Going into the 5th year of Grinduro California coverage on this website, I really wanted to do something different and boy, did I get just that. In addition to covering Team Brooks‘ debut at Grinduro, a series of events made this otherwise familiar race a little more unpredictable. Things weren’t looking so great the week leading up to this incredible event…
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Reportage
A Look Inside Santa Cruz’s Spokesman Bicycles Outpost and Their Wild Custom Builds
Santa Cruz has no shortage of bike shops. This sleepy little beach town might be known for its surfing and pesky vampires, but the road and mountain riding is exceptional. With a myriad of dirt and paved roads snaking their way through coastal redwoods, and dusty, steep mountain bike trails, any cyclist can spend days upon days exploring the terrain. Spokesman Bicycles is one of the powerhouse shops in Santa Cruz and just recently opened up what they’re calling Outpost on the West Side of town, right next to their friends Sawyer and Co, a surfing lifestyle shop.
Radar
REI Will Once Again Stock Giro, Bell, and Blackburn After Vista Outdoors Sells Controversial Firearm Companies
After last year’s cycling brand boycott following the Parkland shooting, REI dropped Giro, Bell, and Blackburn from their stores. Following an announcement that VISTA Outdoors has sold their controversial firearm companies, Savage Arms and Stevens firearms, makers of assault-style weapons, REI just announced they will be carrying the cycling brands once again:
“Today, we notified our merchants that we will resume orders with Giro, Bell, CamelBak, Blackburn and Camp Chef on the news that their parent company, Vista Outdoor, has secured a buyer for Savage Arms. REI orders of Vista-owned brands have been on hold since March 2018. At that time, Vista Outdoor chose not to engage in the national conversation about common-sense gun safety solutions that followed the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
REI does not sell guns or ammunition, and does not oppose hunting or the Second Amendment, but we believe companies that profit directly from the sale of guns have a civic responsibility to engage in the national discussion about gun safety, as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart and others have done. We understand and respect that our members and employees enjoy life outside in many ways—including hunting.”
Radar
Recycling Plastic: Giro and Bontrager’s New Enviro-Friendly Gear
Bontrager’s new Bat Cage rose like a phoenix from fishing nets in Chile and Giro’s Renew line recycles fishing nets and nylon.
Responsible recycling doesn’t just mean washing out your plastic containers before chucking them in the bin. Brands have looked at the world’s abundance of plastic, particularly sea plastic to make everything from apparel to bottle cages. Two brands taking the charge are Bontrager with their Bat Cage and Giro with their new Renew apparel line, using recycled plastic fishing nets to weave in recycled nylon, polyester, and elastane, including Econyl® Lycra® made from reclaimed fishing nets and other ocean debris.
Yes, this is responsible, and yes it is marketing, but I commend these two brands on making a difference. Check out more images below.
Radar
Giro and Jeremiah Kille Collection
Persistence pays off. Especially for artist Jeremiah Kille, who just launched a collaboration package with Giro. This video showcases Jeremiah’s work and his thoughts on the design process. If his work looks familiar, his Caletti NAHBS bike this year was wild!
Radar
No Rules and No Uniforms with Meredith Miller
For 13 years, Meredith Miller was confined to race uniforms and now that she’s retired, her apparel is a little more relaxed…
Radar
Giro Launches their Custom Aether MIPS Program
Each week, Giro is opening up their custom helmet configurator with something they’re calling the Tuesday 25. The first twenty-five people will be able to design their Aether MIPS helmet, down to the straps, fitting system, and colors, choosing from a variety of patterns as well. This is the opportunity to design a truly unique helmet.
Check out more information at Giro!
Radar
2018 Grinduro Video!
Here it is, the official Grinduro recap video. Enjoy!
Reportage
Rounding out the 2018 Sierra Buttes Triple Crown with Grinduro in Quincy!
Grinduro is my favorite cycling event of the year and when you include it in the Sierra Buttes Triple Crown, alongside Lost and Found, as well as Downieville, you’re in for a hell of a weekend. In its fourth year, you could tell the event is dialed but that’s mostly due to the amazing venue that is the Quincy Fairgrounds, Giro, the volunteers, the sponsors, and the Sierra Buttes’ impeccable ability to show everyone a great time!
