It’s been a while since we released a new Vanilla team kit. We’ve been focused on building some great bicycles and gathering inspiration for the clothing. Well, it happened and we’re so excited about the result. Read on and check out the images for more info.

You can get to the order page by clicking on any item below or follow this link.

The origins of this new Vanilla kit are anchored somewhere between the 60′s and 2013. Or, more precisely, a combination of both.I’m a sucker for beautiful colors and simplicity of design. It’s so easy to do too much and when you factor in the modern technology of graphics sublimation there’s no limit to what one can shoehorn onto their kit.

Back in the day team names and sponsor logos were either embroidered on, or patches were sewn/ironed on. What you ended up with were very blocky and fairly standard fonts. Colors were mostly limited to big chunks of the jersey i.e. side panels, maybe arm bands, or complete sleeves. A panel across the chest was common. There was a lot of variation from team to team, but the common thread (ignore the pun) was that the apparel of each team was reflective of the time and a product of the available technology. Machines were basic (cars were made of formed steel sheets and you could look under the hood and identify each part of the engine). Materials were basic, (wool was common) and the aesthetic was, as a result, more pure. Maybe we’re desensitized now and we need a lot more of everything to entertain us, including lots of names, nebulous shapes and fades on our bike clothing. Or maybe we just had to push and push until we found the edge – and then we have to come back from the edge to a place that is good and tasteful.

We’ll be doing two base colors for tops: Cream and Navy Blue and then navy base colors for Bibs, Wind & Thermal Vests and Arm Warmers. You can see drawings of these options below.

Despite using modern materials and construction for the new Vanilla Team kit, I wanted to retain the purity of the good old days. The hard man days. The forging things with your hands days. The colors are vivid and true to Vanilla’s pallette. The design’s not challenging; its easy to understand and it’ll be easy to wear. And though you can’t tell in the drawing, we’ll be doing our own stainless Vanilla headbadge zipper pull as well as other craft touches to infuse these garments with the specialness that you expect from our workshop.

p.s. A hand-made, matchy-matchy cap and a few other tasty morsels that tie in with this collection will follow shortly. Keep your eyes peeled.

Leave It On The Road

The adventure is about to begin for Michael Tabtabai & Andrew Hudon. Not their first but certainly their most ambitious. The two will depart Monday from the Oregon Coast headed to Massachusetts. Along the way they’ll be raising awareness and funds for colon cancer screening and research. You can contribute to their goal here.

Both have had loved ones affected by cancer and this endeavor is an opportunity to celebrate them and their courage.

The Vanilla Workshop is excited to have had the opportunity to build the bikes that will carry them on their journey. We hope you enjoy following along with the great stories and photography from the ride and that you support their mission.

For Michael and Andrew’s custom Speedvagen cancer fighting machines we paired our Vanilla blue with LIOTR’s blue and a pop of red. The gold King components add just the right bling!

As with all Speedvagen road and cross machines the seat mast is cut to the specific height of the rider. So there’s no confusion when they roll out on day 15 at 5:00am for another 150 miles, we’ve added their names to the top tubes.

Michael and Andrew are very good at recognizing and taking care of their sponsors. Here we have called each of them out on the chain stay as a special Thank You for their support.

Ready to Rock!

The Vanilla Workshop crew with Michael Tabtabai and his new cancer fighting machine!

Gentle Lovers will have a lot of great stuff too!

 Sale starts Friday at 4pm at our shop in Portland, OR. First Come, First Served. All sales are final. Items that do not sell Friday may be posted for sale here on Monday.

