Bottles And Chains

Save the planet – ban cycle helmets Continue reading “Even Trickier”

Yep, finally finished it.

I’ve been hustling like crazy for the last few months, hoarding parts for the bike to replace the Ken Self. There’s been a vision in my head that’s slowly emerged into real life, and a growing pile of parts on the corner of my workbench that has been holding a lot of promise. To be honest, the bike’s conception started becoming a reality way back at the start of last year. Neil came to stay for the SS Nats, shared a mattress (and god knows what else) with Dan, then waltzed his way back over the Melbourne. A few weeks later a mysterious package arrived, which was torn open to reveal small and innocent Chris King headset. I’ve yet to figure out what Neil did to make him feel guilty enough to send such a gift, but I wasn’t keen to get involved in any kind of equine dentistry with that little number, so the headset went into the parts bin and the brain began to tick over (slowly, of course). Fast forward to the demise of Ken and it was time to kick things into gear (oh, pun).

I posted up some ranting and raving about Alien bikes a while back, completely without any kind of proof of their quality or ability to back up whatever crap I was spouting. However, I did have faith in my own (usually misguided) judgement and the frames really did look the business, so the credit card came out and the order went through. All seemed well founded when it arrived a couple of weeks later.

From there, things went a little crazy. Phil came along for the ride, in a potentially controversial colour. Nic and Ben have always maintained that those who spend too much time concerned with aesthetics will end up matching their hubs to their panties. Fortunately, I’m yet to own any underwear that matches this pair, although the rest of the bike follows a theme that is frequently echoed on the coathangers. Either way, fixed gear bikes are sexy, and so are pink hubs.

The end result is the first bike I’ve built up from new parts. Not a bad start, if I do say so myself. It’s been a little odd not jumping onto the Ken Self the last couple of mornings, but the new bike is truly holding its own. Alien came through with the goods, and the frame is a great ride. The geometry is exactly what I was after, and the frame’s a little larger, which is a good thing for my legs. The hubs are beyond a dream, and everything has that new feeling, which means it’s running smooth as hell. There’s no holding back or babying happening with this one, so it won’t be long before I find out how it holds up to a bit of Tassie winter grit and grime. So here we go, time to thrash and burn. Now I can finally lock my bike to poles without fretting about scratching the paint.

Throw a wave or a skid if you see it out and about.

Gotta say thanks to Baden for hooking up the paint job, Russell for the machining, Tim for the tooling and Dan for the anodising (dutch rudder instead of a wristy?). Huzzah!

For a spec list, Continue reading “BnC x Cyclingo x Alien – sweet colab”

For those that haven’t heard, I’ll be returning to the Southern Isle for six day in September.. and of course, I have a radventure planned. Here is the wood..  Rain or shine, on Monday 14 September I’m planning to cycle from my parents home in Margate to Ouse, overnight, then return the next day.

Not sure on the exact route, but after much discussion, the following route seems the most likely: Hobart, Rosetta, Collinsvale, Molesworth, New Norfolk, Plenty, Glenora, Westerway, Ellendale, Ouse, Hamilton, Elderslie, Broadmarsh, Brighton, Teatree, Richmond, Cambridge, Rosny, Hobart.   According to Google Map, it’s about 230km’s return (approx +/-)  …not exactly huge, but enough to wet the palette.

The overnight arrangements? not sure.  …but there are a few options, the two best being; a) ‘camping out’ and b) ‘a room in the local pub’ ..but should you choose to follow the Faust Coppi cycling regime option c) ‘the footpath outside the Ouse Hotel’ may suffice? Haha, nah.. Reckon I’ll pack a tent. Campfires rule. Open to discussion on this one..

Any punters want to come along for the ride?

Email me at: benny@bottlesandchains.com

Enough is enough. I’m flying home to educate the B’n’C new-school in the ways of the old.  Bike + camera + mates = 1 awesome alleycat race. Be there, become enlightened. 

I know how much old man Ben loves me posting about stuff you can buy, so here’s a double-hitter of good shit you should get your mitts on.

First up are Ben McGill’s most excellent anti-derailleur art prints.  Limited edition (I know you love it) two-colour screen prints (mmm) on fancy 300gsm paper. This is the kind of shit cool people have framed and hanging on the wall in their sweet studio loft apartments, next to vintage skateboard decks and old school punk rock flyers. You just gotta pay a few clams ($35 posted) and you can get your art-cred on, so get amongst it. Supporting local artists makes you a better person (or less of a bastard at least). If you want one, you should send Ben an e-mail.

Next up are the new chainrings from the girls over at Candy Cranks. They’re taking the custom chainring game up a notch, with hand painted detailing and an awesome etched CC logo (seriously looks the cats tits). I’ve got a feeling the rings are made by the Cycle Underground crew, and if that’s the case then I can vouch for them being amazing quality. If not, I’m sure they’re awesome anyway. Either way, heaps of colour options (match ’em to your hubs and panties) and available in either silver or black. Guaranteed to make you go in a forward direction when paired with a chain and cog. Head over to the CC store to get your hands on the (very) goods.

On another note, I’m pondering a bit of Hobart bike polo. Everyone else seems to be doing it, so we may as well figure out what all the fuss is about. Sunday arvos once the weather gets a bit warmer (or sooner), on a hardcourt somewhere central. Stay tuned, or help make it happen! Make yer mallet.

joshpringle.com

i think its time we all went on radventures. up to the hills or down to the shore. make boats out of twigs or kites out of wax. use roads as rivers not as lakes. circles are for fat people, and white lines aren’t just for saturday nights. use trees for climbing and build things from their limbs. hammers and nails, serpents and sails. see these stars in our dreams cause we’re sleeping in paddocks, not cause we’re dreaming of paris. let the wind take our troubles away as we drive with the windows down and the stereo distorting. lets ride with vampires and invite these wild things home. hills instead of pills, cars with full trunks instead of bars filled with drunks. see sunrises cause we got up, not cause we didn’t go to bed. take photographs and take pity on those who don’t. drink cool clean water to quench our thirst. read books to quench our thirst. play records to quench our thirst. write stories to quench our thirst. draw pictures like we’re drawing swords. fuck half full, let it be filled to the brim. let hearts be beacons. young, free, brave and stupid but never useless. lets take winter by storm and summer in waves and let spring and autumn beg for our attention. these streets are veins and we’re the blood. lets head for the heart as the drunkards reel like wounded birds along the city walls. so grab your hammers, your pick-axes and your pencils, its time to start moving.

A manifesto for radventure.

So, another wet weekend. The trails will be knee deep in slops & I don’t do road. I should be studying, but instead, going through my old photos & scanning the best ones is a lot more fun. Don’t have many earlier ones than these from 97/8. So many shit photos, got to love digital for instant feedback.

From the local rag back in NZ in 97, not my best side & what was I thinking with that helmet. Continue reading “Back in the day”