Shoes. Not only a platform for philosophical ponderings (”Don’t ever judge a person, until you ride a mile in their shoes”), but they can be considered protective equipment, worn as a fashion statement, and are the only separation between your feet and the floor. Your foundation. They keep you grounded.

Cycling specific clothing is often a turn off for many urban riders- myself included. Unless I’m on a lengthy ride, spending more time on my saddle than running errands, I will be wearing street clothes. Not all street clothes are as effective for riding, and some downright suck. There are a few companies out there that see the demand for cycling specific streetwear, and Chrome has now come to offer what looks to be the best shoe available for it’s intended purpose.

In 2009 Chrome brought out four models of shoes built for riding toe clips while looking good off the bike as well. I was sent a pair of 11 1/2 Arnhems to review, and I must say that I am impressed. I received them 2 months ago, and after wearing them on a regular basis, it’s time to fill you in.

They arrived unscathed, in a sturdy box with a folding lid. In an effort to keep my small closet clean and tidy, and to keep cat hair out of the insides of my shoes, I store my kicks in their respective boxes. I possess nowhere near the number of shoes that many friends of mine do, but if the box is not sturdy, it has a tendency to get crushed under the weight of only a few boxes, or one cat. I appreciate being able to use shoe boxes to not only store shoes, but they work great to pack up small items, send something in the mail, or heck- get creative- build a wall of boxes and ride your bicycle through them. Weeeee!

I opened the box, which came with a couple Chrome stickers if you are into that sort of thing, and inside sat my new shoes. I was immediately impressed by their construction. Suede uppers, with another layer of smooth leather on the inside. The size is printed clearly on the inside, and on the inside of the tongue is stitched their label. The branding is not too flashy, which I appreciate, the flashiest thing on them being a small red griffin logo on the outside of the ankle, the red line that sits on top of the black tire tread looking mid sole, and the fact that Chrome written on the mid sole. The outer (bottom) sole of the shoe is also red, with fairly deep tread which has a grippy feel to it.

When you remove the padded insole, you can see a bit more of the construction, and some of what sets it apart from other common shoes that people ride in the city: Converse Allstars, and Vans, especially. Two words: Board lasted. When looking for shoes to ride in your clips, board lasted shoes should be high on your list. They contain a board of cardboard running down the length of the shoe. This is opposed to “Slip lasted” which is merely a seam running down the length of the shoe. Board lasted shoes are not as flexible as slip lasted, but are more stable, and prevent “pedal poke” if you are still riding the pedals with the entry side of the cage higher than the toe side of the cage. (If you don’t know why some pedals are built like that, give me a shout and I will let you in on a little secret) The shank that they added is super stiff, and has a little button thing on the back that they have labeled “Crash pad.” It may be something of a misnomer, as when I crash, I rarely land on my feet. If we could install them on my shoulders and hips, that may be a better place for them.

These shoes fit well into my pedal/clip combo, which is currently bmx flat pedals with a dual arm plastic cage. For those riding with some of the now popular strap systems, pedal fit with a wide variety of shoes may be easier to achieve, but I know that not all of my shoes fit so well in cages and straps. Not a problem with the Arnhems. Even with my wide feet stuffed into a size 11 1/2, these shoes fit in the cages better than most if not all of my other kicks. The suede uppers protect the toe box from scuffing, and still look good.

There were some things that I wasn’t 100% fond of , and it would be unfair to keep these minor concerns to myself.

• The heel box of the shoe is, for me, too wide. I have this problem with shoes occasionally. The front of the foot fits snug, with the back making farting noises when I walk. Farting noises means that if walking a good distance, then blisters may come. No bueno. Granted, this is the way that they fit ME. If you have a wide ass heel, then they may fit you well. As for me, I will be looking into better insoles, or a heel cup or something. It should be noted that the farting noises aren’t enough for me to get rid of the shoes, but to find a way to make them work.
• The laces are too long. This seems to be an issue that is bothering me more and more about shoes today. The laces always seem to stretch out, and become a hazard. They may be fine when I first get them, but eventually, I have to double knot them so they don’t get sucked into the drivetrain. Then I may have to start tucking them into the sides of my shoes. No good. The metal tipped laces are nice, but a little longer than necessary.
• The tiny 3M bars on the heel, though a good idea, seem to have lost their reflectivity in a short amount of time, and now look a little sad, like some little bit of flair. A taste of disco thrown into what is otherwise a pretty solid shoe for those that like metal.

