cykeln magazine 02 worlwide edition
DESCRIPTION
Our second official WORLDWIDE NUMBER.TRANSCRIPT
1
U R B A N · P E O P L E · F I X E D · R I D E R S · H U B
2 3
I start with this quote from the movie “Premium Rush” to define a bit ‘what’s our
spirit in CYKELN.
We also believe in no brakes, we like to interview who and what we like and
do not follow any bias arising from the social scene in which we move.
In this issue the Italian cover is dedicated to the girls scene. We interviewed our
friend Nicole Barbieri that as you will read, is both feminine as tough as a man
temperamentally.
While for the international version we choose to cover one of the best rider from
the Leader Team, Faz Adhili. A man who has the bike heart and soul.
Besides we wanted to better understand the N.Y. messenger scene interviewing
one of the veterans of Triple Rush, who in addition of being an expert rude
Messenger, is also a great illustrator.
To brings you on the Eroica race in Gaiole in Chianti this year, we visited for
you the museum of Gino Bartali. Was a moving experience full of history and
humanity.
Besides we want to thank all of those who give us an hand and work with us!
Photographers who make sets exclusively for us and those who
review activities, events, products for us! You are unique, especially because as
you know, here money doesn’t run, so thank you twice!
Editor:Niccolò Poppi
Art dirEction:Claudio di Santo
grAphic dEsignEr:Simone “duman” Marinelli
on thE covEr:Faz Adhili by Firhan Fikran
info:[email protected]
AdvErtising:[email protected]
WEb:www.cykelnmag.altervista.org
EngLish trAnsLAtion:Emily Anna Ollerenshaw
photo crEdits:Gianni Reb MazzottaJason FinnRocco BizzarriEmily PorterGreg UgaldeFirhan FikranEfendy MesebahMartina Gastaldi
© 2012 by Cykeln Mag
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without prior written permission of Cykeln Magazine.
4 5
6f r A n c E s c o M A r t U c c i
Interview by: Claudio Di SantoPics: Rocco Bizzarri
Tips by: Riccardo VolpePics: Angelo Ferrillo
e Paolo Ciaberta
Interview by: Claudio Di SantoPics: Firhan Fikrane Efendy Mesebah
Interview by: Niccolò PoppiPics: Gianni Reb Mazzotta
Interview by: Claudio Di SantoPics: Dave Jaranilla
Interview by: Jason FinnPics: Jason Finn
Interview by: Niccolò PoppiPics: Greg Ugalde
Interview by: RobbenPics: Robben & Tigers flickr
Interview by: Niccolò PoppiPics: Emily Porter
18L E A n i n g i n f i n i t E
s t r A i g h t -s t r E t c h
28n i c K
c o s tA n Z o
40
74
50
86
62
98
fA Z A d h i L i
n i c o L E b A r b i E r i
g r E g U g A L d E
b U d A b i L L E
t i g E r s b i K E p o L o
b L A Q
108 118 124A n g E L oc A L i L A p
g L o b A L g U t Z r E p o r t
L’ h o M M E d E f E r
“ i L b E n E s i fA , M A n o n s i d i c E . E c E r t E M E d A g L i E s i A p p E n d o n o A L L’ A n i M A , n o n A L L A g i A c c A . ”
G I N O B A R TA L I
Interview by: Claudio Di SantoPics: Angelo Calilap
Pics: Martina Gastaldi Interview by: Niccolò PoppiPics: Niccolò Poppi
6 7
Interview: CLAUDIO DI SANTO • Pics: ROCCO BIZZARRI
8 9
tell us about yourself! At what age did you start riding fixed gear bikes?I’m Francesco Martucci, also known as
Frenk. I’m a bike mechanic, and I’ve been
working in a shop, in Modena, for the past
6 years. I started riding when I was 10,
racing in every youth competition, but I had
to quit at 18 to become a sport manager.
After 2 years with my former coach, rising
through the ranks, I trained the Cadet
category (15-16 years) for 3 years on my
own; I used to have 6 boys to train at the
2000 Cycling, in Rubiera (RE). I struggled
between those 2 jobs, full-time in store and
a few hours a week (including every Sunday)
with the team. Being a sport manager was
really committing, but also beautiful and
exciting. However, I decided to quit a few
years ago, when the Iride guys introduced
me to the fixed gear world. I really needed
some free time to train, and I couldn’t give
up on my only source of income, so I still
work in the store and I train during my free
time.
do you see bikes as a revolution, opposed to cars?I think it’s the perfect way to move in
a city: you don’t have to look for a
parking, it’s relaxing and much quicker
than a car. However, cars are useful
when it comes to long journeys. This is
why bikes will never prevail over cars;
still, they’re good when used in the city.
Who is your favorite olympic rider?Actually, it’s two riders: they managed to
transmit me their emotion. Oscar Freire and
Robbye McEwen: unpredictable persons, the
latter being capable of crashing the famous
Cipollini train on his own. I grew up looking
at him on tv. My road Olympics favorites, on
the other hand, are Sagan and Cavendish,
but pay attention to Freire!
What brand is your sponsor, at the moment?Le Coq Sportif is giving me a hand,
and I’ll never thank them enough. I also
want to thank my friends at Iride Fixed
Modena, my moral supporters, apart from
being sponsors, Oakley and Performance
One and Limbo Azul.
You’re both a track and a road rider. Main differences in the two stylesIt’s true, I was born as a road rider, and
all the track races I’ve done, were always
depending on the road. The main difference
is the road needs you to be a complete
racer, ready for every accident, every
route, every race. The track enhances your
spinning skills only, and it is also really useful
depending on the road, you learn to be
quick, I’d suggest it to road racers too!
10 11
1,71cm 60 kg 79 cm 50 15 45 km/hmedia
the hunt Londra
gijon Spagna
criterium Ravenna
wild side Modena
blackout Parma
scratch Brainza
12 13
do you think italy has many track riders?We have many Italian track riders with a
lot of potential, but we lack of structures
to allow them some kind of growth,
which is much easier in other countries.
I remember driving in a van for an hour
and a half from Modena to get the guys
I used to train to the track. We often had
to cancel everything, because they went
to school and they wouldn’t have had
time to study.
An advice for someone who has just approached the fixed culture?The first thing I would say is, use a brake!
Brakeless fied can be really dangerous
for beginners. Apart from that, find some
good friends you can go racing with:
being in company is much better than
riding solo, and right now you can find
plenty of crews all over Italy!
You do train a lot, and us at cykeln always try to give some advice to our readers. What do you suggest to improve bike training?The best advice is: get to know yourself,
get to know your limits and your flaws.
In this way, you can specifically work on
your gaps. Furthermore, try to change
your route and the kind of training you
do every time, so you’ll be ready for
every accident. After that, I need to train
to get to the Red Hook podium, in Milan:
last October, I was in the fourth place!
next competitions in your schedule?I have some time for myself now, then
I’ll have to start training again, since I’m
running a few criteriums here in Italy, in
September, and I’m running the Gjion
one too, in Spain.
What gear ratio do you suggest to any beginner that wants to give a try to fixed bikes?If you want to start with a criterium,
the standard ratio would be a 46x15.
Nevertheless, I’d say you pick a ratio
based on your physical condition, and
what track you’re running.
