Yearly Archives: 2015

I haven’t checked out Brenton’s site in a while. Really glad I did today. His photography kills.

Go to Brenton Salo’s site and check out all the rad he is giving to the world. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

These are a few of my favorite.

Time for a little honesty session. I love packing my bag with a few adult beverages, riding, and exploring my local area in the hope that I will find amazing locations like this one. I live in a small town in North Alabama and it may appear that this land doesn’t offer the readily available excitement other areas/cities that I frequent regularly, but it really does… you just have to get creative.

Kyle Steed once said “kids today don’t have time to be bored. (Kids are so consumed with schoolwork, soccer practice, and video games.) And it really worries me, because research shows that boredom allows us to develop our sense of imagination and creativity” – via WELD

*Editors Note: I would say that we could replace “kids” with adults as well.

From my perspective… folks get lazy and they lean on the mass opinion that is out there to justify their laziness. Fact, if you don’t care for your current set up (i.e. living location, job, lack of ability to accomplish what you want to be an expert at, etc.)… get bored, ride, create, stay consistent x progressive, MAKE change… don’t WAIT for change.

(Shots shot with the Olympus 35RC. Small light leak but I kind of like it!)

SO. RAD!!!! I need this in ma’life!!

Go to Rothera and pick up a Wildcat cap for yourself!

In love with these on all levels.

The Chrome Industries Forged Rubber Peshka also come in Black/Black and Black/Gum. Go check’em out!

This is pretty dope!

Go to ICNY and check out this reflective cap. If you would prefer a black set up ICNY has that for your purchasing pleasure as well. 

All the beauty in all the land!!

“Portland OR, March 13th 2015 – Bespoke frame builder Sacha White owns and operates The Vanilla Workshop in Portland Oregon. What began as a one man operation 15 years ago has grown into a full scale fabrication shop employing the best and brightest painters, craftsmen, metal workers and artisans in the country. This year production has increased and Speedvagen’s are shipping in as little as 8-12 weeks for a full custom bicycle.

After the birth of Vanilla Bicycles in 1999 and the waitlist that soon followed, Sacha realized there was a market for full custom bikes without the long wait. The creation of Speedvagen in 2006 realized that dream. Each frame made to order, but produced in small batch runs on a monthly schedule. In the niche market of custom steel frames, wait lists have rocketed to well over a year before a client finally throws a leg over the finished bicycle, Speedvagen is breaking the mold and offering custom racing machines in as little as 8-12 weeks.

According to White, “In 2006 my wait list for Vanilla was exploding. I was faced with the conflict of not wanting to compromise what I was doing with Vanilla (It was important to me that I be the builder of my bikes and continue to pursue my craft). At the same time I didn’t want to be exclusive to the point that I couldn’t build bikes for my teammates and fellow racers that liked what we were doing.” In addition, White mentions, “That year, 2006, Speedvagen was given a name and a clear direction: a small run of race bikes produced several times a year. The wait would be months, not years. The bikes would be built in-house with the help of ‘A-list’ guest builders and a “take away everything non-essential and innovate with what was left” design approach.”

The Vanilla Workshop employs nearly a dozen local craftsmen, each bringing their own strengths to the table. Sacha states, “In the last two years we have nearly doubled the number of bikes we make, and we look forward to seeing that trend continue. Today’s frames are the best that we have ever produced. The level of focus and attention to detail are dialed. They’re next level, we are proud to send them out and we know they are going to improve the experience of the rider.”

Dialing the design, striping away anything non-essential, innovating with what remains. Speedvagen delivers on purpose driven machines, sized and fit to individual rider needs, but in a fraction of the time. Custom geometry, paint and graphics are all part of the package as well as upgrade options ensuring that no two frames coming out of The Vanilla Workshop are the same. Everything is completed in house, from fit to finish. This maintains control of the process, ensuring attention to detail, excellent craftsmanship and a beautiful aesthetic. The paint process alone takes between 8-20 hours depending on the nuances of the scheme, in addition to the 35+ hours in fabrication.

Lastly, White comments, “The most important thing for me is building an amazing riding bicycle. This is my way of making people’s lives better. I’m not a “that bikes is too pretty, you should hang it on the wall” kind of guy. The fact that we can do things with the excellence that’s become synonymous with the Vanilla name and achieve this on a larger scale just feels right.”

I’ve absolutely loved watching this project grow build after build!! So. RAD!!

Go to Firefly Bicycles Flickr page and check out all of the other sweet photos. I promise you will not be disappointed.

“Hey dude, care if I bring the FaTRoB by? I need to adjust my canti’s and keep effing them up!”

With Davis’ superior knowledge and my superior ability to bring beer… we had this knocked out in no time.

Go to FOLLYxFILM to catch the rest of the photos. Amped on how these turned out!

Hands down the best helmet I’ve ever ridden in. I never thought I would be a white helmet guy. I figured I’d be blacked out forever. POC changed that after .2 seconds of trying the Octal on.

After helmet shopping for a few weeks I came across the Octal. It fit my head like a glove and that’s saying something due to my oddly shaped dome. It’s VERY light weight and comfortable, weighing in at less than 200 grams. I knew immediately after placing it on my head that this was THE helmet.

To be honest I wasn’t even considering POC until Ross at Western Bike Works (Portland, OR) introduced me. I was holding out for the new Giro Synthe to drop (about 4 more weeks) and only had my eyes set on one of those bad boys. I loved my previously used AEON until it was cracked in 4 places due to my head going through a ladies windshield because she thought that texting and driving was more important than potentially killing somebody… Anyways, for my head type… the POC won on all levels comparing GIRO’s fit to POC’s. After riding in the Octal for the last few months, I couldn’t be happier! Because of that I wanted to put a few shots together for your viewing pleasure.  I hope you enjoy.

Go to POC and check out all the details on the POC Octal. If you have the opportunity… go to your local bicycle shop and check one out first hand. I hope you are pleased with POC products as I am.  (all images captured using film photography)

Just went over to Fairdales site to check out their new “Water Water” t-shirt and got distracted by these three (out of 9) beauties! I absolutely love Fairdale Bikes, and although I’ve never ripped on one… I could only imagine it would take my love for them to the next level!

Go to Fairdale Bikes and check out all the rad, as well as their new “Water Water” tee that’s pretty killer!