I’ve been wearing these pants nearly every day for the past couple weeks while commuting rain or shine and they’ve being living up to every expectation that I’ve had for them. Lucky for this test the past week was filled with showers that I gladly rode through- the pants were not stuck under a faucet in order to report water repellency as you may have seen in other gear reviews. Photos by Chris Leaman.
Filed under bike, field test, wear
Manual For Speed is a project by photographers Emiliano Granado and Daniel Wakefield Pasley documenting the world of competitive cycling from training to race day. You may have seen Emiliano’s work before in the form of Outlier lookbooks and Daniel’s square format photographs of Rapha Continental rides. Some of my favorite photos on the site are of the of fans that flock to races, standing by for the riders to pass by their staked out spot on the course. The tailgating fans are a big part of the sport (dare I say culture?) that you only get to see so much of on tv, they look pretty excited when the peloton is passing by but for a better part of the race they’re just hanging around waiting and imbibing.
Suggested reading: Cross Fan
Filed under bike, photography
The first time I saw someone wearing a rain cape I thought, “wow, that guy looks totally strange, why wouldn’t he just wear a rain jacket like a normal person?” after which I inspected my wet pant thighs and thought a little more about how such a garment could be pretty useful- regardless of how funny one might look wearing it. From a cyclist stand point, there is much to be gained from wearing a rain cape versus a regular rain jacket which the drawing above illustrates pretty well: a dry protected “cockpit” depending on the size and shape, total seat area protection, and some protection for the upper thighs. Some capes even have room to wear a backpack underneath.
For better or for worse, they certainly don’t make bike catalogs like this anymore. Illustrated by George Retseck during the Grant Peterson, currently Rivendell Bicycle Works, years the catalog does feature some photographs here and there but is largely full of detailed illustrations of bikes and parts. The catalog is not limited to merely “stuff you can buy” but is supplemented by articles on how frame geometry works, wool jerseys, hybrid bikes, and an enlightening piece about being old school on page 14– highly recommended. Appropriately enough there’s even a four page article on Daniel Rebour, the famous (to the cycling obsessed, at least) technical cycling illustrator.
Some words from Grant Peterson on the catalogs:
I always liked working on our catalogs. From the ’80s to ’91, Bridgestone had decent catalogs. I thought they were great, but one day a friend sent me a copy of an Eagle Bicycle catalog from 1890, with a note saying “Now this is a catalog!” He was right, and I was ashamed, envious, and challenged.
I’m a catalog hound. I’ve saved every good one I’ve ever received. I went back through them all — the ’72-’74 Chouinard (climbing equipment), the late ’70s Rivendell Mountain Works, the old Paul Young and Winston fly rod catalogs. They were publications you could read and learn from, and want to keep. But mostly I liked the tone: sparse and respectful, not in your face. I tried to copy this.
from “An epitaph for Bridgestone” Bicycling, June 1994
Flip through the catalog in its entirety as well as nine other complete Bridgestone catalogs over at Sheldon Brown.
suggested reading: The Rivendell’s
Photos from Rapha’s Survey blog- one part street style and two parts bike check, how did I not think of this first? Photographers from London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Melbourne, and New York contribute their snaps of cyclists from all walks of sartorial and bicycle style. Heavy on the male side but there’s a handful of ladies with some nice rides such as the polka-dotted young woman and her Harry Havnoonian.
Paintings by Geoff Mcfetridge which were then cut up and attached to sneakers, see the rest of the paintings here.
Tenspeed Hero is not your average cycling journal/blog/site. For one, these gear review pictures are amazing, and two, the site’s design is top notch thanks to Brooklyn designer Neil Donnelly. Mostly importantly the writing is enjoyable to read, full of wit and doesn’t take it self over the top serious. My favorite series of posts would hands down be the missed connections:
You in Paisley Paul Smith Rapha Cap, Rapha lightweight Jersey, Rapha Team Bibs, and Rapha Silk scarf. I want to wax your mustache and hang your jersey on furniture while you sip Americanos. LOL. Serious.
I saw you on the path near Prospect Park. Trek OCLV right? Safe but Nice. I was riding my ex’s old S-Works. Is this a possible match?
Filed under bike
Fred of Redwing 1905 has been posting some photos of his custom double top tube’d townie with a front rack porteuring some Filson bags, the bike is similar to a WorkCycles Transport. Notice that the rack is mounted in the style of a cycle truck to the frame itself rather than the fork’s dropouts and brake mount for stable handling of really heavy loads, though it is without that nifty little 20″ front wheel found on heavy duty cycle trucks that I love.
Suggested reading: Cycle Truck and Filson & Film
Filed under bike
cork grips 