Tag Archives: carbon

Bridgestone Anchor Carbon Track Bike – FAPCPT

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Is a carbon bike “vintage” if it’s old enough to buy beer?  This Bridgestone Anchor track bike was born in 1999 (making it technically “Gen Z”) and represents their first foray into monocoque carbon frames.  “FAPCPT” is a convoluted and unfortunate model name, evocative of onanistic internet slang.  It’s all relative I suppose, considering the brand name is “Anchor,” a word that doesn’t convey a sense of lightness or speed (or even motion itself).  Both the brand, and this bike in particular were created for the Japanese market and not with an English-speaking audience in mind.  Silly names aside, this bike is a work of art, with clean, sculptured lines and a svelte profile.  Read on to learn more about this rare early carbon track bike.

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Look KG 196 Monoblade

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The Look KG 196 is the bicycle equivalent of techno music: no matter how many decades pass, it still looks like a radical vision of the future.  First introduced in 1993, the Look KG 196 introduced several groundbreaking new developments in the design and manufacture of carbon bicycles.  Most modern carbon bikes can trace their roots directly back to the KG 196, with its monocoque frame design and radical Monoblade fork.  I spent almost a decade searching for one in my size, and finally found one in early 2020.  It took another two years to build it up with a carefully chosen parts kit designed to balance the kind of riding I like to do with components that compliment the aesthetics of the bike.  Read on for more photos and history of the Look KG 196!

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Unknown Cycles Combat Fixed Gear Build

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Unknown Bike Co. is a new California-based manufacturer of fixed gear bikes.  Based in Long Beach, they currently offer five different frames.  Most are aluminum and all offer an extremely lightweight and stiff ride.  This particular bike is their “Combat” model, which is more of an urban fixed than a purebred track beast.  I got a size 52cm new in a trade earlier this year, complete with Unknown carbon fork and their “K6” track crankset.

unknown3The Combat is a surprisingly well-made frame, considering the $175 price tag, making it very competitive with aluminum fixed frames from the big names like Bianchi or Cinelli.

The fork will set you back an additional $225 and the cranks are $200, bringing the overall cost up quite a bit.  However both pieces of kit are impressive, both in looks and manufacturing quality.  Where many other companies cut corners with steel forks and cheapo single speed cranks, Unknown sets the bar high.

I built it up with a brand new Bianchi Pista wheelset, matte-black track pedals, classy black saddle, SRAM PC-1 chain, Specialized stem, and lightweight OS aluminum riser bars.  The logos are very low-key and blend into the frame and cranks beautifully.  It’s up on NYC Craigslist right now as I’ve got too many bikes already, and hopefully it will go to a good home soon.

Check out more hi-res photos after the jump…

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Cannondale CAADX Cyclocross Bike Build

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In the spring of 2015 I scored a couple of great deals at a local bike swap meet.  One of them was this Cannondale CAADX frame.  It came with the frame, fork, headset, seatpost, cockpit, brakes, and Shimano 105 shifters, all for $50.  It was in pretty much new condition with no scratches or wear.  So I added a new set of Shimano Sora derailleurs, a Vuelta cyclocross crankset, new pedals, and a hand-built wheelset to get it rolling.  I listed it on Craigslist for $600 and it was sold the next day.  If only every build was this easy!

Check out the gallery of hi-res photos after the jump…

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