Danny MacAskill What?
Boundgear posted this up on the bostonfixed forums… thanks dude, it made my jaw drop!
Archive for April, 2009
Inside Geekhouse
Over the past few months we exposed Marty to more process edits of the It Ain’t That Serious video than anyone else, so naturally we saw this coming. Three weeks ago, Stebs loaded the basket on his WTP BMX with a Sony Z7U and tore up the 4 blocks between his house and the Geekhouse shop. After nearly 12 hours behind the camera and a few more editing Marty’s mitering, welding and ’stash twisting, Stebs formatted this:
Geekhouse Movie from Geekhouse Bikes on Vimeo.
We premiered this video during our Grand Opening party, simply because we love Party Marty, his work and ll of the great projects we’re doing together. Marty has been working his tail off this winter, getting the shop fully stocked with every machine a frame builder may or may not need – so he deserves a congrats. The Geekhouse website has also gotten a refresh, showcasing a few new frames and some brighter-than-life colors! Check the new Geekhouse site and then go say hello to Stebs through his site, ILoveQP.
The Times is Changing…
That is correct, the Times is changing. Two or three years ago the New York Times was publishing articles about hybrid vehicles and improved public transportation, now it’s Dutch Bicycles, three-piece suits and wool cycling jerseys.
With all of this fresh press has come fresh criticism – some of which I am a bit a bothered by. So, my response: Anyone stating that these articles are nothing but an attempt to turn cycling into a fashion show and a promotion to the well-to-do is absolutely close-minded. Anything that promotes riding a bicycle is good in my book, whether its riding a Traitor in cut-off Dickies and Vans or a Dutch bicycle in tailored trousers and Sidi’s. To each his own; convert a basement find or call Independent Fabrications – at the end of the day, it all takes self-motivation and two wheels. I have come to accept the fact that as the popularity of a subject increases, so does the criticism – its an unfortunate habit of pop culture. However, this isn’t a heavily charged topic, we are talking about bicycles, just bicycles! It should be considered one of America’s pasttimes, after all, for most, it is a nostalgia of childhood.
If you didn’t catch yesterdays article in the NYT, Riding the IT Factor, I suggest should read it. The article is focused around the WWII-era Dutch Bicycle, something that we and the rest of Somerville are quite fond of. My only real gripe with the article is a statement that attorney James Vicente made, “I never ride with a helmet either, even when people are telling me I’m an idiot. Riding a bike should be normal, and you shouldn’t have to wear a funny Styrofoam hat.” I don’t really know what to say about his comment, except that anyone who thinks wearing a helmet alienates you from the cycling norm has probably hit the pavement one too many times. The ostensibly well-educated attorney was also discredited after the article noted he rides a fixed-conversion, and then quoting him saying, “Juxtapose that (the dutch bicycle) with the most fashionable bikes in New York now, the fixed-gear bikes, which are really impractical.” I completely disagree with the statement that the fixed-gear bicycle is impractical, but we’ll save that conversation for another time.
If you missed the April 2, 2009 article, In These Clothes, You Can Go Far, it provides a good look into Rapha. With all of this said, it is great to see publications such as the NYT investing resources and time into cycling, anything that promotes riding a bicycle is good in my book. Now Go Ride Your Bike!
In The Mail…
Today was a busy day; we sold a couple of vintage Campy shirts (among other things), did a pile of repairs and a load of folks stopped by to check out the space, or ‘Creative Basement’ as Clarence has dubbed it.
I just got around to opening mail and packages, which seem to be coming more frequently. My boy Liam at Burton sent down this US Open hoodie to congratulate & celebrate the shop opening – god knows I love purple & gray! If you happened to catch any of the Vermont / Stowe foliage shots in the last issue of Cog Mag, Liam was a part of the shoot. (Sorry, I couldn’t find any of the photos on Blotto’s site!) I also happened to be up there (without bike) for the annual Jake Burton party that weekend, and witnessing track bikes on the overpass just before winter set in makes riding there next fall an absolute must. Thanks Liam – see you in a few weeks, can’t wait to ride!
No Boys Allowed.
