Happenings

As CremaCycles rolls on for 2011, we have a lot happening to include our own Short Track Series that has started to take on a life of its own. Originally we had planned four events, then Bike Magazin came along and asked us to add a fifth at their Bike Festival in Willingen, of course we couldn't rufuse. This coming weekend is the second round of the series at FeldTest in Leipzig. Good reason for me to go an visit one of my favorite cities in Europe, not too mention we will be demoing some of our IF's up there.

We have set up a 'micro-site' around the series and for future events, CremaCross has all of the info one needs to get in on the STXC 2011 and be looking for more events in the future!

Another event we are helping put on is the Freiburg Collective on May 7 & 8 in the southern part of Germany. It will be an outdoor exhibition focusing on handmade bike, components and apparel. The will be a myriad of activities and events surrounding this great weekend in the Black Forest to include demos, Rapha Road Ride, guided mountainbike rides, evening exhibition and of course our Short Track race - which may be the most challenging of the series. We will also be giving away a coveted start place to this year's Critical Dirt stage race.

Besides putting on our own events we will be hitting several other festivals, races, events and shows this year.

Bavarian Riviera

Cross bike out the door from my house, over picturesque farm roads, through villages being drenched by sunshine - ah, spring! Rolled over the foothills to the Alps, the hills were glowing an emerald green, before beginning my ascent up the Vilstal direction Tannheimer Tal. The climb was playful full of short sharp ascent and descents, winding with the river through the valley, gaining overall altitude at a conservative pace. In the shadows it was moist to where the cross tires sounded like tearing velcro, and even met some snow along the way. On my final ascent I was met by a nearly 1km long snow field, partly rideable the other part requiring 'cross shoulder carry. Up the last steep pitch was a fight against gravity, mud and snow. Once over the top, an aw-inspiring snow covered Alp panorama greeted me as the warmth of the sun was my companion rolling down the other side into the valley of Tannheim. Scurrying along the valley floor, my bike was aimed towards Graen, a light ascent the whole way, the back roads sometimes were covered by the remains of a nordic season that has slowly disappeared. I even road a section of groomed trail that was somewhere between ice and a slush cone, a section on which I could actually get really motoring down. In Graen, made left and turned back towards Germany, as fast mountain road descent that sent spray up from the occassional snow melt streams that criss-crossed the road way.

Back in the Freistaat, I started exploring new back roads weaving together a sweet rolling route of pave, gravel and even double track through the fields back to Fuessen.

Yes it was a good day.

Annette's SSR & Paul's Ti Deluxe

Here is our most recent builds, the first an amazing looking SSR for one of our lady customers. Rapha inspired paint, Enve road fork, Campa SR11, Lightweight wheels, Thomson stem and post make for the perfect accessories to the Columbus XCr frame.

 

Next up is Paul's Ti Deluxe, a solid mix of SRAM XO, Fox Talas, Chris King, Thomson and a custom Ti bar.

This Ti Deluxe is so svelt with the polished logos, blasted finish and nice blue highlights courtesy the King, Nokon, crankbrothers and Fox anno bits. The Fox Talas provides some versatility to the ride, 90 mm for around Paul's home in Belgium and a full 120mm for when he hits the Alps in the summer.

Thanks guys, enjoy your rides!

Groove

Mother King

Now Serving

After a solid winter of snow, skiing and playing I am ready for a small sampling of spring followed up by a healthy course of summer. My recent trip to NAHBS in Austin only furthered my hunger for a warmer climate change, as I basked in the warm sun while soaking in mid-70's temps. It was a feast for the eyes and soul what all of the frame builders there were dishing out. Anyone who believes that handmade bikes are lagging in technical advances need not look further than what was on display in Austin. A broad swath of builders were showing off all sorts of ideas: integrated headsets, internal routing (even disc brake routing), disc brake cross bikes, mixing of materials and advancement of materials - it was all there. No doubt why some of the bigger companies like Mavic, Easton, Enve had booths there and why I saw reps from many other big names roaming the show as well.

Part of my mission was to introduce 3T to the world of frame building and to show off some products I have been helping them with. We were showing builders the new disc-cross fork and the new Ergoterra cross specific bar, talked about the new 29er fork along with many other of 3T's vast offerings.

Back home I was quickly getting ready for the following weekend in Berlin, our first show of the season and the first stop on the STXC series. The show was a big success, lots of visitors, interest in Crema & IF. We showed off some new wears we did with Biciclista, soon available in our online shop.



The short track was very well received as we had a very cool and funky indoor/ outdoor track in Berlin. Riders started in the show halls rode outdoors through some whoops, some dirt ups and downs, then back inside for a trip down some stairs, through the halls around an indoor pump track to complete the lap. SofaKing (aka Arne Thoma) rocked the field fresh off winning the CCC Dresden Cross Cup to take the win with Stefan Geiss (Nicolai) and Stijn (Stijn Cycles) in tow.

We served up some of our great espresso all weekend over conversations of the coming year. Everyone is definitely ready for more, I say serve it up!