Cykeln 08 eng by Cykeln Magazine

elcome again to all the readers of Cykeln Magazine. Sorry for the huge delay in publishing this issue, but we’re doing our best on many fronts, in order to create a more and more complete product.

interview

photo

Editor: Niccolò Poppi

Art direction: Claudio di Santo

graphic/illustration: Simone “duman” Marinelli

PHOTOGRAPHY: Massimo “Piacca” Bacci

On the cover: EPO 1000 by Simone “duman” Marinelli

Info: info.cykeln@gmail.com

Advertising: advcykeln@hotmail.it

Recipes: Francesca Serani

PHOTO CREDITS: Massimo Bacci // Dave Noakes // Rocco Bizzarri //

08 I N D E X 4.

LARZ MUTZ

10. SAMUELE CAI 16. MARCELLO BUONFIGLIO 22. JULIET ELLIOTT 30. RIKY WILSON 38. DUSTIN NORDHUS 46. STEFANO LA CARA - TRIATHLON 52. francesca’s recipes - crostini colorati

Francesca Serani // Giampiero Pagnini // Albo Soolid // Claudio Angelini // Dylan Davies //

54. TIPS AND TRICKS

58. CICLOCROSS CHE FATICA

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Cykeln Magazine.

Here are the first news: with this issue, we’re introducing a new column dedicated to Triathlon, in collaboration with Stefano La Cara and his magazine, Zona Cambio. We’re very happy to put ourselves in Stefano’s hands, who is a veteran in this discipline and dedicates a lot of time to creating his magazine and updating his much-followed blog, like we do. I also would like to reveal to you in advance that from the next issue on, we will feature a section dedicated to BMX; a sport that, despite its long history, still struggles to get the right acknowledgement, especially in our country. In these months, we have also been very busy especially because of our Crit Team Cykeln, which took part in the Milan Rek Hook: the whole team did very well! A sport that is rapidly growing and getting new followers, but is also very controversial, due to the greater and greater visibility that the famous Trimble is trying to give to his creation. We will sure deal with the Red Hook in the next issues, trying to understand with David Trimble what the future will bring for this sport and how he will protect it from the vultures that for years have been contaminating sports born from passion. As I said, we have also been busy with other important participations. I’ll take the chance to thank Giovanni Morozzo, promoter and organizer of the Bicycle Film Festival, for the first time in Florence, for the space he dedicated to us in the Stazione Leopolda. A special thanks to Brendt Barbur for his friendship and his willingness to support us and involve us in his project. This year, part of our team also participated in the Eroica: we had the chance to enjoy the 75 km route on a day made of joy and warmth, thanks to people but also to the weather, considering the great sun that accompanied us during the whole day. A wonderful organization and a record number of participants, like every year. Thanks to the founder and organizer Giancarlo Brocci, who we’ll have the chance to talk to in the next few weeks for a short interview on the next issue of Cykeln. We also took advantage of the Eroica to meet and interview our Italian friends, as well as some unique personalities in the urban cycling scenario. For example, let’s meet the wonderful Juliet Elliott and the habitué Dustin Nordhus from Canada/Berlin. We could talk of a million things, but for now I’ll leave you to the issue, hoping you will like it. Like always, I would like to remind you that Cykeln Magazine is free and you can only find it on line, but above all that we exist thanks to all of you, who read and download our work. Keep on reading and supporting us as much as possible, in order to make this magazine more and more complete and popular. Greetings to all Less posing, more cycling

Archivio Personale www.wolvh.tumblr.com

et’s start with a simple question, who is Larz Mutz? Well there’s a lot I could tell about myself, but will keep it short. My original name is Lars Burgunder. The “Z”

replaced the “S” for a video I did and I kinda kept it like this. “Mutz” is a slangword for a Bear here, and we call each other “Mutz” all the time, like some call each other “Dude”. The added “Wolvh” came because I am doing this small clothing line. I am 38 years old and I was born and raised in Switzerland. I live off the grid and live a strictly vegan straight edge lifestyle. I believe in Krsna as the highest personality of godhead and I think the Himalaya is the most beautiful

LARZ MUTZ

Claudio Di Santo

place on earth. Bikes have always been around me since my early age. When I was 10 I got my first 5 speeder with dropbars. And I think in 1988 I got my first MTB. I would ride a few mountain tracks with a school friend or just cruise around for fun. I also remember that on hot summer days, when all my friends would go for a swim, I would watch the mountain stages of the Tour de France. I remember the days of Indurain, Chiappucci, Bugno, Richard... I did a lot of other stuff back then, and for many many years I did not ride a bicycle at all, but always followed the Tour... I rediscovered my love for cycling only 4 years ago.

You are such an icon for the fixed gear world; do you recognize yourself in this? Not at all. It surprises me that you ask this question. I don’t think I have done anything special in the fixed gear scene. Maybe I just got to know a few people at the right time which makes it look like, but basically I am just a dude like you, riding a bike. You know we have been discussing about icon’s in today’s society in general, and came to the conclusion that some people become icons just because they DO stuff, for themselves, for the love of it, for their own good. They don’t copy anyone, they don’t want to fit in a scheme or stereotype, and they remain some kind of a mystery for a long time. And all they do, is in their own style, and in their own personal approach and with an own personal point of view and with a very own inner drive, and maybe that’s what impresses other people and makes them look up to someone. When actually it’s all about just DOING it. Take my friend Patrick Seabase, for example. He never rides these passes for fame or glory. He just does it for his own good. For his own satisfaction. For his own mind. For his soul. And I personally am the same. I just do stuff. I have no idea how people can see me as an icon...

