Area Cycles

Alright guys, these guys need recognition. My headset blew up on me and all my bearings fell into my frame. I went to a small bike shop in Berkeley to get it fixed. After a week and a half, they called me back saying the fixed the problem. That weekend I took my bike out to ride in San Leandro. If anything the problem got worse. My friends told me to go to Area Cycles and they’d fix it real cheap. They put on a new headset cheap and it took like fifteen minutes. I rode around with them for a little after and they’re good guys. Anyway, a lot of edits have been coming out from them so check them out!

11 before almost 24 “hours” areacycles rider squeeks from Area Cycles on Vimeo.

Area Cycles Rider Jakob Santos “Day nd Night” Edit from Area Cycles on Vimeo.

AREACYCLES gnarcotix garage session from Gnarcotixsf on Vimeo.

Bike Check: Jordan’s Cutter Followup

Well finally it’s done.

Frame: 1st Gen Volume Cutter

Fork: Volume Fu

Crankset: Sugino RD Messenger to Sugino BB

Pedals: Eclat Surge PC’s to straps by d4nvu

Headset: Kink Integrated

Stem: Demolition Stealth

Bars: Tricksters, biotch!

Saddle/Seatpost: San Marco Regal to Thomson Elite

Wheels: Velocity Deeps to Formula. 28″ front and back.

Ratio: 44-17

Our blog

Life has been pretty hectic lately. Transferring high schools and just homework has been occupying most of my time lately. All of us at Yankin’ Your Chain are trying to commit more of our time to the blog. Expect more posts along with some samples of some shirts I am printing.

Fixed Gear Flatland

I really need a new source, again from Prolly. He’s doing flatland BMX on a fixed bike.

That is Coichi, of the Starfuckers crew. I’m sure he has a flatland background, but the fact that he is the first one to really get into on fixed makes him stand out. If anyone knows where we can get some of those foldy-down things on his fork please comment.

DIY Foot Retention Follow Up…

So I spent a few hours today working on the straps and I finally finished them. I went to two hardware stores before finding the material I needed at a hole-in-the-wall backpack repair store on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. I ended up having to go back to the store later because I didn’t get enough webbing. I had to get 8 feet of it in all and used the 2″ wide strips. The instructions I posted earlier are pretty hard to follow and are more complected than the have to be. In the end I looked up the Chicago Wigg design because I remembered they used an all velcro and simple design. After a little tweaking I finished my design and from there it was all easy. After an hour of sewing and cutting I was finished. Here are some pictures that i took with my phone (sorry for the quality), if you have any questions just post a comment I guess, or send us pictures of your guys’ designs cause we’re interested. Overall making them wasn’t all that hard if you have a sewing machine. Upsides: I spent 10 dollers, they seem to hold up well, and you can make them any color/size you want. Downsides: They’re hard to adjust, and they probably won’t last as long as professional ones. What I learned though, is that if you don’t want to cash out on Hold Fasts, all the other brands that make street straps aren’t worth the money, and that making your own is definately better. Hope this helps someone out there!

These are some pictures before I sewed on the velcro.

These are the straps with the velcro on but not together.

And finally, COMPLETE!

DIY Foot Retention

With the ridiculous price of a good pair of bmx straps these days people have turned to drastic measures. I’ve seen everything from seatbelt straps to zip ties to backpack straps used for foot retention. I found this tutorial DIY Foot Retention which looks like the answer to our problems. It’s an instructional on how to make foot retention using velcro and webbing. I’ve been complaining to Jordan and Spencer for a while now that I’m gonna make some Foot Retention and save myself 60 dollars, and this seems like the best way to do it. I’m heading down to the hardware store right now to pick up the materials then I’ll give you guys some pictures, a review, and how much it all cost me.

Crisp Bunnyhop Barspin

Of course I was checking Prolly’s site, as I do on the daily, and came across this crisp photo:

The crisp photo mentioned above

From what I’ve gathered, the good man being sprayed with a hose is Gus Molina of Chula Vista Fixed, photographed by Dave Beard. From my own knowledge, I can tell you that Gus is doing a bunnyhop barspin, which I have to say is quite spectacular with the lighting and spray. It’s so unlike all the photos we’ve been seeing lately, I just love it.

I also want to promise everyone that soon we’ll have some new content for you or at least a good, long post.

All-City Proto Sheriff Hub

Spotted this over @ All-City

All-City Proto Sheriff Hub

All-City Proto Sheriff Hub

I was just looking at the All-City blog earlier today and spotted these pics of All-City’s prototype Sheriff hubs. According to All-City this second run of prototypes has stainless steel hardware. So far I am impressed with these hubs. They look extremely solid and I can’t wait to see the final product in Spring!

Helsinki 78-82 – Cruising Music Video

Not exactly bike related, but it features bikes in the music video so I thought I would post it.

Before seeing this video posted on LoveFixe I had never heard of Helsinki 78-82. I grew up with techno and house music and I have to say I really enjoy this group so far. In a way their music puts me in a good mood. Make sure to check out their other songs on their myspace (just click the group name above)

Death Pedal 2

From Kareem Shehab the follow up film to Death Pedal comes Death Pedal 2!

Make sure to pre-order your copy here. Once again the bar for FGFS (Fixed Gear Freestyle) is being raised!  Pre-order yours soon and you will even get a free Death Pedal shirt with your dvd.