NO LANCE NOOOOOO!

  Lance Armstrong has just broke his collarbone on Monday in the Vuelta de Castilla and Leon race in Spain.  It was reported that during a portion of the race the road narrowed and it seemed that many of the riders were pushing for the front causing wheels crossing and creating a huge spill.  This caused Lance not enough time to react and flew from his bike, which is a result of this unnecessary injury.  We all hope that his healing process is quick and that he's able to hop back onto the saddle soon.  

  I also heard from ESPN News today that this incident is not supposed to affect his running in the Tour de France.  However, it may affect how he places.  He needs race experience to get ready for the Tour de France and this incident does not help, but we've seen Lance do the amazing.  Fight on Lance!

The New Deep V: B43

So, it looks as if the Deep V is searching for a solution to the new favorite H Plus Son rims that are a tall 43 millimeters. Well, I think they've com up with a solution. The B43! Read this...

Velocity: "We are working hard on getting this rim to market. If all goes as planned, they should be readily available this spring. It is called the B43, because it is 43mm tall, making it 1mm taller than our very worthy and formidable competition.

It's hard to compare it to the Deep V. The B43 will be heavier than the Deep V, it's hard to say how much yet.

As for multiple drillings of the B43, we do plan on that, you guys doing tricks have been evolving and you're at the point now where you are doing some rather insane manuevers. We were not thinking of going down to a 28h though. Less spokes is usually indicitive of some one wanting light weight, the B43 will not be light.

It is a work in progress, we have actually received two different batches of extrusion and we are not quite satisfied yet. We are seriously considering modifying the design again and making the B43 wider. Can you imagine a 43mm tall rim by 24mm wide with 48 holes?!?! I'd say that would be just about bullet proof.

We definitely plan on doing a variety of drillings, at least 32h, 36h, and 48h. 650c will happen eventually. A variety of colors too. While they won't be the lightest rim on the planet, they shouldn't be a boat anchor either. The final product should be somewhere between 710 to 730 grams. We could make it lighter, but durability is our main concern.

As for price, it looks like we'll at least be competitive. Making good rims is not a cheap endeavor, sure we could source them out and have them made in China, but that would be selling out in my opinion."

MASH x Cinelli Vigorelli

All I can say is wow... This bike is soooo sick, and is also the frame that Rainier from MASH rode through their journey of California.

The Difference Between High Flange and Low Flange

While in my novice stage of riding a fixed gear bike I kept hearing stuff about low flange and high flange and thought, "What the heck is the difference and does it really matter?" Well, from what I heard from one of the guys at American Cyclery is that it doesn't matter too much.
But what's flange? Technically speaking, a flange is a raised circular rib that encompasses a part, or in this case, the hub. So the flange of a hub is the circular rib that raises from the hub and is where the spokes are attached.
On most fixed gear and track bikes most people like to use the high flange hubs. This is because in a lot of cases like these special edition Phil's, there are drillouts to take off some of the weight and for more speed.

These thing look freakin' amaaaazing! There's only going to be 100 sets of these special edition Phil Woods in the US. But notice all the drillout on the flanges. Another benefit for having high flanges is giving your wheel slightly greater lateral strength because the higher flanges give a bigger angle from the hub to the rim. So, for track sprinters higher flanges are better because they tend to put more side pressure on their wheels.
Some brands that I really like are Phil Wood and Dura-Ace. Haven't heard anything wrong with these two companies for their track hubs. Ride Safe.

The Importance of Facing

  There is a great deal of importance when it comes to facing your new frame, fork, headset, and bottom bracket.  This is something you probably want you're local bicycle shop to do for you because this process requires extremely expensive milling tools that costs several hundreds of dollars to perform.  So why is this important?  It's so you don't wreck or damage or eat shit on your new ride. Haha.  Was facing does is flattens out any uneven surfaces that you may not notice with you eye, but you may feel the difference when you're riding.  It allows for better alignment and for bearings to rotate more smoothly.

  So if you just bought a new sought-after Concept, Vivalo, 3Rensho, etc...go straight to your local bike shop and get your frame and parts faced.  Ride Safe.

Aero-wheels Or Regular Spoked?

  So this is my bike...

  It's a Mercier Kilo TT, with yes, a white Aerospoke.  It has been my pride and joy ever since I built it up because it takes me here and there and to and from work.  However, I always get comments or questions about my front wheel.  Either, what in the hell kind of wheel is that? (By usually people who don't ride) Or why the hell do you ride that? (Usually haters on the street that can't afford them. Haha. I don't know.  I digress.

  So it made me wonder why I even bought the damn thing in the first place?  Well, for one, I think the wheel looks cool as hell.  Whenever I'm bombing down Irving street in the Sunset I more often than not get people turning their heads staring at my front wheel.  It does look pretty cool when the spokes blur at an optimum speed.  Also, I really think the wheel has a long life in durability.  I don't really do tricks so that has probably helped with some of the upkeep of my wheel, but I once got into a pretty bad head-on collision (don't ask) and ran smack into a car.  My fork got pushed in from the collision, but my wheel stayed true.  I was amazed.

