Carbon Fibre Sex

Crumpton Carbon Fibre Custom

www.frameforum.net – crumpton

I’ll just go get a towel now..

The bike is bristling with exclusive features, like carbon track dropouts and a rider and event-specific, high modulus tube set. In the seatstay area, Nick forgoes the customary pre-fabbed wishbone arrangement to make way for truly elegant twin 15mm stays, while the chainstays are a Crumpton-fabbed custom “monobox” design to give maximum efficiency under all-out hill climbing loads. Nick?s proprietary bonding and layering system used at the tube junctions is so fine and carefully applied that at first glance the impression is that the frame is a one-piece molded monocoque. The top tube is subtly ovalised and the down tube gently flares to an oval at the bottom bracket. The end result is a frame of outstanding aesthetic quality; one that will draw admiring glances from even the most ardent member of the “lugs and steel” school.

Components are equally exotic with the bike assembled in partnership with special projects experts Groupe De Tete. The majority of the parts pick is made up of one-off and prototype designs made exclusively for this bike and event. There?s cranks that have been carefully selected from a production batch of Zipp 300?s and then modified to weigh in at 304gr; there’s an incredible set of wheels by Troy Watson of Ligero Wheelworks featuring titanium bladed spokes, carbon nipples and pared-down Zipp 202 carbon rims; up front there’s a modified Schmolke handlebar with integrated brake lever mated to a custom Crumpton stem. Alpha Q have built a one-off, superlight fork for the project, described as “much lighter than standard; much, much lighter ? too light to quote!” On top, you’ll find a Crumpton manufactured carbon seatpost to hold the Tune Carbon/Kevlar saddle.

ProCycling?s Richard Hallett describes the bike as “an astonishing achievement” and “as single-minded a bike as ever seen on a public road”. There?s no doubt that last statement rings true and in essence, describes this bike as perhaps the pinnacle of custom building; built with one purpose, one rider, one event in mind.

You can?t get more custom than that. If you’re headed for San Jose, do not under any circumstances, miss this bike!

Thought for the day..

Inscription

In the future, people will judge the age of museum artefacts by looking for the ancient inscription “Microwave Safe”.

This came to me while I washed dishes. It’s obviously a sign I should stop.

bicycle film festival

A Sunday In Hell

bicyclefilmfestival.com

“Come this September two-wheeled transportation will take over London as the Sixth Annual Bicycle Film Festival rolls into town. The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) kicks off on September 6, 2007 with screenings September 7-9 at The Cochrane Theatre.”

Crunchy Nuts

Weetbix

For all their hype, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes are just normal Cornflakes (a poor excuse for food as it is) hosed down with some kind of industrial-strength binding agent – I’m guessing a PVC pipe glue – then sprinkled with painted mouse shit.

Tried and true Weeties don’t exist here but there are something called Weet-a-flakes (sp?) which I’ve been told to try. Oh and just like the Tim Tam vs. Penguin non-argument, there exists here a bastardised and far inferior version of Weet-bix called Weetabix.

Riding is good. Thanks to my not-so-new method of ‘wake early, haul arse’ I beat the rain this morning. Bet you thought this post was going to be about my testicles? 😛

SSWC 2007

Single Speed Bicycle

Single Speed Worlds set for 2007

The Singlespeed world championships race and gathering will happen on September 1-2 in Aviemore, Scotland. Last year’s worlds were in Stockholm, Sweden, in mid-August. Sveinung Bj?rk?y (Norway) and Tiffany Allmandinger (USA) won the men’s and women’s divisions.

Aviemore is about a three hour drive from Edinburg and Glasglow airports and one hour from the Inverness airport. According to the organizers’ website, you can also get there by railway, Sustrans cycle routes, and ancient hill paths.

For more information, visit www.sswc2007.com.

Update

There’s also the Single Speed UK Championships taking place during 8th-10th of June at Ashton Court Estate, Bristol. It’s running alongside the Bristol Bike Fest. Sign up for mailing list updates here www.ssuk07.com.

Posted in MTB

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Probably the coolest video I’ve seen on YouTube! Awesome shots as a courier chases a blader around London. Watch it, NOW!

I posted this originally on Jan 11 but this is a new (even better) edit.

Thanks to fixed.org.au for the new version.

It snowed.. I rode..

London Snow Fixed Bike Ride

It had to be done!

Knackered wrist or not the “heavy snow” forecast came true and I was out there!

Summary:

– Snow is more slippery than I thought, but so much fun.. crunch.. crunch..

– Grit stings bare skin

– It was the coldest I’ve ridden in I think. The wind helped that.

– Knee warmers perhaps not best choice, leg warmers a better idea

– I ended up more black than white, so did the Raleigh

– Skidding the fixed on snow and ice is much easier

– Mudguards would’ve been useful

– Full-finger gloves instead of trashed fingerless ones would’ve been clever. COLD!

– Can you tell I’ve not adapted to cold weather yet?

– Snow-covered cities are pretty

– White vans and 4WDs don’t drive any slower

– Saw 6 or 7 riders out. One guy was in a tshirt! Hmmf.. and I thought I was ‘ard..

– My shins were black. My thighs were bright red.

– It’s 10.30am and the snow continues to fall outside my window

“Nice weather for it” I said to one rider at the lights.

He said it was lucky that everyone in London drives a 4×4 otherwise they might not make it in. 🙂

Click here for more pictures.

Micro$oft are the devil's children

fearlessgearless.com – MS anti-bike ad campaign

Car = success? Um.. nope. (But can I use VS 2005 now anyway? Pretty please?)

Forget cars! Here’s the longest in-competition trackstand I’ve seen:

Munich 6 Day – Hoy vs. Wolf

I don’t get to see Chris Hoy attempt the Kilo world record (or at least prep. for his attempt) on the Friday at the Manchester WC but he’s racing the sprints as well.

Anyone know if we have any Aussies racing at the World Cup?

I think I’ll get to the next round of London roller racing too – looks like a big one: The Rapha Roller Race ? Culture Clash