MESSFAM | BERNARTD
Bicycle Messenger // Freelance Illustrator // Tattoo Artist
“There are some people that wake up every day and get on a bicycle, they move like ghosts around the city. Pushing packages from place to place, while barely noticed by the unconscious cyborgs fumbling down the footpath. The odd driver will briefly be upset by them as they push past interrupting their path. These people are not only my friends but my family. It is to them this collection goes out to.
The Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund, or BMEF for short, has helped many messengers in times of need. As insurance of all kinds is difficult for a cycle messenger to attain, the BMEF has been supporting messengers all over the world for many years by helping to fill the income gap when injured messengers find themselves unable to work.
To show our support for the industry and the people that make it the great family it is, a percentage of profits from the sale of every MESSFAM collection product will go to the BMEF to continue helping messengers worldwide get back on the saddle.”
Photo courtesy of Shane Bernartd
www.bernartd.com/collection/messfam/
Celebrating Twenty Years of Chrome Industries
Chrome Industries
Chrome Industries starts to celebrate twenty years of activity.
They invite to join all bike shops, messengers, artists, musicians and city dwellers of NYC.
In honor of this celebration, there will be a contest on instagram ( # 20YEARSOFCHROME ) with posting the oldest merchandise of the brand, revisiting historic products and watching video footage with free food and drinks!!!
Fix the date 10/8/2015
instagram.com/chrome_industries
Dësgenà D04 | Stefania Baldi Italian Horsepower
Dësgenà D04
The D04 has been designed specifically for being used in the fixed gear crits, and has been developed with the essential collaboration of Stefania Baldi, who tested the bike in the toughest races all around the world. The D04 aluminium frame sports geometries that could grant the perfect compromise between stability in the tight bends and corners and reactivity in the sprints.
Stefania Baldi: “Over the years I have tested different frames both for road and fixed. My approach with the D04 Desgena was of total abandonement and confidence.
It was designed on my geometry and when I tried it for the first time was a surprise. The next day I was in France to race, without testing it first, and the feedback has been very positive.
The bike was immediately comfortable and responsive. A frame that meets my physical needs, that never fails to support me during the criterium both in technical and launched routes.
The components are high quality and complete the performance of the model itself. Also the use of saddles Brooks England (mod. C15) makes my relationship with the D04 perfect!
I admit, i do not have a big technical competence but I trust always in the response of my body. When I get on my bike, i become one with it. It’s more than being at home … much more. ”
Model description
Columbus Airplane aluminium frame with Dësgenà carbon fork
Sram Omnium crankset
Brooks C15 saddle
Miche Pistard wheelset
Vittoria tyres
Dësgenà seatpost, stem and handlebar
desgena.com/index.php?pg=dettagli.php&sotcat=&idp=280&cat=BPI&idc=KBL
Photo courtesy of Dësgenà | Liz Seabrook
RHC BARCELONA 2015 RACE | SHOOT BY JASON SELLERS
Here a huge selection of pics of RHC Barcelona 2015 shoot by our friend Jason Sellers .
RACE
RHC BARCELONA 2015 QUALIFY SESSION | SHOOT BY JASON SELLERS
Here a huge selection of pics of RHC Barcelona 2015 shoot by our friend Jason Sellers .
QUALIFY SESSION
MASH CINELLI 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
“All designs of MASH Ten Year Anniversary products are based on ‘X’, the Roman numeral for Ten: ‘X’ is comprised of the intersection of two lines or, can be seen as two angles in tangency. This rationale serves as the basis of the vanishing point(s) in linear perspective —the means for representing three-dimensional objects and space on a two-dimensional surface.
The design elements and visual language of all #MASHtenyear products–from premiere flyer to the frameset you see here–are derived from plotting equidistant points along the periphery of the MASH logotype, and then tracing these points back to a vanishing point. Scaling the ‘wireframe’ derived from this exercise, and varying the distance of the vanishing point and placement of the logotype above and below the horizon line yields myriad permutations of this visual language.” GC
This frame set, in this 10 year color, is limited to 100 total pieces.
The frames are only available for PRE-ORDER through our site, and physical shop in San Francisco California.
Garrett will hand scribe each frame in the order we received the pre-order. The first order we receive will be frame number 1, and the last will be frame number 100.
