The Radavist

With NAHBS just a week or so away, I’m already trying to plan out what I’ll be covering. Year after year, I’ve found a lot of people doing the same thing and a few new faces doing extraordinary work. One of those new faces is Aaron Stinner at Stinner Frameworks. I say “new faces” but Aaron won rookie of the year last year for his 29r MTB and I didn’t even get to meet him…

This year though, he’s got plenty of rad things in the works, including Ty from Golden Saddle‘s Ride the Divide MTB. There’s a great profile up on the NAHBS site, showcasing Aaron’s work. Make sure you check it out and as always, I’ll do my best to bring you the very, very best from this year’s NAHBS.

Oh and follow @StinnerFrameworks on Instagram to check out his 2013 NAHBS progress.

Photo by Andy White

Oh man. It’s time for another classic Cinelli road photo gallery from Fyxomatosis. Make sure you’ve got a napkin handy (for your drool). See the full set here.

Yeah, the weather’s been really quite pleasant here. Sorry to rub it in! Enjoy your weekend, however you can…

Leica M7
Zeiss 28mm f2.8 T* ZM
Fuji Neopan 400

I just got in the Bruce Gordon Cycles Rock ‘n Road tires yesterday and literally moments after I opened the box, an email came in from Bruce Gordon alerting me to the new Original Gravel Grinder Rock ‘n Road 25th Anniversary framesets:

“We are going to celebrate 25 years of the Rock ‘n Road with a limited run of numbered, signed 25th Anniversary Rock ‘n Road bicycles.  We will produce only 10 of these.

The 25th Anniversary Rock ‘n Road frames will be made right here in the shop, using the same geometry we’ve been using for the past 25 years.  The only changes we’ve made are to rear spacing (which is now a modern 135mm) and the headtube, which is now 1⅛” threadless.  Forks will be built with the snazzy Pacenti bi-plane lugged fork crown.

The 25th Anniversary frames will come standard with our Signature Rust powdercoat.  Other powder coat colors are available for an upcharge.  The frames will be expertly TIGged.  Fillet brazing is also available for an upcharge.  Please note, the Rock ‘n Road is different from the RnR Tour.  Its shorter chainstays are ideal for nimble handling and especially good for Gravel Grinding.”

Check out ordering information at Bruce Gordon Cycles!

Someone made a comment about colored components on bikes being a fad. Well, it’s the longest running fad in the cycling industry and as exhibited here in the latest from Firefly, it’s all about a touch of color. Although I would love to see a completely anodized titanium frame from these guys.

I love that frame builders, like Mosaic are taking the initiative to tell their story through narratives like this. Sure, it’s marketing but kudos to encouraging people to get out and ride. I’d love to see something similar unfold from a number of other builders too.

I have no idea what’s going on here and my best guess is, that’s the point. Stinner Frameworks designs, fabricates and rides their bikes in Santa Barbara, California. They’re one of the builders I’m looking forward to seeing at NAHBS, especially if they’re into trippy shit like this.

Photo by Eric Baumann

I really, really love this bike. Bryan did a great job on it and Eric’s photos aren’t too shabby either. See the full set here.

You’ve heard the saying “If I were a rich man”. Well, that’d be the barrel I’d prefer to stare down. Baum and Busyman, two of Australia’s finest. See more here.

The week isn’t complete without something from Firefly. The High Voltage Fade looks so good! See more at the Firefly Flickr.

It’s not often I get a Reader’s Rides email with a bike like this attached. Jerry’s new Moots Vamoots CR is drop dead gorgeous but it’s very easy to take shit photos of a great bike. The colors, tones and composition of these photos are top notch. Jerry ordered the frame from Montano Velo and went with Campagnolo Record for the group. Stunning!

See more below.

Even though I have two awesome road bikes, part of me still misses riding my MX-Leader. Sure, they aren’t the lightest of bikes but they ride like none other. Even after parting with mine, I based both of my custom road bikes on its geometry. But this one’s got a history behind it. I rode this bike while I was in Australia last year and loved it. So when I saw Andy was parting with it, I got all pensive and contemplated buying it for a second.

This is one beautiful example of a non-team issue paint job on a stunning MX-Leader and FYXO is selling it now. If you ride a 58cm and have been looking for one, look no further. Check out his eBay auction here.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at this photo on the Pelizzoli World Facebook entitled “Happiness?”.

Especially when compared to this photo.

NAHBS bikes bring out the best in builders but like many of the greats, they never really have to do anything different. That’s the beauty of NAHBS. Little details like this one in particular really bring a bike to life… I can’t wait to see the Bishop offerings to the NAHBS gods.

It’s almost spring, well, sorta. Look at it this way. You’re a month closer to warm weather and sunshine than you were this time last month. What I’m trying to say is, the season of touring bikes, fat road and campeurs is almost upon us. The latest from Tomii smells of spring and summer good times. Check out more at the Tomii Flickr.

Photos by Emily Maye

On Friday, Rapha launched their Team Sky 2013 collection online, shot by photographer Emily Maye. As someone who will always credit his inspiration, I have to say that these are some of the best Rapha product photos to date. See the full photoset here.