by Velospeak | Jun 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Bike Book, released by teNeues, is a beautiful 220 page collection of photographs of unusual and intriguing bicycles. The book is divided into seven sections, starting with Sport Bikes, and moving on to Urban Bikes, Utilty Bikes, E-Bikes, Accessories, Special and Concept Bikes, and Creative Bike Storage. The selection of bikes is really quite interesting, and the photography is brilliant. Each bike has a small description of the builder and the bike’s specs. Weight and origin are clearly marked, as is frame material. The companies covered range from small handmade builders such as Townsend and Bilenky, to the larger carbon builders such as Cervelo and Scott. The variety is what I like best, as it is not often Cervelo is in the same publication as Calfee. The accessories section is fun to look through as well, and highlights products from companies such as Pashley, Retrovelo, Nutcase and Brompton. The bike storage section features a myriad of beautiful solutions to storing your bicycle collection indoors. Leafing through these pages has gotten me thinking of new ways to liven up the apartment. The Bike Book is a fun read that I’ll be going back to often. It has a prominent place on the coffee table, and will remain there. The book is available directly from teNeues.
© The Bike Book – Lifestyle. Passion. Design. published by teNeues, www.teneues.com. Photo © (www.alexmoulton.com) by www.alexanderkoch.com
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by Velospeak | Jun 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Rapha La Centième Collection is being released tomorrow in advance of the Tour de France. The collection is designed by Rapha’s Ultan Coyle, (reigning UK 24-Hour TT Champion, 488.99 miles), and consists of a mosaic print representing every rider to have won the Tour since it was first run in 1903. Look for it on the Rapha site tomorrow.
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by Velospeak | Jun 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
This land speed bike from Donhou Bicycles is definitely something to marvel over.
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by Velospeak | Jun 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
I received the e-mail on this limited Bravo Camelot piece this morning, so it may already be gone, but rest assured the regular edition Bravo is always available.
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by Velospeak | Jun 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
The Chrome De Haro Windbreaker is a lightweight piece designed to be carried in its own rear stow pocket. It is made from 100% water resistant, windproof nylon. The jacket has features sure to make the commuter happy, such as full-length side vents, and a two-way zip. There are also reflective velcro cuffs for improved visibility. In addition to the rear stow pocket, there are two chest pockets and a hidden zip pocket for a cell phone. This jacket is a simple and extremely functional piece that can be relied upon to keep the wind at bay.
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by Velospeak | Jun 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
East West Bikes in Fullerton, California is presenting a Night of Carbon, with Parlee, Enve and Cervelo. For those of you interested in learning more about this magical material, head on down to East West Bikes on Friday June 28th.
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by Velospeak | Jun 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
Icebreaker consistently produces amazing clothing for the winter months, but what many people don’t realize is that they produce quality clothing for the summer months as well. Cases in point are the Icebreaker Seeker Shorts and Seeker Shirt. The Seeker shirt is a simple short sleeve button up shirt made from 150 gram pure merino wool. The light weight of this shirt makes it appropriate for the hottest months of the year, and as is the case with merino, the shirt will not have a stench after wearing it on a hot sunny day. It has simple and clean good looks, and is available in jet (grey), admiral (blue) and cargo (beige). Color names are a bit of a mystery, but the shirt is exactly as described, “a versatile shirt for travel or city living”. The Seeker shorts are a slight deviation from most Icebreaker clothing in that they are made from a 70% merino wool, 30% cotton blend material. The material is 260 gram weight, and the shorts have a 12 inch inseam. Again, Icebreaker has employed a design aesthetic that gives these shorts a very clean and simple look. There are pockets front and back as well as a zip secure thigh pocket. One thing to keep in mind when ordering is to size up as they run a bit on the small side. The shorts are incredibly comfortable, and are perfect for traveling and any summer related activities you throw their way. Icebreaker is definitely a year round company producing clothing for all four seasons.
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by Velospeak | Jun 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
BMC recently took the wraps off the new SLR01 race bike. It has been seen winning the Tour of California and placing on the podium at the Giro d’Italia. Not a bad way to introduce a new model. This frame brings another sub 800 gram player to the table, joining the ranks of Canyon, Cervelo, and Cannondale. I hope a test ride on this machine is in my future.
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by Velospeak | Jun 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
I will preface this post by saying I like what Thule makes. I’ve been using Thule roof racks for many years, and I find they sometimes outlast the car they are attached to. The luggage and backpacks are also rock solid. Then, last year at Interbike, I saw the prototype Pack ‘n Pedal system. I immediately wanted to try it. The thought of being able to mount panniers on almost any bike without any trouble at all was hard to fathom. Well, I waited until the final designs were released, and have now had the time to test the rear rack with the two larger panniers that are available. The idea behind the rack is that no special mounting points are needed because the rack straps onto the seat stays with a simple ratcheting system. I installed the rack on my Sycip, and found it was a really simple operation. More importantly, once tightened, the rack is rock solid. The load capacity is 25 kg on the top, and 18 kg on the side. It stays firmly in place even when loaded to capacity. The panniers are also quite slick, and have a simple attachment system. Pull the cord up, slip the bag onto the rack, and release. The system locks into place firmly. I have the Large Adventure Touring Pannier and the Commuter. Both bags are well thought out and have plenty of features to make the touring set happy. There are strategically placed magnets to keep the bags from swinging out on turns, smart bike light pockets, and compression buckles to keep the load secure. Both panniers are of the rolltop design making them simple to load. The Large Pannier is waterproof, while the Commuter comes with a rain cover. The complete specs are on the Thule site, but what the site doesn’t convey is how solid this system is. When riding, there is no noise at all. No rattles whatsoever. The only giveaway that the rack is installed is the weight of what you put in the panniers. The streets of Los Angeles present riders with an array of horrible potholes, bumps, and other obstacles, and in no instance did the rack or panniers wince under load. Not a sound. Thule has definitely come up with a system that merits being sold alongside their racks. I expect to start seeing cyclists using the Pack ‘n Pedal system for everyday grocery getting, to full blown touring. And, like the bike racks, the Pack ‘n Pedal system might outlast your bike.
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by Velospeak | May 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
Tonight is the night to celebrate cycling product made in the USA. On view will be all three models from Detroit’s Shinola, a beautiful one-off Sycip Java Boy, and the Cielo Tanner Goods Edition bicycle you see pictured below. Also in store is plentiful product from Swrve Cycling, a personal favorite of mine. Matt and Muriel of Swrve will be there tonight to detail the wonderful features of their BLK Label line. There will be a handful of Paul Components as well as product from Mission Workshop. This is all on top of Shelter Half’s already amazing selection of goods from all over the US. The event starts at 7pm and is located at Shelter Half, 161 South La Brea.
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