Stoked On Fixed Bikes Issue 19 by Stoked On Fixed Bikes SOFB Online Mag

M AG A Z INE

NO.19

2014

www.stokedonfixedbikes.com

It’s up to you! FREE or DONATE

STOKED ON FIXED BIKES ISSUE 19

W E L C O M E 4

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Rider: Toms Alsbergs , Riga Photo: Arturs Pavlovs http://www.trufixkru.com

Chief Editor Greg Falski won the trophy as hunter of the day at the RedBull Fix&Foxi in Vienna

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DECEMBER 2014

SOFB TEAM FOUNDER & CHIEF EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Greg Falski EDITORIAL TEAM

was pretty surprised a few weeks ago, when I read in a well-known bicycle magazine that, in their opinion, FGFS is dead.

I was even more surprised to find out, that the same publication just announced to close the final chapter of their magazine - like many others. Fixed Gear Freestyle is anything but dead - and the best proof is our magazine and this Issue 19 and all the great support we get from our readers , advertisers and contributors. When I founded this magazine in december 2010, wow... already four years ago, I had no idea how much work, dedication and passion this would require, especially when your are an independent self-publisher running a free magazine about bicycles. I am sure you will enjoy this Issue 19 - I am blessed to have supportive friends, contributors and most of all the guys and girls riding fixed gear bikes and are the reason Stoked On Fixed Bikes Magazine is here to stay ...and who knows, maybe will be available in print version aswell next year.

Ride on! Greg Falski

Marina Fenz Mate Horvath Saskia Haex Anto But WEB SITE

Alvaro R. Fernandez CONTRIBUTORS

Arturs Pavlovs Andrea Schilirò Phil Arellano Dave Noakes Ricky Crompton Elliott Milner Bombay Chakrist Y.C Tang Chris Yang Markus Slavik Caro Paulette Jevgeni Repponen Nas Hosen Jacob Ruff Zsu Barsi Constantin Gerlach Dave Beard Matt Reyes Stefan “Fish” Vis Jack Marshall Dowle Robert Keszi Chris Garrison Philipp Schuster Red Bull Content Pool 8 BAR TRU FIX KRU BOMBTRACK

Online - ISSUU.com For contributions, advertising and other enquiries, please contact gregfalski@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.stokedonfixedbikes.com

THANK YOU Family and friends, all crews and riders, organisers and advertisers.. would not be possible without all of you!

CONTENTS SOFB ONLINE MAG 19

4 GALLERY 6 IN STRAPS 8 CONTENTS 10 HOT DATES Get ready 12 INTERVIEW Elliott Milner 18 Rough Guide to London - Bikes & Coffee 22 RedBull Fix&Foxi in Vienna 28 BIKE SHOP Cycle Project Store 34 Harness The Gnarness 36 SCHINDELHAUER HEKTOR 38 OTHER SIDE OF THE LENS Andrea Schilirò 44 Track Or Trick Group 50 New products 58 RED HOOK Milano 64 Eastlondoncrew 72 Tru Fix Kru Shop “Brūklene” 76 SEASON OVERVIEW Stefan Schott 8BAR 80 Blind Chic. 84 Red Bull Mini Drome Miami 90 CSK Downtown LA JAM FG 98 Vienna Grand Prix Keirin 2014 102 Meesterknecht Shop 106 Red Hook Bummer - FISH

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Track Or Trick Group (page 44) Photo by Y.C Tang

COVER

Stefan Schott Photo by Constantin Gerlach Season overview with Stefan page 76

HOT

DATES Updates on comps, jams, race venues and all crazy fixed bike events happening near you. If you are running these kind of events then let SOFB know as soon as possible and we will put it here.

5 - 7 Dec Spin Xmas - Rochelle School, Shoreditch 13-14 Dec Bangkok Criterium 2014 - Suvarnabhumi Airport 13 Dec 3 years Rotje Rond race! - Rotterdam The biggest fixedgear race in Yogyakarta! Coming soon in January The London Bike Show 12th -15th Feb 2015 in ExCeL, London The CMWC 2 - 6 April 2015 Melbourne, Australia Bespoked Bristol 2015 - The UK Handmade Bicycle Show 17th-19th Apr 2015 in Brunelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Old Station & Arnolfini Bristol Nocturne Criterium - London 06 June 2015 Fixed Days 2015 - Rotterdam - 03-05 July 2015

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Nelson Bell - table, Vienna, Austria Photo: Greg Falski

Elliott Miln

SICK RIDER INTERVIEW 12

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ner

Photo by Bombay Chakrist

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INTERVIEW

with Elliott Milner

HOW OLD ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM? 22 and I’m from Burbank CA DID YOU GROW UP IN THAT AREA – OR DID YOU MOVE THERE FOR A CERTAIN REASON? Born and raised in Burbank. WHAT ARE YOU DOING IF YOU DON’T RIDE YOUR BIKE? If I’m not riding my Bike I’m either at work or studying HOW DID YOU START FGFS, WERE YOU INTO A DIFFERENT ACTION SPORT BEFORE? I played sports growing up as a kid primarily baseball and football, after high school I grew weary of the gauntlet of organized sports and leaving my future in a coach’s hands wasn’t really my speed. I was late to getting my license and didn’t have an efficient means of transportation, so I started looking for a bike I could use to get around. My sister’s USC classmate had a start up which became Retrospec and said he could give me a great deal on a fixed gear so I bought one and just fell in love with it. Never really had any other action sport background I always rode things with wheels around but fgfs was the first wholehearted endeavor action sports wise. WHEN DID YOU START RIDING FGFS AND HOW DID YOUR SET UP CHANGE SINCE THEN? First started riding fgfs about four years ago. Ever since I started I just wanted to build an urban cruiser that could handle the abuse I was going to put my bike through on a daily basis. So my set up just got a bit burlier, went 26, got wider tires changed up my ratio and went to a more aggressive geometry. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN INTENTION TO RIDE FGFS AND NOT BMX OR STREET MTB. WHAT DOES THE

FIXED HUB OFFER WHAT OTHER HUBS CANT – AND ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES OF A FIXED HUB WHEN IT COMES TO TRICKING? I ride fgfs because its fun and I have a great time doing it. For me its art, a unique form of expression in which I’m completely in charge of what I can create on an infinite amount of canvases. The fixed hub offers a unique opportunity and challenge to control every aspect of your bike’s movement, forwards and backwards and everything else in between. I’m weary of the term disadvantage, when it comes fixed gear there are certain situations where your hub allows you to see or in some cases forces you to ride a spot totally different then someone else on a freewheel or freecoaster would. I see that as more of a unique opportunity to create a new solution than a disadvantage. AS A FREESTYLE RIDER – DO YOU SEE YOUR ROOTS RATHER IN A DEVELOPMENT OF MESSENGER TRICKS LIKE BACKWARDS CIRCLE, KEO SPIN, WHEELIE ECT – OR DO YOU SEE YOUR ORIGIN RATHER IN BMX? I definitely see my roots in messenger tricks, as that was my foundation. But I’m definitely a fan of looking for other forms of inspiration outside of the sport. DESCRIBE YOUR LOCAL SCENE – IF YOU GO OUT FOR A RIDE, HOW MANY PEOPLE TAKE PART – WHATS THE AGE PEOPLE START AND DO FGFS - AND DO YOU FEEL IT IS INCREASING? My local scene is alive and well, the CSK jam this November was definitely a testament to that. A typical session has about 5 or more people; ages vary from early teen to late 20s on average. I definitely feel it is increasing Stay Strapped DVD definitely planted some good seeds this year along with, Foad crew’s Gang Signs DVD, CFTY, Young Guns and a whole slew of web content we have seen this year.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF FGFS? The future of FGFS can be whatever we want it to be which is awesome, but I see the future having more dedicated riders who love what they do and really legit companies like Bombtrack and various sponsors non bike related as well getting behind the sport and exploiting the culture and lifestyle that fixed gear entails. YOUR *WELCOME TO BOMBTRACK* VIDEO CLIP CAUSED A LOT ATTENTION AND RAISED THE BAR ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ART OF GRINDING. HOW FAR ARE YOUR PREPARATIONS FOR YOUR SECOND CLIP ALREADY AND WHEN COULD WE EXPECT IT? I’ve definitely got something in the works, I’ve begun stacking clips but this one is going to take some time. I am looking to up the stakes a bit in terms of intensity and clip selection, some time in 2015 content should surface. THE CURRENT FRAME YOU RIDE WAS DEVELOPED WITH YOUR DEEP INVOLVEMENT AS WE READ IN THE WORLD WIDE WEB. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CREATION AND HOW THE COOPERATION WORKED OUT. I’ve always been fascinated by frame geometry since I got started riding bikes, and I have been involved with the progression of fgfs frames from a sideline view for about 4 years. When Bombtrack contacted me and asked for input on specs I was more than happy to offer my opinion. Rich from BT shot me an email and I replied back and forth of the course of months with every spec that I felt would help elevate my riding style. We set out to make a bike that was aggressive and extremely responsive, that will actually help the rider progress instead of getting in the way. Its crazy to think that it is out and available to the public, seeing others riding that bike brings me so much joy.