FRANCESCO MARTUCCIwww.facebook.com/IrideModenaHubStore
www.iridefixed.it
14 15
Furthermore, try to change your route and the kind of training you do every time, so you’ll be ready for
EVERYTHING
16 17
WALTER/modena/IRIdE
PIERPAOLO/Bologna/UBM
Bag’s
18 19
Leaningstraight-stretchi n f i n i t e
Tips by: R i c c a R d o Vo l p e Pics: a n g e lo F e R R i l lo
& pao lo c i a b e R ta
20 21
Let’s begin from the bottom, what racing
on track could be: spinning your legs
here is just another part of the alchemy,
you are in group, so close to all the other
racers that you can feel their effort, and
your head tries to understand their moves.
This very moment, the soul of track races,
is just the finishing line of a much longer
run.
I’ve been asked the same question many
times: “wow, I would love to try riding on
track, how is it? Is it good?”. It’s hard to
express many feelings with just one point-
blank answer. The answer will obviously
be yes, and I’m sure anyone would an-
swer the same.
Many people would wonder where is
the point in going around the track, rid-
ing a bike in a ring that is even marked
with lines to follow. Stupid-proof. On the
contrary, the order required by the track
open the door to a brand new world that
is hardly abandoned, after giving it a
first try.
The most important thing is discipline:
the track is not the road, where you have
rules bound to personal interpretation and
will. Here, the rules cannot be interpret-
ed: there are only a few, but clear and
inviolable to avoid any damage, includ-
ing to the offender of the rule. The ones
who think they are beyond the rules are
usually good at pedalling...
Which is a long step away from be-
ing a rider, not to mention from being a
pistard. Besides, track bicycles have so
few components that everyone is basic,
yet crucial: a simple flawed chain could
do disasters, when riding at 50 km/h on
a 38° bend... So the gears of the brain
need to constantly spin, just like those on
fixed bikes do, always connected to the
legs, with no distractions accepted.
This is how you start to understand that
you have really good brakes on a track
bike too: your right leg, your left leg.
Flies are not the only one who can see
behind their head, good track riders can
too, being also capable of keeping their
own line and speed during a training, or
a group race.
And following a line isn’t really the easi-
est or most comfortable thing, but you
learn to find a balance between riding
a bike and being carried away by para-
bolic bends, and this is what makes you
give your best when racing against the
time.
The real track spirit is about the many
22 23
24 25
disciplines, and the different kinds of
races: you can’t think of training on track
without a competition spirit.
No matter your level, racing brings the
track to a whole new level: you pit your-
self against people like you, and that is
what makes the velodrome so similar to
the old arenas.
Track’s disciplines are so ancient and
well-known that many of you will already
know this: they want to take to the ex-
tremes and refine the confused mix of
techniques, tactics and natural skills that
road races bring. The track it is dif fer-
ent: no improvisation, because you might
damage the ones racing next to you.
The races are short, strong and you need
to take decisions within the space of a
second, without breaking up the thrust on
the pedals, no flaws. Just a perfect sym-
biosis with the continuity of a fixed gear
bike.
This is why, sooner or later, you’ll find
yourself within a group, be it a score
race or a scratch, with very little space
between you and the other racers, and
you’ll feel their effort along with yours,
and your concentration will be so high
that you’ll foresee your opponents’ next
moves and... In that very moment, the
track will disappear, it will lose any
sense. It will leave space to a leaning
infinite straight-stretch of track, ploughed
by the racers in a challenge that has
no equals. No common road race has
such intense dynamics, and the track will
leave permanent marks in the minds and
legs of the ones running.
LEANING INFINITE STRAIGHT - STRETCHwww.riky76omnium.wordpress.com
26 27
28 29
N ICKc o s tA n Z o
A Tuscan boy in Milwaukee
Interview: NICCOLO’ POPPI • Pics: EmILy PORTER
30 31
So, Nick: first of all, tell us why you were here in italy and what is your relationship with our country.I was born in Siena in 1990, and I have lived
for a few years in Porto Santo Stefano, on the
wonderful Argentario mountain. Later on, in
1996, I moved with my mom to Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, the little town from Fonzy and
Happy days! Eventually, this summer, I came to
study fashion in a tiny school here in Florence.
How did you find out about the Alleycat we arranged in florence on the 6th of July?I stumbled into in on a blog, just before leaving
the United States! Lucky for me, the race was
just the day after I had arrived in Florence.
You took part in the race even though you were totally jet lagged, is that right?Yes! I think I had been awake for at least 36
hours at that time. I had to get to Grosseto to
get the bike and the team jersey from my new
sponsor, MBM Bambagioni. In fact, the firm
owner had to borrow me his personal bike
since it was the only gear fixed one that had!
On top of that, it had been my first day of
lessons. As soon as the classes were over, I
came to the race! Everything went smoothly!
What do you do in Milwaukee for a living?I’m the owner of Brew City Couriers LLC.
We’re a company of bike messengers, even
though we’re a little bit unique in our field:
we’re open 24/7, and we deliver practically
everything. I also work as the creative manager
of BBC items: we sell backpacks, messenger
bags, hip pouches, cellphone cases and all
sorts of useful things for bike messengers. I
always try to use second-hand stuff whenever I
can - to be eco-friendly!
What is brew city couriers? tell us, how did it all start?I created BBC because I needed a job. I
had been working as a messenger in denver,
Colorado for a year, then I came back to
Milwaukee in december and I couldn’t find a
job. So I said to myself, “if you can’t join them,
beat them!”. I started BCC with two friends,
but they left the firm so I’m the only owner at
the moment. At the beginning I was the only
one working, but now we already have 7
riders, and we’re planning to grow bigger!
What is vessel Worshop, and what do you do with them?Vessel Workshop is part of Brew City Couriers.
It’s a creative area I use to draw and produce
new items. We have a huge studio in the 3rd
Ward, downtown Milwaukee, where I have
sewing machines and all the supplies I need.
32 33
There I can create cellphone cases, u- lock
cases, hip pouches, several backpacks for
bike messengers, many tool rolls and top- tube-
protectors. We’re starting a new clothing line,
with pants, t-shirts, jackets, hats. You will be
able to buy the hats like the one I’m wearing
in the picture on our website from the end
of October. Unfortunately the website isn’t
available already, but we’re on Facebook.
Send me a shout out! We also do custom
projects for our clients, such as creating bags
that they have designed. Nevertheless, Vessel,
just like BCC, is still a small company. We’re
growing up and developing day by day.
What does being a bike messenger mean to you?Well, a bike messenger... I get a satisfaction
that no other job ever managed to give me
before. Riding my bike makes me feel free,
and not only when I’m working. Who doesn’t
love to go on a ride? If you pick a job that you
love and that brings joy to your life, having to
do it every single day isn’t hard. Being a bike
messenger is really funny, even though there
are many dangers and risks. But I don’t think I
could ever do any other job.
did your italian origins have had any kind of influence on your first approach to bikes?I think so, one of my very first fixed gear bikes
has been a classic chromed Bianchi Pista. Just
before that, I had been using a full-carbon fiber
Cannondale Synapse, it was really weightless.
Right now, I’m using a Leader 725TR in
alluminium. I really like it, but at the moment I’m
looking for a dodici frame: I just can’t wait for
it!