BOTTOM BRACKETS
Shimao D-A, 7900 English, hollow tech II new $65.00
Sram external cups, English, red Sram crank adaptor new $20.00
Shimano Ultegra 6700, grey, English, hollow tech II new $40.00
Sram Grey, English, for Sram crank new $30.00
Chris King Red, English, for Shimano Crank used $85.00
Shimano D-A 7800, English, hollow tech II used $10.00
Phil Wood Stainless spindle, english thread 112mm New $100.00
Shimano Ultegra 6500 Octalink V2, Italian, 118.5 new $15.00
bushings FSA Crank bearing bushings new
dust cap Phil Wood Outboard bearing medium dust cap new
BB Cups Phil Wood BB cup set, Italian 36 mm x 24 tpi new $10.00

BRAKES
Disc Brakes Hope Hydraulic w/ rotors used $35.00

BRAKE LEVERS
Cane Creek Aero Road Break lever set w/ black hoods new $25.00

CHAINS
Shimano Dura-ace, 10 speed new $40.00
Sram 8 speed new $18.00
Sram single speed new $15.00
KMC 3/32nd inch new $15.00

CRANK SET new
Shimano CX70, 10 speed 172.5, 46/36 t new $185.00

FORKS
Edge red, carbon 43mm rake, 250mm steerer new $250.00
Enve grey, carbon 2.0, 43mm rake, 232mm steerer new $250.00
Alpha Q CX20 Evil Kenivil, uncut new $350.00
Kinesis Kinesis Carbon road (blue) 330mm used $15.00
Reynolds Reynolds UL Carbon road (white with cute reflective heart) 245mm used $25.00
Alpha Q CX20 cut steerer 225mm long. SV team colors 2008 225 mm Used $100.00
Vanilla 29er disc, Fillet Brazed Unicrown 1 1/8″, non susp. corrected used $75.00
Alpha Q Custom 650 B Carbon Fiber, mustard yellow, cantilever brakes 1 1/8″ steerer, eyelits for fenders used $75.00
Vanilla Custom steel cyclocross fork, cantilever brakes, unpainted 1 ” steer tube, 200 mm, cantilever brakes used $60.00
unknown red steel, single eyelit used $5.00

FREEWHEELS/CASSETTES
CSST Shimano Shimano XT 750 csst 12.32 used $5.00
CSST Campagnolo Record, 10s 13-26 new $250.00
CSST Campagnolo Record 9s, full titanium 11–23 used $85.00
CSST Campagnolo Centaur 10s 13-26 new $100.00
CSST Shimano Dura-Ace 10s 11–25 new $170.00
CSST Shimano Ultegra 10s 11–28 new $65.00
CSST Shimano Ultegra 9s 11–21 new $15.00
CSST Campagnolo Centaur 10s 13–26 new $100.00
CSST COG Chris King Single speed cog, stainless steel 10–2 new $45.00
CSST COG Chris King Single speed cog, aluminum 16–2 new $35.00
CSST COG Chris King Single speed cog, aluminum steel 17–2 used $10.00
FIXED COG Phil Wood Track cog, stainless steel 1/8″ used $10.00
Freewheel ACS/Claws FW 22t (3/32) new $15.00

DERAILLEURS
Shimano Ultegra 6700, front, 10 speed brazz on, top pull, bottom swing new $45.00
Shimano Ultegra 6700, front w/ clamp 31.8, top pull, bottom swing new $45.00
Shimano xtr 961, front w/clamp, 31.8, bottom pull, bottom swing used $100.00
Shimano D-A 7703, front, triple, 9 speed Brazz on, top pull, bottom swing used $100.00
Shimano xtr 960, front w/ clamp 31.8, bottom pull, top swing new $100.00
Campagnolo chorus, front, 10 speed, Brazz on, top pull, bottom swing new $80.00
Campagnolo chorus, front, 11 speed w/ clamp 31.8, top pull, bottom swing new $80.00
Sram red, front, Brazz on w/ clamp (24.9?), top pull, bottom swing new $65.00
Sram red, front, Brazz on, top pull, bottom swing new $65.00
Campagnolo record Compact Triple titanium, 10 speed Brazz on, top pull, bottom swing used $120.00