I think that the Arnhems are a great shoe, and though the $90 price tag may seem a bit high when compared to their competitors, to me, the durability is worth it. I think that leather is more durable than canvas, but the vegans out there can get in on some of the Chrome love with the Kursk model. In Seattle, you can purchase Chrome shoes at The Sneakery, or Recycled Cycles. If you don’t like people, you can also purchase them online at the Chrome Store

Chrome also offers some solid choices when it comes to knickers, wool jerseys, and bags, both one strap and two. I really like the way the Warsaw double strap back looks, and would love to check it out.

I got my calendar in the mail the other day, and I must say that I’m very impressed. All in all, the best bike calendar I’ve seen yet. The women photographed are real riders, and tastefully photographed with a great balance of character, humor, and playfulness.
Not only is the photography great- the calendar itself has the more popular holidays listed. (Canadian holidays don’t include Columbus Day, or presidents day, but they do have Boxing Day and Kwanzaa!) It also lists many of the regularly scheduled Vancouver BC bike events like Bad Party, Night Riders, and Gastown Sprints. Each Calendar page has artwork as a backdrop, which is another nice addition. This thing is jam packed full of goodness, and you should grab one now while they are still available.

Best of all, the calendar benefits Prohab, which is a great organization doing wonderful things- like saving lives- No big deal.

Taken from the calendar notes:

The confederation for the Protection Of Heads and Brains (PROHAB) has a goal: to be sustainable in providing helmets by donation to active people who wouldn’t normally wear them.

The 2010 Ladies Bike Calendar is a collaboration of artists, photographers, models, and friends. Featuring helmeted women in and around Vancouver having fun with their bikes, the 2010 Ladies Bike Calendar aims to show that you can have fun–and be sexy–while being safe.

We Thank you very much for being a part of this project, and you can find more information on PROHAB at www.prohab.ca

Dustin, Renee, and the PROHAB family

As a side note, the www.prohab.ca address doesn’t seem to work, so you can get to the Wordpress page HERE. You can purchase the calendar from the blog page, as well as donate to the cause.

Q: Why did the bicycle fall over?

A: Because it was “two(sic) tired”

I don’t have to tell you that your tires play an important role while riding a bike. Take a look at any bike shop and you’ll see different tires for every common wheel size, and every application. When it comes to riding a fixed gear, they are not only your only point of contact with the road; they act as brake pads. They also work as shock absorption in pot hole ridden streets and in tricks that seem to be getting bigger by the day.

BMX, cyclocross and mountain biking have played a large, though understated role in the evolution of the fixed gear; riders realizing that parts on these bikes, though possibly weighing in a little more than what is available for track bikes, will not break as often when they go for that 6 stair they’ve had their eye on. A lot of companies have jumped on the bandwagon when it coomes to this fixed gear trick thing. Dozens of frames are being produced purporting to be built for tricks and urban riding, some performing better than others. Many forks wouldn’t allow bar spins with a 700c wheel, or they would bend while performing tricks, so forks evolved into something looking like a big bmx fork. Most other parts were taken care of, robbed off of peoples bmx or mountain bikes. What’s missing? Tires. When skid tricks were king, there were a few tires boasting the ability to skid through hell and back. Well, tricks evolved a little- they got bigger, and the demands for rubber changed.

Fyxation saw the writing on the wall. Tires needed to change. Skid tricks were fading and kids were going bigger and bigger with air, gaps, and drops. Something that provided traction was necessary. And a little fatter than a 25, without putting a knobby cyclocross tire on. Enter: The Fyxation Session 700. Fyxation is a company bourne of the evolution that take place as new ground is broken. The Session is a 700 x 28c tire made with bead to bead tread, resembling a bmx tire. The tire is foldable, and built tough, with a 120 TPI carcass. By my measurements, they are 29mm at their widest point.

