Quick & Dirty

Threatening weather chased me into Leipzig while on my way to our second Feld Test with the BDO crew. Leipzig left a remarkable impression on me from my last visit so I was eager to go back and see the city and some of the people who I know there. Plus this was sort of a prelude to the Critical Dirt coming this summer, so there was lots of business to tend to.

Promptly stretching legs after five hours of road time, we rolled our demo fleet into the shop for a little preview of the rides we brought along for demoing. Guys and gals in the shop flocked around and we all geeked out on bikes for a while. Beer :30 came and went, and GRover and myself were off for a rendezvous with Basti und Colonel Decker and a fin little local establishment with tasty beverages and tappas.

One of the things I love about Leipzig are its buildings around town, possessing a nobel architecture and civility about them, even though some are run down and are in long need of renovations. Something I did not notice during my last visit were the massive granite slabs, each about 40 - 70 cm wide and at least 10-15 cm thick, that make up the sidewalks around town. A testament to past wealth much like the buildings.

Leipzig seems to be on the cusp of a renaissance, young and talented people are in abundance here despite what one would consider a lack of opportunity. But they are patriotic to their city and are carving their paths to the future. I think that is a reason why I feel such a positive energy emitting from this place located off in the far eastern reached of Germany, that was once in the cold grasps of the former Eastern Block and a silent war.

While the weather did not play along, it did not temper participants enthusiasm and both demo days went off superbly. Our IF rides were fully booked and we saw many a happy rider come back with ear to ear smiles. No words are necessary to communicate what they feel.

My visit was all too short, but still it was filled with great exchanges between a growing list of people whom I grown close to and admire. Quick and dirty as Gerolf put it, that is how I like it. But next time we will has to slow it down a little to uncover more of what one of my favorite cities has to offer.

more pics here

Crested Butte Clunkers

fresh rides 2

Spring is finally here, the trails or in great shape and the warmth is begging us to go out and ride. Just in time we can find inspiration in some fresh rides from a couple of our customers...

David's amazing 1x5 steel Deluxe looks more than capable of eating up his local riding trails around Paris. More on his bike can be found here and here.

If you want to catch a glimps of this stunning ride, you will need to book a trip to the Belgium countryside. Gerrit's steel Deluxe 29er w/ Lefty is a stark contrast of black on white. More pics can be found on IF Rider

I put my own new tasty fresh ride through its first paces the past couple of days in theMountainbikepark Pfaelzerwald, riding some great local singletrack to include the Singletrail Parcours in Hochspeyer. Joining for me for ride was Sacha and his new Deluxe 29er. We pulled some laps on the singletrail parcours charging our big wheels down the sides of the Springertal, eating up the twisting - turning singletrack and all it had to throw at us. Both bikes performed absolutely perefct, great day of riding.

Be looking for a full report and photos on my new ride in the near future...

Berlin Show

Berlin is a city torn between two worlds, one in the past and one living today. The two are a vivid contrast to other and often coexist on the same street block. The Berliner Fahrrad Schau was the backdrop for my exposure to this unknown world, seeing first hand how one of the most recognizable cities struggles with its split personalities.

Driving into Berlin is an experience in itself, going past the check point which many people had risked their lives to cross into a 'better' world, now an Autobahn streams right through it with no resistance. The only sign things are changing is that the asphalt turns from the smooth surface that the Autobahn is know for into a rough, unmaintained concrete as you drive in.

The expo was right next to the Deutscher Technical Museum, with an old US bomber that surely participated in the infamous Berlin airlift, shiny and silver, but still showing wear of years past perched atop a glistening new architecture. Around the corner ghosts from the past were whispering out of old run-down builds that time had forgotten. The Station itself where the expo was had not faired all that well over the years, but provided for a still comfortable yet industrial backdrop for the show.



Was set up, Stefano, Marcello and myself went for a quick lunch, hopping on the U-Bahn and getting off one stop later at the Pottsdammer Platz. It might have well of been a trip around the world to any big city USA because exiting we were greeted by taller buildings, Starbucks and a myriad of shopping possibilities. Money was abound and this section of town had obviously escaped the past. The only remanence was a section of the Wall that had run through there with a guy dressed up in old Eastern Block military garb stamping peoples passports as part of a tourist attraction.

