All-City Space Horse: A gentleman's cruiser.

Put this All-City Space horse together for my friend Jon. Born from the ashes of his San Jose single speed, and turned into a 1x8 with some nice shiny bits. Thanks Jon!

Macho Man, maiden voyage!

Hills, dirt, and gravel were on the menu this morning.

All-City Macho Man!

I've got macho madness! Here's a preview, more to come...

Going feral

Oh, hi guys.  Just hanging out in the wilderness on this sweet custom shop build.  No big deal. 

(Dang these wheels are nice!  Thanks B!)

My newest road bike, Foundry Ratchet!

You may already know, I have a few bikes. Of which there are some pretty sweet road bikes. This is the latest edition to my stable, the Foundry Ratchet. A new brand of high-end, high-performance carbon fiber race machines. While my racing days are far behind me, I do still enjoy going "fast". My steel bikes are certainly champs, and up for any and all I can dish out, but something about a stiff super light carbon bike just feels fast. The power transfer and acceleration are unlike anything else I have ever ridden. I have already managed to put about 120 miles on this bike since Sunday, and I'm totally loving it. Looking forward to collecting thousands more miles on it throughout the spring and summer.

Peep hole!

Work in progress, just a peep!

New Kazane Build! More pics on the way

Affinity 212: My "Casual" Road Bike

I have been itching for a new roadbike ever since I saw the Affinity 212 at Interbike last year. My goal was to put something together that was clean and classic yet simple, a go anywhere roadie. I have had some goodies stockpiled away, so while it may seem a bit chaotic, it is all very intentional. Here it is...

Drop Bars, Classic Regal saddle (Ti Rails), MKS pedals/clips/straps (atacs for longer rides)

The drivetrain is where it gets weird (awesome). Suntour XC Expert rear derailleur, 8 speed 11-30 cassette with a Campagnolo Centaur UT compact crankset. A nice versatile widerange double.

And yes, downtube friction shifters! Dia Compe/Rivendell with nice wratcheting action. Got the Velo-Orange Grand Cru sealed bearing chrome headset, very smooth.

Cockpit is Nitto Noodle bar, Cinelli stem and SRAM levers.

The sparkle in the paint is amazing in the sunlight. Nice work on this one Jason.

Looking forward to 70f weather tomorrow and a nice spin, who knows where I will end up, really doesnt matter. See you there.

Special Limited Time Offer On A BRevs/Affinity Metropolitan!

We are working on a very special project, it is time to take the shop to the next level! But we are going to need some CA$H to make it happen. So, from now (Saturday October 16th) until November 1st Save 10% on a COMPLETE bike build with the BRevs/Affinity Metropolitan frameset and I will build it for FREE (no labor charge). This is a very special offer to help us meet our goal and you get a SWEET limited edition custom bike.

So just to ReCap:

Buy a BRevs/Affinity Metrolpolitan Frameset

Buy all of the parts from us

Get 10% off of the entire purchase

And I build it for you, for FREE! (Saving $120 just in labor)

*Must be paid in full upfront, I did mention we need the CA$H asap...
-Frame is $500 available in 4 sizes 47, 52, 55, 57

New Wheels For My Big Block!

Posted my initial build for this back in August, finally got around to building the proper wheels for it this week. Jeffey from All-City got me some New Sheriff hubs, and I laced em up to the Velo-Orange PBP rims.

I had some fun with the front wheel, lacing it three leading/ three trailing (36h)

And a nice traditional three cross for the rear. Bike is all "finished" now, some fresh New-Xpress tires (700c x 28mm) in the new Green/Skin color.

Ready for the House Party Cat 3D, maybe...

Just a teaser until we return from the Catskills!

Travis' new Cinelli MASH! Thanks for letting me put this together for you. More pics after we get back from our holiday shenanigans.

My All-City Big Block

I always try to build up new frames to ride so that I can give real feedback and show some of non-stock options for custom builds. The All-City Big Block was long overdue for some miles.

