220: The Shack and Other Interesting Tidbits.

I saw these photos of Mr. Armstrength yesterday on the Tracko blog. And they caught my eye because they mentioned the name of our good pal Mr. James Selman of Weights and Pulleys at the end. But there seemed to be a bit of a question as to whether or not this is the case...

But I figured that I should get to the bottom of the matter. Indeed James Selman of Weights & Pulleys was the go to guy for the retro Shack kit that that they are using solely during the Tour of Gila. This very obviously worked as a great spot for them to sell shitloads of Mellow Johnny's (also designed by Selman) kits after last years race (which they did) so why not come back this year with something fresh?


This makes perfect sense. And so does that use of Selman for the Design end of things. I mean, sure, they gave the old designers at Nike a chance and look what they came up with? The Mayor of Boresville called, they want their team kits back. Seriously. James gets it. Just forgo or bypass or whatever the eff you need to do to get straight to James next time.


Now, here is the thing that gets me. Take a look at the kits in the photo. I get that you want to stick with some old school Motorola/Brooklyn Chewing Gum Scenario with the black shorts. In fact, I think that is pretty awesome. But why not go all out. Why are these guys wearing some of the traditional MJ's stuff and some not? What is up with that? Why can't we get everyone on the same page?

Also, I recently heard this term "Deck" come into play. Its not a new term by any stretch of the imagination. Kyle Smith used it this past weekend in James Morrison's house and I immediately knew that it was Marketing speak for something, but not what.

As lady luck would have it, Dan Sharp got "a deck" later in the evening, so he was able to show it to me in entirety. Apparently, in the speak, "a deck" is simply the series of photos or a short brief, but its focus is entirely on inspiration (interestingly, Dan's Deck contained some of his own photos, which was weird, but I guess not unheard of.) So, armed with my new knowledge of the system I questioned James on his deck. Yes you read that right.


Turns out he really didn't have one, or it was too long to send, I can't remember. But he did send me some of his own personal inspiration images. And it is pretty easy to see how things got sweet relatively quickly on the MJ's team up end of things. Love the whole big bubbly font scenario going on there.

His statement on the design and inspiration of the kit went like this:

We wanted to originally do a more seasoned, fresh RetroShack kit for the original RS kit, so the Gila gave us an opportunity to try it out. Inspired by the late 70s early 80s era per the old RadioShack mark. And using the alt Mellow Johnny's mark we had done based on muscle cars with the old Trek mark – thought about using DATSUN and Blue Ribbon Sports, but thought best otherwise. With those components, I looked to DeWolf in Vermeer and then kits of sem France-Loire, Fiat, Raleigh Creda, DAF Cote D'Or and of course, RDV in Brookly. Found what worked within the color palette & the various brand(s) / architecture... Keep it simple.


My only other question is this.

Did Lance just name the newest addition to the family Cinco? Like Cinco Technology from Tim and Erik (trying to give you the benefit of the doubt) possibly he meant the powertap replacement bottom bracket thingie...

ps...did I mention that James also designed the new Rapha/Speedvagen kits that everyone saw at the Nahbs show in Richmond, VA. So good.

192: Out Riding.

Here are some shots from riding around here the last few days. It does not suck to ride in February. Even if you get wet once in a while. Speaking of riding around check out this site The Blue and Red . His shots from riding around are much nicer (and more arty) than mine for certain. Did a nice little montage of his riding shots in the new EmbroV5. Are you keeping track of all the hints I've provided this week?

I know that Saturday looks like it was more standing around than anything, but we really did ride for almost four hours. Up, then down. Then back up. And then down some more. And then loads of coffee. Which was good. Does everyone not start their day with a quad americano? Why do people look at me weird when I order that?

Also, since we are talking about hints, Dan Sharp is seen riding here (with his Mapei hat sticking out of his back pocket) he also shot some photos for the new issue of Ira Ryan and Tony Periera's Workshops. And Slate can be seen here riding his Ira Ryan "West Hills" style bike. Good stuff.

Friday

Saturday

190: Every Damn Day.

