FRIDAY

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Join us this Friday evening as we close out our original shop location, with a group show featuring all the athletes and friends that make MASH possible. See you soon!

PULP

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Over the weekend I was laid up after hernia surgery. My friend Jon had given me a stack of Sporting Cyclist magazines to look over. This post is not intended to be a digital archive of the 1960’s cycling scene in Europe, but instead some details that I walked away with. These issues argue 1000 words are more valuable than a photograph. With many of the images only taking a quarter page, I got this feeling I grew up with: The Mystery of not being there. Social media has since crushed this era, but these magazines tell a different story. It begins with the waiting. Waiting and waiting for the next issue to be available, and if you were lucky, brought directly to your house. A magazine would be scrubbed and scrubbed, collecting every detail, and the viewer would build his or her own memory of the event. I enjoyed reading about 1963. Enclosed are a few trails for you to build some stoke of your own.

Shot Blocs

More of this please

Define who you are as a brand with a distinctive clip art border.

THANK YOU

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Wanted to take a moment to say thank you to these guys. 2013 was a blast here in SF with all our friends and visitors, traveling for races and events, all the way through the cyclocross season. Here’s to 2014, and all the fun shit we will see and do!

Stafford Lake CX

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Yesterday the team headed to Stafford Lake for the third stop of the NorCalCX series. Murphy puts on a tuff race and this one was no different. Brandon was out for the race, and sent us some details from the Men’s As geared and SSCX event. This course has seen rain by this time of year in events past, but this one was bone dry. Murphy likes obstacles, so this time around he had a snake of hay bales in a section and each lap they were rearranged so you could not take the same line twice. By the end, racers were trying to hop them. Walton got on the podium in the Elite Men’s As with a 3rd place finish. Next weekend is the night race at Sierra Point. Come out! It is one of the best races of the Bay Area season.

RED HOOK CRITERIUM MILANO 2013

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As the 2013 Red Hook Criterium series draws to a close, we are back on the ground in California, back to work and school. Before offering a recap of Milano, I would like to share the journey that led up to the last stage of the series. In 2013 the RHC doubled in size, adding a second race in New York, and for the first time the series traveled to Barcelona. Early in the season, I committed to the team that I would find a way to get them to all four events if they could afford to take time away from work and school to see the series through. As many of our readers already know, we are a very small brand, so planning an international racing campaign is not something we have produced in this depth before. With one foot in front of the other, we embarked on this journey. In the Red Hook opener, Walton placed himself on the podium in 3rd place. Then it was Kyle taking 2nd in Brooklyn, and Rainier with a 3rd place finish in Barcelona. They illustrated that the entire team is strong enough to be a force in this series, with Chas working for the group, making these podiums possible.

Going into these races you have a team strategy and hope to adhere to it. However, there are other variables that can change the direction while in the field. Crashes, mechanicals, illness, and training conflicts due to job and school obligations have all shown face this season. Throughout, team members step up, and collectively get the team on the podium. This alone is remarkable. If we sought out athletes outside of our group of friends, outside of San Francisco, and bought a dream team, that path would be “easy”. The fact that our friends rose to the challenge of being some of the top racers in this new arena is astonishing in its own right.

Going into Milano, Kyle was in second position for the series, having finished all three races strong with podiums in both Brooklyn and Barcelona. Only a few points separated his brother Evan who sat in 3rd. Going into the first race, you have a decent grasp of who the top five can be. The geography reflects who registers for these events. Americans have over 50% of the slots within the races in the states. Barcelona was well represented with racers from all over Europe. While Milano hosted the majority on their home turf. By traveling to all of the races, you see many of the same top field, as well as a few wild cards in each city. This is an incredibly small world in the big picture and throughout each event you stoke old friendships and make new ones at every stop.

Kyle and Evan went into the last race in the series as brothers and number 2 and 3 for the series.

Street bikes

Walton was well represented in the pits. Evan might have his Halloween costume locked down.

This course was less technical then past races, so many riders had the chance to gear up.

It was a cold, wet week and racers prepared for the chance of rain on this night.