Radar
Side 2 Side with the Giro Aether MIPS
While I don’t plan to be “twistin my body from side 2 side” anytime soon on my road bike, it’s comforting to know that like technology, cycling safety design is progressing at a – pardon the analogy here – breakneck speed. I’ll be honest, I don’t often do helmet reviews but I’ll admit I was really upset when Giro canceled the Atmos helmet. As a guy with a large dome, the Atmos fit me quite well, didn’t look obtuse, and felt great, even after long, hot days in the mountains. Later, Giro launched the Synthe, which I liked enough to make a Radavist edition, which I still stand firmly behind. So I’ll be honest with 100% transparency here. I really didn’t feel the need to talk about Giro’s new Aether MIPS when it launched today but upon my second ride in the helmet this morning, I was sold on both the comfort and the safety features of this revolutionary design…
Radar
Giro Launches the Aether MIPS
If there is one piece of technology that can save your life, it’s a helmet. But that doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice fit, functionality, and yeah, fashion in the process. Giro’s new Aether MIPS looks to solve all three. Check out more at Giro and tech specs below.
Radar
Aaron Gwin, Richie Rude and Cody Kelley in the Giro Chamber II
Giro pinged some of their best athletes for a piece on the new Chamber II MTB shoe. You don’t have to be a pro to co-sign on the Chamber II, even I can attest to this shoe’s comfort! See photos and more at Giro.
Radar
The Future for Giro/Bell/Blackburn and Vista Outdoors
I wanted to share this article with you, outlining the financial decision of Vista Outdoors to sell off Giro/Bell/Blackburn, which the company states it had plans of doing so before the outcry a few months back.
“Vista’s firearms and ammunition sales had already been soft for several quarters when the company found itself in the spotlight following the Parkland High School shooting in February. On March 1, REI, MEC and some independent retailers said they would stop ordering Vista products because of Vista’s lack of response following the shooting. Although REI and MEC don’t sell firearms, they sold Bell, Giro, Blackburn and other Vista Outdoor outdoor cooking and water sports brands.
“We have been on this path … way before any of the noise came about eight weeks ago.” — CEO Chris Metz
In an investor conference call Tuesday, Vista Outdoor CEO Chris Metz said the canceled orders had little effect on the company. Answering an investor question, Metz noted that REI represents less than 1 percent of the company’s total sales.”
Continue reading at Bicycle Retailer. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this issue.
Radar
The Radavist Giro Collection is in Stock Now
As promised, the Radavist collection is now in stock at Giro. Act quick, these pieces will go fast! If you ordered through your local shop, you should be getting your orders in shortly.
Radar
Radavist x Giro OD Green Capsule Collection Information
We’re really stoked on our collaboration with Giro Cycling on an olive drab capsule collection. This set includes a Synthe Helmet ($270), VR90 Empires ($300), and DND gloves ($25), all in color-matched OD green. This collection drops on Monday, so ride over to your local Giro dealer to place an order today to ensure you can get your size. A small run from this collection will be live on Giro.com come Monday morning, but to ensure you can order what you want, make sure you head to your local dealer ASAP.
Thanks to @alonsotal for looking so sharp! We’ll post another reminder on Monday, this post is just giving you a heads up so you don’t spend all your paycheck this weekend. You can see more preview photos at our Instagram.
Radar
Lace ‘Em Up
We’ve got something RAD in the works with Giro. Expect more details this week.
Radar
Giro’s Grinduro Code Techlace
If you missed out on this year’s custom Grinduro shoe offering from Giro, now’s your chance to get your hands on a pair of these vibrant kicks. Available only in the Code Techlace model, these are available for ordering now from your local shop, or online at Giro.
Radar
Giro’s New Empire E70 Knit Road Shoes
Giro has a few new products launching this year and next, but these are my favorite, hands down. These knit road shoes take design hints from sneaker companies and include both old and new colorways from Giro’s footwear catalog. For those looking for off-road knit shoes, the Empire Knit VR70 is coming out shortly as well. Check out more information at Giro.