Baraldi Panseri finds vintage bicycles, reconditions them, and then sells them to adoring fans. They are not completely restored, just put into a state of a properly functioning bicycle. The aesthetics of the bikes I’ve seen are amazing, and the head badge for the Patelli pictured above is one of my favorites. The company is based in Italy, and for now, there is this Facebook page.
Yesterday I had the chance to visit Stilrad in Zurich. I try and stop by when in the area, as the shop has an interesting selection of bicycles and components. Alberto Friedrich, the shop proprietor, has an eye for the unusual and beautiful. Lining the walls are accessories from Mission Workshop, Bern, Nutcase and Brooks. The bicycles come from Pasculli, Schindelhauer, Cooper and Vanmoof. An interesting addition to the shop is the e-bike from Grace. This is the white bicycle pictured above, and it is capable of reaching speeds up to 41 km/h. I enjoy spending time looking through the beautiful selection, and I pine for the day there is a shop like this in Los Angeles.
Golden Saddle Cyclery hosts the Golden Saddle Grand Prix, Wednesday, July 24th in Los Angeles. This should be an excellent event, and in addition to cycling, there will be a Pure Luck pop up restaurant.
For those in the Bay Area, this should be quite an interesting evening. Mission Workshop is hosting Argonaut Cycles for a presentation by owner Ben Farver, followed by a Q & A.
Two years ago, when I first visited Pave Culture Cycliste in Barcelona, I put the shop on my top five list of best shops. After my second visit last week, it is solidly in first place. The shop has almost doubled in size, incorporating a new cafe, and a huge section devoted to Assos. This is in addition to an already established Rapha section, and one of the prettiest displays of bicycles I’ve ever seen. To say this shop is “designed” is an understatement. Every corner has been thoughtfully laid out to best showcase the products. The helmets, shoes and parts are displayed in a manner that should satisfy the most discerning customers. Also new is a small section devoted to displaying vintage bicycles where they had two Olmos, one Colnago, and a Guerciotti. Mountain bikes are another new addition, albeit a small selection. This shop is truly a magical place to be. I spent over an hour, but could have browsed or chatted all day long. With the cafe and a small selection of wine available, I suspect others have the same feeling. One final note on Pave: they have included bicycles from Bob Parlee. There were three in the beautiful display, as well as a customer’s bike in the rack when I visited. It is wonderful to see Bob Parlee’s creations in Europe. Pave has a deep understanding of the aura of cycling which they have transformed into a tangible space where you can drink it in.
This bicycle is residing across the path from Salvador Dali’s home in Cadaques, Spain. From the looks of it, it is slowly becoming one with nature. I am going to start the rumor that this was Dali’s personal bicycle, and that he last locked it up in 1982, when upon Gala’s death, he took up residence at Púbol Castle. I think this is a good story for this forgotten bicycle.
The new Chrome Bravo Night is decked out with a 3M Reflective panel that is visible from up to 100 meters at night. This is a wonderful addition to an already wonderful rolltop backpack. The bag features a waterproof main compartment, and can expand to carry a full 40 liters. This is a versatile bag ready to take on any type of commuting. It is available directly from Chrome.
Today I was able to visit the BMC Headquarters in Grenchen, Switzerland. A lot has changed since I was last there, most significantly the addition of a showroom displaying the entire BMC line-up. It is a sight to behold, and the ability to view each model in all color combinations and parts specifications is truly a joy. Also new is the Velodrome Suisse directly across the street. The finishing touches are still being applied, yet the track has already hosted a few events. It is an impressive facility that makes visiting BMC an even greater excursion. More to come on BMC in the future, but for now, enjoy the photo of the newly released Track Machine TR01.
Today I leave for Switzerland, the land of chocolate and yodeling. It is also the land of Assos, BMC, DT Swiss, and a host of other cycling related companies. I hope to be able to report on several, but more importantly, I hope to be able to ride. Riding is the best way to take in views such as the one above. Switzerland was designed for cycling, and I want to take full advantage.
