SE UVT Framesets At Citygrounds

The much anticipated SE UVT frameset is now avalible through Cityground's Costa Mesa and Long Beach store as well as online. These bad boys are retailing for $550 so swoop yours up soon, I wanna see some build pictures!

My Daily: Abandoned School 180's

My school has today off so I might as well make it a good day. I woke up around 7 and had a little ukulele jam sesh and began working on learning Grenade by Bruno Mars. You may think its weird to play the uke but chicks think its adorable trust me. After playing and studying a little bit, I drove my siblings to school and then when I got home, I did a little maintenance on my bike then went out to ride. My goal for today was to hit up a spot that I recognized in an Erik Vehemyer action shot so went out to look for it. After around 15 minutes, I found the spot but unfortunately for me, the store had things set up in my way so I decided to go over to the park across my school instead. Theres a few benches and a manny pad as well as an abandoned school there. The manny pad is more of a skater spot because its really low but I attempted a few nose manuals onto it. That got boring really fast so I went over to the abandoned school. Theres a little launch ramp that is kinda short so I decided that it would be a good start for learning how to 180 off of things. Just a little background on the school, its been abandoned for years and nobody has taken care of it so theres weeds and glass everywhere. Not exactly the best place to ride but still decent. Well now back to the day, my first couple attempts at 180's seemed really awkward and I would do like a 90 and fall but not after too many attempts, I got them down. They're actually more fun than I thought they would be. They aren't like a normal 180's, they just feel more fluid. After landing a bunch, I began to speed up although I still don't think I landed that far. As I was saying before, the school isn't really cared for and it just rained yesterday so I landed awkwardly on a wet spot and slipped. Overall, I think it was a pretty progressive day so far but unfortunately, I have to go work on a school project now but I'll probably go riding again later tonight. Ohh I totally forgot, I worked on some more basic flatland stuff this weekend and really worked on doing tricks faster and i think I'm getting more comfortable with that as well.

SE Tour Day 1

Its super cool of SE to allow their riders to go on tour. Although they started off their intro into the FGFS world poorly, I believe that they are on the road to redemption.

Day 1 - The Drive to Phoenix from Matt Lingo on Vimeo.

Iminusd San Francisco Teaser

Iminusd took some of their top riders to shred SF and they really got it done. That tree ride is sick and I love the kicker x-up. I'm looking forward to a full edit.

Featuring:

Alex Blanco
Anthony “Wreckless” Combs
Forest Parker
John Nguyen
Matt “lil’ Matt” Montoya
Matt “Slumworm” Reyes
Scott Horton

iMiNUSD in SF from iMiNUSD on Vimeo.

Bangin' Bikes: Devan's New Thrasher

Devan just got hooked up fat by Volume and Resist and got this fresh new whip. In my opinion, it really fits her and all the parts really go well together. Shes one of the best girl riders in the game and I'm looking forward to seeing an edit. See more at her BLOG.

Specs:

Frame/Fork: Volume Thrasher, Small
Headset: Resist Integrated
Stem: Eastern Choker III
Bars: Volume Trickster V2
Grips: ODI Longneck
Bar Ends: Fyxation
Bottom Bracket: Resist Mid
Cranks: Resist Relapse, 160mm
Drivetrain: Resist 33t Icon Sprocket, Dura-Ace 13t Cog, Profile Lock Ring
Chain: Wippermann ConneX Nickel Heavy Duty
Pedals: Brev. M
Foot Retention: Burro Chronic Straps
Seatpost: Resist Pivotal Post
Seatpost Clamp: Integrated
Seat: Resist Icon Pivotal Saddle
Wheelset: 26″ Velocity Chukkers, Profile 36H Fixed Hubs, DT Swiss Spokes, 1.5 Tires

Leader Mordecai Shot

I just wanted to post this up because I thought the angle was cool and it looks to be a super solid build. It actually reminds me of my own bike and I love that.

Collin Mui Unknown Bikes

The one thing that stood out from Collin in previous edits was his 540 half cab so I wish I could see more of that but theres still some sick riding. He's really fluid and he's holding it down for the 700c army. I really wanna see more from Collin I feel like he doesn't get as much attention as he should.

Collin Mui unknown bikes from retrogradeflicks. on Vimeo.

Jesus "Willie" Marrufo

Although the quality is kind of shitty, theres still some pretty good riding in this edit. I would love to go to wherever that is, it looks like it has some bomb spots.

Flawless Victory Comp

I can relate to this video in the way that I too am trying to land a 3 tap nose pivot. It seems really difficult at the moment but I'll get it down eventually.

Flawless Victory Trick Competition from Adam Montgomery on Vimeo.