YOU JUST WENT TO THAILAND FOR A CONTEST, THE *CANT FOOL THE YOUTH IV* PREMIERE AND TO REPRESENT YOUR SPONSOR BOMBTRACK BICYCLE CO. WAS IT YOUR FIRST TIME IN ASIA? Yes my Thailand trip was probably the best times I have ever had with my bike, I met so many amazing people and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I met tons of remarkable individuals that had a profound love and passion for fgfs, which was so refreshing and inspiring. To top it all off I took first in FGFS pro, the vibe of the whole event was so supportive Thailand’s fgfs scene is definitely one of the best I’ve encountered. It was not my first time to Asia; I had been to South Korea for fgfs about two years ago, which was also an amazing and humbling experience. WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE? Overall it seemed the country was extremely supportive of bike culture, and the people I encountered were very pleasant and respectful. I definitely see myself going back soon, I love Thailand. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LOCAL FGFS SCENE, AND DID YOU NOTICE A FIXED GEAR SCENE IN GENERAL? The scene was huge when ever we went out for a ride kids just kept coming out of nowhere to ride with us. Amongst the chaos of Bangkok I definitely noticed there was a scene with a lot of talented riders most of which I had never seen before.. WHO WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE MAIN RIDERS IN THAILAND THAT PEOPLE SHOULD START TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM ECT TO BE UP TO DATE?

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Go follow these dudes @kyissawat, @ petchpet, @bombaychakrist, @meeniizg, @dewsippawit, @jaoablacksunday and @nuttapoppy WHAT WAS THE CONTEST LIKE – ORGANIZATION, AMOUNT OF PARTICIPANTS, LEVEL OF TRICKS, EQUIPMENT, TEAM/ SCENE SPIRIT.. Contest was awesome definitely the most fun I have ever had at a comp the vibe wasn’t so directly competitive as it is in the states, everyone just showed up for the right reasons to ride their bikes and have fun not to win a go pro or a check. My friend Dew designed an awesome course that was really fun to ride, and we actually got ample practice time. DID YOU SPEND THE WHOLE TIME IN BANGKOK OR DID YOU TRAVEL A BIT ASWELL? The majority of our time was spent in Bangkok, although after the competition we traveled to stay with my friend Dew in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai was my favorite there were endless amounts of amazing street spots, food was great, and I had blast riding scooters around the city. WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE SOME CLIPS FROM THAILAND IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WHICH CHANNEL SHOULD WE FOLLOW TO BE UP TO DATE? That is a question for Zane Meyer but I’m hoping we should see footage from the trip relatively soon. Stayed tuned to @chopemdownfilms for updates

Elliott table Photo by Phil Arellano

THE COFFEE CULTURE Photos and text: Anto But

*Rough Guide* London

All started for me with TV programs like Frasier. Frasier, Roz and Nile drinking a latte and biscotti. Friends *The central perk coffee* was also a hang out, that orange sofa & the urban retro look was so cool back then. You can see the formula happening here. Even the Cop n Robber shows see cops sitting in their car downing black coffee and dunking donuts before they get the call and off they go. Nowadays there is a chain coffee store in every corner of your town/city names we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mention. And there are the independent coffee stores which perfectly place near indy bikes stores, friendly staff, usually ink up, handle bars mustache & beards. There is nothing better than having a hit off coffee before the ride. Here we start in London enjoy *Bike & Coffee* .

This is a *Rough Guide* to London *Bikes & Coffee* 1st stop Fitzrovia & Kaffeine. Fitzrovia Bicycles been going since 2010 ( before that, it was good old Cavendish Cycles ) This is a riders owned bike store friendly as. Just a 30 second ride around the corner is Kaffeine, Coffee Australian, New Zealand flavor. Fitzrovia Bicycle 136-138 New Cavendish St, London W1W 6YD http://www.fitzroviabicycles.com/ Kaffeine, 66 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7QJ, England (Oxford Street / Fitzrovia) http://kaffeine.co.uk/

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Brooks aka B1866 Store. Flagship houses the full Brooks England saddle and accessory. 36 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LH http://www.b1866.com/

Monmouth Coffee. Monmouth st, probably the best coffee in the city. We used to ride out of our way just to do a Monmouth coffee before work before a long ride or just passing by. Right, lm going in :) they also have one in Borough market. http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/ our-shops/covent-garden

Look Mum No Hands. 49 Old st EC1V 9HX Friendly service, mini bike store/repair. Always busy with peeps working away on their laptops. http://www.lookmumnohands.com/

Rapha Opened in 2012, had a re launch Rapha cycle club 2014. All you need in one store, lycra and coffee for the city slickers. Watch this space as the collection is gonna get much better.. 85 Brewer Street, London W1F 9ZN http://pages.rapha.cc/clubs/london

Condor bikes. From the city head out to Condor bikes before Look mum no hands. Check out their track & race frames. 51 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X

Hackney Peddler & Russet Shop 5, Downs Studios,, Amhurst Terrace E8 2BT An independent bike shop in Hackney providing town, touring, road and custom built bikes, as well as repairs and maintenance, super nice people very laid back & affordable price's that wont brake the bank compare to the chain stores out there. The Russet is opposite for some good food & Coffee. http://www.thehackneypeddler.co.uk/ http://www.therusset.co.uk/

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Just around the corner on bricklane you have Bricklane Coffee Boom! http://www.bricklanecoffee.co.uk/

Cloud9 & Store St Espresso independent bike shop, these boys ( Kris & Adam ) have been biking for ages, moved a few times but now found their place on Store St, fine Cloud 9 hand made frames & all the parts you need they have. Just 1 min roll from Tottenham Court Rd & British Museum. Store St Espresso is literally 2 doors away from Cloud 9, super nice peeps and a damn fine coffee. Cloud9 38 Store St London WC1E 7DB http://www.cloud9cycles.com/ Store st Espresso 40 Store st london http://www.storestreetbloomsbury.co.uk/shop-eat/ss-espresso/

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RED BULL FIX&FOXI Vienna, Austria 20.09.2014 Photos by Greg Falski, Marina Fenz and Philipp Schuster/Red Bull Content Pool Text : Greg Falski

On September 20th, Red Bull organised a new event called *Fix & Foxi* in the Prater in Vienna. Riding through Vienna you get the impression, that the fixed gear scene in this city is, compared to London, still in its baby shoes yet growing. This event was a great oppurtunity to promote the fixed gear movement and to introduce riders within Austria to each other. There were 64 participants from Austria including riders from six other countries, which was nice to see. The Fix & Foxi race circuit was 180 m long and had some tricky parts, such as wall rides and tight corners around the viennese Lusthaus, which by the way , served some nice food for the participants that day. Photo: Greg Falski 23

Photos on the left side: Greg Falski

Photo: Marina Fenz

Apart from being fast, the riders also needed some technical skills and the right bikes. I chose t o race on my BB17 Charmer, which actually is a trick bike, good for the technical part and fast acceleration but the fact of standing up and not being able to sit on the saddle all the time makes your legs really tired after 5 rounds to the final. Back to the start, after the eliminations the 32 best riders had to duel each other in a chase of their foxtails, that were attached to their bikes before the race. That was the actual idea of the event, hunting fox tails on your fixed bike. For some reason this did not really work out, but I was fast enough to catch some and won the Trophy for being the *Hunter of the day*. The race itself was more based on time than on catching the foxtail, as often you could not see your racing rival as they were starting on the other side of the circuit, the Lusthaus between them.

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Photo: Greg Falski

Photo: Philipp Schuster/Red Bull Content Pool 25

Photo: Philipp Schuster/Red Bull Content Pool

Photo: Greg Falski

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I made it to the small final and finished fourth and as *Hunter of the day*, but my legs were too tired after racing hard in a standing position for the whole event. I definitely will choose my new Bombtrack next year for the Red Bull events. My friend Stefan, who came all the way from Berlin just to *not let me win* finally won the race after beating a bike messenger, Christian Striedner, from Graz, Austria. Florian Kittner made it to the third place.

