Additional to yesterday’s submit and the newest bike I’m fussing over, Faggin remains to be very a lot a going concern:
Moreover, not like the various storied bike manufacturers that get purchased and bought and now exist largely in title solely, Faggin remains to be a household operation the place they’ll even welcome you in for espresso:
Jerzyluca of Jersey Cycles will verify this to be true, having had the Faggin household espresso expertise himself.
As for the bikes, you may see on their web site that they’re doing trendy stuff:
However they’re additionally nonetheless making basic stuff:
I occur to be keen on the basic stuff, however I like that they do all of it.
It’s very comforting to know Faggin are nonetheless doing what they do, as a result of so long as they’re it means it’s additionally potential that in the future I might order one, go there to select it up, after which experience it round Italy for 3 weeks. I wouldn’t even pack any biking garments, both, as a result of in addition they promote gear, so I’d simply get the matching package and go full Faggin fanboy:
Alas, I don’t see any new bike fantasy holidays within the rapid future, however within the meantime not less than I can dream–and a few bar tape for my present bike is definitely attainable:
After all, I also needs to do not forget that as a once-relevant semi-professional bike blogger I’ve already gotten to expertise the types of abroad biking dream escapes most individuals don’t get to get pleasure from till they’re too outdated to get pleasure from them. For instance, in 2014 I received to participate in L’Eroica (the unique one, in Tuscany), due to the great folks at Brooks:
These had been the heady days the place you might take a humble manufacturing unit employee, flip him right into a meme, and experience the wave all the way in which to the Strade Bianche:
I’m fairly positive Brooks wish to faux all this by no means occurred as a result of immediately they’d in all probability get torn aside on social media for the revelation that Eric “The Chamferer” leveraged his fleeting Web reputation in an effort to reap the benefits of younger ladies, but it surely’s solely by acknowledging the previous that we will transfer ahead. Or one thing.
Anyway, sadly any “content material” I generated from the experience seems to be misplaced within the mists of time, as a result of so far as I can bear in mind I did a full-write up on it for the Brooks weblog, which not exists. My very own submit additionally appears to point I took video of the experience with a seatpost-mounted digital camera, although I do not know the place that went both. (The digital camera or the video.) Alas, all I’ve are my very own joyful recollections of using an overgeared bike on filth roads and stopping in medieval villages the place I one way or the other managed to gorge myself on bread with out breaking out in hives.
And naturally I additionally received to go to Switzerland for 5 days of climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh lodges:
Flying to Switzerland, climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh lodges taught me three essential classes I’ll always remember:
- I’ve been and proceed to be extraordinarily lucky
- I’d very very like to return to Switzerland in the future for extra climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh lodges
- Fuck bikepacking
However whether or not I return to Switzerland subsequent yr, subsequent decade, or by no means, each time a motorcycle arrives from Basic Cycle it turns my common routes into a bit of mini-fantasy trip, and even when I can’t experience a model new Faggin round Italy, by way of pure biking enjoyment, using a beat-up one round New York is shut sufficient.
Then once more, it may be fairly powerful going round right here. For instance, the Smugerati are nonetheless upset that when it rains there are puddles:
In 2021, New York Metropolis took the daring step of closing a complete lane of the Brooklyn Bridge to vehicles and turning it right into a two-way bike lane. This was an enormous deal and a significant enchancment over having to share a wood walkway with throngs of vacationers. So naturally ever since then the town’s cyclists have been complaining bitterly that it it’s typically a bit of moist after torrential rains:
I’d say “Cry me a river,” however for one factor it’s a trite expression, and for one more if somebody takes me actually it might kind a puddle and we wouldn’t need that.
In the meantime, chances are you’ll bear in mind “Phil Walkable,” the man who has it in for Valley Stream:
Effectively, I’d favor to not bear in mind him, however Twitter gained’t let me neglect, and now he’s pining for a 91% tax fee:
Cautious, Phil. Pointing at stuff randomly and attributing favorable outcomes to it’s a silly and harmful enterprise. You understand what else we had in 1950? Legalized racial segregation. What a beautiful time!
I do see even Phil has had it with the motor scooters within the bike lane, although:
I proceed to be amazed that after all of the offended politicians and parked vehicles and acts of sabotage the factor that’s lastly going to undo New York Metropolis’s bike lane community as soon as and for all is these silly motor scooters.
Lastly, talking of feeling protected, Rivendell is taking over Massive Helmet:
So might we see a Rivendell helmet in the future?
My predominant concern is that this might result in Retrogrouch Threat Compensation, comparable to leaving canvas baggage unbuckled and elevating quill stems above the minimal insertion mark.
As for whether or not danger compensation is definitely a factor, I don’t know, but it surely positive looks as if the individuals who do the dumbest stuff are sporting helmets:
I actually don’t get the entire descent porn factor, I actually don’t.