These are expected to land in California in November 2015. About 60 days from today.
shop.mashsf.com/collections/all
shop.mashsf.com/collections/all/products/mash-cinelli-10-year-parallax-frame-set
Bombtrack Bicycles Co.| Introducing the TEMPEST
TEMPEST
|
In todays world of high modulus carbon fiber and complex hyro-formed aluminum there is something about the clean and classic look of a steel frame that will always appeal, and not only to the purists. Being made from Reynolds 725 tubing, the Tempest has slim and clean lines synonymous with a classic steel frame but in an entirely modern design and geometry.
Due to the inherent dampening characteristics of steel, the frame offers more compliance, making the frame effective in transferring power but also supple, for a comfortable ride. The modern road geometry avoids being too extreme, so the shorter rear end and head angle make for a comfortable and dynamic ride giving the confidence to carve through any corner.
The Tempest makes no compromises in the drivetrain, thanks to the full Shimano 105 group-set, and with 52/36 chainrings and an 11-28 cassette there is always the right gear available, no matter the gradient. In order to put the energy down to the road, the Tempest comes with the Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheelset. The rims profile is wider to suit the 25c tires and as the rim is welded rather than pinned it is lighter too.
A complete set of Deda components form the finishing kit. The Zero 2 stem RHM handlebar form a stiff and light cockpit and the sleek Fabric Scoop saddle and Deda RSX01 seatpost cement this bike as a truly modern race bike.
COLOR Metallic Grey / Metallic Turquoise
FRAME Reynolds 725 heat treated butted, invest cast dropouts, repl. mech hanger
FORK BT BIKES “Tempest” fork, carbon / alloy, 1.1/8″ steerer
BARS DEDA “RHM 01” 6061-T6 butted alloy, drop bar
GRIPS BT BIKES “PRO” bar tape with vex gel
STEM DEDA “Zero2” 6061-T6 alloy
HEADSET FSA “Orbit X” sealed a-headset, 1.1/8″
LEVER Shimano “105”
BRAKES Shimano “105” caliper front & rear
CRANKS Shimano “105”
BB Shimano PF BB86
CHAIN KMC “X11L” chain
CHAINRING Shimano “105”, 52/36T
DRIVER Shimano “105” 11 speed, 11-28t
DERAILLEUR Shimano “105” front and rear
SHIFTER Shimano “105” integ. with lever
FRONT HUB MAVIC “Ksyrium – Equipe” sealed, straight pull flanges, 5mm QR axle
REAR HUB MAVIC “Ksyrium – Equipe” 11 speed cassette, sealed, 5mm QR axle
FRONT RIM MAVIC “Ksyrium – Equipe” double wall, welded rim, 20h
REAR RIM MAVIC “Ksyrium – Equipe” double wall, welded rim, 20h
SEAT FABRIC “Scoop-Flat Elite”
SEAT POST DEDA “RSX01″alloy post
SEAT CLAMP BT BIKES cnc alloy seatclamp
TIRES CONTINENTAL “Grand Sport Race” 700c x 25C
IRIDE LANDS IN CHINA
Modena – The headquarters of IRD Modena in Italy is just like you expect it, the technological evolution of the classic concept of the store of the cyclist, with inside frames, wheels, accessories and ‘bike tailoring’, of those views in showcase that make you want to stand on the street and whiz, maybe doing well attention to clothing to use when riding. Observing well the bike, you can see the finest materials, perfectly assembled and connected by lines and chromatic scales which leave nothing to chance, every single IRD Modena piece is the result of the perfect blend of technology and design to a finished product of superior quality.
This important know-how gained over the years has enabled the company to focus on herself and deciding to found IRD China, a store like to Modena but based in Hefei, Chinese university town which has about 8 million habitants, located in the north of Shanghai. The store, designed by Marcello Zappador of study ” a.morfo”, not just a ‘bike shop’, but a true multipurpose hub, serving the plentiful biking community of the city, made up of cyclists, but not only. In addition to the store and workshop, there are in fact a corner café, a library and a Wi-Fi area. And so as not to forget the origin, a corner dedicated to a selection of italian foods. IRD China wants to be both a place to buy your bike, but also the crossroads meet for anyone cultivates the passion of cycling and wants to deepen it. For this reason, in addition to the now classic product quality, it has made a lot of attention to the purely aesthetic, offering a Italian style able to blend with the Chinese. So furniture and wooden floor, reminiscent of the lines of the velodrome, set in a metal frame and raw cement.
