Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Fresh drink of water!
Now this is a good street video!
A little bit of originality and actual "street" riding made this an enjoyable edit.
A little bit of originality and actual "street" riding made this an enjoyable edit.
End of season mini edit from simon Petepiece on Vimeo.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Fixed gears.
Yeah, I know this is a strange topic for me. However, I have to say something soon or I'm going to explode on the next trendy bike asshole I see ride down my street.
I rode fixed gear bikes for a while. It ultimately led to me riding mountain bikes. Here is the reason. When I quit BMX years a go I still wanted to ride a bike, just not braking myself on a little micro bike. After riding and racing BMX for over 20 years, it was a much needed break. So I bought a roadbike. It was fine for a little while, but not what I was looking for. Around this time I started seeing more and more people riding track bikes on the street. Some of them were throwing BMX flatland tricks. So I thought to myself "this is the cure I've been looking for". I went out and bought a track bike.
Being able to ride a road bike sort of like a BMX bike was pretty cool. Only a handful of people anywhere in the world were doing it. I had this idea that I could take it a little further. So I started hopping stairs, pedal grinding ledges, etc. To be honest, I was frowned on by pretty much the entire LA bike scene for doing these things. Hell, I even had some flat rail tricks and skatepark lines. It just was unacceptable at the time to ride a track bike without a stupid looking side bag and gay ass hat! Yeah, I went there.
Still, I kept doing what I was doing because it was fun for me. Fuck all those clone hipster reject wannabe's! Nice mustache motherfucker, I can't tell if your off to ride your bike, or headed down to the Blue Oyster Club to have your mustache ridden!
Anyway.......
The bikes at the time just weren't up to the task of performing under the stresses I was putting it under. I "fixed" this by getting an MTB frame with horizontal dropouts, putting on a set of BMX cranks/bearings, BMX stem, MTB handlebars, and some plastic pedals that I screwed my own clips into. I also ran a set of super thin 26" rims and tires.
I got made fun of for this. I would go on some mass bike rides such as Midnight Ridazz, Critical Mass, etc. and would have people look at my bike and shake their head in disgust. Others would tell me I was making the fixed scene look bad by doing BMX grinds/tricks on a track bike.
Now, many years later.......
I look at the fixed gear scene. The silly hats, stupid side bags, and homo-erotic mustaches are still the same. The bikes on the other hand, now there's some evolution. In the last month I have to say that I have seen at least eight fixed gear riders sporting DMR bars, forks, cranks, etc. That's just in my part of LA. Not to mention that ALL of their bikes now look almost exactly like the bike I was riding years back. That's fine. I'm glad I had the wits to see where the sport was going long before it went there.
The problem I have with it now is that all these fixed bike companies are producing look-alike mtb and bmx products and labeling them as fixed bike parts. If I had a nickel for how many times I've been asked why I ride fixy bars on mt MTB........
For instance, The Shadow Conspiracy. They invented, patented, and own the design for the half link chain. These chains got popular in the fixed community because of all the half-wits that were converting vertical dropout frames to single speed fixed had massive chain slack issues. Half link chains solved this. Now, jack ass rip off fuckhead companies market the half link chain as a "Track Chain", thus giving it the appearance that it was designed for track bikes.
All this came to me today while on Brooklyn Machine Works website. Nothing against them at all. I just saw one of their bikes up in their blog and to me, it looks like an MTB with a flagpole to sit on and skinny wheels. What do you think?
I rode fixed gear bikes for a while. It ultimately led to me riding mountain bikes. Here is the reason. When I quit BMX years a go I still wanted to ride a bike, just not braking myself on a little micro bike. After riding and racing BMX for over 20 years, it was a much needed break. So I bought a roadbike. It was fine for a little while, but not what I was looking for. Around this time I started seeing more and more people riding track bikes on the street. Some of them were throwing BMX flatland tricks. So I thought to myself "this is the cure I've been looking for". I went out and bought a track bike.
Being able to ride a road bike sort of like a BMX bike was pretty cool. Only a handful of people anywhere in the world were doing it. I had this idea that I could take it a little further. So I started hopping stairs, pedal grinding ledges, etc. To be honest, I was frowned on by pretty much the entire LA bike scene for doing these things. Hell, I even had some flat rail tricks and skatepark lines. It just was unacceptable at the time to ride a track bike without a stupid looking side bag and gay ass hat! Yeah, I went there.
Still, I kept doing what I was doing because it was fun for me. Fuck all those clone hipster reject wannabe's! Nice mustache motherfucker, I can't tell if your off to ride your bike, or headed down to the Blue Oyster Club to have your mustache ridden!
Anyway.......
