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Did World’s Angriest Press-Hungry Messenger Ruin Monstertrack?

Mike Dee in action / Joe Fornabaio for The New York Times

Although organizers are citing safety concerns for canceling Monstertrack, we’re pretty sure this article in the New York Times certainly didn’t help any. The subject of the piece, Mike Dee—who even among his peers is known as a big mouth—blabbed to the Gray Lady about the notoriously illegal fixed-gear only alley-cat that’s been going on for over a decade. And not that we’re claiming to be experts when in comes to organizing illegal bike races through traffic, common sense dictates that bragging about it, to the paper of record, probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. So much for that code of the streets.

Bike Cuffs Are Perfect For Locking Everything Except Bike

Whenever a new bike lock comes out claiming to be virtually theft-proof, we’re always skeptical—maybe it’s cause we live and ride in NYC. Even with it’s $3,500 Anti-Theft Guarantee, these new Bike Cuffs from Master Lock should are not be trusted as a replacement to a Kryptonite chain when it comes to locking up your fame. Although they boast how the cuffs lack an anchor point for leverage, one guy was easily able to snap his without even damaging the frame or using tools. However, these aren’t totally useless. They’re actually perfect for locking up your wheels to the frame. Amazon is the only outlet that seems to have the price right. $45.00, www.amazon.com

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BMXer Gets Thrown For A Loop

Ouch. And you thought love hurts. Watch as this BMX rider gets all psyched up as he attempts a 360 Loop in a giant steel pipe, and doesn’t even come close to making it. The only thing that made it all the way around was the bike, which comes dangerously closed to being lodged up his ass.

Trackstar’s Got ‘Javelins’ For Sale

Fixed gear centric bike-boutique Trackstar, just stocked up on some track frames from Javelin. Named in honor of the famed Vigorelli velodrome in Milan, the American engineered, Italian handcrafted steed features an aerodynamically flat frame design with an oversized toptube/downtube. It’s made of aluminum, with stainless steel drop outs, a full carbon fork, carbon steerer and a fully integrated headset. Get ‘em while you can, winter is almost over—even if it is snowing and 25 degrees in NYC today. $775 (frame and fork only), www.trackstar.com

Puma’s ‘Repo Man’ Inspired Bike

We’ve been fans of Puma’s Biomega bikes since they first dropped way back when. They are now in their third incarnation and this time around the bike that features a tamper-proof safety wire system incorporated into the frame, got an eye popping opening paint job. The Glow Rider Bike sports special paint that absorbs sunlight during the day, enabling it to glow at night and giving cyclists some much needed visibility. It’s being released this Spring or you can check for it on Kanye’s Glow In the Dark Tour.

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Bike Wheels Folds On Purpose

Usually when a wheel folds that’s really bad news for a cyclist, unless of course it was meant to, like this Crossbreed Folding concept that actually has a chance of going into production. UK designer Duncan Fitzsimmons was unimpressed with the girly wheels that most folding bikes sport and wanted to come up with a speedier alternative to the mini-clown style of riding that would also be suitable for commuters. With a patent pending, he’s currently in talks with several manufactures. The only drawback could be price, since the wheels are carbon fiber, but for some people it will be well worth it. His fold up design could also find its way to foldable wheelchairs—which is excellent considering how dangerous it is riding bikes around the streets these days, you may need one of those down the line too. We’ve got a clip of the flexible wheel after the jumpage.

Pyramid Technology Used To Create Super Light Bike

This is one of the most innovative bike designs we’ve ever had the pleasure to come across. The Arantix Mountain Bike by Delta 7 Sports features IsoTruss carbon fiber and strong as nails Kevlar open lattice tube design that is not only strong, but super lightweight and futuristic looking. Small pyramid shaped structures made of hand woven stands of carbon fiber are all connected and formed in the shape of a tube. the hollow-like design shaves off a lot of weight and yet doesn’t sacrifice strength and durability. Each frame takes over 300 hours to build, and the company only plans on building 200 frames for ‘08. Technology like this don’t come cheap though: a complete bike starts at $11,995, or just the frame for $6,995.

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Riders Pile Up On the Velodrome

For those of you who buy fixed gear bikes and are more interested in racing them than turning them into fashion accessories, you’ll appreciate this clip. After all, one of the most exciting and dangerous aspects of track bike racing on a velodrome are the spills. And just like Nascar, some people just watch for the crashes. Check out this clip as this peloton goes down and takes out 13 of the 17 riders. Ouch, not even alley cats end this disastrous.

DQM’s $67 Commercial: You Get What You Pay For

The only props we’re giving Dave on this Christmas commercial is his ability to ride those bicycle rollers without falling on his ass, not everyone is that graceful. Otherwise it’s all downhill from here.

Kanye’s New ‘Track’: Cinelli Vigorelli

‘Ye’s got a brand new track and it has nothing to do with music. Razor Apple confirms (and Photoshops) that the rapper who’s become an icon of hipster cool has bought himself a Cinelli Vigorelli track frame, ya know, those fixed gear jammies with no brakes from NYC-based bike boutique Trackstar. The frame alone costs upwards of a thousand dollars not to mention the parts. But the real shocker here is that Kanye has allegedly already learned how to skid, courtesy of DQM, a feat usually mastered by bike messengers, long time “fixies,” and white people with dog shit dreads. We’re sure the NYBMA and scores of other alarmist and purist fixed gear gate keepers will be publicly denouncing the move, but not us, welcome to the good life Kanye!

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