Later that evening we went to another section of town for dinner, once again the present and past came together to create a unique blend of culture, buildings with bullet holes from a past war towered over trendy locals while beggars and street workers tried to make ends meet in the evening air. A thick layer of gravel covered the sidewalks and streets, signs of a harsh winter and lack of funds to clean things up, much like the past seen in the face of the many buildings and areas around Berlin.

The show itself was good, not great but good. What it lacked in attendance of both public and exhibitors it made up for in enthusiasm and passion for cycling. There were several very nice unique displays on hand around various aspects of cycling culture from reto-mountainbike collections to urban street cycling. And of course there were some good core companies on hand.

Attendees where largely urban-cycling oriented, but there were also plenty on hand who get the whole handmade/ custom bike thing, which was good for us. People poured over our presentation of bikes with the same detail in which they were made. They acquainted themselves with our brands and indulged us in pleasurable conversations over the cycling, coffee and their city. Our LaMarzocco also saw lots of action, not just from attendees, but other exhibitors. One of my pleasures was that catering for the even was all Organic, well not just organic, but really good food on top of that.

Much like the city, I really enjoyed seeing all of the bikes and culture from the show that represented the past, but also being able to draw a line from that to the present with some bikes that have direct lines to the past. My first visit to Berlin was an eye-opener, much like my past visits to the former eastern part of Germany. The sites and the people there have interesting stories to tell and despite the cold past, is one of the warmest places to go.

More pics from the show Berlin Pics

Read on...

Here is some info on the Heike's Deluxe (which also happens to be the first bike in this 15th Ann year...).

http://www.ifrider.com/15-years-of-indy-fab/

fresh rides

this one belongs to Heike Fischer from Waridi who are not only a great partner company for us, but nearly all employees are on an IF... Turned out to be a beautiful bike and we look forward to seeing her back down here in Allgaeu soon for another riding clinic weekend.

Berlin is next weekend, and we will have two new customer frames on display along with my my new Ti Deluxe 29er -just finishing the build and will post more at the IFBRT blog soon!

The weather is warm and spring like, but I am still healing, already took Munsingen off my schedule but will be looking to be ready for Gardasee Marathon.

Get out and ride!

Do it.

Long-distance cyclocross, stage race goodness...

Critical Dirt

Hitting Reset

Sometimes we just need to stop and listen. After an eye infection, the flu and two surgeries to remove an infected Bursa on my left hip (Bursaitis) stemming from a road crash back in December, I am forced to stop and listen. Outside of these circumstances, a friend of mine has been encouraging me to engage in Yoga, something I used to practice religiously and while laid up in the hospital bed, Sandi dropped of a Thich Nat Than book "The Miracle of Mindefullness". I had to listen to what was being said.

Rather than being bummed about a derailed season of nordic skiing and what was to be an awesome build up to the riding season, I am stoked that I have found my way back to center. Instead of daily rituals of LT's, Tempo skis and high-rev spin classes I find myself limping around our place, settling into deep breathing exercises, internal meditation and beginning the slow process of healing (in more ways than one). Yoga will certainly be a centerpiece as I lay a new, yet stronger foundation.

Even with races in April already looming, I am strong in my confidence to be ready and even stronger than I might have been with out the train going off the tracks. I'm listening, are you?

Pulling Shots

Having worked in the specialty coffee industry for a number of years and being an all-around java junkie, it has been a long tedious journey to find coffee bliss in Germany. With other words I have had coffee dry spells with short bursts of decent coffee in between. The short oasis' have either been a couple kilos I drag back from the states or care packages from friends.

Fortunately things on looking up on the caffeine front. Armed with a new La Marzocco G3 (this ain't your average machine kids - you could run a full-blown cafe with one of these) and having finally sourced some yummy beans from small roasters here in the fatherland, I can honestly say we are pulling some shots that would rival many North West espresso locations. The best part is just that, the espresso that we are brewing is much like NW espresso, 100% Aribica beans, none of that Robusta crap, with some excellent sustainable growth old strain varietals blended to form complex and yet delicate blends that remind me of the good ol' cafe days.