FENDERS
Honjo set, smooth with two grooves 700 x 45 new $55.00
Honjo set, smooth 700 x 35 new $55.00
Honjo front, smooth 700 x 35 new $25.00
Honjo set, hammered 700 x 45 new $55.00
Honjo set, hammered 700 x 35 new $55.00
Honjo rear, hammered 700 x 35 new $30.00
SKS rear only 700 x 35 new $8.00
HANDLE BARS
n/a Steel Cruiser HBar used $3.00
Raleigh Steel Drop HBar 26 clamp, 36 width used $3.00
Shimano Pro Stealth Evo, bar stem 42cm x 120 mm new $350.00
Edge Carbon traditional drop bar 31.8, 42 cm new $175.00
Nitto Model 177, alloy drop bars 46cm width, 26.0 new $35.00
Nitto Model 185, alloy drop bars 44 cm width, 26.0 new $35.00
Nitto Model 177, alloy drop bars 42 cm width, 26.0 new $35.00
Nitto Mustache, alloy 26.0 clamp new $35.00
Nitto B123 Track Steel, NJS Certified 26.0 clamp, 42 cm width new $35.00
Salsa Bell lap, black alloy 26.0 clamp, 48 cm width new $15.00
Salsa Poco, anatomic drop bar, 26.0 clamp, 42 cm width new $15.00

HEADSETS
Campagnolo Record silver 1 ” threadless used $20.00
Chris King Black 1 1/8″ threadless used $40.00

HUBS
Chris King Classic, Shimano, dark brown with custom paint (aqua blue) 10 speed, rear, 28 H new $225.00
Chris King Classic, dark brown with custom paint (aqua blue) front, 28 H new $125.00
Chris King Classic, custom paint, matte black finish w/ white and blue center stripe front, 28 H new $125.00
Chris King Classic, black Shimano rear, 32 H, 10 speed new $250.00
Chris King Classic/CX, silver Front, 28 H new $140.00
Phil Wood Wheelchair hubs, polished 20 H new $150.00
Phil Wood “Track”, silver, high flanged w/ lock ring rear, 32 H new $150.00
Phil Wood “Track”, silver, high flanged front, 32 H new $125.00
Shimano Generator hub 32 H new $115.00
Shimano Generator hub, Disc Compatible 36 H New $95.00

PEDALS
Shimano M324, cage/clipless, SPD new $45.00
Crank Bros. Candy SL (mint color) used $40.00
Shimano BMX platform new $40.00
Shimano SPD used $10.00

RIMS
Enve Misc. Depths and drillings new
Mavic Open Pro, Clincher, black 700 c, 28 H, MSW new $60.00
Mavic Open Pro, Clincher, silver 700 c, 32 H, MSW new $60.00

SADDLE
Selle Italia Flite w/ Leopard cover used $5.00
Selle Italia 100% carbon prototype new $150.00
Fizik ARIONE CX, white and gold (Speedvagen Team Edition) carbon rail new $200.00
Fizik ANTARES, white and gold (Speedvagen Team Edition) carbon rail new $200.00
Fizik ANTARES, white and gold (Speedvagen Team Edition) kium rail new $90.00
Brooks B17 lace-up Brown used $70

SEATPOST
FSA Kforce Lite 27.2 x 250mm 35mm setback new $50
USE Sumo 27.2 x 300 5mm setback new $75
Shimano Pro Vibe Carbon 27.2 x 330 25mm setback new $50
Truvativ XR 26.8 x 330 10mm setback? new $15
Thomson Masterpiece Black 27.2 x 330mm zero setback new $80
Thomson Elite Black 32.4 x 367mm zero setback new $50
Thomson Elite Black 27.2 x 410 zero setback New $45
Thomson Elite Silver (no hardware) 27.2 x 250zero setback New $20
Thomson Elite Silver (no hardware) 27.2 x 250 zero setback New $20
Nitto Dynamic 27.2 Used $30
Dimension 27.2

