by Velospeak | Jun 17, 2014 | Uncategorized
Chrome just released the Timur sneakers. Made by hand in Thailand, these shoes feature a Forged Rubber™ sole fused directly onto the upper at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and 30psi for superior durability. These look amazing, and I will post more once I’ve had the chance to see them in person. Following is information from the press release.
Chrome turns modern manufacturing upside down by resurrecting 70-year-old Forged Rubber machines originally used to make army boots in Europe. Discovered in eastern Slovakia, an area of the world known for its demanding city landscapes, these Forged Rubber machines were refurbished and adapted to make Chrome shoes that embody the brand’s spirit of making thoughtful, highly durable products. Each Forged Rubber sneaker is individually made by hand using heated pressure and the outsole is fused directly onto the upper to ensure no separation. The result is that no undesirable cement is used and Chrome shoe lasts under the most demanding conditions. A reflective heel and an odor resistant technology are also integrated for daily city survival.
“Chrome isn’t re-inventing the wheel with our new Forged Rubber process,” states Ben McCosh, Chrome’s Product Director.. “We are challenging the industry by using the best processes available to make durable city sneakers that last beyond one season. It’s a back-to-basics concept that most manufacturers simply overlook today due to the time, effort, and resources required to make durable sneakers. This is the Chrome way.”
Chrome’s Forged Rubber shoes are crafted from the bottom up. Its foundation – the rubber sole – is harvested from local rubber tree farms in Thailand and molded just 3-5 days after leaving the tree. From there, the materials are quickly assembled, and the canvas upper is pressure fused with the rubber at 300 degrees Fahrenheit to create shoes that look like sneakers, but are constructed with the durability of army boots.
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by Velospeak | Jun 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
Café du Cycliste just released a guide to cycling in the Côte d’Azur. They are often asked about cycling tours in the area, hence the creation of the guide. The timing couldn’t be better, as I’m heading that way this coming Thursday with a Calfee bike in tow. How cool is that?
“Our philosophy is to bring a bit of the Côte d’Azur to everyone, wherever they happen to be riding their bike. But we also want to share the joys of riding in our own back-yard playground with all the cyclists who make the trip here
Our new Rides page is a detailed guide to the area, showing some of our favourite routes along the Côte d’Azur and into the mountains that rise steeply from the Mediterranean.
There’s something to suit everyone – from flat rides on the coastal bike path, to hilly excursions with great views out over Cannes and the sea, to real tests of endurance and willpower in the high snowy southern Alps.
Come and explore the roads around Nice, hang out on the beach or go pro-spotting in Monaco. There are coffee stops, bike shops and other attractions too – be our guest!”
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by Velospeak | Jun 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
Ok, maybe not fishing, but biking. Day 3 in Switzerland, and I’ve managed to ride each day. 6000 feet of climbing so far, and lots more planned. My vacation is definitely a good thing, with the most difficult planning being the choice between a morning ride or an afternoon ride. This country is amazing for the cyclist, and the choices of rides out my front door are incredible. The photo above is a shot of summiting Chasseral, my favorite local ride. I think it may be the first portrait I’ve posted, and I thought the shot was indicative of the beauty of the country. Credit for the photo goes to Philippe Lauper, who thankfully is faster than I am, and was able to capture me reaching the top.
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by Velospeak | Jun 8, 2014 | Uncategorized
I’m a bit behind on posting some of the great material I’ve been collecting, but now that I’m on vacation in Switzerland, I thought it might be a good time to post something from the backlog. I was in Seattle a few weeks back on a work trip, and was fortunate to be staying in a hotel just around the corner from Elliott Bay Bicycles. It turns out that Elliott Bay is a front of sorts for Davidson Bicycles, a frame builder in business since 1973. I am a huge fan of Davidson frames, and was lucky enough to meet both Bill Davidson and Bob Freeman while there. I was given a deluxe tour of the shop which houses both retail and frame building facilities. Everything is done in-house, from welding to finishing to painting. It is an incredibly impressive operation churning out handmade frames one at a time. I saw at least 10 frames in different stages of the building process. Surrounding the machinery and bikes are a collection of vintage bikes hanging on the walls that could be the core collection of a bicycle museum. There are absolutely beautiful bicycles from Masi, Gios, Colnago, Schwinn, and many others. Bob walked me through the collection, and I easily could have spent the entire day learning more about the bicycles and the history behind them. The front of house showcases some of the newer Davidson bicycles as well as a handful of the vintage bikes. The entire place feels a bit like a house of worship for bicycles and their history. I admit I went back to the shop each day I was in Seattle, and each visit only got better. I would be incredibly thrilled to order up my custom Davidson Ti frame with S & S couplers, capability for larger tires, and disc brakes. In other words, the perfect all around travel adventure bike. I’ll be hitting fifty in a few years, and if I start saving now, maybe the bike will be a possibility. Purchasing a bike from a builder of such high quality would be amazing, and it would also be a thrill to have a bike made by someone so important in the cycling industry. The photo at the top is of a Davidson currently for sale at the shop. I fell in love with this beautiful machine, and had my credit card been convenient and with a high enough limit, this might have made the trip back to LA with me. You never know, maybe it isn’t too late.
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by Velospeak | Jun 4, 2014 | Uncategorized
Lego is set to introduce the 1077 piece Mini Cooper in August of this year. This is perfect timing for an October birthday present for the folks at Velospeak.
