Tonic Fab News

Wow. Amanda and Kyle put together something special once again. An event like this needs original ideas and a whole lotta get-up-and-go. Last year’s Backyard Blam was very home-spun, while the “Hustle” was very pro, especially the first night. I think everyone involved, be it riders, audience, or sponsors got a helluva deal with this. My photojournalism was a little spotty the first night, so some imagination, and photo searching is in order for the (more) curious.

What a TREAT! Amanda handed Tony, Erik and myself the Freestylin’ Book. I got another one in my prize loot. Anyway, if you know Freestylin’ Mag, you’ll love this. Behind us is the art show, with a DJ and a bar. In front of us is the room with Gold Sprints. Outside…some wooden kickers and obstacles to dork around on to get ready for the Bunny Hop Competition.

A bad photo of the Gold Sprints. I didn’t really hang out here long, but the room was packed and there was lotsa cheering.

Outside, Gilles showed up. Dude rides 25+ year old CW bars, and has one of the coolest riding styles I’ve seen.  Let the good times roll.

Really wish I got more photos of the bunny hop competition, but hey, I was ridin’ in it!  Was anyone surprised Mr.Blacksmith won?   Goods BMX’s Shad Johnson for second and CHAZ rounding out the podium.   I was stoked with 4th. Good Times!

A small bike technology intermission.  At Tonic we are fans of integrated headsets and BB’s. Here’s something we’ve been running for about 2 years on a few bikes…press-fit BB’s for modern 2 piece cranks. Shimano, SRAM, and FSA have these and they work well, look good and are lighter than a standard euro set-up. I think I want to make this standard on our 700c stuff except the Supernaut.  That is all.

The next day the Hustle moved from a posh SE Design house to the ragged edge of NoPo gentrification. Unfortunately, a soggy pump track did want to cooperate.  No matter how many Hobo Yoga Mats we threw on the track, it just wasn’t happening.  At least Seth B got a few laps out of it.   No Problem…

….we simply pulled out The Gremlin and ran an around-the-block Time Trial.

Long Distance Relationship Kyle won this one pretty handily.  Considering the shortness of the course, and the fact that each racer had the same gearing, I’m going to have to say this race was won in the corners.

Seth B got into the action too.

Product Toss. The loot at the Hustle was pretty incredible.

After the Gremlin TT, it was time for the trick competitions.  Here’s the crowd for the Fixed Gear class.  The comp was held  in a basket ball court.

Here’s the set-up for the freewheel trick competition.

Some legit riding went down.  ’Nuff said.

Coolest Truck in Portland?

Next, we “Hustled” over to a park for the DH slalom Comp.

For some reason, Tony rode the Gremlin.

Kyle and Amanda taped up the course with a quickness. By now, it had started raining, and flat/off camber corners on wet grass made for a very “dynamic” riding experience.

Amanda getting folks signed up on the back of an extra cycle.  Hustle! So impressed!

This was so FUN!  Wanna go fast?  Better be able to slide your bike  AND DUCK under branches at the same time.  Didn’t crash (amazing) and ended up second.  Probably would been 3rd if Kyle has been able to stay up right.

After that, Waffles and Beer at Kyle and Amanda’s place.

That is ALL.  Amazingly fun week-end.  Thank you Kyle and Amanda!

-L

Howdy Folks.

I’ve not exactly been the most prolific blogger / news updater recently. Fortunately it is not for lack of action.  I’d like to exclusively blame an abundance of action, but that’s not true either.

I’ve spent the last few years vigorously updating the Tonic News, and usually I’ve done so with genuine enthusiasm.  It’s also taken loads of time.  Blame my editorial process, and flimsy grasp on technology as main time sucks.

Recently, I’ve had a hard time mining the inspiration for this blog.  Can’t say much bike related material has held much interest at all.  The bike industry is fairly simple circus. Somebody either won a race, did a cool trick or is getting paid to blow their horn about a “new” product.  On this note, the weirdest one for me are the corporate dudes at Interbike who refer to products with out a definite article. They’ll say something like, “Boxxer is strong and light” rather than THE Boxxer is strong and light.   When did the bike industry get a pass on the word “the”?

And how many times do I have to hear about a bike being capable a “day at Whistler, and a 35 mile epic the next.”   Isn’t the real question…Am I?  Believe me, if that was my riding schedule, the bike would be about item 5 on my Top 3 Things I’m Concerned About.

The best thing about bikes remains riding them.  By far.  That said, good lookin’, good ridin’, well made bikes are something I get excited about.

Blah, blah, blah…

Fact is, this blog has has enjoyed some astonishing readership.  And for that, I am very grateful.

OK, here’s something to get excited about…The Bridgetown Hustle. The sequel to the Backyard Blam. Good Stuff.

A break in the snow and rain meant some MTB opportunities lay ahead.  As I loaded my bike onto the Swedish Bike Express, I noticed evidence of a Rides Past stuck between my tire and rim.

Bike was a little worse for wear, but Raya was ready for action.  10 years old this year!?!

Hooked Up with a familiar posse.

Paul…gotta give this man some credit. One of very few people who can haul-ass in lycra AND ride Aaron and Charlie’s trails. There ain’t many who can do that, and we salute you.

