The full line of bags from Nepenthes brand South 2 West 8‘s Fall/Winter 2011 collection. Made in America and sold in Japan with the exception of the Nepenthes store in New York, unless there are other shops that I am unaware of that deal Nepenthes goods. The collection touches on just about every rugged bag archetype: the Jansport/Kelty daypack, Duluth canoe, Filson satchel, etcetera. See the entire lookbook here.
I’ve been meaning to put together a mix that was appropriate for the summertime- this playlist has actually been put together for a little while but I’m just now getting around to sharing it. Running at just under an hour there’s bound to be at least one track on there for everyone, read on for a full track listing. download
Rivendell Bicycle Works was founded by Grant Peterson in 1994 after Bridgestone USA went under due to a steady loss of sales. Inventor of the mustache bar (XO series!) and the very first cyclist accused of being a retro-grouch. For those not familiar with this term a retro-grouch is a cyclist who prefers an older standard of parts- leather saddles over padded synthetics, quill stems over threadless, steel frames over aluminum or carbon, and so on. Pictured: a Rivendell Quickbeam and Romulus owned by the author of vélo-flâneur.
Rivendell Mountain Works is a pack company known for it’s frameless Jensen pack (named after climber Don Jensen) that has been brought back to life after dying out in 1981. The packs are still cut and sewn by hand in America and the company is operated by just one man. A real great value for a lasting American product available with a handful of extras on both their Jensen packs and smaller daypacks. Pictured: the current offerings from RMW, a Jensen pack in use in the North Cascades, and the Mariposa daypack.
Suggested reading: What The Hell is a BOB? & Interview with Eric Hardee
Sid Mashburn, whose shop I have been interested in since an introduction by Mr. Castleberry, has just launched his online shop today which features a nice set of illustrations on the front page.. a nice down to earth touch. Among the selection of shirts, trousers, bermuda shorts, and other Southern prep staples I was pleased to find accessories like Russell Moccasin shoes, Filson bags, and handsome little Laguiole pocket knives. Read on for a kit made from Sid’s offerings.
also see: Illustrated Kits
I won’t guarantee that painting your car or bike in a shade of British Racing Green (BRG, for short) will make it go faster but it will certainly class it up a bit. The color found association with British motorsports during the Gordon Bennett Cup in which national teams were required to enter their native machines painted in an established national color, the colors on Union Jack happened to have already been claimed by a few other countries. Other national road going colors include Italy’s rosso corsa and Germany’s raw silver arrows.
“How is the new Army fatigue hat supposed to be worn? The men of the 45th Division, Camp Barkeley, Texas, would like to know. In lieu of an official edict, here are four suggested solutions, all doubtless incorrect. Pvt. Bert Stephenson (top left) wears his sailor style; Pvt. Juan Varels (top right) prefers a snap-brim effect; Pvt. Jaramillo Regimio (lower left) imitates firemen and fishermen while Pvt. Hack Lawrence (lower right) simply does a Lily Daché and lets it go at that.”
Pvt. A. Y. Owen
Camp Barkeley Texas
from LIFE July 7th, 1941
Emeco (Electric Machine and Equipment Co.) was founded in 1944 where it began manufacturing it’s iconic 1006 model chair on contract for the US Navy. Still made by hand in their Hanover, PA factory today as it was then of 80% recycled aluminum through a 77 step process. Light, strong, classic. Not just for boats and submarines anymore, they’re all over the world in cafes, homes, offices, you name it.
A derny is small motorbike that is used in track and road racing to pace cyclists up to high speeds, usually driven by a larger fellow for more effective drafting of the rider behind. Though you won’t see derny’s in tons of races today the popular Kieren race use them to bring up the group of riders up to set pace and then rides up the bank to allow a final sprint to ensue. If you’re lucky enough to live in a European city that hosts an upcoming six-day race event you’ll be able to catch some derny paced track races in person.
Pictured: some earlier bulky pacing bikes used on velodromes and more streamlined versions with handlebar mounted gas tanks in use on the Bordeaux-Paris.
watch: Berlin Derny Criterium & Six-Day Race History
cork grips 