Five years ago was the last time we made a kit. In those five years the amount of custom cycling kit manufacturers has seemed to double. Everyone is now offering exclusivity, premium cuts, aero dynamics, and low minimums. With all these choices, and the old kit showing signs of wear, it was time to make a new kit and put one of those manufacturers to the test.
Slum and I were at the Bombtrack Groundwork event last week and there was a mass of new bikes, 32 total. One of those stood out from the rest and it wasn’t even designed for myself, or any other adult, to ride. The Bombtrack Beyond: Junior was created so kids didn’t have to stay home while the parental units were out getting rad.
To me this seems like a logical product for a bike manufacturer to create. Honestly, who’s Facebook feed isn’t filled with baby photos and announcements? We’re all getting older and starting families, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop going on adventures and Bombtrack realized that.
It’s already been one week and I feel like a lot has already happened. I’ve been spending this first week with family in Hunsrück and riding down to the Rhein river and taking in the castle scenery and long 10 mile climbs back home. The local hot loop that everyone hits up is a 38km dedicated bike path through the woods and surrounding farmland. So of course I’ve been hitting that up on days where I can only get in something short. They just had a big techno festival, Nature 1, along the bike path which lead to lots of Raver Dodging.
Remember summer vacation as a kid? Endless days spent riding bikes, jumping in swimming holes, carefree days where your parents let you roam free. That is what is in store for Wheel Talk in the next few days. We are headed to Germany for some chill vibes, bike rides, catching up with friends, and of course… beer.
Stayed tuned for more!
I am stoked to present volume 1 in a multi-volume photo collection of my on-going bike adventures around the Bay Area and beyond this year. You can always find me out riding any given day, but man do you really get going when the weather’s prime and those sun rays are beaming- this is California Dirt Dreamin’
If you’re looking for SF’s best local singletrack trails, then Mt. Sutro’s interior greenbelt and Twin Peaks are probably at the top of that list. Roughly scattered around the Sutro radio tower in the geographic center of San Francisco, lies a surprisingly fun network of trails to link up and ride. It’s pretty awesome having our own lush forest to rip around in, just a few miles away from most people’s homes.
Here’s a Trail Forks map you can peep if you want to check the trails out for yourself (and you should!)
The Northern Sierras of California are a quite a special place and even more so… if you mix in gravel bikes. I’ve known about the Lost and Found race for awhile but hadn’t felt 100% ready to tackle the 100 mile gravel grinder until this year and man, was it totally worth it.
The race kicks off in a mass start for everyone in the 102 mile format (there’s also a 67 and a 35 mile format). This mass of cyclists is lead at the very front by highway patrol eventually leading us to our first gravel road. We’d spend the next 8 1/2+ hours peddling through what seemed like every type of gravel mountain terrain imaginable. It had been raining heavy yet sporadic in the Sierras leading up to the race, providing ample mud pits with even snow still present on the course in numerous areas.
Things are really starting to take flight for the Tracklocross community. It’s been rad to watch everyone come together and organize these races on a seemingly global level. With branches popping up all over the world the vibes are only getting stronger and the momentum is growing.
The second race of the season happened over the weekend here in Los Angeles and this time it was on a contained course. Making it easier to run around and shoot photos at different parts of the track. Shout out to everyone who helps organize these events and facilitate all the moving pieces. It’s because of people like you that we get to show up, kick back, crack cans and enjoy the good times. Check out more photos below, and we’ll see you at the next one.
