The Vanilla Tricycle best in show from NAHBS 2006 and a Stainless Commuter that set the groundwork for what would become the Speedvagen Urban Racer.
For the past 7 years our shop has been split between two buildings. Fabrication, paint, and build in one building, and customer service, design, and shipping in the other.
Over the last two weeks we have offically moved our “office” side into our new shop, located only 2.4 miles north of where we were. The building is a 9800 SQ foot beautiful old machine shop, that will finally get us all under one roof. While we are not ready to unveil the entire space just yet as fabrication/paint will move later this year. We will be sharing some select images and progress only on here.
Welcome to the next chapter of Speedvagen.
Surprise Me 2021-2022
“The Painters Proof"
Head Painter Patrick and Creative Director Richard, worked out this design in real time over the course of a full week. With many different iterations refined in the computer beforehand. Going in we knew this could push our limits, but it became apparent minute one, when nearly every pattern planned was so fine the plotter couldn't cut them ( the machine that cuts graphics for paint masking). Revision upon revision, test after test, in real time lead us to this final scheme.
Final design before live on the spot changes during the process.
As Surprise Me is only available on custom bikes, things change pretty significantly in terms of graphic lay out due to bike sizes. This paint job in particular was like having a finished image, but then needing to cut the lines of an entire jig saw puzzle, free hand, into the image to make it work. Leaning on Richard’s background in graphic design the bike has a heavy grid structure which works to frame everything out.
Laying out the main graphic and planning for the front derailleur hanger.
The goal here was to blend the printing idea into a more graphic icons, breaking away from what these marks truly mean, instead making it visually appealing, and keeping things exciting with less repeating elements. Something that will keep you noticing new details for weeks or months of riding.
Details Details Details
Micro Prints
One of the challenges with this scheme is the paint process isn’t a CMYK or Pantone system. It’s a series of toners and formulations to create each specific color. There is no true Cyan in our paint system. This forced us to think a bit outside of the box, most blues are on the more opaque end of the paint spectrum. Knowing this, we leaned into colors that would give us those awesome CMYK style blends when overlapped. With this first bike we did a full House of Kolor neon approach, which we affectionately call “The Painters Proof”.
3 overlapping neons to create 7 total colors.
As this is Surprise Me we snuck in some extra fun details into this scheme. The text on the launch bike was left Lorem Ipsum (filler text used by designers to hold space and not influence design) so that eh customer this year will always get a portion of a surprise, even if they choose to go Surprise Me after it has released, the text and color can still be a surprise to the individual. The final touch was the custom Enve decals.
Fork paint details and custom Enve Decals.
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Drop us a line info@speedvagen.com
Ian Brown joined the Speedvagen Cyclocross team before the 2019 season and watching this young man develop into an absolute competitor in the mens Cat 1/2 here in OREGON has been fun to watch. Earlier this summer Ian, decided to take on Everlasting because of the lack of events currently being held due to Covid-19. We figured it was a good time to catch up.
1. How old are you and what made you decide to take on everesting?
I am 15 years old and I decided to take on Everesting to fulfill my need for accomplishment and a challenge with the lack of racing.
2. What was your final time and mileage? Was it easier or harder than you expected?
Total moving time was 13 hours and 32 minutes and 149 miles. In the end, Everesting was easier physically than I thought and just as hard mentally as I expected.
3. How much preparation went into this? Or was it a spur of the moment idea?
I made my decision to Everest about a week before my attempt. This was the perfect amount of time to put thought into it but also not enough time to obsess about it.
4. We commonly hear from riders after they complete an everesting that they will never do it again? Do you have any plans to ever do it again?
I think if the Everesting trend stays around I would like to go for a more time-oriented attempt, but for the moment I am content.
5. Got any pro tips for others who plan to take on an Everesting Attempt?
My tips for anyone wanting to Everest would be to bring food you like and will want to eat after 10+ hours of pedaling (and enough of it!). My second tip would be to find a hill or bike you have some sort of connection with to give you an edge when the going gets tough.
11 questions with Ian Brown
1. How did you get into racing cyclocross?
I got into racing Cyclocross watching my Dad race across Oregon.
2. What's your favorite cyclocross course on the Oregon schedule?
Can't beat a sloppy Alpenrose.
3. Cross racing or Mountainbike riding?
At the moment CX racing but it's hard to top recklessly flying downhill on a mountain bike.
4. Tater tots or Fries?
Fries!
5. What is your ultimate goal for your cycling?
Making it over to race CX in Europe and experiencing their level of racing would be pretty rad.
6. Last book you read?
Hmm… The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
7. All time favorite athlete?
Tom Pidcock
8. Go to after race/ride treat, snack, or food.
San Pellegrino, Bread and Brie. Luxury.
9. What are your goals for the 2020 season?
For the 2020 season I would like to win CX nationals and snag a Cross Crusade win. But with the current pandemic, my goals will adjust accordingly.
10. Last year you started racing with the Oregon Mens pro 1/2. How was that experience as a fifteen year old, racing a majority of people who are about twice your age. Have any of the older racers given you any advice that stands out?
