It all started with two dudes, two bikes, and a vision. The goal would be to ride the 1100mi. coastline of Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi over the course of two weeks.
Little did I know that this would be one hell of an adventure and the trip in which all others will be compared. The feeling of riding your bike on the opposite side of the planet is truly surreal. Touring is by far the best way to see any country.
My continued work with POST Carry Co. revolves around brand strategy, community building, and social media contribution.
Over the last year, I have built an ambassador network, organized multiple photoshoots, and developed collaborative projects to give POST visibility and build community in the marketplace.
Shout out to Alonso for shooting and Brian and Nat for playing model.
About POST Carry Co:
Post Carry Co. was founded by industrial designer, Marc Mendoza, and ran by him and a small team of passionate cyclists around the world. We design rugged and functional bags for traveling and exploring cyclists like ourselves. We want to share our adventurous and independent spirit to inspire other cyclists to just get out there—whether you're heading to an event with your race machine or exploring the backcountry on your gravel bike.
The Transfer Case came about during Marc’s foiled epic bike touring attempt through Southeast Asia. Actually, he never got to bring his bike there in the first place. Marc got to SFO airport before his departure, dragged a large, heavy, hardshell bike case through the crowds, and walked up to the United Airlines counter only to be upset at what he found out. Each leg of the trip would have cost an exorbitant amount just on bike fees. And then there was the question of how to get around in Asia with a huge bike case? Out of frustration of the costs and struggles, Marc gave up the epic bike trip and sought to design a better, more compact solution for taking your bike with you. Transfer Case was born from that (failed) trip and has since allowed him and many cyclists to easily and compactly travel with their bikes—and save on many fees while they’re at it.
Founder & team manager for CHAPTER2|Ornot, this was some of my favorite “work” to date. It’s rare that you get full creative control on a project. The opportunity to connect these people and ideas was a real pleasure. I still get stoked every time I see a frame or kit from this collection riding down the road…. Overall, I learned, bikes are fun and they should stay that way.
About C2|Ornot:
Sometimes collaborations consist of logo placement or a slightly different color. We wanted to take this collaboration all the way, so we designed everything we possibly could and then offered it all up for those brave enough to get in on the full matchy-matchy.
To get things started we teamed up with our New Zealand friends at CHAPTER2 and started designing a comprehensive array of products to take minimal branding and matching to a new level. We would call it the Gray Ties Mega Matching Capsule Collection.
We spent a good chunk of time designing a comprehensive array of products to take minimal branding and matching to a new level. After designing the collaboration we had a test crew of 8 riding all summer around Northern California. The bikes were assembled around 30mm tires and have been endlessly praised for compliance, handling, and overall exceptional looks.
After its launch at Sea Otter Classic, I had the pleasure of organizing and executing two photoshoots for CHAPTER2’s new gravel frameset, the “AO.”
First I reached out to Derek Yarra of Above Category to do the studio shots. The results speak for themselves as we know Derek to produce top notch work.
Next came the fun part. For the lifestyle side of the coin I wanted to do something different. Marin and San Francisco dirt has been shot in so much that its getting played out. I decided that Los Angeles’s high mountain desert the Angeles Crest would be the best destination. I teamed up with LA photographer Mike Cedeno as well as an amazing team comprised of Mr. TakeoverLA himself Sean Eric Martin and Nat Tsochoban from Zwift. A great group makes any job a breeze and this was no exception. From Downtown Coffee Shops and catching urban lines to the fog and cold of Mt. Wilson, I feel that we delivered an authentic depiction of exploring the road less traveled.
The organization and execution of a trade show booth in all its glory for a major show like the Sea Otter Classic is no easy feat. For 2019, this was my opportunity representing CHAPTER2 Bikes.
There are a lot of moving pieces that need to come together just right for an event of this scale to go off without a hitch. From ordering parts and building bikes to communicating designs to booth manufacturers and finally PR and event press, there is no aspect of this show that I did not have my hands on. In reflection, the outpouring of support and positive words were a sure sign of a strong showing.
The images and text on this page are from John Watson of The Radavist’s coverage of the CHAPTER2 “AO” at this year’s show.
Recently I had the chance to work with Inside Line Equipment on the creative direction and photography for the launch of their Adventure Seat Bag. Here is an assortment of images from my shoot in Golden Gate Park with Axton and his beautiful OPEN.
About Inside Line Equipment:
We started by pulling bags apart, looking at how they were made, and seeing how we could make them tougher, more functional, yet simple.
ILE products are made from USA-sourced materials and designed with strength and simplicity in mind. Sewn with the best machines and skilled operators, ILE makes bags that last.
Lifetime warranty on all materials and craftsmanship. Handmade in Berkeley California since 2012.
https://ilequipment.com/
How often do you get free reign to build the wildest bike of your dreams? I got the chance, and with the help of SRAM, Marin Service Course, and Above Category, one insanely rad gravel bike was born!
For the full story on the DK X Wilier Jena, CLICK HERE!
I have had the pleasure of working with Aria over the last couple of years building his personal brand, shooting content, and helping to build his website. A labor of love, Aria is the man..
About Aria:
Aria Kiani is a professional cyclist born & raised in Sonoma County, California on a mission to break the mold and change the status quo.
Growing up as an elite runner, Aria Kiani found cycling as a means of getting around during his training on the Sonoma County gold coast. Naturally, racing followed soon after and he quickly joined Mikes's Bikes Elite in 2015. Since then he has played major roles on multiple composite teams chasing after the hopes of earning a pro contract. Alas, While coming 1st & 2nd with Mikes's Bikes at the Nevada City Classic in 2017 he caught the eye of Continental pro Team Illuminate and has been riding with them ever since.