The storm from the night before knocked out power to large sections of street lights that would have allowed for a well-lit lap. It would quickly become a problem, with a solution born from the first Red Hook events ever raced.

With four groups of qualifiers, three were raced in daylight. As night fell, the apparent problems became more present. The entire back section was pitch black, and with the outage, the timer would not kick the lights on until after the race was finished. The last group qualifier was delayed first by the power outage, then again with a crash.

By lining the back section with car headlights, the race would go on as planned.

Our team had a difficult time setting a fast lap time, resulting in row four and five grid positions for the main event.

David led out a neutral lap, looping riders through the now car-lit sections. Then it was time to line up.

One generation rings in the next.

Hard left in the dark

Just like in the original Red Hook events, spectators were called up to light the course with car lights. This made for back-lit corners, long shadows, and dark straightaways.

Rainier coming through the chicane. He landed in Milano with a ruff cold/cough and was not able to shake it by race day.

With his second place finish at the 2012 RHC Milano, Eduard Groso wanted this victory in Italy. His wish came true. He is the U23 national champion for Romania, and was able to out-sprint Evan and Neil, who rounded out the podium on this night. Our hats are off to these guys who showed an incredible effort in this series. We are honored to race along side you.

Walton walking in to congratulate the race winners after he snapped his chain while sitting 7th wheel at lap 11.

Antonio from Cinelli and Columbus is a catalyst for these types of events to grow, and to believe in unique projects like ours. We are grateful this community has many incubators who have listened to riders, and racers, and helped shape what we all share today.

In the end, the guys brought the team championship award home to San Francisco. This moment meant a great deal to the racers, and those behind the scenes who made this travel series possible.

Same plan, different country. Where’s the party?

It was really important see these guys wind down after a fruitful series. It was somewhat bittersweet celebrating without Chas, who was not able to make it to the final event. He was dearly missed.

None of this would have been possible without the friends who support this team around the world. When you align your passion in cycling with what we strive for as a team and a brand, it makes these opportunities possible. We thank our friends for the years of supporting the shop, wearing a jersey, supporting the bikes we make with Cinelli, and ultimately hyping our small team to want to make you proud. You continue to breathe fresh air into us. To want to create within the sport, to organize events, to create photo and video stories, and to share these global streets together.

We are also grateful to brands that we admire, that understand our passion, and help keep the riders fast, and safe with the most cutting-edge materials needed to perform at this level. We thank Cinelli, Giro, Continental, Oakley, San Marco, and Clif for sharing this vision.

Now back to the 2013/2014 cyclocross season with this energy. See you at the races!

MM

RHC MILANO ESSAY FROM Marco Cremascoli

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As the Red Hook Criterium season has come to a close, we will have several updates once we are back on the ground in San Francisco. This photo set comes from Marco Cremascoli who shot this crunchy sequence on the near-blackout course.

CINELLI AND COLUMBUS DETAILS 2013

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While in Milano for the 2013 Red Hook Criterium, we were able to spend an early morning exploring the facilities of Columbus and Cinelli. This is the third time visiting the factory, each time sharing some details of what I enjoy finding while set loose in their domain. When you are onsite, you instantly understand how the past, and the future, of the brands share the space. The people, and their passion for cycling, is what gives these brands heart and craft. The moments enclosed reflect what inspiration surrounds them daily.

RHC MILANO 2012

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Our friend Brandon was visiting Milano during last year’s Red Hook Crit, and just sent me a stack of unpublished images from the event. Nice to see some fresh stoke content before getting on a plane to do it all again!

SF RANDOMNESS FROM JOHN WATSON

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John was in town a few weeks back, working on photo projects, and showing images from a recent trip to China with Mission Workshop. He gathered up some loose ends and made a nice post of images on his site today. Check in!Dallas from Oklahoma, made us this nice piece of stained glass for the shop!

We are lucky to have Walton working the shop most days.

This is one of the 21 re-issued Cinelli Laser track frames. #19

Ramone

SF getting tucked in for the night under a blanket of fog.

Thanks for sharing JW!