New Stuff From Unknown Bikes

Unknown Bikes is probably my favorite company right now. They're hitting the FGFS scene hard and fast with amazing products. I'm in love with their frame, the geometry is on point, it has a low stand over, negative bottom bracket, and fat tire clearances. This is the first Unknown v2 build and it looks super proper! Another thing coming soon from Unknown is their 14mm hubs. These things look super clean and beefy, although I wish they would come out with an option for a slotted axle for those who don't own a 14mm frame. Once I get some money, I would love to buy a 14mm hub. I'm too broke to even buy replacement 3/8th axles so I don't do grinds but I would definitely love to. You can see more of Unknown at their website, blog, or store.

Volume Bikes: Ground Recon

This is such a sweet idea, Volume will be posting about local shops that major support in their community. No two shops are the same and it will be really cool to see how different hops from different corners work. This first entry was about Ace Metric in Florida and was definitly worth the read. Read up over HERE.

Gnarnia Product Review: Vans S8 Mids

A problem that I've had since I began riding fixed is finding comfortable riding shoes. Some are too thin, some are too fat, but some get pretty close to perfect. A lot of fixed gear riders use the Vans Authentic but in my opinion, they are too thin and they don't give much support. Instead of going for the Authentics, I decided to go for the Vans S8 Mids for a few reasons. The main reasons were that they were on sale, they were a mid shoe, and I love the sole of Vans shoes. My first impression was that they were a little stiff but they fit into my straps extremely well. They were also comfortable on my feet and gripped the pedal really well. After you break these bad boys in, your feet will feel like they are in heaven. They aren't thick so its easy to move around in but they aren't as thin as the Authentics. The mid heel also offers an increase in support for your ankles and because it wasn't too thick, my range of motion did not feel crippled. Despite all of this, the shoe was not perfect. My toe broke through the top of one shoe and the side pieces of the shoe wore down (not too fast but not as long as I would want). The sole of the shoe also broke down kinda fast although they still felt really good until the last month or so of usage. A mutual aspect of this shoe was that they lasted a decent amount of time, not too long but not too fast either. If I had the opportunity, I would definitely buy these or the Vans Half Cabs (I hear they are really good). They are a fantastic shoe and they fit really well for clips and straps. Overall, I think I would give them a 8.5/10 and would definitely recommended them to a friend.

Andrew Voegeli At It Again

The thing I love about Voegeli isn't that he shreds. It's the fact that he is constantly putting out edits. I don't know anyone else who puts out edits this often. These aren't just crappy parking lot edits either, he finds new things to show us every time. Earlier this week, I was thinking about how no one had done a 180 nose bonk and I was going to try it this weekend but I guess Voegeli beat me to it.

Andrew Voegeli from Bailey Anders on Vimeo.

Eighth Inch Butcher Pre-orders

The moment you all have been waiting for is finally here! Eighth Inch is now allowing pre-orders for their much anticipated Butcher frame for the low price of $300. They are also now offering the Butcher built up with custom parts for $800. Frames should be shipping out around February 21st. Buy them HERE!

Hold Fast: Size Specific Prototype Sneak Peek

kHoldfast was the OG of FGFS foot retention and the newest thing that they have been working on is size specific straps. There has been little, if not no information on the web about these but one of my supporters, Dan, got a hold of a set of them. Expect a review from him as soon as he puts them to the test. I think this is a really good idea, straps can't really cater to all shoe sizes with one strap and these size specific straps should really solve that.

Resist Parts: Congoloid Bars

Resist is coming out some signature bars for Justin "Congo" Mitchell this year. These bars have 22.2mm clamp, 3 inch rise, and are 28 inches wide. These will definitely be a good addition to the fixed gear arsenal and I wanna see these on an actual bike. I couldn't figure out how to get the catalog on the blog but you can check out the pictures over at Resist's website. They're on page 5 by the way.

Wolfdrawn: 700c Don't Limit Me!

This is just great. Matt Spencer from Wolfdrawn has taken the notorious "700c don't limit me" phrase and created a shirt out of it. I think that a 700c vs. 26' Trick Competition would be a big hit and I know that it is bound to happen eventually. If you want this shirt, you can pick it up over at Wolfdrawn for $22.

Bangin' Bikes: Kris' Eighth Inch Butcher Production Model

Although I'm not a fan of the orange color, I still really like this frameset. Eighth Inch is great company offering quality parts at low prices and I have no doubt that they will live up to their reputation with the Butcher. On the production model, they beefed up the dropouts as well as increased the tire clearance to a 50c slammed. Kris is running 40c tires in the photo and there looks to be clearance for way more than 50c. The pre-orders for these bad boys should be up soon so keep your eyes on Locked Cog. You can also see more photos of Kris' Butcher Build on Locked Cog.

