North American Hand Built Bike Show

Tony making an existing fixture work for the Howie Prototypes.


Even though the title implies that bikes are possibly built with something other than people's hands, this unique event is a celebration of domestic craft frame builders. Check out some the past show highlights here.

-L

Howie

A New Bike with 26" wheels and disc brakes.

A few people have been asking us for a bike with this particular combination of features for the past couple years.

We avoided a bike like this because we didn't see reason for it. However, Guy Marsh really wanted a bike like this, we really like having Guy riding for us, so why not?

Unfortunately, this frame is currently available to our team only. We are taking the opportunity to try some new things out. A few methods of construction, materials and geometry are entirely new to us, and will be rigorously tested. As a result, I regret this bike won't be available untill the end of the year.

Some specs:

Geometry: Tight.

Weight: Light.

Priced: Right.


-L

The Wham Bam Thank You Jam

One week to go, and I still can't believe this is actually happening.

Bring warm clothes, especially if you are coming to watch. The track is fully enclosed, but not heated.

Pro is nearly full, so if you'd like to ride in Pro, register ASAP.

-L

The Baaron

Aaron Natchtrab. AKA The Baaron.

Smooth and Legit in Bend.

-L

World Destruction

Possibly the strangest musical pairing I'm aware of.

Afrika Bambaataa and Johnny Rotten's paths intersected for a moment 20 years ago to create a very compelling song which remains sadly relevant today. Enjoy this truely bizarre video.

-L

Tucked as...?

Rhymes with "tuck."

Guy again.

-L

Recorded uses of Fall Guys

Steve Gaskey, Zoo Bombing. Steve Gaskey is the designer/builder of DragBike.



Myself, finding a transfer line on BMX track.



Guy, tuck no-hander in a skate park.

Word Up

A weirdo country band (The Boss Hoss) covers an even weirder funk group (Cameo) and makes a significant contribution to our sense of optimism.

-L

Abbitt..again.

Abbitt again, nicely tabled. Definately at Whistler, and probably the day he steamrolled the crumb of confidence I had in my own riding.

A downside for good measure.

Word.

-L

Nice photo of Guy/Rays video via All Out

Really nice recent photo of Guy Marsh from Abbitt Wilkerson.
Congrats on getting your driver's license Guy!


All Out Productions put together a nice wrap-up of the
Ray's 3 Ride event here.

-L

Couple of New Pics

Tonic Fab Brogramer, PDX trail boss, black jeans wearer, white spooky van driver, grey Fall Guy rider, and all round smooth cat, Aaron Nachtrab. Actually going very, very fast around a corner. Photo by Peter the German Medical Equipment Designer Living In Oregon For Seven Months And Stoked:


Definatly one of the better bumper stickers I run across everyday walking my dog:



Strange photo from last summer:




-L

Foyer Clothing

The ultimate exression of the average man's commitment to fashion is the stashing of a clean T-shirt in the trunk of their car for an "emergency."

Style-wise, I think most guys are content finding something which works and sticking with it. No sense in fixing what isn't broken, right?

That said, here's a PDX T-shirt company with some very interesting work.

Don't know much about this outfit, except they've got a clunky website and some very striking illustrations/shirts. Oh, and they sponsor Portland Local, and S&M Pro, "Little" Jeff Landtiser.

Website here.

-L

Tiny Dancer

Billy on point.

A couple bangers from Billy while he was riding for Union Street Bikes. I believe Woodinville shooter/welder/magazine maker Corey is to blame for these. Incredible riding.

-L

Wicked and Weird

Buck 65.

His uncoventional live performance made quite an impression on Megan and I. The album this song is from is very strong too. Quite an orginal, and Canadian to boot.
The photo gallery on his website is really good.
Including (for the older BMXers):

A Club Homeboy shirt listed as favorite T-shirt #5, as well as photo of his Macneil BMX.

-L

Tired of Tires?

One of the worst things about a 24" wheeled bike is the limited selection of tires. Here's a tire which I've found somewhat hard to come by, yet works well if you primarily ride trails or park. It has a light casing and nice size. Definately one of the lighter 24" tires you'd want to run on a freestyle bike. We have a few on hand if you'd like to try one.

Primo Dirt Monster 24x1.85" (measures as about a 2")

Weight: About 600g

Price: $17.

Pay with PayPal.

-L

Look Back.

Close-up of the Bullit swing-arm drop-outs. Not going forward with these, but not bad to "look back" at..






Abbitt, clicked look-back.

Less Power than Belgium?

Alabama: The First 3 Things Which Come To Mind:

The Rolling Stones: "Sticky Fingers" (recorded in Alabama..)

Unclaimed Airport Luggage Store (visited as an impressionable teen..)

My Uncle.

This episode of Top Gear has rudely bumped "My Uncle" from that list.

Enjoy. Or not.

-L

All Out Grease

Is All Out Great.

To me, a few of the popular mountain bike film series feel like a lot more sizzle than steak. Huge productions with established riders, very predictable and not particularly exciting. If a bike movie isn't exciting, then what is it? "All Out" is very well put together without feeling slick, and captures some very exciting riding during a series of road trips. There's a good mix of riding here, and plenty of it. A snapshot of where mountain biking is at the moment, both racing and freestyle. Guy's in this, as well a clip of PDX local Phil breaking his ankle in a DH race. Ouch.

Definately worth watching.

Teaser.

-L

Some Stills I picked off All Out's website:

Word.

