The Radavist

This is the ninth layout of the 2013 PiNP Calendar, entitled “Klöntalersee”. The camera, lens used and location are noted on the bottom left of the document. This one’s for everyone who has emailed me requesting a high-res version of this photo… 

After climbing 2,000′ in just two miles on a 26″ MTB, seeing the Klöntalersee was a sight for sweaty eyes. This beach-lined lake glows green and appears to be plucked from the Carribean. All it takes is a neck-straining look to the sky to quickly realize that you’re in the Swiss Alps. After coming across this popular “swimming hole” all I could think was how cold the water would be. Oh and it’s a widely-used source for hydroelecticity within Glarus!

Right Click and Save Link As – 2013 PiNP Calendar: August

Lyle from Mission Workshop and I have successfully escaped Eurobike and fled to the Mountains of Madness in Glarus, Switzerland. Today we’re going to get in a quick ride before heading out to Freiburg, Germany where we’ll be riding with the guys from Santa Cruz.

Expect some real epicness from PiNP over the next few days as I take on some of the most epic riding in the world.

xo

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a touring video that has gotten me more pumped than this one. All I gotta say is the full-length is going to be so rad…

Have you been following the AWOL project?

See you tomorrow Erik!

Photo by Brian Vernor

Living in the Great Plains of the US means you spend a lot of time riding gravel roads and it just so happens, people take that very seriously these days. Today was the Gravel Road World Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska and Brian Vernor has some great photos up on his Flickr from last year’s event. I’d love to make it out and “compete” one year.

Check out Brian Vernor’s full Flickr set here.

EDIT: Congrats to Austin Horse for winning the Gravel Worlds!

Yonder Journal is fucking killing it. The latest report features fat bike apocalypse training in the Canyonlands. I don’t want to give away too much, but this photo-heavy story is amazing and worth the read. Head to Yonder Journal to check it out.

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

Over the years, some of these guys have become good friends of mine and I’ve enjoyed watching their lives change in the time that the Rapha Continental has been around. Since its inception, the Continental not only influenced the lives of the members, but undoubtably cycling as a whole.

Watching this video from the 2013 Pacific Northwest Rapha Continental ride, all I can think about is doing something similar with a group of close friends. The PNW really is gorgeous.

See more incredible photos at the Rapha Flickr and read Jeremy Dunn’s thoughts on the ride at Rapha.

It’s nice to see others taking on the Yonder spirit and organizing “Brovets”. Here’s 48×17‘s version:

“Brovet: Γύρος του Μωριά was a 3 day road cycling event organised by the shop at the last weekend of May 2013. The plan was to pass through some of the most beautiful and scenic routes of Peloponnesse, South Greece. There was a lot of climbing and lot of crazy fun riding, a bit of competitiveness, camp vibes by the sea and ancient temples. Apres-bike, the nicest memory was eating together at the end of each day as one big companionship.”

Photo by Kevin Edward Brown of Yonder Journal

I know I’ve already talked a lot about this bike, but I still can’t get over how much fun the State of Jefferson Brovet was last month. One of the reasons it was enjoyable was because of the equipment I used. There’s a lot to be said about the traditional randonneur events, all of which will not be discussed here. This is more a reflection on a ride that could have been hell for me, had I not planned accordingly.

After bonking and consequently pulling out of the second Brovet, due to a lack of adequate planning, I wasn’t going to let that happen on the latest ride. The stats were heavy. 250 ish miles and around 20,000′ in a day and a half was a big undertaking, especially with the weather fluctuations that you experience in California altitudes.

Check out more below.

This is the eighth layout of the 2013 PiNP Calendar, entitled “Live to Shred”. The camera, lens used and location are noted on the bottom left of the document.

The atavistic urge to play is inherent in all animals. From the porpoise, to the antelope and even your standard issue dirt rider, shredding is part of their daily routine. Sometimes, we just need a friendly reminder…

Right Click and Save Link As – 2013 PiNP Calendar: August

Cyclist Mike Cotty is about to embark on a personal journey. He’s planning on riding 666 kilometers of the French Alps from Evian Les Bains to Nice. In doing so, he must traverse 17 mountain passes. Yes, those passes: Télégraphe, Col de la Colombière, Galibier, Madeleine, Glandon, Croix de Fer, Vars, Izoard, Bonette and Madone. In doing so, he’ll have an elevation gain of 16,000 metres.

Yikes. But hey, that’s pretty fuckin’ metal. Talk about the Mountains of Madness…

Rapha‘s Strava challenges are always a lot of fun. Ever look to see what the competitors are riding? Personally, I always enjoy clicking on the leader’s stats and seeing where they rode and what kind of elevation they can hit on their home turf. For the Rapha Rising 2013, people came out of the woodwork:

“30,841 riders worldwide took to the hills and mountain roads as part of the eight-day Rapha Rising Challenge. The challenge, in conjunction with Strava, was to climb the combined height of the Alpe d’Huez, Peyresourde, Ventoux and Col de Sarenne. A total of 7, 235m was the target but, of course, many went above and beyond that figure.”