Finals Can Suck It

For those of you who don't know, this is my finals week and that is the reason for my lack of unique posts. I've been attempting to study my ass off although I get distracted way to easily. As a result of finals, I haven't gotten much riding in although I do go out and ride for like 30 mins after school just practicing some of the things I already know so that I don't lose what I already have. My wheels have also been really pissing me off. They're extremely untrue but luckily, due to my amazing profile hubs, the wobble is not unbearable. The Arron Ross Odyssey grips I've been running are also almost done with (ridding one ripped) so I've also been looking for some new grips. A post on Zlog reminded me of how much I liked my Revenge Friendly Grips so I might pick those up again but we'll see. Tomorrow is also my first final so wish me luck. Three more days and then I promise to post some more original posts. Until then, enjoy these posts that I find during my study breaks.

The Best of Chase Dehart

Although I don't bmx and have never really gotten into it, I still love watching edits because the stuff they do is just rediculous. Chase Dehart is probably my favorite rider out of the sport. His style is big and fluid and he goes fast. It's really an inspiration to watch his edits. They really give me the urge to just blow off studying for finals and just going out to ride. Theres just way too much good stuff in this edit. You guys really need to watch this.

Chase Dehart The Best Of from Flag Bmx on Vimeo.

Mike, Gabe, Packy, and Kosta 2011

This video was posted a while back but I don't believe it got the attention it deserves. Theres some pretty solid ridding and I see some spots that I would love to hit up. That kid with the black bike with the gold Tricksters also lands some super clean 180 sliders. I wanna see more of these kids, I love seeing kids like me shred it pushes me even more. Don't under estimate the youngins'!

2011 from Packy Golan on Vimeo.

Eason For BB17 2011

I don't like how they made the video sepia but the ridding made it worth the watch. Eason has some really techy moves including a combo I wanted to try out after this week (finals week). Watching bails are always fun and I'm glad they're throwing those in. I also saw this video over at Locked Cog.

breakbrake17 2011 new video from ahoy on Vimeo.

This Place

I found this bmx edit over at Locked Cog and I fell in love with it. I love the filming and the whole concept of the video. The director of it seems extremely talented and like Kris said, it really makes you want to be a film major.

This Place from Ben Symonds on Vimeo.

Livery Design Gruppe Online Store

LDG's online store is now live and you can now purchase some amazing stuff from my local bike shop. Get pumped for their 14mm hubs, I've seen them in peron and they're super beefy. Their frames are also super clean and the geometry is on point. One of the smaller things that they carry that I am a big fan of, is their grip. They're actually extremly comfy and their pretty inexpensive. To celebrate their live store, they are offering free shipping as well as no sales tax so swing by their website to check out all they have going on!

Bangin' Bikes: Prolly's D.A.R.T. Bruiser

John Prolly just post some pics of his D.A.R.T. Bruiser built up and I must say, it is looking mighty fine. I love everything about this frame, it keeps the amazing geometry of the bruiser and add a little twist. The paint job really is a beauty and I love the new head badge. I also love that Fixation Tire, I really wish they made them bigger. Prolly also states that these frame are on their way over so keep your eye out on his blog for more information.

Photo Cred: John Prolly

Bangin' Bikes: Wonder's 26' BB17 Prototype

BB17 has the most popular bars in FGFS in my opinion and their Charmer 700c frame has been much anticipated. BB17's next move into the FGFS game is with their dual 26 specific frame. This frame has beefy clearances, solid barspin clearance, and not to mention is double peggable. Although if I were designing the frame, I would raise the bottom bracket just a smidge. Other than that, it looks like a really solid prototype, almost perfect! Check out more pics on their WEBSITE.

Frame: BB17 Charmer 26″ prototype frame FULL HEAT TREATED

Fork: BB17 Cobra 418 prototype

Wheelset: P35 green 36H

Tires: MAXXIS OVERDRIVE BLITE 26x 2.1

Stem: Demoliton Stealth black

Bar: Volume trickster V2 black

Grip: FIT grip

Crankset:profile racing 165mm

Sprocket: Tree sprocket 36T

Cog: 15T

Pedal: Demolition/ Phoenix V1 strap

Seatpost: Resist Pivotal seatpost 27.2 black

Seat: Deco. Deche Series Logo seats-FAT version

Bike Porn: Klein UT 53 B

This bike is such a beauty. I literally just stared at it for 5 mins practically drooling. I love those dropouts and that fork is ridiculously sexy. This build is just a beauty all around, I like every single piece of it. I haven't heard much about this specific frame so I'll look into it when I have more time. On another related note, my friend, Austenn, rode a Klein and it was quite the Beauty.

Bangin' Bikes: Torey's Sup Mang

I just spotted this over at Wrahw. The Yo Mang was a big game changer for FGFS and their sister frame would be the 700c version, the Sup Mang. Unfortunately, they are not on the market yet but Torey has one and he's been thrashing it. This is his current set up and if you read on his blog, he says the bars are temporary but I actually really like those 4 piece Immortis bars. I really want to see more Sup Mangs, they seem so dank.

