02.10.10
Update! We have finalized the details of the next run of our kit with Capo Forma. If any of you own any Capo kit you will know that it is a high quality product. Great longevity and attention to detail. We will be releasing this round of the kit at cost price (prices per piece below). We are going to do a limited run, so let us know if you are interested nice and early as it will impact the quantities we get per size (we have already had a lot of interest). The main pieces we will offer will be the Elcyclista jerseys and bibs. Also, depending on the amount of interest we may do caps and arm warmers. We made a few tweaks to the original design but nothing major as the feedback we got was so positive. The details are below. If you are interested, drop me an email to eurobiker@gmail.com with the pieces you are interested in and the sizes you would want (the Capo Forma catalogue has more details on sizing). When I get your requests, I’ll email back individually with payment details (we will be doing it through PayPal). Thanks in advance for your support and spreading the word
The Jersey: $65 (USD)
We are getting European race cut (usually means if you like a little room like me you need to go a size up; I am 5′8″ and about 154lbs and medium build – I need a large jersey) using their Drop fabric, Dual-knit, tear drop style knit with proven moisture management and sublimation properties. The design has a full-length lockable hidden zipper, three back pockets and a silicone gel waist gripper.
The Bibs: $75 (USD)
Will be made with their 210 Power Lycra for longevity and have the Corsa chamois insert. It is an elastic one-piece construction with varying thickness (High 10mm, Medium 7mm and Low 5mm), perforated open cells for maximum air flow, anti-microbial microfiber composed of silver ion threads and enhanced perennial channel for additional comfort. This is a great all-around seating option.
Arm warmers: $25 (USD)
Ideal accessory for every climate and condition, providing both muscle support and effective UV protection. Power Lycra® SPF 50 and silicone gel arm gripper.
Caps: $8 (USD)
One size fits all! Standard cap size. Branded inside peak, wear it flipped up in honor of VDB.
Posting:
Using USPS on Priority Mail, flat rate, with 6 to 1o days delivery time
International: $14
Domestic (US): $10
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys, Design, Kit
COMMENTS (1)
01.10.10
Seeing that Ritte frame has inspired me. It may never see the light of day, but I am going to start the long process of designing an Elcyclista frame. Any designers reading this will know and understand that designing for yourself is like counting the hairs on your head. So I wholly expect to be posting the design this time in 2011, but you have to start somewhere. For years now I have been following the guys at Mollusk in San Francisco. They are a custom surfboard maker, and in my opinion the kings of color. Even if you don’t take to the waves (in the same way that we take to the road, expect to show up at the shop and see a “Gone Surfing” sign), what they make and shape are things of beauty. Part surf shop, t-shirt designers, art gallery, music promoter, Mollusk is well worth the visit, but go when the tide is out. Their board designs are simple and understated with beautiful color combinations, and patterns that remind me of retro cycling jerseys. The finish on the boards is amazing and the high gloss resin seal makes the colors they choose really pop. They add in beautifully simple details like pinstripes and single color hand-drawn illustrations. It is a good place to start.
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
COMMENTS (1)
12.21.09
Whilst our Sunday ride was canceled due to 14 inches of snow, Stefan in San Miguel, Spain, was out giving his bike a “wash”. I just got these great shots from him taking his kit out for an inaugural ride around a soggy Spanish countryside. We are lucky enough to have Stefan be a regular reader, as he is also a pretty amazing photographer (check out his work, http://www.stefan-rohner.net/blog/). He said the kit held up well and the mud came out on washing. 
Also check out his winter ride below, a beautiful Speedvagon from Vanilla Bikes of Portland, Oregon. (Photos: © Carina Berlingeri)
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys, Kit
COMMENTS (6)
12.09.09
We recently got contacted by a couple of readers from Melbourne (thanks for the support Philip and Eddie) and it prompted me to revisit these shots and the time I spent at one of their towns nicest shops. Now having shamelessly promoted iFixByx, let me say there are certain bike shops that achieve a “special” status. These are the shops that when you travel around the world you make a pilgrimage to go and see. Condor in London, Above Category in Mill Valley, River City in Portland, you tend to hear about their name long before you go. These are the shops that are more than just about selling. They are part museum, community, service, routes, and conversation about everything bikes. Spoke(n) in Melbourne is one of those shops. Located in the St Kilda neighborhood in a beautiful old corner store, the space has been cleaned up to retain most of its original features. They carry a really interesting range of brands, from top-end road frames like Guerciotti and Pinarello, to beautifully coordinated street builds by Schwinn. They have mixed that up with some great bike culture, with little museum cases playing homage to the cycling greats like Eddy Merckx, to selling retro wool jerseys alongside Solo and Capo. Great shop filled with friendly staff who are more than happy to tell you how great the local riding scene is, and how the Beach Road run on Sundays is one of the best rides in the world. That is actually pretty hard to argue with.
CATEGORIES: Classic, Design, Kit
COMMENTS (1)
iFixbyx is like having your own personal mechanic. Someone who knows your ride intimately, and how to treat her just right. In my case Mark Purdy the owner of iFixbyx also built my ride and has handled all of the upgrades over the last two years. You know how it is when you get on a new build for the first time, that first few days are hard to replicate. Cables get stretched, things get knocked about and the ride is never that smooth again. Well every time I get my bike back from Mark it feels like a new build. Riders are a fussy lot, we like things just right. When you find a good mechanic you usually have to go out of your way to make it work. The nice thing about this service is, that Mark goes out of his way to look after your ride.
