The Foot Down

I came across these awesome messenger bags last week, unlike most a lot of them feature huge embroidered pictures which I’m, surprisingly, really into. Usually I just like things that are black with an extra smidgen of dark black but I really dig these.

They are based in Ohio and in their own words “Seagull Bags specializes in waterproof, high-quality custom courier bags. What began as one guy in a basement trying to build the perfect bag has grown into a respected but low-profile maker of custom messenger gear. While our bags have gained international acclaim for their durability, smart design and custom embroidery and artwork, our staff is small enough to lend close personal attention to every order; we pride ourselves on working directly with you to build a bag exactly to your specifications.”

There are A LOT of small custom messenger bag companies out there and most of them seem to be doing really good work, but few of them stand out from the rest, yeah they may have a snazzy strap configuration or something but they are all essentially plain messenger bags. The embroidery on the Seagull Bags is something really special, from animals to ships to chicks being facially violated by serpents and beyond, it all looks really skilfully executed and something that I’m sure every owner of these bags is very proud to wear.

Check out their gallery of custom work here, it’s well worth a look. I’ve got a few messenger bag reviews planned for September so if you’re thinking about buying a new bag wait a few weeks because I consider myself quite the expert on everything so my reviews are worth their weight in gold, haha.

This week’s T-Shirt of the Week at Howies is a real beaut. The ‘No Gears’ tee was designed by 45rpm who is one of the guys that put on some great fixed gear events in Bristol. It features a rather dapper chap bounding along on his Dandy Horse in a lovely vintage style graphic. It’s available from Howies for both mens and women and I want, I want, I want! Stay tuned for a couple of Howies product reviews which I have written up but haven’t shot any photos for yet…

Brother cycles now has t-shirts up for grabs at their website, I’m a big fan of their logo and of black t-shirts so this is right up my street. Pick one up in their shop.They also posted the photo below to their blog this week with the good old fashioned ‘coming soon’ tagline, black on black is always good, some nice black decals is all I need to make my bike fully goth. I’ve been riding my Brother Cycles frame for a few months now and I absolutely love it, I will NEVER EVER buy a frame without threaded dropout adjusters again, this thing just holds that back hub in place perfectly, no more slack chain and no more spending ages getting the tension in the first place. The paint is tough as nails too, I really shouldn’t have said that because it’ll probably get all scratched up now but what the hey. If you are after a really decent frameset for a really decent price then start with Brother Cycles, I’m not easily pleased and I am pleased!

Today is a very exciting day, the reprint’s of Gavin ‘Boikzmoind’ Strange’s Death Before Derailleur t-shirts are ready for buying. They are available in black and white, printed by White Duck Screenprint on Continental tees and available from his online shop for £15.

Long time readers might remember what happened to my original one, if you don’t know I was ploughed down by some prick who’s bloody car managed to break my collarbone and rip a hole through my right thigh muscle. All my clothes had to be cut off at the hospital, lucky for me I was wearing my favourite jeans, t-shirt and hoody that day, yay!

Issue 2 of the brilliant Boneshaker Magazine is now available in the the shop, we sold out of the first issue within a few days so be quick if you want to get a copy this time!

This issue features articles on the workers co-operative at Brixton Cycles, Taliah Lempert’s beautiful bicycle paintings, tales of riding long distance, and an interview with Gav Strange about the eagerly-awaited Bristol fixed gear film Boikzmoind, there is plenty of bang for your buck. Buy now…

I’m sure many people will deny it but the second you put a musette bag over your head you are wearing a handbag and have become a metrosexual. Of course there is nothing wrong with being metro just look at David Beckham, he has been known to wear a skirt and he’s still got a super hot chick hanging off his arm, well not super hot, actually scrap that example; just look at Prince, that dude wears high heels and still taps all the poon he wants.

Unlike those guys us guys get to be metro by wearing a handbag under the guise of a “classic cycling accessory”. The musette, like the cycling cap, is something that is absolutely functional and does its job flawlessly. For anyone that is completely lost at this point a musette is a very plain square-ish bag with a long strap that is stuffed with food and drinks, professional cyclists grab them whilst on the move during races and fling them over their head. They sit pretty nicely on the small of your back and don’t actually move around all that much. This post has been brought on by the release of Spinwell Project #3 and my desperate need for white bread…

Spinwell ‘The Musette’
This is a really good looking bag which is hand made in the UK and limited to 25. As you can see from the picture it is beautifully finished with nice little touches like the elasticated button loops and logo tag at the bottom. At £20 it’s not particularly cheap but it’s pretty much the best musette out there and is something you’ll want to keep forever rather than just throw out next time you move house. More info here.

Banjo Bros ‘Pocket Messenger Bag’
I  got this a few months ago from Urban Hunter and have only used it a couple of times but that’s exactly what it’s for. It’s made from nylon and has a basic snap button fastening at the top, the real feature of this though is that it rolls up super small and fits in your pocket. I keep mine in work and only use it when I have some bits to pick up on the way home, just today I used it to carry a loaf of Braces and a can of pop for my tea. It’s cheap and cheerful and good for emergencies.

Sooooo, there we go, two musette bags, one to be proud of and one that just does the job. I demand that you leave here and buy at least one of them because the sooner we all drop the macho act and embrace our feminine side the sooner we will achieve world peace, yup.

Maybe I’m the only person in the world that didn’t already know about these but I’m gonna share them anyways. System Ex, the company behind everyones favourite cheap fixed hubs, also have a pretty killer looking set of track bars and nice quill stems in both 25.4 and 26.0. They both cost around £20 each, I’m ordering the bars today to try out so I’ll post a review soon but judging by the spec they should be rad for the price:
- 26.0mm Bar bore.
- 38cm Width.
- 135mm Drop.
- 97mm Reach.
- Weight: 313g

For more info click here.

Have you used these? What are they like?

Somebody out there pretty please buy my Orlowski 19.5″ track frame and forks. It was handbuilt by Jacek Orlowski in Poland but is a bit too small for me which is the only reason I am selling, I love this frame! Dedecai tubing, straight forks, world champ stripes, awesome blue colour, Italian threaded BB, 26.8 seat tube. You can have the Stronglight headset for free if you want it too.

SOLD!!!

You can now buy the first issue of the excellent Boneshaker Magazine right here on The Foot Down. It is jam packed with inspirational stories about cycling and the things that can be achieved on and with two wheels. I think it may have actually changed my life, not yet but I think it may prove to be the catalyst that launches me off into many great bike related things. The great writing is accompanied by killer illustrations and photography on the same kind of paper that Fixed Mag and the Howies catalogues are made from, proper nice.

You can buy the magazine here SOLD OUT for £3.50+postage, trust me it is well worth it!

Extra! Extra! Tokyo Fixed Gear: The Website is live! Sometimes it’s worth being up at 5am to go to London, but only sometimes. The wait was well worth it, there’s more eye candy on the TFG site than in your local Apple Store.