STEMS
Vanilla ***history*** threadless, unpainted 1 ” 130mm x-12 1″ steerer 25.4 bar new $125.00
Kelly Custom Fillet brazed 1″, 120mm x -17 degrees ? used $15.00
Vanilla 1″ stem (no quill) 90 x -5 degrees used $25.00
Nitto Technomic 1″ quill 90 x -17 new $25.00
Nitto Technomic 1″ quill 110 x -17 new $25.00
Vanilla Black, with red/ stainless Vanilla emblem 1 1/8, 26.0 bar clamp. 125mm x +8 deg new $150.00
3T ARX team -6 x 120 new $40.00
3T ARX team Painted Titanium silver -17 x 110 New $50.00
TIRES
Continental Speed Tubulars, knobby 700 x 35 new $35
Challenge Grifo Tubulars, knobby 700 x 32 used $10
WTB Moto Raptor, knobby 29 x 2.1 used $10
Michelin Pro2 Race Tires 650 X 23 new $20
Michelin Jet, knobby 700 x 30 used $15
Tufo Flexus Tubular, knobby 700 x 32 used $15
Maxxis Raze, knobby 700 x 35 used $18
Challenge Limus, tubular, knobby, mud 700 x 33 new $75
Continental Competition tubulars 700 x 23 new $75
Michelin Pro 3 Race, Clincher 700 x 23 new $35
Challenge Grifo tubulars, knobby 700 x 33 new $75
Challenge Strata, black/tan sidewall 700 x 25 new $50
Challenge Paris-Roubaix, black/tan 700 x 27c new $50
Vittoria Open Corsa Evo cx, black. Clincher 700 x 23 new $45
Continental Grand prix, 4000 s, black 700 x 23 new $45
Continental Grand Prix, 4000 s, black 700 x 25 new $45
Continental Grand Prix 4 Season, black 700 x 28 new $45
Schwalbe Big apple, black 26 x 2.0 new $30
Schwalbe Big apple, black 700 x 2.35 new $30
Michelin Country (City/touring tire) 26 x 1.25 new $15
Nokian studded 650B x 40mm new $55
misc. used 26″, 20″, & 12″ used 3 to 10

WHEELSETS
Shimano D/A, WH-7850, carbon,10 speed, tubular 35mm, 700c new $950.00
Edge carbon tubular w/ Chris King classic hubs, gold, 10 speed, w/ funbolts 68mm used $950.00
DT Swiss/Chris King Open Pro/Chris King Classic, silver rims, black hubs 32 H used $240.00

Framebuilding Tools and Materials

TOP TUBE
True Temper Hox platinum 28.6, 7/4/7, 620 length new $15.00
True Temper Hox gold 28.6 76/4/6, 645 length new $15.00
True Temper S3 Aero teardrop shape 28/36, 530 length new $20.00
Columbus Life Aero Downtube (already mitered) 34.9 new $15.00
SEAT TUBE
Columbus Zona External Butt 8/6/1.2, 650 length new $20.00
True Temper S3 28.6, 620 length new $30.00
True Temper S3 28.6, 525 length new $30.00
DOWN TUBE
Deda Zero 38 mm, 6/4/6, 660 Length new $25.00
FORK BLADE
Deda Uno cut $5.00
True Temper FB2 Oval cut $5.00
Columbus Max fork blade cut $10.00
CHAIN STAY
Deda Uno 30/17 Oval used
Columbus Muscle carbon rear end includes drops, bb and SS sleeve $150.00
SEAT STAY
Seat Stay Columbus Zona, Oval, s bend 19/12, 12 mm tip $20.00

LUGS, CROWNS & BB SHELLS
Columbus Max Crown $20.00
Misc cast crowns $10.00
Strawberry Cast wishbown joint new $10.00
seat stay plugs new $5.00
Split stops split stops, steel 6mm? new $8.00

TOOLS
Sander Caliber vertical spindle sander 1/2 HP used $45.00
Sander Craftsman belt & disc sander 4 x 6 “, 1/3 HP used $15.00
Scale Sunbeam freightmaster 150 Electronic Scale used
Salsa size-o-matic II, adjustable stem-fitting used $20.00
Jig Bicycle engineering water bottle cage drilling jig used $25.00
Assorted small hand tools wrenches, drill bits, pliers, screwdrivers, etc. used
Paterek Allignment Gauge for allignment table used $100.00

APPAREL
Rapha Speedvagen Team softshell in red $280.00
Vanilla Misc older design and blem tshirt 3 for 30 $15.00
Vanilla Jerseys $60.00
Vanilla Bibs and shorts $60
Speedvagen Jerseys $130
Speedvagen Bibs $140
Speedvagen
Speedvagen Skinsuit 185
Speedvagen red cap 10
Speedvagen Team Cap 25
Speedvagen socks 3 for 30 15
Speedvagen “Speewagen” blems 3 for 15 8
Speedvagen Utility Sign blems 25
Speedvagen Waterbottles 2 for 10 7
Speedvagen Pit Boots $65

