'Pop Up Tour De France: The World's Greatest Bike Race' by Pamela Pease

Not as much a review as a 'launch'.

The very friendly people at Paintbox Press sent me a copy of their brand new book just in time before I take a little break.



It's a big old pop up book for children and adults that covers everything from the history of the bicycle, the race, the jerseys, types of staff and riders, the caravan, route, mountains, different types of stage etc.

I realised I am not going to give you too many photos of the book itself because half of the fun of a pop-up is seeing what happens next.

It's definitely a good gift for the young budding Nicole Cooke, no offense to Emma Pooley, or aspiring Chris Boardman, as you can see two year old Molly loved looking through it.

The illustrations are bright, simple and colourful, and convey the patterns and colours of the sport and it's landscape. Or as Bernard Hinault says:

"Pop-Up Tour de France capture's the spirit of the world's mos exciting bike race. This pop-up book is a fun introduction to the sport of competitive cycling for fans of all ages."


So head on over to the official blog of 'Pop-Up Tour de France' for more information and further Tour news. I'll leave you with the words of my daughter Molly:

Welsh Champion

I guess I called this one two a month or so ago.

Geraint Thomas won the British National RR Championship today.
In fact Team Sky scored a one, two, three sweep of the podium on a fantastic day for the team.

So he'll be wearing the red white and blue of the GB National Jersey in the Tour De France this year.
Let's hope he'll be able to add a little green or a dragon or something for Wales, maybe a frame or helmet decal.

On that note Endura clothing have released jerseys celebrating the flags of the United Kingdom, this is their Welsh jersey - I quite like it but I'd get oily fingerprints on that white within a week or so!

Top photo by Gary McManus and Cyclingnews, jersey photos from Pro Bike Kit.

3 Speeds

My Uncle in Law Mr Dave Esmond, guitarist, photographer, bike mechanic and lover of all things vintage has been acquiring and restoring a few 3 speeds recently. Not something I am particularly accustomed with but let's face it, probably much more suitable to city commuting that a fixie - no offense intended to anyone.


Here a couple of beautiful photos of his latest revivals a Raleigh and a Robin Hood (made by Raleigh in Nottingham, UK - appropriately). Must admit I have never heard of a Robin Hood before, but it look's lovely.

Dave also plays in the 'August Teens' based out of Madison, Wisc. Keep an ear out for them.

Thanks, Steve

'the Classics project'

What started as a simple drawing exercise became a feature story on Cyclingnews - see it here.

It's always such a thrill to hear that people enjoy the work that I have so much fun creating.
My thanks to Greg and everyone at the site for the article.

Click here to download a small pdf booklet of all the pieces in 'the Classics project'.

The Lost Cyclist

.....Frank Lenz, a 24-year-old wheelman, departed New York in 1892 to round the globe — a trip grippingly detailed in David Herlihy’s “Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance.” Whether you consider Lenz’s disappearance mysterious or not will have to do with your attitude toward biking in deserts, but suffice it to say Lenz’s trip ends when he goes where everyone told him not to go — eastern Turkey, in the midst of a Turkish and Kurdish campaign that would kill some 10,000 Armenian civilians. .....

Seeing as I have not read the book and do not write for the NYTimes you should go here to read more about this fascinating sounding book.

Wheels of Fire

Saw this at the park today - Sweet bike combo and look at the tread on that tyre..... smokin'

"I've been tellin' ya..."

"The Heat is On" from Jim Fryer/BrakeThrough Media on Vimeo.

Even better with Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke and the rest of the Brits involved.

Nice.

Fleche Wallonne - Classics Project

"Fleche Wallonne"
Digital - 'IOgraph' - 2010

Well that's a wrap.
All the winners of this spring's classics.
I found it harder and harder to continue to stay loose doing each successive portrait. In fact I did about three of Cadel's win today. This was the first.

I drew it using a Wacom tablet and pen and the IOgraph program.

It captures all your mouse movement and draws them on a blank canvas......Now the most interesting part — forget about IOGraph for the rest of your work. Actually for any time you wish. As soon as you come back to the program you will see all the mouse trails and stops. Trails are just lines, stops are just circles. The bigger the circle, the longer the stop was.

Turned out pretty exciting.
I just ordered a large print of it to see how it will look framed.
I am intrigued to see what I make of it physically instead of onscreen - a first for me.

Cicli Stucchi

Walter Molini

Walter Molini was an Italian comic strip artist who created popular strips for magazines and the press. In 1941 he began drawing covers for Domenica del Corriere a Sunday newspaper. Thank god they weren't printing photographic covers because he drawings are stunning.