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by Velospeak | May 30, 2014 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The new Assos SS.neoPro Jersey in US national livery makes me feel like Evel Knievel when I wear it on a ride. This is a good thing. For those who know me, I am not one to flaunt colors or logos on my clothing, but the design of the Assos jersey appealed to me from the moment I saw it in Switzerland last summer. The US design, as well as the four other designs from France, Italy, Germany and the UK, are all quite stunning. They are simple and elegant in the way they convey national pride. All five jerseys are made from 100% recycled P.E.T. bottles. The beauty of the material is its ability to wick moisture away from the body when you heat up. Then, when you cool down, the process reverses, keeping the moisture in, and in turn, keeping your body warm. It is meant to be used in temperatures ranging from 65 to 90 degrees fahrenheit. I’ve used it in warmer temperatures, up to 102 degrees, and I can verify it is totally appropriate for a very hot summer day. It feels light and minimal on the body, yet has all the functionality you’d expect from a top notch jersey. The fit is slim, and as is usual for Assos, works perfectly when you are on the hoods or in the drops. Assos calls the neo.Pro their entry level jersey, yet it feels completely top of the line. The SS.neo.Pro Jersey is an amazing opportunity to get a taste of Assos quality and fit at an entry level price. And, if you opt for the US national style, maybe, just maybe, you’ll get to channel your inner Evel Knievel.
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by Velospeak | May 28, 2014 | Uncategorized
I just received the following press release from Mavic highlighting Nicolas Roux’s attempt at setting the record on the Tour du Mont Blanc. It is an epic ride, and Nicolas can be followed along the entire route at this link.
Mavic is excited to announce a new sporting endeavor in celebration of our 125 year anniversary. On June 2nd, in honor of Mavic’s long legacy as the trusted partner of cyclists at the heart of the sport, Mavic ambassador Nicolas Roux will attempt to finish the “Tour du Mont Blanc” faster than ever recorded. This 330km route around the highest summit of the North Alps, traverses three different countries – France, Italy and Switzerland, over 5 Hors Categorie climbs and totals more than 8,000 meters of ascent.
Combining the Mavic SSC concept of professional technical support and products developed specifically for racing, Mavic’s longstanding passion for supporting the most intense moments in cycling, and the quest to push the limits of endurance, Nicolas will endeavor to finish the loop in a time under the record of 11 hours, 41 minutes, set in 2011. Nicolas Roux is an accomplished competitive rider and cyclosport athlete, and has won l’Etape du Tour in 2012 and 2013.
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by Velospeak | May 23, 2014 | Uncategorized
Ministry of Supply is a new company based in the northeast, Boston to be exact. The founding partners are former MIT students Gihan Amarasiriwardena, Kit Hickey and Aman Advani. The idea behind the company is to produce clothing for the boardroom that translates well into clothing for the active lifestyle. To achieve this, Ministry of Supply is using 4-way stretch fabrics, soft brushed finishes on garment liners, and odor-absorbing Javafresh, a fabric made with recycled coffee grounds. The combination of these elements translates into clothing that stands up to the most extreme situations. I’ve had the chance to try the Archive dress shirt and the Aviator chinos for the last month or so with fantastic results. The chinos are the perfect cut, slim but not restrictive. The stretch of the fabric is ideal for walking, pedaling, or climbing a mountain if that’s what you do during your lunch hour. If you were to pedal across town, upon arriving back in the office, the pants would be wrinkle free, odor free, and with the look of recently pressed trousers. The material used in the chinos is an 89% moisture-wicking polyamide with 11% elastane and a durable water repellent finish. They are very technical in construction and materials, but are also beautifully designed and cut. The Archive dress shirt is another technical piece, made from 98% moisture-wicking polyester and 2% elastane, with a laser cut ventilation system that works incredibly well. Like the chinos, the shirt is well tailored and perfect for all situations. The clothing is top notch, and the stories behind the products are also telling. Each piece has background information about which factory in China made the garment, as well as the factory’s certification. I think it impressive that Ministry of Supply is up front about their manufacturing and design processes. Lastly, I used their website to place an order, and found the experience intuitive and simple. My package arrived just a few days later in a beautiful box with simple return instructions if needed. I think Ministry of Supply is on to something quite remarkable, and I look forward to seeing their future releases.
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by Velospeak | May 22, 2014 | Uncategorized
I love this.
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by Velospeak | May 21, 2014 | Uncategorized
At Interbike last year, I happened upon Solestar, a German company specializing in custom insoles. Solestar was started several years ago by German sports scientist Oliver Elsenbach. It is based in Berlin, with a subsidiary in Cologne focusing on athlete support and product development. At Interbike, I was invited to sit for a session to have custom insoles molded to my feet, but unfortunately didn’t have the time. Several months later, a pair of the Solestar Kontrol insoles arrived at my doorstep. The company saw the need for a pre-molded insole for people who either didn’t have the time for a fitting, or don’t live in major metropolitan areas. Enter the Solestar Kontrol, a pre molded insole designed to slip right into your shoe. The website has a sizing chart for most every manufacturer of cycling shoes, and it tells you what size insole to order for your specific shoe. Mine were sized for the Gaerne Chrono shoes and the fit is perfect. I’ve also tried them in the same size Fizik shoe, and again the fit is perfect. The insoles are designed to provide maximum stability for the foot. The wonderfully comfortable insoles do exactly that, and all the while feel as if they were custom molded for my feet. I have ridden over 500 miles with the insoles, and will continue to use these with any shoes that come my way. The comfort level on my rides has been upped tremendously by the Kontrol insoles and I still marvel at how well they fit inside both pairs of shoes. Solestar must have tested these insoles with every shoe imaginable. The company offers a six week satisfaction guarantee to entice more cyclists to give them a go. I think those making the plunge will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the Kontrol insoles, and more importantly, will enjoy the comfort and stability they offer.
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