Without a doubt, Aria’s hardest race to date was the Vuelta Colombia in 2018, a two-week-long stage race that physically changed his outlook on racing and what it takes to win. With one of the heaviest training regimens among his peers, Aria has an accumulation of close to 14 months in Colombia training and racing at altitude giving him a competitive edge over many other athletes. Over the years in addition to Colombia, Aria has raced in a diverse collection of tours in Canada, Romania, Kazakhstan, and China.
In 2022 Aria will be setting his sites on a new challenge, bringing poise and diversity to the gravel world stage in the United States.
Swiss, Premium, Performance Cycling
Intricate Swiss engineering is a given when you’re talking about BMC Switzerland. This premium approach to bikes goes back to 1994 when we began in Grenchen, Switzerland, where we’re still housed today. With just 120 employees and three global offices, you could be surprised at the extent of our innovation. Our in-house Impec Lab is the beating heart of our research and development thanks to some of the brightest minds in the industry keeping us at the cutting edge of design. After extensive development, our collection naturally becomes the choice of the world’s top athletes, who go on to win such races as the Tour de France, Team Time Trials, World Championships of various disciplines, and numerous Ironman Championships. The sport of cycling is evolving at a breakneck speed – and we at the front of the bunch, pushing the pace.
https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/
My work with Palo Alto Bicycles spanned from sales to marketing strategy. I learned a lot about the heritage of cycling spending time in this Bay Area institution.
The photos featured are of the Palo Alto Bicycles Demo Fleet.
Palo Alto Bikes has a long history of being a progressive, innovative, and successful retailer. The shop was established in 1930 and is still owned by the founding family. Palo Alto Bikes offered one of the first cycling mail-order catalogs in the early '70s (our last catalog was sent out in 1987). Long before Tom Ritchey was the famous Tom Ritchey, he built frames for our shop that were sold in our catalog. Greg Lemond credits us with being his first sponsor and helping to start him on the path to winning three Tour de Frances in the 1980s. We were also instrumental in launching Clif Bar, the energy food company!
In my time in the cycling industry, I have had the chance to do a lot of different work with Rapha. This includes PR for the Prestige in Portland as well as working in the SF clubhouse. Funny thing is, it has become a home away from home now as my wife has worked there for a few years.
Rapha is now more than just a clothing company – in addition to an online emporium of performance road wear, accessories, and publications, the brand includes physical retail locations, luxury travel, and a cycling club with global membership. Growing from three employees in 2004 to more than 350 in 2016, Rapha’s design aesthetic and multichannel retail model has taken the company from startup to global enterprise. While the majority of Rapha’s business is online, an ever-expanding network of Clubhouses around the world means that customers can experience the brand in person and immerse themselves in the culture of road cycling. The Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) was established in 2015 as a global cycling club and a natural extension of the brand and currently has over 7000 members.
Rapha San Francisco is a short spin from the Golden Gate Bridge, which transports riders from one of the country’s most lively cities to the Marin Headlands, with its treasure trove of long climbs, stunning views, and sweeping descents. If a rider ever tires of exploring Marin – which, although unlikely, happens to some – then riders can turn their attention to the protected forests of the Southern Bay, or the hills that lie behind Berkley and Oakland. Rapha San Francisco is the perfect base from which to begin any of these adventures, with its fine coffee, selection of pastries and ride food, and a full selection of Rapha clothing and accessories.
We open our San Francisco door to our local community of riders and to the global supporters who visit San Francisco everyday. From Cape Town to Osaka, from Berlin to Istanbul, we see the fire in the eyes of the riders worldwide.
Our job is to stoke that fire.
Andrew started Low Bicycles, a small manufacturer of high quality, handmade aluminum racing frames, located in San Francisco, CA in 2010. Hear about his history, his take on aluminum, and questions from the crowd. Introduction by Dustin Klein, of Cadence Collection.
Live Stream Via The Radavist
2016 marks LOW// Bicycles debut into USAC racing within the Northern California Nevada Cycling Association series. LOW// Factory Racing is an eclectic group of athletes contrived from local industry leaders such as Strava and Rapha Racing as well as originals who have been with us since the beginning, all evoking the high level of style LOW// has come to be respected for.
2016 Sponsors: Giro, Castelli, Cadence Collection, City & County Bicycles, and 3D Bike Fit.
The brands strongest showing to date, LOW// Bicycles came out swinging for the fence at NAHBS 2016 showcasing their full line of handmade aluminum race machines. Walking around the show it was very clear LOW// Bicycles bold, strong branding was creating quite a buzz. A stop by the booth made one thing clear, LOW// knows who they are and what they are doing in their little Mission-based workshop in San Francisco.
Images - The Radavist , Embrocation Cycling Journal & Enve Composites.
Kevin Mihovich wanted his Cinelli Mash track bike to stand out from the rest by being hidden. Does that make sense? So he commissioned West Coast Hydrographix in Redwood City, CA to cover his bike in real tree camo. Then, he enlisted the help of his friend Arthur Alvarez to do a photoshoot in the woods. Pretty clever.
Photos & Words : John Watson " The Radavist "
During my time at Mission Workshop, I provided wholesale support to a dealer network of over 20 accounts in the United States, UK, and Asia. In addition, I maintained visual merchandising standards while performing in-house event planning and execution.
The Mission is where we design, develop and work in San Francisco. Our workshop was created out of the need for gear that out-performs while maintaining a clean aesthetic appropriate for cycling, travel, and the daily routine. Pulling from our experiences, Mission Workshop creates bags that can handle a lifetime of abuse and apparel that can withstand the worst weather.
https://missionworkshop.com/
