Singlespeed racing in the Himalayas

Our boy Doug just got back from Sikkim, India for the India MTB Expedition. Race organizers and race promoters had some trouble issuing prizes. A near riot ensued (funny how you can't expect people to torture themselves for nothing). Money was borrowed to pay prizes out. Doug took 7th in his division. He rode a singlespeed, 'cuz gears are for suckaz.

His race report (part 1, we hope)...

Some photos from my three week jaunt over in northern India. Yup, otherside of the world. I went over there with three other US racers (TimmyD from Cannondale, Janel from Cannondale and Harlan from Independent Fabrications).

We competed in a 9-day mountain bike race.

Tim and I were the only ones on singlespeeds. I opted for a suspension fork rather than my trusty rigid.

~ Nutrition was sub-par (all carb diet)
~ Lodging was sub-par
~ bathroom/washrooms were sub-par
~Commitments were broken from the day we arrived (travel, lodging, etc..)
~Race organizers were not paid
~Race winners were originally paid a fraction of what they were owed

This all lead to a revolt by all racers and volunteers and local townspeople that care for the reputation of the Indian state of 'Sikkim' during the awards ceremony post-race.

Redemption followed a day later with the winners and race organizers getting paid.

We then flew home exhausted...



Met some great people from all over the world (Canada, UK, Germany, Nepal, India). The Nepalese mountain bikers we raced/rode with (top riders in the country) want us to come to Nepal to ride. Perhaps a Nepal trip is in store for next year. SInglespeed obviously ;)

some of Tim's photos (mine are forthcoming):


dolla dolla bill, y'all.

yeah.


oh' snap!


"you better let me in!"


domestic airline on the way home didn't like my overweight bike box. had to open 'her up and move some gear to another box. had the whole airport watching.


3 weeks of this (or out near a tree or better yet.. in the middle of the road. haha)! most did not have paper. SO glad to be back to western civilization


local support to help me bleed my brakes


make sure those 'bars are aligned properly!


'freakshow!'


We're off! That's me up against one of the top nepalese riders. I was on his wheel the entire descent. singlespeed [and 29er] this!


Improvise!
Yes, that guy was overseeing the females working.


so depleted of protein... we almost cooked this little guy up. sad to say that but it was the truth at the time.


killing time at the start of day 5.


this breakfast was actually VERY good.

walking in Gangtok.. the capital of Sikkim. 5700ft above sea level. No road was flat.


start of day 1. us 'whities' or 'americans'


the crazy german (red) and brit (white)
actually, these two peters were hilarious and great company. good peeps


you only need one


local media

harlan likes to pick his nose (so do i)


the competition


janel and i at breakfast (day 2)... oohhhh. more carbs


rode across this 'ish


weeeeee!
(harlan and I)


janel foam rollin'
little self massage


lunch. lookie here. more carbs


the trail ahead

morning of day 4. enjoying some chai tea whilst still in the sleeping bag


bridge action


its simple!


100% curable


mid-day argument between the race organizers (blue shirt on left) and race promoter (white shirt in middle)


legs are gunked up and hurt
day 3


innovative new way of pumping up bicycle tires. get your whole body into it...


carnage!




nipples are stripped, spokes are at super high tension. need to straighten wheel so the v-brakes will work. use your feet!


waterfall


just riding along


sacred cow


hmmm. who is out of place?


don't touch my ass




tea stop at 7000ft


chilln'


one of my favorite photos Tim took


"make it stop!"


bamboo scaffolding


big winners!
harlan (1st mens solo USA) and gerry (1st mens master CAD)






janel (very cold) and mangal (nepalese national champion)


harlan having some fun on a road switchback


i was a little more conservative


WE are officially DONE!


tea anyone?


post-race uproar!


great Kangchendzonga mountain (3rd tallest in world)

post race shave US$1.00

Subrosa Malum Fixed Gear

Subrosa, BMX heads from the Portland, Oregon area are releasing their own fixed-gear, the Malum. Is it just a "cash-in"? In their blog post about the Malum, they seem to send a quiet nod to the TheComeUpBMX's "controversial" anti-fixed stance. "...a new style of bike to our line, even if there is some mixed feelings about it.". They also refer to fixed-gears as bikes to "cruise to bars, and blast around town", which while somewhat accurate, is a far cry from what these bikes are typically used for, even outside of the velodrome.
Of course, my favorite quote is "Just remember there might be a better tool for the job, like a BMX bike." Maybe it's just me, or just my sales background, but you might not want to tell potential consumers that your product isn't necessarily what they really want.

All that aside, let's take a look at the bike, shall we?
4130 Chromoly frame, fork, and handlebars, sealed integrated headset, and sealed bottom bracket. Dirty gusset on the down tube only.






Anybody out there riding one of these? We'd love the feedback. Post below if you've got any extra info.

OPEN Bicycle (open), Superbe (open), and Chorus (open)

While their Grand Opening is next Saturday, OPEN Bicycle is officially, um, open. Call it a soft-opening if you will, 'cuz the shit goes off next weekend. As Justin Keena says, "Yeah, Easter Eve, that's how we party."
OPEN's open at the corner of Washington St & Hawkins St, Union Square, Somerville, MA. OPEN will also be the home of the Superbe Design Collaborative and the Chorus Gallery.