You remember James Selman right? He has appeared on these pages a few times. I think once or twice over the summer. Most notably in this post when he had to remove the entire contents of his Mad Alchemy jar and put it in a plastic bag. No big deal. So, Matthew Karre (remember he "won" the King Kong Classic) wrote a little article about James for this upcoming Volume 5 (preorder preorder). At one point in his career he made a little patch kit for this company called Nike. Maybe you have heard of it? Kyle over at Tracko did a little thing about it not too long ago.

In any case he stopped by the office last week on the nicest day of the winter. It was so nice outside that I even hesitate to call it winter at this point. I think that it was something like 60 degrees out. No complaints here. This is exactly what I was so desperate to move toward when leaving the East Coast. Call me a pussy if you have to. I do not mind (and my skin does not hurt when I leave the house each morning either - do not act like you don't know what I'm talking about.)


So, when he stopped by for a moment I literally grabbed his bike and took it for a spin around the block. Mainly so that I could check out the built in handle for carrying the bike up and down stairs. Laugh if you will but it seems as though this could be a pretty popular item for people living in cities. I remember more than a few apartments where this could have come in handy. Not because I have a problem shouldering the bike. Because I do not. But because some of those old stairwells made it positively unnavigable with a bike on your shoulder.

This bike did a strange thing for me though. Evoked a different feeling. One that went sort of like this... I'll try to explain it the best I can... It make me think to myself "well, I don't have one of these" in a way that made me want to cruise around the neighborhood. You see, I do not get the opportunity to cruise much. Even when riding too and from work I feel like it is always a race. This could be one of two reason. One because I am notoriously late. Always.

And two because, well, and here comes the big revelation, I do not think it is in my nature. I do not do well with cruising, or sitting around. I am trying to change that though. You know, go for a cruise around the block every once in a while. Read a book or something. Stroll through the f-ing park every once in a while...

That is kind of what this bicycle does though, or is aiming to do. Take something sporty like a road bike and sort of find the balance between the race and the cruise. Not too high-tech and carbon, but still having a Shimano Nexus hub for the S. Brown* in us all. That guy would have lost his shit over this bike - I mean it says "Let Us Chase the Sun" on the headtube. Grant Peterson just had multiple bikegasms in his MUSA Rain Pants over that shit. (the Nitto helped.)

All jokes aside. What this bike does best, and what makes me want to ride it is that is looks good. I know that might sound a bit strange, but it really does make me want to ride it because it does not look like one of these funky downtube Giant Commuter Hybro Fat Wheel Contraptions. I would not be embarrassed to be seen on this bike. Unless you were riding past me on this bike. Then I would feel embarrassed for you, me, and most importantly humanity.

This bike has been conceptualized right down to the very last few details of it. Can I say that? I mean haven't most bikes that you see today? Carey SH used to work at Raleigh and she told me that they have whole departments for conceptualizing these things. But the difference here (and this is where Selman comes in) is that the bike has been conceptualized by a Cyclist. I know, crazy thought, and maybe even something that one day will be put into practice by some of these bigger bike brands, but until then we will have to stick with these guys.


My few final bits here are my favorite of the bike. The painting of the phrase "Every Day" on the seattube is amazing (especially with that little glint of sunlight on there.) It is almost as good as "Guilt Trip" but maybe not as condescending. Just a friendly reminder. But then again, if you do not have a car then Every Day becomes Nessesity? Maybe?

The other little bit is the Cycle Works Oregon Logo that is placed lower on the seat tube near the bottom bracket. Cycle Works is something interesting that is worth exploring as well. Another time. But I like the logo and I like the photo somehow as well. It feels a little strange but probably has more to do with the pretzel yoga stance I was in trying to get the photo and the high school age kids that snuck up behind me and made fun of the yellow bike I was taking photos of. What do they know anyway?

I feel like I need a City Bike now. What should I do? To get rid of that feeling that is? Ride my winter training bike home in the rain? Punch myself in the nuts? Get another bike? Take photos of yours? I need options here people.