Behind this great project, Matteo Zazzera, Tommaso Nolli, Walter Carruba and the rest of the team formed by italians Rocco Bizzarri, Luca Bizzarri e Francesco Capitani.. Thanks to their commitment and hard work mixed with passion, opening in China has finally seen the light.
At the moment, the proposal in terms of models is limited to three fixed gear bike (betulla, salix e pioppo) plus a model woman dovetail (vipera). The range will be expanded with a section of road, cyclo-cross and a corner “vintage” of better of the Italian masters frame builders. “
How did the idea of a store in China?
The idea of a new store in China comes from the will to consolidate the brand IRD MODENA and export it and placing it on the Asian market, importing the very essence of Made in Italy. The store is located in HEFEI, capital of Anhui Province, 300 km from Shanghai, the city that in the last 10 years has had the highest economic growth around the world. The idea of the project was presented by Tommaso Nolli, rider of IRD AWLAB RACING TEAM. The Chinese market is constantly growing, especially in the micro universe of fixed gear bikes.
Sensation to the impact with the “Oriental” reality ?
The welcoming from the community related to fixed gear bike China has been very positive, from our point of view; the mentality of the Chinese in recent years has changed after the decline of the communist regime and the austerity that ensued. Presence of the brand IRD MODENA to various events is experienced with a lot of enthusiasm and euphoria, as the Chinese movement is still little known and therefore can count on an international component that is incredibly challenging.
The approach of young people is different than European or North American?
The approach of the Chinese youth to the world of fixed gear bike is the same as the European or North American. The various events and what amounts to the street and urban groove fixed gear bike is a cause for aggregation among young enthusiasts who are new to this world. The various criterium and alleycat organized on Chinese soil include both a part agonist, pure fun and gathering to celebrate, meet and share a real passion.
How is developing the movement Fixed gear? Street-urban-criterium-alleycat-FsFg, they are present in equal measure?
The fixed gear movement in China, as elsewhere in the world is constantly growing, the Chinese movement is having a big surge upwards, because until a few years ago was nonexistent. Young Chinese fixed gear bike enthusiasts are literally hungry of all the news about the groove of this discipline, are always looking for photos, video and other multimedia material that comes from the West. From year to year the events and activities related to this world are multiplying on Chinese soil, since we are active in China, we can count almost 20 criterium within 4 months with an incredible participation. For the second consecutive year FIXED GEAR CHINA, organizes a national championship, consisting of ten preliminary races to enter the final competition that awards the shirt and the title of the strongest riders in China, and is a true national championship Chinese fixed gear bike.
What are the ambitions and goals related to this project?
Our ambitions are those increases our brand in the East, not only in China but also in other Eastern country where the cult of the fixed gear bike is well developed; the store will be our springboard in the Asian market and a new meeting place for young students in Hefei, the new hub will store it not only to import our frames and products related to bikes, but even food from Italy to satisfy a wide range of customers. The store will in fact ‘provided craft beer produced in Italy, coffee, pasta and wine.
Is the future market?
China in the past 20 years hit the charts states’ economic, is now in second place behind the USA, but the forecasts of economists are that within a decade will become the largest world power. China’s population is made up of a billion and a half people around, and when you consider that more than 1% of the latter are classified as rich, and is easy to think that is the market of the future. Our strength is the import of MADE IN ITALY, and on this we have already received the consent of the Chinese market: our frames and products that we sell in the new hub store are pieces currently unavailable in the Chinese market and therefore highly refined and requested by demanding Chinese customers.
Photo courtesy of IRD Modena
Stefan Vis
Cinelli Chrome.
You become part of a great team. One of the most famous and important in the world.
Tell us about this new experience.
Very honoured to be part of this team. I worked hard for it. It’s not easy for me to be part of a big team. I am an individualist and i like to be in charge of my choices. I’m not sure if we are the most important team. Most famous yes. But MASH has been there all the time and the teams who are delivering the winners this year are very much underdogs, but not least important for the series. I am sure we could deliver three winners in a Red Hook Crit….
You are an all-round rider (crit-cx-road).
How do you combine these disciplines?