Tell us more about WOLVH. Well, it all started as an idea. Ian G.C.White, Patrick, and I were hangin’ around on a Sidewalk, and I think Ian and Patrick had just designed the TBM logo. I remember emailing each other about a name for a brand we wanted to create and WOLVH came up. We were thinking about a few designs, and I had a small atelier where

I would do screen prints, so the first series of shirts and crewnecks were done totally DIY. Then more people started to ask for clothing and the first series got printed. It’s all sold out now and I will soon release a bunch of new stuff. The basic idea behind the concept was doing something for our friends. Friends mean family. And everyone was riding a track bike, so it was doing something to represent what we love. Growing up in the Hardcore, Punk and Skateboard Scene, WOLVH should combine the urban Jungle with the roughness of Nature, especially the Alps. That is where you can push your personal limits, search for the deepest dark spots within you, suffer, and achieve. On your own or with a pack. Riding during the day, sitting by the fire at night, listening to the sounds of nature, discussing with friends. Even the TBM (Track Bike Militia) Rune Logo represents our idea of WOLVH. It’s not only a brand name, it stands for a lifestyle:

T: Tir/Tiwaz: new challenges, initiations, understanding and insight. To be without fear, to stay true to the truth. Analysis. Knowing where one’s true strengths lie. Willingness to self-sacrifice. Victory and success. B: Beorc/ Berkana: Time for a new dawn, new adventures, time to sow but wait with patience for the harvest. Mental, physical and personal growth and liberation. Regenerative power and light of spring, renewal. M: Man/ Mannaz: Take every lesson as it is, strive forward. Walk the way of the destiny, it is a way of growth and fulfillment. The way of just letting go is the easier one, but leads to misery and disease. The self. Intelligence, forethought, creation, skills. Divine structure. Awareness. The Team today is Patrick Seabase, Andy Ellis, Walton Brush, Chas Christiansen, Garrett Chow, Evan Murphy, Fabian Burri and me. Just a bunch of friends. We share the same passion. And similar views. That’s the connection. And all the things I mentioned above is what I understand as “the Art of the Wolvh”.

How is Switzerland from a bike point of view? Ooh maybe it’s the best place for a cyclist. So many different terrain, so much to explore. Everyone come out for a ride!

What do you do for a living? I have worked in different jobs but now I am a high school teacher since 11 years. I teach Mathematics, Science and Sports. 3 days a weeks. On the other days I tattoo in our own studio called SHARANAM TATOUAGES, in Biel, Switzerland. You can see some of my work on my Instagram if you are interested.

We have seen that you have a connection with the MASH guys; when did everything start? It all just happened. I met Garrett Chow through Andy Ellis at the Eurobike in 2011. Through emails I got Garrett on the Wolvh Team. From there I met the other MASH riders, they became friends and riders for the Team. Mike liked the idea of WOLVH and has been very very supportive since the day we met. Not even in my dreams I would have imagined having the clothing in the MASH store in SF, but it all just happened and I am really really thankful

for this.

We were at the Red Hook criterium with our team and we have seen your crash; what would you suggest to all the neophytes that want to start riding in criterium races? Please guys, ride your track bike on a regular basis, not just a week before a race. You may be a young and fast cyclist, you maybe even race regular road races. But a track bike Criterium is something completely different. Your bike handling skills need to be on point. You need to know your line. And hold it like on a track (velodrome). In RHC Milan it was possible to ride all corners at almost full speed. I was surprised to smell the rubber of dudes skidding during the first lap. Yes it is hectic. Yes it is a big group. Yes it is dangerous. But you can’t just pull your “brakes”. Imagine doing the same thing in a road race peloton... Oh and you need to be fearless. Don’t race if you are scared! Because that’s when you slow down and that again is dangerous for those behind you. It is so much more difficult to read someone’s pedaling on a track bike, you just can’t see when someone’s braking. The crash was my own fault. Coming fast into the last corner I wanted to take the inside of the turn, because the guy in front of me slowed down hard, probably because of fear. He closed the corner and I touched his back wheel and went straight to the ground. The helmet saved my life, it’s broken through and I had to get a new one…

Preferred road Elite cyclist and track Elite cyclist? Well this is a hard one. Today there are so much different cyclists, like climbers, sprinters etc… but yeah, as a Swiss it must be Cancellara. But I could name so many more dudes, I like new young gun Quintana a lot. Track must be Sir Chris Hoy, even if he’s retired now.

What does the future have in store for Larz Mutz? I have no idea. I believe in destiny, so whatever happens in my life, I will embrace and accept it. I hope to be able to ride my bike a little and maybe get a few victories for myself.

Do you want to thank someone? I want to thank Cykeln Magazine for the interest in me and the interview. Thank you Patrick Seabase for friendship, inspiration and lots of fun rides. Thanks TacTacCycling for support. Thanks MASH for believing in an idea, thanks for friendship and thanks for the support. Mike, Garrett, Chas, Walton. Evan, thanks, ride hard! Thanks to Pristine Fixed, awesome team and friends. Thank you David August Trimble for an awesome Race-Series that created a whole new movement through the world and gave cycling a new Push. Thanks to all my friends and everyone I forgot. The Art of the Wolvh.

SAMUELE

Rocco Bizzarri

CAI

Claudio Di Santo

www.limboazulsportside.blogspot.it

ho is Samuele Cai and why are you on a bike magazine? Samuele Cai is a “former” (laughing): former surfer, former snowboarder, former cyclist, former idler. I think

the sum of these factors has been the right combination for the fixed environment, which is not only made of average performances, heart rate monitors and repetitions, but also personality.

When and how did you get involved in cycling? I was 8 years old and jumped on a saddle to imitate my father, according to the tradition of Romagna, but after 17 years in the cycling world, either you become fully involved, or the supreme sacrifice needed is not worth it. I was hooked by the surfing environment, where emotions and friends are the most important thing.

