TJ Lavin Hurt at Vegas Dew Tour

Get Well Soon TJ

TJ Lavin took a hard slam during dirt prelims at the Las Vegas Dew Tour. He was knocked out, shattered his right wrist, and fractured his orbital bone in his face. He is currently in a medically induced coma. According to everyone who is at the hospital with him, things are looking positive and doctors will hopefully be able to wake him up tomorrow. This is a very scary situation, but TJ a tough dude and we’re confident he’ll pull through this.
Best wishes to TJ and all of his family and friends!
We’ll post another update as soon as one is available.
Taken from VITALBMX.com


Danny Caluag on an MTB!

Danny C on Course…

Danny takes the title.

Twice!

Danny Caluag
Long time BMX’er and former ABA AA#1 Pro and #1 Pro Cruiser title holder, Danny Caluag as made the switch from BMX to the MTB race scene. Danny and his girlfriend have both moved from So. Cal. to Kentucky to race the NCAA race series and trading the use of their cycling skills for a higher education. Danny has always been one of the nicest kids at the races and in the cocky world of BMX that’s saying something. So, when Danny called and asked if we could hook him and Stephanie up with frames, we said “Hell Yeah, we’re all about it!”
Look for Danny C and Stephanie Barragan to be BlkMrkt mounted and killing the NCAA race circuit in 2011.
Taken from Lindsey Wilson’s Athletics page.

COLUMBIA, Ky. — The Lindsey Wilson College cycling team signed a pair of top pro BMX riders in Danny Caluag and Stephanie Barragan, head cycling coach Dave Grigsby announced on Thursday.

Both Caluag and Barragan are California natives who have enjoyed success as two of the top-rated BMX riders nationally.

In 2009, Caluag was the top ranked cruiser in the ABA, while he was also ranked No. 1 in 2008 and ranked second in the national ABA pro rankings. In 2007 Caluag was the first rider in history to be ranked No.1 in both the ABA Pro and Cruiser standings.

“I am very excited to join the Lindsey Wilson program,” Caluag said. “I have had success in BMX riding and am very excited to use those skills in a new discipline like gravity. Lindsey Wilson was the perfect fit for me with their facilities and the opportunity to receive a great education.”

Barragan finished third this season in the USA Cycling National Championship Elite Division, after finishing second in 2009 and third in 2008. In 2008, Barragan was ranked the National No. 1 Girl Pro by the NBL.

“It’s going to be great to get an education while still being able to ride at the same time,” Barragan said. “Lindsey Wilson is a perfect match for me.”

Danny C’s Mob is race ready.

Cartel… Germany

Kesi…
Happy Humpday!!! I just received a few pics from Martin Kesiewetter in Germany where they just rode the last day on the mountain in Winterberg, Germany. Kesi was able to get e few pics and sent them here for you to enjoy.
He also sent some pics from a recent rooftop jam at the shop he works for in Germany…
The Local Face… who is also a blkmrkt dealer.
Kesi whips a dub on Winterberg’s SS course.
Winterberg flattie…

Kesi rails a Winterberg berm on his day off from his duties at the Local Face bike shop.

Martin with a end of summer rooftop whip… this thing will be covered in snow soon.

Roam Update

The Roam is Coming…

As you know we have been working on a new All Mountain frame called the Roam.
Our first prototypes arrived on the 2nd day of Interbike direct from Taiwan and drawing lots of attention… but being that it was Interbike week there was no way to find the time to (A) Build it or (B) Shoot pics of it.

So, one of the first things I did when we got settled from IBike was start getting the parts together to build our new toy. After a few run-ins with shocks not fitting properly due to the lower shock box being bit narrow… Pablo was able to fit an O2 RCX but only with the controls reversed to avoid clipping the air valve… but at least we can ride it now.
But, like I said… “PROTOTYPE.”

Our first impressions of the bike… Ecstatic!!! I can’t believe how plush and deep the travel feels. Other than the proto’s really being too small for either Mondo or I to climb on comfortably… (I only had time to make one size PROTO before IBike and I chose the XS (14″) because I wanted to see if we could produce a 5.75″ bike for smaller riders first. I’m happy to say my girlfriend can stand over and ride the Roam comfortably and she’s 4’11”.) we’re totally stoked with them so far. I love the way the travel feels while descending and the 17″ chainstays feel good even on my cuttie course.
We have a few revisions we plan to implement immediately starting with getting rid of the “whale hump” toptube shape. We’ll also be going to a larger diameter top headtube bearing.
Our newest toy at the office that likes to ascend & descend… not just fly.
The Roam’s Hammer Link at rest.
The Hammer Link in motion. Plush 5.7″ of bump eating travel perfect for Super “D” and shralpin’ your daily trails.

Finally, Mondo and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the support… We’re trying to become a real bicycle company making products that have a purpose and promote cycling and having fun…

That’s it…

Project NSF

Project NSF…


We have been getting a lot of responses to our new project… the NSF. Mostly great feedback and people stoked we’re branching into other areas of cycling besides dirt and street. But then there’s always the other side of the coin with the haters hating. Whatever…. haters gonna hate.

The trusted BlkMrkt headbadge serves as the only decoration for the first generation NSF.

I guess mainly the reason for this post is to give you an update on this project and my reasoning behind it’s development. If you’ve listened to me terribly fumble thru the interview with Sven in Dirt Magazine’s Interbike coverage you’ve heard some of this already.

First and foremost… I’m a bike fan. I love bikes of all types… I own bikes of all types. Road, BMX, MTB dirt, MTB street and MTB trail. Bike guy… got it…

Secondly… I’m behind anything that gets more people on bikes of any kind… what’s not to like about that?

So… why the Fixie??? Because they… like your dirt jumper, street thrasher or DH rig have character and serve a purpose.
SS Road with 1 brake and hoods…

Fixies can have a very distinct stance and that’s what I’m attracted to… it’s the Hot Rod appeal of building a mean, purpose built bike with attitude and stance. Now, I don’t have to stand up and sprint to the post office… as a matter a fact I ride more than ever due to the fact we have our own commuter without that goofy city bike look and feel.

What I’ve come up with is a Single Speed road bike with attitude and character that will stand up to abuse… so put away the lycra and come for a ride.
Production NSF’s come with Taper Lock Drops standard.
Taper Lock drop outs eliminate the need for tensioners with this simple angled washer/dropout combo.

Details for the NSF are as follows:

Material: Sanko Japanese Chromoly, Full Heat Treated

Geometry:

HA/73*
SA/75*
CS/15.75″ – 4oomm

Sizes and TT lengths:

47cm/22″- 559mm
50cm/22.625″ – 575mm
53cm/23.25″ – 590mm
55cm/23.625″ – 635mm
58cm/ 24.2″ – 615mm

Seat tube O.D. 29.8mm
Seat tube ID 27.2mm
73mm Euro BB
Hub spacing 120mm
Wheel size 700c x 40c
Weight: 5lbs. 10oz.

Color: Clear Coat Polished

M.S.R.P. $399.99 USD

Look forward to an early 2011 release of the NSF.

FYI… This is the kid who inspired the messenger bike.