The final race was a though one, as it lasted nine minutes and Stefan and Christian did not want to let go - that is the real spirit! I am happy to see this kind of events happening more and more all over Europe, it really brings people and riders together and most of all it promotes fixed gear as a sport rather than *fixie - fashion*, *fixie* - a word that does not have a lot of friends within the real fixed gear scene. We are looking forward to next year an maybe get some more international riders to this event.

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CYCLE PROJECT STORE Photos by cycleprojectstore.com Interview by Mate Horvath

Stoked On Fixed Bikes has been covering legendary shops and young but fast足growing bike shops in Europe for many issues. In our current issue we want to turn our attention to Asia. With The fixed足gear scene being vastly different over there, I think it is a great opportunity to hear from those who are currently shaping the Asian fixed足movement. Cycle Project Store from Singapore is a store that has made a name for itself in very short time. Their social media feed is one truly worth checking.

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Please introduce yourself and your store (when did it start, how big is your staff, what is your focus in terms of online/shop retail)? Hello! We are 3 fixed gear enthusiasts in Singapore and we started Cycle Project Store back in 2012. We operated mainly as an online store since 2012 with the focusing on brands such as 8Bar, BricklaneBikes and Engine11, which were not common here in Singapore. Our emphasis has always been the quality of the products we chose to sell. Ever since our brick and motar store was conceived in January this year, we wanted people to have a different impression of a bicycle store and change their perspective of bicycles especially on fixed gear. Every bicycle is viewed as a project in our eyes. We wanted people to have a choice of customizing their own build as the experience is totally different. By piecing every component of the bicycle, it is akin to doing a project work and the ultimate satisfaction is guaranteed when the project is finished.

What was the inspiration behind starting the shop? We got our inspiration mainly from the fixed gear culture in the States and Europe. There are so many awesome bicycle stuff that have been around but not available in Singapore so we wanted to introduce them to the local community. Our main inspiration came from Rapha whereby the brand has achieved such a perfect blend of lifestyle and cycling. Along the way, we have been looking at good places such as Standert Bicycle Cafe, Kinoko Cycles, BricklaneBikes, 8Bar Bikes and the Keirin scene in Japan. We hope we can emulate what Rapha has achieved one day!

Your physical shop is based in Singapore, tell me a little bit about how you see the scene there. The fixed gear community here has been growing for the past two years. The whole cycling scene has been growing which attributed to the younger generation of people wanting to cycle as well. There are a few bike messenger groups here that have existed for quite some time now and they have been riding fixed gear all along. In addition, there are several groups that existed long before we did! Such as CrankArmSteady who have been promoting fixed gear and PeonFX who have been churning out top notch fixed gear apparel and accessory! There is also another store named FixUpYourGear that has been around, much earlier than us as we used to purchase stuffs from them before! They have been organising couple of events, most notably is the HolyCrit which is a criterium for fixed gear cyclists, the event is going strong and entering their eighth installment soon! Singapore is still nevertheless a small country and we can only hope that the community remain strong and intact. Fixed gear bicycles are so much fun to ride on and so is the simplicity of it that cannot be compared to other form of bicycles. Your stock is some of the most extensive, featuring frames and components from both european brands but also unique hard to find american and asian brands. How do you select what you stock? It was a really painful journey for us back then when we first surfaced as an online store where we do not have much credibility and the local crowd were not exactly warming up to us. The first brand that agreed to deal with us was Fyxation and we are always grateful to Ben Ginster who gave us the opportunity!

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We focus a lot on the quality, image and aesthetic of the brands that we stock. Back when we first started, we wanted to introduce the brands that we thought were amazing and these brands happens to fall in line with the direction of how we want our brand to be. We were really elated when bigger brands such as BricklaneBikes, Colossi Cycling, LeaderBikes accepted us as their dealer and we were really stoked when niche brands such as 8Bar, Engine11, Breakbrake17 and the ever amazing Stanridge Speed allowed us to represent them as well! Over at our store, the items that are chosen to sell are mainly decided in such a way whereby if we were to use it and we are unsatisfied with it, we will not be selling it. This is why we only have Japanese brands such as Sugino, Hatta and Izumi in the drivetrain section as we like them a lot! The name implies that you approach building up bikes for customers in a very personal way. Do you think this is the future of fixed足gear shops? Cycle Project was conceived as the name sounded in line with what we believe in. We wanted customers to have a part in their components selection instead of just buying something that is already assembled and have no say in the selection of color or components. It is a different kind of feeling when you are able to choose your own parts and have the ride accustomed to your riding style. We would not say it is the future of fixed足gear shops but it will be great if it turns out that way in the future, as its more interactive with the crowd and every bike is different. Fixed gear is a different form of cycling, the way fixed足gear shops differentiate itself from the other bike shops will be great as well. Its all about the experience, the feeling!

www.cycleprojectstore.com 32

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Do you get involved in your local scene by supporting races? What is your opinion about the way track criteriums have exploded in recent years both in Europe and America thanks to Red Hook Crit? Do you see such events becoming big in your area? We do sponsor local events but the irony is that we do not organize a lot of events at the moment. That is one area we are looking further into though! The RHC is doing really well. It is giving people a different view of how fixed gear bicycles. Criteriums are also very exciting to watch, something a kin to motor gp where everything goes down to the last lap! We should be seeing more events coming up in Singapore with the HolyCrit and The Criterium (a yearly criterium) occurring more often. With the amount of participants increasing lately, it is getting more exciting for sure! Any shoutouts? YES! We have many people to shoutout to but to keep things short, we just want to shoutout to all our partners who have been supporting us as it is all thanks to them and our customers that we have been able to stay in the business as after all, its hard to stay sustainable these days with online shops such as chain reaction selling stuffs that are so cheap.

http://vimeo.com/113562148 34

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S The Schindelhauer Hektor trackbike features the ever so popular lopro style frame. The downward sloping toptube reminds us of the pursuit bikes used in track racing. This frameset keeps Schindelhauer lineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature Gates beltdrive system with Schindelhauerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own innovative crocodile clamping mechanism for easy belt tensioning. The first thing you would notice after the elegant lines of this frame is its rigidity. People are often worried about how opening the frame to fit the belt might weaken the frame. There was no issue during the test period and there I have no reason to think it might be an issue with these frames. The other interesting thing about this frame is how it specifically targets the popular fixed gear crit racing scene. If you can get past the obvious rise in cost for changing the gearing, this frameset can be a great alternative to traditional chain drive bikes. The test bike we have received from schindelhauer was very responsive in cornering, acceleration and remained comfortable for longer rides. Toe-overlap is always a crucial thing for lopro styled frames, but it did not harm riding quality. Using the Gates centertrack drive made the ride super smooth, with no resistance when skidding, which is truly different from traditional chain drives. You can set up this bike as a true race machine but can also keep it very classy for urban commuting. My only issue would be having a safe place on all ends of my ride for such a stunning bike. All in all, if you want to get a bike with a belt drive, you want a versatile frame that can both be your everyday commuter and your training/race machine, then the Schindelhauer Hektor is the perfect choice for you. You can order yours at http://www.schindelhauerbikes.com/

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SCHINDELHAUER HEKTOR

Photo: Zsu Barsi Words: Mate Horvath 37

OTHER SIDE OF THE LENS Issue 19 with

Andrea Schilirò Online photography portfolio at https://www.flickr.com/photos/hekto

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INTERVIEW

with Andrea Schilirò

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SOFB - YOU LIVE IN MILANO HOW DOES THIS INFLUENCE YOU AND YOUR WORK? I live in Milano, l moved here like 13 years ago for working, l started with fashion photography and Milano was the only city in Italy with the fashion business. SOFB - FIXED GEAR IS GROWING ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST CONTACT WITH THIS SPORT? Was probably something like 10/11 years ago, l was in NYC and lve seen riders passing thru the streets on those simple bikes, l get curious, coz l use to ride a bmx 24 brakeless, and those bikes looks more fast and less dangerous than ride freewheel brakelees, so as soon as l get back in Italy l started to build one with a help of a friend who was into bmx a lot..then l started with what l found, which means real track stuff aka something like 53/15 gear, and l started to ride, to wonder around and to get into this world. SOFB -WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE RIDER TO SHOOT WITH? DO YOU HAVE ONE- OR WHO MADE YOU "STOKED ON FIXED BIKES" Few years ago l was shooting for Fixed Mag, and l was in a skatepark shooting also with a friend riding bmx, Stefan Lantschner ..well, he took the fixed bike of my friend and he tried for the first time, landing tricks like fufanu or abubaca and arials straight after 10 minutes..there l was really stoked, he is one of the most stiylish rider l know!

