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Words by Morgan Taylor. Photos by Dylan Davies.
Ross Allan from Bonavia Cycles recently saw through a project that had been in the works for a while. Last year he built himself a single speed cyclocross frameset and sent it off to Vancouver custom painter Toxik Harald, asking for something “Pollock”. After a long wait, Ross’ patience paid off.
Check out a couple more details below, and the full set at Shred or Dead.
Enter the CXORCIST
Photos by Stefan Feldman & Warren Fentonand, words by Kyle Scully
This past January, I flew from balmy Vancouver BC to a surprisingly frigid Austin TX to hang out at the US Cyclocross National Championships. The trip itinerary included meeting friends from the internet, watching some racing (the ones that didn’t get cancelled), and most importantly, racing John’s Crash Nationals Race. Unsanctioned “Bandit Cross” style races were new to me at this point in time and I didn’t really know what to expect…
Sometimes things are lovely, until they’re not…
Building Culture at the Vancouver Frame Builders Show
Words by Mathew Braun
Photos by Stefan Feldmann
Vancouver has a significant place within the world of North American hand built bicycles. There is much debate surrounding the origins of the mountain bike, but few will argue that the frames built in Vancouver during the late ’80s and early ’90s didn’t direct the state of downhill mountain biking significantly.
Once again the city’s frame builders are demonstrating their ability to craft intentional and beautiful bicycles. My desire to organize this show was in part driven by curiosity: I wanted to know who else was building frames in the area. I firmly believe that the growth of culture starts with a strong community, and for that community to take root you gotta make shit happen.
On Thursday, September 10th, a group of nine frame builders local to the Vancouver area gathered at Musette Caffé for the first annual Vancouver Frame Builders Show. A collection of lugged, fillet brazed, and tig welded frames donned the floor as master, young, and new builders demonstrated their craft.
Heads up Vancouver! Thursday, September 10th at Musette Caffé, Skyland Cycles is bringing you a rad event. Shoot the shit with 9 local frame builders and throw your cap in on a stacked raffle with prizes from Shimano, Chris King, 7mesh, Burnaby Velodrome, and Fabric. If you’re in town, get there!
The Official Get Sick Day Worldwide Recap
Photos from a whole lotta folks and words by Sean Talkington
Think about what we use our personal or sick days for? Dumb stuff. Staying home sick (or if you have kids you stay home when they get sick), going to the doctor, going to the DMV, jury duty, visiting in-laws, funerals, etc. Question: What do all of these things have in common? The Answer: None of them are fun. Sure, you can schedule your vacation time around whatever events you want but what if you really just want or need a single day to get your head right? Can you just tell your boss “I think I am going to skip tomorrow and ride my bike locally all day with some buddies. Might do a little swimming too. Fuck it. Maybe even grab tacos after and watch the sunset.” Some of you have awesome bosses but the majority of us are afraid to take a day off for ourselves…
For over 22 years, Our Community Bikes, a small workshop in Vancouver, BC has helped the community grow in their love of the bicycle through offering workshops and a space to work on bikes. They’ve reached a point now in which they must move to a bigger location and want the people of Vancouver to know what’s going on, hence this video…
Check out more at Pedal Power and follow along at the Our Community Bikes Facebook.
Here’s another short film from Ben Johnson, the eye behind First Lookout from a couple months back. In this piece Ben’s captured another early morning ride experience with a punchline that should resonate. While the film features a product, for which the video is an ad spot, it certainly doesn’t feel that way.
Kenjitsu’s 2015 Cinelli MASH Parallax
Words by Morgan Taylor and photos by Stefan Feldmann
Some builds come together quickly, while others are more of a slow roast. This one falls into the latter category: a collection of carefully matched parts coming together over a few months. The wait was worth it, though, and Kenjitsu’s (known as 21 Ninjas on Instagram) Parallax project has finally come to fruition with everything in its place.
