The Radavist

Ted may like maple syrup, but he’s been known to take a cold Tecate during a race!

Many would consider a wrist watch a luxury item and by all means, rightfully so, especially in the digital age. For those of us who still wear watches, it’s nice to see domestic production returning to the US in such a niche market. These days, there are millions of options, all of which look great, but when you begin to weed down those with casings made in Taiwan and China, suddenly, you’re looking at an investment.

I don’t know many people who can walk into a luxury boutique and drop thousands of dollars on a Rolex, Heuer or an IWC, but seeing something made in Los Angeles for around a grand isn’t that bad. At all. Especially considering that no one else is manufacturing their stainless casings, sapphire crystals, hands, faces and bands in the USA like Weiss Watch Company is.

Annin is the oldest flag maker in the USA. They use a special UV-coating on their inks during the sublimation process that keeps their flags bright and the designs clear for years. I got a small batch made and am selling them for $100 USD, shipped worldwide. It’s a strange product, at a high pricepoint, but the margins are almost non-existent on small runs (I’m making $15 a flag). I’d love to be able to afford to order thousands, instead of tens, but this is all I can do right now.

Each flag will be shipped today and will come packed with stickers, decals and top caps. Pick one up below and I hope to see these at your local cross races, bike shops, or wherever you chose to fly them!

SORRY SOLD OUT

This is Yonder Journal’s most ambitious undertaking to date. For the entire month of July – or as close to that time period as possible – Yonder will be exploring various areas of the western United States. The primary purpose of this project is to explore, document, and publish a permanent, voluminous, wide-sweeping, and studied record of the State of Recreation in the summer of 2014.

See more at Yonder Journal, including how you can contribute to their Field Studies and win prizes from Yakima, Yonder and Poler.

I took some liberties with this illustration…

In 1920, the Czech play “R.U.R.,” or “Rossum’s Universal Robots,” was written by Karel Čapek. The story followed a manufacturer who makes a race of servants that ended up revolting, killing everyone in their wake. Karel wrote about these sentient beings and first coined the phrase “robot,” which derived from an Old Church Slavonic word for “forced labor.”

Now, it may come as a surprise to you, but over the years, robots have in fact killed many factory workers, worldwide. More often than not, it’s by shear chance, but the facts are there and as robotic technology continues to advance in factories, one debate has risen: “are we signing our fate?”

All this may sound silly, but for some reason, a recent New York Times article tied into a piece I’ve wanted to write about how you should buy handbuilt wheels. Not just to support your local bike shop, but because the more our industry relies on “R.U.R.s”, the less people it employs… Also, robots will kill us all, dude.

It’s just a thought. Click on below for a visual representation of these OSHA-documented robot fatalities and head over to the New York Times for an interesting piece on the robot labor force.

This video is so random that it needs its own post.

As a manufacturer of products built on the belief that quality is of the utmost importance, Chris King is always eager to learn about other like-minded manufacturers. One such business is Portland manufacturer Grovemade, makers of modern and sophisticated wood based office supplies and personal electronic accessories. See photos at Chris King!

This is pretty clever. Alex X-Rays himself while wearing various cycling products. His list is extensive, but I like this image of him on a Pinarello the best. If you’re wondering how it’s done, then check out this behind the scenes photo.

From Eddie Merckxy, down to Fausto ROBOCOPpi, John Maniquis’ mash-up of cycling and pop culture figures is so amazing. I wish I could be at his opening tomorrow night, as I’m sure all of you do.

Cykel
548 Union Street
San Francisco, CA
June 6th, 2014 at 6pm

For those of us who won’t be able to make it to SF, John was kind enough to send over the pieces… See the full show list from Hybrids: Illustrations by John Maniquis below!

We live in a world where big brother is out to get you. The government wants to strap a helmet on your head, make you register your bike and throw you in prison anytime you disobey. Right? Wrong… The world, as a cyclist, isn’t that bad. Sure, there are hiccups once and while and maybe yes, the average US driver doesn’t like you, the cyclist, taking up their road but come on, we really have it pretty good overall.

Everyone got so pissy when Strava began “selling” your data that no one stopped to think about how important that data can be to improving your city’s cycling infrastructure. Yes, just think, maybe there’s a way to further separate you from those fat, lazy, stinky, smelly motorists that want all the road for themselves…

There is! But cities need essential data. Data that would cost the local government thousands of research funds. Or, they could just buy it from Strava. Seriously, they can have all my PRs, KOMs (oh wait) and routes, just improve my city too!

Wired Magazine wrote an exceptional piece on this very subject. I suggest you head over and read it.

There’s something odd about these videos, yet I always watch them. I think by now, the world has seen that you can do any amount of freestyle on an inappropriate bike, but what happens when riders start trying to one-up each other? Isn’t that how subsets of sports are born?

It just so happens that these videos have insane budgets, so at least they’re compelling to watch…

This seems like ages ago. Handsome Cycles and One on One threw the Cutter’s Ball and Shopbike Shootout during frostbike.

I love a good camp mug, especially one with a message. Pick up this Travel Slow mug at Cadence.

Hey… this looks familiar!

Here’s the latest from reflective clothing company, ICNY.