Volume 15 already?

 

Spending the majority of time here in Nishi-Azabu, and still, I can always be surprised by what you can glimpse casually...

 

 

The fact that there is some kind of military base here (of course owned by the U.S), just adds another dimension to these random visual treats, seriously you could be in Aoyama park innocently taking photos of products (like I was) or casually enjoying a break from the inner city grind - when suddenly....

 

 

Suddenly a 'Black Hawk' decides to fly into the base (which is located next to and behind Aoyama park), you a regular civilian may have only seen the likes of such on TV or the movies...

 

 

Seeing such a thing up close was fascinating but...

I am surprised Somalia is still a part of Africa and not somewhere between Oman and Mumbai after a few of these helicopters were sent in...WHY? 

 

Listen, this helicopter as it was alighting for landing... blew the colour off my skin (like MJ but not years just seconds), blew the breath of life into my lungs, blew items of my clothing across the park, blew the camera equipment I was using + bag into the shrubbery...uprooted a couple of trees and call me a conspiracy theorist if you like, but yes these Helicopters may be linked to all these Typhoons we have been experiencing of late - still recovering from the shock btw.

 

On another note, this is Kaotan Ramen.

 

 

And here is my 'Specular' in the same evening light...

 

 

Since I am far from being a photographer, I will be left to work with natural daylight since I don't use flash when capturing certain objects.

 

 

I am not sure this is the greatest time to take pictures though, but still, these snaps will do for our Instagram and such

 

 

Did you have a chance to read this interview we participated in?

 

 

ON review it's not as related to cycling, as you and I might experience the activity, but it was definitely enough to get us back on our bikes (TOGETHER) when the weather permits (damn those 'Black Hawk'!!!).

 

 

That pre-ride tension and banter...

 

 

Those sights during the ride...

 

 

Just some of the things we live for here at W.A.C.C

Will this wet weather ever let up? 

 

Over here at Cartel Bikes, we use our bikes EVERY day - personally, I can count the number of times I've ridden the train on one hand, this month (and maybe last month combined). 

 

It's not all bad news though, once again our Chrome 'Avenue Lo'  is featured in the December issue of Oceans magazine:

 

 

Blending nicely co-ordinated styling with our front sloping 'Avenue Lo', is such a delight to behold...

 

 

What do you wear when you ride? Is this something you even think about? Personally, I use trousers that are tight fitting around the cuff or have the cuff well above the ankles (if they don't I will just cut cuffs to ensure they don't get chewed by the chain ring).

 

 

Thank you Oceans!

 

Since they featured our Chrome 'Avenue Lo' I thought I would too, naturally with more trimming:

 

 

We added these wider riser handlebars; that give the bike more impact and of course that give you more push when climbing uphill - just mind the gap between cars with these:

 

 

For wheels, our C.B.3 combined with Michelin's Lithion2 tire (in yellow because why not?)

 

 

The icing on the cake? Diner's original carbon saddle the slim version...

 

 

The result?

 

 

Want to build a similar custom? 

Contact us at info@cartelbike.com for more information or simply start yourself by purchasing the Chrome 'Avenue Lo'.

 

Hoping that we get a dry spell soon so we can get out there and ride!


Thank you, one and all who came through to Trunk Hotel for the Factry launch event...

 

 

Along with other collaborators, we were able to present our contribution to Factry's starting lineup ...

 

 

It was actually the first time we were able to see the clothing we designed ourselves, which is definitely the greatest satisfaction when creating anything (the finished product)... actually, this feeling is something the people at Factry are offering to would be collaborators!

 

Anyway, it really did bring us great pleasure to see our ideas come to life...

 

 

I was also invited to DJ for the opening (of course while wearing the purple 'Sets in the West' long sleeve)... 

 

 

Recently when playing out I always have this one in the bag:

 

 

The tune "Punk" fitting perfectly into my sets each time  - the song gives me images of a Mediterranean coastline or port of some description, which I think fits the mood of the long sleeve we made:

 

 

Anyway I'll big up the Factry crew and everyone else once again ...

