recently opened by former Vancouverites Meshkat Javid and Ryan Lidstone, that moment of perfection was oh-so-apparent. These two are building the shop’s reputation on “a higher standard of fit and function” – and having worked with both of them in the past, I know that means an obsessive attention for detail during the bike building process.
Bay Area people, dwellers of Santa Cruz and San Jose listen up: the crustacean king at Rock Lobster is throwing a pre-season cyclocross cup on August 29th at the Bonny Doon Airport. There’s something for everyone, so if you can make it out, do so!
Julie got her 44 Bikes Hunstman (huntswoman?) last winter and built it up this spring. Kris from 44 had never seen it complete until recently, when she allowed him to photograph it. As far as ‘cross bikes are concerned, this might be one of the slickest to ever grace this website. The white paint, juxtaposed with the sour apple green is so attractive. Also, those Ashima Ai2 rotors look amazing on this bike, especially with the sour apple Chris King R45 disc hubs.
See more drool-worthy ‘cross goodness at the 44 Bikes Flickr.
With an ever-increasing popularity of the sport, many mountain bike companies have ventured into cyclocross bikes in the past few years. For David Turner, owner and founder of Turner Bikes, his personal race rig prototype has finally hit the public market. David has spent the past five years designing the ideal ‘cross bike. One that can take on everything from hour-long races to day-long “all-road” rides. The Cyclosys is the brand’s first non-suspension bike, ever.
As an introductory offer, Turner is selling the Cyclosys with a custom Powder-coat color finish as a free upgrade option to the First 50 Pre-Orders and a free upgrade to Stans Carbon Valor wheels to the first 25 pre-orders. Have yours in time for ‘cross season, in the color you want, with race-ready wheels…
See more information at Turner and more photos below.
Eric from Imshi Cycles continues to hone his skills as a framebuilder with this hot pink and white ‘cross bike. See more details at the Imshi Cycles Flickr!
For Niner, there are two sides to their cyclocross coin: one, an all-rounder that can take bikepacking trips on and still be race-worthy and on the other side, the race-pedigree machine that is the BSB 9 RDO. The latest version of the BSB now sports a 142mm x 12mm thru-axle, locking in the stays to the hub and keeping the frame rigid when it’s needed most: during acceleration.
Paired with clearances for up to a 40mm tire, short chainstays (425mm), this stiffness will take on everything from sandy corners to rutted off-cambers and with the reliability of disc brakes, you’re in for maximum control.
Because you’ll want to hold onto this one for a while, Niner backs the BSB 9 RDO with a five year, C5 warranty.
Pricing begins at $2,300 for a frame, $3,000 for a 2-star build and up to $6,500 for a 5-star build. See more of the BSB 9 RDO below and more information at Niner. Available in late July or early August.
