Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
#fixed-gear
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Reportage
Monster Track NYC 2022: Alleycats are Alive and Well
In 2011, a little over a year after I found my passion for cycling through riding fixed gear bikes through the concrete jungle of New York City, I found myself, camera in hand, at Monster Track. The event is one of cycling’s most famous, most dangerous, and most significant alleycats in the world. Fast forward to 2022, and here I am again, camera in hand, at the 23rd edition of the annual brakeless urban street race.
Reportage
A Second Spin Cycles 90s Grove Innovations Track Bike
Today we’re pleased to showcase a build from our friend Martin at Second Spin Cycles. Martin works on restoring old mountain, road, and yes, track bikes for his clients by speccing the period-correct components and more.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Matt’s All-City Nature Boy Fixed Gear
It’s hard to argue the versatility of the old All-City Nature Boy canti models. They were perfect commuters, ‘cross racers, and when set up fixed, perfect for commuting on snowy winter roads. Check out Matt‘s build and a full spec breakdown below!
Reportage
2021 Philly Bike Expo: Bishop Bikes Columbus SLX/MAX Track Bike
It wouldn’t be Philly Bike Expo coverage without a Bishop Bikes gallery and for 2021, photographer Jarrod Bunk selected this beautiful Columbus tubing track bike.
Where do I even begin here? At first, I thought Chris brought back the 2013 NAHBS track bike I photographed, and then I thought it was his personal blue track bike, stripped raw since it has the same Drillium Revival stem. Upon closer examination, this is true-to-form Chris Bishop doing his thing with the simplest form of bicycle. I just got off the phone with Chris Bishop where we spent a good forty-five minutes discussing this bike. There’s a lot going on with this “simple” machine so let’s get to it!
Radar
Bicycle Kingdom Ep.2: Riding in NYC – Monster Track
In this episode of The Pro’s Closet Bicycle Kingdom, we explore the intricacies of Monster Track. Monster track mirrors the chaos of the city it takes place in, New York City. It is the pinnacle of Alleycat racing. It’s part party, part race, but in the end, it’s all about community.
Disclaimer: Riding bikes is inherently dangerous. That said, while we are not encouraging people to ride fixed-gear bikes in a crowded city, we do see value in sharing this story of a longstanding subculture in NYC and cities around the globe. Be careful. Ride respectfully. Spread bike love.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Benjamin from Bavaria’s SOMA
Today’s Readers’ Rides comes from Bavaria, Germany. Benjamin walks us through his lovely SOMA Rush in detail below, in all its fixed gear elegance…
Radar
Riding Fixed, Up Mountains, With Pros: Ep. 14 – Oatman w/ Leo Rodgers
Our friend Leo Rodgers takes off to Oatman, Arizona for the latest “Riding Fixed, Up Mountains, With Pros” video from State Bicycle Co…
“Hailing from Florida, by way of Southern California, Leo Rodgers has always craved speed and adventure. In 2007, Leo was involved in a motorcycle accident that significantly changed his life. Leo has since turned this unfortunate event into an opportunity to inspire others. Since then, Leo has traveled around the world, competing as a Paralympic medalist, participating in the most grueling gravel events, and of course, street cycling (O.G. Alleycats). Leo’s mission is to use cycling to inspire and motivate others to take action. He continues to spread his message through the Leo Rodgers Foundation.
In this episode, we take Leo to visit Oatman, AZ, a town on the historic Route 66, where the weather is hot, the roads are windy, and the donkeys are the citizens. Buckle-up buckaroos, you’re in for a Wild West Adventure!”
Radar
Crust Bikes Florida Man: A Leo Rodgers Pro Model – Crust Bikes
Crust Bikes recently received a shipment of frames and in that shipment was stock of the Florida Man singlespeed frames designed by Leo Rodgers. These bikes can be ridden as a fixed gear, a coaster cruiser, or a singlespeed (with a front brake only), are available in six frame sizes and are in stock now at Crust Bikes. Head on over to see more details of these wild-looking frames.