Racing with the 1/2’s last year was really fun. I saw my racing strategy get better and better throughout the season as the competition is so fast. I had to learn how to use my technical abilities and pacing in order to try to keep up with the fast guys.
11. What keeps you motivated?
I get a lot of motivation from my competitive drive wanting to do better and better but also from riding with my teammates and friends and seeing their success. Ohh and food, good food always helps.
Words and Photos by: Andy Rogers
Things improving with age is what I would label as one of those almost universally understood ideas; wine, cheese, a cast iron skillet, jeans - there’s a myriad of things that we use that we agree only get better as time goes on, as they’re used and worn with love. Why should a bike be any different?
In an industry obsessed with developing the next bright idea, and constantly making improvements to quench the seemingly endless thirst of the consumer urge, the idea that a bike could last the test of time and stay in someone’s garage for more than a season or two has almost vanished.
I’ve always had an affinity for steel bikes. My first road bike was an old, un-marked steel frame that had been painted over at some point in its life. All that was known was that it was made with Columbus tubing. From there, my love of steel bikes only continued to blossom - which ultimately ended up deciding that a hand built Speedvagen was the bike of my dreams.
I knew I wanted a bike that would stay with me. Stay with me through adventures. Stay with me through crashes. Stay with me through the ups and downs of cycling - and it has done just that.
It’s been almost 6 and half years since I received that unassuming bike box with a small flower design cut into it. Since then, this bike has seen many things. It has seen mountain tops. Pouring rain. It’s seen gravel roads that were probably a little bit much for it but hey, they were fun! It’s seen different countries. It’s seen abuse but it’s also seen care and attention.
It’s starting to show its age a bit - there’s chips in the beautiful paint from stones, being thrown in boxes on planes and crashed - but I think that’s the part I love most about it. I’ve gone through waves of wanting to change the paint as my aesthetic changed but now I couldn’t imagine getting rid of that character. Much like scars on our bodies, these scrapes and dents hold memories for me that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I hope that when I’m older and sore and maybe not riding much any more that this bike will still be waiting for me in my living room, or worst case hanging on the wall.
When you are ready for your next bike, think about all the fun escapes you could take over the years. All the races you could go to and all the memories you could store in it. Maybe think of your bike less like a tool, and more of a companion - It's about where you want to take cycling, not where the cycling industry wants to take you.
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Drop us a line info@speedvagen.com
Dirty Kanza has a reputation for being one of the hardest gravel events in the country. For the first time Speedvagen had two riders out there. Christian Meier, owner of The Service Course, and former world tour pro. As well as track racing star Ashton Lambie. Below is a photo essay shot by Andy White, accompanied by some narration from the outside looking in and a Q & A with Christian.
Preface
by: Richard Pool
The morning of DK I woke up knowing the race would have a few hours head start, due to the early start time and time zone changes. A 10-18 hour race in the remote regions of the Flint Hills is super hard to cover and really the only way to watch the race unfold from afar is through hashtags and checkpoints. When I first checked in, I saw on Instagram that Christian Meier was off the front and had a 3 minute gap at mile 20, that lead ballooned to 6 minutes. a short while Later.
Q: Was going off the front from the gun planned? It’s a super bold move and one I think could work at DK, but you have to have a flawless ride with zero flats to stay out of sight. Can you walk us through your thoughts during that solo time?
I did think about it but wasn’t really planning on it, it just sort of happened as I followed a guy and then not long after he went back to the peloton. I think it could maybe work though, you are right, would be epic! Though I had issues that later on.
Ashton Lambie raced the 100 mile event with a big track block coming the week after DK. Rolling into checkpoint one, making a super fast pit and getting out of there before the dust had even settled from his rear wheel. From minute 40 on he was off the front and never looked back. Finishing in 5:05 with a 20+ mile per hour average.
Checking in with Andy, after a stretch of silence on the internet he updated that Christian had a string of flats that cost him the lead.
How many flats did you get?
I got two flats, one I managed quite quickly with a Dynaplug but the other I had to tube it.
Give me one word to describe your day?
Suffering.
You always hear how hard DK is we are curious from your perspective as a former pro, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the hardest) compared to every race you have ever done in terms of difficulty where would you place DK
That’s a tough one, the course itself is quite demanding but as far at the gravel goes it’s not too technical and quite fast. What made it hard for me was pushing though when I was already really cooked, those circumstances made it probably one of the hardest things I have done on a bike, even in grand tours it may not be the course itself that makes a day hard but more the circumstances around it.
What was your highest emotional point of the day and what was your lowest?
The high of the day was for sure the early morning, solo, sun rising, flying on the straight roads with all the animals about, amazing. At the second feedzone at 150 I was in pretty rough shape and I knew those last 50 miles were going to be extremely hard, so I would say that was the low point.
Anything you regret about your day?
Nothing! It was probably the most I have ever suffered on a bike but I needed to finish. I was empty and depleted at the second feed but pushed through with the help of a mate. Off the front solo during those first 65 miles was incredible, the sun coming up, all sorts of animals out, it’s was amazing!
Was DK what you expected?