Mark stepped back and looked at what was out there, and built the whole idea of iFixByx around customer needs and their lifestyle. It is simple, he offers everything, from basic tune-ups to full PRO builds. You can bring him the parts, or he can get them for you, he doesn’t really care, it is up to you. This is a service not a shop, he isn’t trying to sell you anything. Take advantage of the World Wide Web and source the parts at the best price and bring them to Mark, it is perfect. Then he looked at what was missing out there. Well, how hard is it to actually get to the shop during the week? Work, training, travel, walk the dog….when can I make that work? So Mark will come and pick the bike up from you, do the work and drop it back. Pretty nice. It gets better, for those of you that live outside of NYC this may not apply, but I can tell you setting a bike stand up in the living room doesn’t fly around here. There are some things I can do, and some things I would rather leave to someone who knows, this is not a project after all. iFixByx will also be offering a workstation for you to come and work on your own bike, use some tools and get some guidance from the Sensei. This service alone makes it worth never going to a bike shop ever again.
He has also added a great gift certificate idea that allows you to pay up front for service (or get friends and family to buy it for you!) – which also helps Mark get what he needs to get the business up and running the way he wants. Check it out. You won’t go back to a bike shop ever again.
iFixbyx, NYC.
CATEGORIES: Kit, Rides
COMMENTS (0)
11.25.09
It is a momentous day here at Elcyclista, today was the first road test of our new kit. A lovely dark 7am start with Chad from Endurance Werx in CP wasn’t really how I was envisioning rolling it out. I was thinking more like maybe along the Cornice outside Nice on the Cote D’Azur on a warm summers morning, but you take what you get. At least it stayed dry. A really nice job from Champion Systems (thanks to Brian Breech for pushing it through), although I may need butt balm with that Chamois. This is a first and limited run which are being given to Elcyclista followers so they can become pedal-powered billboards for us. We have a few sets left, so let us know if you are willing to let us pimp you out and become moving advertising. One clause, we will expect pictures, in kit, from bunch rides and exotic locals. Leave a comment and let us know.
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys, Design, Kit
COMMENTS (12)
11.22.09
For Condor’s 6oth anniversary and no doubt the fact they have the British Champion in their team Fizi:k have created this special edition saddle in way of celebration. I had to get one, now all I have to do is find a bike to add it to. Another one for the Component Lust section.
CATEGORIES: Component Lust, Kit
COMMENTS (0)
11.14.09
“Riding in the rain will make you stronger.” – Sean Kelly
I really don’t mind riding in the rain; growing up in Northern Ireland there wasn’t really a choice. We would always tell ourselves we were tougher for doing it, and besides our Sean said…. The problem with riding in the rain is not the rain, it is the crap that ends up all over you that comes off the road that really bothers me. And in NYC that is a lot of crap. Not to mention if you go out to ride with a few of the guys, that would be your face and your ass getting covered. The old-style full fenders that keep you truly clean required you to bolt them to the brake and have eyelets on your frame to fasten the stays – not an option on any of the frames I have now. The “backscratcher” fender design I just can’t bring myself to put on the bike. They look like something I would make as a kid out of a Cornflake box. Then the SKS Race Blades came along. They are now a permanent fixture on the winter wet ride. They were out of the plastic storage package and onto the bike in about 10 mins. They attach using a rubberized strap that has plenty of adjustment to fit any dimension of tubing or fork. Once on, they are really easy to adjust, as you can slide them up and down within their brackets to get the correct distance from the tire (the closer the better).
On the road they work really well. No back spray and the front one keeps the booties pretty dry. Now I have to convince everyone I ride with to buy a set to keep the grit out of my teeth. Get on over to Competitive Cyclist and get a set. For $55 the money you will save on having to boil wash your kit alone will make it worth it. (Note on the picture above: They don’t stop you getting flats on your back tire.)
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
COMMENTS (0)
11.08.09
Two new classic jerseys to add to the ever bulging kit drawer, both made by Vermac, and purchased on a recent trip to San Francisco. The first is a jersey from the Eddy Merckx Grand Fondo run in La Portenza in Italy. It has great color combination of leader jersey’s colored stripes (Yellow, Pink and Gold) from each of Eddy’s Grand Tour domination’s (in order of preference? – I always thought he liked the Vuelta better than the Giro). The second jersey is from one of the countries best bike shops, Above Category in Mill Valley. Rarely do bike shops get their jersey design right, they always try to do too much or just get one little bit wrong. Everything AC does rates high. Classy shop, kit and people.
CATEGORIES: Classic Jerseys, Kit
COMMENTS (0)
10.27.09
Cool for many reasons. It is named after a great bass player, one of the best the US has ever created. There is a white one, and it is rechargeable via a USB port on your computer. I love my Knog light, it looks great, but it is more for identification than illumination. If you are planning on Park rides at night this winter this 4 LED light is going to do both. On the continuous light setting you get 3 hours of light and it recharges in about an hour. You can get the front and back combo pack on Amazon for $32. Bargain!
CATEGORIES: Design, Kit
COMMENTS (1)