Which of them gives you more motivation?
I ride track, gravel, offroad and road on three types of bikes: single speed, fixed gear and gravel racer. Sometimes in winter i ride cx and a couple of times a year i race a criterium.
I don’t believe in specializing in one thing. It’s boring and actually it will not make you any better. Training schedules are the same. It’s not helping and its not inspiring. It will just make you pelotonfutter. None of these give me more motivation. Rather all of them shape me as a rider and makes me better in the ultimate racing experience…
You come from a country like the Netherlands, where the bike culture is an integral part of of the nation itself.
This has influenced your approach to cycling?
I get this question a lot. But because in The Netherlands we use bikes to go shopping close to home, or ride to work (Even on mid- to long range for school kids and higher educated people) it does not inspire a lot of people and also not me to ride like i do. I rather take the bikemessenger approach to things: Ride everywhere… i train on the same bike i do my shopping on and i take that bike to the bar too. Cyclist in Holland do not take their racingbike to the shop a lot. Althought recent culture with messenger influence has changed that a bit. Racing bikes and conversions are more widespread now. But to answer your question: No. I have my own approach and my own influences.
The criterium race are constantly growing free from the UCI circuit.
Do you think that the original spirit of these competitions will be the same or will there be any changes?
The original spirit just got stronger over the years! Riders will be faster, and bikes need to be redesigned, but other than a growing audience and some twitching to the format, i do not believe anything large will change. We race and then hang out.
How are you tied to them?
I am an independent self employed rider. I do not belong to any sponsor. A sponsor supports me and in return i show their stuff. However, Bombtrack is using my almost 25 years of biking experience and knowledge to develope bikes together with Olaf Wit and as a test rider. Sometimes i do a fun thing like riding Transalp off road on a gravelgrinder, which i initially helped to develope, seems that the bike is also good for commuting or long distance travel or a pretty fast solo Paris-Roubaix challenge.
Project film “NO ROAD LEFT BEHIND”.
We are very curious.
What is it about?
But i have no idea how it will look like. Its all in Sven Prince’s mind. I’m just the subject. He just needs more support to be abled to be present where i am…
It will be a year full of important events.
What are your goals and your expectations.
I was added to Team Cinelli Chrome to win. I race Red Hook Crit for them and some smaller crits. I have no expectations but my goal is to make up for the time i lost breaking my collar bone and throwing away 4 months of preparing and cancelling awesome rides and races…
Two other serious goals i have: Guided bikeweeks at Chateau de Gressoux in France and developing Crit-O-Drôme.
Photo courtesy of Silvia Galliani
URBE Criterium Race Rome
URBE CRITERIUM RACE ROME 20.06.2015
When you organize an event especially a bike race, some things despite your efforts remain out of your control: one of these is the weather! And on the 20th of june the weather was a very big problem: throughout the day, two storms attempted to ruin our plans, but our willpower to do the race out did the storms. This was the second edition in Rome for the Urbe Criterium and we decided to take the race in such an illustrious sport place as the “foro Italico”, surrounded by the middle of its amazing history and statues. We had the most renowned Italian cyclist of all time. They cycled at an incredible speed on their colored track bikes, so after a hard battle the winning team is for the second year “Supernova” with Augusto Reati in first place and Emanule Poli in the third Place, between the two, Ivan Ravaioli the last winner of Red Hook Crit taken Brooklyn last April. As regards the Woman’s race, Oscar Cycling Team with Maria Elena Mastrolia at first place, Desgnena Team with Roberta Frigeri at the second place, Doppiozero at the third place with Alessandra Nicosia. Organizing this kind of event can be rather challenging . A lot must be taken into consideration, as for example to look for both the founding local sponsor , and the time to organize, it is took several months, it’s not easy to achieve the local authorization when you employ a place like “foro italico” therefore a lot of hardwork goes into a merely few kilometers race, passion as your driving force. But seeing the cyclists crossing the finish line, the public enthusiasm, makes it all worth it! My hard work has paid off, I tell myself!
Report by Yari Drugo Stati
Photo courtesy of Andrea Romagnoli | TizianoMammana | Woodmonkey Crew | Alessandro Scattoveloce Vallesi
“SAFA” BRIAN WAGNER
Who is “SAFA”?
