The Radavist

Watching Argonaut Cycles grow and gain traction in this market is exciting. Especially within the realm of retail, a world that most framebuilders decide to avoid due to margins. But sometimes, you find a home where your brand easily nestles in between the existing offerings.

Argonaut Cycles has teamed up with Above Category, along side BAUM, Pegoretti and Mosaic. Three exceptional frame builders who have mastered their materials. It’s not bad having such great company, is it?

See more at Above Category!

… and it’s one I’d like to think that readers of this website would embrace. See more at the Baum Flickr!

They’re not quite in stock yet, but I like the looks of the new Rapha Climber’s Shoes. Based off the new Prolight SLX EC90 SLXII sole and footbeds, these perforated cycling shoes shed weight and maintain stiffness where it’s needed. Coming soon (like in a few weeks) from Rapha.

It’s raining cats and dogs in Austin right now, which has me watching all of the Yowamushi Pedal episodes. Surely, I’m not the only one who missed this, right?

The Col Collective is a new website (it’s not actually launched yet), that aims to showcase some of the world’s most iconic climbs. Beginning with Col du Galibier…

Live in the Philly area? Need a new road bike? Got a little extra coin saved up for something special? Well, you could be in luck. Erik from Winter Bicycles will be at the show and he’s selling this Sean-Nós road bike, complete!

See more photos at the Winter Flickr.

For those looking for a disc brake-equipped bike that won’t break the bank but will brake in all conditions, Kona’s got something new in their 2015 offerings. The Esatto DDL is their new “all road” bike. Spec’d to impress with a Shimano 11-speed drivetrain, Mavic Aksium Disc One wheels, TRP calipers and Continental Grand Sport Race 28c tires.

See more at Kona!

Such a riveting tale, from one of cycling’s most prestigious brands… Ritttayyyy!

From time to time, enthusiasts, hobbyists and collectors get an itch. An itch to make a vintage “replica” bike, modeled after any number of liveries or teams. For Andy White of FYXO, he really, really wanted a replica Molteni.

A frame came up in Eddy’s exact measurements, 58cm TT, 60cm ST, but it was from the wrong era, so he filed off the front derailleur hanger and painted the seat stay caps to resemble Eddy’s team bike. From there, fresh paint and decals were applied by Sun Graphics. He’s even got a flat crown fork, instead of the sloping crown.

Then, well, life happened. He had a kid and has to let her go. The frame, not his daughter.

This Molteni replica is available and I thought it’d be a perfect Merckx Mondays post. Holler at FYXO for more info and head to the FYXO Flickr for more photos.

This one’s a truly unique ride. PAUL cantis, Rene Herse cranks, vintage Dura Ace and a paint job that will only look better with dirt, mud and road dust caked into the nooks and crannies. Jonathan’s dirt road bike is a dream build!

See more at the Bishop Flickr. Chris, this is a fine bicycle!

Photos by Andy Bokanev

I can’t begin to fathom weather like this, as it’s still 90 degrees here in Austin, but then again, we don’t have giants like Mt. Baker in our backyard and we’re pretty damn far south. Photos like these, taken just this weekend, serve as reminders of how truly powerful mother nature is.

Andy and Kelly decided to try to make it as far up Highway 542 as they could, not realizing it’d be literally under feet of snow. Even that couldn’t keep them from the Mountains of Madness…

See more at Bokanev.

I’ve always wanted to do the L’Eroica in Italy!

“The first weekend in October, now for the fifth consecutive year, le coq sportif is partnering with L’Eroica, one of the greatest cycling tours held in the Italian countryside. The event will give the French brand the chance to share its passion for cycling with the international community, in the enchanting, picturesque landscape of Tuscany.”

Photos by Matthew Miller

As a small frame building operation, you often enlist the aid of your friends, in similar sized, adjacent creative companies. Whether it’s a web developer, or in this case, a photographer, knowing the right people can really help get your work out there.

Case in point is Matteo and Aaron Stinner‘s relationship. Matteo shoots all of Stinner’s bikes, with the most recent being his own road. Built with Chris King, SRAM Red and a Thomson cockpit, Aaron and Matteo took the time to concoct the best mixture for paint.

This grey color powder has pearl and flake built in, resulting in a powder that looks like wet paint Something that is not easily captured in photos… yet Matteo did.

See more below!

I know the whole point of the Firefly Bones project is to offer a unique *steel* frame, made in Boston and hand illustrated by Eric Bones, but I can’t help but think these are the best looking collaboration bikes to come from a frame builder and I’d love to see them go into full-scale, mass production.

Each of these builds have unique details as well. What caught my eye here was that titanium stem and the proportions of those Dura Ace cranks. This bike looks mean.

See more details at the Firefly Flickr.

… has something for everyone. Track bikes, singlespeed, commuter, cross, road. You name it. Check out more at Issuu and at Bombtrack.