You split your time between your store and races all around the world; how do you juggle everything? You should ask my partner!!! I have less time for the shop, but you don’t often get a chance like this, and that’s team working. However, traveling has always been an essential part of our job. With the snowboard Club, we have been bringing our customers around the Alps for years, therefore it was enough to re-think our roles. I can’t cycle as much as I would like to, so I concentrate my training in an hour and a half during my lunch break. For the Red Hook, I trained on single-track routes in our pine wood, with a 29er MTB with a nearly road set-up. I usually follow the trails of a horse riding school. This way, you work on a difficult area, at speed and driving through trees and holes.

You’re one of the Iride riders, one of the strongest teams in Italy and maybe in the world, how did your collaboration with the team start? I first met Matteo Zazzera for work reasons, because I wanted to sell fixed bikes in my shop and Iride was the right brand. After the legendary Back in Black criterium, in May 2011 in Modena, I became friends with Francesco Martucci and the other guys. What really made us bond was the earthquake in Emilia Romagna. Frank came to sleep over in Ravenna a few times, to avoid staying in a dangerous area. Since then, our friendship became stronger, and, almost for fun, we went to Gijon, Spain, in 2012, to race together. There was mutual understanding between me and the IRIDE guys, and when you find people like these, you can do nothing but create a team.

Father and cyclist, how do you manage to combine these two things? This is the toughest part of my training. There’s a hidden team that only has duties and no honors: my family. Being a father and a husband requires great balance and I am lucky enough to have a person who understands and shares my passion by my side. A huge thank you to my wife.

Would you like to tell us about the last race of the Red Hook series from your point of view? How was it? Milan was the Red Hook I felt better in. For various reasons, my daughter with a flu, and winter arrivals in the shop that I had to sort out, I didn’t even touch my bike during a whole week. I was worried, but maybe a break was exactly what my body needed. Qualifying with the only light of cars’ headlights reminded me of old criteriums. The only flaw was the fact that Raffaele Maccari, from our team, got quite hurt during a crash. Apart from that, it was a great feeling staying in

the head group for the whole race, considering my training and my 38 years; I was more than happy with my 12th place.

Gear ratio used during the race? I don’t suffer from the high-gear-ratio syndrom; “the tougher it is, the cooler you are” is not my slogan. If it’s tough but you’re not, you won’t get there! I prefer agility and usually go for 47x15.

If you had to name the pro cyclist that inspired you the most, who would you pick? Gianni Bugno, because he used to race in a period in which his style motivated me.

As you probably know, many young athletes start racing in criteriums; what would you suggest to these “newbies” of brakeless races? In the middle of a wave with many locals, you should stay out of the way and wait for your turn. That’s what I learnt from surf: respect and humility. Doing Fixed Crits involves higher risks compared to other bike races, so it’s good to know your limits. There are too many fanatics in the world of cycling already, what I’m trying to say is that you should never take yourself too seriously! Nowadays, you feel a pro in a sport which officially doesn’t even exist, let’s be aware of that. One of the best and essential things of criteriums is the third half, the party, when everyone can be a champion, and in this case I’d like to thank the pro of the third half, John Taki!

Future projects? Are you planning something? Would you like to thank anyone? Being part of the Iride Team and keeping organizing old-style crits in my area, in order to never forget the spirit of this kind of races. Thanks to DEMODE, Val Cucine, IRIDE Modena, Limboazul Sport Side.

Giampiero Pagnini

i Marcello! First of all, which is your first memory linked to bikes in general? I remember one of the first bikes I had was a

chromed Malaguti BMX that my father gave to me as a gift for my 11th birthday; I used it to hang around my neighborhood and I didn’t even think of doing tricks. The only thing I used to do were wheelie challenges with my friends.

I know you are first of all a skater, and then a biker; I suppose your passion for tricks comes directly from skateboards, how did you discover fixed bikes? Yes, my passion for tricks was born with skateboarding, I then discovered fixed bikes thanks to a friend who was messenging for a private mail service in Pescara. I got curious and did some research to understand the phenomenon. I started with a track fixed bike, but then, after watching videos of tricks done with fixed bikes on the web, I understood it was freestyle that excited me.

In a few words, you’re an odd rider. Usually, people who ride a fixed bike and do tricks have a BMX background, whereas you were a skater. What do these two sports share and why didn’t you start with a BMX first? Yes, it is a bit strange to hear I went from skateboarding to FGFS; when I was a kid, many of us used to skate; I never thought about BMXs because I was happy with skateboarding, especially because skating everyday with friends was fun. However, a couple of us did use a BMX, one did flatland tricks, the other one dirt; I tried the flatland bike a couple of times but it didn’t feel like something I would be happy with. Both sports require commitment and dedication to manage to do tricks; in Pescara, I often find myself riding alone or with the guys I used to skate with. I try to exercise every day in order to stay in practice.

During BFF in Florence I had the chance to talk to some BMXers, and many of them were quite scared to try fixed bikes, do you think they’re scary? Why do you think so few riders use them? With a fixie, the bike-rider relationship is more difficult, because your feet are in straps, and the free wheel allows you to do more tricks compared

us…the only thing I will ask you is, did you ever ride abroad? Where, and how was it? You actually can’t do that, but in Europe, especially in France and the UK, the scene is very competitive. It would be stimulating for me to go there, I would like to ride in France, in places I saw in videos that inspired me a lot, unfortunately I still haven’t got the chance to do that. I hope to go there as soon as possible.

There are many fixed riders in Pescara, often organizing different events and meetings, also thanks to the guys at Sea Hub (hi guys!), pushing Alleycats and Criteriums. Are you involved in the Pescara Fixed scene too or are you a loose cannon? Yes, we know each other, I was one of the founders of Pescara Fixed, but we don’t meet often to ride together because we use bikes in a different way. I get better along with skaters, and we even created a team called Badass Coast; it also involves the world of photography, that I often practice with the photographer Giampiero Pagnini.

to the available equipment, frame and wheel sizes. Most riders went from

Could you tell us something about your bike set-up? Do you have any sponsors?