What kind of rider are you?I’m the fast-but-safe kind, when I’m working:
if I get injured, I can’t work... So, I am really
careful. After work, I really enjoy longer sprints
with my friends, specially at night.
don’t you think this is just a momentary fashion?I hope not! Many say that messengers no
longer have work to do, but what I believe
is that the job that we do is changing. For
instance, there are many restaurants that
have started to use bike delivery: it is hard to
find such a free job nowadays. From what
I’ve seen in denver, Milwaukee and Italy...
Fixed gear are all around. This phase is just
getting started, and it is ready to explode on a
worldwide level.
fixed gear no brakes or single speed?Only fixed no break. Especially with all the
snow we have!
When are you planning to come back in italy?I’m trying to arrange a small team of American
couriers to take part in a few alleycats in Italy
next summer. You will see us for sure at the next
dante’s Affair in Florence!
NICK COSTANZOwww.facebook.com/brewcitycourierswww.facebook.com/VesselWorkshop
34 35
36 37
38 39
40 41
FAZA D H I L I
Interview: CLAUDIO DI SANTO // Pics: FIRhAN FIkRAN & EFENDy mESEBAh
42 43
first of all introduce yourself to cykeln magazineHi my name is Faz Adhili. Rise and born in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. I run my own creative studio, I
do a lot of stuff regarding bikes. And i love boobs.
At what age you started riding fixed gear Bike?I started riding fixed gear bike since I was
in college. Where at that time i was always
communiting from one point to another point. Back
in 2010, there is the very first fixed gear event in
Malacca, Malaysia and i took part in the mini-race
and I won. Since then, i started racing seriously in
more and more events in and out the country.
Which are Your favorite track and road riders?It is gotta be my national-hero, the Malaysian track
cyclist, Azizul Hasni Awang who also been known
by the name of the Pocket Rocket man. Cycling
aren’t the biggest sport in Malaysia and to be
the world-champ is kinda a huge achievement.
When i first met him in Jakarta, I was surprise to
see how small he is. I believe with his big heart
he managed to overcome the physical factor to be
one of the fastest sprinter in the world. My favourite
road-rider sure would be Peter Sagan. Started
following his progress since Tour of California this
year where he won few stages in full of style. At
his very young age, he already put his name as
one of the main contender in every competition he
participate.
tell us how much is evolved the fixed gear scene in Your cityBack 3 to 4 years ago, no one really care about
who has the best bike and the fastest legs. By
riding bicycle it is one of activity where you can
gather everyone in one place and have a great
with all of your friends. Speaking for myself, i still
remember where we used to have a lot of time
filming and producing a lot of fixed gear video. By
doing that, we realize that i managed to inspire
a lot of people to go out and ride their bike. It
is all about putting fun between your legs but it
goes from time to time that people getting serious
competing with each other. It is a good thing if
you see it from a different perspective cause it is a
healthy competition. From there, we can produce
a lot of new talent out from nowhere. Hence, we
will create a solid fixed gear scene.
right now, you are riding for leader bike, how the sponsorship started?It started when i went to Jakarta Fixed-fest and I
met Patrick Thames (the man that been responsible
in inventing The Kagero). When i first saw the
prototype frame i was wondering what kind of
brand it is. I thought it was some kind of custom
aluminium frame from U.S.A. I was really impressed
with it geometry and the paint job was super nice.
Talked to Patrick about the prototype frame and he
explained everything and once I get back to my
hometown, he offered me to be a part of the team.
Thats how I got into Leader.
44 45
Your current set-up? on Your leader kagero.My current set-up for my Kagero is durace crank
with durace wheelset laced with H +son rims,
thomson seatpost and stem, 3T bar, striped selle
Italia, Look Keo Blade pedals.
do you see the bike as a revolution to the car?To be realistic I don’t think it won’t get there as
a car replacement. It is really hard because oil
and gas has been dominating as the opportunity
in the world market. Especially in Malaysia, it is
not convinience for you to get around with bike
due to the super hot and humid weather. Plus,
the goverment are not supporting this idealogy of
communiting with bike. But I always agree with the
idea of been eco-friendly.
What do you think about italy bike history?It is full of history and prestige regarding how
Italy producing their bike. So many big names to
be list down. The craftmanship in frame building
is undoubted to be the best in the world. That
is the main reason why people recognized and
appreciate the Italian-craftmanship. I still remember
my very first track bike was a GIOS. I gotta say it is
one of my all time favourite track frame.
Alley cat or criterium race?Criterium! Im a serious racer kind of guy. For me,
criterium race is the perfect discipline to see who is
the best racer. It is full of technical stuff where you
need to create the right strategy to win the race.
Unlike alleycat, you don’t need to be the fastest guy
but you need the one who know the route really
well. In criterium race, you need to be really good
in taking corner, sprinting, drafting and how good
are you working with your team mate. (If you have
one.) And usually it is always come to the very last
stretch where people sprinting and hustling with
each other to decide who is the winner.
future plans?I wanna visit the State within next year meeting up
with my homies. I was suppose to go to Vegas for
Interbike but I failed to get my visa on time. I will
try to make my way to S.F next year for the Redbull
Ride and Style. And im currently working on a new
edit for my dVd project and working for some
article for few magazines for KLIFGT. I just build
my very first road bike where I am really interested
in taking part in some road race competition. For
the time being, I got to work my ass off to pay bills
since Im living at my own place, get a new car
and get married. ;)
FAZ AdHILIwww.fazadhilicreativelab.com/
www.247bigtime.com/
46 47
48 49
50 51
GREG UGALDETHE TRUE RUSH
Interview: NICCOLO’ POPPI • Illustration: GREG UGALDE
52 53
What’s your first memory about messenger as job?I applied for a job at Orbit-Lightspeed in 1986 I
think, I was friends with Crazy Lou. They wouldn’t
hire me because I didn’t have I.d. So it was 14
years later that I finally had I.d. And fulfilled my
dream of becoming a bike messenger. Sounds
sarcastic but I’m serious, it means a lot to me,
this job. All that it represents, the freedom, the
attitude, the whole mythology about bucking
the system. It’s part job- part hustle, we’re on the
borderline between hard-working man and outlaw
breaking the rules. I see the job as a an unspoken
compromise between me and the system; low pay,
no benefits, getting hurt all the time, discrimination
and suspicion but in exchange I get to break rules
that apply to other citizens like red lights and other
traffic rules, dress codes, drug policies, you name
it, I say fuck it. But there’s always plenty of crack-
downs, maybe someday they’ll really put a stop
to it altogether and replace us with monkeys, who
knows. I hope I don’t live to see it.
When did you buy your first bicycle?I got my first bike when I was 6 but the first bike I
bought to work on was after I got out of prison in
2000, I worked as a walker for a couple of weeks
to get enough money to buy a used mountain bike
just to get on the road. Now I have a very nice
bike with good parts, I keep the chain clean so it
always rides smooth.
how was the evolution from normal bike to fixed?At first I never considered riding a fixie, by the
time I had a nice cannondale roadie I was really
into shifting but it was almost impossible to keep it
riding and shifting perfect when you ride everyday
over potholes and winter conditions. I spent a
fortune maintaining it. Fixies are obviously more
work to ride and it sounds dangerous but of course
I was curious and began wanting to try one. I had
an admiration for fixed riders, the motions and
postures reminded me a little of matadors or tango
dancers, it can be very elegant and gracefull.
