Denver Bound

I know I should be taking the bike. I am not. I have a wife and child, my wife is at a conference the whole time and I will be discovering the delights of Denver with Molly my 2 year old daughter. There will be little time and no room for a bike in the car - yeah we are driving Chicago to Denver.
Us Brits wouldn't normally consider driving 1000 miles each way but the planes cost too much and the trains are antiquated and slow.

This means I will have driven 2/3 of my road trip across in America.

Anyhow - Whilst there I will try and visit this.



'Bicycles! 150 Years of gears'

Exhibit at Longmont Museum and Cultural Center, Colorada.

“Colorado could well be the bicycling capital of the U.S. Whether it’s a mountain bike, a recumbent bike, or even an old-fashioned high-wheel bicycle, every kind of bicycle can be seen on Colorado’s streets, paths and trails. This exhibit examines the history of bicycling, from the original “boneshaker” to today’s latest designs.”

Their blurb doesn’t really sound too exciting but I have read elsewhere that they will be displaying the history of the bicycle from the earliest boneshakers through the cruisers of the ‘50’s, the classics such as one of Andy Hampsten’s and the latest pro designs. Longmont is 60 miles north of Denver Colorado.

They are also hosting a series of Bike themed events and activities throughout the exhibit, including: ‘Women on Wheels’ on 15 May (a group ride and women’s specific introduction to cycling), Screening of ‘Klunkerz’ on May 26^th and on July 1st ‘Tour De France with the Pros’ which is an opportunity to talk with local experts and Pro’s who have ridden the Tour. Sounds like a very cool exhibit.

So as I will be in Denver the blog will be quiet but I will endeavour to catch up on my return and present you with the up to date ‘Classics project’ as soon as I can.

Copenhagen Cyclery

My daughter Molly and I stumbled upon the Copenhagen Cyclery on Milwaukee Ave, Chicago whilst wandering around last Sunday morning. It was a warm day and the shop front was opened up to give a great view in to the array of designer town bikes within. Molly and I both fell in love.


Molly loves her iBert but I guess she views this 'Velorbis Mobii Trike' as the Rolls Royce of infant bicycle travel. It does look super, a fantastic paint job, room to eat and maybe read whilst traveling and the added benefit of being shielded from the wind. To be honest though we would both miss being able to talk and point whilst riding and her high up viewpoint.




I quite fancy trying this out, the 'Velorbis Leikier'. Just looks like it would be fun to ride and look at, I don't actually think I would enjoy a sit-up and beg style handlebar anymore but there is something about it.

They also stock the very sexy range of ABICIs I posted about last week. It's a very classy store, and hopefully the website will soon reflect the range of accessories they stock too. Well worth sticking your head into the window if you are passing..... if it's open that is.

Copenhagen Cyclery

Major Movie in the works....

Scott Mednick and Michael Dubrow are the producers currently working on their dream of a movie concerning the life of the magnificent Major Taylor. In their own words.....

Summary:

The bicycle racing world at the turn of the 19th century is a compelling setting for our film. Brought to life in that era, Major is a humanistic story about remarkable people. People who move us; people we can cheer for. At the heart of our film is the relationship between Major and his lifelong friend and mentor, Birdie Munger. Simply put, theirs is the great untold story of American sports.

We believe Major is destined to become not only a classic sports story in the tradition of Chariots of Fire, Rudy, and Hoosiers, but also one that can take its rightful place alongside important tolerance-oriented films, such as Gandhi. Clearly, it’s a story that can capture an audience with the same "against all odds" nature of Slumdog Millionaire, Seabiscuit, Cinderella Man, and Gladiator.

The producers of Major are confident we have the right script, budget, professional backgrounds, and passion necessary to make this story an unforgettable creative and commercial success.

Their 'Major theMovie' website shares Major's story and many great archive photographs of him and therefore of the sport during this time.

It looks as though they are looking for the support necessary to get a green light, maybe enough website hits and interest generated through the power of blogging will go someway to helping them achieve this noble dream.

Rahsaan Bahati to play Major?

They come in any colour you want as long as it's red....

RedTailFenders on Etsy.

RedTailFenders' Shop Announcement

Red Tail bicycle fenders are handcrafted in Montreal from solid pieces of poplar and oak, steam bent to complement a variety of road bicycle wheel sizes (700cc, older 27", etc). The fenders are primarily designed for fixed gear or coaster brake conversions with an available rear brake hole where a rim brake used to be, but the hardware can be adapted free of charge to fit most bicycles with brakes. See here to determine whether or not your bike will work with a Red Tail Fender:

http://redtailfenders.blogspot.com/2010/04/will-red-tail-fender-work-on-your-bike.html

A worthy accent to your Brooks saddle and whatever frame is supporting it.

Rossignoli's vintage bicyle exhibition

Located in a courtyard on via Garibaldi, the display of "found" 19th century bicycles provided a delightful break from the more traditional wares at the furniture fair.

Go to here at Core 77 to see the better images they snapped at the Rossignoli Vintage Bicycle Exhibit at Milan Design Week.

