by Velospeak | May 20, 2014 | Uncategorized
Wraith Fabrications is a new company from Adam Eldridge that is making its debut today. The idea behind the company is to offer frames made in the US for an exceptionally low price. The road and cross frames retail for $1090.00, and are available for pre-order now. Following is a bit of information from Wraith.
Adam Eldridge started building high performance custom bikes 5 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. His bikes have stood at the top step of the podium at the Red Hook Crit, as well as numerous road and cross events around the country. Wraith Fabrications is a new project, removing the barriers and obstacles for many customers. The wait time is gone, shipping is free, fit is free and stock sizing allows us to hand produce the frames with best possible Columbus tubing. We’re building these amazing machines right here in the USA and offering them for a fraction of the cost of not only upper tier far east pacific production steel frames but also every other made in the USA bespoke production frame made from comparable steel.
Both Road and Cross models are available, The road frame is complete Columbus Life with upgraded Life S-bend stays. The CX main triangle is Life and the stays are Zona S-bend. Both bikes include the newly released Columbus FEL 1.5 in tapered forks. Triple butted where its counts, Sexy where it matters, no corners are being cut in production. Closer examination revels industry firsts, such as, the specific bespoke aluminum internal cups in the Head tube. The price reflects Wraith’s commitment to the customer and not the margin, other brands charge twice as much for a similar frame. We are removing the ego and putting the rider first, building a production bike that performs all day long and performs like the custom bike built just for you.
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by Velospeak | May 16, 2014 | Uncategorized
Even the trailer parks in Switzerland are beautiful. This, and many other shots by Christian Neuenschwander, are available to see on his photographic journal.
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by Velospeak | May 15, 2014 | Uncategorized
Café du Cycliste continues to impress with standout pieces such as the new Antoinette Bib Short. The magic behind these bibs is the incorporated mesh tank base layer. I imagine this will be a welcome addition to a riders collection of cycling gear, and as is always the case with Café du Cycliste, the piece really stands out from the crowd. I am going to be in Nice in mid-June, and I hope to connect with the folks at Café. It will be so nice to see the entire collection, and meet the minds behind this wonderfully unique company.
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by Velospeak | May 9, 2014 | Product Reviews, Uncategorized
The Brompton you see above has been in my possession for about a month now. In that time, I have come to love this bicycle. The reasons are simple. For a commuter like me, this is one of the easiest bicycles to integrate into my daily schedule. Offsite meetings are a breeze, especially when a co-worker drives and I’m able to fold the Brompton up and easily store the bicycle in the trunk of the car. When the meeting is finished, I just reassemble the bike and go on my way. This has come in so handy, I’m not sure I know what I will do once the bike is returned. The Brompton has become an essential part of my daily routine. In terms of ride, this is an incredibly fun bicycle. The version I have is the two speed, and the gearing is designed for whatever the city throws your way. It has a huge front chain ring that was thoughtfully selected to achieve the perfect gearing with the two speed derailleur. Another excellent feature is the mild rear suspension setup. There is a rubber bushing that absorbs the shock, and it works incredibly well. The streets of Los Angeles are in terrible condition as anyone living here will attest to, and the Brompton handles them with grace. There is the choice of the standard bushing as well as a firmer set-up for those preferring the feel of a sports car. The brake levers, shifter, and bell are well placed on the comfortable handlebars, with ergonomics perfectly thought out. There are built in fenders and bag attachments, making this an ideal bike to outfit for life in the city. The Brompton logos on the inside of the brake levers are just one example of the Brompton designers’ remarkable attention to detail. They have created a riding experience that is well worth the $1219.00 entry price. On the website there is a bike builder option to design the bike exactly as you like. It’s a great deal of fun experimenting with the different options and colors, making the path to owning a Brompton an exciting journey.
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by Velospeak | May 9, 2014 | Uncategorized
Rapha and House Industries have joined forces to create a limited series of cycling caps commemorating the Tour of California. A different cap is available each day of the Tour, and only at the Tour. To get the complete collection, a road trip through California is necessary. Following is more information from House Industries and Rapha.
