When I started road cycling a few years back I bought a simple bike, just to see if this was the thing I wanted to do. After the first km’s it felt like I was built for it! When I met Elian, a dutch craftsman building some amazing bicycles, a year ago, I instantly wanted a bike from him as my ‘official’ road bike. We did a little tour together with The Village from Utrecht to Antwerp and back, supported by Rapha, joint by Ajanaku a.o. and I got infected with the custom bicycle virus… We sat down, talked about steel frames, details, colors, old vs new techniques and we drew the first outlines of my new bike. More then 6 months later it is here, and it was so much worth the wait!

The custom made steel frame, the fork tubes made out of deadstock Ishiwata Gallant 022 speed (check this old brochure and more on Ishiwata), found in an old factory somewhere in Europe, is finished in black and was left completely unbranded exempt for the original Ishiwata CrMo Tubing sticker. The handlebars are from Kiprim, an old French factory, found in the same factory as the tubes. The seatpost is from the Taiwanese company Kalloy (now known as Uno Kalloy) and is from the early 80′s. The saddle is something I really like. It is made by the Dutch company Lepper, but the production of this model was ended long time ago. Elian saw the old molds and asked if they wanted to make a special series for him only, and they agreed. It was made in a thicker leather as the original, with a newly developed ‘chassis’ and in a lovely black leather, specially made for me. At the end Elian assembled the bike with the components of my old bike which makes it a completely new old bike. I can’t wait to hit the road! (For more pictures go to Flickr > & you can follow my rides on Tumblr >)

If you are thinking about getting a custom bike, go talk to Elian Cycles, but make sure you have the time because it will only get better if you’re patient ;–)

Days away from riding my new custom build bike by Elian Cycles (later more on that) I found these images shot for the first issue of Curves Magazine. The magazine is dedicated to Route des Grandes Alpes. A route through the Alps to the Mediterranean, crossing 16 high alpine passes on the way. Nine of these passes are at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres, including the highest road pass in the whole of the Alps, the Col de l’Iseran at an elevation of 2,770 metres. Covering a distance of some 700 kilometres, the Route overcomes a height difference of altogether 15,700 metres. It counts as one of the most breathtaking routes in the world and I just can’t wait to start riding them! Truly amazing pictures!
— Thank you Nalden for sharing!

The book was already amazing, but with the iPad app they’ve gone next level. Cyclepedia, Michael Embacher’s book on the most extraordinary and rare bicycles is now interactive. With 360º spins of every bike, video features, original brochures, contemporary advertising, engineering drawings, rare illustrations and the ability to zoom into details up to 20x magnification to appreciate every component in this rich celebration of cycling culture and design it’s a must have for every bicycle aficionado.
Above my three favorite bikes: 1979′s Rigi Bici Corta (the ‘Short Bike’), Alex Mouton’s Titanium One Off Special, and the Titanium Brompton S2L-X.
Enjoy this little video, or better, just buy the app to enjoy the iconic bicycles at your fingertips.

Last week I got this lovely present from Deus, the 300 page hardbound picture book of Deus Ex Machina, ‘The House of Simple Pleasures’. We spotted the brand back in 2009 and since than, followed it all the way to Holland. The book is beautifully designed and illustrated by the multi-talented creative director of Deus, Carby Tuckwell with some amazing photography Dustin Humphrey and Chris Searl. It breaths the whole culture, the lifestyle of riding the waves and driving your custom bike in some incredibly inspiring sense of freedom. We’re glad that this brand landed here, where there are no waves and no hills, just some flatland to cross.

Together with 21st Avenue Bicycles, Portland, Draught Dry Goods made this amazing track drop wrapped in 2oz vegetable tanned leather. This one is a special one, tattooed by Draught Dry Goods owner Caesy Oney’s own tattoo artist in Portland, Oregon.

A really nice story from our friends at Rapha again. The Triple Crown is loosely defined as the summiting of Vancouver’s Seymour, Grouse and Cypress mountains in one effort. There’s no rule regarding in what order the climbs must be done, only that they have to be completed in one day. Would love to go there one day!

While waiting for my new bike being build by Elian, making plans for La Marmotte and first rides on my new bike on the Vesuvius this november, Rapha comes in at the right moment again. A whole new range of autumn and winter ware featuring exciting new products, updated specifications to exisiting Rapha classics and rich seasonal colourways. Al beautifully captured by Ben Ingham in the Alps. Can’t wait to hit the road again!

Maybe it’s not for the lightweight junks on a carbon frame, but I really like this bike tool roll! Made of waxed canvas with leather trim and a leather toe strap to cinch the roll under your seat or drop into a bottle cage, this tool roll carry everything you need on your way up. Get yours here.

As always, beautiful images by Rapha! This definitely feeds my idea of riding La Marmotte next year…

Another very inspirational movie from Rapha. Malcolm Powell, an Australian Cycling Historian and former racer narrates this beautiful film that comes from our friends down under. Take a look at the film and the fantastic marriage of history and the present day beauty of the Victorian Alps.

Rapha not only provide us with the best performance roadwear and stories from the hills, they are now inspiring us to celebrate our activity on the pedals with some bona fide cocktails. Enjoy (responsibly…)

Finally, my bike is fixed. Not fixed as in single speed, but the derailleur is on the right place, not between the spokes. The chain is straight instead of a weird kind of twisted like a washed denim and it looks like I can hit the road again. Time to warm up the mind for Norway with some stunning images by Ben Ingham.