The bikes at the time just weren't up to the task of performing under the stresses I was putting it under. I "fixed" this by getting an MTB frame with horizontal dropouts, putting on a set of BMX cranks/bearings, BMX stem, MTB handlebars, and some plastic pedals that I screwed my own clips into. I also ran a set of super thin 26" rims and tires.
I got made fun of for this. I would go on some mass bike rides such as Midnight Ridazz, Critical Mass, etc. and would have people look at my bike and shake their head in disgust. Others would tell me I was making the fixed scene look bad by doing BMX grinds/tricks on a track bike.
Now, many years later.......
I look at the fixed gear scene. The silly hats, stupid side bags, and homo-erotic mustaches are still the same. The bikes on the other hand, now there's some evolution. In the last month I have to say that I have seen at least eight fixed gear riders sporting DMR bars, forks, cranks, etc. That's just in my part of LA. Not to mention that ALL of their bikes now look almost exactly like the bike I was riding years back. That's fine. I'm glad I had the wits to see where the sport was going long before it went there.
The problem I have with it now is that all these fixed bike companies are producing look-alike mtb and bmx products and labeling them as fixed bike parts. If I had a nickel for how many times I've been asked why I ride fixy bars on mt MTB........
For instance, The Shadow Conspiracy. They invented, patented, and own the design for the half link chain. These chains got popular in the fixed community because of all the half-wits that were converting vertical dropout frames to single speed fixed had massive chain slack issues. Half link chains solved this. Now, jack ass rip off fuckhead companies market the half link chain as a "Track Chain", thus giving it the appearance that it was designed for track bikes.
All this came to me today while on Brooklyn Machine Works website. Nothing against them at all. I just saw one of their bikes up in their blog and to me, it looks like an MTB with a flagpole to sit on and skinny wheels. What do you think?
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
This does not happen often!
I was looking through Pinkbike.com photos today. I came across this masterpiece below.
Yes, I know that right about now your thinking "this is hardly epic or worth making a post about".
On the contrary, take a better look at this photo. Look at the color, the angle, the light etc. To me, this looks like a reminder of where we (as bike riders) came from. It's gritty and harsh, and colorful. Just like it was back in the day. It looks more to me like an 80's punk rock photo, just on a bike. To me, it's just that damn good!
And since it's a basic wallride, it's a reminder that all of todays insanity spawned from tricks like this, and no matter what, the wallride will never die, and will always be fun!
You can tell by the look on his face, that he's having the time of his life!
Yes, I know that right about now your thinking "this is hardly epic or worth making a post about".
On the contrary, take a better look at this photo. Look at the color, the angle, the light etc. To me, this looks like a reminder of where we (as bike riders) came from. It's gritty and harsh, and colorful. Just like it was back in the day. It looks more to me like an 80's punk rock photo, just on a bike. To me, it's just that damn good!
And since it's a basic wallride, it's a reminder that all of todays insanity spawned from tricks like this, and no matter what, the wallride will never die, and will always be fun!
You can tell by the look on his face, that he's having the time of his life!
Dust and Bones
To be honest, I thought they ended the series of films in the worst way possible. It's almost as if they had no heart put into making it. NWD 10 has everything you would come to expect from DH Productions. Same High budget filming, Same riders, and same top 40 sound track. NWD 10 left originality at home before they left to produce the final installment of the NWD films. Don't get me wrong, the riding is top notch. However, if you've seen the last few films than you have already seen Dust and Bones.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Cookie cutting.
Ok, this is one of my pet peeves in the sport.
It's one thing to throw a barspin or two, 360 a few times in a video, but for fuck's sake not EVERY trick. I may be wrong in this so don't quote me, but I just find videos like that to be well.....not so good. Yes, I see that there is talent and all, but there's no originality. I'm glad that you guys can do manual to 180, 450 and call it a 540, barspin in every direction, and bunnyhop tailwhip until your heart is content. Only problem here is that so can everyone else.
When I watch web videos, I can usually tell where it's going in the first 10 to 15 seconds or so.
When I ride, I don't ride to impress anyone. I absolutely hate tailwhips. I just think it's an ugly trick. I won't do them anymore. I also retired flips and a few other things. It seems to me these days that kids are doing flips, whips, and other big box tricks and yet still can't bunnyhop up on to a bench. Street riding has taken this unusual turn (for the worst I think). You see, the internet has given EVERY kid in the world their own media outlet. So, since 95% of the riding population only rides small curbs, stair sets and such, but can throw any of the above mentioned tricks on them that this has become the "standard" in street riding. Almost like street riding has been shot dead! Seriously, I think I enjoyed it more when the only way we knew what was going on was what we saw in the magazines.
I'm sorry kids, but I would much rather watch some riders shred some walls, gaps, etc. than a bunch of guys riding a curb all day.
