Today I rode Jolene and good god did she feel amazing. I just recently put a Brooks Imperial on her and that was honestly the last key. I have been trying to step by step dial in all her parts so that when I sit on her I can say, “That is exactly what I want” and today that’s what I said. It felt amazing. It finally felt like Jolene is totally mine. In a way she is, the frame obviously isn’t, it’s the standard Cinelli Vigorelly 56 but all the components with their specific sizes and lengths, making it the exact bike for me. It really gets me thinking about what it would be like to have a frame exactly built to me. One day.
Today, after my ride, I met up with Alex from
BNIB to go over to visit
Swrve near Eagle Rock which I was super excited about. I have been keeping my eye on companies like
Swrve, companies specializing in urban cycling gear, if that’s the correct phrase. I’m not sure how new this is, but I have only caught onto it within the last year. What I’m talking about is gear that I can wear as I ride my bike all around Los Angeles and farther if need be, then off my bike at work all day, and back on my bike as I ride all night long. Amazing right? I love it. I’ve seen
Levi’s getting into it as well as a very interesting company
Cadence which is based out of San Francisco I believe. I even hear
Lee, the clothing company that was hot in the 80′s is trying to get into the game.
Outlier too, but that company makes products that are a bit out of my price range, beautiful stuff though.
Rapha has a few things but their urban cycling gear seems to be a bit pricy for me as well and more of a side project rather than the company’s main focus which is what turns me onto companies like
Swrve and
Cadence. *If I’m leaving any out please let me know some companies that are in the same market, I am always looking for new cool stuff
Swrve to me is the main focus of my blooming obsession with the urban cycling gear and here’s why…
A) The price point. I have 3 pairs of their jeans, 1 being the cordura jeans (basically totally indestructible) which I turned into shorts due to this amazingly hot winter LA is having, and 1 being the limited edition jeans, which still are less expensive than most other companies high quality denim.
B) Materials used. The cordura makes the jeans essentially bombproof, and in my case more importantly Brooks proof. If you know what I mean, you know that is super important. I got one of their bamboo blend shirts, rode it across LA, and loved it so much I immediately bought 2 more. Crazy lightweight, basically drinks sweat off my back (I know that sounds gross but it’s the most important thing a shirt can do) and is an epic base layer. The jeans are cut just right for me, more comfortable than nearly any other pair I own and all I really wear is jeans and tees so that is saying a lot. A great bonus is that a lot of their gear is made in-house.
C) It is a independent local company run by bike geeks for bike geeks. I called and asked and they said, “Come on down and say hi.” So I did. I met Matthew, the lead designer, who stepped away from his desk to hang and talk shop with Alex and I and talk about his super rad townie bike. I know he had a lot to do as they are still building the store front while they are processing and filling out orders. This means a lot to me to if you happen to be reading this, thanks a ton for your time Matthew it really meant a lot and I look forward to seeing to soon.
Below are some shots I took of what they have going on thus far in the way of a store front. I can’t wait to see what they come up with in the end, Matthew was telling me some really newt things they’re looking to get but I’m going to keep that as a surprise. It is an active store front so you should all definitely go say hi and see what they have to offer. To me, it is exactly what I want in cycling jeans, shirts, and jackets, I cannot recommend them more.
As they are an independently run company they need to step out at times to run errands and get foodstuff so shoot them a call before you go just to for sure make sure they are there to say hi (323) 257-1096.
