Banke

The Howie.
No ads. No out sourcing. No gimmicks.
Foot prints on our alignment table? Yes.


The Banke and the Tonic.


Tony on a very early Tonic fixed gear in front of our shop.



Team news.
Looch learns tailwhips. Billy rode clipless pedals off-road. Abbitt remains silent. Nick shoots Thrashbike and learns big 3's on quarters. Tony gets to work. I did a legit two wheel drift in some dust. Alfred wins the Red Bull comp and goes back to work. Ian races the PDX short track series. P Funk / Billy / Cory Tepper and Ian's paths unknowingly intersect at a Big Business show in PDX. The Baaron and Chaz continue to move dirt and ride downhill as fast as possible. Pierre, our French Canadian Connection is working for a demolition company. Yikes.

Finally..expect another Tonic Jam.


-L

Ryan in Action

Howdy.

First "news" is that a Fall Guy recently has become available because of a canceled order. This bike is a wild color. Sublime.


Also, Howies are going to be avaiable again shortly. Just a reminder.

Ryan goes to college in Eugene and rides a Howie. He's certainly not getting this good at riding by reading about it.

Euro.

Over-Under!

What???

Bike Check / County Fair Check / Empire of Dirt!

Howdy.

Howies are going to paint tomorrow, so if you'd like one, let me know.

Details are here. We take paypal, and it costs about $65 to ship to most countries.

Colors are coated / black / baby blue / orange.



I've got loads of photos of various things that relate to Tonic Fab. Here's few that don't.

I wanted to do a bike check of both my XC and my free-ride bike.

Here's my XC bike. It's a medium Santa Cruz Heckler. We built these at my old job before they went to Asia, so I've got a connection to this model. It uses a new form of suspension called Actual Pivot Point. I really don't understand how it works, but it does.

I'm using a Pike air fork which is brilliant. Perfect size fork for nearly everything. Not so stoked on Maxle, or the confusing adjustments, but whatever. The bike industry loves to invent suspension terminology.

I'm also running a Manitou Swinger 4 way air shock with adjustable bottom-out. That last feature makes this bike work really, really well. It's like cheating. Supple suspension with no harsh bottom out. I've got the SPV turned down to nothing.

Gravity Carbon bar. Horrible lock-on grips that tear-up the outside of my hands / gloves. Some kind of super light saddle.

Saint Cranks. Older XTR drive train.

Maxxis Cross Mark Tires. Excellent tire for hardpack conditions. Very fast. Folding 2.25" 45 psi in the rear and 30 in the front.

Thomson stem and seat post. Of course.

The bike weighs about 30 lbs. and has been party to many adventures. As all bikes should be.



Here's my freeride bike. It's also a medium Santa Cruz Heckler. I have it built up identically to my XC bike, but with a lower saddle height.


I'm running Profile hubs front and rear. The rear is a 9spd compatible, and uses a Titanium free-hub body. It's very loud. Like all Profile hubs, it's easy to service, and parts are readily available. This is not a disposable product. I'm running Q/R adaptors, but it can be reconfigured with 10mm studs in about 15min.


20mm thru-axle Profile front hub. Not much to say other than it looks neat and comes with nice bearings.


XT 4 piston brakes. These are wonderful brakes. I was going to try riding brake-less XC this year, but chickened out.


I'm running Arrow XCL rims. Not everyone is going love the brushed finish, and the graphics are straight outta NASCAR. They are very light, 26 or 27 mm wide, strong (enough) and made in this country.


I went to the County fair near my house and it was awesome. There's a huge Latino / Mexican community here and that means GREAT FOOD!! Elotes. I haven't had corn dipped in butter / salt / lime / pepper in since Mexico. SO GOOD!!!


"Don't try to play me out..." All the rides where named after 80's and 90's rappers or songs.


This one's called Ali Baba (and the 40 thieves.)


Have you seen the new Batman? This Pygmy goat has the same eye technology.


I don't know how the Goat's mind works, but wouldn't it be easier just to eat the grass inside the cage?


Finally, Empire of Dirt. Holy smokes. That course is wild. Notice the brake checking going into the dirt quarter. Love the long jump at the end.