It's one thing to throw a barspin or two, 360 a few times in a video, but for fuck's sake not EVERY trick. I may be wrong in this so don't quote me, but I just find videos like that to be well.....not so good. Yes, I see that there is talent and all, but there's no originality. I'm glad that you guys can do manual to 180, 450 and call it a 540, barspin in every direction, and bunnyhop tailwhip until your heart is content. Only problem here is that so can everyone else.
When I watch web videos, I can usually tell where it's going in the first 10 to 15 seconds or so.
When I ride, I don't ride to impress anyone. I absolutely hate tailwhips. I just think it's an ugly trick. I won't do them anymore. I also retired flips and a few other things. It seems to me these days that kids are doing flips, whips, and other big box tricks and yet still can't bunnyhop up on to a bench. Street riding has taken this unusual turn (for the worst I think). You see, the internet has given EVERY kid in the world their own media outlet. So, since 95% of the riding population only rides small curbs, stair sets and such, but can throw any of the above mentioned tricks on them that this has become the "standard" in street riding. Almost like street riding has been shot dead! Seriously, I think I enjoyed it more when the only way we knew what was going on was what we saw in the magazines.
I'm sorry kids, but I would much rather watch some riders shred some walls, gaps, etc. than a bunch of guys riding a curb all day.
Yowelli edit.
Could quite possibly be the worst song ever? The edit is ok, but Anson baby........Get some new bars!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tech-9
Black Market unveiled it's new rigid fork. Although I'm not sure how it will perform based on it's geometry.
When you have frames that are built around suspension forks, it's usually an 80mm travel fork or taller. Most companies like DMR, Identiti, NS, etc. have rigid forks currently on the market. I run the DMR Trailblade 2. It runs 440mm axle to crown. Identiti Rebate forks are 430mm axle to crown. All of these forks still make your bike feel low and long when running them. To alleviate this, most riders will leave the steerer tubes longer, add more spacers and run 3" rise bars. This helps the bike pull up like it did with the suspension fork.
Another fix is to use Identiti's xl fork which is 465mm. This fork (on a 24" bike) feels exactly the same as if you had a suspension fork on. Although it looks goofy as hell. NS Bikes also has a similar fork. No matter what, all of the above forks still make a 26" bike that was built around an 80mm or bigger suspension fork feel too low and long. This makes it very difficult to pull up for those much needed bunnyhops.
Tech9 rigid forks are available in either 415mm axle to crown or 395mm axle to crown. The 395mm forks will fit snugly around a 24" wheel. Note that it does not make up the much needed length that a 24" MTB is designed for. This will result in the geometry change mentioned above. The same applies to the 415mm fork with 26" wheels.
Black Market is a respectable company with an awesome product line! I'm sure these forks are lightweight, and bombproof. Just be sure you know what you are looking for before you buy any rigid forks! It is important to understand what the frames are designed for before considering any fork on the market. When I got my first pair of rigids for my 26", My bike was a new beast that was much harder to handle.
Have fun kids, and keep the shred alive!
Check out the bad ass new Contraband with the Tech-9 fork below!
When you have frames that are built around suspension forks, it's usually an 80mm travel fork or taller. Most companies like DMR, Identiti, NS, etc. have rigid forks currently on the market. I run the DMR Trailblade 2. It runs 440mm axle to crown. Identiti Rebate forks are 430mm axle to crown. All of these forks still make your bike feel low and long when running them. To alleviate this, most riders will leave the steerer tubes longer, add more spacers and run 3" rise bars. This helps the bike pull up like it did with the suspension fork.
Another fix is to use Identiti's xl fork which is 465mm. This fork (on a 24" bike) feels exactly the same as if you had a suspension fork on. Although it looks goofy as hell. NS Bikes also has a similar fork. No matter what, all of the above forks still make a 26" bike that was built around an 80mm or bigger suspension fork feel too low and long. This makes it very difficult to pull up for those much needed bunnyhops.
Tech9 rigid forks are available in either 415mm axle to crown or 395mm axle to crown. The 395mm forks will fit snugly around a 24" wheel. Note that it does not make up the much needed length that a 24" MTB is designed for. This will result in the geometry change mentioned above. The same applies to the 415mm fork with 26" wheels.
Black Market is a respectable company with an awesome product line! I'm sure these forks are lightweight, and bombproof. Just be sure you know what you are looking for before you buy any rigid forks! It is important to understand what the frames are designed for before considering any fork on the market. When I got my first pair of rigids for my 26", My bike was a new beast that was much harder to handle.
Have fun kids, and keep the shred alive!
Check out the bad ass new Contraband with the Tech-9 fork below!
Friday, October 23, 2009
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