Even with the grey bar, this has to be one of my favorite photos of Guy. Damn.

-L

The Horse

What's a big difference between riding in the Tour de France, and riding in a skatepark?

Horses.

Courtesy of of my friend Brian: Freestylin' Magazine Back Page Feature Rider, DIY Stage Race organizer, Bike Builder at Serotta, Datsun Owner, and recent developer of the following phrase unfortunately so critcal to modern life:

: "..self-induced hurry-up pressure.."

Thanks Brian.

Greg Hill Tuck

Click Above Link.

Probably most people kicking on this site have already seen this, but still...

No sense in flailing your bike and body every which way for some attention. Proof that the old Greg Hill Tuck can still create a stir. Problem is, you've got to jump across a 6th story balcony.

Jim Bauer, art director for Odyssey BMX gettin it done. Courtesy of Ride BMX.

Wow.

Congrats Phil!

Phil Sundbaum, one of the bigger riders (and I mean than literally) out of the NW won the Rays 3-ride Jump and Park Comp last week-end.

I'm going to go out in a limb and predict 2007 will be a very good year for NW riders.

Group B

Group B.

A virtually unrestricted catagory of rally car created in the early 80s and banned shortly thereafter due to some awful driver and spectator deaths.

Tradgedy aside, anyone who enjoys all things which involve speed and dirt will probably get a kick out of this astonishing footage.

I can not even begin to imagine how skilled these drivers are. A surgeron with a stick of dynamite.

-L

Vistors and Movies

Aaron and Charlie are Portland's informal bike welcome wagon. A couple weeks ago they swung by with new a vistor, Peter from Germany. Peter's a product designer and will be living here for the next 7 months working on medical equipment.

Peter also likes to ride MTB's and shot some photos of their ride.

I just recieved a new movie in the mail which I'm excited about. I posted a teaser here a few weeks ago All Out Productions "All Out Grease #3." I'll post a review here shortly.


Also, Aaron Lutze is in Spain, filming with Team Gravity . Their tour guide is a man who only needs one name, Ruben. You can be Ruben, you can eat a Ruben, and you can do a Ruben. Ruben doing a Ruben.

Probably worse ways to spend a couple weeks in Febuary, eh?



-L

Scott Finds A Caveman In Woods

Here are a couple photos of Scott Matual by the Ben "The Caveman" Tobin. Scott's one of my favortie Seattle area riders, and an inspiration to anyone in the Dirty 30. Scott's 37 years old and on his bike he sticks to classics. All as smooth as you like.

Ben Tobin is a freelance photographer who's work has appeared in Bike and Decline Magazine among others.

Here are a couple photos taken at Tonic Fab Teamsters Charlie and Aaron's trails.

Scott sent a Seattle trail report the goes like this:

Greenlake is running pretty strong right now, when it’s not frozen or raining, I go there just amazed at how fun that place can be, as well as how good it runs w/ the weather is not 100%..I would say GL runs 300 days a year (to some extent)..Some kids who helped Rama at Queen Anne helped dial them all in, and I must say the new steep landings are pretty dialed..

Queen Anne..All I can say is wow. I rode there a couple weeks ago, and helped do a lil digging this winter. They are building a new middle line and it’s nuts..a 10’ dirt spine, and it’s no joke..It was raining when I went there on Sat, but there were some tire tracks on it so it’s getting close to being good to go..

Thanks Scott and Ben.

-L

Team Separation.

"Billy Lewis" and "Cranked" are words often found in the same sentence.... Photos by Corey.

Unfortunately, Billy also cranked his shoulder this week snowboarding, and probably won't be able to ride in the Wham Bam Thank You Jam in March. Down, but definately not out. He'll be riding again once the sun pokes out again. Get well soon.

L

Suppose, I accidentally...

MC 900 FT Jesus..A very original and talented artist with a great video by Spike Jonze.

Currently a flight instructor.

"Aviation is a very cool antidote to the frustrations of the music biz." -Mark G. a/k/a mc 900 ft
jesus

Overload.

Been spending an unhealthy about of time in front of the computer. If I can make it to the end of Febuary without permanently effecting my eye-sight I'll be stoked. Mostly working, and coming up with products we are actually going forward with. Colt didn't work alone.

One of those products isn't totally original, but we think it's a pretty damn good idea. Our protos have been holding up well for a while and we feel comfortable going forward with it. We are calling it the Spanglish Bottom Bracket. It uses "Spanish" BB bearings in an external style BB for a euro BB. While the Spanish bearings aren't as tough as those found in Mid BB's, they are a lot better than anything currently found for a euro BB. It doesn't work for BMX chainline bikes, but it's perfect for Mountain Bike chainlines (50mm.) Production versions will be compatible with 68/73mm BB shells and the Shimano external BB tool. We oughta have these ready to sell late spring/early summer. Tony made these ones and they look great.


Not every minute in front of the computer is entire productive. Mostly I'd blame You Tube, but I've also found some good stuff I'd like to share. The first is an artist who Tony and I are really, really stoked on, WK INTERACT :


I'd also like to share something I think is pretty neat, the Wraith, from Confederate Motorworks. Beautiful bike.


Really looking forward to doing some real riding late spring/summer. I'll never take a table for granted again.

-L

Motorhead..soundtrack of The Apocalypse

Problem: Gasoline runs out and society crumbles.

Solution: Wear black football pads and drive all over the Austrailian desert looking for gasoline!

I'm sure anyone who has enjoyed these films will love this little complilation.

-L