All-City Captain Phil Backpack

AC just released the Captain Phil backpack, that many of you have seen me wearing around in prototype form over the last 6 months or so.

I've got to say that this is one of those dream projects that makes me so stoked to have the job that I currently have.

I've been rocking a Banjo Bag for three years now, and while I love it, I've always felt that there were room for some improvements. I wanted more organization and more pockets, thicker padding on the back and straps, black truck tarp outer (like their white bag but black), and cargo straps.

Partnering with them, we made it happen, and I'm proud to unveil to you the Captain Phil.



behind the upper zip pocket is a "magazine pocket" that runs the length of the bag, redesigned front pouches, a tool pouch, and d-rings to attach cargo straps or biners


tool pouch


magazine pocket


velcro pockets


w/included cargo straps hooked up

The best part is that it's only $99 MSRP and includes a celly holster. These are available now!

Bikes of Vilas: Kopish's Panasonic

As we go through the Vilas photos you may notice that there were a whole bunch of very nice bicycles in attendance including 4 handbuilts. We'll eventually get to all of them, but lets start off with one of the nicest production bikes I've ever seen. Brian Kopish's old Panasonic.



Word is that it is a Panasonic brand 80's frameset that had it's top tube crushed and replaced by Minneapolis wheelbuilding legend Reed who also had it repainted.

It was then sold to Brian by Reed.

Take a look at the lovely lug work, the fast back stays, and most impressively the complete internal cable routing. I've never seen this style of external braze ons before.






detail of downtube routing


here it is popping out of the seattube for the front der




the rear cable exiting the chainstay





I absolutely love this thing.

Vilas County Day Two

Day two was the only ride with all of us together, slow morning followed by 47 miles, and a total pass out.














These photos and others added to the Vilas album on Flickr

Dose of Awesome

Nature Boy By Bob Brown

Local builder and painter, Bob Brown, posted these pics of a Nature Boy that he fitted for derailleurs and painted to resemble a copper patina.  Check it out.

 

post via AC Blog

Summer Essentials

undeniably perfect summer party jam

Hot New Venture

After 16 years in the industry - most of which were wrenching, I've decided to try something I can call my own. Pass it around, eh?

Own Power Bicycle Logistics



If that photo doesn't make you want some private time with the Ol' Mark$ter, you probably don't have any emotions or feelings. I can't help with that.

Blast From the Past

In Vilas Craig showed up with two of the first items to ever bear the "Bike Jerks" marque. Back when Galactic Mystery Solvers was in its infancy, I was making stupid ironic spoke cards. They said asshole stuff like "Fixie Fixie Messenger Fixie" and "I know a Messenger" on them.

At some point once the shop joke of ending every sentence with "jerk" came about, B.Ridge and I made these.



Here is a photo of B. coloring in one of the spoke cards, which judging by the color might be one of the cards Craig ended up with.


I was stoked that Craig had saved them.

Vilas County Day One

dead babies





for more photos of our Vilas Country trip check the set on my Flickr, I'll be adding to it all week.

Cogs & Stripes - San Antonio

Vilas County First Night

This weekend Craiggles McShithead was kind enough to invite myself and others up to his cabin in Vilas Country Wisconsin (near where I grew up) for a weekend of heavy riffage and gravel miles.

The first night (Thursday) we packed in the van and left town at 10pm and drove through the rain to reach his cabin at 3:30. We then proceeded to watch the sunrise and drink until around 6.

Here are my photos from the first evening/morning.

BMX Video Monday

don't think I forgot what today is.

"CUTS" Mike Brennan from Animal Bikes on Vimeo.

SEOULED OUT

Sick.

Unknown Bike Co: Seoul'd Out! from vincent shim on Vimeo.

Gone

I'm out till Tuesday, doing this



and this



hope you all have a great weekend. see you next week.

Holdfast For All-City

via AC Blog

New Capricorn Headbadge

for my track bike.

Yesterday I posted some photos of Brad's studio and today I reveal the reason I was there. It was finally time to lose my headtube decal and get a proper badge affixed.



When I bought my Capricorn, it was during the early days of the operation and I neglected to put any decals on it, relying on the "C" on the fork crown to denote it's maker. A while later I acquired a head tube transfer and put that on to fly the Cappy flag.

Well, a year or so back, Brad had some silver badges handmade by a lady in Philadelphia and I've been meaning to get one ever since. Last night was finally the day it happened.

Before






Process





sizing up the placement


making an indent to guide the drill


putting in the screws after drilling and tapping

After