198: NAHBS Richmond — Signal Cycles

Here is a little video for you. This is Matt Cardinal of Signal Cycles showing me the Chris King headset on one of their most recent creations to feature at the NAHBS. The first moment that I was taking a look at their booth Matt called this to my attention. Pretty great way to go about things for a few reasons. One of those is because I like interesting things and a great way for me to hang around your booth is for you to point them out to me. (Dave Kirk's wife did the same thing by telling me that the new font they are using is something called Crime Scene -so maybe that says I am easy to please?)


Pretty cool concept for a greasing a headset. Especially when Matt said that Chris King himself stopped by the booth and gave him the full lowdown on the headset. This bike was a creation for Nate Woodman (above to the left of his bicycle) the proprietor of Monkeywrench Cycles in Lincoln, Nebraska - where Nate Meshke - the second half of Signal used to live. I have officially made Monkeywrench go straight to the top of my list of bike shops that I need to see (others include Above Category and Crono Metro). If only for the fact that Nate claims to have not one, but...er...more than one of these amazing headsets. Apparently there was also a pedal and hubset that went with it. The Hubs are actually on the bike.


Both Matt claimed that this was a pretty ideal build for them as Nate (W) basically gave them the headset and asked them to build a bike around it. Silly? Maybe, but you might also be surprised at just how often this sort of thing happens. Stop by at Harris Cyclery and I am quite sure that they could give you more than a few stories along these lines (think Sturmey Archer.) The ease also has something to do with the customer putting trust into what these guys are bringing to the table in terms of their taste. And with a glance around their booth it is easy to see why customers would leave the whole taste debate up to them.

The second bike that I was excited to see in their booth was one that they built for my favorite local bookstore/awesomeshop Ampersand Vintage. The blue bike bares the signature ampersand on the downtube and more than a few shiny bits to spice up the frame. I do not know if this would technically be called a rain bike, light touring, or maybe even the West Hills name that has been kicking around recently, but whatever you choose to call this style also add "Sick" to the front, effectively making it the Sick Light Touring, or the Sick Rain Bike, or even the SICK West Hills Bike...

Days before the show Matt and Nate went in to Ampersand to pick out a few extra little pieces for the bike and came away with this antiquated map of Portland to give it that extra touch. And when it is nestled all nice and snug under the viewing port of the leather accented bag it makes me want to do some light touring. Some leisurely parading, or even, if you must a romp through the forrested hills of Southern Oregon. I am not joking.


Myles has mentioned a few times the trip that he took a few years ago out of Portland and down through California on his previous touring bike. Nothing like a new bike to get you motivated to do some riding. I kept thinking about just this thought as I madly roamed the isles of the NAHBS "What is going to be my new bike? I want a new bike." Careful or I will get all Veruca Salt on your ass. Not the band.

The thing that I came back to while I was looking through the photos from the Signal booth, and it did not really hit me until I looked at them for the third time today was Signal's use of Portland throughout their booth. Take a look back through the photos and see what I mean. The Handlebar on the Orange one? Vertigo Cycles. The Hubs and Headsets on all of them except the orange one? Chris King. The Ampersand bicycle being a representation of the store and even the red 29er had "Portland, OR" emblazoned on the top tube. Hell even the handmade Carbon Wheels on Carey's Team Cross bike had one of the new incarnations to the club — Corsa Concepts.

So, I will leave you with that, and that is a good one, especially because it is well known that I am just a little bit obsessed with Carbon Clinchers these days, so I will look forward to hearing how these fare...


We are still waiting to hear a couple things about the Embro Awards. I will let you know the winners just as soon as I got the total tally and we check with the Supreme Court to see if that pesky First Amendment thing went through. Could be quite a bother if it does not because then all my reportage will be for naught. The people need answers.

Full-ish Set on Flickr.

178: The Year in Review: Arts and Literature

ARTS AND LITERATURE
(part one - Arts)

Went for a run today. This action is a little bit like going for a ride, excepting the fact that it hurts a lot more. It is amazing when you do not do something for a long time how it takes a minute to get back in the swing of things. I do not recommend it. So much for a century today. Ps - I moved away from snowy weather for a reason, to be away from it.