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes

This is just amazing. You just can't help but smile. It brightened up my day for sure.

26' Specific BB17 Frame

As many of us know, Swoo dropped his sponsorship with All-City and was picked up by BB17. Since then, he has been helping them create their dual 26' specific frame and this looks to be it. You can't really make out much from the picture but its still a good teaser picture. I'm excited to see all the prototype builds, especially Swoo's. Keep your eye on his blog for updates.

New Stuff From Hiro For Phoenix

Phoenix Straps has some of the best riders on their team. One of them is Hiro and he's shredding in this video. I love the wheelie onto the ledge and his 180 bars are super fresh. It seems like Phoenix Straps aren't as easily accessible as many other straps unfortunately.

HIRO FOR PHOENIX. from -xxxPHOENIX.xxx- on Vimeo.

People and Their Bikes

I believe that the best way to see experience a city is by riding your bike and although not everyone can travel everywhere, it's edits like these that allow you to see the beauty of different place. The filming was what stood out to me this video. It truly shows the beauty of Berlin. Big ups to Fahrtwind for putting it together.

People and Their Bikes - Trailer from lukas panek on Vimeo.

Christian Musgrave and Daichi 2011 Kickoff

Christian and Daichi are some of OC's local riders. I love watching the video and seeing spots I've hit or want to hit. That little incline thing that they were boosting off was one of the spots I wanted to ride but haven't gotten the chance to yet due to finals and my hurt neck (which is better by the way).

2011 Kick off! from Christian Musgrave on Vimeo.

Mid-West Mayhem II

Mid-West Mayhem was one of the biggest events in fixed gear history. It really got the sport attention from the industry and I feel as though it was the first FGFS event in which people from all over the world attended. It also really pushed the riders to their limits and showed everybody what FGFS was all about. Due to popular demand, Mid-West Mayhem will be coming back to Milwaukee on May 28, 2011 so get stoked and plan your trip. I'm extremely excited for this event and I have a feeling that it is going to be one of the biggest events in FGFS history. Stay tunned on the Mid-West Mayhem Blog for more information.

Slum Worm in San Francisco

The Wheel Talk crew puts out some of the best action shots in the game and thats no secret. They were in San Francisco the other day and they caught some gnarly flicks. The X-Up off of the gate kicker is ridiculous and it looks like Matt is getting his ice picks on lock. Although in the second picture, Scott looks whitter than usual. They also have a new bit about Anthony "Wreckless" Combs and the action picture of his 180 off of the tree is a must see. Head over to Slumworm to catch all the action!

New Ynot Straps Colorway Sneak Peak

Mosher makes some, if not the best straps out on the market right now. I'm really digging the Black and Yellow colorway and I love how he accents the black strap with yellow stitching. I don't know if he did this on purpose to show tribute to Wiz or Taylor Gang, but they're still some really spiffy looking straps. He also says theres more things to come so keep your eye on Ynot!

New Logo!

As for now, this will be the logo for The Chronicles of Gnarnia blog. Finals are coming up so I can't add my other idea, but I still think it looks really fresh. It is also in tribute to one of my favorite childhood shows, the Ninja Turtles. I still remember waking up early so I could watch Saturday morning cartoons. Help spread the word about Gnarnia Bikes and post the pictures wherever you can! I will also be buying the url soon so look out for that!

Career Courier Trailer

I'm pretty stoked for this movie. It looks like a real good concept and theres some pretty big mesengers starring in it. I remember when Fixed Gears first became big and all anyone wanted to do was mash. It makes me really miss going far and fast. Check out their website HERE.

Oscar Khan Likes Big Humps

Oscar has been killing it overseas and his action shots have been everywhere fixed gear recently. I really like this flick of him blasting a big air off of the hump (not sure waht else to call it). His ESB is also looking really sick, I love that neon green, it really stands out.

Photo Cred: Mikey Merk

West Fixed: Jotta

Sick little bit from West Fixed. I love the beach in the background, it makes me miss summer. In addition, the wheelie to grind was legit.

Blog One Month Anniversary!

Today marks one month since the start of this blog. I just wanna take this time to thank everyone who's been supporting Gnarnia Bikes, you guys really push me to inform and entertain. When I first started, I had no idea what I was in store for or how much attention I would get but that definitely made writing this blog a lot more fun. At the initial start, I was lucky to even get 50 views but in only a month, my views have skyrocketed to around 200 per day and I'm stoked! Despite this, I've been really busy so I haven't been able to make a logo but I promise that it will be out soon (finals next week). I'm expecting big things to come out from Gnarnia so stay tunned and you won't be disappointed. Please help this blog grow, by telling your friends, your fellow fixed gear riders, your local shops, your siblings, your parents, heck even tell your Grandma! Whatever you may do, just help me get the word out about Gnarnia Bikes so that it can grow even more. Once again, thank you to all you supporters and daily readers. Even though it may sound cliche, this blog would be no where without you guys. I also now have a Contact Me Page open in the side bar so if you need to reach me for any reason just hit me up. I also need some new bikes to be featured on "Bangin' Bikes" so end me your ride if its sick. Thank you everybody!