BRAKE HOODS
Brake hood Hudz campy Year/ Model? (gum) new
Brake hood Hudz campy Year/model?(pink) new

BRAKE PADS (per brake)
Kool Stop Thinline, salmon threaded post new $6.00
Kool Stop Thinline, black threaded post new $6.00
Avid Rim Wrangler 2 threaded post, cartridge style new $5.00
Campignolo cartridge brake pads, no holder, road, black new $5.00
Shimano cartridge brake pads, no holder, road, black new $5.00
Sram/ Swissstop cartridge brake pads, no holder, road, black new $20.00
Swissstop yellow, no holder, for carbon rims fits campy new $20.00
Swissstop yellow, no holder, for carbon rims fits shimano new $20.00
Avid cartridge inserts, no holder for ‘V’ brakes new $5.00
Swissstop yellow, no holder, for carbon rims fits shimano used $20.00

CABLE HANGER
Problem Solvers Steerer Tube Mount w/ barrel adjuster, black 28.6 new $10.00
Problem Solvers Steerer Tube Mount w/ noodle, black 28.6 new $10.00
Problem Solvers Steerer Tube Mount w/ noodle, silver new $10.00

CHAINRINGS
Campy Record 10sp 53t 135 bcd new $45.00
Campy Centaur 10 sp 53-39 135 bcd new $40.00
Campy Record 11sp hard anno 53t 135 bcd new $75.00
Campy Centaur 10 sp 53t 135 bcd new $30.00
Sram Force 10sp Blk 53t 130 bcd new $15.00
Sram Force 10sp gray 53t 130 bcd new $15.00
Sram Red 10sp Gray 53t 130 bcd new $25.00
Sram Red 10sp Gray 50t 110 bcd new $15.00
FSA 10sp Blk 50t 130 bcd new $15.00
FSA 10sp Blk 53t 130 bcd new $15.00
FSA 10sp Blk 50t 110 bcd new $15.00
FSA 10sp Blk 34t 110 bcd new $5.00
FSA 10sp gray 34t 110 bcd new

Shimano 10sp ULT? 53t 130 bcd new $10.00
Shimano 9 and 10sp 53t 130 bcd used $3.00

Sugino 7,8,9sp 48t 130 bcd new $15.00
Sugino 7,8,9sp 46t 110 bcd new $5.00
Sugino 7,8,9sp 36t 110 bcd new

Dimension 7,8,9sp 45t 130bcd
Dimension 7,8,9sp 39t 110 bcd new $5.00
Dimension 7,8,9sp 34t 110 new $5.00

Salsa SS 34t 94 bcd
Spot Ring Guard Ring guard new $15.00

CLEATS
Look Keo cleats new $15.00
Shimano SPD Cleats new $3.00
Crank Bros Candy/ Egg beater $5.00
Time Mtn (one side only) $1.00

GRIPS/HANDLEBAR TAPE
Sram pitstop cork bar wrap, pink new $10.00
Sram pitstop cork bar wrap, black new $10.00
Deda cork bar wrap, red new $10.00
Deda cork bar wrap, white new $10.00
Fizik microtex tape white new $10.00
Cinelli white cork new $10.00
Cinelli black cork new $10.00
Brooks perferated leather bartape, green new $45.00
Ciclo Di Cuoio stiched leather bar wrap new $40.00
n/a cork handlebar grips, natural new $10.00
Oury handlebar grips, hot pink new $20.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best grip, track grips, black new $25.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best Grip, track grips, light blue new $25.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best Grip, track grips, dark blue new $25.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best Grip, track grips, clear new $25.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best Grip, track grips, white new $25.00
Champ Japanese track racing grips Best grip, track grips, transluscent blue new $25.00
Neumann’s cotton bar wrap light blue new $5.00
Neumann’s cotton bar wrap, black new $5.00
Neumann’s cotton bar wrap, yellow new $5.00
Neumann’s cotton bar wrap, brown new $5.00
Neumann’s cotton bar wrap, orange new $5.00
Benotto cellotape handlebar ribbon, black new $15.00
Benotto cellotape handlebar ribbon, white new $15.00

