Breadwinner Cycles showed off the new B-Road at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show this past weekend. The bicycle is equipped with all you would need to conquer any gravel road in your path. The color alone is stunning, and highlights the beautiful oversize Columbus Spirit tubing. See this, and the rest of the line-up, over at the beautifully designed Breadwinner Cycles website.
Isaora, a New York City based brand, has recently changed its business model, and is now consumer direct. They just released their new spring line, and the first product I have seen is the Ultralight Windbreaker V.3. The blue jacket pictured above is made from 100% recycled polyester sourced from Japan. The material is coated with an ultra-durable DWR finish, that makes the jacket rain resistant. The smartest detail of the jacket is its weight. According to the Isaora website, the jacket weighs in at 114 grams. This is amazingly light. When opening the box, I was convinced there was nothing in it, and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered the jacket within. The jacket’s light weight makes for a garment that is decidedly comfortable. The cut is exceptional, and for such a thin and light piece, it is quite structured. It easily fits over a dress shirt, and keeps you warm. This isn’t meant for a brutal winter day, rather it’s perfect for cool spring evenings, or any time the breeze has a slight chill. Another point worth mentioning is how compact the Ultralight can get. The jacket can easily be stuffed anywhere from a back pocket to a backpack. It is so easily packed, there is no reason to ever leave it behind. The details can be found at Isaora, along with the rest of the spring collection. I look forward to seeing more from Isaora, and welcome their thoughtful attention to interesting design details.
Virtue Bike is a relatively new company based out of San Diego, CA. They have a line of 23 bicycles ranging from a simple single speed fixed gear bike (Valor), to a beautiful two wheel electric assist cargo bike (Gondoliere +). The bicycle you see pictured above is called the Virtue Seven, and it is the bike I used to get around town for about a month. I have to say that for a basic city bike, the Virtue Seven is pretty much a perfect design. It is very simple, with a seven speed system out back, and V-Brakes for stopping duty. The performance of the Shimano Acera derailleur coupled with the Shimano SL-TX Tourney shifter is impeccable. The shifts are crisp and quick. The V-Brakes are made by Tektro, and they have incredible stopping power. The rest of the specifications are quite solid, making the Virtue Seven a pleasure to ride. I enjoyed hopping on the bike each morning to head to work, as the ride immediately put a smile on my face. One thing I have yet to mention is the styling of the bike. It is gloss black, with alloy components and white tires. This is the only choice for the Virtue Seven, and I think it is a stunning combination. Every day I rode the bike, people would stop and comment how beautiful it is. I received more compliments than I could count, and I must agree, it is one good looking bicycle. Now, I saved the best part for last, which is the price. As you see it pictured above, The Virtue Seven retails for $399.00. That’s right, you can pick up this beauty for less than some high end bike parts. I can’t imagine that price will not go up in the future, as this bike is the perfect blend of components, performance, and good looks. I would happily add a Virtue Seven to my collection.
This past weekend we experienced something here in Los Angeles that we haven’t had in over eight months. It rained. It really rained, not the usual few drops you see every once in a great while, but a real multi-inch downpour. For me, this was a great opportunity to try out the Sugoi RSE NeoShell Jacket. I had seen this piece at Interbike, and was sold on its simple and clean design. What’s not simple is the Polartec NeoShell material used in the jacket. The material solves the age old problem of any waterproof material, allowing moisture to escape while keeping the downpours out. This is achieved through a microporous polyurethane structure that has a highly controlled pore size. Gone are the days of feeling as if you are in a sauna. Another advantage to this material over other waterproof fabrics is its ability to stretch. It will move in all the right directions while on the bike. Over the weekend I rode the Griffith Park loop in the now mythical rainstorm we were experiencing, and was truly impressed with the performance of this jacket. First, it really is very comfortable. Second, it kept me bone dry for the entire ride. Lastly, it kept me quite warm in conditions that were less than ideal, with only a jersey and base layer under the jacket. It is the perfect piece to wear for these sorts of conditions, but I also wanted to mention that I have worn this jacket during non-rainy conditions as well. This piece is definitely not just for downpours. It can be used anytime there is a chill in the air. Best of all, the bulk of the jacket is slight, making it possible to roll up and stick in a jersey pocket for those rides where it heats up. The Sugoi RSE NeoShell jacket has become a staple in my cycling wardrobe, and I think it is worth considering for anyone looking to keep dry and comfortable while riding.
Another beautiful bicycle from the folks at Budnitz.
Tube socks from Café du Cycliste. What more needs to be said.
This morning Urban Velo published the info graphic you see above. This is a list of the steepest streets in the US. Four of the ten are right here in Los Angeles, with another three in California. So, how many of these have you all ridden?
Registration for Levi’s Gran Fondo in Santa Rosa, California is now open. The event takes place October 4th with three different course lengths. The shortest is the 32 mile Piccolo Route followed by the 65 mile Medio Route, and then the 103 mile Gran Route. The Medio and Gran Routes both offer the Willow Creek option, a gravel road route for those not afraid of getting a little dirty. I’ve never had the chance to participate in this event, but everything I hear is incredibly positive, so much so, that I will try and head north for this year’s edition. I’ve been told registration sells out quickly, so head over to the Levi’s Gran Fondo site to get yourself signed up.
It’s worth noting that a slightly modified version of the Calfee Dragonfly Adventure you see above is lingering here in LA at the offices of Road Bike Action. This looks to be a dream ride for conquering all roads that may come your way. Read the full profile of how Neil Shirley raced this bike to second place in the Crusher in the Tushar Epic in 2012 over at Road Bike Action, and look for the current issue of RBA to see an updated photo of this bike.
I love this image sent to me by a friend. Andreas Scheiger is an artist working in Vienna, Austria. Part of his website is devoted to “Upcycle Fetish”, a series of “self portraits”. They are worth having a look at, as is the rest of his site.
