TW Carbon - The Gymnastics of Art and Design
Spoked Dispatch Podcast Episode 1 - TW Carbon is one of only a few full-service carbon repair shops in the US. In addition to carbon repair, they produce some very unique custom painted frame works of art.
Spoked Dispatch Podcast: Episode 1
TW Carbon is one of only a few full-service carbon repair shops in the US. In addition to carbon repair, they produce some very unique custom painted frame works of art.
Over the past 20 years, carbon fiber has become a widely used material in the cycling industry. It has gone from a seemingly fragile space-aged material that was hardly affordable and even less so understood to one of the most widely used materials in the industry today.
The early carbon bike frames utilized straight carbon tubes inserted and bonded to aluminum lugs. Since then carbon technology has advanced to the point where making any shape or form is very much a reality. It is not uncommon to find carbon fiber technology used in anything from shoes to saddles to wheels and the list goes on. Today you would be hard-pressed to find a bicycle component that isn’t available in carbon.
Tools of the trade.
In August of 2020, TW Carbon moved into a new shop attached to Billy Goat Bicycle Company which was formerly A1 Bicycles. This building has been a part of St. Louis bike history for decades.
TW Carbon was started by Nick Hand out of necessity. No longer able to afford to purchase new frames after crashing during races he took it upon himself to learn how to repair frames. Between his background in art and growing up in a household of artists and engineers, he is programmed with the skills and intuition to TW a career.
2020 Panaracer Gravel Team frames
A little sneak peek of a current project.
Words - Spoked Matt
Photos - Jason Watkins
Spoked Dispatch Podcast is out!
Spoked Bikes has birthed a podcast called The Spoked Dispatch. This show features conversations with real people who have a real love of the outdoors and their community. This show is designed to highlight area folks who are true assets to our outdoor community.
The Spoked Dispatch Podcast is born.
Spoked Bikes has birthed a podcast called The Spoked Dispatch. This show features conversations with real people who have a real love of the outdoors and their community. This show is designed to highlight area folks who are true assets to our outdoor community.
Current episodes to be released feature TW Carbon which is a local carbon fiber repair and custom paint shop, followed by a three-part series featuring local mountain bike coaching and clinics for kids, adults, and women-specific classes.
Listen to Episode 0 now!
Mid South 2020 - A beautiful disaster
The Mid South is more than a bike ride. It’s an event where I found strength I didn’t know I had and didn’t know I needed.
I remember standing in the crowd near the stage as Bobby Wintle started the pre-race meeting. Most pre-race meetings last about 10 minutes, and are very utilitarian, with the sole purpose of communicating pertinent safety information such as dangerous turns, construction, SAG support, etc. And of course a lot of thanking sponsors. Bobby covered all of that, and went a step farther. He speaks with the electricity of a southern preacher, the excitement of a child who destroyed an entire bag of Halloween candy in one sitting, and the motivation and compassion of a loving family member.
As an event organizer myself, I see The Mid South as a different kind of beast. I’d never been to an event where the organizer was so engaged with the participants. These folks are usually behind the scenes with chirping walkie talkies, keeping the show running like butter on a stack of Belgian waffles. I’ve never seen Bobby hold a radio, but I have seen Bobby hug a few thousand people throughout the course of one day.
As you can tell, for me, The Mid South is more than a bike ride. It’s an event where I found strength I didn’t know I had and didn’t know I needed. I’m not fast. I usually try to finish in the top half of the field. Mid South taught me that a lot of times mental strength is more powerful than pure wattage. Watts don’t matter if you stop pedaling.
So how does this apply to a paint job? In 2019 I finished the ride in 7:43:15. It was my first year for Mid South (then Landrun 100). In 2020 I finished in 11:58:58. That’s the difference in a dry and a wet course. For 2020, I was riding a new bike - a Cannondale Topstone Carbon with an Ultegra RX double setup. Not ideal for the conditions but as they say - “Run what ya brung.”
If you’ve never seen the red Oklahoma clay or what it can do to a bike, here’s the gist.