Finally I realized the decision was already made
and so I got one as soon as I could afford to
switch.
brake or brakeless?I prefer brake less, I like the hardcoreness of riding
with no brakes and no helmet, if I could ride
blindfolded to be a little more impressive, I would.
But I had a brake at first and if I have an injury I
might have to put one back on someday. It really
doesn’t matter, it’s the rider and not the bike that
matters. I know better than to look condescendingly
at someone with a brake or judge them by the bike
they’re riding.
You are a passionate illustrator whats your art speak about?My passion is for the subject matter; bicycles,
riding bikes, fixed gear shit, messengering, and
bicycle culture. I like to draw what it feels like
54 55
to ride a bike and represent a life lived on two
wheels. Like that I can never run out of ideas. I can
portray them as transportation so right there all time
and space opens up, a bike is also a tool and so
gives us power, a bike can also be a provider and
therefore a god. It’s a special relationship people
have with their bikes, I try to tap into that. And if
I’m short of a good idea I just draw on another set
of wings. It’s so easy. I think of my art as Folk Art,
It’s for the people, for the community, they’re the
ones who give it life. I’m very grateful that I have
people who ask me to do the flyers for their events;
I thank Kevin Bolger, J.C. Ramirez, Victor Ouma,
Hodari dePalm, Stoned Tone, Crihs Thormann,
Alfred Bobe, Felipe Robayo and even doom got
one out of me. If you’ve seen my art it’s thanks to
them and everybody at the event. It’s not technically
perfect high polished art, I just know a few tricks
but I draw from the heart, with feeling and emotion.
I hope that it says something about life.
has being into bicycle culture changed your life?Sure, in many ways, some I’m probably not even
aware of. Good people, overall there’s a very
strong support structure in the bike community, I
wish I could go to more events, I miss a lot because
of the art thing, I’m always pressed for time. It’s a
little ironic.
how did you get involved with the triple rush program?This production company from California got
in touch with the messengers through e-mails,
they contacted Squid and the Bike Messenger
Association they also connected with several
companies to see who would go for it. There were
no casting calls that i’m aware of, they came and
made a little sample of interviews and off they
went to sell it. I had forgotten all about it until one
day they called with the news; “Travel Chanel is
gonna do it” , I thought wow, those guys weren’t
kidding, they turned out to be serious pros, there’s
always talk of a show but it never gets made, these
guys made it happen. It was Scott Papera and Karl
Kimbrough two guys who over a beer had an idea
to do a show about the messengers, it’s amazing.
do you think the program deserves a better channel of distribution or promotion? I think so yes, I don’t know anything about the
business but it seems to me the Travel Chanel was
not the best fit for our show, we have a global
audience but in order to make money Travel Chanel
needs for people to watch the old fashioned way,
at least they made it, that was pretty visionary of
them, even if they lost heart in the end. I consider
it a hit because we had a good reception from the
bike community. The people were very skeptical
at first, before it aired but we won most people
over when they watched it, I think they could
tell it was sincere. The messenger community
is a global phenomenon, the network was not
able to monetize the way people were able to
watch it, my guess would be that the majority of
56 57
people who’ve watched it did so through pirate
sites or back door channels. Even today it’s only
available on Hulu which is blocked internationally
so to see it you have to download software like
some poor dissident trying to get on FB from an
oppressive regime. I can’t believe how hard it’s
been to connect this show with all the people who
want to see it, it’s incredible. I was shocked when
they cancelled it, I’m very glad we were able to
get enough support to rescue the show from the
network. I know it’s absurd for me to be on T.V. But
that’s the world we live in and I think our show was
a s good as any and better than most. I think what
made our show different was that in other shows
there is a sense of hope and optimism, usually
about some high paying occupation or a contest to
win a lot of money. The people on our show were
hopefully and optimistic too but the viewers can
see they’re just treading water and if they think they
may succeed its only because they’re deluded so it
comes across as a little sad. I think one of the best
qualities of the show is that it challenges the myth
of the American dream that says if you only work
hard enough you’ll succeed because right there on
T.V. they’re working us to death. Triple Rush is a
snuff film.
Are you a passionate vintage fanatic?Not exactly, I’m a potential vintage fanatic, I lack
the resources to indulge in collecting vintage bikes.
I would really love to have an old handmade
lugged steel frame, preferably Italian.
do you know some famous names of italian cycling history?Just the basics, there’s Ottavio Bottecchia (sorry not
sure of the spelling) in the beginning, I’ve heard
of the greatest; Alfredo Binda and also I’ve heard
of the rivalry between Gino Bartali and Fausto
Coppi. In any conversation about Italian Cycling
history I’ll be doing more listening than talking. I like
that the whole sport began because everybody in
the country was riding bicycles. It’s a very proud
history. I’m 43 years old, not very tall and I smoke
but I still haven’t given up on my dream of riding
professionally for an Italian team. Wish me luck.
What do you love about your job?The only thing I love about my job is that one
fine day I’ll be dead and won’t have to do it any
more, so I love that my job makes me less afraid
to die. no, I’m just kidding, a little. There’s a lot to
like about it, I get to ride my bike all day, for that
alone it’s the best job in the world, and if that’s not
enough there’s also no drug test, ha, just kidding
again but if I have a puff it’s not the end of the
world.
What do you hate about it?I hate jobs on principal, it’s pure exploitation.
There’s no way it takes that much physical
labor and man hours in order to provide for my
simple needs. I’m being squeezed and I feel it.
dealing with injustice is a big part of any job.
58 59
the things you never get on your bike without?I Carry an extra inner tube and all the tools
I need to fix a flat. I don’t like to let people
know because they’re going to want to borrow
my pump, it’s bad enough they know I have
cigarettes!
GREG UGALdEwww.gregugalde.com/
60 61
62 63
WHEN
TH
E G
OIN
G G
ET
S T
OU
GH
TH
E T
OU
GH
GE
T G
OIN
G
Intervista: ROBBEN • Pics: TIGERS FLICkR & ROBBEN
64 65
The Tigers team needs no introduction.
Whether you play polo, or you just heard talking
about it, you’ll know that they are one the best
Italian teams, let alone that they stand on the
class podium.
The team is well know both in Europe and
overseas, thanks to their harsh, yet incisive,
play. Moreover, they took part in important
championship, such as the European ones in
Barcelona in 2011, and Paris in 2012. At
Seattle’s World Championship in 2011, they
competed as the only Italian crew, against many
foreign teams.
Tobia, Cento and Mattia form the team, living in
the area between Vicenza (their official base),
Treviso and Venice. The last 3 years have been
the peak of the team’s career: not only they have
won many international competitions, but they’re
the reigning national champions, having won the
championship held in Chianciano Terme (Siena)
at the end of April.
You can read here about the quick talk we’ve
had about bike polo.
how did you become so fond of bike polo?We started playing around, when we took part
in the first Alleycat races in Riding in Circle, but
one night we met up and started playing: since
then, it’s been an addiction.
66 67
68 69
Who was the one that started it all? did they drag you in?The guys from Riding in Circle started playing here
in Vicenza, then everyone followed. Legend has it
the first game was arranged by Nora, from Milan.
