We've been working hard and it's finally come time to release the teaser for Empire, a film about having fun on your bike in the City.

Website is here
Empire

Empire from Empire on Vimeo.

Pharrell got himself a Gangsta track. Aerospoke wheelset too. I know the guys at Brooklyn hooked it up!

I know these have been posted in various other places, but they're available at your LBS through QBP right now. All City Cycles meeting the demands of today's market for sure. Tons of colors too!

Nick James is not only one of the most dapper lads I know, but his artwork is always impressing me. Check out this piece he just completed. Entitled "Streetwear"... I felt it was relevant to the recent post regarding Pharrell

Anna Telcs and I worked on a submission for NYC's competition to design new bicycle racks for the City.

The design intent was to create two racks in one, eliminating the dead zones created by staggering bicycles. We were also going for a less-expensive, easy to produce and install approach, which many designs lacked.

I know we didn't win, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.

This video makes me wish Bike Kill was every weekend. It really captures the chaos and energy. That and Luke, who's got to be a closet furry, has the best game face stance!

Cycling has generally evolved from when bikes are introduced to a new and often unintended terrain or use. I know I've made this argument before, but early British Path Racers were used as both street bikes and race bikes both on the track and on terrain. From there, cycling branched off to road bikes, cross bikes and track bikes.

Generally speaking, most bikes have evolved just like Darwin's Galapagos finches. Look at early BMX bikes compared to the urban assault tanks that they are today. In my opinion, the track bike is going through another transformation. We're seeing more and more fixed gears on the market with relaxed angles, risers and cable guides. This is evolution and progression, not regression. People enjoy commuting on fixed gears, so the market adapts.

This bike, designed by Dovetusai, pictured above is regression. I know that's harsh, but nothing about the design speaks to me as an improvement. I understand the design intent, but not the practical or the forced devolution of the form. Downtubes are structurally important guys!

What is fairly interesting to me is how a company like Brooklyn Machine Works, with a background in downhill bikes and bmx's have made a bike that is single-handedly reinventing the way people ride fixed gears. I'm sure we'll see more companies making such moves in the future and I can't wait to see where this all heads and where it is in 5 years.

These pieces by British artist William Roberts (No, not Rick Ross, different artist) just struck me as note-worthy. The one on the left is entitled Combat, 1915 and on the right is Les Routiers, 1931. Roberts being a Cubist often distorted figures into complex compositions. These two pieces are so similar that they made me think of how everyday as cyclists, we're in combat with other elements.

Wear your helmet and be safe out there.

Japan-based Starfuckers have created a pretty bad ass fork. Can't tell if it's a unicrown or not, but it does look like 1 1/8", which is stronger than 1" for sure. Take note of their dual-dropout system for adjusting your rake depending on how you're riding your bike at the time. Interesting spin on things for sure.

Innovation!

In case you haven't seen these shirts yet, then you need to head over to Gage & DeSoto and check out their full line.

It's strange, I've seen these shirts everywhere and never really knew where they were from. Now I know. The C-Record and I COG NY shirts have been all over the place so get on the Cannibal Wagon!

Where's the Cinelli love? Good stuff guys, keep it up!

DQM is here to remind all of you to vote!

This Sunday, check out the SF-based video Macaframa at Arlo and Esme in the East Village. There are two showings, one at 8pm and one at 10pm and it's first come first served so get there early.

Andy, my red-bearded brethren from down under, sent me this photo and it made my day. True bike porn. C-Record Delta brakes are some of the sexiest bicycle components ever made. Form and function [arguable in some camps] conquer all!

Thanks Andy, once again, you deliver!

Happy All Hallows! Keep it safe and watch out for the living dead.

Handbuilt in Bushwick, Squarebuilt frames have some of NYC's best messengers riding them. This frame was just built up last night and the owner's really digging it. Traditional track angles, 74° 74° and a barspinnable front 700c wheel. This frame's powdercoat is 3m reflective, to keep the rider safe at night.

I rode it at Peel Sessions last night and it's steeper than my Merckx. Great job Squarebuilt!

thanks to Katy for the pics!

I don't really post many Architecture lecture events on this blog, but this one is worth going to. Kengo Kuma's work speaks strongly with crisp forms, soft light and warm materials. The infusion of traditional Japanese styling makes their work some of the most inspirational architecture of the modern age. Not to mention the legendary Kenneth Frampton will be moderating the lecture!

Details here:

Current Work: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Kengo Kuma
Introduced and moderated by Kenneth Frampton
Monday, November 3
7:00 p.m.
The Great Hall
The Cooper Union
7 East 7th Street

Falcon Duran's newest pics are so bad ass. Miguel and Wonka, each with their own style, tearing through NYC!

Streetwear blog Hypebeast has teamed up with Staple Design to make a 3 year anniversary raglan shirt. My friend Jun is modeling the shirt on his track bike. Jun's a fast dude who always hustles at all the Peel Sprints and other competitions. Good job dude!

Grab the shirt here

Holy, I mean Satanic Shit! James, you maniac, hook it up!

More from crazy Dave and the DQM crew! Dude's a nut.