Photo: Andrea SchilirĂ˛ 41

SOFB - YOU RIDE BIKES YOURSELF, HOW MUCH DOSE THIS AFFECT THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THE SPORT THROUGH YOUR LENS? Of course, l started riding, and l still prefer ride over shooting most of the time, so when lm shooting bikes, l know what l want and l know how the athletic move should look like SOFB - FILM OR DIGITAL? Digital with less than 2 minutes of postproduction every shot SOFB - WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF DAYLIGHT TO SHOOT IN? Warm backlight all life long!! SOFB - WHATS IN YOUR BAG, ALL THE GEAR YOU USE FOR PHOTOSHOOTS, HOW HEAVY IS IT? Depends what lm shooting, can be an easy thing just with camera and a lens, as l can carry couple of lights, but usually l prefer to shoot with natural light. SOFB - MINIMAL SETUP? GoPro SOFB - DREAM LOCATION TO SHOOT THIS YEAR? As far as lm travelling around, this is my actual dream. SOFB - IF YOU COULD GIVE A YOUNGER YOU AN ADVICE ON HIS WAY TO THE FIRST FREELANCE ASSIGNMENT WHAT WOULD YOU TELL HIM? Try to be yourself on the images, dont ape the others, find your own way and i twill pay back. SOFB - ANY FINAL THOUGHTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? Push Hard Pull Harder!!

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Photo: Andrea SchilirĂ˛

TRACK OR TRICK

Words: Chris Yang Photos by Y.C Tang 44

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So Track Or Trick Group was founded by me and my friend Bluce on July this year. The inspiration of the group name comes from the famous Halloween phrase “ Trick Or Treat” and we kind of twisting that a little bit! So basically it means “ You ride your track bike fast on the street or you use it to do some crazy tricks” 45

Track Or Trick Group is basically a fixed gear tricks crew and a platform for beginners to practice with us every Saturday midnight and masters to share their experience and knowledge. However, originally, my friends and I were just the team members of Black Fixie Team, the local bike shop and fixed gear team in Taipei City, Taiwan. At that time, I found out that there were really few people doing tricks on normal fixed gear bikes in the team and in Taipei City. Those who do tricks are mainly doing on FGFs. To me, I always admire the fascination of doing tricks on those track bikes, which is basically we often see in Macaframa videos or Mash Sf videos. As a result, at that time, I decided to form a group with my friend to help beginners learn 46

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trackstand, skids, and some old school tricks. That’s how we started at the first place. However, there is actually an important reason why I wanna start this crew. I knew the fixed gear bike and its culture when I was in USA, the deep origin of this culture. And I saw lots of things that local people in Taiwan might not understand. When I got back, I found out that there were some riders and some bike shops would judge a rider by the bike. For instance, if you got a shitty setup on your bike, they might disrespect you or underestimate you because your bike is cheap or not as good as their bikes. As far as I am concerned, it’s a serious problem because it’s always nothing to do with how your bike looks like in this culture. It’s always about the rider and how ONLINE MAGAZINE ISSUE 19 / 2014

he or she can do on the bike. And that leads to the reason I formed this group, I’m trying to send the message to beginners with shitty bikes that they don’t need to feel embarrassed if they can do some tricks that others can’t do! For beginners, you come to practice with us and you practice hard everyday. In that way, you can create your own specialty that no one can copy from you. You will have the confidence no matter what bike you have and those disrespectful riders should respect the talent. That’s the main concept behind the Track Or Trick Group! After forming the group, I always try to teach people to do some difficult trackstand variations and then some of my BFT friends like Andie, the talented female rider who can learn tricks fast;Tim, who

can do the crazy skids on the streets in Taipei City, and so many friends join together. We also produce our stickers, phone cases, and Tshirts for people to shout out! So right now I still hope there will be more people joining us to learn tricks. Many people want to learn tricks actually but sometimes they probably don’t know how or they are lazy to do that. Yet, I still encourage new riders to challenge themselves since tricks can make a rider differ from others and increase the passion on fixed gear bikes. We have online Facebook group for foreigners to join and Big Cartel for people who like our stuffs to swoop some! I wish there will be more people know us and this awesome group in the future! 47

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New products Photos: Greg Falski and Robert Keszi Text: Greg Falski and Mate Horvath

I met Rafal from Treshombres in Vienna, where he showed me the newest collection and prototype of their new bike. We decided to go for a ride around hilly Vienna and did some serious climbing and hill bombing. The bike is stiff and the acceleration is pretty good. The geometry is really balanced and I absolutely enjoyed riding this stunning bicycle. Treshombres already had a racing team of three people representing their brand at the RHC this year. I am sure, we will hear more from this young brand next year, so stay tuned for some good looking and well performing bikes.

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Treshombresurban track bikes born in Munich handcrafted in Milano http://www.treshombresbikes.com/

Kappstein Sprocket: Having started only 2 years ago, we think that Kappstein has reached the status of a game changing company in fixed-gear, electric gears and track competition components.This beauty has been helping track champion Kristina Vogel in her successful season, proving to be race ready in all conditions. The innovative rounded-teeth design makes for a much more silent drivetrain, perfectly complementing high quality japanese track chains that tend to be louder due to their roboust construction. Made of extremely durable stainless steel this cog can be a superb finishing touch to any track, crit, or street machine. Available at www.kappstein.de CAMELBAK Podium Ice. Camelbak re-engineered their legendary Podium® Ice™ to be the ultimate bike bottle. With unmatched insulation properties, high flow rate and easy cleanability, this is the perfect bottle for your ride. Camelbak’s self-sealing Jet Valve, taste-free plastic for your hot or cold drinks! We like the look and riding in this cold winter weather just feels better with the Camelbak Podium Ice! http://www.camelbak.com/en/Sports-Recreation/Explore/MTB.aspx Photo: Greg Falski

Knog [qudos] action light: Photo: Robert Keszi

The people over at knog have provided us with a sample product of their [qudos] for review at Eurobike which was put to the test in the last few months. The knog [qudos] action cam light shows the genius people behind the Australian company. Pair this light with your GoPro or any other action cam and you can shoot nightrides, winter training, or just cruising in your city even when the sun had already set. With a plethora of settings and 400 lumens maximum capacity it can also be your main light for nighttime riding. Just be sure to bring along a spare battery for longer rides! www.knog.com.au

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Sealskinz waterproof socks/hat/gloves: Photo: Robert Keszi

Dressing for winter training can be tricky business. Thankfully Sealskinz has a plethora of accessories that can keep you nice and warm during your training rides. We highly recommend the tried and tested waterproof Dragoneye Gloves that are sufficiently warm whilst remaining breathable. It held up to the daily abuse of commuting with no significant wear after two months of use. Alongside with the gloves we also tried Sealskinzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Waterproof Mid-Length Socks that became our go-to socks for winter riding. Pair them with some overshoes and your feet are guaranteed to stay dry and warm. The last item we recommend for both on and off the bike is the Cable-Knit Beanie that features the waterproof membrane that Sealskinz incorporates in their products. Although it does not fit under a helmet, you can wear it for commuting, jogging, or just as a traditonal streetwear beanie. The inside liner keeps your ears and head warm which is crucial in the winter months. www.sealskinz.com

Fiksreflective's Colorful wheelstripes give you a great way to make your bike visible in the dark, keeping a low profile during the day. We have tested the black wheelstripes that are perfect for most track rims, and won't make you stand out unncessarily during the daylight. Their hexalate stickerpack is another example for customizing your bike's look whilst giving it new functionality. Available in a large variety of colors. http://www.ridewithfiks.com/

DARKCYCLECLOTHING: This small business from the States is producing hand screen printed t-shirts with all sorts of animals riding bikes - gotta love them! Coryn from DCC sent us a couple of shirts, including the cat, lion, hammerhead, owl and a cheetah riding fixed bikes - some with and some without brakes, just like our readers :) We love the design and the light material of the shirts, also they were very friendly and sent us some extra crop tanks for girls. DCC also do animals with instruments - check their website, great stuff! http://www.darkcycleclothing.com/

