Ever since I started following Ryan Wilson on Instagram, I knew he had an incredible eye for roadscapes. Landscapes are one thing, but roads speak to us as cyclists. We look at the bend, the bank and the angle differently than other travelers. Being able to capture those traits isn’t easy, especially while being completely overwhelmed in a place like the Sierras. I’ve never ridden there, yet suddenly I really want to, in the Summer of course…
#California
tag
Reportage
Mojave Road Guide – Ty Hathaway
Ty is just one of those guys. One minute, he’s posting photos of his dog, or his fiancé on Instagram and the next, he’s in the middle of the Mojave Desert on his trusty Pugsley, doing what many would consider a really, really, really tough ride – except most people do this ride in a Jeep or an ATV. To say that he’s spontaneous isn’t entirely accurate however, because he always plans out what to bring, how to bring it and how he’ll use it. What happens once he’s there is a whole different story. One that only Ty can tell in his own words…
Radar
The Women’s Cycling Association – Join the Ride Photos
Photos by Nick Kova
Last weekend, Kelli from Ritte put on a ride in Calabasas, California with the help of Pedalers Fork. The ride took a group of ladies (and a few men) through the surrounding sweeping hills and mountains before returning to Pedalers Fork for food and drinks. Photographer Nick Kova was in attendance, shooting photos from the back of a moto, driven by Moi Medena. See more photos here!
I love seeing people organizing rides in their local scenes! Kudos Kelli!
Radar
Does Your LBS Owner Do Standup?
Chris Kelly of Topanga Creek Cycles – aka the best MTB shop in America – lays it all out. LISTEN TO HIM PEOPLE. Support your local bike shop!
“I don’t know the answers”… so good!
#screwingyourlocalbusinessdotcom
Radar
Josh Hayes Lead the Pack
Matt from Leader shot a video of Josh Hayes on a training ride in the Southern California mountains. I love how fit Josh is these days. We’ve both been shedding pounds… oh and SLEEP!
Radar
The 2014 PiNP Calendar: February
This is the second layout of the 2014 PiNP Calendar, entitled “AWOL”. The camera and location are noted on the bottom left of the document.
I don’t know about you, but I’m getting antsy to go on another ride like this. California has many hidden roads and we barely scratched the surface in the Diablo Range. Out of all the photos from that photoset, this is the one most people requested in high-res.
For a high-res JPG, suitable for print and desktop wallpaper, right click and save link as – 2014 PiNP Calendar: February
Please, this photo is for personal use only!
Reportage
The Yonder Journal Mythical State of Jefferson Brovet
Flashback to July. I was in considerably good shape, coming off a lot of base miles in the early spring with China and Australia, back to back. After those two countries, I kept pushing myself to be a more fit cyclist. Why? Because I knew this Brovet was coming up and I had something to prove. Both to myself and my friends, who had heckled me incessantly since my bonking in Pittsburgh. Let’s just say, I was ready.
My equipment was dialed, my fitness was in-line and aside from a MTB wreck the week before, I was in tip top shape. The initial talks of the route had numbers like 250 miles and over 30,000′ of climbing. After we completed the route, it turned out to be around 235 miles and 18,000′. Still, no small feat.
Look, it was hot, tough and with around 10 people in our group, it was the largest Brovet ride yet. Was it fun? You bet your ass! It’s amazing how enjoyable rides like this can be when you’ve got the fitness. You’ve already read Yonder’s report, so here are my photos from the ride, in as accurate of an order as I can recall.
Reportage
Ryan Wilson’s Roadscape Photography
As cyclists, we look at roads, paths and tracks a little differently. We notice the nuances of undulation, the tipping point of turns and with each climb, we relish the descent. Some individuals can evoke emotions with a single photograph.
Instagram is great for many reasons, but one of which is sharing your environments with users all over the world. I travel quite frequently, but one man’s photographs always give me road envy. Known on the app as @RMDUB, Ryan Wilson is, by all means, a roadscape photographer.
Ryan works in Hollywood as a sound designer. He’s lived in Los Angeles for over 6 years and only recently ventured into the surrounding mountains, upon buying a road bike. For the past 3 years, he’s been exploring all the various veins of asphalt that trickle down the faces and flow into the valleys.
In August 2012, Ryan loaded his road bike into his car while on assignment and drove north to the Sierras, from that point on, he always travels with his bike and has been to some of the most majestic roadways on the west coast.
So what kind of camera does Ryan use to capture these breathtaking vignettes? The pocket-sized Sony RX100M2 with Carl Zeiss optics. Or his iPhone.
Radar
I’m Going AWOL This Weekend
This morning, the AWOL team and myself left San Francisco for a three day ride through Henry W. Coe state park down to Morgan Hill. While we have a general idea of how we’ll get down there (i.e. excessive speculation), we’re leaving a lot of room for error. Because, let’s face it, no big ride can go down without something going wrong. At least that’s my track record as of late.