The clay had clogged every nook and cranny of my frame - the stays, behind the cranks, in my pedals, derailleur cage, brake pads, you name it. After cleaning my bike I found that there were rocks the size of the gaps in my chainrings lodged and cemented in place with clay. These rocks gouged my bottom bracket each time I turned the crank.
When I returned home from Stillwater I took the bike down to the frame and cleaned what I could and tossed out anything unsalvageable like seized bearings. First disappointed at the state of my frame, then proud of the battle scars I knew that I had to do something about the exposed carbon surfaces. I reached out to Nick at TW Carbon to talk paint. He’s been painting and repairing frames since 2014. I’ll have more on Nick and TW Carbon in a follow-up story coming soon.
Here is the concept - I wanted something that directly represented the event from a color and graphic standpoint. I knew I wanted lots of flake in the paint because matte jobs are so 2018, and this project was unique and needed to stand out in a mass start (in a non-COVID world). The deep royal purple represents the high respect I have for this race, it’s fellow participants and Bobby and his team. I decided to throw in the pink elevation map as an ode to the red clay and course map. Although it’s not the most climby of courses, I felt that this was still important. The light blue added a lighter contrast to remind me to look up at the sky from time to time. When I enter the pain cave I tend to stare at the road 10 feet in front of me for hours at a time forgetting to enjoy the scenery.
Chris Koty's "Serious Injury By Gravel"
At mile 34, I rode into Cherryville in desperate need of $1 sloppy joes from the general store. Of course,
This story was originally posted on the blog in December 11, 2018.
I asked Chris to write up a little something to recap his first gravel ride on his new Jamis Renegade Expat. He had just completed "Serious Injury By Gravel" a 50 mile crusher with over 3,200 feet of climbing. What a way to break in a new steed. Here's his story.
-Spoked Matt
I had just completed my second ever gravel ride on March 3rd, the Callaway 50 "Lite" event of 37 miles through the windy and empty corn fields and steep hills of northeastern Jefferson City. It would be the last gravel ride on my 2013 Specialized Crosstrail which I have since converted into a rigid daily commuter. I was so depleted from basically being an upright parachute through straight-line winds that I ate an entire 14" Arris' pizza afterward and slept all the way back to St. Louis. But I was also hooked on the challenges and scenery Missouri back roads provide. That meant relegating my Frankenstein Friend to riding to work and the grocery store and finding a new whip more geared towards "shreddin' the grav grav," as the kids say.
That's what brought me to Spoked, where Matt was eager to help and became immediately invested in my bike search. I left the shop with the 2018 Jamis Renegade Expat as a top contender and it didn't take long to pull the trigger. It's a whole lot of bike for the money, featuring Shimano Tiagra components and a steel frame with a carbon composite fork. My only reservation was the baby blue paint job the stock image seemed to suggest but turned out to be a much richer blue in person with sweet topographical graphics (topographics?). Thanks to Matt's excellent customer service and to my slight dismay, the Expat arrived in time for a post-St. Patrick's Day Serious Injury by Gravel, Death by Gravel's more casual, sloppy joe oriented route in Steelville, MO. The two nights before I thoroughly enjoyed using the Expat to hop around from Rolla watering hole to Rolla watering hole (and of course to Donut King, the Rolla donut hole). There are rear rack mounts should you find yourself in a situation where you buy way too many donuts and can't carry the box.
On Sunday, the Expat proved to be a worthy companion through the entire 51.2 miles and 3291 feet of climbing with all stock components. The gearing was just enough for the steep climbs and allowed me to send-it righteously in the downhill sections. At mile 34, I rode into Cherryville in desperate need of $1 sloppy joes from the general store. Of course, I saw Matt there, but I'm not sure how many sloppy joes he ate.
The saddle was surprisingly comfortable for the entire 5-hour ride, and I do not plan on swapping it out anytime soon. The Clement XPlor's were great around town and in loose gravel. I'm looking forward to making use of the 5 separate bottle cage mounts to put out a small fire someday, or just stash a peanut butter jar full of hotdogs under my cranks and on both blades of the fork. Basically what I'm trying to say is that you can ride the Expat to your favorite donut/sloppy joe/hotdog establishment no matter the location.