RED HOOK CRIT 1 2013

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Last weekend a small group traveled to New York for the first installment of the 2013 Red Hook Critirum Series. Landing late the night before the race, we built bikes on the sidewalk, and some of the guys headed to the tail end of the team dinner to see friends and family. Enclosed are some images and notes from our 48 hours in New York.

After a homemade waffle session at Walton’s sisters apartment, we headed over to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal for registration. These moments prove to be exciting for friends who have not caught up for six months or more. Racers who register for these types of events, find themselves in different cities  around the globe, building the same bikes, jumping onto a new street or course, and digging deep to see what they are made of.

Puerto Rico is passionate and creative surrounding the Cinelli brand and it showed at the event. Custom Vigorelli

The first day of spring had sprung on the day we landed, and it was not lost on the locals as families, cyclists, and what felt like the entire general public all found themselves on the streets of Brooklyn and Red Hook on race day.

Many of the racers, including Chas, ride a flip-flop hub so they can run a steet gear, and flip it for race days.

This was Kyle’s first Red Hook event, and he was powered up. He is a full time student at CCA in SF, so he was happy the event timed out with spring break.

The terminal building was converted to a multi-use space with areas dedicated to team pits, racer registration, bag check, media, and a press conference zone. The heat was set to high, which kept the racers loose pre-qualifier / pre-race.

Crihs recently came off the podium at monster Track, and traded in his position as a participant for directing a new Red Hook video with Dave. We look forward to seeing their efforts at BFF later this year.

When we are 2300 miles from home, it is awesome to see our hometown favorites qualifying for the same event. Marc Marino was out in full force, clocking a respectable qualifier.

Rainier  lined up for the qualifier.

Our group of four worked as a team for the qualifier, and lead out Walton for the fastest qualifying time.

The Trimble camp has their work cut out for them prepping the route. There must be a glass recycling facility on sight, because the level of broken glass was off the charts. Walton flatted in the qualifier, but was able to get a loaner wheel, and still set the fastest qualifying time of all four groups.

Neil was hungry for redemption. With a crash in Milano last fall, he was poised to make his mark on this event again. Having competed as a traveling Critirum pro for 3 previous years, that training and effort stays with the racer, no matter the format.

With a podium at Red Hook last year, and a win in Milano last fall, Kyle’s brother Evan had a target on his back (illustrated as magnets via Death Spray Customs)

The Red Hook App was a powerful tool for the athletes. After the qualifier, the guys were instantly able to confirm their placement to the main event. Friends and family around the world were able to view live updates throughout the night.

Between the qualifier and the main race, the guys were able to make adjustments to their gearing. 50X15?51X15?

Evan working to recover

Up or down?

The week prior, Chas flew out to NY for Monster Track, where he placed 4th overall. Since last fall, he has been developing a messenger based start-up company in San Francisco. Ambitious on and off the bike.

Heads down, legs up.

The view from the rail on this night was flawless, with the iconic lady watching over the bay.

With the lights on, and the venue packed, the racers pre-rode the corse as a group, then lined up in their quailing order.

We were stoked to celebrate Dave’s birthday in this tradition. Happy Birthday!

Giro gave the team Air Attack helmets for the event, and the guys lit up.

Waltons qualifier put him in the number one starting position, which helped him to win the first lap prime.

Rainier began to feel flu-ish between the qualifier, and the race. He was able to lead out the sprint on the back straight, bringing Neil and Walton into the last hairpin.

Evan and Neil race road on Foundation together, but out here it is every man for himself.  Neil took the nights win, with Even taking second at the line!

The iconic Pace Vehicle is being pushed to it’s limits in some corners of this race, with riders catching it’s wheel through a few spots.

Pedal Strike

Walton and Evan at the line. 2nd and 3rd place.

Dave has done an impeccable job growing this series to what it is today. He owns this format of fixed racing, and the depth and attention to every detail reflects his own personality, and his neighborhood.

Rainier

With one event under his belt, Kyle is hungry for more. We will see him out there again soon, as he races road for Champion System when not in school.

The press conference after the race offered some of the insight that goes on between racers while in the saddle. Check the entire video HERE!

As the Red Hook Criterium  has grown from 2 events to four, we hope to be able to travel to more of the events this year.