Stitch-Mi-Lane Bike Twist Snood & Snug Spectator Hat: Being an independent magazine we are supporting independent brands. Stephanie from Stitch-Mi-Lane in Scotland, is doing an amazing job creating her cycling apparel. We love her Bike Twist Snood made from 100% Merino wool which feels incredibly warm and soft while riding. Also the pattern is adorable with little bikes all over. The Snug Spectator Hat keeps you warm on long cold rides and looks great and fun with a big merino pom on the top. The Nanotech-treated wool makes the hat warm and basically self-cleaning. Stephanie is taking care of details, we loved how she send and presented the products to us. Perfect christmas gift for any bike lover! www.stitchmilane.co.uk

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Carrera X-02 helmet We got the Carrera X-02 helmet in a matte orange color, which makes is look fresh and funky. The helmet provides a Micrometric size-adjustment consisting of an easy control wheel system. The elastic fitting system, thermo cool and washable lining insect net are just a few features the X-02 helmet offers. We really like the design and color of this helmet, it feels super safe and light, just as modern helmets should feel like. Great quality and looks! Check out their website: http://carreraworld.com/en/

Triple Eight The Gotham helmet The Gotham helmet is comfortable and safe, with a subtle brim and Triple Eight logo venting, the helmet features a custom Adjustable Fit Dial System, patented Conehead EPS liner technology and Reflective branding for safety. The Gotham helmet comes in a nice and handy box, we like the rubber black style and it sits and stays perfectly on your head. It feels light and comfortable allowing you to ride without feeling you actually wearing a helmet. Nice design and quality! Triple Eight Exoskin gloves Exoskin gloves feel, just like the helmet, light and comfortable and still provide the grip you need when riding in this cold winter weather. Get yours at their website here: http://www.triple8.com/

Photos: Greg Falski and DCC

Maglianera PERFORMANCE SPORT SOCKS Maglianera is a company from Italy that produces stunning high quality socks. They sent us their PERFORMANCE SPORT SOCKS, in the Miami, Desert and Fade Design. We love the design of the socks, the colours and the material, they feel super smooth and light. Every pair of socks comes with a special waterproof envelope. The socks contain Lycra and Q-skin which is an innovative technology able to maintain the natural balance of the skin preventing body odor. Efficiency, breathability, antibacterical action. Composition: 97% polyamide, 3% elastic. http://maglianera.bigcartel.com/category/socks

Blind Chic. LEATHER FOX Roll-top backpack This beautiful backpack is made of waxed cotton canvas in olive green. It has a front pocket with push buttons and 2 front leather belt straps, which gives the backpack a nice finish and padded shoulder straps. Really love the quality and the looks of this product, surely it will last for ages. Check out our interview with Blind Chic. on page 80. http://blind-chic.com/

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Giro New RUMBLE™ VR The Rumble VR is a versatile shoe that combines performance riding features like the clipless pedal compatibility with the walkability of a grippy Vibram outsole and the comfort of a light hiking shoe. We love that this shoe is a true cycling shoe that is very comfortable while walking too, which shows the top quality of this product. We used them with SPD pedals and with straps, they are fine for each option. Vibram® is the world leader in high performance rubber soles, which give you the needed grip. The finish of the The Rumble VR is outstanding, they look good - almost like trainers- yet are highly developed cycling shoes. Definitely try these shoes out as the most comfortable riding we have come across so far! Giro MECHANIC JACKET The men’s Mechanic Jacket reminds us of classic workwear, we like the minimalistic design and the materials. A three-layer waterproof fabric with a cotton face, this jacket keeps you warm and dry. It is breathable which is a must while riding and feels very cozy and smooth. Top quality and looks! 100% Waterproof / Breathable Cotton Face with DWR, 3-Layer Coating, Nylon Tricot Backing, Hidden Snaps at Pockets, Fully Seam Taped. http://www.giro.com/eu_en/

Photos: Greg Falski

The Red Hook Crit has grown exponentially since itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humble beginnings back in 2008 and this year there were more participants than ever. Its rapid growth shows no signs of slowing down; in fact more and more professional racers have got themselves track bikes and are upping the standard. Whether or not you agree with pros entering this amateur race you cannot deny; the more people on fixed gear bikes the better. Stoked on Fixed Bikes headed to Italy to check out the 5th Red Hook Crit being held in Milan. The course was the same as the previous year so Red Hook veterans knew what to expect; it was an extremely fast course that you could ride pretty much flat out! All the big names and teams in the fixed gear world were present, as well as some lesser-known ones hoping to make a name for themselves in this notorious series. As you walked through the pits all you could hear was the hum of rollers and turbos as the athletes warmed up. A mixture of smiles and serious looks occupied the faces of the racers and you could instantly tell this was going to be a good day.

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THE RED HOOK CRIT MILANO Photos: Dave Noakes and Juliet Elliott Text: Dave Noakes

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First up were the women’s qualifiers and it was great to see how many had turned up to race. There hasn’t been a separate women’s event for long in the Red Hook Crit and it’s been a long time coming. We were stoked to see the organisers of the event catering for both genders. The women of the Red Hook took to the track and began their qualifier, the ladies pushed it as hard as they could proving that racing definitely wasn’t an sport solely for the guys. The men’s qualifying rounds were intense to say the least, numerous crashes kept the spectators engrossed and the riders on their toes. There were only a limited number of places in the final round and the racers put down qualifying laps like their lives depended on it. David Trimble and co. kept the day running smoothly despite all the hiccups; it was impressive to see just how big it has become. As the day went on the qualifying laps got faster and faster, it was amazing to see riders from Cinelli Chrome, Mash and Supernova riding. It was apparent that if the qualifiers were anything to go by then the final race was going to be an amazing spectacle. Before long the sun had set and the racers were preparing for the main event. First up were the women. You could feel the good vibes and they were focused and ready. Smiles lined the faces of many and it was obvious they were happy to be there. These smiles quickly turned to looks of determination as the countdown began; they were off! Lap after lap they flew around the course; Ash Duban, Ainara Elbusto Arteaga, Stefania Baldi and Fleur Faure were dominating the race. Everyone was giving it their all but it was clear it was a 4 horse race. Lap after lap the women wowed the crowds

with their technical ability and power. As the riders approached the final lap the four race leaders were neck and neck; it certainly was a nail-biting finale. The ladies came around the final corner and it was Ash in the lead, the crowd cheered as she powered up the straight. Victory was hers! As the cheers subsided it was now time for the men to race. They walked their bikes to the start grid like a bunch of neon Lycra clad gladiators. The race began and the pace was set; boy they were fast! The pack was instantly divided into three groups and the main group consisted of all the big hitters; riders from Mash, Cinelli Chrome, IRide and Supernova battled for positions. Newcomer to the Red Hook Ivan Ravaioli was making his presence felt, he might have been new to the Red Hook but he is no stranger to racing; his road race background definitely gave him an edge. Romanian road racer Eduard Grosu joined him at the front of the pack, in the end this pairs stamina proved too much for the rest of the riders. It was Eduard that finally flew across the line in first place, closely followed by Ivan and the rest of the pack. The race was so close and the time between 1st and 7th place was under a second. It was an awesome race loved by both riders and the crowd alike. The Red Hook Crit is an amazing event and it clearly inspires and motivates riders from all backgrounds. The organisers have created something special that is mimicked all over the world, but the Red Hook Crit remains the original and most important series in the fixed gear calendar. We can’t wait for next year!

EastLondonFixed Text: Jack Photo: Jevgeni Repponen and Greg Falski

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Founded in February of 2014, EastLondonFixed started as a small group of people who shared a love for Velodromes, beautiful bikes and track cycling. From there we started to form a small group of dedicated riders and started to host T.N.T (Tuesday Night Training) for anyone who wanted to push themselves or develop the way they ride with their track bike.

During last summer most of the team was able to get accredited at the 1891 Olympic velodrome in Herne Hill including Ben, Charles and Jevi. Lina is currently working on her accreditation at Lee Valleys velodrome as she missed her chance last season. Jack has ridden on both velodromes but hasn’t found time from work to get accredited. We are hoping he will get a chance next season. We did get a chance to throw a few parties during the summer, with loads of events and prizes for our local riders. The main concentration of the group was to grow the size of the group into a community of riders in which both relaxed and endurance forms for track riding could develop. This have proved to be very successful and we have both a desire to ride the Velodromes and also have a good, friendly, family community in the heart of East London. Growing the number of community groups forming in the growing fixed gear culture to expand the enjoyment of free transport and endurance sport.