Grime Grand Opening Video

It looks like the turnout was really good and I love how the store itself really caters to the gritty street style of Grime. If anyone is in New York, this shop is a definite must see.

Welcome to Grime Street from Only Ones on Vimeo.

The Mind of Kevin #2

The Other Guys was one of the top comedies in 2010 and this was one of my favorite scenes. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommended it, it'll give you some big laughs for sure!

From Steel: The Making of a Soulcraft

This is the first time I have seen a hand built frame made and I am truly amazed. The craftsmanship is simply amazing and I am in awe at the details that a builder puts into a frame. Additionally, I didn't know that there were so many steps and tools required to build a frame. Now that I think about it, I never really wondered how frames were made, they were kinda just there. The video is a real eye opener and is definitely a must see. It opened my eyes to the beauty of frame building and it really depicts the essence of a high quality custom frame. You can check out Soulcraft Bikes in Petaluma, California or you can look at their website HERE.

FROM STEEL: The Making of a Soulcraft from michael evans on Vimeo.

Price Drop: Eighth Inch 170mm Splined Cranks

These are really beefy cranks and lucky for you, they are on sale for just $99.50 at the Eighth Inch Store. Unfortunately, it is only 170mm cranks but, 170mm cranks means more torque which is a huge bonus. It also comes with your choice of a Euro or Mid bottom bracket. I think that raw finish is sick and the logo on the cranks are clean and simple. Swoop them up HERE.

The Nutcracker III AlleyCat

I think this is an amazing idea for a race. Being able to help the community while having fun is one of the best things in the world. Personally, I am a part of several service clubs at my school but I'm not able to make it to many events due to my busy schedule which is unfortunate for me.

Alleycat from Pale Blue Pictures on Vimeo.

SE UVT Frameset Shipping!

Following the news of the complete Thrashers, also comes the much anticipated announcement that the Us Versus Them Framesets will be shipping out to your lbs this week. This frame has been in the works for quite some time and for what seemed like forever, there were no updates. Despite this, I am glad that SE took their time on this frame. SE came into the industry with their PK Ripper which earned the very appropriate title, "The PK Snapper." It looks like they really stepped their game up on this one though. The details are phenomenal and the frame and fork are both heat treated for extra strength. They also hired a killer team of some of FGFS's top riders to test out the frame. Although, the weird thing about their team is that they all ride 26' wheels and this frame is 700c specific. Lastly, I love that S bend chainstay, it looks super sexy. Check out more information on the SE Blog.

Volume Thrasher Complete Pricing!

Iminusd now has the new Complete Volume Thrashers up for Pre-Orders. For $820, you can get an extremely solid bike. This frame has been proven strong and the EEROs are one of the strongest rims on the market. If you are thinking about trying out FGFS, this would be the perfect start. Actually, this bike hould not just be limited to FGFS usage. It could be used as a commuter for all terrains or even a polo bike. The possibilities are endless! Big ups to Volume for such a solid complete. I can't even explain how excited I am to see these bad boys on the street. This is the reason why companies need to make more completes. With more solid, affordable bikes, we would see a lot more people riding which would result in more attention from the world. Pre-Order them at Iminusd HERE. That red white combo looks sick by the way.

Volume Thrasher Completes!

Volume bikes will now offer their FGFS frame, The Thrasher, built up as a complete as of March. I think complete FGFS completes are a great idea and I would really like to see more affordable completes so that more people can get involved with this sport. Although I don't know the pricing, Volume states that they are going to make it affordable. I think this will give the Specialized P-Fixed Complete some stiff competition even though the Specialized's price tag is a steal. Volume also states that they still want it to be high end and I think they really achieved this. It's built up with really solid parts, many made from their sister company, Resist. I also love how they made H+Son EEROs their stock wheelset instead of some cheap weak rim. Also, in my opinion, those new decals make the bike look a lot cleaner. In conclusion, I'm excited for these to drop because it will allow people on a budget to get into this quickly progressing sport.

Colors will come in Black and Gold as well as White and Red

Specs:
Frame: Thrasher V1
Fork: Thrasher
Handlebar: 65mm riser bar
Stem: alloy front load
Headset: Resist Integrated
Grips: Demolition Missile
Seat: Resist pivotal
Seatpost: Pivotal
Cranks: 3pc tubular chromoly.
Sprocket: Alloy 33t
BB: Resist midBB
Pedals: Demolition PC pedal
Hubs: Sealed 3/8′s alloy hubs. flip/flop rear
Rims: H + Son EERO
Tires: Resist Nomad 45c

Six Nine Bmx: Sam Grime Thailand

It's awesome to see people rep Grime in different countries, in this case Thailand. That 3 tap with the wheelie looked sick and theres a bunch of other killer moves in this video. I also love that pyramid of lights type thing that he rides in, does anyone know what that is?

