Ride The Black Line

July272012

SHE WILL RIDE AGAIN

This is what I saw when I logged into Tumblr this morning: pictures of my 1990 Masi 3Volumetrica posted up by Fix The City (an excellent blog which I follow and you should check out). Unfortunately, this frame met a nasty fate a year ago as I was run off the road on the way to the track. I haven’t looked at pictures of this frame in a long time because I really did treasure it and it usually makes me sad to see it. Damn I miss that bike.

But this time around I didn’t get bummed out seeing the ol’ Masi. Coincidentally, just last night Aram at Predator Cycling told me that he was getting the frame repaired as a wedding gift to me. I still think he’s bluffing — but if not, then THANK YOU ARAM! What a nice dude.

I will be so happy to get the Masi rolling again.

Tags: my bikes, masi, velo sports center,

2 notes /

July252011

4 Photos

NEW BIKE DAY - CHESINI “LA RESISTENZA”

Coincidentally, when I lost my Masi 3V track bike last month, I had just bought this frame and was wondering what to do with it. Well — thanks to the douche who ran me off the road just a few blocks from Encino Velodrome — I suddenly had a full track build laying around waiting for a frame.

La Resistenza has been around the net a little bit. I think Ryan Macintosh was the one to bring it into the U.S. after buying it off a racer in Berlin. While he loved the frame, he just wasn’t sure how to build it up so he flipped it on Fixed Gear Fever. A year later and the frame turns up on Ebay so I grab it to match my Chesini road bike.

Saturday was my first day riding the new steed — I raced it at the LAVRA Upgrade Race — and it feels awesome to be back on a handmade Italian track bike (even if this one isn’t steel).

Race photo taken by Pat Benson.

Tags: chesini, my bikes, track bikes, home depot center velodrome,

4 notes /

June132011

VACATION: OVER

Alright, people. Obviously I’ve been offline for the past few weeks. I missed you guys… and maybe some of you missed me too?

But seriously it hasn’t just been a vacation for me. Surprisingly, this blog doesn’t quite pay the bills so I’ve been working pretty hard at my real job. But that doesn’t mean that RTBL has been put on the back burner. No no no…

We’ve been working on some big things here at RTBL and I’m super stoked about what’s coming around the corner. So stay tuned and pretty soon you’ll be glad you did. In the meantime, I’m catching up with the internet and I’ve got loads of stuff to post up over the next few days.

In other news… here’s what happened on the way to the Encino Velodrome last Wednesday evening:

[photo by Beaver Beavs]

I’m saddened and heartbroken to say that my beloved Masi 3Volumetrica track bike had a slight disagreement with a car at the 101 Fwy onramp on Balboa Blvd. The frame is cracked in two places. Luckily I landed squarely on my feet without a scrape or a bruise. I’m just recovering from the emotional damage of losing a one-of-a-kind bike like that. But I’m working on a new build and hope to be back in the pole lane shortly.

Ride safe out there!

Tags: ride the black line, my bikes, crashes,

6 notes /

May192011

KIERON x MASI

Paul Ku from City Grounds was covering the races at Encino Velodrome last weekend — snapping photos of his favorite bikes. He caught this one of yours truly trying to decide which gear to run.

See more pics posted up at City Grounds.

Tags: my bikes, encino velodrome, masi,

5 notes /

April112011

BLACK LINE FEVER - YOURS TRULY

I was hurtin’ at this moment but I kinda dig this photo taken by Devon.

See more of his awesome shots from the day on Flickr.

Tags: my bikes, masi, encino velodrome, bob hansing memorial cup,

6 notes /

February102011

RAD PIC OF THE DAY

Not only is this dude totally awesome as it is… but he’s also riding my bike! Oh and he’s racing for the team that my other bike was built for! I’m so stoked on this photo!

Found on Prolls.

Tags: my bikes, denti, pr0n,

22 notes /

January172011

TWIN MASI 3V

My friend Tim was visiting Stanford University recently and told me he spotted the twin sister to my Masi 3Volumetrica track bike. Of course he took pictures cuz he knew I wouldn’t believe him.

Check out the details on Everything Eaten.

Tags: track bikes, urban, masi, my bikes,

10 notes /

October082010

This is where I’ll be going for the weekend (Osoyoos, BC). I probably won’t be able to write any updates until I get back so hang tight.

Get off the internet and go ride somewhere this weekend!

Tags: my bikes,

0 notes /

October072010

My Denti Master Pista is featured on the front page of PedalRoom. Yay!

If you haven’t joined PedalRoom yet, you should. Do it now!