700 wheels to 26 wheels, getting closer and closer to the world of BMXs.

GRIME GHOST frame size S, 26’’ MTX33 CAMO rims, MACHETE

I won’t even ask you a comparison with foreign countries, because I know they’re a step forward compared to

“DEAF” MICRO-DRIVER rear hub, PROFILE front hub, RESIST NOMAD

to a fixed wheel. I have to say, however, that according to the last videos I saw of FGFS riders from America, the level of tricks has evolved, similarly

MARCELLO

BUONFIGLIO

(BADASSMARS)

Niccolò Poppi

tires, MACHETE SLAYER 4PCSBAR-GREEN POWER EDITION handlebars, DEMOLITION saddle, PROFILE cranks, VOLUME CRYPT fork, DEMOLITION

SPLINE DRIVE 25 chainring, ECLAT pedals, YNOT straps. No, I don’t have any sponsor.

Which are the greatest difficulties you face in doing a trick with a fixed gear rather than with a free wheel? Well, since I never used the free wheel to do tricks I cannot tell you the difference, I can just tell you it is very difficult with a fixed wheel.

I know you got hurt quite badly while taking photos for us…what were you doing? How are you now? Yes, I hurt my shoulder while I was ollieing a street gap; I feel better right now, I rested for a week, I should rest more but I’m not able to.

Plans for the immediate future? Will we see you in Milan for BFF? I’ve been filming since this summer for an edit, and I’m going out quite often with the photographer Giampiero Pagnini. Yes I’ll be there.

Last greetings and a chance to say “fuck you” to whoever you want! I’d like to greet and hug Elettra, Badasscoast family, all of you from Cykeln.

3G CONNECTIVITY ◦ LED RINGLFASH ◦ WIDE ANGLE LENS ◦ WATER RESISTANT ◦ COOL FILTERS. WHAT? SWEET! w w w.t h e Q c a m e r a . c o m

Dave Noakes www.covenmagazine.com

JULIET ELLIOTT

Niccolò Poppi

ow did you become involved in

All what interest from girls side? There still aren’t enough of us.

sports? I started cycling to work for many

Come on girls, where are you hiding?

reasons – for fun, to save money, to get

About vintage...I met you this year at Eroica in Tus-

fit and because it was faster, but I’d only

cany. I remember it was raining the day before

ever ridden really crappy bikes until I built up my first

departure, but then we found a beautiful sun on

fixed gear. I didn’t really understand why people spent

Sunday. Tell us a bit about your experience in Tus-

so much on bikes, I mean, how different can they really

cany!!

be, right? I just thought all you needed was two wheels

I was invited by Brooks to L’Eroica so from the minute I arrived

and that anything would do. I guess that’s why initially I

it was fantastic. They were kind enough to put us in a beautiful

just rode to and from work and left it at that. After all the

hotel and they gave us all this awesome woolen cycle kit to

parts kept being stolen from my bikes, I built up a fixed

wear on the ride. I was so stoked as I didn’t have any cool

gear from an old abandoned frame and as soon as I

vintage stuff to wear and I loved the kit. The day of the ride

rode it, I loved it. I became obsessed from that point on.

was amazing. We’d all been dreading waking up and seeing

You started riding only fixed gear before

torrential rain – the weather was appalling the day before, truly

starting to ride other bikes. What did you get

horrendous so when we woke up and saw it was dry we were

out of it? If I hadn’t built that fixed gear bike, I wouldn’t

so happy. And then the sun came out too – we just couldn’t

be doing what I’m doing know. That bike sparked an ob-

believe it. L’Eroica is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.

session that has grown to fill my life! I’ve travelled, made

Tuscany is such a beautiful region and everyone is in such a

new friends, got into other kinds of bikes, built a business

good mood. God, I loved it!

around the cycling industry and just had a brilliant time!

You have a lot of friends and fans in Italy. What is

I stuck with fixed gear at first for two reasons – firstly,

your idea of Italians and how do you see the fixed

because I loved it, and secondly, because I only had a

gear scene in Italy?

fixed gear bike! Once Charge Bikes (my sponsor) start-

I love Italy and I always have. I used to go on holiday every

ed sending me other bikes to try, I became interested

year in Lerici with my family. I don’t know much about the Ital-

in mountain bikes and road bikes. And after trying my

ian fixed gear scene though – I know some of the guys from

friend’s BMX, I got one of those too.

Iride Modena but that’s about it.

How do you think everything has changed

Could you tell us what are the main differences

since the beginning, and why? When I first

and delights in riding a BMX and a fixed gear?

started riding fixed gear, it was a bit like when I first

I used to do a lot of tricks on my fixed gear and I still like that

started snowboarding – there were relatively few peo-

kind of thing, but I do enjoy the freedom of a freewheel – when

ple so you’d be excited to see someone else riding and

you’re riding towards a jump, you can have your feet in the

you’d stop and have a chat. The scene was new, fun

right position rather than having to hop them around, which

and fresh – everyone used to meet on a Sunday to hang

sometimes I get slightly wrong. It’s annoying when you get your

out, play polo, learn tricks and have a BBQ. We were

feet in the wrong place on a fixed gear – you want to crank

united simply by the bikes we rode - it was a really great

down hard and hop but you can’t!

atmosphere. I think what’s changed is that people have

I’d say my favorite thing to do on a fixed gear at the moment is

got snobby about fixed gear. It used to be that we were

to go really fast! You’re never gonna get that feeling of speed

all ‘newbies’, so it didn’t really matter what you rode or

and power on a BMX.

what level you were or how cool you were. It seems that

What is Coven Magazine and what are you doing

those things matter more these days – not to me though!

in this magazine?

