WTF??? "One Speed Custom Culture"??? One Speed, Single Speed, bikes without gears - whatever you want to call them. 'Culture' ??? Well, what else is it??? - Bikes, Booze, Bands, Tattoos, Chix, Art, Stupid hair, Racing, Spectating, Weekenders, Free, Fixxxed - all the good shit...But what is it we actually do??? This site, obviously...as well as a specialist workshop and store, operating by appointment only - Bike builds, Wheel builds (our specialty), Restorations, a range of one speed specific parts
and accessories, advice...hopefully there is something in here to keep you informed, entertained or amused. Check back often...
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When it rains in pours...
More tyres again today - this time it's more of the Fyxation Session 700's. More blacks, and NOW COLOURS - White, orange, pink and green.
$80 each. The best urban tyre around - hands down.
Another email re "the what is a hipster anyway?" question,
“they wear the costume but don’t live the lifestyle”
Still only on reply from the girls...C'mon girls, tell me what a 'hipster boy' is. Any humorous anecdotes about how they can't fuck are also very welcome.
Don't forget Rock N Roller Racing this Sunday arvo at the East Brunswick Club. Starts at 1pm. BB has promised to run some tunes for me - which might even be enough to get me to race. Brendan, play River Queen by Volbeat and I'll do it. Promise.
Just landed today -
Vittoria tyres -
Randonneur 28C all white - $50
Zaffiro 23C all white - $50
Selle Italia Saddles -
Turbos in both black and white - $100
Coloured alloy spoke nipples -
I'm sure you all know and love Andy's site Fyxomatosis - I was checking it out the other day, but was shocked to find the new banner ads at the bottom of each page.... Fitness Singles??? Come on Andy...
Do I really need to be bombarded with this rubbish on such a great site?
Well, as it turns out, I guess I kind of do. My curiosty got the better of me and I had to see what Fitness Singles was all about...
"Explore, Dream, Discover! KARMA_INTEGRITY" "Live life, Take risks, Be True to Yourself" "It' a great day to be alive!" - These are all headers from profiles - seriuosly. Fitness Singles? I just couldn't help myself, I had to make a profile...If you get bored at work, and want to kill some time, register and check out the profiles - it's worth it, just for a laugh. See if you can find mine...
Only a few replies to the 'hipster' question so far -
"hipsterism fetishizes the authentic" elements of all of the "fringe movements of the postwar era—Beat, hippie, punk, even grunge," and draws on the "cultural stores of every unmelted ethnicity" and "gay style", and "regurgitates it with a winking inauthenticity" and a sense of irony.Elise Thompson, an editor for the LA blog LAist argues that "people who came of age in the 70s and 80s punk rock movement seem to universally hate 'hipsters'", which she defines as people wearing "expensive 'alternative' fashion[s]", going to the "latest, coolest, hippest bar...[and] listen[ing] to the latest, coolest, hippest band." Thompson argues that hipsters "...don’t seem to subscribe to any particular philosophy... [or] ...particular genre of music." Instead, she argues that they are "soldiers of fortune of style" who take up whatever is popular and in style, "appropriat[ing] the style[s]" of past countercultural movements such as punk, while "discard[ing] everything that the style stood for."Rob Horning in "The Death of the Hipster" argues that the "...problem with hipsters" is the "way in which they reduce the particularity of anything you might be curious about or invested in into the same dreary common denominator of how “cool” it is perceived to be", as "...just another signifier of personal identity." Furthermore, he argues that the "hipster is defined by a lack of authenticity, by a sense of lateness to the scene" or the way that they transform the situation into a "self-conscious scene, something others can scrutinize and exploit".
and
"Someone who looks like your friends, talks/acts like your friends but isn't your friend"
I'm still confused - keep them coming.
Melbourne's first all girl alleycat is coming up, Friday October the 30th. Flyer below. Be there. I wonder if guys can ride in drag?
At Fix Up Look Sharp the other week I noticed a sticker on Zoe's bike, "Hipster boys can't fuck", which I thought was hilarious. I did get forwarded a pic of it, but it got lost somewhere in the inter-thing-ether. Anyway, just to prove that the sticker really does exist I found another pic of the same sticker...
Can somebody please email and explain to me what a hipster is? I'm looking for a definition here, because I'm confused, and it's a term that seems to be thrown around a lot at the moment, so I want to have my head around it. Girls? What is a 'hipster boy'? Best answer/explanation wins something.
More new product just landed. This time it's the awesome new foot retention system by Brisbane Outdoor Gear - "Strap-Ons".
I've been running a pre production prototype pair for a month or so, and really liked them, but the new refined production versions are even better.
After coming off a set-up of MKS Royal Nuevos, RH+O 4 gate plastic clips and Toshi double straps, it did take a few days to really get into the feel of the Strap-Ons and Odyssey Twisted pedals, but once I got used to the new feeling, I wouldn't go back. At all.
For a start, the pedal platform is so much larger, and you don't get that sole biting, foot hurting hot spot from the back cage of the pedal, and secondly, they give much more support to the top of your foot - even compared to 4 gate clips and Toshi doubles.
I think the only draw back of a system like this is that it might not match the aesthetic of every bike - they would look kind of weird on a NJS spec bike for example, but for most street bikes they are definitely the go.
They are available in black, with 4 different colours of stitching - black, white, red and blue. All are currently in stock, and the price is only $55.
