1x, 2x, 3x, maybe with a Twist

Some things are great conversation starters, some are just appealing and we can't put our hands on why, others are so wrong they are right. I don't know if that describes what has come up in conversation a few times since Frostbike but this wheel sure does catch the eye.

Yes, we like it even more that it's a B43 but we can appreciate this unique lacing pattern done up by the guys at Handspun [if you were at the show you would have seen one of these in our booth or in their booth]. JBolt rocks a snowflake lacing on one of his rigs and was jazzed about this once he saw it.

Another unique project we had going for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show this weekend was that done by Jacobi. If you follow us on Twitter you've already seen this but it's part table, part display, and part pump. This came about through trying to find an original way to display all our spoke and nipple colors. Sure there are probably easier ways of doing it that might take up less room but leave it to Jacobi to come up with this concept.

Here are a few of the main parts you'd need if you feel like making one of your own:
1 - 32 hole, 20" [406] Fusion Rim
1 - old Schwinn pump
1 - 20" tire
1 - piece of glass cut to proper size

*You'll also need some sort of larger base for the pump so it won't fall over on you. Jacobi used an old chainring from a 1-piece crank. He also radial laced the wheel instead of any crossing pattern for a cleaner look. It's also good to note that the pump still pumps... sorta.

Handmade.

Today, the Jeff's are making their final preparations for the trip to Richmond, Virginia for this year's North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Jacobi has put together a pretty sweet batch of wheels and rims for everyone to check out. From the looks of it, this year's show should be as good if not better than years past. Stop by our booth #231 and say hello, pick up a catalog and check out our stuff.

Around a month ago, I started a project partnering with Michigan Awesome in making a custom one-off Michigan themed wheel, in hopes for having it done by the Handmade show. Using all 3 sticker designs they have, I cut out and covered the rim with: 'Isn't for Sissies', 'Smitten with the Mitten' and my personal favorite 'Bi-Peninsular and Proud' goodness. Then lacing up one of our limited edition gold, solid flange, hollow axle track hubs to a B43 rim with blue spokes and green nipples as a slight nudge at our great state's flag.

Overall, the wheel turned our great and from a distance it is exactly what I was hoping the project could be. Unfortunately, as the time crunch became apparent we had to make certain calls on what wheels could or could not make their way to Richmond, the Michigan wheel did not make the cut. It will most definitely be making plenty of appearances around Grand Rapids and the Midwest, along with on our Twitter/Facebook pages.


Michigan Awesome is a great company, started by some guys here in Grand Rapids, that simply strives to celebrate our great state. Please take time to make it over to their site, check out their shirts and hoodies. If you Twitter, show some Michigan love and tag it with #michiganawesome. Because we all know it... 'it's good to be where you're from'.

Revoked

We like videos here at Velocity and we're part of another one called Revoked by Chris Fonseca. Fonseca released his last project, No Cassettes, 10 months ago and his latest is called Revoked. Revoked will showcase the best riders and spots to date. Revoked is starring:

Justin (CONGO) Mitchell
Derek Joseph (ONE MAN WRECKING CREW) Mull
Gus (HONDURAN HAMMER) Molina
Matt (Silky) Spencer
Richard (MR. GLASS) Baldwin

They are now taking PRE-ORDERS @ revokedmovie.bigcartel.com and the film ships out the end of next month. A World Premier will be held in Long Beach at Downtown Showdown. Here are two of the trailers for the film:

REVOKED TRAILER from REVOKED MEDIA on Vimeo.

REVOKED FINAL TRAILER from REVOKED MEDIA on Vimeo.

In some more Frostbike news, the guys over at All-City introduced a new steed to their line up... the Nature Boy, a single speed 'cross bike:

Looks like it won't be available before July but that's plenty of time before 'cross season. Yep, those are B43's on there and yes, there is not a machined braking surface. Have no fear, just as the guys over at Urban Velo have seen, our ano rims without a machined sidewall can handle brakes just fine. Final spec on the complete bike doesn't look to be determined quite yet, either way this is a hot bike. I just might have to get my hands on one.

Gravel

Endurance Gravel Road Racing. I don't know if I want to call it the latest trend since riding on gravel is nothing new or maybe that's just coming from my days as a shop rat back in Iowa. Either way the popularity of the 24 hour races seems to have morphed it's way into endurance gravel racing for one reason or another. Open courses, 100+ miles, no support, no non-sense riding. Races like the DirtyKanza, Heck of the North, Trans Iowa, and the newly minted Gravel World Championships all have sprung up all in the last 10 years. Not to say that this is a purer form of racing but often these have no fees, done on some sort of raffle format with a cap on the number of riders, put on by riders for riders. As with any of bicycle event, simply just a great time. There are also a number of shorter gravel races like Michigan's very own Barry Roubaix that are out there if you'd want to just see what all the fuss is about, a few of the Velocity crew will be doing this event. For a great list of gravel races check out the Gravel Grinder News website.

I say all of this to announce our sponsorship of Trans Iowa. We are providing every participant with one of our bottle traps for this late April race. This was announced over at one of the race promoters sites, G-Ted, this past Friday with what I must say a great endorsement for the Trap:

I've actually used these cages and they grip your bottle with authority! I highly doubt you will lose a bottle on a rough gravel road using one of these composite/plastic cages.

Both Ted and David put countless hours into putting on this great event and we're excited to be a part of it! Good luck riders!

2010 Catalog

Over the course of 2009 we heard your request for a print catalog, and wait is no longer: the new 2010 catalogs are now out! If you're at Frostbike this weekend, swing by our booth and snag one, otherwise we will be packing one along with most orders. We tried to make the catalog as concise as possible, focusing on a few wheelsets, accessories and then a chart breakdown on all our rims. Our website will always be the more exhaustive and up-to-date resource for all our product [which we will be launching a new site some time this year] and a PDF version of the catalog should be available there shortly.

We have always prided ourselves on custom builds to your specifications and desires. We offer handcrafted rims in more sizes, drillings, and colors than any other rim maker on the planet. Contact your local bicycle shop for details on how to have your wheelset built today.

So for today I offer you a few screen shots of the new catalog...