It’s not often I come across prototype bicycles that I find interesting. Usually they are so extreme in design, they defeat the simplicity that is inherent to a bicycle. This Picchio is an exception. It is simple, and in my opinion quite beautiful. It was designed by Nicola Guida at the request of Picchio, a small manufacturer of racing cars based in Ancarano, Italy. This was Guida’s final student project, and was built with the help of Picchio.
I’ve just come across a new clothing company from Switzerland called Cervo Rosso. I am looking forward to checking out some of their product, and passing along a review as soon as it’s been tested. Following is an excerpt from their website.
From the heart of the Swiss Alps
Born and bred in Switzerland, Cervo Rosso captures the bygone era of European cycling by combining the beautiful heritage of the sport with the most technically advanced fabrics and styling available. The end result being performance cycling wear at it’s very best.
What you wear on your bike matters to us
At Cervo Rosso our passion is road cycling. Every Cervo Rosso product is put into the hands of professional riders past and present, where performance and durability are tested to the limit. Additionally styling and design input are provided by those who share an intimate passion for cycling and understand the individual statement performance cycling wear can make. Whether it is competitive racing or inner city commuting, style, passion and performance reflect our product range.
I love this image by Aaron Kuehn. It is so great to be able to learn the different terminology of the bicycle via an image. It is also worth checking out Aaron’s website, as he has a link to purchasing limited prints of the image.
A few weeks back I took advantage of the Rapha winter sale and purchased the Merino long sleeved polo shirt. It has quickly become my favorite item of clothing. It is incredibly well designed, and fits perfectly. The material feels excellent, and the quality is unsurpassed. Rapha has been a favorite of mine for quite some time now, and they continue to impress. More importantly, every item of clothing that I’ve purchased has held up perfectly. I have some items that are at least six years old, and they still look like new. Rapha clothing comes at a high price, but it outlasts just about anything else I’ve tried. Just to be clear, this is not a paid endorsement. I really do like the company. I believe the sale continues through the end of the month for those wanting to take the plunge. It can be accessed here.
Rapha has today unleashed four special edition bicycles. The one pictured above is a collaboration between Beloved and Rapha. Of the four, I can’t seem to stop looking at the photos of this particular ride. It has an incredibly vintage feel, yet with modern components from Chris King, Paul Components, and Sturmey-Archer. The name of the bike is the Every Day. Unfortunately, at over $5000.00, not everyone will be able to experience the Every Day. Price aside, the lucky few will definitely own one of the prettiest bicycles produced this year. Please check out the Rapha site to see the other three bicycles. They are all worth a good, long look.
This photograph is of King Lok Cheung, King Wai Cheung, Ki Ho Choi and Ho Ting Kwok competing in the Men’s Team Pursuit Final Track Cycling during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Guangzhou Velodrome on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China. This has been posted on other sites, but I had to repost, as I think it is an amazing image of speed.
Downtown LA BLU MOCA Whitewash Protest // 01.03.2011 from jesse trott on Vimeo.
I’ve become obsessed with finding a perfect riding pant. Unfortunately, that obsession has led me on a path to disappointment. I have now tried the pants, or some might call them trousers, from Rapha, Outlier and Chrome. They have all been sent back. The Rapha trousers just didn’t fit well, the Chrome pants had a strange color, and the Outlier pants, depending on the model, were either too loose, or way too tight. I am not an expert in how to make clothing, but I can say for sure, that all these specialized pants, in no way, have suited me while riding my bike. In fact, I wouldn’t wear any of them even on a casual basis. They just don’t work. At less than half the cost, I can buy a pair of Levis 511 jeans that are 99% cotton with 1% Elastane. They stretch the perfect amount and are quite comfortable. During the winter months, I ride in Levis daily on my commute to work. They just work. But,……… I am looking forward to trying the Rapha jean when it is released. Maybe that will be the one.
I’m hoping to be able to check this out. Never too late to start your Holiday shopping.
