Yearly Archives: 2015

Enjoyed a handful of hours riding gravel roads and exploring nature searching routes for next weekends #SwiftCampout Bike-Overnight. Get pumped for that!

How to Brew Coffee in an AeroPress from Stumptown Coffee Roasters on Vimeo.

Lessons learned. Thanks Stumptown!!

I had the itch for a new lens but unwilling to dedicate appropriate funds to what I wanted… so, I went to searching. I already had an adapter for my C/Y mount to Fuji X body so I started looking at older lenses to be used manually. I’ve got the 50mm and 70mm game on lock, what I needed is something around the 35mm or closer as well as further out like the 135mm I found.

Yashica has all types of older lenses that you can find really cheap. This 135mm f/2.8 I picked up was only $40 in perfect shape! Now, it’s not as smooth as my nicer lenses but it offers me the ability to experience this shooting length (really about 200mm on the mirrorless) for low cost until the time I do want to invest in a nicer set up.

Right now I’m picking lenses with the mindset I’ll use them digitally, BUT with each additional Yashica lens I buy I always have the option to use it on my Yashica FX-3 Super and nab some killer film shots.

Anyways, these are a few images from yesterday riding and searching for the light session. They were captured using a Fujifilm X-E2 with Yashica 135mm f/2.8 manual lens and edited in VSCO.

RIDE x CREATE

DOODE!!! These are amazing!!

“Celebrate America’s birthday in style with the limited edition Spirit of PAUL Quick Release Skewer. And keep it safe out there during the festivities: our internal cam design holds tight, can’t be misaligned, and is always protected.

Skewers are available in your choice of lengths: 100mm; 130/135mm; 170mm; 190mm.

Each skewer is made to order just for you, just pick the length you want. Dress up that scoot and show your pride at or in the 4th of July parade this year!” – Paul Comp

Technical Information

Material: Stainless Steel & 7075 Aluminum

Weight:

100mm: 50 grams

135mm: 63 grams

170mm: 68 grams

190mm: 72 grams

Anodized Color: Red, Silver, And Blue

Cam: Internal

GO to Paul Component and check these suckers out!! In. LOVE!!

OH… almost forgot! GET AMPED

WHOA!! This beauty looks amazing!

“In the 1920’s SILCA revolutionized roadside inflation with the creation of the Impero Frame Fit Pump.  These early pumps used the revolutionary material ‘Duraliminium’ (2000 series aluminum) to replace steel.  Within a few years SILCA pumps could be found on the bicycles of more than 80% of the professional peloton which was then still fully self supported.  Over the next 70 years the Impero would be the most widely used frame pump in the world, introducing further technology advancements, first changing the barrel to Celluloid and later moving the handle and head to Plastic in the 1960’s.

For 2015 we are thrilled to introduce Impero Ultimate, the merging of high tech modern materials and manufacturing with the full aluminum construction and durability that was a hallmark of the original Impero.

Impero Ultimate features a high tech head gasket with unique 2-stage seal to provide ultimate sealing and holding even when compared to lever chuck designs.  Solid aluminum head with brass check valve ensures a lifetime of flawless use, and fully aluminum barrel, handle and piston rod result in a pump that is both competitive in weight with plastic designs while being significantly stronger, smoother and more durable.

Unique FlexWing Silicone bumpers on the head and handle tip are designed to handle tubing diameters from 1″ (25mm) to 2.5” (64mm) using a unique flexible outer wing which adjusts under pressure.  An additional Silicone bumper on the main barrel protects paint, eliminates vibrations and noise, and also acts as a compression lock against the pump handle to keep it from moving unless you want it to.

Impero Ultimate is Manufactured in the USA using Alcoa Aluminum extrusions and bar stock. Impero uses a 19mm diameter leather piston custom manufactured by the same supplier in Milan who has supplied SILCA leather since 1947, and the brass check valve is a modified version of the check valve used in the SuperPista Ultimate.

Impero Ultimate represents the Ultimate in design, functionality, security and longevity.

“Features:

FlexWing Technology – fits tube size between 1” (25mm) and 2.5”  (60mm)

Silicone bumpers for secure fit and ultimate paint protection

Most efficient inflation of any portable pump – (112 strokes = 100psi size small)

2 stage sealing advanced elastomer head – no fussy leaver to mess with

100% full metal construction – no plastic parts to break, bend, slip or rattle

Weight:  SM: 256gm   –   M:  267gm   –   L:  278gm  –   XL: 289gm

MSRP:  $165

Sun up to sun down… riding with new friends will never be a bad idea.

I had a blast shooting Blevins Bicycle Co. yesterday! It’s really impressive that everyone of the employees is a mechanic first and sale person second.

“But Matt… why does that matter?”

I’m glad you asked. Who better to fit you to a bicycle that will give you all the fun you expect other than someone that knows that bicycle inside and out? A mechanic would, that’s who. Now… I know what you’re thinking… “most of the mechanics I’ve seen in shops are greasy and angry looking”. Well, you got the greasy part right (you know… because they are building/working on two wheeled fun machines for your riding pleasure), but you missed the mark on angry looking.

I’ve known Matthew Blevins for a long time and if there is one thing he is, is customer friendly! That and the rest of the Blevins Bicycle Co. crew.

If you’re in the area or just passing through, definitely stop into Blevins Bicycle Co. I promise you’ll be meet with hardworking, greasy, happy people that will most likely offer you an espresso or post ride beverage of choice.

RIDE x CREATE

Wild Shot from Civilware Service Co. on Vimeo.

This is killer!!

RIDE x CREATE

WOOHOO!!! Slangin’ Bruh!! Dude… I can’t tell you how needed this was in my life. Although I shoot with some pretty small shooters that are not DSLR’s (Fujifilm X-E2 for digi shots; an assortment of cameras for film shots)… this is the perfect handlebar bag to house my soul capturing devices.

Being that I shoot with smaller cameras there is plenty of room to throw other odd and end items in the DSLR Slinger. For me, that typically looks like another piece of clothing that I’ve taken off or needed if I’m ride/camping when it gets colder at night. The clothing also assists in padding my beloved camera.

With all that said, Porcelain Rocket has now created a Mini Slinger that looks pretty freaking rad!!

As you’ll see below the DSLR Slinger fits perfectly with other handlebar bags you may have set as a riding staple.

To sum it up… the Slinger kills! Go to Porcelain Rocket and ckeck out more details. Jah blessed!

RIDE x CREATE    

The Burrito Supreme! Perfect handlebar bag to throw and go!

When I got in touch with Brad we talked about ideas for a potential collab project; little did I know that he already had this bag in the works and I was amped on it! Really I mentioned what I thought would be cool for a handlebar bag and BAM Brad was already on the cusp of sharing this large version of the Burrito Bag with you fine folks, so we just rolled… with it.

The name instantly popped into my head “Burrito Supreme”. We had a chuckle about it and here we are today.

The Burrito Supreme is perfect to carry an assortment of goodies. I use it most for morning #coffeeoutside rides. It holds my Snow Peak “Starter Kit” WITH an Aero Press, coffee, beans, and scoop. Now… with all of that (which is a lot), it did get real tight, but it fit! Since then I’ve started using the Helix Coffee Dripper (vs. AP) and have plenty of room for other odd and ends.

Simple, easy, functional, handmade in Los Angeles. With a price tag of $65 the Burrito Supreme is a great choice if you’re in the market for a handlebar bag. Cheers!