Calling all messenger crew!!!
Need a holiday?
Got the peas?
Either way if you have the cash and the motivation get yourself to Berlin in May for the European Cycle Messenger Championships.
Peep more info here
Archive for January, 2009
European Messenger Championships
January 14, 2009Charge prototype trick frame
January 14, 2009
The Charge Scissor
As you may or may not know Super Ted, Charge’s number one ambassador for fixed riding has been working with Charge on developing a brand new frame-set.
So they have taken the original steel Plug frame and tweaked it a little to make it more friendly for those who like their spins and wheelies.
Ted says.
The front has been extended for more clearance and the head tube angle is steeper.
The seat tube is shorter giving a slope on the top tube and more stand over clearance.
The forks are longer and have shorter rake to make bar spins easier, they also have lightweight tapered legs.
The frame has Tange prestige butted top and down tubes so is quite a lot lighter weight than the steel plug.
There are still a couple of small final changes but it looks really good.
It will have no break holes and the final colour is not yet determined, though i am quite liking the orange!
Via Fixed Gear London
I like this, and however much I used to hate the idea of riding fixed/track bikes for tricks I am warming to the idea more and more, maybe it’s the BMXer inside me itching to get out.
Peep the whole Flickr set.
Enemy number 2
January 13, 2009
Pedestrians.
Not all but some. The bad pedestrian.
When they are happily walking along the pavement they cause me no problems at all as I ride on the road and not on the pavement.
The issues usually start when the bad pedestrian wants to cross the road.
Those who cycle regularly will feel me here…
Have these folks forgotten the green cross code? Stop. Look. Listen.
The middle one right there is the most important… Look!
I very nearly collapsed some fool’s chest in last week due to him not adhering to the green cross code.
I had left work and was on my way home. Everything was going swimmingly until I reached the junction where Hill street crosses Smallbrook Queensway and onto Hurst street. It is a massive and dangerous junction but if you time it just right you can go across the whole thing from the end of one cycle lane to the beginning of another without even thinking about stopping.
This time however was different…
All the cars were stopped at red lights so I was on my way across the junction and quickly, when no sooner had I reached the other side in safety, a bad pedestrian decides now is the right time to step into… and hover ( !? ) around in the cycle lane, that very same cycle lane that I happen to be hurtling down. Mistake.
Maybe I could have stopped in time ( I had like 5 metres between me and him at this point ) but maybe I couldn’t have, we will never know. Either way I had a split second to decide which one it was going to be, stop or not and in a split second my mind was made up. “F**k it, Im going for it, there is enough room for me and him in that lane” provided he does not move. People he did move.
The result was my right shoulder ( complete with all 12 stones of me behind it ) slamming straight into his chest at 20mph and him having an intimate meeting with the deck. It must have hurt him, the noise that exited his mouth at the moment of impact gave me some indication.
luckily he was a young guy, otherwise I could have seen this situation ending pretty nasty. Not to mention if my bike was in the equation, that would have meant big problems, broken bones, concussion, wheels like tacos the lot. Luckily this time it was just my shoulder.
Usually I guess I would have gone over to see if the person was ok even though it was his fault but no… I proceeded to stop the bike and turn my head towards the offender and call him none other than the ‘C’ bomb… and yes, to his face.
Anyone in my eyes who wants to try and cross the road without looking should be taught a lesson, that is not to say I wish for them to be knocked over by a car or even knocked over at all. Perhaps a road safety lesson in a classroom should suffice?
The meeting of my shoulder and the offenders chest was certainly his lesson.
Hopefully next time the offender will think about the green cross code.
So kids please remember… Stop, look and listen.
Most importantly look because next time folks it may not be me and my bicycle coming towards you but something far bigger and heavier with a lot more metal and a lot more engine.
Nagasawa Workshop
January 13, 2009Via Hype in Japan
A lovely set of pictures from the workshop of Nagasawa-San
I would put a whole bunch of pictures up from this post but the owner of said pictures has prohibited such actions.
No drama… just go here to peep the full set.
A Sunday in Hell
January 12, 2009A clip from the 1977 movie A Sunday in Hell: 1976 Paris-Roubaix
I can remember when Rock Shox started making suspension forks for road bikes because of this seriously grueling race.
Peep the character’s Brooklyn jersey and cap ensemble. Pure dopeness.
I have to get me some of that sh*t!
Rotafixa
January 12, 2009
This ingenious technique – a trick pulled straight from the magic hat of track legend Giovanni Pettenella enables the secure assembly of a track sprocket without having to use the traditional lock ring too. This is very handy as it enables you to use hubs that don’t have space for the lockring, and inverting the rotational directions shown it is possible to remove the sprocket without having to use special tools.
I have used this method many times and it seriously does remove the need for a chain whip, you will however need a lockring tool, unless…
1: Like me you are happy to use the hammer and flathead screwdriver technique or
2: You dont use a lockring
Get all the instructions here
Kashimax Hotness
January 11, 2009Via the NJS parts and frames supermarket.
