"I were right about that saddle though"

As I was about to mount my steed outside Chicago's fantastic Greengrocer my saddle stirred something deep within. I mulled about it for a while then the above quote hit me.

I remembered it as the catchphrase to a tv advert for Raleigh in the 1980's back in the UK, turns out after finding it via the web that it was an ad for Yellow Pages so that was wasted advertising money. Great ad though. Man what would Northern Dad think about today's saddles!!!

http://www.sellesmp.com/smp4bike/en/full-carbon-lite

Worth noting I am only riding one of these...nice for now though.

http://www.neuvationcycling.com/product171.html

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'I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas'

Taken from 'I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas' by Lewis Black.
I am sure his delivery will make it even funnier.

Low Pro!!

Look at this marvel I stumbled upon on Velospace...would love to see someone tall enough ride that. Actually it's enough of a marvel to look at just as it is. Original post here: Velospace

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Bike Lock of your dreams

Scene in Chicago

Outside REI Lincoln Park

'L' advert - looks like cycling can make the urban grime bloom into fresh pastures

'Slow Down Life's Too Short' - Elston landmark
A bar that closed well before my time but due to a fight over the purchase of the land and neighbouring boatyard (on the river) it is thankfully still standing. Sounds like there are rumours it will be re-opening.....eventually. Great scenery though.

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The Billy Nayer Show Presents:

Happy Thanksgiving All.

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Le Velo de Ghislain Lambert

In the 70s, there was Merckx and there were the others. Ghislain Lambert was one of the others. This is his story, a quite simple one. The story of a modest Belgian bike racer. His greatest ambition in life? To become a champion. His greatest tragedy? Not having the legs his heart deserves.

A french comedy movie about one of the 'other' cyclists.

Google Video Search Results

The movie trailer:

Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert
Bande annonce vf publié par CineMovies.fr - Les sorties ciné en vidéo

and a music video:

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Winners!!

The two names out of my daughter's 'Duck Duck Goose' cycling helmet were:
Wade Curry and Casey Carnes.
Casey gets the Colomba jersey and the Shutt goes to Wade.
I know you are going to like the jerseys - enjoy.

In other news I have started on my second series of drawings from cycling movies but you'll have to wait to see which I chose. Can anyone guess?

One Gear Clothing

Matt designs clothing for people who love bikes. By the way it's well worth typing in bicycle on Etsy and seeing what comes up, that's how I found Matt.

He sells a range of silk screened t-shirts with bike themes and I kinda like em. I actually really like some of the colour ways namely the yellow on brown, the silver on blue and the white on orange, much more 'considered' than the standard fare.
Check 'em out here: One Gear Clothing

Red Bull Road Rage 2010

The Red Bull Road Rage series is still happening - but it's strangely hard to find out much info from the Red Bull site. It looks like there are a series of manic downhill road events each year held across the globe. This is the video for the latest event in Israel. Not as dramatic as the event I have posted about previously except for the heartbreak in the final - not going to spoil it for you.

Let's face it though this is continuing proof that road bikes go downhill (on roads) quicker than mtb's - why do they keep trying? Saying that I am not much of a descender, I never could go down well even when I 'was' good at going up!

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Does the next Mayor of Chicago bike?

He may if Miguel De Valle is voted in.

On his campaign-focused Facebook page, Del Valle said he wanted to make Chicago "one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world."

"Let's make Chicago one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world," del Valle wrote. "Let's add bike lanes. Let's ensure quality pavement..." del Valle wrote. "I will work with the City Council, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Active Transportation Alliance to launch bicycle friendly initiatives. Let's keep this going."

Del Valle says his son is an active cyclist.

- Mary Wisniewski in the Chicago Sun Times.

'Contador' selected for National Art Museum of Sport contest.

Great news!!

My painting of 'Contador' has been selected to be shown as part of the National Art Museum of Sport's premier contest. This painting was chosen from a highly competitive and international lineup of artists whom focus on the portrayal of sport.

It's quite a thrill to be picked to display at the museum. 'Contador' will be hanging alongside great pieces by my contemporaries and artists like Leroy Nieman. The show opens this Monday the 15th November and runs until April 20th 2011. I hope to get to the museum in mid December and it will be interesting to see if there is any other cycle sport included.

