The Radavist

Waking Up for Topanga Creek Cycles’ Saturday Morning Ride
Photos and words by Sean Talkington

Its official. I have now packed my bags (and bikes…and cats) and made my way to South Pasadena. 3 years is a pretty good run for most anything. 3 years is longer then I lasted in college! It was one hell of a party in Topanga but the time has come.

I’m writing this now in my new living space w/ boxes piled high and internet freshly installed. It feels good to start fresh in another town, and there is still killer bike riding in every direction out on the east side of LA, but I will always have a soft spot for “Topanga Life” & the people I was lucky enough to meet there…

Golden Saddle Rides: Jack Brown-Equipped ANT Townie
Photos and words by Kyle Kelley

This is what happens when you have the Jack Brown Blues…

These particular tires were bought by one of our customers for the Dirty Hundo earlier in the year. After the ride this customer decided he would never ride a bicycle on the dirt again. He sold his Cyclocross bike, but couldn’t let go of these magnificent tires. Next thing you know, he’s bought this ANT just to have a bicycle to put the tires on…

Tecolote Canyon Cross Camp “TCCC”
Photos and words by Matt Lingo

Having someone like Josh Hayes around your office is a valuable asset. With all the logistics, red tape, and TPS reports that can seem to work against getting shit done, sometimes you just need someone to call a situation out for what it is, and then promptly return to their computer to blast Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”.

The Misery of the Hardcore 24
Photos and words by Dan Chabanov

It’s rare that I get a boring text from Dan Timmerman. When he asked me if I would be interested in a 24 hour mountain bike race I figured he was mostly joking and not really expecting me to be interested in that sort of thing. He later admitted this to be true. Although I have to admit that Dan’s assessment of my level of interest was probably correct normally. I guess he just caught me on a weird day and so we started working out the details…

These are totally random, but too good to just let sit on my hoard drive…

Sean from Team Dream Team has a really rad VW bus that has been in his possession since he was just a bobcat cub. Well, truthfully, he’s shared this bus with a buddy of his since the early 90’s. On our last night in Los Angeles – adios! – Sean took Lauren, Kyle, Liz and myself on a ride up one of the many canyons in Malibu where he lives.

It was awesome and the perfect way to end a road trip. Now, for some much-needed time on the bike!

The idea of “free” these days usually comes with a catch, yet when the Levi’s Commuter Workshops popped up in Brooklyn, LA and London, free really does mean free. A free desk to work at, free bike repair / wash areas, free coffee, free wifi and yes, free tailoring. So what’s the catch? No, really, there isn’t one.

The 2014 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup
Words and photos by Chris Lee

I’m not gonna lie, I’m not very well versed or informed about the mountain bike racing circuit. But I do know about the MTB World Cup and when the announcement that it was going to be making a stop in Windham again, I knew I had to make the trip up…

Well, we’re here in Los Angeles, after four days of pedal to the metal driving down Highway 1 from Portland to Los Angeles. The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the nation’s most popular bicycle touring routes and unfortunately, that also means it’s one of the most popular RV / Camper / no-clue how to drive windy road tourist destinations.

Ok. Seriously. Now it’s a vacation. Nothing against hanging in cities but it’s damn stressful trying to get around and see all your best buddies. Well, a different kind of stress, especially when compared to driving with the windows down and music blasting down some rad gravel road with no one in sight. That’s stressful.

Lauren and I spent the day on a route I planned out to take us from Portland to the 101, without getting on any major highways. It ruled. Then, a wreck happened on the 101 and we had to take a 50 mile detour. That didn’t rule. Getting to eat at the Local Ocean in Newport, Oregon made up for it though.

I didn’t shoot a lot of digital today, because I’m shooting medium format, but I did get a little trigger happy at a nice little beach spot before we called it a night.

Check out some in the Gallery!

Look, I didn’t want day two to be more Portland photos. I know this city is awesome and I have a lot of rad friends here but come on. I need some nature. Alas, yesterday was our last day in PDX, before we head out of town, along the Nestucca River to the PCH.

It’s been 12 years since I owned a vehicle and I was quickly reminded at the cost of maintenance. New tires? Yeah, expensive. Funny how you can rationalize $80 tires for your bike, but $200 tires for a car or truck? Dammit!

After running some errands, I swung by to see my friends at Rapha North America to see their expanded offices and drink all their coffee before heading out to do much of the same – try to meet as many friends as I could before we headed out of town in the morning…