Having been tinkering in the kitchen with several blends, we have come up with a few we like and will be offering these blends soon via our new online shop and directly at events this year. Not too mention if you make it over for a visit, come in for a bike fitting or just go on a ride here in Fuessen, you will be sure to enjoy a sot of espresso, an Americano or whatever drink you fancy. The barista is on duty, so what can we serve you?

Order # 25334 Deluxe 29er

This steel 29er is for a good friend of mine who we saved from riding, well lets just say not such a desirable bike prior. The 29er was a good choice for Sacha given that he is taller (190cm), and would help smooth out the trail for him.

The silver frame is subtle and stylish white the white and black details are a bit more flashy creating the perfect balance.

This was a complete build for Sacha, a mix of Shimano and Sram, FOX F29 Fit Fork, Thomson, KING, AMC wheels, Geax treads, Prologo saddle, Ergon grips, Magura Marts SL Mag stoppers and a King Cage. I enjoying building this one up, but I am sure he will enjoy riding it even more.

 

Bet he can't wait for the snow to melt and go for a ride...

Order # 25336 Deluxe

Here is a beautiful white steel Deluxe we recently built for a customer. It was a near complete new build for him with a mixture of Shimano goodies, Race Face cranks, FOX F100RLC, KING, Fizik and Thomson.

The stark contrast of white and black play out p[erfectly on the clean simple lines of the bike.

Plus the pictures in the snow with the white bike are clean and fresh. Enjoy your new ride Michael!

G-Haus

Welcome Geekhouse to our offering of handmade works of art to be ridden. We are proudly representing the brand from Marty Walsh in Central Europe and will have two of his beautiful frames on hand in the near future.

Come check out the Geekhouse line at the Berliner Fahrrad Schau 06.-07.03.2010 or drop us line for more info.

Spring in the SW

About this time back in my past life in Colorado, while full in nordic/ winter sport stride, thoughts began to drift from the trainer towards the warmth of the desert. Fruita, Moab and Cortez offered up some great early season riding and some tanning time for those pale legs. Here is a sampling of that riding poached of my old friend and coffee junkie Jason Grove of ElCamino Fab MySpace page... I belive this was shot near the OTE Sports shop in Hurricane UT.


Flight of Icaraus

El Camino Fab | MySpace Video

IFBRT

2010 IF Biciclista Racing Team

Skate Night

Lead group under the lights in Schwangau

Sandi & I decided to jump into the 2 annaul Skate Night, a night skate skiing race on the lighted loop in Schwangau, at the base of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. The local sport club puts it on as a fundraiser for local charity, donating 1 EUR per lap from each participant who try turn as many as they can in one hour. This year's edition drew out 122 skiers from ultra-fast to the average hobby skier.

With our first ski-marathon just two weeks out, this would be a great tune up for that along with being a good time racing at night. The 1.5km loop starts off flat for about 100m before going up for short bit and then dropping down into the valley. A ninety-degree bend at speed at the bottom of the first descent has you dancing the skis around the apex and pushing you back to the outside of the track, milking the speed on the next short rise before dropping all the way down into the valley. Through the flats there are some small rises and rollers as you wind around the valley back towards the start/ finish area. A long climb with a a steep section at the end is the last bit on the lap before leveling off and heading back into the start/ finish chute.

The tempo started out easy enough, I was sloughing off not too be out front at the start, but suddenly the pack started to swallow me from behind, so throttling it it I started to try to move up before the first descent and be in a good spot for the fast sharp first corner. Tucked in around eighth, I drafted the first half a lap comfortably, but then daylight started to open a few skiers ahead, and not wanting to be left behind, I jumped out of line and bridged up. We hit the final climb for the first time, it quickly sorted out the contenders from the pretenders, and people were quickly shelled. I made it over the top in fifth and in contact with the lead group.

Things stayed this way for the next couple of laps, before some attacks went off the front. A group of three went, and I was not closing this one. Rather was settled into my pace and would wait and see if they would come back to us. A couple of laps later, one of the three did come back, and we formed a group of three in the chase group with the two about :30sec up on us.