Anyway, the absolutely first ones to play bike polo
have been from Seattle, more than 10 years ago.
how long since you started playing?Winter of 2008.
What is the thing you’ve changed, looking back at your first game?Our speed. I think it’s four times what it used to by.
The speed of the ball, of the bikes and, obviously,
of the crash. The game is harsher, but it’s amazing.
how did you choose your team name?Cento was having an “animal” moment: always
drawing animals, acting like an animal too. When
it came down to choosing a name, he said,
“tigers!”. I owned an old Soviet pin with a tiger on
it: we just customized the design a little, and then
we had our name and our logo.
Bike polo is a difficult game to dedicate to, since it is not credited at a competitive level yet, so it is not easy to find facilities that can host the
players. What is your solution when it comes to games and tournaments you participate to, or that you arrange?The real problem is about money: we have to
go all over the world by plane, taking our bikes
with us, and it’s really expensive. We’re now the
main experts about every airline fair they charge
to check-in sports equipment! The whole bike polo
world is all for the dIY, we build our own frames,
mallets, and we arrange the events. It may sound
really cool, “European Championship”, or even
“World Tournament”, but actually it’s just the same
people, every time.
What do you think about the bike polo scene here in italy? Any comparisons with other countries? The scene here was born a little bit later, compared
to France, England, Switzerland and Germany,
even if we have the same number of players,
more or less. We still can’t compete against them,
but I believe we really have some potential: we
just have to push to the limit, make kids come to
our court, give them bikes and mallets, arrange
meeting and exhibitions. That’s the only way we
can reduce the gap between the European and
world superpowers, and us. In England, they have
meeting at school: polo bikers go there with 10
bikes of different sizes, mallets, balls and they let
the kids play. SO COOL.
70 71
the bike polo veterans who have seen this sport growing up, what changes have they seen, on a technical level?They are the ones who have changed the game:
we play it in a completely different way, compared
to how they used to, just a few years ago. We
have changed the bikes, the mallets, quitting the
fixed pinion and adding rapid joints to the pedals.
The ones starting to play now have it easier, the
game is much more structured. You would learn in
6 months, what it took us 4 years to get.
besides bike polo, what is your relationship with your bike?Fixed bikes have been our starting point. Obviously,
our paths have divided, just like a kid growing up
and leaving home when he comes at age. We’re
not that kind of hardliners, take women: they’re all
so beautiful, you can’t just focus on brunettes. With
bikes, it’s the same: you just ride.
TIGERS BIKE POLOwww.tigershbpc.wordpress.com/
72 73
74 75
B A R B I E R IInterview: NICCOLO’ POPPI • Pics: GIANNI REB mAZZOTTA
Nicole
76 77
first of all, who is nicole barbieri?Nice question, with a Pirandello twist…
well I’d use a rhetorical trick and tell
you how I do not like to be described
(alternative model, dj..) but I think it’s better
to focus on what has been steady in whole
life, my body piercer job at a very well
known shop in Bologna, which I have been
doing since I was a youngster.
I also do loads of things and I don’t want
to bore you… but still, to cut a long story
short my lifelong passions are black music
and dogs, I’m the proud mum of my
beloved 12 years-old bull terrier. Apart from
that I’m a thai boxer and cyclist (I guess
we’ll talk extensively about this!)
how and when did you got into cycling?And here it comes my father, avid cyclist,
who bought me a series of pink Bianchi
bikes, one identical to the other exception
made from the size. We used to go
MTBing and already at the time I realized
that my annoying calves could come useful
at a certain point in life. Fact stands, that I
never could zip up a pair of boots!
Anyways my father didn’t like my switch
from MTB to fixed gear, he thought
fixed gear is good for “velodromes and
circuses”. For various reasons I’m not talking
to my father anymore but I can’t deny that
we have many things in common, such as
stamina, tenace and and our extreme dive
–in aptitude which sometimes goes over the
top.
so did you substitute nail varnishes, make up and pretty dresses with chains, frames, and sport gear?Hell no. I keep on recklessly buy all of the
above! Substitute is not a word of mine,
I can’t deny it, I tend to accumulate and
collect stuff, and that’s trouble. I’ve simply
added some queries to my ebay listings
and sometimes I realize how sneaky my
spending need can be.
However who said that a woman who’s
into cycling shall become masculine
and shaggy? To remain girly it’s quite a
challenge - and it’s part of the game.
is cycling a proper sport for you or a free time hobby?I’d say a free time hobby. I don’t have
much free time to devote to cycling as much
as I’d love to, I mostly commute from my
workplace to my gym, which is where I
train almost everyday. In the past I’ve track
cycled, attended races, organized some…
78 79
but of course It’s an amateur thing. I’ve tried
for years to lure my friends into long-ish
country rides but it didn’t work out really,
I’ve ended up riding alone.
Then I’ve kind of stopped because I have
a problem with roadkill… and sadly on the
streets I used to ride there are many. My
mom says I’m a big soft thing and I often
rode back home whining. I really needed
the Berlin- Stockholm to get into riding
again! (oops, we had to talk about this
later, innit?)
Why do you use fixed gear?Let’s say that when I want to wear the fancy
dress I just hop on my freewheel, but I have
my mad share of fun only when I’m on my
fixed gear.
I’m a bit of a crazy ass one, during the
years I’ve collected stitches just as you do
with supermarket coupons, I’ve broken my
arm in the same spot twice in six months…
and everytime I’ve started again with the
same adrenaline craving. Some years ago
we had this running joke about me being
the Mat Hoffman of fixed gear, since I’ve
never stopped despite my injuries! But mind
you, only for the injuries!
I also love fixed gear because I’m quite
lazy and I tend to set aside whatever thing
that broke, ‘cause I can’t be arsed to bring
it to the shop to have it fixed. Fixed gear
bikes have less components hence less
things can break, it’s known. I can fix some
things myself now.
how’s bologna from the urban cycling side?I’ve had the chance to ride in many cities
and the one I like most is Bologna. Not as
many traffic jams as in bigger cities, no hills
and overall… no tram rails! It’s pretty much
ideal for fixed gear bikes.
To enjoy Bologna on a bike I’d advise not
to use cycle lanes in the city centre, ‘cause
those are randomly placed, they are as
useless as dangerous.
On Bologna’s bike lanes you can find
moms pushing their prams, awkwardly
parked SUVs… if you feel like getting in a
brawl, well it’s the place to be! In half an
hour someone is getting a slap, that’s for
sure.
fixed gear is often compared to skate, do you think those are similar?Maybe yes, maybe not. Some fixed gear
riders come from the skate “scene” (did I’ve
80 81
just spelled “scene”? unbelievable), but I’m
not really convinced that fixed gear brings
any counterculture message…
Just the word “movement” makes me smile.
This kind of listing always comes after a
while, when the first spark is lost. I guess
who got into skateboarding/fixed gear
just did for the sake of it, because they
were there in that moment, without any
awareness of it being a counterculture.
What I fancy about both is that while we
have good athletes and talents, people
never lose the taste for goofiness and fun,
which I think it’s crucial! Alright you’re an
athlete, be over the top!
I don’t want to get too into the differences
of both worlds, still it would be interesting
to compare how many people collect track
bikes and who at the time used to collect
skate decks just to hang them on the wall…
Are you comfortable in a male-dominated scene?Needless to say… very much! I grew
up in male-only environments, my female
friends are a very few and they know it.