I’ll be riding one of the new hydraulic disc, belt drive AWOL Transcontinental limited edition bikes and shooting photos of the ride for a few features on PiNP.
Come Monday, we’ll be showing my photos from the ride at the premier of the Transcontinental AWOL video at Specialized HQ.
Follow Hellhommus and me on Instagram this weekend for updates!
Radar
May Your Holidays Be Filled With…
… views like this!
Radar
200k Del Puerto Permanent
I can’t think of anything to write here, aside from “whoa”. Jenny’s photo from her recent 200k Del Puerto Brevet has me jonesin’ for some California roads.
Radar
Ornot: Cycling Gear Made in California
Ornot is a small, new label based in San Francisco. Founded by the belief that you shouldn’t have to spend a lot of money, only to look like a rolling billboard. All of their garments are made in California and are minimally-branded.
Check out the full Ornot line here. I will say one thing: kudos to them for developing a women’s line at the same time as a men’s line and making them the same design!
Also, damn, I miss riding in California already!
Radar
Steel Wül Cycling Club Rides with Giro
Jake Hess is the founder of Steel Wül Cycling, a club based out of Santa Cruz that’s keen on building a grassroots community. Check out more in this video by Giro.
Radar
Recent Roll: It’s the Weekend #SeekThisSound
Some scenes evoke a certain resonance within our subconscious… ok, whatever, go out and find some dirt this weekend to rip around on.
Tools of the trade:
Yashica T4 / Pro400H
Radar
A $5 Donation Buys a Foot of Trail in Downieville
$5 gets you a beer at your favorite bar, a cup of coffee and a scone, or a foot of trail in Downieville and a chance to win a MTB from Ibis. Here’s the scoop:
“This is a picture of Troy Morrisson, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Trail Crew Foreman and Super Star. Troy is building trails for your enjoyment. Troy wants your help. There’s an easy way and a hard way to help. The hard way is to head up to the high Sierra and help Troy move some big heavy rocks.
Then there’s the easy way; buy a foot of sweet Sierra trail for $5, and you won’t have to do what Troy is doing. As an added bonus, donate money to the Stewardship between now and August 21st 2013 and you have a chance to win ANY IBIS BIKE, properly decked out with parts from Shimano, Easton, Fox and WTB. Choose your model and your wheel size: 26″, 27.5″, 29″, Ripley, HDR, Mojo SL-R, whatever you want. Size and color is up to you.”
Check out all the information you need to know about this RAD giveaway at Ibis!
Reportage
Cali is Not California™ – I Offer Thee Upon Gibraltar
If #NatureIsMetal, then Gibraltar is a barrage of blast beats. This iconic climb is located in Santa Barbara, California. Just the word, Gibraltar, carries a certain mystique. As a cyclist, there are a few climbs that carry connotations of pain. For me, I think of Diablo, Cloud Burst and Gibralter.
Depending on how you start, you can climb from sea level to 3,600′ in just 12 miles. The road itself, up to the summit is about 7 miles. What makes Gibralter so magnificent though is the weather. One minute, you’re riding in the scorching morning sun and the next, a weather system will move over the crest and down the roads, creating an eerie and really fuckin’ metal vignette.
A group of us during the ATOC got in a quick ride before rushing to the start at Santa Barbara’s stage. We climbed fast and because of the ominous fog, took the descent slowly. The whole time I was descending, I felt like I was entering some lost world… It was brutally epic! See for yourself in the Gallery!
Tools of the trade:
Yashica T4 / Pro 400H
Radar
Well That Was Fun #GoYonder
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ve probably figured out that we made it. It was tough, but fun. For such a large group to finish the ride without any major issues made it even more enjoyable.
The State of Jefferson, at least what we saw of it, truly is mythical. We ended up totaling 233 miles and over 17,000′. In true Brovet spirit, we stopped a lot, swam in rivers, streams, waterfalls and dirt napped when necessary. We flew down frontage roads, chattered our teeth on ruts, lost water bottles, found water bottles, avoided rattle snakes and drank lots of water…
More to come, but for now, catch up on some more photos on my Instagram, where I’ve linked to all the accounts who were also on the ride.
Radar
About to #GoYonder
Starting today, I’m setting out for a ride in the State of Jefferson with 10 friends. We’ll be taking on 250 miles and 32,000′ of elevation in a 24 hour-ish time period through some of the most remote roads in Oregon and California. It’s a true Brovet… We’re actually beginning the ride on Tuesday, but will be at a remote camp site all day today. Expect a black-out period here on the site until Friday.
That said, I’ll be active on Instagram @JohnProlly as long as I have service and battery life. Follow the happenings via the #GoYonder hashtag, follow @YonderJournal and I’ll see you on Friday!