KICKSTANDS
Greenfield Single side $15.00
Greenfield Double side $25.00

MISC
chain master link Wippermann connex quick release master link, 10 speed, new $3.00
front derailer clamps Problem Solvers front derailer clamp adaptors, black 28.6 new $10.00

Pumps
Zephal HPX 43.5-47.5 new $15.00
Zephal HPX 48-53 new $15.00
Zephal Solibloc new $15.00
Planet Bike Roadie 51-55 new $15.00
Silca 46.5 – 48 new $5.00

RACK
Rack Old Man Mountain Rear touring rack , black 26″ and 700 , 60 lb limit new $35.00
Rack Blackburn Rear touring rack, black 700 c wheel new $25.00

SEAT BINDERS
Shimano QR Seat Binders used $2.00

SEAT COLLARS
Salsa liplock seat collar, silver 32mm new $15.00
Salsa liplock seat collar, silver 30 mm new $15.00
Salsa liplock seat collar, silver 28.6 mm new $15.00
Salsa liplock seat collar, black 30.0 mm new $15.00
Salsa liplock seat collar, black 28.6 mm new $15.00
Campagnolo seat collar, black 31.6-31.9 mm new $10.00
Problem Solvers seat collar, black 28.6 mm new $10.00

SHIMS
Dimension new

TOE CLIPS
A.L.E Euro Toe Clips. Red ano new $25.00
MKS Chrome toe clips *NJS* new $20.00
Brooks Toe Clip new $20.00
Cinelli Toe Clip new $20.00
TOE STRAPS
Toshi Red Suede *NJS* new $30.00
MKS White leather used $10.00
Dimension Black nylon $3.00

Toe Strap Buttons misc. $4.00

MISC
Water Bottle Elite Sartchari Aluminum Bottle new $10.00
Water Bottle Henry James Henry James Bottle new $2.00

WHEELBAGS
BAG Shimano single wheel bag used $2.00
BAG Mavic single wheel bag used $2.00
BAG DT Swiss single wheel bag very nice padded wheel bag $8.00

This is a three part story from Laura Winberry about the  Speedvagen CX Team’s trip to Japan last fall to race, share and learn with their teammates there. Part 1 

Part 2:

To begin to know the Japanese people you must understand their language. And while I do not claim to know a damn thing about either, I have deduced that the Japanese, aside from being one of the most endearing [people] ever, seem to have a word for everything. I like this. As a writer forever in search of ‘words to describe the indescribable, the intangible; words to pinpoint sentiment, emotion, things of the earth, breath,’ I like this. It both astounds and enlivens me to know a language has taken the time to sit with something as important as universal human sentiments and actually honor each with its own word. That tightness you get in your throat when you want to cry but don’t because you’re in public, I bet you there’s a word for it. That oceanic rush from your sacrum, through your navel, up into your chest and heart when you encounter something or someone so divine it takes your breath away, there’s a word for that. I’m sure of it.

Yugen is one of these words. I have yet to find an English equivalent for it, so if you find one, let me know. Used to describe the “subtle profundity of things,” Yugen is an important concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics. It suggests “that beyond what can be said but is not an allusion to another world.” Yugen is about this world and this experience, a wholly “profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the Universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering.” Whoa. Yugen is tits. It also happens to be one of the most fitting words to describe our entire ‘Speedvagen in Japan’ experience.

After the countryside was the lakeside. Lake Biwa, to be exact; the largest freshwater lake in all of Japan. Biwa is located a long, expensive sprinter van ride away from Minamimaki, in the Shiga Prefecture just northeast of the former capital and Buddhist temple laden city, Kyoto. Biwa’s origins are tectonic, making it one of the twenty oldest lakes in the world. It also boasts, until a more recent invasion by foreign fish, about fifty-eight endemic species. Biwa, to say the least, is an enigmatic body. It moves you. Even when you’ve just entered into a quarter mile slog of its [eastern] shore for the third time of many, a golden steed slung over your shoulder, labored breath drowning out the sound of sand in cassettes, cleats, teeth; mucus and salt dried onto your right cheek and disappearing down into underlayers, still, Biwa moves you. A glance over its vast hush, a brief thought of ancient Japanese Nessies just beneath its surface, then back to the clumpy sandbox before you. Yugen. Biwa has moved you. It has made you feel something real.