*Dear Harris Cyclery, I feel like I kind of just shot photos of your whole catalog. Take a look back through here, see the Tourguards? They still in the basement by the bathroom? How about the Kool Stop Salmon Pads? Two in each baggie. And lets not even talk about the Nitto Stuff. Thank god they didn't choose a Gilles Berthoud bag or I would have lost my shit.

124: Where to Start?

How to know your pro? Color photo in the Boston Herald. AND when they lay out the photo, the front wheel is literally bursting from the frame. AND we all know that Kyler knows how to look pro. Damn that shit is "tite!" Just sayin'.

INCOMING:
Here is what I've got coming up for you. I'll break them down in the order that they happened. Last week we left for Vegas in the middle of Monday. A week later and if I said that I was reeling from the week that just happened, I'd be lying. Reeling is putting it lightly.

You don't believe me? Check my Twitter. It was an amazing way to quickly document the show and now offers me a little fodder to go back through and check. Might actually be an interesting way to do some of the blog posts, just update the twitter post with a lengthier bloggy one. Then update the blog post with a magazine article and then eventually a book on the subject. And then in no time we will be flying. What they hell am I talking about?

LAST WEEK:

Monday
Left for Vegas, drove for what seemed to be days, but which was really just hours. Ate a whole bunch of crap and stayed at a hotel in Weed, California. Yes please. Kicked off a long train of unusually bad eating, which included: McDonalds (twice in one day), more soda than you can shake a stick at, various and sundry flavors of chips, gummi something-or-others, Taco Bell (are you getting sick yet?), a corndog, pastrami, more chips, Starbucks, salty liquorice... I'm just going to stop...

Tuesday
More driving. Lots of driving and lots of driving on very, very straight roads. Then a big lake and then some more driving on straight as hell roads. Through hell. And then, finally when you thought it couldn't get any better, we rolled into Vegas. Showered, drank a bunch of booze, at burritos (probably the best meal in Vegas) and then drank until I couldn't see or think straight.

Highlights: Junk Food, Traveling Companions, Hilarity Ensues,
Lowlights: See above (kidding, the companions were the best part)

Wednesday
Hit the show for a few hot minutes. Handed out some invites and then headed back to the Artisan Hotel to prep for the party action. Did that for a few hours before heading to Cross Vegas. Shot photos of Dylan with every attractive...um...person available. Interviewed a Belgian friend who was more than pissed at the lack of Beer stands, and then watched former (note I said former) bike racers schmooze it up for each other (ahem Cannings). Loaded a bunch of people into a pre-arranged bus and then headed back to the party. Saw some MASH folks and promptly lost my Pink Rapha Logo T-shirt to our buxom bartender GG. Great gal, but I kind of want my shirt back.

Highlights: Seeing old friends at the show, Cross Racing, Chris Distefano, Party Time, The Artisan Hotel, Jeremy Powers DJ Set, Andy Clark, people packing the shit out of the Artisan, absolutely anyone involved with Knog, Molly Racing (AND HER RIDER CARDS!!)

Lowlights: People hacking up Lungs from Dry Racing Conditions, Jeremy Powers being booted (by the management) off the wheels of steel after one song, not enough time with Kaiko and Mike, completely missing Rob Vandermark and B. Quirk,

Thursday
Show day, well, mostly. The hotel rooms in Vegas get unusually dark when the shades are drawn, throwing ones sense of time and place into a whirlwind of confusion. And making one sleep well past the time that normal people should sleep. Headed to the show a little late but got to see a few key people and talk about things like: Rapha, advertising, Embrocation article ideas (some really great stuff will come out of this). Then it was back to the hotel for a minute before piling into the trusty white whale and heading over to Mandalay Bay for some Crit Championship action.

Highlights: Hot new Embrocation Socks, Espresso at the Fizik Booth, Bike racing Adam Myerson style, Moots, Ridley, Asian Food (always drink hot tea and you can eat as much as you want and not feel full and gross), Hanging out with James Selman and Ben from Freeman Transport. Twitter action. Seeing Thayne Nord. Hanging out with Jason and Craig Roth made me feel like I was back in Boston.