The Scorchers are sending a contingent up to Boston, as well as a crew down to Tracklocross, all after berating Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference racers at the ol' East Rock switchback. Busy, busy day.

Here are some more shots from the OPEN space, all nefariously stolen from their flickr...

SE Bikes to sponsor Grand Theft Velo

SE Bikes, makers of the singlespeed setups Ale, Draft, Lager, and Stout, as well as some fun retro rides, have signed on as a sponsor for Grand Theft Velo III, May 16th in New Haven, CT. How's that for a run-on sentence?!

Remember Your First Race?

Read this over at Fyxomatosis. I love these stories...and the best part is everyone's got one...

2001.

I can remember parts of my first alleycat.
I'd heard from another courier during the week that there was a 'race'.
The next day I got a scrap piece of paper which have rough details of the event.

Meet at the Duke of York, Friday 7pm.

Pretty Boy wore a blonde wig. I didn't know him, but I'd sold him a pair of handlebars, and he was one of the riders who could REALLY ride back then. He was one of the VERY few brakeless couriers. So few that you could name them all in the same breath. I rode my carbon Giant MCM team mountain bike. I had niteriders blaring for the occasion thinking it'd help.
I'd never heard of the first checkpoint in Camden (well I had but couldn't understand the organiser so just followed wheels)

It was the first time I'd really split an intersection, while trying to hold the wheel of a pack of 20 motley riders doing the same. Drafting wheels in the dark, darting across streeting, dodging potholes.
Horns honked, in the darkness oncoming headlights stole my vision, and my heart had never raced so hard.

After a number of checkpoints, and tasks at each, including telling funny stories, drawing pictures on oneself, shots of brandy, climbing fences it was the home stretch.

Marco and Andrea were talking tactics in Italian so I couldn't understand them as we hurled up City rd together in the dark. I figured they were planning on dropping me so I thwarted them by punching the last climb up to Essex rd and left them in my wake.
Riding into traffic never felt so good....
I hugged Cuba at the end, a euphoric sense of arrival came over me from living through my first alleycat.
Young, dumb, and feelin' invincible. I wouldn't change a thing.
There were no forums, websites or the like to promote these 'races'. It was word of mouth and ultimately this meant a BIG race was 20-30 people, and only couriers.
Even couriers didn't know about them unless they hung out at the 'spot' or knew other couriers that knew couriers that knew. Know what I mean?
There was maybe a handful of events over that summer. Not one every other week.
Alleycats weren't even a blip on the radar.

They are 138

we are 138. from steve clark on Vimeo.

Brooklyn Machine Works to sponsor Grand Theft Velo

Brooklyn Machine Works, makers of the Gangsta Track have signed on as one of the sponsors for Grand Theft Velo III on May 16th. We're excited to have a quasi-local manufacturer involved. Rumor also has it that their sponsored rider, Austin Horse, will be making it out as well.

Death Pedal Trailer 2

A day late on this one, but it's still pretty amazing.


DEATH PEDAL trailer 2 By Kareem Shehab from Killa Kareem on Vimeo.

Sneak peak into OPEN

Tracklocross Update

Tracklocross is just over a week away (Saturday, 4/11) and Team Wreckstuff posted some pics from their course recon last weekend. It's going to be more brutal than last year's race, featuring a checkpoint that will simply be known as "tetanus." The guys putting on this race have been longtime supporters of New Haven's races and it's always a blast when they come up to ride with us. The Scorchers are proud to be saying that we'll be sponsoring this race and encourage anyone who isn't going to show up, ride, get muddy, or just laugh at everyone else who is. Just as a heads up on the rules, here's the deal:

We here at Tracklocross Headquarters would like to take this opportunity to announce some simple things about Tracklocross 2009:

1. FIXED OR SLICKS RULE: Your bike must either have either a fixed gear, or slick tires no fatter than 25mm. Want to ride your cyclocross bike? Fine, as long as you throw proper road tires on it. Wanna ride your fixed gear? Great. You're allowed to use cross tires. What? You only ride singlespeeds? All right, just make sure it has slicks.

2. SPECIAL TRACK BIKE CATEGORY: There will be a special prize for the highest-placing rider riding a track bike. By track bike, we mean a bike with: a fixed gear, geared at greater than or equal to 49x16 (700x23c). Plugged drop bars. No brakes. Slick tires.

Open Bicycle Grand Opening

Our boys in Boston over at Open Bicycle have been unofficially open for almost a week. These guys have been working day and night for months, and to celebrate they're throwing the mother of all grand opening parties. It's going down Saturday April 11th. Here are all the details straight from Zack:
"Saturday looks like this: 10am-7pm - shop grand opening. 7pm - Gallery Opening featuring Justin Keena's photography. 9pm - Open Video Short & Macaframa premiere followed by a party & midnight crit, sprints, trick comp & foot down."
Come out, check out their shop, and congratulate them.

Charge's New Bike - The Mangle

"fixed gear bikes, waxed moustaches and retro cycling caps are all favoured by the cycling 'in-crowd' ... what next?"
---from Road.cc

Dougy Fresh back in the States

Doug Jenne, world traveler and singlespeed nut-job extraordinaire has returned from The India Stage Race, where he took 7th in his division.
There are some photos up on his blog which he promises to update soon with a full race report.