-L

Killing the Basics

In our shop we have an old issue of Dig with Josh Stricker on the cover blasting out of a dirt bank. The issue is titled "Killing the Basics." It's about doing the simple things well, and it's something we aspire to.

Cory was in our shop shooting bikes for our new site. His broken wrist is not slowing him down. Tony is riding a fixed gear which I nearly died riding. The bike photos we have are unbelievable.



Now here's what I call killing the basics. Ministry ripping through a Grateful Dead Cover. Who woulda thunk?


-L

Hip / Hipper / Howies Available

Howdy. Have got a funny thing going on with my E-mail..can't reply to messages for some reason. I'll try and get that sorted today. I'm not ignoring 'ya!

Bummer News is that Cory Tepper broke a wrist last Friday. Man..I really wish this sport wasn't so dangerous. I did a spontaneous Vander-Roll on my XC bike a couple weeks ago. Could have been a disaster, but I escaped with a banged up knee and some silent whimpering. Speaking of XC...A light weight 5" bike with decent tires / fork / stoppers is pretty much off-road nirvana. I'm constantly impressed with this formula.

Big News is that Chaz is riding again. Apparently he's guinea pigging a new medical technology which creates a force-field around your damaged bits so you won't further hurt yourself doing what hurt you originally. Medical experiments do pay handsomely, so it's a little like getting paid to ride.



I agree with Billy. Thomson does make about the best looking / functioning stuff on the market. Too bad he missed Thrashbike, but sometimes a little more heads-up is required for intercontinental travel.


Nick B straight outta Jersey. He's got the wildest Fall Guy ever and takes great photos.


Howies are almost available. We'll machine them and send them to paint. To insert your own head in this photo, send me a color choice, deposit and what else? I'd say get after it.


Cheers,

-L

Makin' Do With Less!

I saw this video on HTATBL.

This video is like an eco-groovy guide to what it takes to go from Semi-Pro, to Super-Pro. Warming up at DH race by lashing rocks to your legs for example. It's cheap, environmentally sound, and very effective. As for sharpening your mental edge, an all over print hoodie, $100 sunglasses and a flat brim hat has nothin' on that Game Face at 2:17. That's the kind of thinking we need these days. Makin' do with less.




-L

Red Bull Courier Classic

While the actual taste of Red Bull may not be for everyone, you can't argue with their taste in event sponsorship. Last week-end they ran the Courier Classic in NYC, an extended team alley cat. Alfred Bobe was on the winning team, so full props there.

Here's a couple photos from the event. Alfred teamed up with a rider from Brooklyn Machine Works, and it looks like good times.

That's Alfred on the left.


Lets not forget how tough pedaling your butt off for 4 hours can be. I've ridden some large jumps, but hauling through traffic on traffic on a fixed gear scares the crap outta me.

Anyway, Alfred is still riding his original Tonic track bike. He's got a new one on it's way...






-L

Wild Style.

Nick's done painting his Fall Guy. This is definitely the wildest paint on a Tonic yet!
Hulk-a-mania meets Hair Band. Did I get that right?



-L

Fluid Ride

A few photos from a Fluidride race I attended last week-end on Mt.Hood.

Downhill racing is too crazy for me to consider doing myself, but it sure can be exciting to watch.

To discuss riding properly with your friends, you've got to use sign-language. It's the only way. The Baaron's hands are exhausted from describing the Jam from last week-end.


When it's boiling at sea level, it sure is nice to go to the mountains. There's a bunch of sno-parks around Hood that look like some possible primo, but illegal, riding.


PFunk taking a low line during his race run. I'm pretty sure his bike weighs less than my XC bike.


The good thing about being young is wearing glasses like this and being taken seriously. Enjoy it.


See ya later sweetheart. I'll be back soon.


Baaron pinned it to 5th in Semi Pro.


-L

Tonic Trail Jam

After months of weather and schedule related delays, our trail jam finally happened.
And the wait was entirely worth it. Weather, conditions and people experienced a rare moment of alignment, and minus a single (pretty bad) wreck, I think everyone left smilin'.

Cory Tepper was on hand shooting and some VERY good photos came out of this. A broken Chaz filmed, so expect to a little video soon as well.