The Mind of Kevin #1

My mind is often cluttered with odd ideas or questions and I thought it would be a good idea if I shared these thoughts and ideas with you guys. I spend a good chunk of school spacing out or day dreaming, so about once a day, I'm going to post up whatever may be on my mind. These posts could be anything from a stupid joke to my ideas on politics or other random questions. Whatever it may be, I'm sure it will entertain you so stay tunned and comment what you think! To start things off, why do doctors leave the room when you change? They're gonna see you naked anyways.

Matt Lingo: Matt Spencer Tuck

Matt Spencer is one of my favorite riders. His style is the perfect balance between big moves and tech, it's crazy. Matt Lingo is also my favorite FGFS rider. Without him, who knows where this sport would be. Lingo and Spencer show their talents through this marvelous picture. Lingo really captures Spencer in this tuck perfectly. It is also astonishing how high Spencer gets on hops.

Photo Cred: Matt Lingo

Grime TV Vol #1

With the opening of Grime's retail store, also comes their Grime TV #1. It's no secret that the Grime crew has some of the top shredders in the sport and this video shows exactly why this is. That ledge grind at 1:32 was freakin' ridiculous. You'd need some huge balls to even attempt that. These are the kind of videos that really get FGFS progressing forward by pushing others to the limit. I'm sure that this video was an inspiration to many and not just myself. I'm really looking forward to more of this series, big ups to Grime!

GRIME TV 1 from GRIME BIKES on Vimeo.

SDG Image Plan

Theres some good riding in this but what attracted me to this video more was the cool editing. I love the slow motion of the techy tricks.

SDG 2011 Image plan movie from sdgintw on Vimeo.

Unknown Bikes: 26' Spy Photos

Unknown Bikes is by far one of my favorite brands and they have some really good stuff in store. One of these amazing things is their 26' Frame. If I were to ride dual 26' this would be one of my top picks for a frameset. It has a low standover, full barspin clearance, fat tire clearances, negative bb drop, and 14mm dropouts. I don't know what else I could ever want! See more pictures over at their blog!

My Daily: Three Taps Gone Wrong

On Monday, I was working on my three taps and I eventually had them on lock. I still wanted to make them cleaner so I kept on practicing which proved to be a poor decision for me. I'm not sure exactly what I did wrong, but the end result was me falling on my head and almost blacking out. My head hit really hard and my vision went blurry for a quick moment, but luckily for me, I didn't black out. I crawled over to the shade and lay my head down because I didn't know what else I could do. My head was throbbing, my elbow was stinging, and my ankle was aching. It was just terrible. After what seemed to be forever, my head stopped throbbing and I went home. The moment I got home, I iced my neck but unfortunately for me, I didn't feel any better. My neck is tweaked right now and it hurts to look to the left. Even though it is better than yesterday, it still stings and I am not riding until I fully recover. Hopefully this isn't to long and on the bright side, this will mean I'll have more time to blog and it will allow me to focus on school because finals are coming up.

Grime Store Grand Opening

Grime's storefront is officially opening tommorow. I'm so stoked on how this is gonna turn out. This is definitely a big step for Grime and a big step for FGFS in general. These guy have been working really hard on this store so stop by and show your support at 191 Henry St, in Manhattan. They are also having a Grand Opening Party tommorow night at 8 pm at their storefront so go get drunk and party! Also, you can get a discount at the Grime online store if you use the code "191henrystreet". You can see what the Grime is all about HERE.

West Fixed: Ski Skate Amadora Monday

Quick little banger made by West Fixed (not sure of the rider). That park looks like a lot of fun, I really wanna ride some vert soon.

Micheal Chacon Flying High

Chacon is probably the best tech rider out there right now. He 's keeping OG moves and throwing his own twist on them its crazy. that last 180 barpin off the stairs was sick and I really dig the speed.

Bangin' Bikes: Danimal's Custom Destroy Frame

This frame looks so clean! Its overall design is awesome although I could do without the yellow. I love that it's a dual 700c negative BB drop frame, and that it can hold a 2.4 tire (CRAZY). But in my opinion, a 2.4 is overkill, bmxers usually don't even run that big of a tire. To me, the perfect tire size would be a 2.1 or something real close to that. The last thing I like about this bike is that I run the same gearing as Daniel and I think its a pretty good balance between commuting and tricking. You can also check out their blog HERE.