29mm at the widest point

Fyxation sent me a set of the black Sessions, and I’ve been riding them for nearly a month. So far I’m very happy with the results. The weather here in Seattle is quickly becoming fall-like. In the time that I’ve been testing these tires: the leaves have fallen, the rains have come, and it’s gotten much colder in the evenings. A great test for tires. I have been happy with their handling, cornering, and their “Cushion for the pushin”

Fyxation doesn’t market these tires as “skidding tires.” I have found them very grippy on dry ground , and as such, it doesn’t feel like you’ll win any skid competitions with them. This grip allows for more control on dry ground, which I prefer over a tire that easily skids. That being said, and in an effort to give them a full test, I’ve been skidding more than I usually do, and they have done just fine. I ride my tires at around 100psi (recommended 80-110psi), and they offer a good balance of shock absorption and ride quality.

Available in a rainbow of fruit flavors, they are also available in black and brown with white sidewalls. They will soon make available a “Dual-Compound” tire, with a harder center strip, for those that want a mix between grip and skidability. From what Ben at Fyxation tells me, a 23c is coming soon as well.  Many fixed gear trick riders are riding fatter tires- 32c or even 38c.  I can’t speak to whether or not Fyxation will be bringing out a wider tire.  I can say that if bikes continue to evolve, you can expect Fyxation to keep their ear to the ground.

Fyxations are available online through their website, as well as independent bike shops around the country, and sell for around $50 per tire.

Also stay on the lookout for Fyxation Saddles, available soon. You can check their blog for updates HERE

Last night at ART VELO- we had a little fun and played some out of print movies on the projector.  Two movies only on VHS, about bikes, and hard to find information on.

The first was called “Beasts of Burden” and it documents San Francisco bike messenger culture, circa 1992.  I must say that messengers today have much better style than they did then.  These guys looked half hessian/half Mad Max.  Leather jackets and hockey pads.  No fixed gear bikes in this one, just mountain bikes and cruisers with monster baskets on the front.  There was a snippet from Erik Zo, who started making bags and selling them to couriers.  His bags became very sought after, and from what he says, changed the way messengers carried their parcels.

At just around 30 minutes long, it was an interesting look at messengers from all angles.  From the SFPD, to people on the street, to the messengers themselves.  In the early 90’s, it seemed like messengering would never go away.  There was a much larger community even within San Fransisco.  Who knew that the internet and fax machine would be so devastating to the industry?

A pretty good movie all around, It would be great to do a “Where are they now” type thing a la Heavy Metal Parking Lot.  I’d give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

The second movie that played.  Ahhhh.  The second movie.

Ten Speed.

In a nutshell, it was based in a big wig advertising firm in San Francisco.  And in the opening sequence you see the womanizing hunky lead riding to work in his white suit, being all 1976 and stuff.  On his way to work he foils a purse snatcher, and skitches up the hill on a cable car that his coworker is riding on.  He flips her some lip, just to let you know that he knows how awesome he is, and beats her to the office.  His coworker is promoting a bike race from San Francisco to Malibu.  400 miles.  She doesn’t want him to race for the company, but he wants to.  So the boss makes them race together.  There are a pair guys that are always getting into trouble, one of whom is portrayed as though he might be slightly retarded.  The good guy wins in the end.  And no it isn’t the dude in the white suit.

Throughout the movie it seemed as though each scene could turn into a really messed up slasher flick, or a really bad porn.  The dubbing was horrible, and the voices didn’t match the mouths.  If you are a fan of horrible movies, this might be right up your alley.  To put it into perspective, you have Quicksilver and BMX Bandits, both released to dvd.  Rad is apparently getting released to dvd at some point.  All with horrible acting. But Ten Speed…. nope.  Out of print.  Only available on VHS.  And when you rent it from Scarecrow Video, they don’t require a  deposit, as they do with many out of print movies.  You can tell right off that it’s not going to be very good.