I got this one built up just in time for the Rocky 8 race and figured it would be a perfect road test for this street machine.

Choosing some new but classically designed components and using some old faithful wheels to get it rolling.

The IRD Defiant crankset is a perfect nod to the Campy Nuovo Record Pista cranks, solid clean and simple at an affordable price ($160). For comfort and convenience I went with the Eastern PC platform pedal with some RE Load Lockdown Jawns. The Thickslick ($30) tire is by Freedom, WTB's new urban brand, which proved to be a great tire for the day. Great traction and super puncture and pinch resistance.

The Selle Italia Turbo saddle ($60) was super comfy and durable despite all of the rain and thrashing throughout the day. The Velo-Orange seatpost looks great and provides a bit more set back to get you over the back wheel a little more for power in the saddle.

Keeping in the theme of shiny new parts I have the Velo-Orange sealed bearing headset, VO 17 degree Stem and Cromo Deda Velocita handlebars.

The bike is a perfect urban fixed gear with enough versatility to keep you rolling through the winter on some cross tires as well as racing all summer at the velodrome.

I am going to be lacing up some new wheels just for this bike as I have already swapped these onto my new All-City Nature Boy. All-City New Sheriff hubs to Velo-Orange PBP rims, all shiny and silver, I will definitely get some more pics up as soon as I get them done, in my spare time...

OMG! What have I done?

Apparently I put the wrong wheels on the Thrasher, 26" Sun MTX 33 rims with Panaracer RIBMO 26x2 tires. And it actually rides pretty nice! The bottom bracket is so high on the Thrasher with the Fu Manchu that it is still a decent 11.5" sitting on 26's. The chain was able to shorten up a whole link making the rear wheelbase even tighter. I'm going to have to give a full report after I ride a bit, and interesting experiment for me...

"Two-Six Fix"- Jesse Jambox

Rocky VIII, A Personal Victory.

So its been about ten years since I quit the road, and about that long since I have competed in an alleycat race. I did go up to ride Monster Track as some of you may recall, but I definitely did not "race". I decided to challenge myself, see if the ol' man can still do it. Rocky is a relay race so I could not do it alone, I needed a partner. After being shot down by a "Fast" competitor, I found a partner in Adam Nordmeyer. He ALWAYS comes through for me when I need help.

I woke up the morning of July 10th, a little nervous and a lot excited. It was pouring rain, fortunately I still have most of my gear from the messenger days and then some.

I was ready, just as if I was headed out for a days work nearly a decade ago. Kissed my wife and out the door I went to get soggy, real soggy.

Fortunately it dried out in time for the race to start, so it would be a little safer, but the damage was already done. Everybody was soaked and turning into prunes while waiting to register and start.

After the first couple of relays I was definitely cooked, but there was no quitting for me today. My partner Adam was probably the fastest sprinter up and back on the parkway, so I had to keep it going no matter what. It was getting hot and steamy at his point, this picture is me trying to keep my head from exploding.

I believe this was me waiting for my last relay to go to Washington Square Park, just trying to air out my head. I was soaked and hot and tired, 8th and Locust was never so far away as it was on Saturday. But I did it, We did it! We finished the race, not first and not last.

Congrats to Justin and TJ who actualy won the race!

Thanks to Jorge and everybody who helped make Rocky 8 happen, keeping the torch alive!

Thanks to Matt Lyngard, fellow "Old Head", for grabbing some great pics.

I am excited to be helping "organize" Senior Weekend, aka the old head race. We have decided to postpone it due to busy schedules etc. but we will be announcing a new date shortly.

Now available with a threaded steerer tube!

After a little creative steerer tube threading, it is as it should be. Many thanks to Hozan for making a lovely cutting tool. Will do some more finished pics of it soon, but this was too exciting to wait.

