The Radavist

Last week, in a very sedated state, I requested that my friends at Manual for Speed do a feature unlike anything professional cycling has done before: #SelfieSundays. Yes, I want to see pro cyclists take selfies with their phones or cameras. Or camera phones even. Well, the call to arms is here:

DEAR PRO CYCLISTS, we need your selfies. Please send to team@manualforspeed.com and we'll profile you on our site. Manual for Speed dot com

— manual for speed (@manualforspeed) February 17, 2014

You heard them! Yes, you have to be PRO to submit the selfie. Wait, do pros even read this site?

Photo by Sean Talkington

Sometimes you hop the big log… and clear the trail, only to hit another log and wreck (gracefully). Everyone’s gotta pay the piper.

I can’t wait to see the rest of Sean’s photos from last week in LA on the Team Dream Bicycling Team Blog!

Photo by Ace Carretero

As part of the “Beer Suit” series, CBNC got David Flores to design an ENDO skinsuit based on his unique style. Speaking of style, meet Mel, she’s one rad lady and she just so happens to do my vinyl decals. Mel is just one of the CBNC team riders, head over to Ace’s Flickr to meet the rest. That Greg is sure dreamy!

Photo by Brian Vernor

Speaking of night riding, last year, Brian Vernor linked up with Cooper Ray to shoot some photos for BELL and this was a left-over photo. Check out more at Brian Vernor’s Making Blog!

Our ride today was rad and very tough but we still stopped for some roostin’, GSC style.

Today I went over to Foes Racing USA to pick up a demo bike and to check out their operations. Brent has been making MTB frames from aluminum in Pasadena since the early 90’s, so it was an honor to see him at work. I’m still going through all the photos from today, but expect more shortly!

Right now, I’ll leave you with this portrait of the man himself at work.

Photo by Kyle Kelley

I have so many wonderful friends in this world, most all of them ride bikes but very few are family like this dude. Jeff and Kyle are two of my closest friends and I can’t wait to see this guy again. Albeit, it’ll be a lot colder next time.

I just wanted to send warm vibes over to this dude today!

Photo by Emily Maye

After making my last post, Emily Sent me her photos for Rapha, which are up on the Rapha Facebook. Head on over and check them out!

So… from drop bears, utes, sunburns, #Upgradecreds and other ‘Strayan things, Manual for Speed jumped on a flying machine and headed over to Dubai for the Dubai Tour. While this Tour Team Presentation post is cute, I love the non-photo essay on Emirati Women.

Head over to Manual for Speed for more!

Founder of the Albion, bad ass rider, photographer and generally all around good dude, George Marshall just interviewed “Super” Ted James over at Redbull’s UK site. Ted has started making BMX frames from Reynolds 853 and seems to be living the dream.

Head over to Redbull for the scoop!

This is the second layout of the 2014 PiNP Calendar, entitled “AWOL”. The camera and location are noted on the bottom left of the document.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting antsy to go on another ride like this. California has many hidden roads and we barely scratched the surface in the Diablo Range. Out of all the photos from that photoset, this is the one most people requested in high-res.

For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper, right click and save link as – 2014 PiNP Calendar: February

Please, this photo is for personal use only!

Photo by Emily Maye

With all of the carnage (seriously look at that link) at this year’s race, it’s been dubbed the “cyclocrash world championships”. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed more wrecks in a race before.

I can’t wait to see what Emily Maye has from that event! For now, this will have to do!

These photos are amazing! Cycle Smithy’s been accumulating vintage photographs from the 1890’s of the old Lake Street Chicago Schwinn factory. This is Schwinn bicycle production at its infancy, taken within the first few years of the operation opening, way before Waterford.

I can’t get over how incredible these photos are. See for yourself at Cycle Smithy!

I hope you had a great weekend. We sure did! Nothing like camping out, doing a big ride and getting some winter-time swimming in. I shot a bunch of film, which I’ll pick up later this week, until then, check out some of my favorites from Instagram and for more, look at the #SuperBroWeekend hashtag.

The winter is the time of year to camp in Austin. Some of the Beat the Clock Cycling club guys and I will be spending the weekend camping and riding a nice loop I put together in the middle of hill country. While I doubt I’ll be maxed out in gearing like I was in this photo, there will be a lot of climbing and a lotta dirt. I can’t wait!

Regular posting will commence on Sunday but I’ll be posting to Instagram @JohnProlly all weekend!

The following is my brief ride report from the Yonder Journal Brovet 03 – The Mythical State of Jefferson – click the link for more from Yonder Journal

After the second Brovet, my riding ego was damaged. I had bonked so pitifully that I almost thought for a second the dudes wouldn’t invite me on another ride. Then I realized, they actually enjoyed giving me shit and wouldn’t let me miss it for the world.

As I was preparing for this ride, I took my time calculating weather, load weight and most importantly, water. In the past, drinking from rivers landed me with a messed up stomach, I knew hydration would be an issue and it’d be hot, so I brought a Sawyer filter for filling my bottles with river water.

I also packed multiple sandwiches, dried fruits, salt tabs, nuts, gels and anything else I could think of (donuts). My bike was dialed and I felt great, I was prepared as much as I could be.

Let’s just put it this way: when someone asked for a necessity on the ride – baby wipes – I had it.

see full-res here

Meanwhile, over in the ATMOsphere, Richard Sachs posted a letter from Bill Hurlow, noting his recent deposit for a custom frame. This falls within the time period of RS’ life before he began building at Witcomb. Didn’t know he built for Witcomb? Don’t worry, I didn’t either.

A lot of frame builders have a dialog they’ve perfected over the years, as to why and how they began making frames. For me, reading this letter from ’72 and Richard’s perspective on it really resonates.

If you’re interested in custom frames or framebuilding whatsoever, you should really get over to Richard Sachs‘ blog and read this article.

A reader forwarded me a scan of this photo, featuring Eddy Merckx at the Miroir du Cyclisme in April 1975 during the Paris-Nice Prologue, while in the commune of Fontenay-sous-Bois. In his hand, a Merckx-branded, DeRosa-built road bike.

I’d love to see a modern take on this photo!