Frame - Custom Destroy 29er Frame
Fork - S&M Pitch Fork
Stem - Flatware
Bars - Vultus
Wheels - 48h Chukkers 4x to Profile 14mm rear hub
Tires - Schwalbe BigApple 29er X 2.35 ft & rr
Cranks - Profile 165mm
Sprockets - 36t x 13t
Pedals - Demo PC x Haley's Straps
Chain - Shadow HL
Post - DMR Piv. x Primo Saddle
Pegs - Shadow

New Blk Mrkt Parts

I personally ride Blk Mrkt Bada Bing bars and they've held up great but Blk Mrkt is bringing a new bar to the game in 2011. This bar is the Molly Hatchet. With a 3 inch rise, 22.2 clamp, and made of chromoly, this sounds like a handle bar that can take a beating. Next up is their 40oz Fork. This is specifically designed for their NSF frame and it is looking mighty fine. I really hope Blk Mrkt pushes towards the fixed gear community more, they have some really great stuff.

Bike Check: Masi Coltello

I'm a big fan of Masi products, both steel and aluminum. They come out with some fantastic products and this is by far my favorite of their line up. I think this bike looks really clean although there are some things that I would change if it were mine. I like my seat leveled and I think that Sugino Messenger Cranks are a poor choice in that price range. For less money, you can get the All-City 612 crankset which is stiffer, has a 144 BCD chainring, and looks better in my opinion.

My Daily: Put Down By the Man

The last few days I've been working on some new stuff and I feel like I'm progressing really well. On Thursday, I went out to my old Elementary school and had a little session before I had Track practice. I ended up arriving when the kids were just getting out so when I was working on my tree ride, they would chase me back and forth pretending to shoot lasers at me. It was pretty funny but after a few attempts I decided it was time to work on some other stuff. Next, I went over to the blacktop area to perfect my hop bars and other flatland tricks. These are actually getting easier for me and I think I land them about 80% of the time. In addition to learning hop bars, I also wanted to try nose pivot sliders but I didn't land many so I kinda gave up for that day. As I was resting and getting my energy back, I thought to myself if 180 sliders would be easier. After I recovered, I tried my hand at these and to my amazement, I landed a lot first day trying. The weird thing about these comes Friday and Saturday though so keep reading! On Friday, I rode over to the river bed which has some fun stuff like banks and some other things I can't really explain. This was actually the first time I rode here, I just heard about it from a lot of other people. In a nutshell, I did two things there. The first was just ridding the banks and doing 180's on them and such. I didn't really know what other tricks I could do. After that got tedious, I worked on some flat land stuff because its pretty wide and open there. I tried 180 sliders right off the bat but for some reason, I couldn't land many. It was really weird but I ended up just blaming the wind. The river bed is also where I took the picture at the bottom of the post which I think turned out really good for an Iphone 3g. This also leads us to the next day, Saturday. I wanted to get some filming done so I hit up my buddy Austenn and we decided to ride later in the day. Before we met up, I went back to my Elementary School to kind of warm up. This was where I tried 180 sliders again but didn't succeed. But the weirder thing was that they ended up becoming a whole different trick. I have no idea what it is called though. Its basically a 180 onto your back wheel and then another 180, kind of. If anyone knows what this is please leave a comment. I also started trying to catch my hop bars more often but unfortunately for me, this led to me injuring my fingers by jamming them into my bars. After they hurt too much, I went home because I didn't want to hurt myself anymore before filming. After I relaxed a little I went over to Austenn's house to go film. We rode over to HBHS and tricked a little bit, but for some reason I just wasn't up for filming that day. We ended up just hanging out there and hitting up some stairs as well a some more flatland stuff. Theres a 3 stair there and I really wanted to 180 off of it but I just didn't have the balls, it really sucked. Before leaving, I jumped a 5 or 6 stair (I don't remember), and after a few jumps, some guy from the school rolled up in his car and yelled at us to leave. Another time that bikers get put down by the man. I don't really understand why we got kicked off. We weren't disrupting any people and it wasn't like we were hurting the campus. If people don't want us riding street spots, they should make some more skate parks/ bike parks so we actually have an option. On a mechanical note, I fixed my bike's headset and now it spins like butter. On a more devastating note, I think my wheels are more f'd up than ever. I really need some money for a truing stand. Overall, I think I'm progressing quite nicely and I really want to ride more as well as post more personal entries so expect more Dailys and Reviews in the upcoming weeks!

New Peninsula Fixed Gear Edit

Peninsula Fixed Gear has some crazy stuff in this edit. I love when people throw in their random shenanigans and those were some of the craziest bails I have ever seen. That flip after the dirt jump was ridiculous. After all the crashes their is some solid ridding. The grinds are sick and I loved that 360 slider thing in the bowl. Lastly, that last 180 off the stairs was amazing. That was an eleven stair by the way.

Peninsula Fixed Gear from Kenny Arimoto on Vimeo.