You have been one of the first and few girls

I launched Coven Magazine last year as an alternative to all

going with fixed gear. How do you consider

the boring women’s magazines on the market. I just wanted

all this interest from girls’ side now?

to read about cool women doing awesome stuff – there are

a shed load of them out there but no one knows about them! Are you planning to race criteriums too? What do you think about the Red Hook and what role do women have in this field? I’ve raced one crit – the London Nocturne. It was very tough. I really enjoy racing but my fitness needs work. I’ve had a lot of discussions with fellow female cyclists about the Red Hook. I feel there needs to be a women’s category – trying to qualify against the men is so hard, and unfair too. In what other sports do you have to do that? I know some of the other women have spoken to Dave Trimble about this, and apparently he wants a certain number of women to enter before he’ll give them a separate category, but it’s a chicken and egg situation… The women are not going to come forward and enter until there is a women’s category. Now something different…you’re tattooed and we at Cykeln love to see tattooed sportswomen. Tell us something about your tattoos and if there are any dedicated to bikes? I only have one bike related tattoo so far. On my calf there’s a man in a cycle cap brandishing a d-lock which my friend Sandy did for me in Portland. Other than that, I’ve a few cats, a kind of sleeve from Thomas Hooper and some unfinished stuff on my abdomen. From time to time I think about getting more, but it’s not exactly a priority. Any last words ? Ciao!

Dylan Davies

RIKY WILSON

Niccolò Poppi

i dude, fine to meet you after the Eroica. How was Tuscany this year? Tuscany was magic this year. The huge thunderstorm

with lightning and thunder the night before washed the roads clean and made for a no dust ride; few rain ruts in the road challenged my jumping and line picking skills but I never got a flat and only walked about ten steps up the Santa Maria hill so I was really happy with my performance.

I know you moved a lot in your life, always working on a saddle. Can you please tell us a bit about your relationship with the two wheels? When I was ten years old I got my first job delivering newspapers and saved up for my first BMX bike, a blue Norco that I painted black and got to race for the first time at Vancouver’s Velodrome, which had a BMX track in the centre. It was all wood and it was raining that day, so I remember how slimy and steep it was and wondered how people would ride such a thing without sliding off. The next day they tore it down. I came in dead last. I raced a few more times at the Pacific National Exhibition Agrodome, I always came in last, but the feeling of racing was so electric and exciting that I was hooked on racing for life. Fresh out of high school I moved to San Francisco in 1987, where I met a guy, Neda Atash, who at the time had a

to race anyone on the street, go fast and take chances. I would split lanes in stopped California traffic for a hundred miles to make a buck or just to get from place to place, I should be dead. I would do wheelies, run lights, run from the cops, flip a bitch, do smokey burnouts all just for the fun of it off road or on, race supermotard, poker runs or rally vicious beaters to the ends of the earth to test the limits of my endurance and that of the machine. In the end, it became a seven day a week job with my hands chained to the handlebars and my mind somewhere else for a thousand miles a week process serving on weekdays and funeral escort on the weekend. I had fifteen motorcycles at a time almost always kickstart, got a click in my knee, a pain in my back, hands that fell asleep after 10 minutes on the bike, ringing in the ears, a million tickets and a more than a few dead friends. Would ride in full leather and wouldn’t take the helmet off all day or even speak to another soul. It’s a lonely existence on the motor stuck in a Guantanamo stress position, every muscle tense. I would pass out from exhaustion after I got off just from the mental high alert that I was always on. With a bicycle I felt free of all the heavy clothes and no helmet, could run all the lights I wanted, drink more than two beers, still play in the traffic but it was all much simpler, no complicated machinery under my ass that always needed attention, no license, no insurance, no pain other than burning muscles....no problem.

on the way home but one month later I had my licence. I put the ass

Couriers life is often hard but seems that the voice of freedom that comes from this job is more important than the rest. Can you please tell us more about your decision to be a messenger?

end of that thing up to the front door of the pizza place I worked in

Being a messenger is a sacred thing. From Thoth to Hermes, Mercury and

for six months and did a big smokey burnout and took off into the

Pheidippides Marathon run, to be a messenger is to know the word of the

night. Wouldn’t walk more than a few feet, after that I would just

gods first hand and to bring that to the people. At first it was just good times

ride the bike. The day I got my licence, a Friday, I went down to

without future or past, good friends and drinking every drop of life to its

Lightning Express and got a job from a seven foot tall guy named

fullest. Now it is still that but something more, it’s an ethereal connection to

Alan Slaughter. The interview was, “Do you have a place to take a

the earth and time and space, a traveler with a purpose higher than oneself.

broken foot, and he told me about the job he had where he rode a motorcycle for money. I thought that was the most punk-rock job in the world, so I saved up all the money I had and bought a Yamaha 400 that I had no idea how to ride; I had a couple little fall downs

and had to walk home. My legs were killing me but I was alright.

CMWC, NACCC, ECMC’s in San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo, Edinburgh, Berlin, Budapest, Eindhoven, Toronto…it’s a kind of world tour. Can you please explain us, what pushes you to do it and what does this “Environment” give to you?

That was pre helmet law so the lid was locked to the side of my bike

Messenging in and of itself is a lonely existence. No one is going to

and it should have been a write off but got a frame and front end for

do it for you. You have to do it yourself, flat tire, mechanical, cops,

three hundo at the wreaker, and my buddy Ken Boes helped me fix

a crash, the package still has to get there and nobody really gives two

it. I lost my glasses in the crash though, and rode with some I found

shits about it but you. It’s a sacred trust that you will deliver on time

with the wrong prescription for a while, had to squint a lot to read

not just leave it in the road someplace. Courier events are a time to

the addresses. Good times and hooked again.

relax a bit, meet others with some of the same value systems, connect,

shower?” I didn’t understand the question until I found out a bunch of the guys there lived in buses under the 280 onramp. The other question was “Do you know where Palo Alto is?”. I didn’t. One week later I ran a light and creamed a Mercedes and landed spread eagle on the hood. Smashed the windshield in, got a ride in the ambulance

From motorcycles to bicycles and from bicycles to motorcycles, which is the best for you? I don’t want to touch another motorcycle again if I can help it. For

nearly twenty years I thought of myself as a biker, an outlaw, ready

join hands across the planet and know you are not really alone.