-Chris Koty
New "Classically Faded" Kit
Historically, Spoked Bikes has only offered cycling kits to it's elite teams members. Since 2013, our kits have stood out on group rides and in race pelotons thanks to amazing artists, and team members, like Matt Dale (designed 2013-2015) and Jon Simons (design for 2016). People have always asked where they can get one. A few have even asked to join the team just to rock the kit.
For 2017, we've switched from exclusive to inclusive.
Introducing the "Classically Faded" kit. As the name states, we kept the design simple and classy. None of that walking billboard, logo smeared crap. The "Classically Faded" kit is simple - clean - dope. This kit won't make you sprint harder or climb faster, but it will make you feel fly as hell.
Manufacturing
For the 3rd year in a row, we're partnering with midwestern manufacturer Podiumwear. They import fabrics from Italy to Minneapolis where they print, cut, and assemble everything by hand. The Spoked Bikes Team has put these jerseys and shorts through hell. They've withstood crashes on pavement, spills in sand, and mud covered pileups. We guarantee this kit will last for years.
Sizing and Fit
To ensure your comfort while on the bike, we're offering the two different fit options. We're all shaped different and not everyone likes that skin tight racer fit. Each fit comes in a men's and women's version.
The Bronze Level - relaxed club fit
Jersey $80 // Bib shorts $115
The Bronze jersey is a 100% Polyester lightweight knit that moves and stretches with the body, while providing moisture management. Ventoux Silver is our warp knit Nylon Spandex blend that yields high compression for muscle recovery and is the optimal weight for comfort and durability.
The Silver Level - race fit
Jersey $100 // Bib shorts $140
The Silver Jersey is a 100% Polyester super lightweight knit that yields a soft feel next to the body, while providing breathability and moisture wicking through push/pull capillary action. The Silver bib features a high compression, race-oriented fit making it perfect for strenuous and demanding riding conditions.
Sizing note: When in doubt, size down.
Ordering
Pre-order ends April 9th at midnight.
All orders will be shipped to the shop for free
Estimated arrival is May 9th.
James' 24 Hour Test Ride or "Why am I Mr. Pink?"
On January 14th our pals over at All-City released the new Mr. Pink road bike. We were lucky to be one of the few shops to have a few in stock on the day of the launch. All-City had been leaking little tid-bits for a few days leading up to the launch. Judging by the reaction on social media we knew the new Mr. Pink was going to be huge!
As a shop owner, it can be hard to communicate how certain bikes ride. A 15 minute test ride around the block will give you a pretty good idea of fit and feel, but how it will handle on different road services, in varying weather conditions or up that long hill on your commute to work isn't easy to determine from inside the shop.
We've never had anyone come back from an All-City test ride unsatisfied but we thought, "What if you could test ride a bike for 24 hours? Then you'd really know, with all certainty, how a bike feels before you take it home." So we decided to run a contest allowing the lucky winner to own a brand new Mr. Pink for an entire day.
James was the lucky winner and he was kind enough to write up a little review for everyone documenting his day in the life. Thanks James.
-Spoked Matt
Why am I Mr. Pink?
Smooth, fast, beautiful, and practical.
Ever since I saw the cherry red Mr. Pink on a shop floor in 2014, I have wanted one. Columbus steel, clearance for huge tires (32s - or some 35s!), fender mounts, and great style. Road, commuting, gravel - this is a bike that could take you a lot of places. I ended up buying a different All-City that day (Nature Boy) - and three others since then (Space Horse, Nature Boy Zona, and Log Lady) - but it had always stayed in my mind.
Fast forward to 2017.
Over the last few years, All-City has been tweaking and improving their lineup, and the Mr. Pink is no exception. Gone are the PF30 bottom bracket, ten speed Shimano/FSA groupset, mixed cockpit components, and steel fork. The 2016 model introduced the BSA bottom bracket and Rival 22 group, and the latest iteration adds a matching Zipp cockpit and a slick Whisky carbon fork that was engineered specifically to match this bike. The complete build package is as nice as anything All-City has ever put together, and the Merckx Team Motorola-inspired paintjob is just killer.
The ride.