Ben Flower formed this set up in Regents Park with Charles Nicholson and met Jack Dowle through a collaboration with Allfixedgear X Brick Lane Bikes. “Howl at the moon” which are rides in and around London. Taking us through many new parts we had never been before, finding new routes and places to go. We then met Jevgeni Repponen who works in film and photography and has been producing all our vimeo videos to date. Our fifth and finally female rider is Lina who as been coming since our very first rides has been a strong support to our group. Our biggest howl at the moon turn out was nearly 30 people on a 27 mile round trip lasting up to 3-4 hours. Each ride usually is decided by one our five team members, then discussed about and not disclosed until the ride is about to happen. Which usually means we only know where the group is going, adding to the surprises for anyone coming along. Then posted on our instagram on the day to let everyone know the time and get them back out on their bikes. We meet outside of Brick Lane Bikes where our rider Jack works. Group up and get ready, wait for the stragglers and then head off as one. Howling through the streets of London. We try not to repeat routes too much, so mix up the direction each time. So far it has been a reliable event with good turn outs, giving people a day they can always go ride with other riders.

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Photo: Greg Falski

PURE FIX CYCLE KEIRIN PRO Photos and Words: Greg Falski

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Pure Fix Cycles Keirin Pro Frameset I absolutely enjoy riding this frame and the feeling is pricless. Hydro-formed top tube and seat tube, integrated headset, smooth welds, and a hand polished finish. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to see the progression of products by Pure Fix Cycles, I cant wait for their next bike - they are on the right path. I built up this bike on few new components. Fabric sadle and bar type, Continental tires equiped with Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No-Flats.

Restrap Horizontal Straps Restrap products never disappoint - the horizontal straps feel strong and give perfect braking power. Great quality from England. Head to their website here: http://restrap.co.uk/shop/ Joe’s No-Flats Joe’s No-Flats from Israel provides the bicycle market with the world’s most effective anti-puncture sealant, both latex based and latex free, with self-sealing inner tubes, tubeless conversion kits, lubricants based on the most advanced Nano Technology, bio degreasers and cleaners. Good and safe stuff! We equipped the bike with JOE’S SELF SEALING TUBE FV 700 - Super Light http://www.joes-no-flats.com/

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Fabric Scoop Saddle Fabricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scoop saddles share the same simple three-part manufacturing process; they comprise of a cover, base and rail. This minimal manufacturing technique removes any staples and excess material which is synonymous with traditional saddle design â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this further reduces weight, improves comfort and is much easier to clean. We like the look and design of this saddle as much as the feeling of the material. Fabric Tape Hi-grip handlebar tape starts out with a shock absorbing gel backing. The tape is simple to use, and great to ride with or without gloves. The material feels great and provides perfect grip - definitely recommend Fabric products - check their website here: http://fabric.cc

CONTINENTAL - The Gatorskin 700x25c front and 700x28c rear A durable, reliable and fast tyre from Continental. The slick German made natural rubber tread is designed to perform well in wet/wintery conditions. We feel save going downhill and offroad - just a perfect product by Continental. http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle/

Photos: Greg Falski

As some of you already heard team Tru Fix Kru has opened a lifestyle shop for all you streetwear and bicycle lovers. Shop "Br큰klene" aint no pop-up store. It is a bike/clothing shop with a true fixed gear attitude to it and a mix of coffee lovers place.

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Photos: Arturs Pavlovs Text: Tru Fix Kru

It's been a long time since they've dreamed of their own place and finally it has come to life. They made it to share passion for the things they love and they're here to stay. Officially open now on daily basis. And of course the web shop continues to work as usually.

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The location is Kuģu iela 11. If you still didn’t have a chance to visit them online (www.trufixkru.com) or in real life while visiting Latvia then pass by any day and say hi. Mr. Pavlove and Toms will serve you a fresh cup of 100% arabica coffee from Guatemala and Colombia to get you energised for the day. You wonder what to expect in the shop? A bit of everything. Cinelli, Bombtrack, Ērenpreiss bikes , POLO&BIKE as well as 8bar bikes, Fresh coffee from “King Coffee Service“, Vans, Dickies fixed gear, Brooks England Saddles, Knog lights,Sweet skateboards, longboards from Lokalboards, New Era caps and much more.

SEASON OVERVIEW

with Stefan Schott Photos: 8BAR

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Stefan Schott is the founder of 8bar bikes and part of the 8bar racing team. The 8bar team had an impressive Fixed Gear racing season and is one of the most versatile and visible teams right now. 12 victories and 19 podiums speak for themselves. SOFB - WHEN DID YOUR FIXED GEAR RACING SEASON START THIS YEAR? It started pretty early this year. We organized the first “Last Man Standing” race together with the guys from Rad Race at the end of March. It was a lot of fun and our team was really successful. At the end I ended up in third place and my teammate Max won the edition. SOFB - DID YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO ANY TRIPS OR JUST TOOK PART IN RACES AROUND BERLIN? Unfortunately there are not so many races around Berlin that’s why we “had to” travel a lot. We did a trip to France in spring to join the National Moutarde Crit and a three weeks trip to Spain in summer to race in San Sebastian, Onati and Gijon. Beside this we did some weekend trips to Prague, Vienna, Milan, Barcelona and so on. SOFB - HOW DO AND YOUR TEAM PREPARE YOURSELF FOR FIXED GEAR RACING? My training varies a lot. I stopped racing road races because I didn’t like training schedules. That’s why I only ride if I like to ride not because I “have to”. Besides training on my 8bar KRZBERG track bike I also like to ride my road or Cyclocross bikes. To get some “racing skills” we also organize some Fixed Gear crit trainings called “Critical Crit”. SOFB - PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE TWO RACES WERE THIS YEAR. My favorite race this year was Kantoikrit in Onati, Spain. This race is really unique with technical parts and a cobblestone section. The race was held at night and it felt like the whole city was watching. The atmosphere was incredible, not forgetting the great nightlife and after-party.

Beside this race I really enjoyed the Scrap Race in Prague, which was a Fixed Gear obstacles race with K.O. System. The racecourse was around 800m long and included jumps, seesaw and a paddle pond that had to be crossed. SOFB - WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE 8BAR RACING TEAM? The 8bar team consists out of six riders Max, Maxe, Paul, Tim, Jaime, Antonia and myself. With Max, Maxe, Paul, Antonia and me from Germany, Tim from France and Jaime from Spain we have a real international team and are able to join races all over Europe. SOFB - WOW… THAT’S ALREADY A LOT OF RIDERS. ARE YOU PLANNING TO EXTEND THE TEAM IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

The 8bar LowPro frame is the prototype for the KRZBERG v5. The geometry is a bit more aggressive (than the KRZBERG v4) and we are going to use a high-end lightweight tubing to make the frame even stiffer and lighter at the same time. The frame and full bike will be available by end of 2014 in matt black, polished raw and as a team edition. I was racing the frame this year and it felt really great and aggressive. SOFB - CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE NEW 8BAR MEGA COMPONENT SERIES? The 8bar MEGA parts is our new high end series. Sleek unique design, CNC finish and lightweight are the key features of the MEGA series.

Photo: Philipp Schuster/ Red Bull Content Pool

We are planning to form two teams for 2015. There will be still the 8bar team as it is right now. But there will also be an 8bar rookie team as well. The rookie team offers less experienced riders to join a racing team. The requirements are easy. You just need to ride an 8bar bike and wear the 8bar cycling apparel at races. In return all 8bar Rookie team members get special rates on all 8bar products and the full support of the team at events. SOFB - SOUNDS GOOD. ARE YOU PLANNING ANY RACING EVENTS FOR BERLIN NEXT YEAR? We are going to do the Last Man Standing race again is spring together with the guys from Rad Race. Beside this we are planning to do a Fixed Gear criterium in Berlin in the summer of 2015. So stay tuned!!! SOFB - WE SAW YOU RACING A NEW 8BAR LOWPRO FRAME AT SOME RACES. CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING MORE ABOUT YOUR NEW FRAME? IS IT JUST A PROTOTYPE OR WILL IT BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SOONER OR LATER?

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Blind Chic. Photos: Greg Falski and Blind Chic. Interview by Mate Horvath

SOFB - PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLIND CHIC. We are two cyclist girls, Julia and Neza, with different origins and cultural backgrund but with the same passions about cycling and design. We met on a trip riding from Ljubljana to Budapest 3 years ago. When we arrived Neza moved to Budapest and we strated to work together. A few month later we decided to embrace our passion in a real product. Our background studies, experiences and personalities have been complemented each others’, which ended up in a really good team. SOFB - I KNOW YOU COME FROM A FIXED-GEAR BACKGROUND, HAVING DONE THE CYCLE ME HOME TRIP IN 2011. HOW HAS YOUR OWN DEVELOPMENT IN CYCLING TRANSLATE INTO THE PROJECTS AT BLIND CHIC.?