  I still have been riding on the wheel like normal ever since.  But, I was also wondering why HED3 wheels are so much more expensive.  Is it because it's carbon and Lance rides with two?!?  One wheel is more than buying two Aerospokes!  I don't get it.  In any case, the real reason for these wheels is aerodynamics and city riding probably isn't the greatest place for that.  But, the Aerospoke I admit has become a trend and I have fallen victim to it, but I simply like mine because I think it looks cool and because it's durable as hell.

  Are there drawbacks for these wheels?  Yeah, Aerospokes definitely aren't as light as conventionally spoked wheels, but I can't really tell the difference since I've been riding it so long.  Another disadvantage is that when and if they become untrue...you're fucked.  Getting the wheel repaired is probably not something most bike shops know how to fixed since their either aluminum or carbon.  I guess my white wheel is sort of like the white computer I'm typing on....If my Mac gets a virus (God forbid)....I'm fucked.  Also, my friend told me that with HED wheels can warp in overexposure to the sun, but I'm not sure how long it would take to do that.  Anywho, that's my little rant about my Aerospoke.  I like it so stop drinkin' your Hater-ade!

These Boys Are Moving Up

  I've been following these guys for awhile now and they never seize to surprise me with their never ending collabos.  Now, Mike Martin, the producer of the Mash DVD, has collaborated with Nice Collective SF and created this beautiful jacket.

  It just looks sleek, clever, and ninja-like.  From this small glimpse the jacket looks water-resistant, which is good for the SF weather.  I really like the scuba-hood too that gives more coverage to your neck when you're hunched over your drops ready to mash.  And that ninja mask is rediculous.  Overall, I want this jacket!

Need a U-Lock Quiver?

  How many pairs of pants or belts have you messed up from your U-locks?  I see many people around the city riding around with their locks squeezed into their back pockets or hanging in their belts.  However, these methods of securing these heavy U's is not a good idea for either your belt or wardrobe.  That's why I decided to try and replicate Fabric Horse's U-lock holster.  Fabric horse uses selvaged seat belt material, but I have no time to scrounge up scrap seat belts from junk yards so that's why I use leather.  Plus, I think it looks better.  

  The design of these things are really simple, but you probably won't be able to sew one of these things on your home sewing machine.  You make fuck up the timing of you machine because you'll be sewing through four layers of leather at some points of the construction.  I roll with a mini Bulldog U-lock and it works like magic.  If your looking to buy one or know people who need one feel free to shoot me an email.

nnagai@sfsu.edu

HOC Carabiner

  So when I saw these things for the first time I was like, "Holy Shit! It has a knife!"  Every hipster kid has one some sort of carabiner latched onto their back belt loop with random U-lock keys, house keys, etc. but the House of Commons took it to the next level.  Now, you could shank a bitch when they cross you the wrong way!!!  Haha. I kid. But you could... Did I also mention that it can lock up into brass knuckles? I'm just sayin'....

  This thing also has a philips and flat head screw driver built in.  It's actually been pretty useful sometimes when I ride without my bag filled with tools and I need to loosen and tighten my back light or whatnot.

  So big ups to House of Commons (Joseph and Saskia) and shot out to Fatlace SF and Kenny who hooked me up with mine.  Hit up Fatlace in Japantown, House of Commons in Vegas, or Chari and Co. in NYC to pick up one for yourself.

CORRECTION: MASHxSAGlife

HOLD THE PRESSES! I just got an email from Mike Martin from MASH saying that Chari and Co. will not be getting the bag after all, but will be sold on MASH's website.  So if you guys live in the city you probably won't have to pay as much shipping. Haha.  Also, the price is now $220!  Even better! Thanks Mike.

"It's My Window, And I Can't Stand The Rain..."

So it feels like it's been a couple of weeks of simply shitty weather.  Personally, I hate the rain.  However, I do understand that we really do need the rain since this past year has been unusually dry but I HATE THE RAIN! It just makes for more slippery roads to skid on and for some odd reason it also seems that motorists are more reckless when it starts to pour.  You would think people would drive safer when it rains right? I don't know, that's just my observation.  But anyway, since we can fight Mother Nature we might as well get equipped with the right gear.  

  Fenders are one cool thing to have for seasons like this so you don't get nasty street water on your back.  I ride with one of those cheaper clip-on bmx styled fenders.  It works just fine. They're reasonably cheap and available at most bike shops around the city.  I think I paid around $16 dollars at American Cyclery.  

  Waterproof jackets and rain shells is another vital for survival in the rain.  I've been riding with my North Face Hyvent, but it's been getting sort of hot on my commutes so I wanted to try and switch to something else.  So I started to reseach for something cheap.

  This polyurethane rain shell is by Bellweather.  It's nothing special but it will keep you dry.  Since this jacket is made from mainly polyurethane (basically plastic) it doesn't have good breathability but there are mesh side vents for some airflow.  

  I first found this jacket at Sports Basement in the Presidio for $17.50! Hella cheap! But they didn't have my size at the time.  They had the same jacket at Avenue Cyclery for something like $24. Weeeeeeaaaaak.  So go grab one at Sports Basement.  Another great thing about this place is that if you're a SF State student they'll give you a 10% discount on top of that sick deal!

  But overall, ride safe this week because its going to be raining off and on all through Wednesday.