Bridget, Ian’s wife.   Bridget will be on a Tonic cross bike this year. To her left is Will.  Will rides 60 miles each way, per week to see his sweet heart.

Matt Slaven. Super Nice Guy. Super Bad Man on two wheels. Holy SMOKES.

Why is this man smilin’? It’s the NW, it’s January, I’m wearing shorts, and I’m riding my bike.

Word Up,

-L

Missed CX Nats, as well as 4x race hours away. Stayed local, and chilled.

Hey…anyone wonder what G.W. Bush is up to these days? I’m confident he’s not in the middle of negotiating a teaching position at Harvard. But he’s probably not delivering Pizza either…
I think this complaint call is a clue. Sure he’s using the name “Randy Taylor” for this call, but I’m 99% sure it’s GW.

Got sick again.  Pretty sure it’s not Swine Flu.  Pretty sure…

What’s up?  Working on a couple new Tonic models that hopefully folks will dig.

I saw this on Team Robot’s blog.   Wow.

My digital presence hasn’t been all that great recently. I’ve been out doing some analog research! Here’s some bikes and highlights from the past month.

Chris has one of 3 Supernaut Road bikes.  Sorry about the lame photos. They do not to this rig justice. Broken in on Rapha Ride this summer.

7/8″ chainstays formed in house. The bike was not for the weak of leg.

Speaking of Supernauts. Here’s Rob’s Supernaut again..this time without the Top Tube Pad. Also….turns out “Tonic Supernaut” is one of the daily draws to the Santa Cruz Bikes website? Go Figure.  I certainly can not!

What else? Some heavy digging. Bobcat bogging mud.

Cory Tepper sent over some Very Good Photos of Nathan riding his Howie.

Flat over spine. That’s the kind of riding that’ll make you say DAMN.

In the Pits here is Lee Gilmore’s Tonic Magnum CX.  Lee’s been CHARGING it on this bike.

Side Profile.  Except for some red spokes I don’t know what the parts are.   You’d be surprised how many people write wanting to know about parts.  Coated finish with a gold strobe stripe.

Hey, speaking of blogs, check this guy’s out. All Hail The Black Market.  Stevil on the gas.

Been doing some of this.  Night Riding.

And doing some of this as well..Day Riding with the doggy . I’ll be going to the next Port Angeles 4x Cross race too. Hopefully see some of you folks there.

How sweet is this? A bonfire and a pump track.

“…then I went left and hit him with my laser eyes!” Ian’s home-made Tonic skin suit is almost as good as his story telling.

I AM SMILIN’….this looks awesome! Black Dynamite

Went to the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships last week end @ PIR.  I’ll have more later, but for now I’d like to draw some attention to Ian.

Barely an hour before the start,  he re-assembled his 4 year old Tonic single speed,  rode to the race, ditched his fender and slid into 3rd after leading for most of the damn thing.   Wow.
We salute you Ian.

-L

This summer I visited Erik J’s office.  Erik’s a creative individual and his company is called Hankbuilt. After taking some photos of his work space we jumped on the little bikes for some radical commuting.

Shag carpet and couch at work? Why didn’t my career counselor tell me about this? Cool stuff on the walls everywhere!

OH YEAH. Erik’s Fall Guy ready to get busy, or just get home at a moment’s notice.

UK bike mags..and plenty of them. These mags, that couch and a happening bike? I’d reach new lows of productivity.

Eyeballs : Overloaded.

LOG TOWN!

-L

Straight Outta Denver is Rob’s new Supernaut.

A 55 with our fork and a brake hole.

Pictures don’t do this finish justice.
It’s matte Red with some ‘Cuda inspired graphics. A Boss Ride that actually gets ridden.

Introducing our man in France, Chill Rider.  Chill Rider is bringing Tonic into France along with some other components.  Chill Rider is small, but committed. If you live in France, and want a Howie or Fall Guy, Gaetan is your guy.

Gaetan rides and Gaetan gets it.  Here he is laying it over on dirt.

Magnum CX’s have been escaping the zoo. Here’s Brad’s.   Brad lives in Hood River and races in the A’s.  He works at Dirty Fingers bike shop and ski patrols in the winter.
Brad opted for a 55 with a 57 head tube to get the bars up a little.  Sixteen and a half pounds with Carpet Fiber wheels.  What’s with the pink? Brad lost his mom to breast cancer at an early age and this is his way of drawing attention to the cause. Brad’s review of the Mag CX?
“I got my slow, fat ass handed to me in the a race on sunday. But,
lots of glowing compliments on the bike. Many double takes and stares.
It rode absolutely amazing. Nice work.”

55 and up Mag CX’s use a 1.5″ down tube with a small gusset.  Mag’s are built for action, but still quite light.  Brad’s 55 weighed in at a hair over 4 pounds.

No Bridge and loads of clearance. This is about as Mud-Proof as it gets.

Alex Criss has been racing Single Speed on his new Tonic. Look for Lee Gilmore on a Tonic this week-end.

Congrats to Ian for consistent top 10 results, including the race in Maine. Dude is Lo-Pro-Lightening.

-L