Companies starting out with bags as their main profile often branch out to the world of clothing. In this sense the girls behind Blinc Chic. are no exception. Having known about their work and how they met during the Cycle Me Home trip, I was especially happy to be allowed a look into their studio in Budapest, Hungary. Having seen the products first-hand and knowing how passionate they are about cycling, I’m sure their new Gorilla Label will be a hit with both male and female cyclists alike.

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It seems like the more we are cycling the bigger are our needs for cycling specific products, which makes the whole cycling experiance more joyful and comfortable. We are constantly on the bike, whether we are doing our every-day route to the studio, a purchase trip, delivering stuff to the shops or going out in the evenings. That is a completely different lifestyle and required a complete rethought of the clothing and acessories we are using every day. Obvioulsy we started with a smaller product, such as the backback but as the time passes by we feel a growing frustration of what to wear on the bike and a need for a more diverse way of suiting up.

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We had to make a lot of compromises but there is a certain limit where we had to draw a line: O main goal became to develop products, which are functional on and off the bike, include features which relate to comfortable everyday cycling, commuting. SOFB - DO YOU SEE BLIND CHIC. AS A MEANS TO PROMOTING CYCLING, PARTICULARLY WOMEN CYCLING AS A WHOLE? HOW DO YOU SEE THE STATE OF WOMEN CYCLING AS A WHOLE? Since we are a girl team we try to put more focus on female related products, but our products are mostly unisex, therefore we don’t exlude anyone. Definitly we see female cycling as a fast growing ’community’, and we are very happy to be part of it and we try to support this growth all the way we can. SOFB - YOU HAD SOME RAD UNSUPPORTED ADVENTURES THIS SUMMER WITH AN FIXEDGEAR TRIP WITH A GIRLS-ONLY CREW. HOW DID THIS IDEA CAME ABOUT?

J: Yes, it was an amazing trip. Basically the idea came really last minute. I had been planning a cycling trip in my head for a long time before - either to Tuscany or to the Provence area. I am not really a ’tourist’ type. The only way I can switch-off is an active holiday and I really needed that. I also felt it challanging to go only with girls, with fixed gear and without any help, taking all our stuff by ourselves, just taking an adventure. So I asked Zsófi and Laura, a Hungarian and a Spanish girl, to join me on this ride from Nice to Barcelona, riding 880 kms in 8 days. Obviously it required a lot of will power to get through the mountains and take that 120 kms every day but the landscape we have seen, the people we got to know and ride itself was absolutely worth it! We already decided to make a traditon of it. We did not want to make a big fuss about it publicly. We just didn’t want that pressure that poeple are following us and we have to prove to others intead of to ourselves , that we are capable of this, if you know what I mean. So that is the reason why it was unsupported in a way and the reason why there is a lack of visual materials.

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SOFB - I FIRST SEEN PICTURES OF YOUR NEW GORILLA JACKET FOLLOWING THE BERLINER FAHRRADSCHAU BACK IN MARCH. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU ARRIVED FROM THE WORLD OF TRADITIONAL WAXED-CANVAS BAGS TO THE TECHNICAL APPARELS. It came very naturally. We were both searching for a cycling softhell jacket on the market, which would still have an essence of streetwear, but we had no luck, so we put down ideas, about what features we want, and after some time, the first samples got born. The first 2 pieces we have tested throughout last fall/winter (from October to March). Later, when the final samples got ready, we gave it out for testing to a few cyclist girls and after one year the final version of the jacket is now available! Our new LABEL itself features a difference from the basic brand Blind Chic. The Gorilla label has been created as a side project within the brand for a more specific group of people who are seeking for a more functional and/or technical products. Though, this step will not stop or exclude the further process of using

waxed cotton cavvas in a modern and traditional way. SOFB - I KNOW THAT YOU ARE AVID CYCLISTS BOTH IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND OFF-ROAD. WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR NEW JACKETS? The jacket is ment for cold weather (+5 to -5) riding, it is made from softshell material, which is technical fabric, it works best when you move. The material has 2 layers. The outer one is a waterand windproof material and the inner is a polar fabric keeping the body warm. We wanted to offfer something to people who ride no weather what, which will make them warm and dry through out the winter, no matter if its just about a short trip to work, or a longer adventure. Important thing is to ride! SOFB - YOU SPONSOR AND PARTICIPATE IN RACES WITH BLIND CHIC. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN THE HUNGARIAN CYCLING-SCENE. We try to participate in as many cycling events as possible, either as competitors or as sponsors, or even both

We need a bigger team to be able to spend more time on it but we would love to see more and more girls get involved in events and have fun on the bike! SOFB - HAVE CAME OUT WITH HIGH QUALITY JERSEYS AS WELL. CAN WE MAYBE EXPECT FULL KITS FROM BLIND CHIC. IN THE FUTURE? Actually the jersey came together with a bib, too. We had a limited quantity adn hopefully next season there w ill be an other series. The kit, in terms of cuts and material, is a really specific line, so we would leave it for the specialists’ brands and rather make them in collaborations. SOFB - PLEASE GIVE US A SNEAK PEAK ON WHAT’S NEXT, ANY PLANS FOR A COLLABORATION IN THE NEAR FUTURE? There are few international collaborations in plan for spring/summer in the garment direction. As to the style we want to bring some colorful, playful designs on the urban cycling market and a more diverse product palette.

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Red Bull Mini Drome Miami with Ricky Crompton

Photos: Chris Garrison/Red Bull Content Pool Text: Ricky Crompton

Photos and Text: Greg Falski

AFTER 2 YEARS OF NO REDBULL MINIDROME RACING IN MY CALLENDER AND THOUGHTS IT WOULD JUST BE A GREAT RACING MEMORY OF MY PAST .... I WAS SUPER HAPPY TO HEAR REDBULL WHERE HOSTING ANOTHER ONE IN MIAMI ON THE 8TH NOVEMBER. I KNEW I HAD TO JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO GO RACE IT,I LOVE THE MINIDROME THERES NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT THIS EVENT AND KNOW OTHER RACE LIKE IT IN THE WORLD !!

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MINIDROME DOMINATION I took it steady in qualifying getting used to the geometry of the mini drome again and learning how my Vittoria tyres would handle the outdoor track so i placed 3rd in qualifying .... I watched the other riders and was pretty blown away at the speed of a few of them i new i could beat them but would have my work cut out doing it in the races ....They where killing it in qualifying so fast and loose.

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Racing the minidrome is always memorable for me win or loose because it’s so much fun and in a way has kinda this retro cycling feel to it ... it’s so simple riding around a piece of wood yet so dependant on technique and bike set up. It took me a while to truly understand the racing technique but i finally have it on lock down along with the perfect bike set up. Taking the Win in Miami was the icing on the cake after having such a fun week pedalling down the coast with the #Jax2mia2014 crew. Ive missed that uplifting podium feeling it rocks especially to stand there and see so many happy smiling faces looking back at you, it’s rewarding knowing your efforts have made so many people happy.

Photos: Chris Garrison/Red Bull Content Pool

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CSK Downtown LA JAM FG Words Jacob Ruff Photos by Phil Arellano

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“It’s time to throw another comp,” was basically how the conversation began between Matt Spencer and I a few months back when we initially decided to host a follow up to the March 2013 Fixie Factory x CSK Rail Jam. Though centered around the newly installed flat rail in Long Beach, CA, the Jam quickly turned into a street session after it was broken up within minutes of the kickoff. With a pretty good turnout of about 30 riders, chill vibes, and some good local spots, the day really turned out. There was a real solid energy and it definitely some great memories.

As for the 2014 #CSKJAM, we wanted to capture that similar essence of the jam session and chose downtown LA as home base for the event. I wanted this to be bigger and better than the previous year and immediately began seeking support from those within the industry and community. We received an incredible response from companies and friends who were interested in donating prizes and ended up with an insane collection of parts, accessories, and gear. The generosity and genuine enthusiasm to support us and the event was astounding. To those who contributed, time, effort, and goods, I hope that you recognize this would not have popped off as it did without you. Thank you.

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The turnout on the gorgeously pristine sunday November 2nd at the Staples Center meet up location exceeded all of our expectations and solidified that fixedgear freestyle is alive and well in SoCal. We had 41 contestants enter and close to 80 in entire group cruising around. Riders traveled from all over California (Anthony Combs showed up from the Bay Area at 3 AM the day of the comp), the FOAD crew hauled out from SLC, Steven took an incredibly long bus ride from Oregon, and Lucas Ratpack Bockleman flew out all the way from Richmond to film the event. Phillip Arellano shot the photos accompanying this article and everyone went ham on Instagram (#cskjam).