Since primary school I used to prefer to
play soccer or fight with boys and go back
home full of bruises than playing those
silly girly games where I always ended up
playing the witch! The step from there to
cycling wasn’t a big one.
recently you’ve been on a quite long journey …My first cycling holiday, and I’m fascinated
by it… I will do this again for sure. The
Berlin-Stockholm idea was created by the
Going North team, founded by my mates
Stefano Sesta and Giovanni Olivieri,
supported by the Milan-based company
Tucano.
Last year I vicariously followed their
adventures from Trento to Brunico. This year
they decided to upgrade the challenge with
a longer mileage spread out on a longer
time span, circa two weeks.
I couldn’t help but join them! This has really
been one of my most enjoyable trips ever…
There was chemistry between all of us even
if we all had different athletic preparation.
We rode something like 850 kms on
different terrains, from asphalt to white
roads and uphills and downhills… it has
been a real challenge and I’m amazed
‘cause I thought I couldn’t do it. But I made
it! To finish your day with 130kms on your
legs and a 10kgs luggage on your back
has been proper satisfactory.
tattoosAs you can see from the pictures I have
several tattoos… I’m asked everyday how
many do I have but I can’t really tell, so
thank you for not asking! They are all made
by different artists over the years, some
remind me of events and times of my life
but not all of them have a proper meaning,
I like to think about my skin as a sort of
dadaist ready-made canvas where the
subject is shown without being charged of
a particular meaning.
As per bike-related tattoos, I’ve got two: a
super recent one (still scabby!) on my thumb
which is the Going North logo – I’ve had it
made as soon as I came back home from
this epic trip which I’ll forever cherish. The
other one, on my calf, is the traditional-style
reinterpretation of the main character of
this 1956 dramatic Japanese movie called
Onna Keirin Oh (Keirin Queen) who leaves
everything, boyfriend included, to pursue
her Keirin dream.
say helloTo girls who want to get into cycling I can
say: look around. Educate yourselves, read
forums, get curious and overall: don’t let
your boyfriend do the choosing!
You’d deprive yourself of one of the most
fun things in cycling. If you can also
assemble your bike yourself, component
after component… to match your nail
varnish will be even more fun. If you will
be so good that you’ll ride constantly and
get into the competitive side of it, well - be
aware that you’re going to benefit it! At
races there are always few girls and if
you’re well trained It’s going to snow prizes
like it’s Christmas.
To boys I’ll say: don’t ever stop riding, and
not only on the interwebs! And please don’t
forget to shag your girlfriend, you can never
know, if you’re too busy worshipping that
pair of super rare Campagnolo NJS hubs
maybe someone will do your girlfriend the
favour!
Kisses everyone! And keep on, keepin’ on!
82 83
84 85
86 87
Interview: CLAUDIO DI SANTO • Pics: DAVE JARANILLA
88 89
first of all who is bud Abille?My name is Bud Abille. I am from Long Beach,
California. I work here in Los Angeles for SWRVE
cycling. Since I can remember, bikes have
surrounded me all my life. My dad used to do a
lot of touring across the country, so bicycles were
always around the house. I remember he gave me
my first bike (a MTB) one Christmas. We would
ride trails a lot and sometimes he would take me to
Big Bear to race. After that it just kept progressing.
From MTB to BMX to ROAd then to TRACK. It
wasn’t until college that I really saw the bicycle as
a vital part of living. Instead of driving everywhere,
I would commute by bicycle and also go on group
rides with friends. The more I started riding, the
more I wanted to go faster, which eventually got me
into racing.
At what age you started riding fixed gear bike?It was about 4 years ago that I first built up my first
fixed gear bike. We used to have a ride called
Polar Rollers in Long Beach. One night, I saw them
fly by the car we were in. It looked so liberating to
just be out riding around town like that. I asked my
dad if he could build me something for the street,
and that’s when I got my first road bike. When
I finally went out on that ride, I noticed a lot of
people were skidding and doing backwards circle.
I later found out that they were riding track bikes.
did you see the bike as a revolution to the car?The bike is a great alternative to a car. It’s a perfect
way to avoid all the hassles involved in driving; like
gas, insurance, registration, and the worst thing,
TRAFFIC. Plus its easy exercise and keeps you
looking fit.
Which is you favorite olympic track rider?I have been racing on the velodrome for a little
more than a year but since but since doing so, I
have looked up to Taylor Phinney. He raced and
trained a lot at our local velodrome in Carson and
now he rides for team BMC. He’s won stages on
the grand tour in Europe and I’m excited to see
how he will do when he represents the USA in the
2012 Olympics.
Which sponsor endorse you at the moment?I have been thankful to have the support of Engine
No. 11 (strykerlosangeles.com). The creator, Kevin
Kang, has backed me since the very beginning
when I first started winning races. I also owe a lot
to my local shop, Citygrounds. They built my first
set of track wheels years ago and have continually
been a good group of people to hang out with.
I also ride for T-Level bags and Livery design
Gruppe (LdG) frames. I am very grateful that all
these companies have given me great opportunities
thus far and that they are still there in helping me
reach my goals in cycling.
90 91
92 93
You are not only a track rider but also a bike messenger, which are the main differences?I have become very diversified in the type of riding
I do. Starting out racing street has led me into more
sanctioned racing on the road. Road has been
very helpful in learning how to ride a race. There
is a lot of training and strategy that is needed to
prepare, and I think this crosses over into all other
types of racing. The last two seasons, I have also
tried my hand at cyclocross and since last year,
I am working on building up my track racing
experience at the velodrome.
cykeln is an italian magazine, what do you think about italy?Italy has to be one of the most beautiful countries.
The landscapes look amazing, and I can only
dream that the riding would be just as great. I
have seen the huge influence that Italy has had on
cycling history and that has made me admire your
country so much more. Campagnolo, Bianchi,
Cinelli, and all those great cycling names have
always been my favorites. I was also rooting
for Italy in the Euro cup this year, only to be
disappointed that you guys lost to Spain.
do you have any advise for neophytes of the track bike?My only advice to beginners is to stay humble. Let
your riding speak for itself. There will always be
someone faster and someone else who wins races.
Use that to keep pushing yourself. Find people to
keep you motivated. Support your fellow cyclist,
because they all have their dreams and goals too.
i’ve seen that you train yourself a lot, cykeln always have advise for improve the training of our reader, what to recommend?Find a way to keep training fun. Whether that be
riding with friends or just riding solo. Sometimes
even Strava is entertaining. Not all riding has to
be seen as training, but it is good to know what
aspects you need to work on and then forcing
yourself to get out there and suffer. I love the quote
Greg Lemond once said, “It never gets easier, you
just go faster”.
Are you planning to come visit us in italy?I would love to come visit you guys in Italy!
Watching the Giro d’Italia this year has only
magnified that desire. I can only hope that by
working hard in my riding and racing it will
eventually take me to see places like that. It has
been a dream of mine to race anywhere and
everywhere possible.
Cykeln Magazine, thank you guys very much for
allowing me to tell you about myself. I am very
honored that you guys would consider me for this
interview. And thank you to you, Mr. Sebastian
Ordinas! It wasn’t until I took my first trip to New
York to race the Red Hook that I even knew I could
meet such cool people from such far away places.