So to celebrate I'll be making a few more prints available in the coming week.
The prints, including 'Contador', are here at The Untapped Source.

The National Art Museum of Sport's contest show runs from 15 Nov 2010 to 20 April 2011.
The museum is located at 875 West North Street, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Further details can be found here at the NAMOS website.

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Circulus

Circulus from machine project on Vimeo.

By Samuel Starr

Pomona College, 2010

This has been posted about before on many blogs but this is the first video I have seen of the actual track. Samuel Starr designed and built this track in response to the empty library space in his university. Superb, love the colour details that relate to the rolled up carpet in areas of the library(?).

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Scene in Chicago

There are some terrific murals around the walls of Chicago.
I'm going to start taking some pictures and sharing them with you.

Cheers.

British cycling advert from the 1950's

Anybody think it's time to buy a new bike - what great artwork.

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Hades

Carnac are releasing the 'Hades', I saw this on Pez Cycling news, and boy is it a looker. As with all helmets I would have to see it on and also feel it on, but like I said I like it's look.

Worth noting there is some discussion regarding snag points on helmets. The basic thought is that with helmets that are more angular, more spiky etc there are more areas where the helmet may become snagged on an uneven road surface, vehicle part, street furniture etc. The snag then tries to reduce your head's velocity even though nothing is slowing down your body, possibly resulting in some nasty neck injury. I see the point but don't really seeing that being a deal breaker after all I could also get my finger or more likely a foot caught in something (yes I have). It also means there would be issues with my favourite helmets of all time, the Met Stradivarius and Met Ippogriffo. .

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Victoria Pendleton's dreams.....

Below is a link to an interview with Victoria Pendleton in a recent issue of 'The Guardian'.


'Dreaming of being chased by a killer is normal'



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"They hang it on a rubber coloured hook and quite right too"

Great short clip of the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) 'Out for a cushy ride' in 1955.

'CTC - Keeping you on the road and trails since 1878

CTC has a long and illustrious history of working for travelling, recreational and utility cycle users. Founded in 1878 as the Bicycle Touring Club and subsequently re-named the Cyclists' Touring Club, we are the forerunners of a world wide network of cycling, motoring and tourism organisations, many of whom based their services on CTC’s.

The organisation has its origins in the early days of cycling when the bicycle opened up new horizons for independent travel. CTC set out to identify suitable hostelries for its members and include them in members’ guides and handbooks. Occasionally you will spot a round plaque on the wall of older hotels showing the CTC emblem of a winged wheel, indicating a long tradition of welcoming cyclist'.

The '50's the hey day of British leisure cycling and film narration. Rides like this one were for all cyclists and the great racers such as Beryl Burton could be seen partaking in cups of tea at the local cycling cafe. A tradition which continues today: Emma Pooley

CTC website here.

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Giveaway Time!

Due to the 'Photo Shoot Out' and the generosity of Rapha, Colomba and Shutt VR I have two wonderful merino jerseys to give away.

I have a Colomba Peace Race jersey and a Shutt VR Summer Club jersey in a purple and white color way that they are considering for next year.



The Shutt is a large, that's a 96 - 107 cm chest and a relaxed fit.
The Colomba is also a large, 40"/100cm chest and more of a snug fit.

Please note that these were worn for 'review' and photographic purposes, they are not shop new, there maybe some very slight wear, but you'll hardly notice.

All you need to do is send an email with 'Photo Shoot Out Giveaway' as the subject and stating which jersey you would like, to: steve(at)velopaint(dot)com

On November the 20th I will draw a name from the bike helmet for each jersey. Simple.

Yes, I know, this means I get your email address. I would like to send you the occasional email of 'Velopaint' news. If you want to opt out of this please let me know in the email. Don't worry if you opt out you still get put into the helmet at drawing time.

One more thing, I am willing to mail out internationally so feel free to enter where ever you are unless I risk getting into customs difficulty with China, Korea and Abu Dhabi etc.
Seriously, mailing to Abu Dhabi costs a lot more.

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