Things are really hotting up out in Oz – although weirdly apparently the weather is pretty bloody cold…
Timed practice just went down with Sic Mic Hannah posting fastest time for the chaps followed by Hill then Greg and Tracy Moseley for the ladies, followed by Claire Buchar (Mono reckons she is looking storming on the track this week) then Fionn G. Here’s the latest vid from Mono and MTBcut.
Here’s the full press release from our friends over at Bell’s UK distro, Madison.
Growing up the son of the legendary ’70′s and ’80′s surf and skate artist who created generation-defining graphics-colorful popping eyeballs, screaming hands and all manner of skulls – Jimbo Phillips was seemingly preordained to become the torchbearer of a unique American aesthetic… or remain unnoticed under his father Jim’s considerable shadow.
Fortunately for Bell, the younger Phillips has achieved the former, not only taking the handoff from his dad, but applying his own creative sensibilities to advance the family “look”-a look Bell will employ on no less than seven helmets in the 2010 line.
“Jimbo has worked closely with the Bell graphics team for years” explained Creative Director Eli Atkins. “It’s all been so well received, we worked with Jimbo to do a proper collection for this year.”
The Jimbo Phillips Collection includes two graphics on the new Sequence helmet, two on the Variant, two on the Faction skate-style lid and one on the Drop full face helmet. Included in the collection are a pair of coordinated graphics- one on the Faction and one on the Drop-that actually create a scene when viewed together.
“Generally, people are drawn to Jimbo’s work,” said Atkins. “But skeletons choking each other might be a little too in-your-face for some, so we had Jimbo do a few of illustrations in a little more abstract and subtle way. On the whole I think there’s something for everyone.”
Phillips, who lives in Santa Cruz not far from Bell, continues to illustrate for a diverse client base including Santa Cruz Skateboards, Line Skis, The Surfrider Foundation, DC Shoes, record label Fat Wreck Chords, concert promoter Bill Graham Presents and others
-At age 18, Jimbo began working for his father doing graphics for the skateboard industry (Santa Cruz Skateboards) creating Eye popping graphics for t-shirt designs, decals, Magazine ads and Skateboards.
- In 1990 Jimbo started his own graphic art business doing art for Skateboard companyies, creating logos for local surf shops, and silkscreening t-shirts and posters for local punk and metal bands. His client list grew, and now includes great companies such as Santa Cruz Skateboards/Surfboards, Fox Racing, Sessions, Fat Wreck Chords, Bell Helmets and Natal Design (Japan).
- In 2001 Jimbo did and International Ad campain for Snickers Candy bars, which got him nominated for artist of the year by Archive Magazine. and was featured on the cover.
- In 2002 Jimbo’s Bomber chick helmet design for Giro recieved Helmet Graphic of the year in SKI Magazine.
- In 2005 his art was featured on Tony Hawk American Wasteland video game where the game weaves in and out of Jimbos comic book format.
- In 2007 Jimbo donated artwork to Second Harvest Food Bank for a skatboard graphic where all the proceeds go to help “Grind out Hunger!”
- Rob Dyrdek from MTVs “Rob and Big” show recently comissioned Jimbo for an “art piece” to add to his personal art collection.
- Jimbo is currently busy working on new designs for Santa Cruz Skateboards/Surfboards, a new shoe graphic for DC Shoes and new rock posters for ‘Bill Graham presents..’ .
Jimbo is an artist that strives to push the envelope of what is possible on a skateboard, helmet or any surface and continues to do so in an fluid yet eye catching style. Keep your eyes peeled for Jimbo’s graphic assault!
What do you all think then..? Style or vile?
Check out Jimbo’s website here, Bell’s website here and Madison’s here
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We’ve been excited in the office for a long time now after seeing design and prototype snaps of Brant Richards new hardtail design… Well Brant goes back a long way to On-One fame, and as the northern correspondant at Wideopen I’m pretty interested in hardcore hardtails. This one looks a peach and has some really nice design features, the machined bottom bracket chainstay yoke, nice dropouts, clever cable guides and I love the fact you can stick the stickers where you like them… very BMX!
We’ll be building it up with a full set of Nuke Proof gear, as previously mentioned on the blog. Keep your eyes peeled in Issue 10 for a preview snap, and a full writeup in Issue 11.
Designed by award winning designer Brant Richards of Shedfire, manufactured for us in the best frameshop in Taiwan we’ve ever seen, this is a hardcore long forked trail hardtail, designed to take everything you can throw at it.
Tubeset:
Though the word “revolutionary” is used a lot, some of the tricks Shedfire and Ragley have pulled on this custom triple internal and externally butted tubeset are right up there. The lightest long travel steel hardtail in it’s class to pass and exceed the demanding new CEN 14766 test for frame strength and durability.