Lowlights: Walking around all day eating Power Samples (powerbar, power gel, goo, electrolite goo, powerballs?), The George W. Busch photo in the Kenda Booth (not a great idea guys), a fake mud covered bike in the Kuota booth (not even a good idea guys)

Friday
To the show for a few quick meetings. I only say 'meetings' because then it sounds professional. Got to see the inside of the Oakley black cave of death, but only by peering in from the outside as Katarina Nash came stumbling out clutching 40 new pairs of Oakleys. Looks nice in there. Then it was drive time again, back to PDX, but not before a quick stop at In N Out Burger. So good. Before I left though had a great chat with Bob Roll on how much he likes Embrocation Cycling Journal, there's Video on that too. Then we headed back into the desert.

Highlights: Bob Roll, Steve Blick and the LOOK stickers. More espresso. Playing "Where's Waldo" with all of the Independent Fabrication Bikes (Whipperman, Cane Creek, the CO2 Inflaters, EDGE. Am I missing any?) Dan Sharp and I running around on the floor like madmen, the release action on the Time Road Pedals and the Time booth in general. Bern headphones. Military case sales at the side of the road.

Lowlights: Leaving the Artisan Hotel behind. So long. The booth with the leg rollers. Rushing. Chrome's boombox, looking towards another drive. Assy People.

Saturday
Drive Drive Drive Drive, Listen to music, Drive Drive Drive. Eat some candy. Drive Drive Drive. Laugh at some funny shit that Carey, Slate, Dan or Dave say. Drive Drive Drive. God its good to be back Best Homecoming ever. Steaks, drinks, fellowship, laughs..

Sunday
Wake up late and read the newspaper. Go straight to sports section and look for some cycling. Be disappointed with the above from NY Times. Then race some Cyclocross. "Oh, I wonder how that went?" you might be asking yourself. See above. Especially the parts where it says things like: driving, junk food, drinking, party, McDonalds....

"And on Monday we be at it again."

More later.

101: True (Mango) Love.

I know that this looks like "fat siphoned out of Marlon Brando's Ass" (name that movie quote) but it isn't. In fact, I don't think that they'll let you take that on a plane. Or maybe they would if it was within the 3.6oz limit. What's in that plastic bag is actually is Mango Love siphoned out of James Selman's jar of Embrocation. At the airport.

James is at the Airport with Carey SH and they're on their way to the last leg of the Rapha Continental summer tour 09. Its almost as big as Wolfmother releasing a new album only in Australia and then touring (only in Australia). That's how exclusive this group of cyclists are.

Anyway I have to commend James for his diligence.
I wouldn't want to give up a jar of that sweet smelling sex-for-your-legs-in-a-jar either.

Who is James Selman though? That is the question of the hour. Well, lets start with this photo. Intensity is the first word that comes to mind when you look at this. At least that's what I think, and I took the photo. He was sitting right there. And he didn't blink for five whole minutes. I timed it.

Besides being intense James is also a designer. An Uber Designer if you will. The reason I chose this photo is two fold.

Fold 1) Mellow Johnny's. James was the man behind the design of the Mellow Johnny's branding. Which, if you follow bike racing at all (I don't, but if you do) you might notice that a few interesting people are behind this Mellow Johnny's scene. People like Chris Horner because you'll note that he and Levi Leipheimer wore it at the Tour of Gila. But besides that he's done some other interesting design projects as well (*cough* HUP) like being the Creative behind the Beloved Bicycle design I spoke of earlier...

Fold 2) My friend Kaiko Shimura made this hat. She made this hat for James, but it was too small, so I gave it to Erin over at Mellow Johnnys. She made it as a sort of one off tribute to Big Tex* (if you haven't seen this, its one of my favorites, but only because I wanted to be a professional basketball player). Anyway, she makes great hats (I've heard) but she's also got a lot of other irons in the fire...more on that later.

*its too deep, I have to add stars. James actually made this ad.

Up Next:
Hipster Showdown on the streets of Portland, and T-shirts.