More about my Metropolitan build

Just posted a bunch more pictures and stories about my Metropolitan build over on the AFFINITY CYCLES blog, go check it out. And more pics added to the FLICKR SET.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

This project began with an introduction and a handshake in Vegas last September. Seems so long ago, but here it is in living steel!

Jason from Affinity Cycles told me about this very special collaboration project and I was sold.

The Metropolitan was a new model for Affinity, inspired by the traditional keirin geometry with original Affinity frame designs, and proven on the streets.

We have been given the opportunity to add our personality and flavor to this modern classic and are very proud to introduce it to you.

This unique collaboration between two kindred spirits is now available only at your favorite bicycle shop on 4th street in philadelphia. I invite you to come visit the shop and check out my build and talk about making one uniquely yours.

I am absolutely loving this bike and was able to get it out for a nice 40 mile ramble this weekend, taking full advantage of the holiday and the 90+ degree weather.

Each frame includes a custom badge in either silver or bronze, lovingly crafted by Jennifer Green at Revolution Cycle Jewelry.

There are four sizes 47, 52, 55 and 57 available in the BRevs green on green colorway for $500.

I will be building more of these as the days go by and you should check them out HERE!

Very Special Thanks To Adam Nordmeyer For His Photography Services!!!

Another teaser, photo shoot scheduled for Monday...

Ol' Faithful

I finally got around to making some upgrades to my Park TS2 today. I have had this for about 15 years now, it is definitely the best investment I have ever made. It might not be Apple stock but it will have to do.

When I originally purchased it in 1995ish I was dismayed to find out that it did not include a base, what good is it if it doesn't hold itself up? So Otis, my mentor, gave me this old home made wooden base so that I would stop whining. I have loved it and cherished it ever since. I propped it up on a piece of 2x4 to get a better angle as it was not adjustable and then drilled some holes in it to fit a bottle of Tri-Flow and a bottle of Loc-Tite. A few years ago though the round bottle of Tri-Flow I have been refilling for years finally broke, and I have now modified it to fit the goofy oval shaped bottle. Sometimes we must evolve, like it or not. And I also just fitted it with a sweet Schwinn friction shifter, for when I need to build wheels in high gear!

Here you see my custom spoke wrench holders, and my newly fitted custom Crane brass bell. It allows me to celebrate the birth of new wheels with a lovely ding ding.

Now I am ready for many more years of happy wheel building.

The Maypril Fools Bicycle Revolutions Boutique Checkpoint!

What a great weekend! Thanks to RE Load for putting together another successful event. The Boutique hosted a checkpoint, we managed to get quite a few Fools in looking for POINTS! The deal was you had to draw a portrait of your bicycle in crayon. The our panel of judges would critique your portrait and decide if you got 20, 40 or 60 points. Those who were most creative and had the most colors and elements to their portrait got the most points.

Mr. Houser got maximum points for his use of elements and the added Haiku, even though it was plagiarized. He went on to win the overall big prize! Congrats Brett.

This Foolish racer, Darian, got max points as well. His bike was in the woods, for real. He went on to get the second Big Prize of the day! Congrats to him, enjoy the orange wheels.

Andy Zalen was in town looking for points as well. I have known this dude for the better part of two decades. Damn I'm getting old. He is the poster boy for DC Couriers, and international messenger super star. He is definitely one of the people keeping the dream alive. Check him out, he is making it happen.

And then Brutaltron arrived. Thanks for bringing all of your friends Ralph...

And of course we were very happy to see some of our BRevs alumni. Miss Megs showing off some of her creativity for maximum points!

So much fun! And to end the weekend at Tattoo Mom's for Cycle Sunday and the World Premier of Bootleg Sessions 4. There was a little riding and lots of beer drinking.

You can check out some more photos HERE. Thanks again to everybody for playing and having FUN! Keep an ear out for our next Art event which will be highlighting the cream of the crop from the bicycle portraits.