What are the major differences that you find in this job between countries you had the chance to visit? For example

between Italian and Canadian couriers?

town with the alley?

The messengers that I have met across the planet are not uniform in

I had my greatest successes last year at the ECMC pre-event in London,

any way, everyone has their own lifestyle and personality. I can only

England, when I was first place out of town after getting chased by the

really recall meeting Matteo from Milan, as far as Italian couriers go,

constabulary and getting away even before the first checkpoint. Taking off

but it seemed he was as glad to meet me as I was to meet him. To

alone in the morning of the last day of the five-day group ride to ride 80km

share a laugh and a knowing grin that the spark of life lived within

in the driving rain to make it to Edinbourgh hours ahead of everyone else.

us both, and we were joyous.

For me the street is where it’s at, it’s what’s real. Not taking anything away

I also know you had a big bike crash. Even if you are still as beautiful as the sun, I know it took a long time to recover from the accident. Do you want to tell us more?

from those fast guys, but for me age and treachery are paying off over youth and enthusiasm.

Awww schucks. I thank my surgeon, Dr. Brown, for saving my life when I

Ok man, hope to see you soon in Italy again. Your last words to greet and thank friends, family, and anyone you want go to…?

went into some unmarked roadwork on Canada Day July 1st 2011 and

Just want to thank my sponsors! Team Hallo! Cicli Berlinetta for whom I race,

broke my upper jaw and caved in my forehead on the way to the BBQ. A

Flamme Rouge bike shop in Zurich for the bike load this year at L’Eroica,

six-hour surgery to repair the damage, a lip surgery or two, a nose job, most

SuperChampion and Atomic bike shops in Vancouver, Phantom Courier,

people can’t tell so much pain. I was back at work in two months. Made the

Musette Caffe Vancouver and La Carrera in Toronto,I guess PDX too, all my

sun even brighter, the birds more merry and the knowledge brought even

friends and supporters, Mom and Dad, and my dearest wife Jacqueline for

closer that you must live every day as if it were your last.

whom I champion. Ciao bella!

Listen, we speak a lot about fixed gear because that’s where we started from to understand the bicycle world. Which is your relationship with fixed? Ok, you caught me, I am not a fixie rider. Coming out of the motorcycle world, I am just used to hand brakes and stuff, but I have given it some thought over the years. Original bicycles were all fixed, from penny-farthings to the original track bikes, fixed. Chains, derailleurs, brakes all came later; I guess I am stuck in that middle period of steel frames and brakes and all that, for me the classic era of Hinault, Merckx, Coppi, Bartali...my heros. Track bikes are for the track, for racing. That being said, messenging is racing, so the bikes are appropriate for the task. For me, I’m old and old school so it’s not for me but to each their own. I like saying they are great for drafting but riding along with them can be a bit sketch, they turn different, brake different than a roadie. Going down into a corner at speed with a fixie in front of you and have them start doing tail whips all over the place is one freaky experience I will tell ya. They can climb like stink and are a great challenge to race against. I appreciate them but they ain’t me. My first wife was a fixie messenger in SF for a long time and could barely walk but that may have been bike set up or just her, I fear for the youth. To each their own I say. Hipsters and their fancy colours, well... at least they ain’t drivin’ cars.

What do you think about this incredible hype that fixed gear is living right now? Hype? Is it still on? I think people are lazy and would rather be driving BMWs, Ferraris and Bugattis, transportation with no honor. Without high gas prices and cars out of reach it’s the next best thing to getting noticed, a status symbol like fancy shoes, but maybe that is just my jaded opinion. They still have honor and the more they ride the more honor they have.

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i Dustin, thanks for being in our magazine. Cykeln is pretty fresh in the bicycle panorama, whereas you are a kind of veteran in this scene. Anyway, could you please introduce yourself in a few words to our readers? Born in Vancouver, Canada, I left for

Europe in 1995 with my hand-built Vancouver-made MTB. I landed in London riding my way through Europe, eventually landing in Berlin where I found a job as a bike messenger. I worked through one of my coldest winters ever with -20 and saved some cash so I could ride my bike down to Cairo. After this great journey, I flew back to Berlin so I could continue my bike messenger skills. This was a great life, riding anywhere from 100-150 km a day (30,000km a year). I decided I wanted to get involved in this cool scene. I started organizing & racing alleycats and then going to the messenger world championships (CMWC); so many great & cool messengers, we were a close big family. I decided I needed the next adrenalin kick, so I bought myself an Italian track bike, then 2 years later, in January 2001, Mo (owner of Keirin Café Berlin) & I decided to ride our track bikes from Tokyo to Budapest with no brakes (2bikesinasia.com). What a crazy trip, I guess that was the start of the track scene boom.

When did you first approach the bicycle culture?

DUSTIN NORDHUS

Niccolò Poppi

the first messenger that gets his number in can choose any job or as

you this space to whoever you want!

many jobs as he wants. Berlin has cold winters and Vancouver has

Thanks to all the bike freaks out there that inspired me.

Free-call is when the dispatcher says all of the calls on the radio and

How did this passion about steel and vintage bikes start? I started building up classic road & track bikes in my apartment in Kreuzberg for friends and other messengers; I had a good friend who was a good local racer in Berlin and he helped me find classic steel bikes from older Berliner racers. Then I was interested in all the beautiful little details that these great frame-builders did just to be different.

I know you collect steel Italian race frames…is this the very beginning of Cicli Berlinetta? At the time when I started I saw that the cycling industry should not forget the people who built this great sport and they should not forget the unique names. Also I felt bike shops needed to show more passion and love towards the bicycle.

