Shopping from 1977 - Men's Club Magazine

Per Peter Allen - Everything Old is New Again. I've been browsing through the pages of Men's Club magazine from Japan. Who needs a costly Free & Easy subscription when everything about outdoor and inspired cycling garb has already been spelled out in 1977. Here are a few sample views:





I love the mixed view approach of Japanese magazines: model the fashion and then provide a beautifully arranged, spatialized shopping list of essential supplies. Even in 1977, Brooks saddles, lace up leather cycling shoes and French cyclo-tourist bags were the final word.




Makes sense to me - backpacking along the interstate. Don't forget your flask and water filter.

Shopping from ebay - Jack Taylor Tourist

I've admired handbuilt, all steel, Jack Taylor bicycles for years. Fellow Oregon Randonneur Joel Metz rides a stunning yellow JT and friend Jack Fortune owns the prettiest bicycle in my flickr photostream. If you live in the UK, here's a chance to bid on your own Jack Taylor - a handsome, fully outfitted touring machine from 1968.

Archival Tour de France

Once again I'm mining riders from the Nationaal Archief's flickr photostream to stage my own Tour de France. Despite the passing of decades, the rider's wool jerseys and steel bicycles make them look like a unified team. For 2012, I present my Archival tour:

Jaap Kersten in Gramont (1961)

Alphonse Schepers (1933)

Jules Buysse (1926)

Seamus Elliott, Jean Stablinkski en Jacques Anquetil (1963)

Merchandising (1958)

Climbing the Aubisque on foot (1928)

Stage 2 - Rennes - Le Mans (1960)

Taking care of the bicycles on a rest day (1930)

Kisses from a local beauty (1928)

Racing cyclists passing the Atomium (1960)

Ezquerra in the mountains (1934)

Cyclists passing a herd of sheep (1938)

From the archives...

Archival Miniatures (2011)

Vive Le Tour (2010)

Archival Cyclists: Tour Edition (2010)

Update - Archival Musette in Canvas Duck

For Spring/Summer, we're releasing our original, Archival Plain Musette in canvas duck in our three favorite colors: navy, olive and red. Our Plain Musette is a simple envelope-style bag with a snap closure and fixed-length shoulder strap. The Plain Musette is constructed from only the highest quality materials including stout, closely woven cotton canvas with mil-spec cotton webbing. Edges are bound in waxed cotton tape, and stress points are bar-tacked. These bags are practical and free of complications.

Current colorways

The Plain Musette is a durable interpretation of the classic cycling musette, designed to ride high on the body.

Addendum: It's been awhile, but here's our original post on our very first bag project, the Archival Plain musette in waxed cotton (returning in July).

Archival Report: Paris Brest Paris 2011

PBP spectators in Villaines, France

I just got back from the 17th edition of Paris Brest Paris, an ultra distance cycling event held every four years in France. I always say that I record and erase my memory of rides longer than 600k. I can confirm via official records that I successfully covered the 1200k course in a time of 86 hours and 55 minutes. My primary setback was a series of intense drowsy spells that left me convinced that I was pedaling in my sleep, but overall I felt strong.

First night. 1200k to go

Scenic views and slumbering cyclists

During PBP, I did my best take photos of my practiced obsessions: people, bicycles and food. Snaps of the scenic countryside are in short supply. For interested parties, here is visual evidence of my participation in Paris Brest Paris with some fragmentary notations

Maya. Organized first randonneuring events in Japan

Amused Breton bystander

Rando Buddha

Audax England rider (designed the club's jersey)

Photogenic Bryan on his Box Dog Bikes Pelican (SF Rando pal and AC stockist, Gabe, offscreen)

NC rider on one of the last Coho rando bikes

Duane Wright on his Peugeot fixie

Susan sporting a signature cycling dress at the famous PBP crepe control

Snappy French (?) gent riding a Gilles Berthoud

Riding buddy Jeff on his lovely Boxer Bicycles custom

Swedish pal, Jan-Olov, on his Velo Orange Pass Hunter

PBP Ancien Willi Nevin on his Vanilla custom

Kitty Goursolle, ultradistance cycling legend. We finished the Cascade 1200 together.

Jeff "I'm having the time of my life" Tilden

Bill, Oregon rando pal, at the ride start

Charismatic control worker

Food is one of the great motivators in cycling. On PBP, you can forage from Boulangeries on the course for your primary fuel (for me, pain au chocolat and jambon sandwiches). Jeff's strawberry tart was a visual highlight of one boulangerie which we liked as much for the free coffee. Fatigue and the need for forward movement often drove us to save time by eating at the official PBP controls. My photos reflect the matter of fact nature of this food.

Start

Halfway

One control from the finish

Jeff's brevet card (so much suffering to go)

Sample view. Vanilla at rest.

Full PBP 2011 flickr set here.