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In 2011, a little over a year after I found my passion for cycling through riding fixed gear bikes through the concrete jungle of New York City, I found myself, camera in hand, at Monster Track. The event is one of cycling’s most famous, most dangerous, and most significant alleycats in the world. Fast forward to 2022, and here I am again, camera in hand, at the 23rd edition of the annual brakeless urban street race.
We joke that time is a flat circle in cycling all too often. Gravel bikes are just ’90s mountain bikes, etc. Yet, we have to accept that we’re in an era of electronic shifting and yes, suspension forks on gravel bikes. This tech, however, is nothing new especially not for RockShox, who for the 1994 Paris Roubaix unveiled a suspension fork on team Lemond GAN’s bikes. In that same year, Mavic even had some Zap electronic groups on the exact same bikes.
Now, 27 years later, we have my Sklar gravel bike which is familiar to most of you, with a suspension fork and electronic shifting, under the banner of SRAM and RockShox’s new XPLR lineup (explore, not explorer). While I haven’t taken on the Hell of the North, I have spent a lot of time being a weirdo in the woods on this kit and have a really fun review to share with y’all, so read on below.
Alberto Masi and the Vigorelli Velodrome
Photos and words by Brian Vernor.
The Red Hook Crit is in Milan for the final race of the 2017 championship series. This race exceeds expectation every year I go. This year we once again had a private pre-race track day at the legendary Vigorelli Velodrome. In the velodrome itself is Alberto Masi’s frame shop, which I visited with many other racers and fans. His crew brought out some vintage bikes and dernies to run on the track. It was an amazing day blending cutting edge contemporary racing with the timeless spirit of Italian Cycling. Much thanks to Trimble Racing and the Red Hook Crit. Now, to the races…
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Photo by Bob Huff
It seems like the Vanilla Workshop might bring back the Speedvagen Track bikes in their Ready Made program. I know the track bike’s heyday might be waning but surely people would race these at events like the Red Hook Crit or their local velodrome. See more at Vanilla and if you’re interested in a Ready Made track frame, email them with the subject line “track machine.”
If you’re in London for the Red Hook Crit, I’m sure you’ll be at this event. I can’t wait to see what these two have cooked up for this year’s race.
Brian Vernor made a short video showcasing Alonso and the ENDO Cncpt Team at the Red Hook Crit on Blackburn’s new Portable Trainer.
The 2017 Red Hook Crit season is about to begin and for the past few years, Alvise Zanasca has shown he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Our buddy Zo got tailed by Chrome in his hometown of LA and in Brooklyn while in town for the Red Hook Crit.
The 8Bar Bikes team made it to Milan for the Red Hook Criterium in the second installment of their video story. You can see the first half of the video in the related column on the left.
The team at 8 Bar embarked on a ride that would cross the Splügen Pass from Switzerland to Italy on their way to the Red Hook Criterium Milan 2016.
Death Spray Custom and Stanridge Speed Volume 2
Photos by Jason Sellers and words by John Watson
Back in 2012, Adam Eldridge from Stanridge Speed was obsessing over the Red Hook Crit and the unique form of track bike evolving from these races. Unlike traditional track frames who only make left turns in a velodrome, the design of track crit frames need to be more dynamic. You’ve got to be able to pedal through all corners, even chicanes and do so with dozens of other racers around you. As a result, many of the track crit frames rely on steeper angles and higher bottom brackets for increased maneuverability. As we’ve seen in the past, it takes a bit of luck and a lot of skill to make it through one of these crits unscathed, not to mention winning a few back to back.
That’s where Adam’s interest piqued. Dan Chabanov had been on a winning streak and Adam wanted to put a Stanridge under him. The two were connected, via Squid, an OG bike messenger in New York and they began working together. Knowing this would be a big deal, Adam reached out to David at Death Spray Custom to make the project extra special. The rest is history, and David’s paint design made for an interesting story. Adam even got a matching kit made from a sales rack Voler skinsuit he then sublimated the design upon.
2015 was life-changing for not only myself but for the Radavist, its authors and content. For the most part, the year felt like a giant ping-pong game as various stories brought me and the contributors of this website all over the globe. Luckily, the first major story unfolded in Austin, Texas so no traveling was necessary! Check out the Radavist’s 2015 Year in Review below!
By utilizing the Exposure platform, collapsable fender company Ass Savers has started a new platform for sharing photos, beginning with the Red Hook Crit Milano. Head on over to the Ass Savers Journal for the photos and story.
Chas’ Zipp Firecrest 404 Track Wheels
Photos by Kyle Kelley, words by John Watson
When Zipp announced their Firecrest track wheels in both the 404 (58mm deep) and an 808 (82mm deep) model, it was very apparent they were making wheels specific to the track criterium crowd, not the velodrome crowd. Track racers who invest in a set of Zipp’s would opt for the Firecrest 404 or 808 tubulars. The clincher Firecrests are clearly designed for the street use.
These new 404 Firecrest track wheels come in a 28h front / rear 2x lacing pattern, use a single-sided fixed asymmetric rear hub with a non-proprietary lock ring and rather than go for a 15mm bolt, Zipp chose a 6mm allen.
Chas has been racing on these wheels, which found their way onto the Cinelli Work frameset. A steel singlespeed frame that can be ran as a fixed crit bike, work bike or even a singlespeed ‘cross machine. Kyle caught up with Chas at the Wolf Pack Hustle Civic Center crit a few weeks back and loved the look of these wheels.
With the Red Hook Crit Barcelona underway this weekend, Chas, his bike and those wheels will go through a thorough amount of work and personally, I like how this bike is looking.
Zipp Firecrest 404:
58mm deep
1,655g wheelset weight
$950 front and $1,150 rear
Zipp Firecrest 808:
82mm deep
1,805g wheelset weight
$1,100 front and $1,300 rear
In stock now at Zipp.
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Marc, his Low and the new Giro Empire ACC Reflective shoes take to the streets of NYC and the Red Hook Crit… coming this fall.
… more Red Hook Crit carnage!
Dylan Buffington from Mash took a bit of a spill during this year’s Red Hook Crit Brooklyn after a racer went down in front of him. Luckily for Dylan, the metal barricades cushioned the blow and his hand took a majority of the damage. He was rushed to the ER and stitched up before being sent home.
This was Dylan’s first ever Red Hook Crit and it left him eager to get back out there again. Racing brakeless track bikes in a criterium-format race is a true testament to bike control, race tactics and straight up luck. Sometimes you have the latter on your side, sometimes you don’t.
Glad you’re back on the bike and already ripping brother. See ya soon!
The new Affinity Pro Team Kit is now available for pre-order, worn by Ash Duban, winner of the Red Hook Crit Milan No 5. women’s race and made by ENDO Customs in Los Angeles. Head over to Affinity Cycles for more information.
