A couple of weeks ago we got our first two hand build frames from our frame builder in Italy. Yes people, the Porsches are here! The frames are still in a beta stage and we’ve been test riding them over these last few weeks, taking them out on rainy long distance rides to the beach and on sprints through the city, so we can fine tune them.

We’re very excited by the first design and we’re just making minor modifications to the frames. For instance we want less clearance between the wheel and the crown of the fork, as well as at the bridge over the rear wheel.

The bikes ride really smooth and super comfortable, maybe a little too comfortable. So we want to make the frames a little tighter and make the top and down tubes a little shorter to make for a shorter wheelbase and a more aggressive ride (and create some more toe overlap to keep everyone on their toes while riding our bikes). In all our excitement we immediately built up our bikes as soon as they arrived and we forgot to take pictures of the clean frames. To give you an idea of what’s to come, here is a preview:

In short, this is what there is to be said about the frames: Hand build in Italy, Columbus Thron tubing, beautiful deep lugs with hearts, custom paintjob (all RAL colors and then some) with handpainted lug details and they come with a classic or straight fork (optionally drilled for a front brake). As well as the option of a chrome fork and/or chrome chain and seat stays.

To see the frames in detail it’s best to drop by in our shop. The final details will be posted within a few weeks. The best part is that these custom build frames will come at a price of 599,- Euros. We’re giving a 50 Euro discount on all pre-orders. Available in all sizes and practically all RAL colors (metallic if you prefer) with straight or classic fork. So drop us a mail or drop by the shop for full details if interested.

Sorry for the crappy pictures. As soon as the final designed frames arrive we’ll give you a complete review with better pictures.

The opening of the shop was also the opening of the new photo exhibition upstairs in our shop/hangout. Not too much beer was thrown over Jasper Faber’s great pictures that he took of the riders at the Velodrome, with the messengers of Infinity Express and of the guys from Amsterdam Fixed Gear. Jasper Faber is a great photographer and has really captured the feel of the different scenes.

The guys and girls of 180Amsterdam/U-Turn did the exhibition and put in a lot of time and effort to create an accurate portrait of the track bike/fixed gear scene here in Amsterdam. So please drop by at any time to come and take a look at the pictures, we’re really stoked on it! It’s nice to see that some design companies actually get it and not just try to portray this as some crazy trend of bikes with no brakes. Thanks to Emile, Maren and Stephanie of 180Amsterdam/U-Turn and Peter Faber for all their time and energy and the great photo’s.

We’re going to have bi-monthly changing art/design/photo exhibtions up in our shop, we already have a bunch of names confirmed from friends and artists and photographers from all over the globe. Some directly related to fixed gear, like our friend Nathalie Hennis who did a studio photoshoot of pretty much everyone in Amsterdam Fixed Gear, and others from riders within our fixed gear scene like Baster who is working on an artshow with one of his friends. So keep checking back for more art openings and parties at the shop! And feel free to get in touch if you feel your work should hang up there.

See you around!

A big thank you to all the riders who showed up at our alleycat and everyone that came out to the party last night. We had a blast! Over a 100 people showed up, coming and going, partying and chilling out. We all enjoyed the awesome photo exhibition by U-Turn and enjoyed the free drinks. We had people from EHV FXD, Arnhem, The Hague, Rotterdam and loads of other places. We expected a lot of people but were surprised by the huge turn out. It was awesome!

Earlier that day we held ‘The Pristine 2009 Grand Opening Alleycat’ and despite the modest number of participants (too cold for all you nice weather riders? ha) it was rad. Thanks to Vis for doing a great job organising the entire thing on such a short notice!The first messengers came back in well under the hour.

The winners were:

1. Kees (1st Prize: BLB Crankset and Oury Grips)
2. Sieb (2nd Prize: Soma Dropbars and Track Grips)
3. Maurice (3rd Prize: BLB Double Toestraps and Oury Grips)

Keng didn’t get to the finish because he crashed into a van. Good thing he wasn’t hurt. Buzzworks had a consolation prize for the last one to finish, so he got the book ‘Fixed, Global Fixed Gear Bike Culture’. Congratulations dudes!

These last months have been filled with hard work but we got loads of help from our friends, family and some companies. Without them we couldn’t have managed to get this all of the ground so quick. Therefor we would like to thank the following people who made this all possible:

- Jeroen (Kinkerzooi) and Ronny Wieckardt for their designs and the new website.
- Emile, Maren, Stephanie and  Jasper Faber of U-Turn / 180 Amsterdam for the great photo exhibition and all their help.
- Jacques and Monique (and family) for their financial support.
- Our girlfriends Rena and Santina for putting up with us in these stressful times.
- Vis for organizing the Alleycat and helping out on such a short notice.
- Janus, Keng, Pierske, Kpt. Roodbaard and the Amsterdam Fixed Gear crew for the loyal support.
- Taka for all his help and DJ’ing this evening and Santina Runaway for her Rock&Roll digital vinyl spins on this opening.
- Monster drink for their quick sponsoring!
- AT5 for their short story on the Alleycat.
- Willem & Mediamatic for letting us use their vinyl cutter
- EHV FXD, Pedal Consumption and all the websites and bloggers who got the word out for this opening.
- And last but not least all of you who showed up and supported us since the beginning!

The first pictures of the party can be found here on EHVFXD.
The report on the Alleycat by AT5 can be found here.

These coming weeks we and Ronny will be working on the website to get the webshop up and running. Register if you’d like to get on our mailinglist and comment the shit out of our posts.

Hope to see you all again soon!

Ride hard,

Sammy & Gijs // Pristine Fixed Gear

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