Additional to yesterday’s submit and the most recent bike I’m fussing over, Faggin remains to be very a lot a going concern:
Moreover, not like the numerous storied bike manufacturers that get purchased and offered and now exist largely in identify solely, Faggin remains to be a household operation the place they’ll even welcome you in for espresso:
Jerzyluca of Jersey Cycles will affirm this to be true, having had the Faggin household espresso expertise himself.
As for the bikes, you’ll be able to see on their web site that they’re doing fashionable stuff:
However they’re additionally nonetheless making basic stuff:
I occur to be a fan of 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 attainable that at some point I might order one, go there to select it up, after which journey it round Italy for 3 weeks. I wouldn’t even pack any biking garments, both, as a result of additionally they promote gear, so I’d simply get the matching equipment and go full Faggin fanboy:
Alas, I don’t see any new bike fantasy holidays within the quick future, however within the meantime at the least I can dream–and a few bar tape for my present bike is actually attainable:
After all, I must also do not forget that as a once-relevant semi-professional bike blogger I’ve already gotten to expertise the kinds of abroad biking dream escapes most individuals don’t get to get pleasure from till they’re too outdated to get pleasure from them.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 acquired to participate in L’Eroica (the unique one, in Tuscany), because of the great individuals at Brooks:
These had been the heady days the place you would take a humble manufacturing facility employee, flip him right into a meme, and journey the wave all the best way to the Strade Bianche:
I’m fairly certain Brooks wish to faux all this by no means occurred as a result of at this time they’d most likely 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 are able to transfer ahead. Or one thing.
Anyway, sadly any “content material” I generated from the journey 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 journey with a seatpost-mounted digicam, although I do not know the place that went both. (The digicam or the video.) Alas, all I’ve are my very own joyful reminiscences of driving an overgeared bike on filth roads and stopping in medieval villages the place I in some way managed to gorge myself on bread with out breaking out in hives.
And naturally I additionally acquired to go to Switzerland for 5 days of climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh accommodations:
Flying to Switzerland, climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh accommodations taught me three essential classes I’ll always remember:
- I’ve been and proceed to be extraordinarily lucky
- I might very very like to return to Switzerland at some point for extra climbing mountains, consuming lavish dinners, and sleeping in posh accommodations
- Fuck bikepacking
However whether or not I return to Switzerland subsequent 12 months, subsequent decade, or by no means, each time a motorbike arrives from Basic Cycle it turns my common routes into slightly mini-fantasy trip, and even when I can’t journey a model new Faggin round Italy, by way of pure biking enjoyment, driving a beat-up one round New York is shut sufficient.
Then once more, it may be fairly robust 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 automobiles and turning it right into a two-way bike lane. This was an enormous deal and a serious 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 generally slightly 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, you could bear in mind “Phil Walkable,” the man who has it in for Valley Stream:
Effectively, I’d choose to not bear in mind him, however Twitter received’t let me neglect, and now he’s pining for a 91% tax charge:
Cautious, Phil. Pointing at stuff randomly and attributing favorable outcomes to it’s a silly and harmful enterprise. You realize 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 indignant politicians and parked automobiles 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 up Large Helmet:
So might we see a Rivendell helmet at some point?
My principal concern is that this might result in Retrogrouch Danger Compensation, reminiscent of 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 certain looks as if the individuals who do the dumbest stuff are carrying helmets:
I actually don’t get the entire descent porn factor, I actually don’t.