Spoked Bikes & Stuff raffled a 24-hour test ride as part of their 2017 Mr. Pink Release Party in January. As someone who has wanted one of these bikes for years, I jumped at the opportunity and was fortunate enough to win. The next weekend's forecast was unseasonable - sun all day, and temps in the mid-70s! I installed a saddle that I am familiar with, as well as a set of iSSi road pedals provided by Spoked, and met up with a couple of friends to hit the road. Over the next few hours, I ended up riding fifty six miles total, through road, gravel, grass, and dirt. The Mr. Pink took everything I threw at it like a champ.
Verdict.
The carbon fork was an upgrade that I was a little skeptical about on paper. I have steel forks on most of my bikes, including my All-Citys. I like the way they look, and really like the way they ride - predictable and solid, but comfortable at the same time. That said, the combination of the Columbus Zona frame with the new Whisky carbon fork makes this bike. It's lighter, sure, so obviously it's going to climb better, but it really eats up the chatter you'll encounter on gravel and rough roads, and even riding on the stock 28c tires, I was as comfortable after a half century as I have ever been. The Rival 22 groupset was practically invisible, which is about as high of praise as I can offer a shift group, especially on a bike I had not ridden before. Never had to think about it, which made it easier to take in the scenery and environment. All-City even thoughtfully spec'ed a WiFli rear derailleur so that you can install an 11-32 cassette for steeper climbs. Add in a set of 32 or 35c tires, there really wouldn't be a limit to the "enduro gravel adventure all-road" rides that you can do. The off-the-rack Mr. Pink has become a legit choice to be one's 'only' road bike.
Bicycle Resolutions: What's Your 2016?
It's a new year and it is what you make it. We want to help you make it one filled with friends and bicycles. Here are just a few things we've put together to help you get your pedals spinning - and of course, keep an eye on our Facebook Page and our Events Page for more Spoked happenings and updates.
It's a new year and it is what you make it. We want to help you make it one filled with friends and bicycles. Here are just a few things we've put together to help you get your pedals spinning - and of course, keep an eye on our Facebook Page and our Events Page for more Spoked happenings and updates.
Spoked Ride Rewards
We will be offering monthly deals to the Spoked Bikes & Stuff customers who top the charts for most cumulative distance, single longest ride and most miles climbed. This is our way to reward you for doing what you love. Too cold out for you? Log your indoor trainer miles because hey count too. To register just head over to Strava and request to join our group.
"Easy [Like] Sunday Morning" Ride
We've recently reformatted our Sunday Shop Ride. Almost every bike shop in St. Louis hosts a weekly ride in some shape or form. Some are training rides for the competitive type, some are slow strolls along the riverfront and others are a mix. There is a common thread running through these rides - they are all based on a concrete route that repeats week after week. This is why we change our ride up each week and what's even better is that we all choose as a group. Meet us at the shop every Sunday morning at 8:30am for coffee and conversation. We'll pick our route and destination together.
Monthly Gran Fondos
Our Gran Fondo rides have been a hit so we're gonna keep them rolling all year round. These longer rides vary anywhere from 60-90 miles and are geared more towards the intermediate riders. Just like our "Easy [Like] Sunday Morning" ride, the route changes each month.
Wednesday Bike Blitz
The winter can make riding brutal even for the most seasoned riders. Join us every Wednesday from 7pm-9pm at The Handlebar for “Bike Blitz.” It’s totally free so challenge all of your friends or total strangers to to indoor bike races. The winner of each race gets a free Pabst Blue Ribbon. Overall prizes are given at the end of the night to the fastest man & women, and the rider with the most races thanks to us at Spoked Bikes & Stuff, The Handlebar and Retro Image Apparel.
#crossishere
Of the 850+ bike related profiles we follow on Instagram, we noticed a certain hashtag popping up much earlier than usual. #crossiscoming.
Of the 850+ bike related profiles we follow on Instagram, we noticed a certain hashtag popping up much earlier than usual. #crossiscoming. Industry wide, cyclocross is one of the most rapidly growing areas of cycling - more so than bike camping, gravel grinding and longer Gran Fondo style races, which have all seen a recent surge. (Check our Facebook and Events page for up to date info on our rides.)