This cover for the 1959 Giro d'Italia portrays Charly Gaul, Rik Van Looy, Gastone Necini, Ercole Baldini, Migual Poblet, Vitero Favero and Jacque Anquetil.


Some more dynamic pieces below.

Images from Art Online and others.

Post 'em Up.

The stage winners of the 2010 Giro d'Italia show variations on the victory 'post up'.
From the sprinter's open handed thrust, the breakaway's open arms and the
'I'm so shattered I can barely raise a hand to wave'.

19 victory salutes including the final podium, alas for sake of 'needing arms',
none of the TT victories - sorry guys.

Feel free to download this image here under a creative commons license:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendennis/4691593103/in/set-72157624130635671/

Alternatively buy prints delivered directly to your home here at the Untapped Source:
http://www.theuntappedsource.com/details.php?prodId=13219&secondary=3

More prints of work from my gallery will be available as prints in August.


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World Cup of Cycling

Eurosport has a strange blogger on it's payroll by the name of Blazing saddles.

Not something I would bring to your attention normally but this tickled me.

If we take the leading cyclist of each of the Soccer World Cup nations and place them head to head instead of the soccer teams - who wins the World Cup?

Now Blazing Saddles makes a few surprising selections in regards to the leading cyclists - not sure if I would have Wiggo as GB's best right now, or Lance for the US? And one shock result occurs when Wiggins beats Cadel Evans and England progresses. Hell maybe this is actually a good chance for Australia to actually win the cup.

Fun read though - read more here.

Possible Bike Thieves at Irving Park Blue Line station

So my wife and I each carrying a toddler stepped off the train at Irving Park Blue line station and walking from there I noticed two guys turn and walk away, one of whom then proceeded to place the 2' long bolt cutters he was carrying into a hold all. I then saw that various bikes chained to the racks were all lying on the floor.

Mentioned it to my wife and kept an eye on them whilst looking for a patrol car. As the two suspicious guys crossed the road we informed the station attendant who told us that a couple of bikes had recently been stolen.

We noted where the guys were headed and phoned the police when we got home. The said they would send someone. Then Sarah called them again as the two suspects walked past our porch but this time with a bike. They said they were sending someone. I jumped on my bike, kept my distance and followed the guys into a dead end and noted where they went.

Can you find a patrol car when you want one? I even went to the diner and Dunkin Donuts - what are the chances of no police cars at either. I stood on the street or 15 minutes but saw no help from those in blue.

Someone is going to get off their train this afternoon expecting a nice little ride home in the sun and will be very dissappointed.

So, I am guessing we should be extra vigilant when locking bikes up, especially around the Blue line up here. Also if you see someone walking around with bolt cutters it is something the police should like to be notified about - it is not normal behaviour and any innocent mechanic or construction worker will have nothing to fear.

So details, if anyone feels like keeping an eye open.

White guy around 6', very stocky, cropped ginger hair, white t-shirt and black shorts. Carrying a black hold all and 3' long bolt cutters.

African American guy (teen) similar height, cropped black hair, red basketball vest with number '00' in white on back with white side panels containing stars. Last seen reaching the end of Lowell Avenue as it dead ends one block north of Irving Park with a black coloured bike - possibly not theirs.

Welshman wearing jersey at Criterium du Dauphine.

Geraint Thomas has been riding superbly this year and is having a stellar Criterium du Dauphine.
Due to his 7th place in today's TT, 4th in the prologue and 9th yesterday he is now 5th overall and leads the points classification.

British Road Champs are coming up - a Welshman to wear the jersey - go on my son.



Image from ISPA and Cyclingnews.

Commercial Illustrations

Two illustrations to share.




The first, by Ken Orvidas, I found on the NYTimes website. Ken's website is here.



The second by Kathryn Rathke. Her website is here.

Liege Bastogne Liege - Classics project

Liege Bastogne Liege

16.5" x 11.5" - 2010 - Acrylic on black paper

Tough one this.

So much for trying to make these a quick drawing exercise, I mean now I want them to make a great set of pieces and don't want to start messing them up.
Vino won the race - fair enough - he has been always been an impressive attacking rider - maybe we know why - but his return to winning ways especially with Astana leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and his poor racing antics at the Giro don't help his cause.

I chose to reference a photograph that captured him in a moment of exhaustion, relief and victory. Then by darkening the shadows and working loosely on black paper I hope to suggest a little more, maybe it's guilt.

Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle

Core 77 has posted a full gallery of shots taken at 'Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle' currently on exhibit at NYC's Museum of Art and Design.

View the full gallery here at Core 77