You have been an awesome friend and have been
a great support for me in my cycling! Cheers, BudBUd ABILEwww.facebook.com/bud.abillewww.liverydesigngruppe.com/
94 95
96 97
98 99
Interview & Pics by: JASON FINN
100 101
It has been over a year and a half since I meet
Paul and Jeremy from Blaq. We had talked through
emails and Facebook about shooting photos of their
bags for awhile, but with our schedules it took some
time to make it happen. That first day, I showed up
to this large building in the industrial area of town
and was a little confused. I wasn’t exactly sure if I
was at the right spot, there was no signs, nothing
that even said this place was occupied by anyone.
I headed up to a door and noticed a little sticker
of a bear and knew I was here. I headed in to the
warehouse just to find it empty with doors along its
sides to different companies.
I strolling around until a old man that was dragging
these large chemical bins started to yell at me
for walking around, I told him I was here looking
for Blaq and he yelled at me saying “if you don’t
know where they are then you shouldn’t be here.”
I turned around and noticed another Blaq sticker
on a door and just walked straight toward it and
opened it up to see Paul and Jeremy sitting at a
large table sewing bags. I had arrived. The space
was small filled with material and two large tables
with templates laid out, bike parts filled the corners
of the room and bicycle magazine all spread out.
Their was a small refrigerator and toaster oven and
a simple coffee maker.
You could just tell that these guys spent long days
here and loved it. Still to this day I get yelled at
by that same old man and that room still looks the
same, and I enjoy every moment I get whenever I
visit. during my last trip down to see the guys, Paul
and I stepped off to chat and I asked him a few
questions about Blaq.
hey paul, so can you tell us a little about blaq? Blaq has just been a project of mine and Jeremy’s
for the last 5 plus years. It started off when we
were in college I was kind of working on designing
parts and apparel and different things and Jeremy
and another friend where working on frames using
bamboo; and then carbon fiber and titanium parts
for mountain bike’s. But eventually it turned into
bags. I started trying to sew different products and
sew bags, and yeah its pretty addicting.
Its starting to take off now; we didn’t sell allot of
stuff the first few years we where doing it. But we
moved out here about 6 months after we started
with a few products and we kept working on the
line and the last year and a half we’ve really got
everything to where we want it, especially the
quality and its really starting to pick up and people
are starting to notice and now we are about to
move into a store, so I’m excited to see where it
goes.
Where did blaq start off at?It started off when we where all going to Kent
State. we where all just going to school, then I
dropped out and we where working out of a big
house that we where renting; the upstairs was for
the business. we moved out here(Portland) after
Jeremy finished his Phd. So we where in Kent,
Ohio for about 3 years and now we’ve been out
here(Portland) for two.
102 103
how has moving to portland affected blaq? Its definitely the best move we could have made.
we probably would have been fine if we stayed
in Ohio but out here we have allot of peers and
allot of friends in the industry so there is allot of
going back and forth going on and allot of people
working together and allot of inspiration. There’s
also allot of shops and allot of the people that
would be our customers; so its been great! Most
of our business was down in california before we
moved out here but just being out here most of it
now is in Oregon.
You mentioned earlier that you guys are opening a store? can you tell us a little bit about where you guys have been working out of and about this new store? So we’ve been out here for 2 years and we’ve
been out in a big industrial warehouse. The first
year we where just kind of in a big room and just
over a year now we’ve actually been in Portland
design works old space. when we first moved into
here Ruckus Components(a carbon bike repair
company) was in here, the girl that I’am now
dating was painting bike’s here, Joe Bike was
welding stuff out of here, but now their tearing it
down and paving it down to make a new parking
lot for the transit center, so everyones moving out of
the block and we are one of the last companies in
the building. Its just winding down over here and
we are ready to move out of here.The new place
will definitely be interesting. To have a real store
front on division, and to have an
actual store and shop where everything is going
to be made in house, so Im looking forward to
see how it goes and how people will react to it.
Its going to be a big shift for us, and Im looking
forward to it. We have people coming down here
every other day now, and it works, we’ve only had
one person complain about it. She came through
with her kids and she sent me a email afterwards
asking if we had anywhere nicer to meet at. So
having the nice new store shall be interesting.
so do you have any new products in the works? Its a pretty long list of things being worked
on. Probably a few new backpacks, the flight
case, and then another one for bikes with SS
couplings,and then probably more general use
stuff like duffle bags and dry sacks and stuff bags,
especially with the retail store we kind of want to try
out different stuff, that might make it to the website
or not. past that we have a long list of stuff thats
pretty far out there, but more stuff on the cargo end,
panniers and bike bags and then I really wanna
see where i can go with integrated electronics and
power systems into the bags in the next few years.
There will definitely be some concepts to show in
the Spring.
104 105
106 107
how has the collab with patrick from pedal consumption affected you guys? Well Its kind of interesting, Patrick has opened
allot of doors for us, its kind of funny, I sent him a
bag for a race before we moved out here and he
ended up insisting to Leader that they work with us,
so we did some business with leader for about 6
months. That actually made us think that we could
have a company and that it could actually work. So
yeah we’ve just known him for a long time, and we
did hip pouches with him when we first moved out
here, and we’ve been making his stickers forever,
and he just wanted to do a whole backpack from
the ground up. So we talked about it for awhile
and started working on it about a year ago, and I
think it came together really well, he really wanted
to push it as far as features and the quality, and
he gave me allot of new ideas. It was one of the
first bag that we did the zipper pocket, which will
definitely play into allot of new stuff that we will do.
But its been good and since the collaboration allot
of people have come to us and we’ve done allot
of runs for companies, race teams, sales teams and
things like that.
Where is the best place to buy a blaq bag? Right now, probably still gonna be the website then
our store. We are still at the point where its just
the two of us filling orders as it comes so we have
some shops that sell allot of our pedal straps and
accessories and might carry a few bags, you can
check out our website to see where the dealers
are and for anyone outside of the US we do ship
internationally, our website will be setup to do it
automatically in the next few months but yeah pretty
much you have to email us if you want to get a
bag overseas which is fine since we do quite a
few of
those now a days. But eventually we would like to
get more stores or distribution overseas.
do you want to thank anyone? I would have to thank everyone. I still cant believe
that, shits come together, that people know who we
are. Whenever I see a bag out in the wild i kind
of get a little adrenaline rush, it kind of freaks you
out but in a good way. Yeah, Just all the people
that have believed in us, we have allot of people
have bought our stuff over the years that have been
repeat customers and have been big fans and have
told their friends. So yeah just everyone that knows
of us and believes in us, thanks.
BLAQ BAGSwww.blaqdesign.com
108 109
Interview: CLAUDIO DI SANTO // Pics: ANGELO CALILAP
110 111
first of all introduce yourselfMy name is Angelo Calilap. In no particular order
I am a cyclist, blogger, photographer based out of
Brooklyn NewYork.
