I’m back in Vegas and this time its all about cycling. INTERBIKE, the largest tradeshow for the cycling world is happening today through the end of the week. I’ll be reporting live from the show on HS, Selectism, and Twitter, so stick around for some good shit.

Tonight, we have a cyclocross race to attend. More on that shortly…

Wow. I guess this is my first collaborative one of one joint.

The boys at OPEN dropped this on me last week. It’s a custom top tube protector handmade by Boston’s own 3RRR - fabricators of all things bullet proof including their now world famous “Bling Ring” 1/8 chainring.

Nau at 3RRR is one of those guys who has can take a tired and true bike product and make it all his own. From the handbrushed 6061 aluminum top tube protector to his ridiculously strong chainrings, he’s part of a new class of bicycle parts fabricators who are developing goods in small runs that can compete with the big manufacturers out there.

Credit as well to the OPEN boys for turning me onto 3RRR and a variety of other small niche parts makers. Visit their store in person in Somerville, MA or online to check out goods they carry - including some excellent wears (and bicycles) by my friend Ben at Freeman Transport. These kind of business go a long way in establishing themselves not only in a community but also with the goods suppliers they build relationships with.

Shit, looks like Ben got the top tube treatment too. That puts me in good company then.

Speaking of Ben, anyone else catch Lance Amstrong giving his Giro Di Montana shirt from love last week? Makes me proud.

My friends Josh and Zack of OPEN Bicycle are finally throwing their much deserved grand opening party this weekend in Union Square, Somerville, MA. For those not following their store launch over on all the biker blogs, OPEN is a multi function bicycle repair shop, design studio, and gallery space which lives up to all these descriptor words because of Josh and Zack’s background.

What I do know is that any multifunction concept that allows for multiple consumer sets to be serviced is a good idea. In fact, anything innovative and interesting that is opened in Boston is a damn good thing.

Check them out online. They’re webstore is filled with some hard to find and unique items.

If you’re in the Boston area, be sure to stop in this weekend.

I was in a car with Seth and Will back in December when they began talking about tacking on a swim and bicycle race to the end of their Boston Marathon run this coming April all the while, stopping for beers, cocktails, and partying throughout the course. It sounds funny right?

For most people, passing thoughts of this nature lead to laughs and jokes, but for Seth and Will, any said challenge is one that must be taken seriously. I’m not sure if they’re doing it to say they did it or simply because neither of them is willing to let the other out of it, but “The Epic Man” challenge is a fucking reality.

It is now March and the Boston Marathon is only weeks away and from the looks of it, the boys have a crew ready for “The Epic Man.” Parties and bars have been mapped out over the 163mile course and due to beverage consumption, they have allocated 24hours to kayak and cycle from Maine to Boston just in time to run the Boston Marathon. 

How could I not applaud such a challenge that both Seth and Will have applied to themselves. 

If for some reason you want to get involved in “The Epic Man, ” please contact them. They need all the help and beer they can get.

I for one haven’t run enough to think I can pull it off this year, but I hope to beat myself enough over the next 13 months to get ready for 2010. 

Follow The Epic Man on Twitter.

Something new coming to Boston.

Not sure what to make of this one. Bikehacks  points us at this forum post on making your own winter studded tires. This shit is serious business and if not done properly can lead to some disastrous moments on the road. For instance, this hack requires properl Dremel work to smooth out the bolt ends when finishing this. Serious.

Honestly, if you, like me, are not willing to risk this, and your frame can handle a fat tire - like the Surly Steamroller! - pick up 700c Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 35mm from Peter White Cycles. For the record, Steamroller have a disgustingly dope 38mm clearance in the rear.

Out of curiosity, any other track like geometry frames on the market with big ass clearance like the Surly?

I have high regards for my dear friend, Jonathan. I’ve mentioned him in this very Column in the past for reasons of music, but Jon was also the guy who turned me onto track bikes years ago when I was still running through Boston on my ‘96 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo. I fucking miss that bike.