BEST GALLERY (Large Scale)
Saatchi Gallery - London

People know that when I say "Best Gallery" what I mean is "Best Gallery That I Visited" right? When I was in London last January the exhibit The Revolution Continues: New Chinese Art was in full effect. Cool things about the Saatchi Gallery: 1) you can take all the photos that you like 2) while they definitely discourage touching of the art works, there are no barriers between viewer and art. The exhibit featured Contemporary Chinese Artists in sculpture, print and even a city sculpture made from dog chew toys. The other crazy thing about the Saatchi gallery that day? My pal Janice Checcio happened to be there. No biggie, just happen to be across the Atlantic hanging out at a gallery...

I took this photo before I knew that it was Janice too. I just thought this exhibit titled Chinese Offspring - by Zhang Dali looked crazy with all these sculptures hanging upside down at the mezzanine level. And then I was standing next to her going... "no fucking way." Good times.

BEST ART BLOG:
My Love for You is a Stampede of Horses.

BEST NAME FOR AN ART BLOG:
My Love for You is a Stampede of Horses.

You have heard me talk about Meighan and her blog before. If you have not checked it out, now would be a good time. Lets get down to brass tacks here, she is doing some really cool shit. Putting on art shows in Superb Bicycle as well as the raddest sneaker den in Boston - Bodega, she also writes over at Juxtapoz* and curated her own little show over at the Fourth Wall Gallery. *You hear that Lance? - Juxtapox Magazine...

And we are on the move...

AN INTERESTING GRAPHIC BLOG:
Nice Fucking Graphics!

Carey SH has turned me on to a great number of sweet blogs this past year as well. Before we actually worked in the same office together she would send me weekly updates of cool things to look at. Now she casually mentions them over the top of her Gigantic computer monitor.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE:
ISO50

HERE IS ANOTHER:
Hue+Saturation

BEST GALLERY (Smaller Scale)
Ampersand Vintage

Located on Portland's presteeegous Alberta Street this quaint little bookstore, vintage photo spot and art gallery is hands down the best spot to pick up cool stuff. Each last Thursday of the month, when all the hippies come out on Alberta and try to push their fried dough on you Myles opens his shop to another artist to display their wares. The great thing about this shop, however is its accessibility. You can find pure gems of every price range in the shop whether it be an art book, print, or old typographers manual.


Ah, the fresh smell of paper.

Stay tuned for Part Two: Literature later today. First I have to go on a bicycle ride with Ira. Which I am sure is going to feel like hell personified. Which is partly why I am doing it right?

144: Chris Crites at Ampersand Vintage

Went to the new Ampersand art opening last night. Holy shite there is some good work going on over there. If you have not been over to Ampersand yet you need to go and check it out. And this might be a good time to do it Chris Crites is showing his stuff. If you have not heard of him that is alright, I had not either. But I won't soon forget either.

Sex, Guns, Brass-Knuckles and Criminal Record paintings adorn the walls. An examination of violence in America? Possibly. The rendering of some objects and objectification into an artistic tribute of themselves. Also a possibility. Saying things big things that do not really make sense to you because you are talking about "art?" Busted. However these are definitely some beautiful paintings.

Big fan of the brass knuckles. And the ladies and the guns. Kyle was on hand as well to add his brand of commentary as well. "The only thing that I can see we are missing here are knives." True. But I think there were enough other vices to go around.

"To Have and To Hold."

Carey's husband Myles is Ampersand's proprietor and she was telling me today that Mr. Crites goes into a local (he is based out of Seattle) public records housing (what would that be? a courthouse? library?) and scans in ancient Criminal Records and then sets about the task of painstakingly recreating them with the most minuscule of paintbrushes. It is fairly obvious though because every line of color on each piece looks to be a deliberate and thoughtful act. Even up close all of the details hold their own.


The rest of Ampersand is pretty amazing as well. With books and prints ranging from animals and insects to Design, Fashion, Art and Photography one is sure to find something. What I always find the most fascinating though are the vintage paper ephemera that Myles' somehow finds. He finds them at things called "Paper Shows" and I love browsing through his recent finds... On the coffee table at this very moment sits a copy of Facts About Narcotics and other Dangerous Drugs. I need to know what I am dealing with right?

Maybe I should get this one?


Or one about Birds?


This is hands down the best place to find interesting gifts for people. Especially when you have exhausted the bicycling industry. I found a pin for Evil Ryan that was an old Woodworkers Union pin of two hands giving each other "bumps." There is no telling what you might find here. Especially if you know where to look....