Pics below, and for more info, check out the Brisbane Outdoor Gear site.
I like getting good old fashioned mail. There is something kind of nice about opening the PO Box and finding a hand addressed envelope. It's even nicer when the letter inside is from a customer, and includes a few pics of their latest epic ride. I built Andrew a fresh set of wheels for his Surly 'cross bike the other week - Phil HF hubs to Mavic Open Pros with DT Comp spokes, and also fitted his new Phil BB, Sugino 75 crankset and Fyxomatosis chainring. His first ride on the new wheels and drivetrain was a big one, and epic in not only the length, but the weather as well.
Here's a few of the pics he sent...
If they don't make you want to turn off the computer and get out and ride, and ride, and ride, and ride a bit further still, there is something wrong with you.
You can find more details of Andrew's rides at his blogspot - http://www.therewillbedirt.blogspot.com/
I know it got me all worked up about riding again - I went out with BB, Scooter, Ugly, Nath, AdamKM and Mark on Sunday (in lycra no less), then out again yesterday, and in preparation for another 3 day Melbourne-Eildon-Woods Point epic in 2 weeks I've even started running in an attempt to pick up some quick fitness...seriuosly.
So - thanks for the pics and inspiration Andrew...
It's all your fault that I'm up at 7am, and running around the bike path like an idiot.
Thanks a bunch...
I did it again - broken promises. An update a day... I did try, but failed dismally.
I'll bang through as much as possible, as quickly as possible...
NEW PRODUCTS -
There is a bunch of new stuff in the studio at the moment, these are a few of the stand-outs
Selle Italia Turbo saddles - they are back, in black and white, $100 a pop.
RH+O -Saddles @ $45 in 9 different colours, 4 gate plastic clips in 5 colours @ $20, Hubsets in black and silver @ $125, Headsets in 5 colours @ $35.
Custom MKS pedals and clips - GR9's in silver, white and black and Sylvans in silver, silver/black white and black, and steel clips in white and black.
Cranksets in silver, white, black, gold, red, blue, turquoise and red @ $80. Chainrings to suit from $35.
Fyxomatosis chainrings??? Oh Yeah... - all sizes, 130BCD in silver and black, 135BCD in silver and 144BCD in silver.
It kind of looks like this... There is more - of course. Email if you have any enquires.
Fyxation tyres are currently available in black, with the colours due in the next week or so. I was banging on that they were good, but Damo seems to think they go OK too...
"Holy Shitballs Dan, those Fyxation tyres should come with a warning...“May cause harm to those around you” They are insane. I have never ridden a tyre that is so smooth, solid, stupidly grippy and fast, all at the same time. I can rail corners like never before, squeeze through tight situations with confidence and mount gutters like they are small pebbles. They just scream out...“Is that the fastest you can go?”...so I respond. They take out the small vibrations from the surface of the road but leave you with enough feel for the big bumps and variations in surfaces. They have enough grip for dirt but still have the sketchy feel to make it fun. The perfect crossover tyre. I am very impressed and can’t wait to ride my bike home this arvo."
While I'm quoting emails, let me quickly talk about enquiries for DeepV wheelbuilds... I get LOTS of these... Yes, my wheels are dearer than the prebuilt Velocity/Velocity sets hanging in nearly every shop, and all over the interwebs. The reason for this is simple, they are all HANDBUILT, not machine built. I only use DT Swiss 14/15G butted stainless spokes. And, to put it simply, without blowing my own horn too much - they are just BETTER wheels - truer, rounder and stronger. Just ask Frank...
"Hey Dan, have to say the wheels are fuckin awesome! Three races, four 150km King lake rides and the usual commute and coffee shop stuff and the wheels are still damn straight. You should see some of the crap roads we have to race on and I commute on Sydney Rd - nuff said??? Not even the slightest twang from the spokes, and under my fat ass that's pretty fuckin good! I'll drop in on one of the oldies soon. Cheers mate."
You can choose what you want, but I'm not answering any more 1 line emails chasing prices. I work to a standard - not a price. There are plenty of other people selling stuff 'cheap' , and if that's what you are chasing, you need to look elsewhere - sorry.
And one last email, while I'm on the price high horse...
"just curious how much are a good set of cheap hubs for a fixie is from you guys and how much it costs to build a wheelset."
A good set of cheap hubs... I'm not sure, pick one - good OR cheap.
What else?
I built a trio of new custom Swobo Sanchez's for the 100% Knog store on Chapel St the other day (I guess that makes it a "collabo" - right?) - drop in and see Shannon at the store (364 Chapel St) to check them out (read buy them) and get your lights, gloves and other shizz.
Big thanks to Liam and Ryan for running Fix Up - Look Sharp alleycat on Sunday. I had a great time. You usually do when you end up winning...
Our team, cleverly named Reuben, Ben and Dan got around a little quicker than the 30 or so other teams, and to the victors went the spoils - great prizes from ShifterBikes (Yes, I won my own hoodie back, but swapped it for a suitably ironic Jack Daniels t shirt, that I'll be sure to shrink, fade, and tear before I wear it to Cherry Bar next time I go...) San Marco, Carhartt, Knog, Genovese, Bianchi and Human Powered Cycles.
Hopefully the guys can run another event in the not too distant future.
Out of time...more tomorrow.
Been back a week now, and as always - there is plenty going on. I'll get back to doing an update a day, but for the moment, I've got this beauty for you, courtesy of El Jefe Geoffe.