The simplicity of track bikes is no doubt what led many of us down the road of parts upgrades, but Kenjitsu’s bike goes beyond simply matching colors for the sake of it. The Campy Record Pista crankset and Izumi chain are classic track bling, but this build is firmly situated in the modern era with the Cadence x Ritchey C260 stem, Cinelli NEOS carbon bar and post, and MASH x San Marco Concor rounding out the contact points.
However, it’s the wheels that stand out here. The purple Phil Wood Tsunami Relief hubs – set #02 of five – feature artwork by Wakako from Blue Lug laser engraved by Grayson Yokota. The 90mm flanges are laced to H Plus Son Archetype 32 hole rims via Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes, making for a truly drool-worthy wheelset.
Kenjitsu capped off the build with a purple Radavist top cap and a pair of NOS Time ATAC World Champion Carbon MTB pedals. Look for Kenjitsu and the Parallax on the streets of Vancouver this spring!
Rider: Kenjitsu
Build credit: Matt Braun / Skyland Cycles
Full build spec:
2015 Charcoal Cinelli MASH Parallax 54cm
H Plus Son 32h Archetype
Sapim CX-Ray bladed spokes
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 23mm
Phil Wood & Co. purple anodized Limited Edition Tsunami Relief 90mm Track Hub Set #02/05
Phil Wood & Co. Track Cog 15t
Campagnolo Record Pista Track Crankset 49t
Campagnolo Record Pista cartridge BB
Izumi Track Chain
NOS Time ATAC World Champion Carbon MTB Pedals
Cinelli NEOS Carbon Seat Post
Selle San Marco MASH Concor Saddle
Ritchey x Cadence Airflow C260 Stem
Cinelli NEOS Carbon drop bars
Radavist purple anodized top cap
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In First Lookout, Ben Johnson captures the experience of an early morning climb up Cypress Mountain, high above Vancouver’s skyline. Nice work Ben, looking forward to more!
Chunks’ Nagasawa
Words and photos by Morgan Taylor
When we think of building a bike, there’s usually an aesthetic ideal and a finished product in mind. While many of the beautiful bicycles we pore over are works of perfection, the range of aesthetic ideals is as varied as the riders who put them together.
I’ve known Chunks since the early days of fixie freestyle. We used to get together on a weekly basis to do backwards circles and bunny hop converted road frames – sound familiar? That weekly gathering gave us the motivation to ride through winters, sharing laughs and forging friendships along the way.
At the time, the NJS track bike was an aesthetic ideal it seemed we all lusted for. The race-bred, yet street-tough style led many down the path of looseball hubs and B123s in less than optimal conditions. Some went even further, to a carefully curated, freshly imported Keirin frameset dripping in Nitto and Dura Ace.
Rocky Mountain reached out to local jersey manufacturers, Cima Coppi to create 100% merino wool short and long sleeve jerseys featuring their 1980’s throwback logo. They’re in stock now in small quantities, so hurry over to Rocky Mountain.
I’ve never ridden the Vancouver coast, but so far, what I’ve seen has me convinced it’s a pretty jammin’ landscape.
The Vancouver Island Badass 200
Words and Photos by Eiry Bartlett
The plan: 6 women, 6 bikes, 2 days, fully self-supported bike-camping trip around southern Vancouver Island, covering 200km+ and completing the Rapha Women’s 100 in true Pacific Northwest style. Confirmations were sent, gear lists made, training rides were organized. Really, the most important thing was that our kits looked good together.
Well, apparently life can really get in the way of fun. My girls were picked off like ripe cherries on a summer day and by time the trip rolled around we were down to three, but we were three totally stoked, badass ladies ready for whatever was thrown our way. A smaller group meant a smaller vehicle and the addition of our dutiful camp commander – soon to be known as Captain Sparkles – who was willing to transport our food and gear to the campsite while we made our way across the wilds of the Cowichan Valley.
Weird weather happened, kooky locals, drivers – speeding like bats out of hell, and all the benefits you’d expect cycling a route that starts in a logging zone and ends in a gorgeous temperate rainforest.
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Follow Eiry on Instagram.
The Ladies Army polo tournament returns for its fifth year to East Vancouver. Be there May 10-12th.
