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Recent Roll: The Son of Daedalus Redux

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Recent Roll: The Son of Daedalus Redux

Two years ago, I visited Ian Sutton of Icarus Frames at his workshop in Boston and shot some photos. I ended up naming the post “The Son of Daedalus” after the Greek tale. For those unfamiliar, Daedalus was a great inventor and he had two sons, Icarus and Iapyx. Icarus and Daedalus wanted to fly like the birds, so they fashioned wings of wax, string and feathers.

Before pushing his son into flight off a cliff, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun. Icarus ignored his father and fell to his death. It’s a very morbid tale but Ian found it suitable as a name. Even before he had a name for his small framebuilding company, he used to attach feathers to his bikes, which later became his head badge.

I’ve been wanting to shoot more photos of Ian working in his small shop here in Austin so I took my Hasselblad, the 50mm CF T* lens, a tripod and some Ilford Delta 3200 over to do just that. The grainy, low light photos capture his shop environment quite well. As he worked away, sanding and filing on a new road bike, I tried my best not to get in his way. His shop is small but utilized efficiently as his tools and frames occupy every inch. I felt like the standard approach would be to try and bring more light into the film, but the dark exposures turned out perfect.

There will be a lot of Icarus on the blog in the forthcoming months, with Lauren’s bike on the way, my MAX fork, Ross’ light tourer and Chris’ road, pictured here.

See more below.

Introducing Yonder Journal: Brovet 01 – Old Ridge Road Permanent

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Introducing Yonder Journal: Brovet 01 – Old Ridge Road Permanent

I love it when projects like this pop up and everyone involved are damn talented individuals. Introducing Yonder Journal, a project by Daniel Wakefield Pasley and Emiliano Granado. Without saying too much more, here’s the first installment of Yonder Journal: Brovet 01, Old Ridge Road Permanent.

“We like to think of ourselves as Cultural Anthropologists, armed with cameras and notebooks, compelled into the field to explore, document, digest and publish a lasting and meaningful record of our experiences there.

Yonder Journal will be a series of Briefs, Guides, and Studies that endeavor to understand and relate American Frontiers and Western Principles.”

“Today, we begin with our first of many Studies – Brovet. Inspired by the world of Randonneuring (long distance cycling), Brovet is a Guide book to American Permanents (predetermined routes) that aims to inspire, entertain, and inform.”

Click here to download the Official Cue Sheet and Brovet Card. Print the instructions and ride the ride using the turn-by-turn instructions therein. Complete the Brovet Card provided and send it to Yonder Journal to receive your Official Brovet Patch. More details inside. See more in the Gallery above!

#GoYonder

Texas Cyclocross State Championships

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Texas Cyclocross State Championships

Last weekend was the Texas Cyclocross State Championships in Fredericksburg, Texas. Unlike the last cross races I’ve shot, it was bright and sunny outside, so I decided to shoot with my new Leica M7 and Hasselblad, rather than the 5D. I’m digging a lot of these, check them out yourself!

Recent Roll: Having the Wind Knocked Out of You

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Recent Roll: Having the Wind Knocked Out of You

Last weekend was the Texas State Cyclocross Championships. I headed out with my Hasselblad and my Leica to shoot some photos. While I’m in the midst of scanning everything, here’s a shot of Chris Lee, post-wreck. His bars got clipped, on a fast downhill section, sending them sideways and Chris, over the bars onto his chest. He sat there, catching his breath and moments later, his tube exploded from the popped bead. Luckily, the dude is ok.

More photos to come.

Beat the Clock Cycling New Years Day Alley Cross

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Beat the Clock Cycling New Years Day Alley Cross

A few months back, some friends decided to start up a cycling club called Beat the Clock Cycling. It was started by Jon, the owner of Beat the Clock Messengers. The idea was to create a club that would throw local events, with one thing in mind: fun. Group rides, parties, goof-off races and everything in between.

So far, it’s pretty low-key but on New Years Day, a couple dozen people got together for a little impromptu Alley Cross race on the East Side of Austin. I slept in and missed the actual race, but took my Hasselblad out for a quick roll of film at the finish. Check it out in the Gallery!

Hawaiian #Naturevibes

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Hawaiian #Naturevibes

Over the past few weeks, I hadn’t had much time to get out and shoot with the Hasselblad, so when we went to Hawaii to see Lauren’s parents for the Holidays, I made sure to bring it. Like the digital Gallery, there are no bikes here, just #naturvibes. Enjoy!

Heal Up Woody

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Heal Up Woody

Woody, co-owner of Golden Saddle Cyclery, National track champion, actual US Olympic team mechanic and just all around good dude was recently hurt while mountain biking in Sedona, Arizona.

This post is dedicated to putting a smile on your local shop mechanic’s face. So make sure you tip! It doesn’t even have to be money, the gift of a cupcake, a beer, a coffee, or even a bottle of booze will make even the surliest of mechanics smile. I don’t want to ignite a Reservoir Dogs debate, I just want to let you know that they appreciate it!

In the meantime, let’s send Woody some good wishes. He’s all broken. Read up more at GSC.

Miss ya buddy.

Damian Riehl: Bicycle Parts Study

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Damian Riehl: Bicycle Parts Study


Photo by Damian Riehl

Wiping your bike down after every ride and refusing to lock it up may keep it in pristine condition but will it have character? Or a soul? Prolly not. Well used components and frames seem to sprout a personality with the patina from daily use and Damian Riehl has captured that with a few photos. This one in particular is my favorite, a 150mm shot (with an extension tube) from his Hasselblad of a Zipp hub.

See the rest here.

Pit Stop

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Pit Stop

There’s nothing better than drinking from the Earth after a mean Cat 2 climb in 90+ degree weather. Last weekend, a big group of us did the Geyserville loop and after the initial descent, there was a water trough filled with ice cold spring water. I took my Hasselblad out of the videographer’s car and snapped a few shots of my Geekhouse resting on this oasis.

Recent Roll: Ian and His Icarus Track Machine Prototype

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Recent Roll: Ian and His Icarus Track Machine Prototype

So Ian at Icarus has been working on this monster track machine for a little while. The idea is that bigger track racers, like 200+ lb sprinters, need a stiff bike and weight isn’t really a big of an issue. So he’s gone oversize everywhere he can. He’s still working on the frame, in his down time but this thing would rip the boards off a velodrome underneath the right racer…

#NatureVibes 02

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#NatureVibes 02

The last Recent Roll Nature Vibes post got a lot of love and while Texas is far from the Northwest, it still has its share of aw inspiring landscapes. Last weekend the lady and I made the trek to Enchanted Rock about 100 miles northwest of Austin. This large batholith is the third largest formation in the world, and second in the US. We managed to sneak in before the crowds so I got some surreal landscape shots with the Hasselblad.

Love

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Love

I don’t have children and yet I understand why parents always have a camera in their kids’ face. It’s love, right?

Texas Toast is This Weekend!

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Texas Toast is This Weekend!

If you’re within driving distance of Austin, or you’re already here for ACL, you better make it out to the Odyssey BMX Texas Toast Jam this weekend. It’s bigger and better than last year, with a tighter, more techy dirt section, a new and improved Gauntlet of Death, better street course and even a flatland section. I went out yesterday to check in on the guys and it’s a lovely, colorful mess of ramps and paint right now. Some of which look dreadfully fun to shred.