I blatantly had a Kashimax on my Mongoose as a kid, or at least some sort of imitation.
I want one again… But I need purple, can anyone help me out with that?
Wacking good
January 11, 2009
My initial intentions were to go and take some pictures of the game and maybe some bike stills, but upon my arrival and then the arrival of the others I decided to get involved.
I must admit, I was a Bike Polo hater, I thought it looked like rubbish and no fun at all. I had never considered the idea of playing bike polo before.
No thank you, not me.
Riding quickly on roads is what I like most ( although my recent race results would not indicate this ).
Bike Polo however is an awful lot of fun. I went along to the game Fin had organized for today and had a complete blast!
The memories… I can see it now, the way that tennis ball sailed into the top right hand corner off my ‘Ghetto’ mallet was like poetry in motion!
Bike polo is maybe to some a game of skill and of tactics, Certainly.
More-over you simply get to rip up and down a court with your mallet in your hand wacking a ball around the place and attempting to score some goals… Obviously with a certain amount of style and finesse!
For those that did not make it today…
If you can, you should try and make it next time.
I can see a summer of great games ahead… and hopefully next time some after game ‘refreshments’.
For info on future games go to the all new Iron Jockey Chain Breakers blog space.
Thanks Fin for the half time biscuits too!
Rapha winter goodness
January 11, 2009I am a big fan of the wooly hat for winter riding but I love this.
Available now at Rapha
Do it yourself doublers
January 10, 2009I made these this week.
A cheap and easy alternative to the rather expensive double straps and four gate clips.
I know they don’t look nearly as good as the real thing but considering a set of Soma Oppy 4 gate clips cost like £30 and straps easily £70 ( for a pair that wont be rubbish ) my creations are great value for money. Especially in these times of ‘economic slow ( melt ) down’.
I got change out of £20 for everything I needed. Bargain. All it took was a pattern, some materials, tools and time.
I love them… they make everything so much more comfortable and your feet feel way more secure on the pedals.
Next time however I will use suede… for a more classy look!
Bold clips
January 10, 2009I passed by On Your Bike today to get some nylon toe straps as my leather ones have failed.
I asked whether they had any coloured straps in stock instead of black, Dan replied “nope” but he did happen to mention that he had some colourful toe clips in the basement. “Hmmm” I said “lets have a looky”.
I can’t get on with plastic clips but I am sure a lot of folks love them.
Those that do if you fancy a bit of bold on your ride…
Get yourself down to On Your Bike and grip a set of these, for not a lot of £££ I might add.
Fixion
January 10, 2009Spotted this on the Tokyo Fixed Gear blogspace.
Perhaps I should keep quiet until seeing the whole thing but the following baffles me…
Why have the bikes in this clip either got BMX handlebars, or a stem so high out of the steerer tube that when sitting the riders arms are nearly horizontal? Dudes need to grip a BMX.
Spotlight
January 9, 2009On NJS Export.
I check this site regularly to peep all of the goodness for sale that I cannot afford, for me the products displayed on this website are like the Holy Grail of frames and parts.
Just take a look at some of the items for sale, It is enough to make the biggest fan of ‘future’ track frames launch a Bianchi Pista Concept off the roof of a multi storey.
The tagline as you will see is…
NJS approved Keirin frames and parts exchange.
Nuff said really.
One day I will do business with this guy and when I do it is going to be lovely.
Making life easier
January 8, 2009
I posted a while back about the Bicycle gear calculator application for iphone. The iphone app is great but it costs nearly £5 if my memory serves me right and £5 could be a bit much considering the credit crunch and how much you will actually use it.
This one is the best I have found available on the net and it is free!
This is handy
January 8, 2009
Just found this link while snooping around on the interweb.
Got a rim and Hub but no spokes?
Dont fancy calling up your LBS for advice they cant or wont give?
Peep THIS
A super handy spoke length calculator that features most of the popular rim and hub choices for fixed wheelers.
The Future
January 7, 2009Seen over at Road Bike Action magazine.
A real nice look at some killer bicycle ads of the eighties.
Peep the rest here
A vending machine for your rubbers
January 7, 2009Assen
Amsterdam
Innertube vending machine.
Now this is what I call looking out for the cyclist.
Seen at David Hembow’s blogspot.
Simon’s Low Profile Shorter
January 7, 2009I have met Simon only once and I must say what a fine chap he is.
He turned out to the X-Mass mini meet a few weeks back and managed
to stick around long enough for me to snap some pics of his steed.
He informed me that he managed to grip this bike off Ebay for something silly like £60 minus the later additions of the rear wheel and Turbo saddle.
Jesus! bargain anyone? sixty quid for the frame would be a hot deal, but the bike?
Props to you Simon, I thought I was pretty good at sourcing a bargain but this is the one. I feel sick.
Bike Polo in Birmingham
January 6, 2009Selly Oak this Sunday. I’m going.
Mallet supplied too so just bring yourself and your whip.
Directions here
