Made in England

by | Dec 17, 2012 | Uncategorized

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While visiting London, I was a able to pick up a copy of Made in England, a book chronicling the bespoke frame building tradition in the UK. The book is a wonderful look into this rarefied field, and highlights 12 builders, such as Feather, Lee Cooper, Ron Cooper, and Dave Yates, to name a few. Each builder is given a brief bio, and an interview with the builder follows. The questions are to the point, and give a good sense of what the builder is about. There is plenty of stunning photography by Kayti Peschke throughout the book. The project was put together by Mathew Sowter and Ricky Feather, and published by Push Projects LTD. It is available for purchase through Push Projects.



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Allen Edmonds

by | Dec 14, 2012 | Made in the USA, Product Reviews, Uncategorized

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In my ongoing quest to find more product actually produced in the US, I rediscovered Allen Edmonds. Founded in 1922 by Elbert W. Allen, the company has been making shoes and boots in Port Washington, Wisconsin for ninety years. The company follows a traditional 212 step manufacturing process, detailed in full on their website, along with the heritage of the company-all well worth reading. The detail is also abundant in the descriptions of the shoes and boots. After looking through them all, I chose the Haight boot you see pictured above. I was looking for something that would be appropriate for all occasions, and I found it in the Haight. The style of this particular model works well with jeans, as well as a suit, a versatility I really appreciate, especially for travel. The craftsmanship of these boots is top notch. It is readily apparent upon first putting on the boots that they are made to last. It is also amazing how comfortable the boots are. There is no breaking in period for these, a welcome respite from other boots I’ve worn in the past. The insoles are particularly supportive and comfortable, making these great for a lot of walking. The Dainite rubber sole is perfect for rainy days, and also makes the boots great for work, though sometimes I feel guilty wearing such beautiful boots to the work place. I suspect these boots will be with me for a very long time. Allen Edmonds makes a superior product, and it’s made in the US, a winning combination.

Now, for the amazing photo at the top. This is a shot of Colin Hall, the CMO of Allen Edmonds. In speaking with the folks at Allen Edmonds, I discovered they are a group of devoted cyclists, from the CEO on down. This shot of Colin Hall was taken at the 1986 amateur Paris-Roubaix. I asked how he did, and he told me he crashed 3 times before badly hurting his elbow. He did manage a cold shower under the velodrome at the end of the day.



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Surf to Skate

by | Dec 13, 2012 | Uncategorized


The book, Surf to Skate, is now available to buy. In conjunction with its release, there will be a book signing at Hennessey and Ingalls’ Hollywood location, Friday the 14th from 6pm to 9pm. I had the chance to check out the 60’s skateboard show that’s on display in the window, and I recommend it to anyone interested in skateboarding. There are so many cool old boards to look at, with the highlight being the metal flake upholstered tuck and roll board that originally sold for $2.99 at Akron in Ventura. Such an amazing collection of vintage boards.



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Assos Nucleo Frankfurt

by | Dec 7, 2012 | Uncategorized


While in Frankfurt, I had the opportunity to check out the Assos Nucleo shop. It’s a beautifully designed shop showcasing the entire Assos line. I was fortunate to meet Thomas John, an incredibly knowledgeable salesperson. He walked me through the line, and was able to clearly explain the benefits of one product versus another. I appreciate such in-depth knowledge, a rarity in retail these days. The Assos Nucleo shop in Frankfurt is one of just 4 Nucleo shops worldwide, and is worth a visit if in Frankfurt.



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3D Bikefit

by | Dec 5, 2012 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized


While in San Francisco over the Thanksgiving break, I was able to spend five hours being fitted to my bicycle at 3D Bikefit. Before getting into the details of the fit, I should mention that previous to this, I had only been fit the old school way. This meant measuring tapes, protractors, and a weight on a string. The old school way seemed to work, but I still had issues that needed sorting, such as a very stiff neck and shoulders when riding over 50 miles. At 3D Bikefit, I was given the Body Geometry Video Analysis Fit. It is typically a 3 to 4 hour fit, but mine took about 5 hours under the watch of Ryan Moore. It all starts with an interview asking what works and doesn’t work for you on the bike. Then, basic measurements of your body are taken. Once this is completed, a video is taken of you on the bike. You are on a lazy susan of sorts, that allows you to be turned around for full coverage by the cameras. The video streams live to monitors front and rear, so you are able to watch yourself. The video is taped, allowing the fitter to check angles on the computer. This is how they start to adjust everything on the bike. The goal is to make you as comfortable on the bike as possible, while increasing your power. It seemed like a tall order, but Ryan was confident it could be accomplished. Right off the bat it was determined I was sitting way too far back in relation to the cranks. A zero setback seatpost was installed. The saddle was then slammed forward to accomplish the proper position over the cranks. Next up, the 100mm stem needed to be replaced by a 130mm stem to give me the proper reach. I am making it sound as if this is all happening fast, but keep in mind that the measurements and video analysis take time, and Ryan fretted over the smallest of measurements. The saddle was adjusted endlessly, as was the saddle height. This process took the majority of time. An adjustment, then more video, another adjustment, more video, etc. Time consuming, yes, but worth it in the end. Another emphasis is placed on the shoes and cleat positions. Again, from the video, Ryan adjusted both. I now have new insoles, with a shim in my left shoe. All this work added up to a more relaxed position on the bike while also gaining a power advantage. My back is now straight, there is less pressure on my arms and shoulders, and I feel better all the way around. The photos above show the difference in position on my Cervelo, top being before, and after below. It’s a dramatic difference, and one that has improved the quality of my riding. 3D Bikefit are expert at making you the rider you have always wanted to be, fast and powerful, yet incredibly comfortable.



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BioLite CampStove

by | Dec 3, 2012 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized

The BioLite CampStove is an amazing product. Its simplicity and ease of use astonish. Leaves and twigs are inserted into the main chamber for a quick and easy fire. There is no need to carry fuel, as it is easily collected around the campsite. The stove lights quickly, and brings water to a boil in no time. Also, once lit, the stove converts the heat from the fire into usable electricity to charge your gadgets, such as a phone or GPS. By using renewable resources instead of petroleum for fuel, your carbon footprint is reduced. Best of all, the company is developing the same technology for a HomeStove to tackle the problem of open fire cooking around the world. BioLite is a company committed to sustainable design, and also to making roasting marshmallows an easy pursuit.



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Sparse Bicycle Lights

by | Dec 2, 2012 | Uncategorized


I am a fan of Kickstarter projects, as it gives everyone the chance to develop an idea, and bring it to fruition. One such example is Sparse, a company developing front and rear lights for bicycles. The innovative twist here is the mounting system. The rear light is attached via the seat post, meaning the only way to take it off is to remove the seat post. The front light replaces a headset spacer, requiring removal of the stem for installation. It’ll take a bit of time to install the lights, but once installed, they are safe from prying hands. Or, I should say safer. Without being built into the frame, this is about as theft proof as I’ve seen. The lights are machined from aluminum, and are available in either black or natural. The $45,000 goal has been reached, and shipment is expected in March of 2013



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