This is a three part story from Laura Winberry about the  Speedvagen CX Team’s trip to Japan last fall to race, share and learn with their teammates there.

Part 1:

I roll to a slow stop and my right leg swings back and over the saddle. My left foot unclips and waits for its partner to follow through before touching ground. Cuffed-up dark blue jeans reveal ankles, socks, slightly pigeon-toed feet easing into soil. Not just any soil. Japanese soil so rich and churned up I want to shove it in my mouth. Dark earth as tempting and as sensuous as wet coffee grounds. Soil so fucking tangible I can feel it settling into my fingerprints, nails, imperfect teeth. I take one conscious, full breath and wiggle the toes inside my carbon-soled shoes. Pretend I’m digging them into the vast black fields of Nagano.

Laura with Daisuke and Sacha in the Money Truck.

I rest my bike against a winter-bare tree, James Dean against a wall with a cig in his mouth. Its golden frame winks at any pretty little thing that walks by. I familiarize myself with the lay of the land: mountain folds, lines of cloud, mustang and foal. I hear the croon of a voice akin that of Dwight, Johnny, Merle, Reba.  My eyes search the weathered clapboard shacks. Moist nostrils, dark eyes, hay-strewn stalls. They naively decide they are in the very center of an anomaly: a literal Asian dude ranch—amidst the ever-folding Yatsugatake mountain range, inside the speck of an ancient Minamimaki farming village, within the prefecture of Nagano, in the center of the center of  Japan. The incongruity, of course, exists only in my own quietness. Japanese ranch hands, chaps, coiled rope, feathered and worn ten gallons, clinking spurs, Carhartt vests, western kicks. How small the mind can be. I am the anomaly here. I am the other. And with another full breath, the fog line waits patiently with hooves, brush, soil, while I take it all in.

Team Captain Tina Brubaker follows Laura through a turn in Nobeyama.

Altogether it’s a slow blur. Yet it each minute pulses with the certainty that we are very alive. I look at the range and how it folds in gradients. It never ends. I have air coming in through my nose and things beating inside my chest. They will end. I feel winter’s sun and the stark contrast of her solemn shadow. I am here and I fling myself through night air and into the unknown. I shift with the seasons. We all do. We are children of the wind. Everything chaos. Everything calm.

As a result of many factors I am here, on a dude ranch in Nobeyama, wearing bicycle shoes and staring back at horses and fields staring back at me. The most prominent of factor is a gentleman named Sacha White. Damn, we are all here together, in Japan, thanks to Mr. White. And Daisuke Yano, of course. Who else would so graciously open his home to a handful of dirty ‘cross racers who consume vast amounts of food, coffee, chocolate; who can’t comprehend ‘no shoes in the house’ as a rule; and who don’t know what an onsen is and why they can’t just take their own long, hot American showers. Right. Like I said, Daisuke and his family are making it happen. Without them we wouldn’t be here either.

Tina and Laura get a little trail riding in between races in Japan.

So here we are—fumbling Yanks, loud Aussies, the whole damn motley crew—attempting to assimilate an entire Japanese culture in two weeks flat. Not to mention race the piss out of our legs. Each of us with golden bicycles that mingle like rods of lightning: subtly, with striking grace and with the allure of all things silent and natural. Glowing frames that whisper our names in English and Katakana. Mud-dicing wheels that give a nod and a wink to the flags of two nations. A hand-crafted fleet, our torsos swathed in olive and green. Common ground, bare knees. Bare bones comprehension of a language at which we marvel.  And all the while, Mr. White stands wordless in some gritty transition pit. Buddha grin, honest eyes, grease black fingers. Tranquility. The calm in the center of a staged shitstorm that is cowbells, is beer, is clogged gears, cracked housing. Is foreign super-fans, loud noises. Indeed, this is ‘cross. And indeed, these are Speedvagen Racing Machines. The bikes and the individuals who ride them. But really, this is magic. This is cyclocross and Speedvagen on a freaking dude ranch in Japan.