Hand welded from custom drawn chromoly tubing, aligned on precision alignment table after manufacture, this is a true new-school steel hardtail with a ride that belies the strength and toughness the frame’s had built into it. Give it everything you can throw at it, and it’ll take it all. Featuring huge tyre clearances, bombproof cabling systems, and “new school” handling when coupled with contemporary long travel forks (between 130 and 150mm).
Geometry:
Featuring a slack 67.5deg head angle, coupled with a long top tube, these frames are designed to run a short stem (between 50 and 70mm) to give fine control but amazing stability, with the handling that will work at high and low speeds, through rock gardens and drops. A seat angle that puts the rider central on the bike, whatever their size, and a chainstay length that balances tyre clearance, traction and hill climbing ability.
Frame Details:
“Three Finger” chainstay bridge is exclusive to Ragley. Allows massive tyre clearance so you can fit up to 2.5in rubber, massive chainring clearance which is happy with 36t middle rings, resilience to any attempted chainsuck/derailment. Bridgeless design gives better mud clearance. Bracing to non driveside stay provides high BB stiffness for stomp-and-go power input.
• Bridgeless seatstays give awesome ride and huge mud clearance.
• Chainstay mounted disc brake calliper means lighter gauge seatstays can be used to promote sublime ride quality, give a stiffer mounting for the rear brake, and a neater mounting location.
• Rear slotted seat tube provides proven extra durability over extended front slotted models.
• Bolt on cable guides give multiple options for cable routing and replaceability.
• Custom sticker kit lets your personalise your frame your way.
• Two choices of colour
Frame Specs:
• Front Derailleur: 28.6mm Top Pull
• Seat Post: 27.2mm
• Seat Collar: 29.8/30mm
• ChainLine: 50mm
• BB Shell 68mm
• Headset 1.125in standard
• Rear disc size up to 203mm
• Fork length 130-150mm optimised.
I’ve also taken a set of blingy bling bling titanium bar end caps (after losing one of my alloy ones at Lee Quarry) on test… are they worth twice the price of the alloy counterparts? Hmmm first impression is very very nice – quality machining and lovely finish. £39.99 worth? I’d stick with alloy, but hey, titanium sparks when you catch a rock! Cool. Here’s the lowdown…
Bar caps are often thought of as bike “Bling” however there have been many documented accidents resulting from uncapped bar ends, some of which have even been fatal!
The bar caps are compatible with ODI lock on style grips, as well as conventional grips. Has a recessed face to minimize graphic scraping. The Straitline logo is laser etched on the outer edge allowing customization of the prominent end face. These are roughly twice the price of the alloy version but will last 5 or more times longer. Also, they shoot sparks when you lay it down!
• Laser etched
• 6Al-4V Titanium
• Last 5 or more times longer than the average Bar Cap
I’ve just had a good chat with Chris over at Astrix Europe and he’s really excited to say that the new 2010 Astrix race bike is about to land.
As I type the Morgan brothers are already shredding a couple of production bikes in the Alps and the remaining production sample frame is being pulled out of a spray-booth in Taiwan ready to be built up. The eagle eyed amongst you might also have noticed Ben Baker riding the production version ’001′ at the Nat Champs up at Inners.
It’s been the best part of 2 years since Astrix announced the new bike so it’s great to see that it’s finally coming together. If it all goes to plan the new bike will land in the UK in early September 2009.
Chris explained that the frame has been in development for about 2 years to get to this point. They had a few delays at the factory out in Taiwan but luckily off the back of that managed to get their hands on some improved custom tubing and had a bit of a redesign which they’re confident will improve the quality of the finished product.
First things first – the Havoc R is a UK bike. It’s being assembled overseas in Taiwan but it’s designed for riding in the UK and it’s only available to buy in the UK through Astrix Europe. Here’s the fundamentals of the new frame straight from Chris:
“Ok. It’s got World Cup geometry. No messing about with adjustable toenails, just good angles from the start. Because we run side by side with Astrix we’ll also use their patented Motolink. For production we are using a refined version of the Motolink. It’s much cleaner and looks really simple. We also have an awesome new semi metallic slip ring type bushing that outlasts plain bearings by a country mile.”
“I weighed frame with BB cups, headset cups, axel hanger and shock and it came to 12.08 lbs. That had mot vinyl graphics on though. We’ll be using a liquid decal which weighs nothing and we’ll be anodizing the frames.”
- 1.5″ head tube
- 8″ travel
- BOS Stoy shock
- 47″ w/base
- 64′ ha
- 83mm BB
- 150mm back end
- custom axle with no pinch bolt
- anodized black as standard
That’s all we’ve got for now – if you want to keep up to date on the new Havoc keep it locked here on WO or at www.ridinghighuk.com