I am Los Angeles: Sean Martin

I really like this bit from Take Over LA. Martin really explains the essence of the city correctly. OC isn't as crazy but you definitely still have to deal with drivers who don't pay attention or just don't care. It's part of the reason why I love riding fixed gears though, you always have to be on alert but at the same time you get to enjoy everything in between point A and point B. Another thing that struck me in this video was that Martin said that the group rides in LA get around 100 people a night. I don't think any of the group rides in OC have even come close but they're still a lot of fun. This summer me and a friend may start our own group ride. I feel as though the fixed gear community in my area has died down so I really want to bring it back.

Sean Martin - I Am Los Angeles from Joris Debeij on Vimeo.

21st Avenue Bicycles: Family Fun Bike Build

This is exactly what a local bike shop is all about. They know what they're doing yet they can have fun and be amusing at the same time. Also, that bit with the air compressor was really funny I wanna try that out!

21st Avenue Bicycles - Family Fun Bike Build! from James Wilson on Vimeo.

Bangin' Bikes: Jakob Santos LDG Prototype

I believe this frame is called the Kaos but I'm not 100% sure. Jakob just got picked up my Resist parts which is crazy because they just keep on getting more and more killers on their team. I still love those Resist Nomad tires they look like they would ride extremely nice! Found over on the Resist Blog.

O'pignon Fixed Gear: Introducing Simon "Gomok" Andraca

O'pignon is a fixed gear clothing brand and in this video they introduce their newest killer, "Gomok." I have no idea why they call him this but I'm still stoked on the video. I don't know what it exactly would be considered but the ledge to ledge hops were ick, I would've been sketched out being that high up. Another thing that I admire about him is his hop bars. They look real smooth and they flow into his riding. In addition, that tire slide on the bench was awesome, especially with all the snow. Lastly, the music is killer and makes the edit that much better.

Simon "Gomok" Andraca - Welcome to the Team O'pignon fixed gear from Florent Delahaye on Vimeo.

Jakob Santos: Winter Shit Nigga

This is a much watch edit. Santo kills it and rides for one of my local bike shops, Livery Design Gruppe. He is ridding their new frame with negative bb drop and is definitely putting it to the test. All those smooth grinds and spins must really test out the ability of the frame. That concurrent rail grind with Wonka was super sick to see on film as well. Santos also says a backflip is coming soon so I'll take his word on that and I expect it in the near future.

Eighth Inch Butcher On its Way!

The factory is almost done with Butcher frames and everyone should be expecting a pre-order within a few weeks. I'm super stoked on this frameset, it's going to be a great freestyle frame for all of you on a budget. This is a picture of the Butcher before paint.

Tokyo Fixed Prototype Frame

Tokyo Fixed just posted some pics of their new frameset. I really miss having a fast bike and this would be a perfect fit for me. That double crown fork looks awesome and the dropouts look super clean. I also wouldn't mind that awesome paint color.

Photo Cred: Tokyo Fixed

Seoul Got Soul X Planet Hops: Year of the Bunny

Just wow. I'm in love with the editing and filming in this video. That jump off the ledge was already crazy but they way they put it all together made it more amazing. Big ups to Seoul Got Soul and Planet Hops for bringing the heat.

[SEOUL got SOUL] The Year of The Bunnies (Trick time) from David Jongkwon Kim aka DKshop on Vimeo.

Gnarnia Product Review: Odyssey Aaron Ross Grips

My grips are heading towards the point of falling apart so I thought it would be the perfect time to write up a little review on them. During summer, I was in need of new grips so I stopped by my local bike store to check some out. While I was browsing around, I saw Animal Edwin Grips, which I heard were extremely comfy. The guy got me these and they seemed to live up to their hype, but then all of a sudden, in the corner of my eye, I saw the Odyssey Aaron Ross grips. My geeky side took over and I asked to check them out. My first impression was that they were sick looking and that they were actually quite comfy. I ended up buying these, for the most part, because they look awesome (By the way, I bought these when I was just using my bike as a commuter). Now on to the actual review. Like every product, this one has its pros and cons. One good thing would be that they really are quite comfortable. They made the ride really nice on my commuter and they grip pretty well on my current FGFS bike. Another thing would be that they look cool. The only other good thing about them that I can think of is that they come with pretty good bar ends. Now on to the bad things about these grips. Unfortunately for Odyssey, the geeky aspect did not overcome all the bad things about these grips in my opinion. For one, they were not very durable. The keys started falling off with minor usage and they rip easily. The ripping might be due to another faulty quality of the grips, throttle grip. Every session, I get throttle grip which not only ruins the geeky aspect but also makes the grip more likely to rip. The bad things do not end here. Another would be that they stretch out and slide down your bars way too easily. The last thing I can think of would be that they get slippery when your hands sweat. Overall, I don't think the aesthetics can overcome the faulty qualities of this grip and I would give it a 6 out of 10. If you still want them, you can purchase them HERE.