I will say that I can watch just about anything that has to do with bicycles.  This one was hard.  I’m glad I sat through watching the Night rider take it all the way home, but man.  It was a little painful.  A couple people left halfway through.

I’d give it a 1 out of 5 stars.

Well, if you missed the double feature, stay tuned for more this winter.  We’ll get some more going.  No promises on the quality of the films, but hey, it’s about bikes.

Republik Apparel is a coalition of riders, designers, artists and a couple bike mechanics thrown in just to make sure everything runs smoothly. We wanted to inject some fresh blood into the mountain biking scene by creating a progressive brand that reflects us as riders, trailbuilders and designers. Inspired by art, design and MTB culture, we are committed to providing our customers a high quality product with an innovative style.

They sent me a pair of their Six Pack jeans at the same time they sent a stack of their long sleeve jerseys when they sponsored the “Tour de Watertower” race in July. Republik is based in Bend, Oregon and focus on my favorite type of clothing: clothing that blends function AND form. The jerseys went out to the riders, and were well received. A baggier mountain bike feel, great for riding, with the bonus of being made with fabric that wicks moisture. A big thanks for their support!

The Six Pack Jeans are my first pair of jeans that were designed for riding, and they have since become one of my favorite pair of pants. I’ve been very impressed with their comfort while on the bike, and they look and feel great off the bike. They are clean looking, and don’t look at first glance to be “bike clothing” The 2% spandex gives them elasticity, and allows comfort even with my larger than average quads and ass. They’ve got a gusseted crotch, and have heavy duty stitching on the legs to keep them out of the chain. Personally I’ve lost too many pant legs to the chain, and I don’t wear skinny jeans, so I keep mine rolled up.

The pants are thinner than others I’ve seen, so were great to ride with over the summer. A thicker pant might be nice in the fall and winter, or get some tights. I definitely want to see what these guys coming down the line for the future.

Either way, Republik has some impressive products in their collection and is a company made of riders. You can pick up a pair of great jeans, retailing for $80: HERE.

Saturday night (8/22) I watched Man Zou at McCaw Hall, and was greatly impressed. Sitting in the SIFF cinema with an almost sold out crowd, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Upstairs, in McCaw Hall, Wagner’s opera- “The Ring” was in session, and one could hear the opera singers belting out their tunes in what is apparently the longest opera ever made. The crowd upstairs was most assuredly different, the feel of the crowd being somewhat more conservative. The men went upstairs in black suits and ties, the women dressed as for a funeral. Maybe “The Ring” is a sad opera?

Anyhow, back to Man Zou. We went for a few reasons. Brendt, the founding director of the BFF in NY called me and let me know that a film maker that had a film in the BFF a few years earlier was to have a premiere of his latest film, and it would be a good place to meet people and talk about the BFF. I was also curious at to what the SIFF Cinema looks like, and how other people’s screenings are received in Seattl

This was taken from the Man Zou site:

Man Zou: Beijing to Shanghai is the story of four Americans who, immediately following the Olympics, travel by bicycle between China’s two largest cities to learn more about the Chinese people, their culture and the rapidly changing environment in which they live.

Man Zou is a common phrase in Mandarin that translates literally to “Walk Slow.” Used as a farewell, it is a way of reminding another, ‘Be careful and mindful on your journey, and take the time to see things along the way. Walk slowly and you won’t fall.’ This philosophy guided our journey across China as we traveled slowly by bicycle, without an accompanying support vehicle, and took the time to listen to and learn from those we encountered.

The movie was shot very well, had a light hearted feel, and had a score that added a seriously professional feel. Director Jason Reid is from Seattle, and the others that took part in the film, are Seattle based, so most, if not all that had a part in it were present (excepting Doven, their guide, who seemed very friendly and was indispensable during their entire trip) It seems that any documentary that is done about China can too easily shine poorly on the country as a whole. Sure, the people may be nice, but they are shadowed by a government that keeps their people down and rules with an iron fist.

