<
The Bianchi Pista Concept has been a desirable frameset for some time, even more so since it became hard to find and was eventually discontinued a year or two back. I picked up the pictured 2006 version brand new in mid 2007 and have put a couple of thousand miles on it since, using it primarily as a longer distance road bike but also around town and in some alleycat races at home and beyond. For 2010 Bianchi has replaced it with the $750 Super Pista frameset, for all intents and purposes an update on a successful design maintaining the exact same geometry. The bike is definitely meant for the track first with steep geometry and a stiff aluminum frame that doesn’t have bottle bosses, a rear brake mount or clearance for big tires. For people that could not get their hands on a Pista Concept or are just curious as to the difference between the models, here they are, head to head with some comments and more images of the changes after the break.
Continue reading ‘Bianchi Super Pista and Pista Concept Compared’
Monthly Archive for August, 2010
On a jaunt for coffee what did I stumble upon but Rapha Cycle Club NYC, a temporary storefront that opened in May of this year and is scheduled to close down towards the end of September. Not only that, but the very same day on August 26th they held a competition to determine the fastest mechanic in New York City, pitting four elite local wrenches against identical bare Independent Fabrications frames, a pile of parts and the clock. Pictured above is the eventual winner of the pink pipe wrench trophy, Jose from Sid’s Bikes. Other competitors were Mark from iFixByx, Jon from Signature Cycles, and David in the blue and white striped shirt from NYC Velo. Impressive performances all around, with Jose stealing the show with a ~35 minute time for a properly assembled road racing bike, and the $100 first bar wrap preme from Austin Horse, courier and Premium Rush stunt double. I’d certainly trust any of the participating mechanics to work on my bike any day of the week, and I’d imagine the other hundred or so folks in attendance would agree. While the competition is over the Rapha store and coffee shop still has a few weeks left in it before packing up and reappearing in some other to be determined city, totally worth checking out both for the clothing selection and the impressive cycling ephemera on display.
Taking more than just a cue from the most highly respected foot strap manufacturer, Pryme entered the market with a comparable, more budget-friendly version.
Though a lot of independent bag makers are producing foot straps, not all are created equal. Compared to the ones I had been using, the Pryme straps feature considerably stiffer construction, and thus they stay “open” better. This makes them easier to get into. Assuming you ride in the same (or very similar) shoes all the time, after a short break-in period, the foot straps require no additional adjustment.
Pryme Foot Straps retail for $30. Visit www.prymegear.com for more info.
In an unbelievably sad story from the LA Times, two men accosted a 15 year old boy and 11 year old girl, demanding the boy’s bike. Although he complied, he suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and died. The girl is in stable condition.
Apparently the attackers have not been caught. Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD’s Hollenbeck Homicide detectives at 323-342-8957.
Via Biking in LA.
The Louis Garneau Hi Viz Vest certainly isn’t the hippest piece of urban cycling apparel, but there is a time and a place for everything. If you’re of the mindset to wear one, this one seems like the Cadillac of high visibility vests. Made from 100% polyester, it features breathable mesh sides, adjustable Velcro closures and reflective tape on the front and rear.
The Hi Vis Vest reatails for $30. Visit www.louisgarneau.com for more info.
Get your race on in Fort Lauderdale. South Florida Fixed is throwing another alleycat, this time the River Rat II on September 11th.
Stefanie Moser doesn’t limit herself to the two hoops her bicycle rolls on—she carries a couple extra. Her home-made collapsible hula hoops allow her to ride just about anywhere and do a whole different kind of spinning. Check out the Steel City Hoop Union’s Facebook page for more info.
Cycle Dog makes collars and leashes from recycled bicycle tubes. Though certainly not the first company to re-purpose the ubiquitous inner tube, it’s always good to see another environmentally friendly product. And like all good bicycle accessories, the collar doubles as a bottle opener.
Visit www.cycledog.com for more info.
As we reported a couple of weeks ago, Chrome Bags just opened a NYC retail location at 238 Mulberry St in Manhattan. While the Grand Opening for the general public is tomorrow August 28th, the VIP party took place last night. With some 500+ people on the guest list it was a jam packed event with much of the local scene turning out. I just so happened to be in NYC and stopped on by myself to check out the store and meet up with old and new friends. The store is similar to the San Francisco location I managed to visit last year, with the ever expanding line-up of bags, shoes and clothing available to first-hand inspection. Unlike the last time I attended a party at Chrome I managed to not attract the attention of any undercover alcohol control officers out on permit inspection duty, and for that I was thankful.
Chrome just released another shoe model, dubbed the Dresden. Like the Arnhem, they feature suede leather uppers, but the Dresden are low-top, have three eyelets and retail for $80.
Visit www.chromebagsstore.com for more info.
Bicycle Stock Images is owned and operated by Martha Retallick of Tucson, AZ. The site features photos of the bike culture, including racing, touring, utilitarian cycling, and artistic close-ups of bicycles, bike tools, and bike parts. The site also offers photos related to construction, civic pride, and the environment. Retallick, who doesn’t own a car, travels to Tucson-area photo shoots on her bicycle.
Visit www.bicyclestockimages.com for more info.
VP Components has launched their US website. Like some of the other blog-style industry websites, it’s going to be one to watch. The man behind the scenes is Erik Saunders. A former professional racer, Erik was also one of the very first bike bloggers back in the 1990’s. He’s got a keen eye, a good sense of humor and promises to post coverage of events we don’t get to go to, like Eurobike.
Check out www.vp-usa.com.
I Love My Bicycle, the story of FBM Bikes, got rave reviews at the Bicycle Film Festival last year, but now it’s online for everyone else.
I Love My Bicycle from Least Most on Vimeo.
According to 9news.com Dan Maes, a mainstream Denver gubernatorial candidate, considers burgeoning bike sharing program Denver B-Cycle as a potential threat to personal freedoms. He has accused the program of potentially being part of a sinister United Nations conspiracy linked to population control… You need to read the full article to believe it. But first, some thoughts from his campaign spokesperson Nate Strauch,
Nate Strauch told The Associated Press that Maes was trying to say that the biking initiative is a “gateway program” being pushed by ICLEI on cities that eventually lead to extreme measures, such as the promotion of abortions and population control.
“It’s all part of this population control mentality that we as humans are the disease,” Strauch said. “He never said that biking is inherently wrong.”
Recent Comments