Always on the lookout for an imaginative cycling-themed tee shirt, we did a double take when we saw this "Don't Buy Upgrades - Ride Up Grades" design and wanted to find who was behind the commendable philosophy.
We tracked down Ethan Benton in Brooklyn, New York where he started his company Laek House five years ago. According to Ethan, "It was the situations I encountered as a rider in NYC that motivated and inspired me. The very first shirt I designed and sold was ‘Boy vs Door’ and the graphic showed a cyclist with their bike ‘vs’ a car door. I had moved into Manhattan about five years prior and riding in the city presented some new dangers to me - like getting doored. The ‘Boy vs Door’ was my attempt to showcase a danger that both cyclist and the exitee of a car might not be aware of."
His experience as an urban rider led directly to the development of his Enhanced Light Visibility System or ELVS, essentially a technique for printing Retro-Reflective inks onto the kind of cotton stretch casual fabrics used for tee shirts.
Over time, says Benton, "the designs focused more and more on what I view as the souls of cycling. I say ‘souls’ because there is an innate duality in cycling, that of the rider and the bicycle itself. There have been legions of skilled and creative frame and component builders over the years. I’m especially excited to learn more about the French constructeurs and the porteurs they built in the years following World War Two.
"The professional ranks," he goes on, "have seen amazing riders like Marco Pantani, Luis Ocana, Mario Cipollini. Some of whom have lived and died, succeeded and failed, and left legends so human and fragile that I cannot help but pay attention. In fact the two latest models celebrate Tom Simpson and the wisdom of Eddy Merckx."
Which is where we came in as the "Don't Buy Upgrades..." quote is attributed to Sir Eddy. Who knows whether he said it or not; it sounds like he should have done.
It does seem a bit ridiculous having an outright ban on cycles at all times, yet permit holders can drive down there whenever they like and...
So much for the First and Second Laws of Robotics.
Most certainly report it to the licensing authority, they may (rather than 'will) take it more seriously than the Police.
Well, yes, that's kinda my point. I think stating that "Norway is socialist" is a questionable perspective. I'd say it was a Nordic social...
The Be Calm section - 100% ...
Now, if we're talking gravel bikes, that's a whole different story. Gimme, gimme, gimme! Apologies for the Facebook link....
The police are operationally independent, in fact the regional Police and Crime Commissioners have to swear in their oath of office that they will...
"'Right", said Fred, "we'll 'ave to get a move on…"
Thanks for the review. I like that Orbea have included aero extras and wish more manufacturers would stick two fingers up at the UCI - at least in...
Excellent - I think I'll replace my emergency tube that is a real squeeze to get into the little Topeak bottle cage bag thingy....