Now after years owing your bike shop, can you please tell us, how the bike culture has changed during these years?

built tracks & ramps, jumping in the pacific ocean; my home town

steel, now steel and the classic road bikes are respected and loved

was on the beach, we started a BMX culture in our city. The track

all over the world.

bike scene started to become a culture in the early years of 2000,

What about the fixed gear scene?

bike magazines were becoming aware that we were bombing

I was very surprised when it basically exploded, everyone wants a

…and later on, what was the step that led you to becoming a bike courier? Watching them bomb through Vancouver, mm’s from cars, it just looked like something I had to try.

You worked in Canada and in Germany too, what are the main differences in this job, considering that we are talking about two very different countries? The main difference in Berlin is you can start work when you want, in Vancouver you have to be there at 8 am every morning; also in Berlin you have free-call, which means you can take any job you

thank

heavy km’s.

When I first started, not that many bike shops were interested in

close to those cars as possible.

and

lots of rain; Berlin is a bit rougher with the car drivers and you ride

Hard to say! In the early 80’s we were riding our BMXs on hand-

around Berlin with these speed machines, I just wanted to get as

greet

fixed gear or a track bike, now they have become part of the modern day cycling scene.

Every year, we meet as usual in Gaiole, Chianti, for the Eroica. I think you feel like at home right? Can you please tell us more about your experience in Tuscany and why is the passion about bicycle touring growing so hard? It’s always a great feeling when you are around other bike enthusiasts, listening to the great stories from ex bike pros, many sexy bikes and just breathing in that Tuscan air. It makes anyone want to go for a little cruise on a classic road bike.

Ok, we are at the end, but we’ll leave

want, of course you have to have a very quick finger on the trigger.

m o c m . e g a r a g i k u i uk vendite private online, per persone veloci !

Stefano La Cara

Issue after issue, Cykeln tries to grow as much as possible, but above all to include all disciplines related to the bike world. Beyond any doubt, triathlon is one of the sports that most fascinates and intrigues us. The various athletic and technical aspects of triathlon are a source of useful information for those who, as well as cycling, love running and swimming; but not just that, because we’re dealing with nutrition and health too. For this reason, we’re happy to feature on Cykeln a column dedicated to this sport, from this issue on. We would like to thank Stefano La Cara, who will be the official author of the column, for this opportunity!

And speaking of him, let’s get to know better Stefano and “Zona Cambio”, his editorial creature, which is very similar to Cykeln Magazine and describes the world of triathletes.

i Stefano, would you like to tell us something about you? I have always swum, gone biking and run, but I have always done that slowly, badly, and wasting time.

Then, at the age of 31, I lost a bet and started doing a half marathon (with awful results). After that, I started swimming again, trying to

STEFANO LA CARA

Niccolò Poppi

www.zonacambio.com

As well as a great triathlete, you’re also a very followed blogger; do you think we still need to talk about this sport in order to let people understand it? Sure. Just think that most people believe triathlon is Ironman. No! Ironman is a triathlon race distance. The most common race distance of triathlon is 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike, 5 kilometer run. With a little training, anyone can do that, and this is the manifesto of my blog (I won’t talk about the Ironman distance, otherwise people will get scared and run away…)

That’s where Zona Cambio comes from, then? Tell us about the on-line magazine and the different blogs you manage. Zona Cambio is a free on-line magazine about triathlon, born from an idea of Gianluca “Master”, another triathlete-blogger, and I. Thanks to the essential collaboration of the whole triathlete-bloggers community, we collect the best articles we find (as well as other things, obviously) and we try to combine them to create both a carefree (which is our favorite approach) and technical product.

What about Italy, compared to the rest of the world? This movement is growing, among young people too. From “the inside” you can feel it at any race, because participants and spectators are increasing. Those who can invest, will probably notice

avoid the usual 2laps-break-2laps-chat-1lap-break scheme. Finally,

it too late. Sponsoring activities regarding triathlon have already

after seeing Lance Armstrong going back to the Tour after abandoning

reached an incredible level in the USA, Germany, and the UK, both

competitiveness, willing to fight against younger rivals, I decided to

for quantity and quality.

buy a bike again and go back to my adolescence’s passion. And

And despite all the training and competitions, I still swim, go biking

From this issue on, we will have the opportunity to collaborate, in order to tell fixed lovers about the world of triathlon; do you think these two universes will understand and appreciate each other?

thanks to Armstrong indeed (NO, I still didn’t know he used to dope!), “borrowing” the name of his foundation, I decided to tell my sports (and not) adventures on my blog STEFANOLACARASTRONG.

and run slowly, badly and wasting time…

I’m convinced of that. I use a fixed bike every day, to go to work,

Daje Panda, where does it come from?

to the swimming pool and to the gym. And many fixed-triathletes do

At the second race I took part in, my daughter had a fever, she

the same. I’m expecting to see track cyclists, bike messengers, fixed

couldn’t come to see me and gave lent me (as she likes to point out

riders or simple posers on a race field!

all the time) her cap “to keep me company”. I had just entered the world of triathlon, I didn’t know anybody and above all, nobody

Let’s wish each other luck, what do you think?

knew me, so every time I passed by the audience, they used to say

Yes, we’re starting a new race! Come on!!!

“daje panda” to encourage me!

Swimming, running, cycling – what did you start with and what do you like the most? When I was young, I never did any sports at a competitive level (as you can tell) but I did anything. Sooner or later, triathlon and I would meet. Cycling is surely the most romantic sport, and the one I prefer… I swim and run in order to train, but it’s on my bike that I have fun. I like it too much to reduce it to timetables, and I always try to gather a nice group to go biking together.

FRANCESCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RECIPES

Francesca Serani

CROSTINI FANTASIA

Francesca Serani

www.francescasrecipes.blogspot.it

4 1 3 slices of multigrain bread

Avocado

Eggs

Peel the avocado, cut it in half, remove the pit and puree it with a blender. Aside, break the eggs, whisk them for about a minute and scramble them in a pan with a pinch of salt. Toast the bread on both sides, then spread avocado and eggs on them. Finish off with a grind of black pepper!

