The BMC Mass Challenge is an amazing looking bicycle. A belt drive city bike in matt black couldn’t be any prettier, save for a custom job. I didn’t get the chance to speak with any BMC representatives, so all I can do is show you a couple of my shots of the bike. Considering the quantity of bikes in the BMC booth, the Mass Challenge took the prize for standing out.
Specialized were being a bit coy about showing off the new McLaren Venge. The bike was hanging from a cable completely out of reach. From below it looked quite nice, but being able to spy only the undercarriage, I believe final judgement will take place when the bike is at eye level. The bike is sporting eecycleworks brakes which is a huge plus in my book.
I am back from Interbike, and ready to start sharing a bit of what I saw. The show was incredibly fun, though a bit overwhelming. Being inside a convention center all day under fluorescent lighting can be a bit tough, especially when there are so many things to see. Over the weekend I started trying to decide what was most interesting at the show, and Look came to mind first. They had the 695 displayed in all its glory, including the Premium Collection. This collection consists of the Look 695 painted in the colors of the flags of different countries. The above photo is of the Italian edition. I could not get over how beautiful this frame and fork are. If forced to choose, this would be at the top of the list of a new bike purchase if money were no object. The construction of these frames is incredibly solid, with all the work being done by hand in France. I got the technical lowdown on this bike from a very friendly and knowledgable Look representative, but I must admit, I’d ride this bike just based on aesthetics. I love that blue. I’m sure it rides brilliantly as well, and I hope to be able to confirm that in the future.
Number 20 is Interbike as a whole. It is great fun checking out all the new product, but the best part is meeting and talking to people who are obsessed with all things cycling. This blog is an extension of that obsession, and Interbike is kind of the ultimate platform for fulfilling that obsession. Vegas is not my first or even fiftieth choice of places to go, but for Interbike I will hop in the Caddy (OK, maybe a VW) with my lawyer (maybe just myself) and head to the City of Sin to actually have some good healthy fun.
The cycling world is an amazing place. You begin to think you know all there is to know, and then out of the blue, you discover a new company. Woodman is such a company. Maybe I’ve heard the name before, but it certainly never registered. Now, they are on my list of manufacturers to check out at Interbike. Their website boasts of products ranging from the pictured water bottle cage, to seat posts, headsets, hubs, and many more. Pretty amazing line up, one that I want to check out in person.
I didn’t know, but now have discovered Thought You Knew. They are close to achieving their Kickstarter goal of $5000.00 to produce their 2012 calendar. I hope they make it as the calendar looks to be quite cool. I will stop by their booth in hopes of getting a spoke card.
I just came across Jeronimo Cycles, based in the Canary Islands. This cross project is making its way to Tokyo. What a beautiful machine. The website is worth checking out, and also good practice for understanding Spanish.
The Look 695 would be at the top of the list if I were able to get a new bike today. Normally I’m against proprietary technologies, but in this case, being able to adjust everything to your specific needs seems like a good idea. The crank is able to be adjusted from 170mm to 175mm, and the stem adjusts +/- 10mm in length as well as -9 degree to 13 degrees in tilt. There are also elastomers for the seatpost that are available in different hardness to adjust the ride quality. Going for a bike fit no longer means buying new parts to be properly fitted on your bike. It’s a very cool system that deserves attention.
Chris King is another very solid company I will check out. The hubs above have been on my road bike for about a year now, and they are perfect. I have a Chris King headset on my current mountain bike that has been on a total of three bikes so far. The headset always seems to outlast the bike. I am also smitten with their Cielo brand, producing some beautiful frames for road, cross and mountain biking. Looking forward to checking out their booth.
Today was a busy day. Woke at 5:30am, made coffee, read the paper, and then the craziness started. First day of school, so getting the kids up, dressed, fed and to school. Meet the new teachers, listen in on the lesson plans for the year, and back home I go. Hop on the bike, go to work in record time, not because I wanted to race in 90 degree heat, but because I was late. I’m in the middle of an installation at work, so busy there as well. But the day went fine, busy, but fine. And then, after all the hectic activities, I hopped on my bike for the ride home. Unlike the morning commute, it was a very leisurely ride down back streets with little traffic. Rides like this are what keep me from getting too wrapped up in the details that life throws at you. It’s this ride that keeps me sane and happy. I’m all for climbing 3000 feet and going for the record time, but it’s the peaceful short rides that matter.