Classics Project - Roubaix

Paris Roubaix
2010 - Watercolour on paper - 10" x 10" image

I struggled to find reference images that I though captured the race, probably didn't help being dissatisfied with the real event. So I sat down with an amalgamation of photos and figured it would be watercolour. Didn't plan on doing the lines though, it seemed a bit too soon after Greipel. But I let it happen and the result is better than expected. I was thinking/hoping the lines would bleed if the paint hadn't dried and as the paper became wetter but not too much happened.

I really think there is a series of large portraits in this style on the horizon.
Definitely something to keep coming back to - there is something here, just haven't found it yet.

Abici bikes

So a post on designsponge introduced the new range of Italian 'ABICI' bikes co-designed with Swedish design studio 'Note'. As yet it appears that note have added a range of colourways based on the building colours in Stockholm: see above.
They are continuing to find new ways to contribute to the ABICI bikes.

This led me to ABICI's website.
Basically town bikes but oh so simple and beautiful and therefore accessorized with Brooks.



The ABICI concept is:

ABICI is future memories, a bicycle in it's pure conceptual form, a perfect combination of yesterday and of tomorrow, to pedal today.....as there are no wires or other attachments the sensuality of the form is highlighted, a bicycle in it's naked form. ABICI, simple and harmonious with its retro simplicity and hi-tech features makes it recognizable and pure.

ABICI is distributed in the US by Fourth Floor.
Thanks to Design Sponge Online, Note and ABICI.

Cycling hotel for Lake Garda

Well here is one proposed by Philip Modest Schambelan and Anton Fromm.

All rooms are designed for bicycle access with 12 degree inclines walkways instead of staircases.
Built into the cliffside over looking Lake Garda it would be a stunning rest stop whilst following the Giro one year.


More about their wonderful proposal here on their individual websites as above.
via io9 and designboom

Katie Visco becomes youngest woman to run coast to coast USA

I just picked up a copy of Competitor magazine and found out about Katie Visco of Glen Ellyn, IL.
At 24 years old she has just completed running across the US. 9 months. 3132miles.

I invite you to head over to Competitor online to read her story and view the short video.

I love this stuff. I still have my RAAM dreams.

Katie's website is here at: Pave Your Lane - I have a 12 year old neighbor who participates in 'Girls on the Run' she loves it.

Smoking Loon - Some bikes in Chicago

Seen on the streets.

Cancellara again... edited.

I have always kind of liked Cancellera - how can you not love the way he just gets to the front and drives? His ride in the Beijing Olympics Road Race was the stuff my dreams are made of. But his recent performances have caught me off guard and somehow I am losing the love.

Last week's attack of Boonen was great, this week though... I mean c'mon he is the marked man for the race, his team employ the same tactics as in previous weeks (ride hard earlier than anyone expects) and then he rides away from everyone (earlier than anyone expects - again).

Maybe my disappointment is with the other teams and other favourites. They really should be expecting Saxobank's plans and instead of waiting to see if the plan fails (he goes too early he bonks, a mechanical, he goes too early a chase group working together will catch him) they should be attacking him, I cannot believe they could not respond. Admittedly I did not see it or experience it for myself but how can they watch him ride away.

Anyway I am venting because Cancellera made it look too easy or because the other teams made it too easy for him.....
or because I did not put any points on Cancellera on Rouleur Derby and have another week of losses.

Looks like Pezcyclingnews had the same thoughts:

As impressive as Cancellara’s win, was the disappointment of watching the best chase group in recent Roubaix history take themselves out of play – “you go, no you go, no you go…” I suspect that while one team celebrates tonight, the rest will be served up a second portion of ‘race tactics 101’ by their team directors.

BMC introduce UCI legal Shiv

The aerodynamic fairing on the aerobars of this BMC TT machine not only resembles a missile but aparently gifts the rider with the aerodynamic advantages of rocket design. Can NASA assure the UCI that this is an integral part of the frame structure.

Photo by Anthony Skorochod from the NYVelocity website.

Ronde Van Vlaanderen

Ronde Van Vlaanderen - 2010
ink on mounting board - 5 3/4" x 15 3/4"

Not the method or style I had in mind when I sat down to do this, so it feels like it is halfway between something very sharp and comic like and my more usual brushy, scratchy style.

I quite like it though. It's a combination of two photos, Boonen and Cancellera were not this close at this point in the race, but it creates a great dramatic moment.

As I said with a previous post too, the Ronde finished with another 'classic' podium - Cancellera, Boonen and Gilbert.

Not only that but Vacansoleil had another wonderful attacking race and another result that justifies Tour inclusion.

Les P'tits Velos

Les P’tits Vélos by Janol Apin. Book with Cycling toys photos taken by Janol Apin on the beach or on babes ! Book Size 18x26cm Italian type – 80 pages. Introduction from C. Prud’homme - Tour de France director.

You can buy this and the ability to make your own photos of tiny bikes on babes here - Sport Goodies.

F1 Driver rides rollers whilst playing PS3

I would love to see Tony Stewart doing this!!!!