First off, the Baaron. He built the place, and also destroyed it. Had more lines here than anyone. An absolute pinner. A Profile hub spinning at 100mph is all you'll hear from him.



Chaz with some old logging tools found while digging a new berm. He's broken, and we missed his riding.


Photos do not do this place justice.


Good times. We set up a BBQ, some citronella candles, and had a great afternoon in the woods.


Rocker Dave. Hams, or Ham Radio?


I had someone take a photo of me riding this berm to further support the myth that Tonic Fab is "rider owned."


Watching Justin ride this place with no brakes was unbelievable. Manual through some rollers at what I would estimate to be freeway speeds.


A few years ago, Ryan won "I Got High" at a jam we organized. These days he's riding a Howie, and still boosting the crap out of everything.


Same jump as the above, opposite strategy.


Billy. So good. What more can I say?


Cheers,

-L

Rockets / Rocker

Howdy. Yeah, our Jam WENT OFF. Perfect trails, weather and crowd. A big thanks goes out to Aaron and Charlie for opening their criminally dialed trails for this. I'll get some Jam photos up tomorrow or the day after.

In the meantime, July 4th. I went to a party at Canadian Patty's house. A ripping pump track, 2 bands, 3 kegs, and a good crowd. Good times. Here's a bunch of photos.

Great turn-out.


You know a pump track is good if it can be skated.


Adrian. He's got this Brian Foster thing going for him. He BLAZED the track.


Gals and plenty of first timers gave the the track a shot as well. Good times for everyone.


P-Funk taking a short break from his Cougar Safari with some track action.


Paul showed up and brought his Spanglish BB Howie.


Rocker Dave. He lit his arm-pit hair on fire, manned the BBQ, and the Air-Guitar.


Rock Dave salutes women on bikes.


Rocker about to completely destroy P-Funk. Safari Over.


Bottle launch pad.



The very talented Nick Brandreth is joining the Tonic Posse. He wanted to paint his Fall Guy himself, so we sent him and unpainted bike. He's got big plans for this one.


-L

Caught On Film / Jam-On.

No theme here. Just a few photos, a thin narrative and make of it what you will.

I was riding to the store to pick-up bubble wrap to pack some frames-up and ran into this. The Multnomah County Bike Fair. It was pretty much nuts. I also found, and sessioned with the owners a sweet step-up double to quarter that had been carved into the side of a drive-way very close to here. Riding around town is fun.
Fall Guy all locked down.


All sorts of bike folks came out, including these wildly dressed fixed gear freestylers? Mr. Cargo shorts is stoked!


As temperatures rise, so do tempers. These two are settling "Beer Vs. Weed" once and for all.


Dutch Pedersen bike?


The party went late. Here's a pedal powered circus ride. It works.


Wild Neon Bike.


Big turn out. The rest of my photos are junk.


Tony caught riding to work. He wants a nautical cup holder for his bike now.


It wound-up raining, and we went to check out the Toxic Place. It's built by skaters and the tranny's are very tight. Amazing work on the walls of the place.


July 4th at the pump track. I predict things will get heated. Hopefully I can bark out a few one foot tables. That's one foot off the ground.


Our shop is next door to a Famous Bike Painter. Here he is, caught in the act.


Tony caught on the lathe. Fortunately not caught in the lathe. That would not be good. We are rebuilding our shop and getting ready to build some larger bikes.


Yes. Our Jam is a go this Sunday. This is going to be good. We'll miss Looch and Abbitt, but Billy's coming down, and things will get heated.

Steady Bloggin'

You'd think Bloggin' depends on a steady stream of happenings and doings. I've found that going places and doing things actually gets in the way of "creating" a stream of information about Los Tonics.

Some legit news: Thrash Bike is going to be at the Brooklyn Banks in 3 weeks. What?

What's around the corner at Tonic Fab? Probably a speeding car while I attempt to make some sort of "artsy" photo.



A Yellow Howie coming straight outta Japan. We'll have more (Howies) in about about 3 weeks. I've seen some real hammers go down on Howies. But you know what? Keeping it at 50% so you can live another day is cool too.





-L