As long as I have known Jon, his day to day has been this KHS with that funky seat tube (show above). He’s beat the shit out of it but like most good bikes, it keeps running. Jon also tends to tire of the normal bike decoration and when he get’s tired of the paint job, he’s the first guy to grab some permanent markers and give it a face lift. I’m pretty sure this is the third commission he’s done on the KHS.

His latest work is the work of genius. From afar, it looks like a splatter pattern or a DPM of some pastel sort. Due to this unique look, he is stopped by bike and art fans alike, all pondering his technique and style…

But the truth is that for the last few months or so, he just keeps writing the word “Fuck” on his frame; usually in the morning right before beginning his commute. I find it awfully appropriate to be honest. Layer after layer of “fucks” later and he’s developed a colorform on his KHS like no other. 

Superb work dear friend.

We took some time from the day to head into Tribeca. Some shots of the scenery.

We somehow ran into the Ghostbusters building which has just about made my week now.

New York City is vast, people.

A gang of cyclists rode from Boston to Salem last night as part of the Witch Hunt Ride thrown by Red Bull. Big thanks to the RB team for inviting us all on the ride (17 miles) and for the pure flow of liquid love for hours in Salem - right next to the witch trials cemetery.

Many thanks as well to RB for renting a truck to haul all the bicycles back to Boston (no need to ride back drunk) and for the buses making this bicycle ride a one way road to hell.

Steve and Mark freezing their balls off.

My man Jason prepping that witch hat secured with saftey pins.

The almighty Jimmy Tits made it. Even after being crushed by a cab and losing a mouthful of teeth, this man has no fear of the night. Find him on Twitter: imjfitz.

Jimmy, you having fun?

Ride over. Phase two in effect.

Seth. the man who put this all together. Thank you.

More witches on the bus.

Good vs. Evil.

This vamp was also spotted sneaking on the witch bus. 

One more in the Bean. Seeing as I’ll be out of town for a month, it was well worth it.

Tell me you did not order absinthe…

Legal again.

God bless a bar that lets you haul bikes inside. Kingtson Station. Respect.

Tonight, the Zombie Prom at Good Life…

The very good people at Fixed Gear Gallery have returned from last week’s Interbike 2008 Show in Las Vegas. FGG has published a shitload of photos from the show, with real focus on the track, fixed gear bikes and accessories being displayed. You’ll get some new views of the RVCA Cinelli, the MASH Cinelli, and many many other.

But the pure standout to me was introduction of this $299 Schwinn Cutter FG/SS to the market. Thats $299 for a complete bike. The barrier of entry has been significantly lowered by the people at Schwinn and anything that can get people onto bikes is about as important a feat as trying to convince them to convert a road bike or drop $500+ on a style of cycling that takes some time to get used to.

I look at the Cutter’s $299 pricepoint in comparison to the barrier of entry for many electronics. Take for example the 2007 Christmas Holiday season where GPS navigation systems hit the $200 mark. In technology breaking the $200 mark makes technology affordable to the masses. $299 for a complete fixed gear bike has to be relative. If I could have spend $299 when I first got into riding fixed, I would have saved hours converting my (oddly enough) Schwinn Le Tour.*

Clearly when this $299 Schwinn hits the market, it will not come built up from the most premium of components but we know this based on the price. The fact still remains that a $299 bike by Schwinn will be built well enough to get the average user to re-examine a single cog bicycle as a choice. Schwinn is making it easy for anyone to join the cycling masses.

I miss my old Schwinn Le Tour. I sold it on Craigslist years ago. I pray that it remains in good hands.

* As much as converting the Schwinn Le Tour was a bitch, I did take a handful of bike repair workshops at Broadway Bikes during the process. Those hours in the shop learning the ins and out of bike mechanics I would never give up. I highly recommend that everyone take a basic bike repair course if not to teach you how basic some repairs/adjustments are.