Tonic Fab: July 2007

Tour de Crank Worx

Caution: Rant Ahead!

Left town for Crank Worx thinking about the Tour doping scandals.

I'm sorry that so many fans are disapointed with their heros.

Unfortunately, anyone who thinks a major european stage race is contested on bread and water is holding on to a pleasant, but untrue idea. Like the tooth fairy.

Want a clean sport? Apply the following formula:

Take the money out of it, make the races easier, and the drugs will go away.

On to Crank Worx...

Elevation set a very high standard for me. A perfect course, the best riders in the world and tightly organized. I was OK with not being able ride because it was such an incredible event to attend simply as a spectator.

On the other hand, Crank Worx had me wishing I could ride. The event moved at a glacial pace, and the course was one that riders where simply surviving. And many didn't. I "heard" 24 of a 100 or so qualifiers left the course on a stretcher.

The final drop was ridiculous...huge (30ft?), with a flat landing (every rider head-snapped on impact,) and strong winds. One of the best riders in the event, Darren Prokoj, was seriously hurt on this drop.

Anyway, I hope next year the course is figured out and they can move the event along at a reasonable pace.

My Crank Worx highlights:

Vanderhams' whips. Massive.

Darren Prokoj ride the Elevation jumps. Kid is insanely good. I hope he's OK.

Watching some dual slalom. That was fun.

Andreau Lacondeguy's final run: About the cleanest trick riding I saw on course.

Kurt Voreis. Riding and talking to him. He's the best.

Boyko's 3 off the Jumbotron. Pulled very cleanly. Brass balls award.

Hanging out with FSA folks and the Team Tonic Fab.

Abbitt and Looch riding Elevation.

On to the photos:

Abbitt...what more can I say? Had Elevation "on lock."

The Vander Roll / Abbitt @ Crank Worx

Everyone is talking about Vander-Rolls. I've heard a few pros are dialing in "no-handed-vander-landers" in the foam right now for Crank Worx. It's possible Crank Worx will be won with a corked vander-roll off a drop to 180 skid-out to high-five.

Litter Magazine does a killer job of covering events. Here's a little surprise I noticed yesterday:

Abbitt caught on video on the Elevation course!!

Check out Litter Magazine's Crank Worx coverage. Watch the "ELEVATION JUMP SCHRALPING" video. Abbitt's wearing a long, purple shirt in a few clips, one rolling in, and another floating through the main line. NICE RIDING ABBITT!!!!

-L

Legal Action / Punching / Customers

What did Tony make this tool for? A punch for slotting seat tubes. This year, Tonic Fab has probably made more tools than frames...

Nathan and his Dad, "Danimal", stopped by our shop to pick-up a Fall Guy. Cool meeting them. Nathan's a really good rider out of Seattle, and I'm stoked to see what he can do with his FG. I expect I'll be riding with both of them next summer...

-L

Vitamin R

When you are on crutches, it's hard to get a healthy dose of rowdy.

Call me crazy, but I'd rather be going to THIS than Crank-Worx. More Rowdy.

Guitar Wolf. I saw these guys twice years ago, and they are Rowdy. Once at a show, and then the next day getting some ice cream. Anyway, this is probably the greatest rock video of all time.

Brian, who holds a world record for "time required to build up a Fall Guy" informed us that the Evel Kneivel tribute car is FINALLY up for sale. Nothing says "I like rowdy" like cruising around in an Evel Kneivel tribute car.

Culture / Disaster / Danger

Not much going on...

Chow Nasty

Loose Front Wheel,or Earthquake?

Unfortunately, earthquake!
"I was cycling to work and initially thought I had a loose front wheel," Sendai resident Philip Wood told the BBC. "So I stopped to check. Then I realised it was an earthquake since cars were shaking and electric pylons were swaying all around me," he said. "

That photo has nothing to do with earthquakes, but it is from Japan..

Speaking of Japan, check out this cool teaser for a local flick.

Public Service Announcement:

Random / Atomlab

A diverse collection for you to enjoy.

Aaron Crashes..anyone who's ridden with the Baron knows how rare this is...

Tony grows a "Union" mustache.

Abbitt paints his bike.

Team Atomlab and some PDX locals arrive at the infamous Dart trails yesterday. Excuse me the bad photos...

Mike F., owns Atomlab and is one of the coolest people in the industry. Showing off his new frame and fork.

The Baaron..carrying drinks for Pros, or dutifully preparing mid-season sand-piles?

Hacksaw. Now a PDX local.

Harley riding really, really well.

Paul, enjoying his Howie.

Jesme 3's the hip.

Charlie makes a change.

This is the best thing I've seen in a while. Thanks Charlie...

"..I had just plead guilty to driving 35 mph in a 20 mph school zone and put my first infraction on my driving history. In the office, the otherwise kind, old ladies working at Cannon Beach City Hall were less than pleased with my attempt to pay $133.00 of my $206.00 dollar fine in spare change. Just to clarify, One Hundred and Thirty Three dollars in change does, in fact, weigh 18.93 pounds. Despite the fact that the City Hall, being low in our government's heirarchical system and thus subordinate to our Federal Government's decisions on what qualifies as legal tender, my friend Cooper and I still had our hands full convincing them to take my hard-saved money. But after two and a half hours of four people counting out change in varying ways to confirm accuracy, my ticket was paid, my hands were dirty, and freedom was mine.

I had no idea that little old ladies could be so pissed. It was awesome."

All Time Low

We are still dialing in the All Time Bars. If you like your bars low and wide, these will be worth the wait.

-L

Billy/Looch backyard session

I doubt Looch's folks have to push him very hard to do yard work.

Looch finds a downside to this use of a backyard.

Billy tucks.

This one's for the ladies.

Billy with a proper Judge.

Hecho en China

China's "killer" exports have been making headlines. Poison toothpaste, toys, and pet food have all gotten some attention recently. Well, when you are slaving away at Olympic preperations a few mistakes are understandable, right?

Something even more lethal than Chinese toothpaste are the Chinese cars we will start seeing here. These cars are cheap, disposable, and unsafe. The above video is a German crash test of a Chinese car with the sadly ironic name "Brilliance."

On a lighter note, the boldness with which the Chinese auto industry rips off car design is pretty funny. For example, the Chery QQ is an unlicenced clone of a Chevy Spark. It's safe to say the Chery QQ will experience a short, miserable life before it hits the junkyard. Just what the world needs right now.

Pirates, slaves and danger?

-L

Billy in the Woods

Billy with a woodsy and entirely unintentional tribute to a certain cover of Freestylin' magazine:

Billy's riding a Mountain Cycle Fury with some prototype Gravity wheels and other new parts on it.

Photo: Chris Case.

-L

East Coast Dirt

Tim riding + Ted Clicking = One BELTER of a photo.

Thanks for sending this in!

-L

Northwest Airlines

Abbitt has been suffering through a week at Whistler riding the Elevation course on the All Time High Bars. Here's a quick update:

"The bars are freaking awesome!!!

haha pink arms (Andreau) and all the Italian kids named me, B.S (aka:Big Style) and Andreau says im Sponsored by "Northwest Airlines" because my bars are huge! haha, but i love them. They feel So fricking good!

Painting my bike this week."

High Gear! / Japan / Walking Wounded

Tonic Fab is in High Gear! Not quite..Frames should be back from paint early next week and we are stoked to get these out.

A few nice photos from Japan of Fall Guys here.