Having attended some of the Paint Pens in Purses events over the past year, I think its time to share this awesome artistic concept with the cycling community. A little over a year ago I met Shayna at a gallery opening, not knowing that she doubled as illustrator/artist Shayna Shenanigans and was the driving brain behind P/P/P. Shayna’s illustrations cover subjects such as fuzzy animals, clowns, scary flowers and household appliances – you know, the normal stuff.
Across the globe, the “urban arts” circuit has been predominantly male driven, however in Boston things are run a bit different. The Paint Pens in Purses series plays by a no-nonsense, no-boys-allowed rule – meaning all females, all the time. For the last few events, artist & LAB co-owner Kim Harris has been working alongside Shayna to help grow the P/P/P movement, which is growing strong. Kim helped shine some national-light on the series by hooking up a sponsorship with our favorite marker company, Sharpie!
I was inspired to write this little article because the ladies have an upcoming show (flyer above) at the recently closed Marty’s Liquors in Allston – thats right kids, no more beer runs to Marty’s. They will be hanging work in the windows along Harvard Avenue next Tuesday, April 21 sometime around 5pm, so be sure to check it out. Shayna is curating the event and Kim will be showing work alongside locals such as tofusquirrel, Silver Oris, Nineta, and another pal of ours, Morgan Thomas. For you cyclists, rumor has it that the female half of octoPIST-n-SKquID will be hanging a piece or two.
If you want to get involved with the Paint Pens in Purses crew, email Shayna or Kim and tell them we sent you!
If you want to get involved with the Paint Pens in Purses crew, email Shayna or Kim and tell them we sent you!
Do You Know Good Music?
Our man Clarence (DYKC) does. He dropped by this afternoon for lunch and brought us something to spin on the turntable. The Menahan Street Band “…is a collaboration of musicians from Antibalas, El Michels Affair, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Budos Band. The group was brought together by musician/producer Thomas Brenneck to record in the bedroom of his Menahan St. apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.” One track on this disc, “Make the Road by Walking,” was famously sampled by another Brooklyn native, Jay-Z, for his hit “Roc Boys.”
The smooth sounds emanating from the speakers are a perfect complement to the laid-back but creative and focused vibe here at OPEN. Like DYKC says, music for “grown-ass people.” Thanks, Clarence!
Grand OPENing Recap
This last Saturday, Zack, myself, and an awesome crew of helpers officially welcomed the public into OPEN’s newly-renovated space in Union Square, Somerville. We cleaned the place up, hung the gallery, chilled the beers, polished the bikes, and made some spoke cards:
Early in the evening, the shop began to fill up- locals, racers, friends, couriers, frame builders, artists, out-of-towners, and a few dogs mingled amidst the shiny components and locally-crafted bicycles.
The latest custom fillet-brazed steed from Icarus:
3RRR owner and artist Nao Tomii:
A bit after 7pm, the enormous raw steel door that separates OPEN from the Chorus Gallery was raised. The gallery’s inaugural show, “Keep it Down,” is a new exhibition from local photographer Justin J. Keena that showcases the artist’s past and current work via a diverse range of study, and the public seemed to be enjoying the new space and the evocative photographs:
Shortly after the gallery opening, the video kicked off. There were a few technical hitches, but our man Jon knocked out some quick technical debugging and the show began, with people covering the floors, stairs, and furniture.
A short film we produced last winter started the series, followed by another short that showcased a day in the life of Geekhouse builder Marty Walsh. (Both films were shot and edited by local videographer Steve “Stebs” Shinnerer of Quarter Productions.) The Boston premier of Macaframa followed- the hi-def shots of smooth riding in warm air got everyone hyped up for spring. The movies went over well with the crowd and the party began in earnest. Dom, Maggie, and Stebs held down the bar:
Free Narragansett, Fisherman’s Brew, and Redbull & Vodkas kept the kids happy and everyone took turns playing records, dancing, and generally cutting loose:
We had a wonderful time, met a bunch of great people, and saw many friends we haven’t seen for the last 4 months as we’ve been building the shop. More events are planned for the near future- we’ll post info as it becomes available. Thanks to all that helped out and supported us; we couldn’t have done it without you!
Photo credits go out to Kirsten Tamme! (Yes, we gave Justin Keena the night off..)