Radar
The Crust Florida Man: A Leo Rodgers Pro Model
We love hosting and supporting the fruits of our good friends’ labor. Crust Bikes and Leo Rodgers have been working on a pro model for Leo, dubbed the “Florida Man.” This singlespeed frame can be built as a singlespeed freewheel, a coaster brake, or a straight-up fixed gear off-road machine. Check out all the details below, including how you can win one of these frames!
Radar
Justin Williams and Eric Koston Talk… Sneakers
Los Angeles has no shortage of inspirational athletes. Skate legend Eric Koston and Justin Williams of L39ION of Los Angeles recently worked on this video for Specialized in Silverlake while talking bikes and sneakers…
Reportage
Bryan’s Doom Mash Track
Since we posted Two Wheel Drive yesterday, we thought it’d be nice to feature one of the shop employee’s personal bikes. Bryan is a mechanic and his Mash track bike is too slick, laced with Albuquerque’s own DOOM bars and some other nice details. Check out our friend Nick’s photos below with words by Bryan himself…
Radar
DUST Video
In case you missed our DUST feature last week and the video embedded within the Reportage from South Africa, we figured we should share the event’s video recap (which has also been updated in higher quality). Enjoy!
Reportage
From DUST to Ashes… Fixed Gear Drag Racing on the Verneuk Mud Flat in South Africa
You know how a hashtag can fuck you? Well maybe not, but a few years ago my good friend Nic and I had this idea … we’d always been intrigued by the pans – or mud flats – of the Northern Cape here in South Africa. At the time we were really getting into riding fixed gear bikes and one day it hit us – let’s take our fixed gear bikes onto the pan! Why not? Surreal landscapes, super smooth surfaces good enough for world speed records! Sounds like a good adventure right? We did some research and found out that that year there was a South African Speedweek planned in September 2014 on the Hakskeenpan, coinciding with the launch of a planned rocket-propelled car land speed record attempt – the Bloodhound SSC. We decided to travel up in Nic’s old 1963 Porsche 356 – it seemed appropriate. Bikes on the roof, gear in the back.
Radar
Readers’ Rides: Nick’s Self-Made Fat Front Fixed Gear
Readers’ Rides aren’t meant to be all 26″ wheeled basket bikes and there’s nothing wrong with that. Part of the joy we get from running this segment is the home-made, garage-cooked creations. Take this submission for example. Nick couldn’t fit on any production frames so he built his own frame. Then to up the ante, he put a fat fork on the front for some winter shenanigans… Read on below for more!
Radar
Fixed Gear Winter Riding in Leipzig
A reader from Leipzig sent this short video over for us to enjoy on this Friday morning:
“My name is Jacob and I’ve been a cycle messenger in Germany for more than 10 years now.
This week we had an unusual and unexpected outbreak of winter here in Leipzig with strong winds and heavy snow for multiple days. The city was totally unprepared, I saw snow plows getting stuck in snow and all public transportation was off for multiple days. Since I needed to send out some letters and therefore had to go outside anyway, I decided to take my track bike and camera and try to get some nice videos of the snow-cycling-chaos.”
Thanks, Jacob!
Radar
Readers’ RIdes: Chris’ Bombtrack Arise Fixed Gravel Bike
This week’s Readers’ Rides is a little different. Chris sent in his parts bin Bombtrack Arise gravel bike. What makes this build unique is that his current build on this frame is a fixed gear. Read on below for the full build breakdown and some words by Chris…
Radar
MASH SF: 2021 Steel Tracklocross Frames
Remember cyclocross racing? Remember its sibling tracklocross and all those excellent galleries from the Bay Area series? Well, Mash SF has something for you to consider if you’re hoping to start racing tracklocross. Their 2021 frames all got a refresh, with new paint designs, and Mash even hinted at their new Phil Wood collaboration on their blog, so head on over to see all the details.