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For the format, we divided the contestants in to two groups, sponsored and non-sponsored and had 20 minute sessions as each spot. The jam (hopefully) alleviated some of the stress of the competition aspect as multiple riders are going at once. Fixed freestyle has been rooted in the jam style comp for as far back as I can recall. Fast Friday, Peel Sesions, and Future Tense were foundational events that likely led the way for perhaps the more contemporary counterparts such as Kenny Arimotoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Man Up series, Chromeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bill$ or Bust, and the recent Harness the Gnarness. The only difference now is that we aren't hitting trackstands or pogo comps.

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Though the first spot was a bust as the parking lot bank to wall was blocked, we hit 5 sick spots with hardly any interruption. We started at a wedged loading dock, the Always Sunny in Philadelphia ledge, the sloped loading dock, square yellow flat rails, and ended at a make shift step up and launch ramp. Despite the spots being heavily peg friendly, even those without held their own with not only with the grinds and slides. I'll let the edit speak for itself but as for the energy and intensity, it was off the charts, both from the riders and spectators. And this is what CSK has been rooted in since its inception. It's a community thing and a collaborative experience. So many people threw down that I couldn't keep up with my notes on the tricks everyone pulled out. We gave out prizes after each spot session and also recognized a winner from each group. As for the individuals that stood out, Jordan Ramos in the non sponsored hit every obstacle with not only speed and a slough of tricks but crisp clean style. Jonathan Ball (Jball) owned the jam and easily threw out the most combos and tricks at each spot. Honestly though, everyone charged and came out strong with some incredibly progressive tricks that a year ago perhaps were only a dream. This event and the weekend LA adventure really energized me and reaffirmed the reasons why I love riding and appreciate those individuals that I've been able to meet and spend time with along the way. It's at times tangible, like when riding through downtown LA with a mob of your closest friends to session some sick spots and intangible, like the satisfaction of knowing that those you're riding next to are sharing that same feeling. Absolutely one for the record books and hands down the best bike related experience I've had.

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hector As for 2015, we at CSK are already working on the plans for the follow up Jam and are extending invites to our friends and family across the globe. Once again, this would not have been such an incredible event were it not for those that competed and contributed and for that we are indebted. Thank you. If you weren't able to join, you kissed out, but all the more reason to come out next year. See you then. Jacob

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Riders from all over Europe travelled to to The Vienna Track Cycling Grand Prix to contest a full range of Track cycling events. Together with Nelson Bell who came from Berlin, and other friends we enjoyed watching this powerful race. Enjoy the photos of two finals!

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Vienna Grand Prix Keirin 2014 Photos and Text: Greg Falski

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1 Tomas BABEK CZE 2 Maximilian LEVY GER 3 Sascha HÜBNER GER 4 Jirí FANTA CZE 5 Sándor SZALONTAY HUN 6 David SOJKA CZE 7 Robin WAGNER CZE 8 Jaroslav SNÁŠEL CZE 9 Andreas MUELLER AUT 10 Jan POSPISIL AUT 11 Aron LODI HUN 12 Simon RYAN IRL

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A special bike store by the name of Meesterknecht opened shop the other day in the cycling city of Amsterdam.

Words: Saskia Haex Photos: Nas Hosen

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Meesterknecht is the renewed concept of well-known bike shop Pristine that closed it doors early 2014. The new shop intends to bring high quality goods and high quality coffee. And with that statement this new place is a serious upgrade to their previous concept store.

The selection of products and brands (Cervelo, Focus, BMC, POC, Giro Ritte, Stoemper, Mission Workshop, Ten Speed Hero, Brother Cycles, 8bar, Enve, Blue On and more) is spot on and the design of the space, done by Frank van der Sman, is just amazing. The whole space just breathes cycling and the fun that comes with it. Even if your wallet isn't filled with green this shop is well worth checking out for a bicycle checkup or a great cup of Gangmaker coffee. Adress: Kerkstraat 168, Amsterdam Website: http://www.meesterknecht.cc

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Red Hook Bummer. Stefan “Fish” Vis

Despite ranking top 10 after two Red Hook Crits this year, i was not very happy with my season. The race in Brooklyn was not good at all, and I know why. Fortunately I could make up for that loss winning the Red Bull Race the Place in Toronto. but I was not abled to make it back to new york for their minidrome race. I was 3rd in 2013. Another cool result was a fourth place in the Fijate crit on Puerto Rico. After this 7 week trip through rain, snow and sun, things started to hop on a rollercoaster. Especially a lot of stress was taking over my life. Not being abled to work out my ideas with the cycling club I initiated; producing the transalp trip for bombtrack, initially under a F.A.S.T. project; A failed attempt to host the second Amsterdam Supercrit, also vetoed by my own team… even the the seemingly simple task to create a webshop and establish F.A.S.T. as a foundation were not received well by the other members. Despite all this the Transalp project with Bombtrack was a success for the bicycle manufacturer and myself. But somehow I had lost edge and a clear view. Barcelona overwhelmed a lot of riders, as a bunch of new young pro riders enter the field the bikemessenger camp is being surprised by Safa from Mexico. In that race I did not defend very well resulting in a lock up situation, and an exploding crash in the last U-turn. I had to steer the other way so I ended up 11th. Again.

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So what happened in Milano. For some reason I forgot all about what happened in Milano in 2013. Chaos and huge delay. The course is so fast that people just keep on crashing. And I also actually crashed, but I did qualify freewheeling a lap. I think a bunch of crazy facts, circumstances and attitudes prevented me from qualifying . My bike was ready as it ever was: the Coarse frame; the Fast Forward wheels; The Vittoria Pave tubulars; the Kmc X101 chain; the Cinelli NEOS parts; the brand new Columbus fork; and the Selle San Marco RHC saddle I won the year before… (I should mention Giro and Wattbike here aswell). So in group two there was a racer qualifying in an awesome way. His time was 1.33.something… if I calculated that properly that 54 km/h. I suppose that in his wheel he took a big group of others who instantly qualified. Then group 1 came to the course. I decided-and this has probably been the biggest mistake- to warm up a lap and get some space between the front group and find a good train. I did find a good train, I was still freewheeling in the back of that group who seemingly where going for a hotlap. I do this to get a good starting speed. But, unfortunately, not even three laps into the qualifiers, there was a crash in front of us, so we got flagged down. Try number 1 failed.

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It took an hour and a half to scrape the crashed rider off the asphalt, to hang up a banner and to wait for the street lights to come on. But we were already running late 2 hours to start with. So, racedirection decided we had 10 minutes to qualify, and within these ten minutes you should have finished! I was wheeling around with IRIDE and Thibaut ’Lhenry, good guys. Thibaut also solo like me but leading the ranking. We were spreading out like the racing director asked us to do, and we took the decision to wait one lap. We followed IRIDE and where ready to work! But the attempt failed already at the starting line because of heavy traffic in front of us; the tail of the group in front of us. The two or three laps after that were very weird. ‘Lhenry and me obviously thought that IRIDE was gonna try again because their first attempt in the second try failed too, like ours. But they did not go anymore. i also did not talk to ‘Lhenry that was pretty stupid and I think IRIDE was waiting for us to lead out to draft off us. I got nervous and I was pretty sure I started my lap with 8.something on the clock. But I cannot remember if it was low or high. If I started on 8.10.000 I would have made it but if I started on 8.20.000 I would have been in 6 seconds too late. And I think this is what happened. I did sprint the lap solo, ‘Lhenry not even in my wheel and Iride behind ‘Lhenry.

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But that last attempt on my own was not fast enough, with a speed of 49.5 km per hour I could not even have qualified this time on my own, which I have always been doing. Deu to the delays, the racing directors had to scrap the second chance race. That could have been my chance to qualify along with 30 others. As you can imagine I was furious, being a regular finals racer since 2011, I only missed one race because my dad got sick. So its very weird to be sidelined, wondering what went wrong. The racing directors do not think there was a mistake from their side. So it just proves to me that I was too laid back.

Sunday. On the morning after the race and the party a friend of mine asked me about a post on the F.A.S.T. website: it was stating that I did not qualify because I needed a vacation... It that minute I decided to completely split from the team. Because I did an enormous amount of work to get this far and it was never in my plan to not race in Milano.

2015 and 2016 are going to be very interesting. And I will tell you all about it in this magazine; on @fastxfishy on instagram and on FastxFishy.com.

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