Dimension of the Blackest Dark
Clark here. Bike zombie apocalypse here at ground zero, Union Square. Send supplies. The UN denied our request for aid. I have seen the heart of darkness, it is cold. Tell my family I love them.
Archive for the Japan category
Wintertime, Hibernation, and Survival.
Luminaries passing, riots and disaster in far-flung countries, and biting cold- another week passes in our quiet “post-industrial” metropolis. Here at OPEN, busily bustling away in the basement, we sometimes miss all of the chaos occurring at or above ground level.
In a dizzying turn of events, OPEN will be moving locations next month to become Sherman Cafe’s newest neighbor. We’re excitedly planning a fresh new build-out and cozy little storefront and looking forward to even-easier access to Union Square’s finest coffee and sandwiches. Chorus Gallery is going to be homeless for a bit, but a new benevolent conglomerate has been birthed and we’re looking forward to seeing the staggering variety of projects that will come from it.
Along with all of the exciting new initiatives, we continue to hunt for the finest products for your non-conspicuous cycling-related consumption.
Dana over at Recluse whipped by on his enviable Zunow last week and dropped off some of his newest creations. Seen here are his new updated tool roll with a hand-waxed construction ($25) and a nice assortment of his custom top tube pads ($30). And yes, that is the hotly anticipated re-released Campagnolo “peanut butter” 15mm wrench, all a-bling. $44 and it feels like love.
That blank spot on your wall where your compartmentalized record of 2009 used to hang is the perfect place to put the 2010 Thought You Knew calendar. Benefiting the Chicago Women’s Health Center, these calendars (featuring your choice of gender posed along with their bikes) feature some pro photography and pretty people. They also help you figure out what day it is and prevent the forgetting of loved ones’ birthdays.
We also keep some actual bike parts and accessories around. Popular this winter: Izumi chains, (bushingless techno-wizardry from the Isle of Japan, $26-$90) Chain-L no.5, (winter-proof chain lube in the coolest bottle ever, $12) Seedssewn winter caps, (up-cycled materials and cutting edge style, made in Medford, $30) Vittoria Randonneur tires, (utterly indestructible urban tires with subtle tread and double flat protection, $30) Ironclad Cold Condition Waterproof gloves, (without equal and short money at $40) and the performance-boosting and elegantly “bobo” Phil Wood bearing upgrade for your winter Formula wheels ($8 per cartridge, a decent six-pack for the install).
We’re saving much of the really cool stuff for the new store. Fresh lugged steel from some coastal connects, handmade courier bags, and a slew of bike-lust inducing vintage parts are in the pipeline for our grand (re-)opening. Details to follow, or just pop by and catch up on the gossip.
The End is Just The Beginning…
So we’ve been working round the clock to get this build out complete and it’s so close we can taste it… or maybe that is the taste of sawdust and paint fumes lingering in the air and making us a bit light headed. As we put the final touches on the space and begin to see our vision gain more clarity with each new day we are hopped up on anticipation (and paint fumes).
Here are a few hints as to what you will find very soon when we “OPEN” to the world!
Greetings!
Hey everyone! Nothing better than writing my first post for Open, in the beautiful city of San Francisco. I flew in about four hours ago and took the train into downtown SF. I took a quick trip to my ‘hometown’ for lunch (Chinatown) and I am now sitting in a pretty baby blue hotel room waiting for octopist’s sisters to arrive from LA.
Here’s a picture of the lobby:
Currently, my experience in San Francisco has been positive. This city is nothing short of stunning! I almost forgot how it felt to have sun rays shine on your skin without having to worry that next week we will potentially be getting a 16 foot snow storm. I definitely give shout-outs to everyone who lives here, because the hills are……well…you know…STEEP. Considering Boston is a moderately flat city with a couple of inclines here and there.
I’ll post pictures up later after I’ve had some more time to explore. As for now, one small seed magazine has recently issued a couple of articles discussing “world wide cycling culture”. In the magazine they feature Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Japan and an interview with Mike Martin from MASH SF. Go check it out here.
(Link via HKFixed, photo via One Small Seed)
Nitto Non-stop
I’ve been drooling over these B259 stainless Nitto risers for the last month….
The good folk at Nitto aren’t resting on their laurels, however. Cyclope, an excellent Parisian boutique, has some nice pics of Japan’s latest capped & stainless bullhorn offerings. I really dig those micro-horns- they’d make some cool minimalist cruiser bars flipped around. On this side of the pond, I’ve only seen them at Ben’s Bike. About $140- start saving your coppers….
Fixion and Osaka Tony
I can’t put my finger on why Osaka Tony’s part was dropped from the Fixion movie. As you can see, this guy is busting some real crazy stuff. If anyone has a copy or access to the DVD, I need one!
Festive Holiday Footage From Osaka
I can’t think of a better way to spend the Holidays!
Happi Horidei from NZNZman on Vimeo.