We were making good pace lap after lap, I would pull on the climbs and one other guy pulled on the flats, the third I honestly don't think he could do much and was just hanging on. The climbs was becoming more and more difficult to navigate with the back markers clogging up the lines, and with two to go one moved over right into my line, hanging me up long enough the other two got away. The chase was on. The next two laps I was drilling it to get back on, and I made it at the base of the final climb before the finish sprint. I knew if I wanted 3rd, i had to go and not wait to recover, because there was not going to be enough time. So I tried blowing by them but they both sat right on my heels and went back by at the top.

I would come in 5th, which was awesome for me. I skied exactly how I planned to, up front all race and finished in the top five as I had wished. It was also a super result considering the level of skiers there, former Olympians and National skiers. Best of all it was a fun course, tactical race and some great racing. At the end my HRM read avg = 176 max = 190.

Next weekend - Ski Trail 55k Marathon...

New and improved!

We are live with the new and improved www.ifbikes.de site. Check it out, take it for a spin and tell us what you think.

Enjoy the ride!

things to come...

Ti Deluxe 29er XC race machine for 2010

2010

Another year, a new decade and we continue down the road where it leads no one knows. We had a great time during the holidays, some biking, some skiing and lots of playing. We try to tune Colin in to the European and American cultures and traditions which can be a challenge. But he takes it all in stride and does well with all of the activities and ongoings. He wished for a bike this year with no influence from me...but then again I am not surprised because that is what mommy and daddy do - a lot! But I have to admit there was a bit of pride when he would answer the all to often question "what did you wish for Christmas Colin?" An immediate, firm answer was "a bike." He got his wish, a Laufrad (walking bike) and he has been cruising our apartment since. Can't wait to get him outside this spring.

But I want to ride outside

ifbikes.de had a great year in 2009 and we are off to a great start in 2010. Lots of really cool bikes in the system right now and some sick builds happening around here. This Crown Jewel we are doing for Alek almost makes me want a road bike...almost. If I would, it would be something like this though for sure, absolutely gorgeous!

Alex's Crown Jewel

details...

More details



Mmmm - paint



LaMarzocco will be giving us a sweet espresso machine for events in 2010, we will use it at special dealer and larger events and festivals. We are getting the Linea which is a Barista's dream. Add to that we will have some of our own coffee roasted for us by Speicherstadt, we will have some great espresso and brews for IF fans this year!

Linea - a handmade, stainless steel work of art that happens to pull some of the best shots.

Final touches are going on our website and 2010 Team kit, we will be stylin' for sure this year!

Wish everyone the best in 2010, may it be a peaceful, prosperous and joyful one for all. See you on the trails!

Seasons Greetings

I ♥ Italians

Andrea doing some skinsuit testing for Biciclista


you have to love the land that brought us espresso, grappa and the vespa... Italians above all are passionate, every experience I have had with people from the country shaped like a boot has been a memorable one (sometimes I wish I could forget...). Since Gardasee this eyar I have found some new friends south of Austria who are a passionate bunch of single speeding hooligans. In envy I have followed their antics from a far, as they bolg their exploits on LosLobos. Lead by SS-Mafia kingpin Stefano Spedini (whom I affectionately refer to Speedo) who also runs Biciclista, a sweet small manufacture of some of the most original bad ass cyclingwear you will lay your eyes on. They happen also to be our team clothing supplier for 2010.

Andrea Compri and Luca Bassi have recently joined the ranks of ifbikes.de customers, both taking bitchin' 29ers to race/ ride on next season. Andrea went with a sweet rigid 29er single speed steel Deluxe with IF rigid fork, while Luca went with a Ti 29 Deluxe corrected for 80mm - a cross country speed weapon! Speedo has a Planet X thus far, we will have to see about getting him a limited edition Bicilista Deluxe 29er next year...

Others on the team include our good friend out of France David Guillot is also in the mix with a sick rigid steel 29er, can't wait to see his paint!

A new 29er for one lucky Mr. Wenzel

Add Wolfgang Seyfried, Jochen Schäffler, Sandi and myself to the mix, and you have a pretty diverse sick team! We will be killing it at events around Europe next year with some killer Apres event parties... Look out Gardasee, we are coming and will be taking over the place.