Endo Kits
Stumbled across an outfit called Endo Customs from California that are pumping out some amazing custom designed kits. Love the panel designs and the fabrics look tech-as! Very PRO indeed....
Apple Of My Eye
Condor just keep coming up with the goods! Spotted this little number in the basement of Grays Inn rd, and i haven't stopped thinking about the lovely little carbon-tailed beaut, the Italia RC. Thinking of a crap weather trainer/super commuter build now that the ratty colnago is lying in bits abandoned in the corner of my room. A simple cost friendly economy 105 5700 build with some handmade open pro's. Food for thought!
Bespoked Bristol
Iv just booked the tickets to head down and check out the very promising 'Bespoked Bristol' show in March. After a superbly received 2011 edition the exhibition is back with a bang for 2012, with a bumper list of two wheeled ephemera on offer to drool over, from Pegorettis, to Condors, to boutique builders like Feather Cycles, Paulos Quiros and Donhues.
This year sees the inclusion of a test track to put some unique bikes through their paces, and also a framebuilders section, aiming to showcase amateur artisanal framebuilding.
Expect a whole raft of accessories and hardware companies to be displaying their wares as well as the bike makers, ensuring the event is a hit with lovers of all things bicycle. Tickets are currently available over at the Bespoked website, with a cracking 2 passes for £10 on offer at the moment, a deal id advise the early birds to snap up. The venue is located right next to Bristol Temple Meads train station, making it easy for us out-of-towners. Us lucky London residents will be able to recognise the friendly faces of 'Look Mum No Hands!', who will be onsite providing all your caffeinated needs in their pop-up cafe.
Tenspeed Hero
Im not sure why its taken me so long to stumble across the very excellent 'Tenspeed Hero' website. Billed as an online cycling journal, featuring some fantastic photography and witty prose, Tenspeed Hero aims to, in their own words, "revel in the non sequiter and things often related to cycling", and they really hit the mark for cool little snippets that may or may not be related to a love of all things two-wheeled. Head on over to their site and have an explore, im very glad I did.
RCS Super Acciaio
Condor are absolutely killing it with these special edition Super Acciaios. Rumour has it Deano & Jimmy will be racing them in the summer crit series.... top notch detailing from the crew at Grays Inn Road, check out the condor emblem on the top tube!
National Trophy Round 6 - Shrewsbury
Richard Dawson captured the full on muddy action of round 6 of the Cyclocross National Trophy in the most incredible light. Head on over to flickr for his full set, and check out more of his work at his website.
Winter Rider
Winter Miles
Iv been pretty spoilt for weather and riding this past few weeks, with some really mild winter days making for some fabulous base mileage, pootling about before the intensity work begins in Feb! I had the pleasure of riding with Portland's finest, mister Jeremy Dunn himself, as well as joining some cool people to rack up those important conversational paced rides.... long may the mildness continue, if I ever thought to myself id be riding in mitts in January id have thought that was barmy! Hope everyone is enjoying their January...
Nothing nicer than riding with a cycling newbie, biggup Jezza!
Loving Prendas white oversocks, so PRO
Suited, booted and not a cloud in the sky. Glorious!
Portlands daddio of cool, J-Dunn himself. Was a pleasure to chase the tarmac with you man!
Putting in the base miles, couldn't be happier right now!
A Few Of Our Favourite Things
Flouro Overshoes - A nice flash of hi-vis and hi-style
Turbo all set up for the pain to begin at the end of Jan (easy miles/smiles for now)
Castelli Pioggia booties & Condor Acciaio, perfect wet weather ride beaters
Mild temps means iv cracked this out twice in the past 2 months. On my toes as well!
Fisher Space Pen - gnarliest writing pen ever!
New year reading material courtesy of Brian! Celeste is the colour.....
2011... Thats A Wrap
What a year. We saw Gilbert dominate the spring classics in a way that was just off the dial, witnessed a very deserved and honourable tour de France victory (well every fibre of being believes it was a true performance... I hope dearly it was). One of my fave moments personally, being the soppy romantic I am, was seeing the reunion of Van Summeren and his lady at the finish line where he proposed in true style (and with a massive rock too!).
2011 pro cycling had it all - the textbook perfect year for the Manx Missile - a WC title, TDF sprint domination & even a little nipper on the way. It was a great year for British cycling with some heavyweight performances, such as Froomey at the Vuelta and Brads Dauphiné victory.
So 2011 was a cool year for cycling. Personally.... I spent a good portion of 2011 travelling and living on the road due to being posted out to the field to work as a photo editor for the year.
I saw some amazing thinngs, including the Tour Finale, I spent 2 months posted out to New Zealand where I indulged in some pretty epic riding, and of course I took part in a wicked 24 hour race challenge with an awesome bunch of lads deep in the forest-laden hinterland of Germany.
The year also saw challenges for me, in that I put on a little weight and lost fitnss due to an erratic work schedule that negated any chance whatsoever of regular and structured riding... It became a little bit of a case of 'grab the bike' whenever I had the chance. This past month has seen me rectify this with a work diary that's given me back a daily 75 minute commute, and im no longer eating out on the road 3 times a day.
Diet and riding structure has been nailed down and im seeing results already. Not to mention I took up running. Fear not as I hear you gasp aloud in shock! with a charity half-marathon on the way in March its just a nice excuse to supplement the riding and fitness with a little bit of cross training over the winter that's going to pay some well deserved benefits (or at least I hope it will - otherwise I may cry!).
Im really digging the social side of riding this past year, with a mention got to be thrown the way of instagram. If you have an iphone I implore you to get the free app downloaded, its a wicked way to connect to some really cool people and share an insight into their daily life. Look me up, username gematkinson. I also dipped my feet into the world of Tumblr, and found some really cool blogs out there.
Late April I took delivery of my lovely Acciaio from Condor. It has become my go-to bike for pretty much everything. I had a go at racing a crit on it (which I hated - im def not a racer!), I took it to 60mph on a decent and have never felt so secure! Im really looking forwrad to putting some special miles on it for the forthcoming year, its made a big difference to how much I enjoy my riding these days.
I decided that racing wasnt for me - maybe thats because I was a tad out of shape in 2011 (indulgence on the road is a killer! and no regular base mileage is hard to compensate for some the summer when everyone is flying). I also tried a hillclimb, but didnt do too great. My sensei Konrad has urged me to bother to warm uop for more than 40 seconds next time!
Iv met some super-cool people this year too, have to throw out a big shout to some really awesome people doing some cool things, these guys are worth following > Fabrica Della Bici, I Get Cross, Out of Leftfield, Vicious Velo, In The Saddle, Gage & DeSoto, WMP, Tracko Rex, Bike Tart, and so many more I have forgot to mention... Theres a wicked online cycling community growing and spreading ideas and events, and its been cool to be a part of this last year. Hopefully 2012 will see me being able to dedicate a bit more time and put something back into the scene thats helped me roll along nicely the past few years.
So for 2012, make some big goals and work hard towards them.... I have a good feeling about it! All the best & big love to all! Gemx
Im really digging the social side of riding this past year, with a mention got to be thrown the way of instagram. If you have an iphone I implore you to get the free app downloaded, its a wicked way to connect to some really cool people and share an insight into their daily life. Look me up, username gematkinson. I also dipped my feet into the world of Tumblr, and found some really cool blogs out there.
So for 2012, make some big goals and work hard towards them.... I have a good feeling about it! All the best & big love to all! Gemx