What is cycleangelo.ccCYCLEANGELO is a blog I started just for fun, to
document my new found passion for the bicycle in
2009. It’s a journey about rediscovering NYC on
two wheels, and snapping photos along the way.
in which way the bicycle changed Your lifestyle?Tough question to answer for sure. Riding bikes
was merely a hobby only a few years ago, that’s
become a tremendous part of my life today. If it
wasn’t for the bicycle, I probably never would have
made the decision to quit smoking cigarettes (after
11 years), nor have had the opportunity to visit and
ride on some of the most beautiful roads here in the
North East. To say that the bicycle has changed my
life is an understatement.
i’ve seen that After Your incident you train a lot with Your road bike, why this choice?I was involved in an accident in August 2011
which kept me off the bike for a few months due
to a broken collarbone, which needed surgery.
By the time I was able to get back on the bike, all
my friends had ridden hundreds upon hundreds of
miles and gotten really strong, so my goal was to
get back to that level of riding. As fun as it is to
ride fixed, my shoulder couldn’t and still has trouble
meeting the demands of the upper body strength
of handling a fixed gear/track bike. I chose the
road bike because I learned I enjoy longer rides
and climbing a lot, and it’s the better tool for doing
those things.
how much the photography is important in The fixed gear scene?I think photography is important in every scene. The
ability to document and share everything around
you is something I encourage everyone to do,
regardless of what activity it is.
some months ago you have release some photos via bigcartel, how do you decide to sell your photographs?I began a project called 12-for-12 where I began
to release a photograph per month for purchase.
After a few months though, I learned that my time
was really limited and I couldn’t continue with the
project. In the future, I plan on possibly releasing
a book of my photographic bicycle journey. Stay
tuned.
Which are the plans for cycleangelo in the near future?CYCLEANGELO began as a blog with no real
agenda, that blew up out of nowhere. After a few
years what I’ve learned is that the only thing I love
112 113
114 115
more than photographing and blogging about
bikes is riding them. I’ve learned a lot since my
first bike in 2009, and I plan to continue sharing
and documenting my experiences via words and
photographs on the blog.
Mavic shoes or specialized shoes?Whatever fits your feet best! Personally, I can’t live
without a set of Specialized Footbeds (the green
ones for my high arches!) in any of my shoes.
some advices for the neophytes?It doesn’t matter what type of bike you ride, as long
as you absolutely remember to have fun doing it.
Every time you hop on your bike, make a conscious
effort to push yourself that much harder, ride that
much faster, and explore that much more. The bike
is an incredible tool that will teach and show you
things you would have never imagined .. so go ride
it. Ride fast, ride safe!
ANGELO CALILAPwww.cycleangelo.cc/
116 117
NICOLO’/CoRReggIo/dESIGNER
NICCOLO’/FIRenZe/CYKELN
Bag’s
PT.2
118 119
Pics: mARTINA GASTALDI
120 121
122 123
124 125By Niccolò Poppi
“ Discovering the Gino Bartali Museum ”
126 127
As soon as I leave Gino Bartali’s museum, I need to
put my hands on paper and pen to write down my
immediate feelings.
The memories I just witnessed in this museum are
really important for Italy, not only as for what
concerns sports: they are a part of our history,
and they leave me with a strong swirl of childish
emotions.
Unfortunately, I cannot share any of this with
someone: nobody is interested in cycling heroes,
and I walk alone in the museum, the click of the
shutter the only one with me.
Bartali’s museum came to life in 2002, thanks to the
will of all the people close to Gino, especially in
the last years of his life.
Andrea Bresci is the founder of the museum, taking
care of it along with volunteers, who are not so
young anymore: they have few resources at their
disposal. Nevertheless, they preserve and guard
the countless items and memories of the museum.
And there really is plenty of material!
Andrea is the one who greets me: a really helpful
person, he leads me to the first room, where I found
myself surrounded by vintage bikes that belong to
distant places and times.
The so-called “heroic” cycling can boast about
characters with a humanistic and sporting high
profile: this is what you gather from Bartali’s cycling
museum, where those heroes’ bicycles are placed
carefully, to rest for eternity after crossing the
History.
You walk into the main room, and you find yourself
surrounded by plenty of memories. Andrea shows
me a ’34 yellow track bike inside a display
cabinet: it was the one Gino used to race with,
and it had been customized by Bartali himself, so
to race on track.
Next to this case, we find a green Legnano that
belonged to Giulio, Gino’s younger brother, who
died in June ’36 because of a car accident. He
followed his brother’s dream, and behind the case
there is the Aquila di Ponte at Ema’s shirt, Gino and
Giulio’s first team.
Glancing around, I see another case on the right
that houses the official racing “Bartali” bike, that
Gino used in the last years of his career. The
bike has been built by Celle Ligure’s, “Fratelli
Margherita”.
We’ve just started with surprises: I turn around,
and my heart skips a beat. A raw and dark frame
hosts a white shirt, with rainbow colors still shining.
A washed out card says: “Rainbow-colored shirt
won by Fausto Coppi in 1947 on Campo dei
Principi track, defeating Antonio Bevilacqua, on
a 5000-meter race with a timing of 6’16’’ and a
128 129
47,847 average per hour”.
I get lost, gazing at the most important trophies that
Gino won during his career, and the amateur and
professional licenses. When looking at the fees
for the races arranged by the Fascist party, or the
specs of the payments for the prizes, it makes me
smile, even though at the time that fees seemed
like a fortune. Andrea tells me a few anecdotes,
unknown to most: he is the one who sticked with
him in his last years, as a friend and as a fan. Not
all the anecdotes are nice and pleasant, but they
are true.
The doubt still lingers when talking about the
legend of the 800 jews that Gino saved. Andrea is
sure, he saved many people and there is no doubt,
but the documents they needed where almost three
times the size they are now, and the seat tube was
too small to house more than 7 or 8 documents.
No matter how many round trips he could do, there
is no way he saved as many visas as legend goes.
Bartali never denied nor confirmed this legend, but
none of us really cares about the truthfulness of it:
Gino’s heroic deeds made it into history, were the
jews saved 800 or 100. Nothing changes the
worth and the big heart this man showed, a man
who have seen his career being erased by the war.
The tour goes on: vintage press cuttings and
iconographical images hang from the walls, setting
out the history of cycling from the gear (with bikes
and models of the time), to any new techniques
used during these years to defy speed. I won’t give
away every detail, though, because I really hope
you will come here in person to enjoy the incredible
cycling heritage the museum has.
Andrea Bresci has an appointment with a lawyer:
not every story has an happy ending, and it looks
like there are strong misunderstandings between the
museum, and part of Gino Bartali’s family. Stories
of money and squandering that Andrea confides
me in a private talk, not to be written down in this
article.
He is really disappointed with what is happening in
the family, and having been Gino’s fraternal friend,
he can’t stand to have to handle such a petty
situation; not every son follows his father’s path...
In conclusion, you cannot not know the story behind
the great man that Gino Bartali was, if you ride
fixed bikes and are into the bike culture. Go to
the museum, and in the corner of that same street
you’ll find a door and a plaque to remember the
champion’s life. That is the house where Gino
Bartali was born.
GINO BARTALI MUSEUM“Gino Bartali”
www.ciclomuseo-bartali.it/web
130 131
132 133
134 135
STEFANO/genoVa/FOTOGRAFO
ALEX/mIlano/STUdENTE
Bag s
PT.3
LUCA/Bologna/TECNICO MANUTENTORE
NICOLA/saCIle pn/PILOTA dI SCRIVANIA
136
DE-CEM
-BER JANU-ARY