 

 

Be sure to get onto the Factry website and get your W.A.C.C. pieces before time runs out....

 

 

If you've been following the W.A.C.C insta you will also notice that we've made an adjustment to the 'Specular':

 

 

It now comes with silver riser handlebars as standard... 

 

 

If that wasn't enough Diner have the 'Specular' on special offer RIGHT NOW

 

 

The time to explore is now!

 

Well, usually the weather in October is great for getting out and riding but it seems like the elemental forces have a different idea for us. Just as well last week enabled to get on my bike and get a good dose of lubricated chain goodness in many forms.

 

 

Firstly I wanted to get my bike (above) serviced since recently the urge for riding fixed has been growing, so thought to get my ride in condition to face the dryer climate (lol minus the rain)...

 

 

How about your bikes? According to forecasts, it's only going to rain until the weekend, after which conditions should return to being favorable for riding. Check out Diner's selection of goods for getting your bike in shape for these coming cooler seasons.

 

That night I also had a meet up with the homie SameHada...

 

 

When we linked, we somehow got onto the subject of the clearance between the tires and forks of his bike...

 

 

Not sure why I took the following picture though?

 

 

Anyway, we linked up to talk about the following days shoot with Yahoo Life!

 

 

We were to be taken to Tachikawa's Keirin velodrome for a day of racing action....

 

 

The action was on as soon as we had arrived...

 

 

However, we had other priorities, at first wanting to get bodies properly nourished for the day's action.

 

 

You'll get the full story soon, but we treated to a lot that day, as well as having our own private room for the day, where I was able to capture this:

 

 

The colors!

The mascots!

The guy chap in the Rakugo outfit!

Also the (not as) rowdy (as they use to be) customers!

 

 

Everything combined to make for an eventful and informative day, the informative parts came from talking with staff from JKA, not to mention speaking with some racers in person!!!

 

Who knew these guys could reach speeds of 70km? Enough to compete with a cheetah, as has been so elegantly illustrated below:

 

 

Good to see their art has also been properly documented!

 

 

The craziest part of the day was the debriefing we had at the end of the day, some really serious Keirin people out there 1 of which was kind enough to share some points with us...you can get more on that via the full article!

 

 

Don't forget though our 'Gun Metal Avenue Lo' is still on sale while stock lasts, don't get left behind:

 


Welcome to a special edition of the W.A.C.C chronicles....

 

 

We've been keeping a low profile on Instagram and have been trying to contain our excitement whilst blogging here, but we are really proud to announce that next collaboration will launch TODAY:

 

 

The project is with the FACTRY creative service; who are working with collaborators to create unique clothing and other products, and we were delighted to be invited to work with them as one of the first selection of collaborators...

 

 

Bringing a whole new line-up of W.A.C.C wear and the chance for someone out there to get one of the last few 'Specular' bikes.

 

Here is a preview:

 

You can view and purchase the full line-up here.

 

I thought I'd take a few moments to walk you through a couple of the ideas behind two of my favorite pieces of the humble collection of ours.

 

Since W.A.C.C was born and is located here in West(Nishi)-Azabu; on a daily basis we are confronted with the various mysterious sites in our neighborhood, that only those that know... KNOW. The feeling of curiosity the various mysteries draw up inside me, take me back to my childhood where I grew up surrounded by my father's vast record collection, the artwork of the sleeves conjuring up in me the same feeling of curiosity, like this particular record:

 

 

My favorite song being:

 

 

I took inspiration from this and made this...

 

 

Another piece of inspiration I gathered from the idea that the "Sun sets in the West"; which got me thinking about this record:

 

 

That far of sunset a call to adventure or a call to the night...an idea I feel is championed by this particular song:

 

 

 

Which inspired this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, I want to thank the Factry team for giving me this opportunity...

 

 

 

And lastly, invite you, readers, to join us tonight at TRUNK HOTEL FROM 19:00