by Velospeak | Dec 17, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
Winter is about to officially arrive, and the temperatures have dropped accordingly. My ride two weeks ago took place in temperatures ranging from 42° F to 48° F. For us Angelenos, that is cold, and it necessitated bringing out the cold weather cycling gear. Keeping the knees warm is key in these temperatures, so I chose to ride in the Assos tk.607_s5 Bib Knickers. These knickers are designed for spring, fall, and early winter riding. They are made with ASSOS RXQ insulator fabric which uses a 3D air channel structure. This open structure creates a micro air cushion between the skin and the fabric. RXQ is a low-density, low-volume fabric, and its breathability keeps your core dry and your temperature regulated. In addition, windproof stratagonUltra material is used on the stomach and inner thigh areas to keep you warm. There is a lot of technical know how behind these materials, but suffice to say, the engineering of these bib knickers has created another signature Assos product that works extremely well. In 30 miles of cold temperatures with intense periods of sweating on climbs followed by cold descents, the tk.607 performed perfectly. The pad is extremely comfortable, the compression just right, and the overall race cut a perfect fit. The temperature regulation was perfect and I never felt too hot or cold. For some, the Assos language is a bit too technical, but I am here to tell you it all adds up to extremely well designed products. This past weekend I rode with someone who asked if Assos shorts were that much better than the competitors, and my definitive answer was and is, absolutely yes. For the best in shorts, Assos has the market cornered. And, with the new s7 range debuting, Assos intends to stay at the top of the game.
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by Velospeak | Dec 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
Exclusively for Sotheby’s, Dutch designer Herman van Hulsteijn created a very special edition of 9 extraordinary Vanhulsteijn bicycles covered in a dazzling coat of Japanese urushi lacquer and gold leaf. A six minute video detailing the project is an interesting watch. I had never heard of these bicycles, and am unsure of the design, but they are certainly worth a look.
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by Velospeak | Dec 13, 2013 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Icebreaker Legend Long Sleeve Zip is an amazingly well designed and comfortable piece. It is made from 320 heavyweight merino wool, and is designed to be used by the city dweller and the skier alike. For milder temperatures, this is a perfect stand alone piece, but where the Legend really shines is as a mid layer under a hard shell for the ultimate in warmth. It is cut generously and allows for freedom of movement on the bike or off. It has insulating quilting on the front and back panels, as well as hand warmer pockets. I plan on using this on my upcoming ski trip, and with temperatures falling well below zero, I imagine the Legend will be worn consistently. Icebreaker quality is top notch, and I am fond of being able to track where the wool comes from via the “Baacode”, down to the specific sheep farm. A novelty perhaps, but fun nonetheless. I seem to be compiling an unofficial holiday list, and Icebreaker would be in the top ten best gifts.
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by Velospeak | Dec 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
Chrome Industries announces the live screening of its first short film this Friday, December 13th at noon west coast time. Chrome will temporarily take over its website for the screening from 12:00 to 12:30 pm. The Chrome Crew worked with Portland natives Kamp Grizzly to document Massan Fluker taking his track bike and Chrome’s new Barrage Rolltop to the hills and bridges of Portland. The final 3 minute short includes some of the best riding Portland has to offer including an epic decent of Burnside at +40 mph. Set your phone alarms for noon this Friday to catch the live screening. Spread the word.
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by Velospeak | Dec 11, 2013 | Made in the USA, Product Reviews, Uncategorized
Allen Edmonds continues to impress with each subsequent release. The Neumok pictured above has been in my shoe rotation for several months, but feels like a shoe I’ve been living with comfortably for years. It is a shoe that fits like a glove from the moment you put it on. No need to wear them intermittently before going on a trip. You put them on and go. I would purchase a pair, and travel the very next day without any worries. For someone searching for the perfect Christmas present, Allen Edmonds should be at the top of the list. As I’ve said before, all their shoes are hand crafted in Wisconsin and are backed by the best customer service I have yet to find. Shop online, and make someone you love very, very happy.
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by Velospeak | Dec 11, 2013 | Events, Made in the USA, Uncategorized
This Friday marks the arrival of Mission Workshop at Golden Saddle. The entire line will be on hand, including the Acre mountain bike collection. The event runs from 6pm – 9pm.
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by Velospeak | Dec 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
I have never written anything that could be construed as negative on Velospeak, but today is different. The reason for this short rant is a small bit of news out of Canada, from the Calgary Herald. I’ll let you head over and read the full article, but the short of it is a shop called Café Roubaix is being forced to change its name as a result of a legal threat from Specialized. The reason for the threat is copyright infringement. Apparently Specialized believes the name of the shop infringes on their Roubaix bicycle. There are many questions here, but number one on my list is how Specialized got away with filing a trademark on a name of a commune in the north of France. Hard to believe, but harder to swallow is the fact Specialized is going after this small independent shop. I have tried to like Specialized, but they don’t give me much to like. Personally, they have ignored every request I have made, including a simple meeting at Interbike two years running. I have tried to get media samples to review, but I rarely even receive a response. Alright, maybe it’s just that Velospeak doesn’t register in their minds. But, worse than just being ignored are the bullying tactics many shops experience from this huge company. Very few people I’ve spoken to in the industry like the attitude coming out of Specialized, and today’s story is just icing on the cake. I find it incredible that a company with huge market share would even bother to go after a small shop in Canada. The argument that they need to defend their trademark is completely baseless in my opinion. I can only hope this incident gets resolved amicably, and that Specialized takes their lumps for being the big bad bully. Maybe attitudes will change ever so slightly up in Morgan Hill.
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by Velospeak | Dec 5, 2013 | Uncategorized
Marcelo Pena Costa apparently thinks much the same way we museum employees do. Many years ago, I thought it would be funny to do a show of the hardware used to hang a show. Take a screw that was used to hang a famous painting, label it, and put it back on the wall. Mr. Costa did just that. He also took exquisite photos of the hardware, and labeled them accordingly. I’ve been unable to dig up additional information beyond what’s posted over at Gizmodo. I am a fan of the idea, and hope to see it in a museum, or even better, in a coffee table book.
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by Velospeak | Dec 5, 2013 | Events, Uncategorized
The Rapha Festive 500 begins on December 24th. The challenge is to ride 500 kilometers in 8 days. I’ve signed up, and hope to be able to reach the goal. Where shall I ride?
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by Velospeak | Dec 3, 2013 | Events, Uncategorized
Bike Effect is hosting a launch party for Parker Dusseau next Tuesday evening at 6:30pm. I am looking forward to seeing the collection in person and meeting the folks behind the company.
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