But now, #crossishere and we're stoked!
Here are a few cyclocross bikes we have in stock.
- The Fairdale Parser -
This is almost as simple and straight forward as a cyclocross bike gets. Steel frame, drop handlebars, knobby tires and cantilever brakes. It's a single speed with an added bonus - a second cog in the back. Riding on city streets then heading to the trails? Simply move the chain to the easier cog.
Regularly $770
Now $690
- The All-City Nature Boy Disc -
All-City is out of Minneapolis, MN and they know tough weather cycling which might be one of the reasons they equipped the Nature Boy Disc with disc brakes. The frame's appearance is inspired by the sturdy steel frames found in classic vintage bikes. It handles like figure skater and climbs like a wild mountain cougar. Right out of the gate, this race ready complete bike cuts no corners on the parts list. You won't need to upgrade anything. Confidence is key whether you're racing cyclocross, commuting in shabby conditions or heading out on a beer run.
Photo courtesy of The Radavist.
$1,249
- The Fairdale Weekender Drop -
Looking for a wider range of gears? The Fairdale Weekender Drop takes the idea of a traditional geared bike and trims the complexity without losing focus on the end goal - a comfortable, dependable ride able to take on long rides as well as big climbs in all conditions. The most interesting thing about the Weekender Drop is the drivetrain (crankset, chainring, chain, cogs, shifters, etc.). It's single front chainring, instead of the traditional two or three, and 10 rear cogs perform the same functions but with half the traditional drivetrain components. The ease of shifting is controlled only by one hand and the added cogs in the back give you the same range as before. Simple, sturdy and dependable.
$1,250
Gateway Cup 2015
For most local and regional crit racers, this is no doubt the biggest race series of the year and since this is the second year that The Gateway Cup has been part of USA Cycling's (USAC) National Criterium Calendar (NCC) the national appeal is much greater. The turnout was one of the greatest in years past, partly due to the fact that these were the final NCC races for 2015. Up next #crossiscoming.
The Spoked Bikes team was amped to reunite in their hometown from places like Chicago and Denver. George Jordan, back from Denver, has been training in the mountains for the past year. That thin clean air and thousands of feet of climbing opened up a spiritual gate allowing him to harness the Merckx power straight from his frame. Zach Slavens has been spending most of his season trying to stay upright in the fixed crit circuit. His showings at the Brooklyn Red Hook Crit, Fyxation Fixed Crit and LA's Civic Center Crit have removed any sense of nerves he once possessed - mental or physical. Last but not least is Joe Proszowski. Joe's a former collegiate football player turned cyclist. He's the hardest working domestique we've got. All three of these guys are regularly standing on the top of podiums at their local tracks.
Although no one made it to the podium, they all crushed it. The temperature was never below 95 degrees at race starts and the heat indexes were well over 100 degrees all weekend long. The most difficult part for every Gateway Cup racer was to stay hydrated. The spectators had no issues there.
The theme for this weekend was family no matter if its by blood, bicycle or beer. It important to forget the everyday responsibilities and stresses of life. High fives and cold brews forever.
Here are the weekend's results.
Cheers,
-Matt
Rad photos by Chis Green at A Greener Film
Gone [Ice] Fishin'
Attention Ladies and Gentlemen!!!
We'd like to announce that we will be closed Thursday, February 19th through February Monday, Feb. 23rd to attend Frostbike, a trade show in Minneapolis, MN. It's not considered a vacation if you're going somewhere colder, right?
We'll be meeting with a lot of brands to check out all of the new bikes and gear that will be released this spring/summer and even some things that won't be out until 2016. These conferences allow us the opportunity to hand pick the products and companies we want to work with and these decisions are made by meeting the makers, physically touching and testing the products. I can tell you that our standards are high.
Some shops sit in their back offices and look through catalogs placing orders based on colors or sheer profit margins. As a small business, we have to be aware of the numbers, but the way we see, we'd rather have a shop where our numbers are driven by our customer's trust and loyalty. The best way to accomplish this is to have a solid selection of products that you, as a smart customer, know will last you years.
We appreciate you patience. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter to see what we see.
-Matt