It was and wasn’t. I have done some long events like this in the past couple of years, and they tend to be a good discipline for me but on the day many things went pear shaped for me. I was not ready for that heat and my eating and drinking plan was not right for DK.
What was your nutrition plan?
I had planned nutrition using some good natural bars and fat gels, a bit of carbo drink but mostly water. Going back I would definitely go with more real food like small sandwiches both sweet and savory, skip the carbo drink and stick to a bit of salt in the snacks. I usually go well on mars bars but maybe a bit too hot for DK..
Will you be making a second attempt next year?
I will definitely need to do it again, I can’t leave it like that as I don’t feel I was able to really give my best physical effort.
Give new comers one thing to know before attempting DK?
There are a lot of hills! Kansas is not flat!
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Drop us a line info@speedvagen.com
(11….hard hitting questions with Jenn Levo. OG Speedvagen designer and customer service manager)
1. Where are you right now?
1735 SE Powell Blvd.
Workshop headquarters.
2. Road or CX?
My favorite race is a crit. When I first started racing here in Oregon, every weekend in the summer from June to August we'd have a crit on Saturday and then on Sunday. You spent all summer going fast in circles around city blocks and people would come out to watch and cheer you on. It was a good summer if you won enough money to pay for all of your races, buy some beer for your teammates, and you still had all of your skin left.
3. Give us a cycling "Pro Tip" that has made an impact on you?
Skate deck grip tape on my CX levers for better tactile advantage in wet muddy conditions with gloves. Hat Tip KFC!
4. Tater tots or Fries?
Sweet potato fries.
5. What do you put on a bagel?
Did you know that a proper crispy but chewy bagel is my favorite food? It's my favorite because it's such an easy thing to get anytime you want. I figure, why have a favorite food like a fancy restaurant steak that you only eat once and a while, when you can eat something simple and amazing and it can make you happy every day?! It's so easy and affordable! But... at the same time, if I ate a bagel everyday it might get old real quick. That's why I only have one bagel a week. It's a rule. And, I always get the chive spread, but if I wanted to treat myself I'd get lox, capers and tiny little slivers of red onion. *Also, if I have poppy seeds in my teeth please tell me.*
6. Last book you read?
I'll Be Gone in the Dark, by Michelle McNamara. (It's about the Golden State Killer. I actually borrowed it from the library twice; however, the first time I chickened out of reading it because... murder. The second time I borrowed it, I polished it off in about a week. It was that good!)
7. Favorite race you have ever done?
My favorite race was also my favorite day on the bike ever, and also the hardest day on the bike ever, the 2013 Rapha Women's Prestige. We had a really solid crew of Ironclad ladies together for the 123 mile race, but at mile 30 we had some mechanical issues on Mt. Tam that put us in last place pretty quickly. There were so many opportunities in the remaining 90ish miles for us to quit, but we pulled together, problem solved and finished before Rapha shut the clubhouse down at sunset.
8. Favorite Cyclist all time?
Tina Brubaker. ;) LEGEND!
9. Whats next?
Good question.
10. Soup... true or false? Why?
False. I like chewing my food while I still can.
11. Favorite bike we have made since you started
I'd have to say that while there have been a lot of really super nice builds that we've put out the door in my almost seven years at Vanilla, it's hard to pick. I help everyone with their orders, so I've most likely seen slightly under 1000 bikes go out the door. I think picking my favorite of those would be like Charlotte (from Charlotte's Web) picking the favorite of all her spider children. As a result, I'll say my favorite bike that we've made was my first Speedvagen, a geared CX bike. In my first year here, I spent a lot of time day dreaming about my bike... especially what paint scheme and colors I wanted to use. When you can do "almost" anything you want, it's harder to decide than having a limited amount of options (the struggle is real). I loved how it all turned out and every time I look at that bike, I smile. It fills me with so many warm fuzzies. Which, that's what I want all of our customers to feel when they look at their Speedvagens. I understand.
By the numbers
May 21st 2019
Commuters:
4 bike (12 miles )
5 car
Dogs
Anna
Weather
So much sun and warmth
Coffee:
3 pour overs
What’s new?
Our Holla Text 4.0 Stay Faded Tee! because it’s all about that base fade!
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Send them to info@speedvagen.com
The day in 4 photos.
By the numbers
May 7th 2019
Commuters:
4 bike (12 miles )
5 car
Dogs
Anna
Weather
So much sun and warmth
Coffee:
3 pour overs
Update
As you know we have been on the road, both with an over seas Fitting Tour as well as Sea Otter. Now that the dust has settled we are back at the shop cooking on new ideas and projects. We just reloaded on a fresh batch of GTFO's. We are also developing a few new parts spec for that bike as it was design with the knowledge of eTap Eagle AXS was on the way.
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Send them to info@speedvagen.com
The day in 4 photos.
By the numbers
April 2nd. 2019
Commuters:
3 bike (12 miles )
6 car
Dogs
none
Weather
rain
Coffee:
2 Pot
1 Chemex
Music:
Spotify: Daily Mix 4
Mood
So busy with Sea Otter prep.
Questions? Comments? High Fives? Send them to info@speedvagen.com
