As I arrived to my login for the day, I was greeted with the following poignant insight from a fellow journeyman mechanic: "When I was having a shitty time at the bench, kind of being overrun by minor gripes &/ gangrenous management, I would watch the bit at the beginning of Sunday in Hell where the Sanson mechanic is cleaning the Benotto, or Bottecchia. It would remind me of how the basics serve to reinforce and inform and make way for … [Read more...]
Now Hiring Technici Profezzionale!
We’re Totally Hiring Tech Professionals! Req'd Education: 2 year Technical Degree or equivalent work experience PLUS 10 - 15 years of bici-shoppe experiencia PLUS no children or wife or complainings. Travel: Totally All-Times/ Most Days. Relocation: Please relocate if you are not currently staying around here. Job Description Major Hand-typed Bicycle-specific Website Corporation World-Tour team is … [Read more...]
Belgo-Californian Trail Mixxe
It was not so long ago that I had a hot pencil about this trip and this new friendset. Now, you see that it has been a long time, because that was Vuelta, and now it is CX, but here is what happened: I was thinking when I got to LA, "Great. I have worked so hard for the vacation. I will make some time for things I love. Hot Planks©, Quinoa 3 ways, Ice Yoga™, and a bike riding time. And of course, the Accu-tennis®. So how good is it that … [Read more...]
The Cult of the Bridgestone RB-1
My introduction to cycling was during the late ages of European steel. I was awarded this introduction during appeasable times as both wrench and cyclist for Domenic Malvestuto and Domenic's Cycling Imports. It was under his tutelage that I learned of the heritage of "old steel." Like fine art in some cases, I absorbed its meaning over time. In that time however, Bridgestone Bicycles, and the now-somewhat elusive RB-1 was a domesticated … [Read more...]
Subvert the Curved Brim Paradigm!
Style took a left a number of years ago, and we think it's gross. We ask you, our macho sexy friends to join us in a campaign to reinstate Handsome in the pro pelotown. Maybe doping is still okay and de rigeur, but showing up on the podium looking like Ricky Bobby is just plain embarrassing. No wonder Cadel seems always about to cry. With the help of, and motivation from mega-pen, Bill S, we are working hard together to bring … [Read more...]
American History M
This image comes to us from friend of Superissimo, Doug Ritter; a man who is no stranger to the Pro Wrench. He possesses a deep & dirty history of the American Professional Cycling saga as we know it. This image is from Spain in 1990. These kids? Doug asks, can you name them? We see some familiar faces here. So fresh, so young. You might even say poussaint? These days of 1990 were so close to the dawning of American Pro Cycling success. The … [Read more...]
Funnsheiße!
Some Superissimo may or may not be at liberty to pontificate on the frustrations of high-end bicycle repair, but, like whatevlich. Nowadays, the most en-vogue way to tickle/tackle this topic would be an open letter, but the Superissimo way is to buck trends and throw bottles. This one's a direct letter to some Alpha-hole named Dennis, which keeps it from looking like an open letter. Superissimo magique. Dennis, Dammit. Dammit. You have … [Read more...]
In the Trenches with Pro Tour Mechanic John Sessa
John Sessa is one of those few guys that can mantain exacting focus when the world might be duececasting around him. This comes in handy because In Pro Cycling, the world is often as such, and it is there that Pro Mechanics save the day. John Sessa has that ability. He's been tagged a bike-whisperer for that capability to hone in on a problem and get it fixed while grown men hold back tears of haste. Thus, today he continues to enjoy a long … [Read more...]
Just The Tip
So much talk of tools lately and how sometimes they can become "not-your-favorite". How they can become dull or haggard, and how maybe if they could help themselves, they might become "favorites" again. It's a tough row for tools to hoe, always being favorite. It caint go forever. This gets me thinking about jobs and tools pretty heavy, how they fall in and out of grace. Most of the time, tools become "not favorite" because the job isn't right … [Read more...]