trackosaurus rex - Speaking of amazing cyclist...

Speaking of amazing cyclist...

Friday, May 22, 2009, 11:46 AM
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Urban Hunter has the new Tom Simpson shirt by Gage & Desoto!

This year’s Tour de France is going to be quite something with an inspired Mont Ventoux stage the day before Paris. We felt the time was right to celebrate Britain’s Tom Simpson. We were further encouraged to do so after meeting Vin Denson, fellow GB team member who last spoke to Tom at the foot of the Ventoux before he gave his team leader a handsling as Tom set off to chase Julio Jimenez down on that fateful day.

Tom died a tragic early death at the age of 29, just over a kilometre from the top of the barren moonscape of Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France. He was riding for the GB team. Before you judge him or simply say….he took drugs, he died….we just ask you read about him and the context of European cycling at the time.

Tom Simpson’s cycling career was simply breathtaking. In 1960, his first season as a pro, he came within one stage placing of winning the yellow jersey in his first Tour de France. In the 1962 Tour he wore the yellow jersey and finished sixth overall. He took Paris-Nice in 1967. But remember the long events such as the 3 week Tour were not his forte. His great events were the one-day classics or week-long races. He could ride these in his all or nothing, aggressive, swashbucking style. He was always great to watch, spectators loved him. He won the Tour of Flanders (1961), Bordeaux-Paris (1963), Milan-San Remo (1964) and the Tour of Lombardy (1965). He was World Champion of the Road in 1965, his greatest achievement. It would be 32 years before another Brit would wear the yellow maillot jaune of the Tour again. It would be 45 years before another Brit, Mark Cavendish, would win Milan-San Remo once more.

Tom had great humour and style. We love the story when, soon after turning professional, he was sent by his mentor Brian Robinson, to buy a car, something reasonable from the Peugeot dealer round the corner. Tom came back with an Aston Martin.

We miss his charisma and the fact that he always rode to win, as he did that day on the Ventoux. We loved the way his face would light up with that huge smile, as it did when he crossed the line and became World Champion in San Sebastian. At the Urban Hunter Den we have always kept his picture on our wall, right next to Eddy‘s.

This t-shirt design has been a joint colab project and label between Urban Hunter in the UK and Gage & DeSoto in the US. Tom’s last words to his mechanic Harry Hall were “On, on on”. That sums up the man he was. The tees have been hand-printed in New York. We thought it only right to show Tom in his Peugeot checkerboard kit, the legendary team, where he was the master to the young Merckx.

Lets see some of the t-shirts being worn on the Ventoux…….Saturday 25th July 09.

text from Press Realease!

Remember THESE!

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The Flying Scotsman Pt. 2!

Friday, May 22, 2009, 11:27 AM
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Graeme Obree Bidding For Hour Record Again!

Flying Lap From The Flying Scotsman @ BikeRadar Live!

This is some of the most exciting news I have heard in a long time!

And if you haven't seen The Flying Scotsman I highly suggest putting it on your Netflix!

Thanks Apple!

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The Plug!

Friday, May 22, 2009, 10:50 AM
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Ha! You probably thought this was about some kind of trick bike or something!

Nope...it's about some bars Euro Asia Imports teamed up with Nitto to produce. You have probably seen the riser and the flat-bar but the mini bullhorn is fairly new. All are made of stainless steel and have capped ends so in a perfect world where you don't ride over 10 miles, you don't sweat and calluses are non-existent you can leave your bars bare! No tape, no grips and definitely no bar-ends. As for the shape and functionality of these bars...I would say only the riser has anything going for it. The flat-bar has no sweep making it quite uncomfortable for long distance riding and the bullhorn is just way too skinny(something like 300mm) for any kind of riding, especially climbing(the one reason I really like bullhorns). I definitely wouldn't recommend these for anyone who cares about weight. Lets put it this way...do you remember that first time you switched from the B123 to the B123 AA? It was like new life was breathed back into your bike, the whole front end became more alive! Well...I highly doubt this will happen if you are switching from the traditional aluminum version of these bars to the stainless steel counter-part. But who cares...these bars look good! Wonder when they'll make a B125!

More pictures and details @ Orange 20's Flickr!

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Starting tonight...

Friday, May 22, 2009, 10:35 AM
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and going through the weekend!