Thursday afternoon, while Paige and I were away from the house, Louis Pierre, the world’s most terrible companion beast, found a bottle of peanut oil that we hadn’t unpacked yet, and ate a bunch of it.  He spread the remainder throughout the house, and just to be thorough, he stomped oily little footprints across all of the areas he had missed with his first bombing raid.  At some point during or after his attack on the house, he yarfed up a few slicks of oil mixed with almost digested kibble in my bike room, and he created a large mystery puddle in the john.

This is not really relevant to anything; I just wanted to make sure he was properly shamed on the internet.  The internet never forgets, Louis.

busted

Anyways, I’m back, and I missed this!

(more…)

If you would like to know about new apparel offerings, developments, deadlines and events feel free to sign up for Speedvagen Notes. Or, you can just check back here, that works too.

We are stoked to present this guest report from Jon Woodroof (@twotoneatl)! Jon is a dad, bike racer/commuter and entrepreneur in Atlanta, GA. We hope to have more from him and others this summer so stay tuned.

Roswell, GA | April 28th 2013 | CAT 3/4 Criterium

Oh man. Why the rain? This was literally my second ride on my Speedvagen. Freshly dialed & prepped with the PRO service from Chris at Loose Nuts Cycles. I was ready to ape it. Or was I?

After some debate of wether or not to brave the weather, I stepped up to stage for the CAT 3/4. Strategy: keep it cool & see how the race goes. And save some gas for the 2/3 I had also registered for.

The whole ‘keep it cool’ strategy is a common one for me. I never follow through with it. Mid-crit I jumped & tried to get away, having had some success with that in East Atlanta last year. (By some success, I mean getting away & getting reeled back in) That happened today as well. So I sat back in.

More pain face. I ended up back towards the front with 3 or 4 to go. Tempo ramped up but my cohorts weren’t keen to pull so I easily made it to the front & with some great encouragement from my trackie bud Nathaniel Rowe, we made an attack getting several seconds up. We took turns pulling for two laps. I made this face the whole time.

On the bell lap I went berserk. Suddenly realizing I could pull this off I ape’d it full power & brought it home. Second ride on the bike, first crit of the season & I managed a win. SO. STOKED. I decided to not push my luck with two rainy crits in one day & went home already looking forward to Sandy Springs.

[Photos courtesy Mike Waine]

Sandy Springs, GA | May 5th 2013 | CAT 2/3 Criterium

Fueled by my glory last week & mid week success at the track, I rolled up to the staging are for the CAT 2/3 race feeling great.

Sandy Springs’ route is known for the final sprint’s climb. It gets more brutal each lap & got the best of me this year! My instagram caption below sums it up:

Doh! The @SandySpringRace #SandySpringsCrit was a tough one. The 2/3 field had some heavy hitters driving the pace. I had ended up towards the back. Worked my way back mid pack. Then founds myself tail gun’n once again. With 15 to go I got pulled. Bummer! Shout out to @rualrite for an impressive win. Looks like @danchabanov was right. ; ) Congrats to you guys on a solid #speedweek!

Lessons learned? My first two races on my Speedvagen span the spectrum of highs and lows on the bike: winning & getting dropped. I’m lucky to have such a reliable steel steed to carry me through the ups & downs of racing & training. Not to mention turn a few heads in the process. The bike felt exceedingly stiff compared to the alloy rig I rode previously. It is a great feeling to go toe to toe in competition with such a unique bike. It spurs confidence & is an honor to own such an amazing piece of craftsmanship. More reports to come!

Jon Woodroof | twotoneatl.com

Just in time for Summer! You can find the new Speedvagen caps at the Vanilla Workshop.

These caps are 100% cotton and made in the USA. They have a traditional bill and classic Euro-style 8-panel construction with cotton twill tape inside. The sublimated ribbon matches our team kit and says ‘Speedvagen Integrated’ with our unicorn on it to add a little magic.