Written by: FOLLY

“Wait a minute!!! This is on your handlebars!!”

Yes… yes it is. As you’ll read from my post below, I participated in the #SwiftCampout and couldn’t have done so without the Zeitgeist Touring “Saddle” Bag.

Let me be honest, this is the first long ride x camp trip I’ve taken on primarily gravel roads. I needed to utilize every ounce of usable area that I could for my camping gear and food. Originally I had the Zeitgeist set up on Bagman QR Expedition support via my saddle but had no room for my tent and other goods. So… I got creative and decided to give the Zeitgeist a go on my handle bars. I knew I needed extra support and Swift Industries had enough insight to throw a couple clip-able rings right where the hoods of my Gevenalle shifters are. I found some nylon webbing and BAM… a solid sturdy four point handlebar bag was born.

Although I’m relatively new to the touring game, I know that weight in the front is the way to go. I did ride with the Zeitgeist on the back and found that fully loaded the bag overtook my balance when I stood to peddle. This is more so because I didn’t have anything balancing my bicycle up front; AND when touring I’m sure slow and steady wins the preverbal race. Regardless, I moved the saddle bag to the handlebars and immediately fell deeper in love with the Zeitgeist.

The Zeitgeist rode amazingly. The nylon webbing didn’t get in the way of my grip at all; it actually provided me with a wider grip that was quite comfortable. With all that said, I did use the Bagman QR Expedition support to hold my tent, sleeping mat, Kammok, and coffee mug. It served its purpose very well!

The only downside (if you can call it that) is that the side pockets on the Zeitgeist are hard to access (hard, not impossible), but I used those for items I’m not going to need until I’m either at my destination or need to fix a flat.

Swift Industries… always one step ahead of the game!

RIDE x CREATE

DOODE! I’m still physiologically digesting this weekend. It. Was. Amazing!! Although I would have loved other folks to participate; getting out by myself in nature on a camp overnight like this is something I will do more often. It’s freeing on all levels.

I wouldn’t have picked this weekend for a bike overnight if it wasn’t for Swift Industries, their worldwide coordination, and support with gear/info sharing. I’ve only rode out in William B. Bankhead National Forest twice before this “event”. I have a new found love of the area and the gravel road riding/camping environments it offers. Look forward to more rides this fall out in similar areas.

One thing that was mind blowingly sad is the amount of trash at prime locations in the Forest. How people can choose to trash such beautiful places makes no damn sense to me. On my list of things to do is contact the US Forest Service and coordinating a site clean-up. It is needed.

The final destination was Kinlock Falls. I’d never been there but figured what better place to go after a solid ride?! The water was cold and refreshing. Perfect after a fun hot ride. Now… when I say hot it really wasn’t bad at all. I started at 5 in the afternoon. Most of the route is covered in shade and I knew that whatever amount of heat I was about to endure would immediately be diminished by the cooling waters of Kinlock Falls. I was absolutely correct! Got to Kinlock, found a beautifully perfect rock overlook, set up the tent and jumped in!

The next morning I got up, made coffee, took a deep breath, and started the day. To get down to the rock over look I had to hikeabike down a pretty steep rooted section. It was sketchy going down and took a He-Man effort to get back up. Nevertheless, I grunted up the trail and away I went!

The morning was WAY hotter than the evening. By 7 it was not all that pleasant. Really it wasn’t bad until I stopped for a breather and checked the map. Instant downpour of sweat. This wouldn’t be that bad but all I kept thinking was the limited water supply I brought with me.

In my lack of route knowledge I ended up taking a wrong turn on the way back out of the Forest. It ended up being a good detour; took me to some solid paved country roads where I found Hand’s Grocery. This place is legit! I originally stopped because I spotted some shade. Hand’s looked abandoned. I stop, look at the map, and hear voices inside the grocery. I look in the window and see some fresh goods to purchase. Walk up to the door, turn the handle, and am greeted by an old man sitting behind a dilapidated counter with a very small older television showing the news. It feels hotter in the “grocery” than it does out in the shade. Stale air with flies freely flying around the older gentleman was the scene. I politely ask if he had water on tap. “There’s water from the sink over yonder”. I walk to the back to find an old woman washing dishes. She moves aside to let me fill my bidon. As I’m walking back to the front of the store I spot a small glass bottle of cold Coca-Cola. Bring it to the counter, “That’ll be a dollar”, hand the man a $5 and he pulls out a wod of cash from his pocket, licking his finger and counting out $4. Normally this wouldn’t be a strange thing, but the entire vibe was so amazing that I noticed everything that was going on. One of the coolest experiences of the trip. I love diving into other cultures and experiencing something very different from my day to day life.

BIG thank you to Swift Industries for hosting a worldwide bike and camp event! Without their invite, gear, and cycling comRADery, this weekend wouldn’t have happened. Cheers to that and cheers to rad folks everywhere!

RIDE x CREATE

These are killer! I’ll be riding these Gevenalle brake pads during the #SwiftCampout bike-overnight this weekend for the first time. Can’t wait to show off some new American made bling on my shredder!

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