The guy you thought your dad was when you were six years old.
Messenger-velo-crit-alley rider. You represent the perfect contemporary cyclist for us.
Recognize you in this definition?
Yes, I love bikes, I spent all my time as a kid riding, building bike handling skills. I’m confident that I can handle myself in any situation so long as I am on a bike. If an opportunity to do something with bikes comes up I always try to take it.
Which ones do you prefer?
I like long hills, racing up and flying down. Unfortunately there are not too many opportunities to race up hills so I’m trying to turn my body towards the track bike criteriums. It’s a really fast growing sport and I want to be part of it.
Being untouchable in traffic is something really special to me, not many people understand it. It takes years of doing it everyday ( busy messenger work that isn’t around much these days), to get to that level. I have a strange reverence for it, you can’t explain it to people, only know that a few others have it also. A secret brother and sisterhood.
Living in Mexico City has influenced the way you see “the bike”?
It hasn’t changed the way I see it, it’s amplified my belief in it.
Traffic can be ridiculous here, there are so many people in this city. Everyday I see people so frustrated, losing it in their cars, while a perfectly good solution cruises past their window. I like cars for specific purposes but a lot of people using them in the city have no reason to be in them. It’s as if once you get into one you immediately lose sight of other options and become really selfish to others around you, it makes for a horrible environment. Bikes are a much happier option.
Bikes also gave me the opportunity to travel, making money on them and having messenger events and friends around the world to go see. At the moment in Mexico it’s hard to make enough money to keep traveling. Racing the big crits, with the help of my sponsors, has allowed me to keep seeing the world.
For those two reasons, a societal and a very personal one, I love bikes.
How did you approach the world and culture of fixed gear?
I never really paid it much attention. My bike world has always been the messenger world. Track bikes were a part of that world and eventually I got my own and have been using it ever since. I don’t care what other people ride, I make sure I’m happy with what I’m on and then everything is ok. I suppose fixed gear culture has got a lot of people on bikes and that is a good thing.
You are a member of a great team as Leader Bikes.
How did your collaboration and how it feels to be part of it?
I got on to Leader Bikes USA team after I won the Wolfpack Hustle Civic Center Crit. I’d been waiting a long time to race at one of the crits and finally had the chance to attend one, I made it count.
Right from the start it was more than just a sponsor, friendships were formed. I don’t see Leader as a company that sponsors me, I see it for the people who are behind the name, the friends that have helped me through tough times and shared the good times with me.
We have a really solid and happy team. The old guys are racing and training stronger than ever and the three new recruits, Deg, Tobias and Raul are all serious contenders at crits and bring good vibes with them.
Alonso is the captain and he does a lot of work behind the scenes, we have new team sponsors and some cool projects coming up.
It’s a good place to be right now, I’m really happy with the team.
What are the goals you want to achieve?
In which competitions you will be involved?
I’m going to all the Wolfpack and Red Hook races this year. Unfortunately with the bad luck in Brooklyn the Red Hook series is over for me, I really wanted to place well in the series. I’ll be gaining experience in the rest of those races and knowledge of the course for next year.
I’d like to defend my title at the Wolfpack Civic Center Crit this year. Also try to do more road racing, but it’s hard to do here in Mexico City.
Last year you have take part of R.H.C. in Barcelona, Europe.
New places, people, food and social relationship.
What are the differences with the United States? Your feelings about them.
I’ve always moved around a lot so I’m comfortable wherever I am. You can find nasty places and people in every city on the planet but I always find good times. I’m always with my bike and meeting with people who ride bikes so I get fast-tracked into their city and community.
I’ve been to Europe a few times before, for me it’s one of the best places to be in the summer. Barcelona is such an outdoors city, I love cities like that, where you feel you should be outdoors enjoying the world.
I think drivers in Europe are more used to seeing and being around bikes, they’re much more patient. We’re not in the way, we’re part of the journey.
You can’t get five kilograms of breakfast food for ten dollars though, but maybe that is not a good thing unless you’re a bike racer.
We hope to see you soon in Europe. When in Italy?
I’ll be in Italy for the first time when I travel to Madrid for the Red Hook Crit in October. See you then, save me the couch.
Photo courtesy of Robert Sanchez
https://instagram.com/safabrian/
https://www.youtube.com/c/SAFABrian