Whether that is the case or not, the film followed these 5 men as they traveled on bicycle through some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth. In the US, I feel like the bicycle is a vehicle for environmental and political change. For the most part in China, this isn’t the case. You ride a bicycle because it makes sense. They are cheap, reliable, and honestly, they take up less space. People didn’t see what they did as a radical form of saying “Fuck you” to the oil companies, it was more of a

“That looks like a pretty strange way to have fun. Wouldn’t it make more sense to take a bus?”

It was though the film was shot through innocent eyes, by people that had not heard anything that had taken place in China prior to their arrival. I liked this. It blew my assumptions of China out of the water, and opened my eyes to the beauty that has been shrouded by the red curtain and cloud of smog. They didn’t get into any political discussions on the road. It was however impossible to ignore the gross levels of pollution contaminating the industrial areas. To breath in air that you can see can not be avoided, especially, if you are taxing your body in the first place. To travel by bike you can not hide from the environment as you can in an air conditioned car. You are the environment. It hurt a little to see the damage that is done in an effort to keep goods cheap for the richer nations, the US included.

The crowd to watch Man Zou was not necessarily what I was expecting. There were 10 bicycles parked out front, none of which were mine, but I was expecting more of a cycling crowd. I didn’t recognize anyone at the screening. Out of 300+ people there, I didn’t know one. It made me feel a little odd; a cycling movie that I didn’t know was screening until someone from NYC emailed me about it. To show up, and not recognize anyone, I wasn’t bummed, but excited. I love meeting new people, and seeing the overlap of folks that enjoy good independent film, as well as bikes. In working with the BFF this year, these are the people that I want to reach out to.

A quick recap- if you get the opportunity, go see Man Zou. Whether you like China, travel, independent film, bikes, or documentaries… it’s good.

And if you like basketball, or the Oklahoma Supersonics, then you can find out a little about their history as Jason Reid releases his next movie this October:

Sonicsgate Trailer from sonicsgate on Vimeo.

It takes me a while to read books.  I usually have about 10 books that I look through at a time, and around 3 that I’m reading seriously.  I just finished “A Dog In A Hat” by Joe Parkin today, as it was too hot to do much else, and I’ve got to say, I was impressed by it.

You may not know Joe Parkin right out of the gate.  He didn’t win the Tour de France, heck, he never raced the Tour de France.  This frank, insightful, and very engaging memoir follows Joe’s life as he made the leap, beccoming a professional bike racer in Belgium.  His story is one of a second tier professional racer, and you can get the gritty, mud and sweat filled taste of racing within one of the most respected racing countries around the globe. It is a sometimes shocking glimpse into a drug riddled sport, filled with deception, betrayal, spandex, and deceit.

It takes a certain type of person to race bikes professionally.  I don’t personally know any professional cyclists, but from memoirs and stories I’ve read and heard,  it is unlikely that I would be close with any of them.  For one, professional cycling takes up so much of ones time, that they are wholly dedicated to it, and it’s unlikely that we would travel the same circles.  It reminds me of the song “Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys”

“They’ll never stay home and they’re always alone, even with someone they love”

And, well, sometimes they can sound a little cocky, full of themselves, and little bit like a prima donna.  This doesn’t prevent me from being fascinated by the sport of cycling, as well as the riders.

A Dog in a Hat is one of the better books I have read regarding racing, and I enjoyed an American’s perspective on European racing.  I found out a lot about Belgian racing, and it is pretty gnarly.  Kermis racing, new to me before, sounds like a blessing and curse.  I can’t help but envy the folks in Belgium, who have so many opportunities to watch racing in their daily lives.  The racers give their all for prizes equaling what a mid sized alley cat might offer. I have a healthy respect for people that push their bodies to the limit, it order to excel in their sport.  Cycling and doping can often be found in the same sentence, and are rarely found without the other in an article, or even paragraph.  Joe’s stories of people’s concoctions, various ways of getting a jump on the  competition, and the sometimes comical outcome is well written, and definitely worth the read.

Last I heard, Joe Parkin is now a reviewer for Bike Radar, and I look forward to his expertise and writing style in the future.  Great job Joe.

“A Dog In A Hat” 2009 Velopress $21.95