by Velospeak | Mar 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
I arrived in NYC on Monday, and was greeted at the luggage carousel with my S & S case intact. It didn’t looked scuffed, and upon inspection of the TSA lock, it hadn’t even been opened. All good news. Wednesday morning, bright and early, I took it upon myself to put the Sycip back together. It unpacked perfectly, and I managed to assemble it in a short amount of time. No problems at all. I geared up, and made my way to work across town. I had some time to kill, so a loop around Central Park was in order. A perfect morning commute. It is incredibly exhilarating riding around NYC. An adrenaline rush kicks in when riding up 8th Avenue in morning traffic, amidst a sea of yellow taxis, all of which are definitely out to get you. It’s been great fun, and I’ve managed to put in about 35 miles so far. I’m hoping to explore Brooklyn over the weekend if weather and work permit it.
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by Velospeak | Mar 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
I haven’t been a Colnago fan as of late, but the new Colnago C59 Disc may be the bicycle that beckons me back to the marque.
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by Velospeak | Mar 5, 2012 | Made in the USA, Uncategorized
My Sycip is currently in an S and S Machine travel case riding in the belly of a Boeing 757-200. This was my first time packing the bike, and I admit to having to do it three times before I was completely satisfied. The case is built to conform to airline baggage requirements so as not to incur an additional fee for oversize baggage. This means the bike really just fits, and needs to be packed in a very specific manner. I managed to squeeze in my cycling shoes as well as tools, a pump, and a few other items. Once I land in NYC and get checked in at the hotel, I’ll have the task of reassembling the bike. More importantly, I’ll be able to check if everything came through the trip without any damage. Here’s hoping for the best.
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by Velospeak | Mar 5, 2012 | Uncategorized
I’ve had the opportunity to use the Feedback Sports Sport-Mechanic Bicycle Repair Stand and am favorably impressed. The stand weighs in at 12.6 pounds and is very easy to set up. The tripod legs have a very large footprint when unfolded, making for a very stable platform. The stand telescopes from 42″ to 65″ tall and has a spinner knob clamp that securely holds all sizes of seat posts. It will support bikes up to 65 pounds, which pretty much covers all bikes. I’ve had several different bikes on the stand ranging from a lightweight carbon road bike to a heavy city bike, and the stand accommodates them perfectly. One other note, when the stand arrived in its box, I feared there would be a bit of assembly. As it turns out, this was unfounded, as the stand was ready to go out of the box. Not one thing to assemble. I highly recommend the Sport-Mechanic stand to anyone looking to simplify working on their bike.
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by Velospeak | Mar 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
Tomorrow I fly to NYC for work. In my spare time I hope to be able to go through a laundry list of shops I’d like to see. Despite having a list, I’m open to suggestions. Below is my list thus far.
Gage and DeSoto
Freitag
NYC Velo
Chari and Co.
Outlier Open Studio
New Museum
718 Cyclery
MOMA
Adeline Adeline
This list is going to require a lot of spare time, so we’ll see how it goes. The sharp reader will notice I’ve thrown two museums into the mix. These are the two mandatory stops, and I’m sure I’ll try and hit up a few others.
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by Velospeak | Mar 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
Cherubim are constantly pushing the boundaries with bicycles that look more like sculpture than bike. This example at NAHBS was no exception. I’m hoping someone has done some proper photography of this particular work of art, as it’s difficult for me to capture how amazing it is.
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by Velospeak | Mar 3, 2012 | Made in the USA, Uncategorized
Rob English is one of the most fascinating bike builders in the handmade world. The designs are always cutting edge and pushing the envelop in every possible direction. The photos are of his personal race bike, which weighs in at 10.81 lbs. Very unusual seat stays on the bike, as well as a carbon fibre seat tube. I had hoped to see one of the travel bikes I had posted about previously, but there are so many news ones in its place, and the booth can only hold so much. Rob would definitely get my vote for most innovative.
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by Velospeak | Mar 3, 2012 | Made in the USA, Uncategorized
The Sycip booth looked great, but I need to go back today, as a couple of the bikes were off being judged. The road frame on the wall is a stunning example of simplicity.
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by Velospeak | Mar 3, 2012 | Made in the USA, Uncategorized
The 2012 Cielo Cross Racer is a new addition to the Cielo line of bikes, bringing the total up to five different models. The Cross Racer is UCI approved and uses their new I8 Headset, allowing for a 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ tapered steerer. The paint scheme is reminiscent of the old Porsche racing livery.
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by Velospeak | Mar 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
The Cyfac Absolu V2 is a beautiful bicycle. This is a shot of the top tube of a customers bike that has been customized with the French flag colors. The detail in the frames is undeniably beautiful. This is a bicycle that would be at the top of my dream bikes list.
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