Limited Release MASI

Mike Davies from Pac Brands (and www.skullbikeclub.com) has got his hands on one of the Ltd release Masi complete bikes that are about to hit bike stores this week. I’ve been holding off posting some shots of it until it’s released. It’s only $200 more than the standard orange Masi pista but is specced to the eyeballs with good kit. Hedgehog in Onehunga has some if you want one. There are only a handful of 56cm and 58cm in NZ. The finish is NICE – it’s a raw metal with clearcote over the top so you can see all the brass welds; nice touch. It also has:

Chromoly double butted frame. Polished Deda track drops. Sugino messenger cranks and chain ring. Velo Kierin grips. MKS Pedals leather covered MKS cages & Straps. Polished high flange track hubs. White Alex Aero rims.

TFT ETC

Tankfarm Tuesday was not rained out last night, surprisingly. It was a cool turnout- around 16 I think. We missed Justin who is in Queenstown for way too long for the snow season. It was great to meet 2 new fixie riders who came out on their bikes’ maiden voyages. Jess and Hagan (following in the shots in that order) had some cool conversion builds and kept up the the posse- even when enthusiastic Alex steered the ride into town and had the newbies running Queenstreet on their first ride. Mike and I sat back and made sure hagan was rollin steady – which he was. Good effort lads!

The usual Tankfarm laps and Westhaven run. Some of us lagged behind the pack and had some judder bar to judder bar sprint races. The road was slick – it was fun as hell. We ended up riding up Hobson, down Queen Street and tricking around in Britomart dodging cars. Teva was in fine form as was his bike.

Ken was hopping the stairs and Mike was hopping up and down everything with abandon only possible from a man who knows he’s getting a new bike soon.

Check the height of the hop up the ledge:

180 hop down:

A bunch of us are heading up to the Mayhem Sessions Roller Races tonight on St Benedicts at the Old Pinnacle club. It’s a bit more serious than I thought. They are digging out some pro track racers and old guns. I’ll take some shots, but come along for a beer if you are around.

Hey I’ve also been meaning to run a shot of Adam’s Colnago. The first shot is the way he bought it from the US on eBay. The disc wheels on it are some crazy Russian tension discs made of some phantom Rusky KGB-ish  Kevlar equivalent. He says they are about as plentiful as moonbeans and as such doesn’t dare ride them. It’s a smooth set up the way it is in the second pic:

The Mayhem Sessions Winter Roller Races

As a preamble – welcome to Tuesday. Tankfarm Tuesday infact. We are riding tonight from Vodafone around 6:30. Jeff assures me this rain is just a passing shower and I believe him. Might see you down there.

Gayle from Solo is organising a winter roller racing series up at the Winchester Club on St Benedicts street. I went up last night and helped them unload the rollers- it should be fun, they look like they are from a 1950’s fairground. Mainly because they actually are:

Here is the rundown from Gayle:

The Mayhem Sessions ­ Winter Roller Race Series

Two rollers Two racers One big black clock

Every Wednesday in August at The Winchester

24 St. Benedicts Street Newton from 7pm

Fast Rolling Free For All

Want to see how you measure up? Challenge your buddy to a one-on-one or thrash the courier who beats you up Franklin Rd every bloody morning on that filthy mutt of a single speed (how dare she). Its only 440 yards; how hard can it be? All you have to do is PEDAL FASTER!

Entry on the night is $10 ­ we will race as many riders as time allows. First in, first up. Super Elite (time to put your money where your mouth is) Invitational Classic Racing by invitation only. So you think you¹re the best in town? Perhaps you really were, back in the day. It¹s time to get up and prove it. Submissions are now open for past masters, inter-shop rivals or anyone in the industry who has long standing grudge/chip on their shoulder that needs knocking off.

You can even specify your opponent.

Entry fee: Supply a prize for the Fast Rolling Free For All.

 Race Schedule

7.00 Entry and scrutineering, entries close at 8.00 or when full7.30 Fast Rolling Free For All9.30 Super Elite Invitational Classic

10.00 Prize Giving

We dug the rollers out from under the Manukau Velodrome. As they were made in 1950, we¹ve decided to stay true to that era and are enforcing a maximum gear of 96.4 inches (recommended ratios 53 x 15, 50 x 14, 46 x 13). All bikes will be measured to a 7.499m roll out and have shifters taped. Anyone caught cheating will be ridiculed and forced to buy a round of beer for all other racers on the night. For safety reasons all riders in the Fast Rolling Free For All will be held. This is not a UCI sanctioned event and you will not be drug tested. Riding in costume is encouraged with free entry for anyone who races in an authentic Mexican wrestling mask.

Hoppity Hops

We got a bit of a ride in yesterday around downtown and the tankfarm and Westhaven. The rain held up for a few hours. Mike was hopping and spinning all over the shop. We stopped in Vector carpark and had a little clip logging session. Mike’s new bike arrives this week so he wasn’t so worried about doing 180 hops and destroying his forks (as he is well known to do). He’s nailing nice back circles to one handed 180 wheelie hops. Jeff was riding his Cervelo after geting the seatpost re-set at Calibre. And Adam was riding his DOPE Colnago pursuit frame set up with flat bars. It was a cool ride, nice to see everyone. We even ran into a crew of 5 guys on fixies and conversions riding around. Stefan was heading up their crew and rode after us to grab an inner tube after one of his bunch got a flat. He had a nice old Italian lugged steel frame in sky blue with the lugging in yellow. Looks nice bro! You guys need to come down to Tankfarm Tuesday if it’s dry and get your ride on!

Check out some of the clip goodness from Mike ‘ Tornado’ Lawrence. He was doing so many backwards circles in a loop I was getting dizzy just watching him:

I’m going tonight to meet the great people who are starting up the winter roller racing night called THE MAYHEM SESSIONS. I’ll post a full story on that tomorrow with a photo of the setup. It looks AWESOME.

Here is the signing off clip from Mike. Super smooth with a sick 180 hop to circle out at the end:

Hopefully we will get a break in the weather ‘bombing’ and finally get to bomb some hills and ride some distance without the fear of getting drenched and skidding on oilslick slippery roads. Roll on Spring!

Vans Fixed Era’s

Jeff just came up to the office with a fresh pair of the new Fixed release Vans Vault Era’s. They are awesome. Jeff is stoked too ‘casue they are vegan – all synthetic and for Era’s they are PLUSH. If you are after a pair get down to Qubic- Frank is getting in these grey ‘raven’ ones and the white model. There are very few pairs so get in there and book ‘em when they get in there next week. They are made specifically for wearing when riding track bikes. A double lined toe with a thick ballistic nylon side panel. And the coolest ting is they are lined with fake suede so you can rock them in maxi-comfort sockless.

Mike Lawrence rides for Vans.

Mike Fixed

They come with a matching saddle bag to strap under your seat, it’s nice and small – will fit a tube lever and gas canister easy:

So – it looks like the legendary “weather bomb” has left us, even if only for a while. I flew in yesterday from Queenstown and it was like the plane was doing speed checks coming in to the runway, people were shrieking- it was awesome. Anyway – it looks like we will get some riding time this weekend. So I’ll be on the TXT alerts seeing what the peeps are up to. If it rains lets see if we can’t get kicked out of a big carpark downtown on Sunday. It’s Mike’s last few days riding his white bike. So look out for some interesting clips on Monday!

Holler at me if you want to ride!