We put the Twenty20 VholdR camera that we reviewed in Dirt Rag #140 to good use at the Dirt Rag women’s weekend at Ray’s MTB park. We shot videos featuring helmet-cam POV action of gravity-defying ladies flyin’ high. Check out cool box jump train action in the clip below.

For more action videos shot with the Twenty20 VholdR, including a cool session shot with Ray’s house lights turned off and the riders sporting NiteRider lights, visit the Dirt Rag channel at vholdr.com.

A look at upcoming bicycling events, including Dirt Rag / Bicycle Times World Tour stops at the Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival in the Philippines, Dirt Rag’s 20th Anniversary Celebration at Ray’s MTB Park in Ohio and the Sea Otter Classic in California.

Admit it. There’s something about an old bike, regardless of the intended use, style, size, shape or condition that peaks the interest of us all, drawing us in like a magnet and a steel ball. At the 2009 Seattle Bike Expo an antique bike display was set up for only one day and I almost forgot about, since it was in a separate building away from the main exhibit space.

In a brightly lit room, clear of any other distractions, a collection of mostly vintage bicycles from England, France, Italy, and the U.S. (circa 1920-1990) stood in rows on track-like wood flooring. At first I saw only road racing machines, track bikes, folding city types and some long distant touring steeds. Slowing moving around the room the finer details began to reveal themselves.

Incredibly swept and bent drop bars perched upon adjustable length sliding stems were real steel beauties, the thinking and craftsmanship of times gone by. Heavy fixed gearing, cotter-pins, and leather toe-straps made me stop and envision how crazy it must have been to watch these bikes being raced and the incredible sound they must have generated when whizzing passed. Oddly enough what really stopped me in my tracks was the black leather racing shoes that some of the bikes had draped over the top tube, the laces tied together. These slim and perforated shoes had a dance-like quality to them and made the bicycles more personal and real. A far cry from the carbon soled, plastic buckled ones we cycle in today.

A vintage Campagnolo brake system, leather saddles and bags, big metal fenders and relaxed raked forks always get the attention. Detailed lugs and a split seat tube, two thin tubes running vertically with the rear tire situated between them are metallic wonders and one incredible way to make the chainstays as short as possible. Talk about snappy!

How about a three-wheeled road-type bike with a single front fender, no baskets, an amazing looking drive train and a single top tube shifter. Maybe an old stop watch mounted to the funkiest bent bars I’ve ever seen or high flanged, colored hubs are more your taste. Custom painted head tubes, wooden rims, hard plastic grips, it was all there and more photos can be found in the Dirt Rag/Bicycle Times gallery. If the opportunity ever arises and there’s an antique bicycle show or museum near you, I highly recommend checking it out. There’s no disappointment.

Personally though, my all time favorite aspect of antique bikes are the head badges. To me that small piece of worked metal or painted image proudly adorned on the head tube is a piece of history in itself. Mythical four-legged creatures with wings and tails, standing before a spoked-wheel circled by a date, builder name, or company information with together creates a shield. There’s really no other way to describe how an honest machine can make someone feel.

The premier issue of Bicycle Times, our sister publication, has been mailed to subscribers. Initial feedback has be very positive and we’d like to thank those “early adopters” who signed up to receive the new mag—sight unseen!

Here’s a sample of what’s inside the premier issue:

• From the Saddle of My Bike. The rewards of resisting the temptation to drive and instead experiencing the world from a saddle on the way to work. by Christian Seeley
• Commuting Kits: Essentials and Extras. What should you bring with you to be Scout-level prepared on your bike commute? Here’s what we think are the essentials, plus some helpful extras, in the way of tools and spare parts. by the Bicycle Times staff.
• The Rain Woke Me Up. A story about trying to connect with a familiar place made remote by time. by Mike Garrigan
• The Candy Store. We review an all-around Villager and a cruising Agwe, plus parts and accessories to help you ride more and enjoy it. We also test a collection of wet-weather cycling wear.
• Advocacy. An interview with Jonathan Maus, the self-taught journalist behind BikePortland.org, an influential news and information site for Portland area cyclists (and the rest of the country). by Jeff Lockwood
• Bike Socials. Cycling events around the country.

If you were asleep at the subscription switch, you can still own a piece of history and order a single copy of Bicycle Times #1 via this link. To make sure that you don’t miss another issue, order your Bicycle Times subscription today!

Seems like just a few short weeks have passed since Karen asked me if I’d like to travel to the Philippines to attend the 7th annual Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival (TLBF).  Hmm, let me think about that for a minute…

In its 7th year running, the TLBF will be held northwest of the Philippine capital of Manila at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, (SBFZ). SBFZ is sight of the former US Navy base at Subic Bay, and has become a successful model of military base conversion to commercial use.

Gregorio Larrazabal, aka “Goyo”, started the TLBF in his father’s honor in 2002 to “…cultivate in the youth an aptitude for physical power through a sport, which caters to the young and not so young, rich and poor alike. It is the hope of the family that this legacy will pass on as the years go, in humble remembrance of a man worthy of emulation.” Quote pulled from terrylarrazabalbikefestival.blogspot.com.

According to the blog the TLBF is “…the only multi-discipline cycling event of its kind in the Philippines and Asia…” featuring something for every imaginable cyclist (click here to see a schedule of events).  The three day festival, April 2-5 this year, features mountain bike racing ( XC, 4x, dirt jumping, downhill), trials (26″ and 20″ categories), BMX events (supercross, dirt jumping), road racing, and Olympic/standard distance triathlons.  Truly something for everyone, eh?  In addition to racing there will be a show, called FilBike, with bikes from nearly 30 companies and independent builders from Commencal, to Pivot, to Parlee, to GT.  The fun certainly won’t end when the sun sets, as Jagermeister will be sponsoring nightly parties.  More info can be found on the TLBF blog, and in this Dirt Rag Forum Thread.

Few pics from the thread:

I can’t wait to join the other 1,200+ participants, and 5,500+ attendees, to celebrate cycling of all disciplines.  Look for updates throughout the festival, here in the blog and in the Dirt Rag gallery, as there is much, much more to come.

Now if I can just sleep through the 17hr flight from LAX to Manila…

Come celebrate 20 years of Dirt Rag with us at Ray’s MTB Park. Anytime is a good time to ride at Ray’s, but the weekend of April 4-5 will be extra special.  Want to join in on the fun? Here is the low down.

We’ll be riding Ray’s both Saturday and Sunday, perhaps a bit of Friday for good measure. Paid entry to Ray’s on Saturday will net you a 20th Anniversary spoke card. This spoke card will also get you in the door at the party Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn. Food will be provided, along with beer from Troeg’s and Pabst. Space is limited at the party, so get to Ray’s early to ensure your entry into the after party.

We’ll have a booth set up also, stop by, renew your subscription, pick up some new Dirt Rag or Bicycle Times merchandise, or score some killer deals on closeout items from the Dirt Rag archives.

Always looking out for you, post party accommodations are available at the Holiday Inn at a very reasonable rate. More info at Ray’s website. There will be shuttle buses running between the hotel and Ray’s.

Come on out and celebrate with us. We couldn’t have made it this long without you.