This year for Ride + Style, Leader is teaming up with a few of the artists to paint and auction off a pair of 735′s. One of which is being painted by LA artist, Risk. Here are a few teaser Mr. Matt Lingo sent over. Nice photos man!
MelburnOut: Shifter Dan’s 40th Birthday Bush Bash – Day 01
“Aged many years in the wood”. How many years? Well, like everything in Straya, there’s a story for that. Daniel John Hale has seen his share of saddle time in the years he’s spent on Earth. An ex-pro mountain biker, owner of the Best Bike Shop in the World and one of the first solo riders to take on this particular area of Australian Bush, Dan’s no stranger to the wood.
Ten years ago, he did a similar ride to what we just completed this past weekend but instead of two days, it took him four. Rather than ride a mountain bike or a geared bike, he took his singlespeed Monster Cross. No GPS, no satellite phone and no idea where he was going, save for a map he bought on the side of the road. Later, he, Dave, Scooter and Andy began to tackle these rides annually. That’s 10 years in the wood of Upper Yarra, familiarizing themselves with the ‘bush, the many off-shooting tracks and trails.
Last year, a very similar ride changed me as a cyclist. It took the 215 pound me and slapped it around before spitting (i.e. shitting) it back out. I learned a lot in two long days, but left Melbourne wanting more. When I mentioned returning this year, Andy proposed me landing in for Dan’s 40th. As Andy put it, “we’ll do another ride”…
I’m now around 185 pounds and have been putting in serious saddle time, so the anxiety wasn’t as bad. Until he showed me the route. Day 01, 100 miles, 16,000′ of climbing. BUGGA!
A total of nine riders started, seven finished. Andy’s brother made it up the first climb before returning home and Scooter, one of the original badass couriers in Australia (and aforementioned Upper Yarra riders) only had time for Woods Point and back. That left Dan, Andy, Joe, Dave, Reuben, Mal and myself for the haul… Enclosed is the ride report for the first leg of this 26.6 MP/C* ride.
Check out a bunch of narrated photos in the Gallery!
Recent Roll: Classic Gios at Northside Wheelers
Some say the classics never die and with a bike like this, it’s hard to argue. I’ve got a few randoms floating in from some film I developed here in Melbourne and this beautiful Gios that’s currently parked at Northside Wheelers deserves its own post.
See two more below.
If There Was an HC for Stokedness
Well, we’re all back from Shifter Dan’s 40th Birthday Bush Bash. After two days, 180 miles and over 31′,000 of climbing, we’re all a little sore. That said, if there was an HC for stokedness, we’d all be there. More to come, but for now, here’s Dan finding his inner spirit animal while climbing into the birthplace of the Necronomicog.
Event Recap: Northside Wheelers and Shifter Bikes Open House
I fucking love Melbourne. It’s without a doubt, the best city in the world. The people, the bikes, the food. Everything about it is exceptional. Today was the open house at Northside Wheelers and Shifter Bikes. It was great to see old faces and new.
Tomorrow, we leave for a two day, 200 mile, 25,000′ ride over the dividing range on cross bikes, aka an Australian ass-whoopin’, so let these photos get you through the weekend!
Check out some narrated photos in the Gallery!
The Job: Alfred’s Cinelli Track
Photo by Doug Dalrymple
Doug’s portrait photography is always refreshing when I come across it in my RSS. Here’s one of the forthcoming Cinelli track bikes, ridden by Alfred in NYC. That tapered head tube looks so mean! Keep an eye on The Job for more portraits and track bikes.
Emily Maye: Cobbled Classics
Photos by Emily Maye
Emily has a new gallery up on her site entitled “Cobbled Classics“. The photos should get you into the mood for some Flemish fun, especially with road season in full swing and the exhilarating finish of the 2013 Paris Roubaix.
Also, that looks like Chris Milliman‘s hands in the last photo. He’s shooting film? I’d like to see that Chris.
Feather Cycles Has a New Website
Anyone that’s pushing local fabrication in their country is a good thing. Check out the new Feather Cycles site here.
Chopped Head or Not
Photo by Kyle Kelley
… this is a great photo of a great dude. Tom was in LA recently and Kyle from Tracko shot this photo of him hitting a bump to wall. Tracko NEVER posts FGFS, so it’s nice to see this up on his site.
I’m Back in Melbourne!
Man. It feels great to be back in Melbourne. After a hellish flight out of China, I got picked up by Andy from FYXO. Less than an hour later, we were out on a ride up frontage roads less than 3 miles from his home. Talk about detox! Steep dirt climbs, fast gravel descents and even a dead snake.
Melb’in is heaven. See a few more random shots below and don’t worry there will tons of radness on the way.
Beautiful Bicycle: Kevin’...
Beautiful Bicycle: Jesse’...
Afternoon Cup at Flat Track Co...
Beautiful Bicycle: Woody’...
Beautiful Bicycle: Raffy’...
Beautiful Bicycle: My Argonaut...
Beautiful Bicycle: My FBM Swor...
Beautiful Bicycle: My Geekhous...
2013 NAHBS: Head Shots and Hea...
Interbike 2012: Gallery 02...
