Carbon frames might rule the Tour de France but purists will always sing the praises of steel.
The unbreakable alloy absorbs vibration and when shaped by a skilled craftsman it delivers an
amazingly comfortable ride. TheSpeedvagen OG1 the first ready-made rig from Portland
Oregonâbased custom frame-builder Sacha White proves our case. And unlike with Whiteâs
bespoke bikes you donât have to join a five-year wait-list.$5385; thevanillaworkshop.comMail-Order Board
Learning to surf comes down to
catching as many waves as possible
whether choppy sloppy or picture-
perfect. TheAlmond Joy is ideal for
newbies becauseitadapts to nearly all
conditions. Low rocker â the curve of
the board fromtipto tailâ helpskeep
more of the Joy on top of the water
making it easier to generate speed when
paddling to catch breaking surf. A pin
tail and the V-shaped planing surface
facilitate turns. Best of all? Youâre no
longer limited to whatâs on the rack:
Almondâs online ordering allows you
to customize size color and stiffness for
aunique hand-shaped board that will
arrive in six to eight weeks.From
$895; almondsurfboards.com72
Performance Saddle
A leather Brooks saddle is an iconic
accessory fetishized by bike snobs despite
its hefty weight and long torturous
break-in period. But with theBrooks C13
the company has created an immediately
comfortable ride by swapping out leather
for vulcanized rubber and organic cotton.
Still gorgeous and at just 259 grams itâs
the lightest saddle the company has ever
produced.$220; brooksengland.comIl Dolce Vélo
The family-run factory behind the five-speedTaurus Viaggiohas been building bikes by hand
in Vanzaghello Italy since 1908 rarely skewing from the time-honored design. Now thanks to
a partnership with California-based Heritage Division the Viaggio will be available stateside too.
Leather accents ensure an urbane look front and rear lights are powered by the front hub and
onboard GPS makes it easy to rescue a stolen bike.$1500; heritagedivision.comSTYLE
DESIGN
SEPTEMBER 2016