“The cap collection integrates graphic patterns, a complementary signature House Industries color palette and alphanumeric elements from House’s forthcoming Vélo font family. Perfect for hiking up windswept mountain switchbacks, jockeying behind finish-line barriers, nibbling savory crêpes in the VIP bleachers or nonchalantly sipping cold pression at an adjacent bar/tabac, these caps will endure the aesthetic and logistical rigors faced by multi-stage race fans with stylistic souplesse.”
The caps are available only at the Rapha Mobile Cycle Club during the Amgen Tour of California ($25 each) and each stage number is available only on it’s corresponding race day. These caps will not be available in stores or online. To get one, you gotta go out and cheer.
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by Velospeak | May 7, 2014 | Uncategorized
Snow Peak and Muller have combined forces to create a beautiful touring bicycle. It is available in three different trim levels, with each frame boasting Reynolds 931 stainless tubes with S&S couplers for traveling ease. Shimano and Campy are available, as are disc brakes. These tourers can be bought directly from Snow Peak in Japan, with no word yet on whether they will be available in the States.
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by Velospeak | Apr 30, 2014 | Uncategorized
Mavic is celebrating their 125 year anniversary, and to mark the occasion, a limited edition series of products will be released starting at the end of May. The wheel you see above is part of the Ksyrium 125 Wheel-Tyre System. In addition to the wheel set, there will be a limited edition bib short and jersey. Mavic has a long history in cycling, and I am thrilled to see this release. Following is an excerpt from the press release.
This is a special year for Mavic, as it marks the 125th anniversary of the company’s founding as a bicycle parts business in Lyon in 1889. To mark the occasion in style, officials from the company and special guests created a special event in France. Few organizations in cycling can claim such a long and storied history as Mavic, so in addition to hosting a 2-day event tracing the company’s history at various locations in France, Mavic has released a suite of limited edition products to commemorate the historic milestone. The 125 anniversary products include a Ksyrium 125 Wheel-Tyre System and a matching HC 125 jersey and bib short.
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by Velospeak | Apr 29, 2014 | Uncategorized
The Tour de Romandie got started earlier today in Switzerland, and the winner of the prologue was Michal Kwiatkowski (OPQ) from Omega Pharma-Quickstep. The final stage is on Sunday with a time trial through the streets of Neuchatel. A friend is working the event, and I have hopes he can send photos to share on Velospeak. This photo is courtesy of the Team Sky website.
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by Velospeak | Apr 28, 2014 | Uncategorized
Over the weekend Tanner Goods announced the new cycling collection that’s now available through their website. It consists of three different pieces, a handlebar bag, a frame bag, and a saddle bag. All three are available in your choice of charcoal, burnt oak or field tan. I saw early prototypes on the Cielo Tanner Goods edition bicycle, and they were amazing. The design is quite functional and stylish to boot. The frame bag is my favorite, as it is an unusual piece, and looks to hold the right amount of a commuter’s daily needs. All three pieces combined would hold everything I need for a day’s adventures. I think the charcoal color would match my Bianchi Valle commuter perfectly.
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by Velospeak | Apr 25, 2014 | Uncategorized
Jürgen Beneke, the former 1993 Downhill World Champion has launched a Kickstarter Campaign for the Shelfie. It is a home storage solution for any type of bicycle. The system relies on the saddle for hanging the bike, making it possible to hang any style of bike effortlessly. The Kickstarter has already funded, but there are a few days left to get in on the deal. I like the design, and would love to have this in my home.
The patent-pending Shelfie uses a bike’s seat to hang a bike on any wall, and features two integrated shelves for organizing and storing cycling gear. It is constructed of a durable, injection-molded tinted polyethylene plastic, includes wall-anchors and will hold up to 50 lbs. Final production models will be made entirely in the U.S.A. and will include two vinyl protectors. Shelfies are currently available through Kickstarter for $95, and the MSRP for production versions is projected to be $130.
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