Dreaming of better days got me thinking that it was high time to finally put together the full story of our Over the Alps trip. Enjoy our little adventure from back when you could freely travel all over Europe by bike.
Vans invited me to a BMX Pro Cup event in Stuttgart, Germany. With a free trip on my hands I decided to try and make the travel interesting by turning it into a little adventure. I convinced Chris Cotsonas from Fairdale Bikes to come with me. I know he likes riding bikes in the Alps since he took me there for the first time a few years ago (Bicycling Magazine Fairdale France trip). Our plan was to ride “Over the Alps” and then pick up the Rhine River Cycleway. This is a popular cycling route that follows the Rhine River from its start high in the mountains, across Europe, and all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. We wouldn’t be able to ride the entire route, but our goal of making it to Stuttgart was not too far off the trail, and it seemed achievable.
We know these are wild times and that you may be stuck indoors, potentially with kids to entertain as well. That’s why we are providing some art that you can print out and color in to help fill some time. Adults and kids alike. Enjoy!
If you share your creations on social media, be sure to use hashtag #fairdalebikes.
Our new display at Bicycle Sport Shop (on Lamar) is made up of #thriftstoreMonty paintings. Taj’s dog Monty has become our unofficial mascot. One of Taj’s hobbies is to paint Monty into thrift store paintings, and so what started out as a joke turned into an actual display!
I have a stress relief hobby where I buy cheap thrift store paintings and add Monty to them. The idea is for the process to make me laugh while I’m painting him and I try not to worry about the quality of the work (because they are just to make giggle). Jim Bauer had the idea that we could make a POP display at Fairdale’s big dealer Bicycle Sport Shop out of a collage of Thrift Store Monty paintings. And, so, a goofy joke became a real thing. Next to highly professional Specialized and Trek displays are a whole bunch of goofy Montys! He’s is in everyone one of these somewhere!
We’re happy to officially introduce the limited edition Fairdale X Chocolate Skateboards Express collaboration bike. We started discussing this project in late 2018, and we are happy to finally release it to the masses.
The Chocolate crew took our Express model and gave it a Chocolate makeover, complete with custom decals, head tube badge and branded seat with the whole bike covered in the classic red that’s so connected with the brand. Most importantly, the Chocolate Express comes with the our popular skateboard rack setup, which is the best way to bring your board with you from point A to point B. Board not included.
The Chocolate Express will be available online at Crailstore.com starting at 11am on 10/12/19. In addition, the bike will be available at the Chocolate Pop Up Shop at Bodega in DTLA on 10/12 as well.
Good news! The new 2019 Fairdale Bikes are available now through bikes shops and directly from our webstore. You’re covered! Watch this video for a quick look at each model.
At the core of bicycling is the simple and joyful act of balancing on two wheels. The physics of how a human being and a two-wheeled machine find harmony is exceedingly complicated but the sensation is somehow natural, intuitive and enjoyable. We keep that feeling in mind for every bike we design. Rather than burying the magic of riding under excessive technology and performance demands, we try to heighten the rider’s experience. Our high-end road bikes use the latest technology to enhance ride-quality and remind you that even the most grueling rides are fun. Our least expensive cruisers are not masquerading, watered down race bikes, they are purpose built around our motto “keepin’ it simple keeps it fun”.
We have a handful of new models this year along with carefully selected upgrades to our existing bikes. We hope you’ll check out our bikes and see if there is one that’s right for you. Most of all we hope you get out and ride!
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Astro Monty
If you want to have some more fun with our 2019 bikes, make sure to play Astro Monty. It’s our new video game where Monty travels through the cosmos while collecting 2019 bikes and avoiding space cows. Fly past the Fairdale Mothership to keep playing and beat the high score!
The new 2019 Fairdales are upon us! A quick preview of each bike is up now on our site. However, in order to check them out, you must first conquer the Astro Monty game. Good luck!
I have worked at bike shops for about 3 years before scoring a sweet gig here at Fairdale Bikes. Even before working here I had my eyes set on a bike with capabilities like the Rockitship, but one thing was missing. As lovely as the stock ENVE fork is, I craved more carrying capacity so I can #getoutthere. I ultimately wanted a bike that can tackle trips like the Oregon Outback Trail without compromising comfort or the amount of gear I can carry.
This is where my friend Carlos from Dark Moon Fabrications comes in. Carlos made me a custom segmented steel touring fork with similar geometry to the stock ENVE fork, but with a bit more rake to handle front loaded touring. All the parts are gathered from companies that love and shred bikes just like you and me.
This Rockitship is ready to take on the long hot dirt climbs we have here in Southern California and beyond.
Our friend Anthony Bacon from Rhythm Bike and Board just built up a new 52 cm Rockitship frame and fork with 650b wheels. Lots of folks ask us how this wheel size will work on the Rockitship so here you go!