EASY

CHEAP

MEDIUM

NORMAL

HIGH

EXPENSIVE

Niccolò Poppi

You will need: N. 1 Can N. 1 Pair of scissors N. 1 Electrical tape N. 1 Cutter 1) Cut the top and bottom of the can. You will obtain a rectangle from the middle part of the can. 2) Measure the seatpost circumference, and cut from the can a piece of the needed size. (It must not be larger, which means the edges of the can don’t have to overlap once you wrap it around the seatpost). 3) Before applying the rectangle you previously cut, use the scissors to cut the top part of it, creating a sort of crown. 4) Apply the can piece to the seatpost and secure it with a piece of electrical tape (it’s better if you apply the tape vertically). 5) Insert the seatpost and place it at the right height. 6) Bend the sections you previously cut creating a crown on the can where the seatclamp lies, so that both the seatpost and the seatclamp have a better grip. 7) Now place the seatclamp over the crown and tighten.

TIPS AND TRICKS

This month we’ll try and provide an insight on the technical side of cycling, trying to suggest to our readers simple and cheap solutions to (temporarily) solve those little problems we face when building or taking care of our bikes. In this case, we’ll talk about the wrong size of the seatpost. That is, how to simply gain that mm more in case your seatpost is too small.

“What am I doing here?” (free thoughts on cyclo-cross) The question could at first seem trivial, a classical question about cycling seen from the outside, something like “Why on earth would you do that?”. There is however a basic difference between the two questions, greater than you would think. Road cycling is characterized by effort, endless climbing, sweat, endless valley bottoms without anyone to take over from you or to draft behind. But it is also made of slopes, being a kid again, kilometers passing by under 23mm tires. And that’s true, you often ask yourself “Why would I do this?”, but then emotions take over and everything passes, thanks to a good or slight slope where you can keep your legs going at full speed and feel good. Cyclo-cross is not about this. Cyclo-cross is basically an incorrect sport, done with the wrong bike, in the wrong places and, above all, in the worst period of the year. Well, if you still haven’t turned the page, I’ll tell you why, despite this terrible introduction, this discipline still exists, and it is even living a new “spring” (no pun intended!). It all started about a century ago, immediately after the pioneer cycling of the first Giro d’Italia and the first Tour de France. In the north of France, where winter is hard, and the distance from ski destinations prevented skiing from becoming a popular winter sport, some daredevil tried to use the same bike he used in summer (as you know, at that time bikes were quite heavy, nothing to do

CICLOCROSS CHE FATICA.

Riccardo Volpe

with today’s 6.8 kilos of aeronautical technology) in the fields, just

from 2 to 4 kilometers, but the distance itself does not reflect what

to stay in shape. And what about obstacles? No problem, you

the race is made of. We’re talking about corners, lots of corners,

could just get off and carry the bike in some stretches. In the end, it

most of them 180°, and (obviously) on grass or land, stretches so

was a way of playing during the free time left from working in the

narrow that bikes seem they won’t fit in, climbing and slopes; in

countryside, and, once again, the combination of boredom and

most cases, if you’re not determined and you don’t have the right

curiosity led to amazing results.

gear ratio, it’s better to get off and carry the bike; sand stretches will bring out your handling skills and, maybe, also some stairs.

Speaking of that, I’m convinced that all true art comes from a

Things that shouldn’t have nothing to do with cycling but, instead,

combination of idleness and curiosity, but this is not the right place

enhance this athletic activity and ennoble it, like scrums ennoble

to discuss about that; similarly, if you’re interested in the history of

rugby; cleats sink in grass and mud in order to move forward. It is

this sport, you can Google it or search it on Wikipedia. I’ll try and

always cold, and there’s mud, a lot of mud, a sea of mud, where

tell you something you (probably) still don’t know.

even going straight means using all your bike-handling skills in order not to fall down, where bicycles double their weight and beg

Without many variations, we arrived to today’s cyclo-cross, with a

their owners for mercy; they’re the cousins of the noble and shining

season full of races at any level, from October to February; people

track bikes after all, why should you humiliate them this way?

race with any weather, unless the Civil Protection comes and takes off the course stakes. The course (the real focus) generally goes

Everything I described happens more or less in an hour, a single

endless hour: one of the few certainties about cyclo-cross is exactly that sooner or later, the race ends, and it doesn’t matter how far you went in that time. The race ends, with no mercy. A winner once said: “You can’t hide in cyclo-cross (like in climbing)”, if you’re not up to standard or you give up from half of the race on, you will be punished. You can’t use the same tactics and strategies of road races, you can’t draft, you just have to go. You’re constantly beyond your anaerobic threshold, and everything gets more complicated because you have to be extremely careful, otherwise you will fall down onto the grass. You can never let your guard down, not even in the few asphalt stretches, which are slimy because of the mud coming down from tire tenons, lap after lap. As a matter of fact, the difference between a good placement and coming in last, or even retiring, is very thin, thinner than the tape that delimits the course. However, something strange happens in this maelstrom of corners, mud, and effort: people often say that extreme conditions make our challenges extraordinary, and finishing a cyclo-cross race with good results is something that makes us so proud, that the subtle game of challenging ourselves again and again takes over. That’s why we’re constantly in the balance between feeling like survivors and wanting to start a new battle, to do better, learn from past errors and do something great; the result is not seeing our name among the winners, a pat on the back from a friend who raced with us is enough to reward us and make us want to challenge ourselves once again. In the end, you don’t need much: a wood or a field, tape and stakes, the right bike and some real enthusiasts. See you out there next weekend…

#0 9 F R E E

J a n u a r y

(Always Late) Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sorry ;)