Serial Game Movie

A brief look at whos disrupting what and how

Weve seen some indispensable innovation in recent years when it comes to the sporting bicycle.  For example, before electronic shifting, you had to press a button in order to change gears.  Crazy, right?!?  Well, things are much easier today.  Now all you have to do is press a button.

Sadly, water bottle cage development has not kept pace with the relentless pace of bicycle product development--until now.  Meet the Fabric cageless water bottle mount, the system nobody asked for and nobody will want now that its here:


Yes, say goodbye to the arduous days of simply grabbing a bottle, taking a swig of your beverage of choice, and returning it to the frame of your bicycle without so much as shifting your gaze from the road.  Now youve got to line your bottle up perfectly with a pair of mounting studs:

In either case, the bottle is easy to grab with one hand, just as you would with a normal bottle and cage. The return trip is bit tricky, however, and takes some getting used to. We struggled to get the bottle back on the studs without looking down each time, even after several weeks of using the system.

Sounds great!  In fact, I just installed new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on my ceiling over the weekend, and interestingly this appears to utilize the exact same mounting system.  And sure, I dont mind doing that once every ten years, but having to deal with a pair of mounting studs every time I want to take a sip of water is patently ridiculous.  Just ask ace bottle marksman Mario Cipollini:



And there you have it.

By the way, they didnt just screw up the mounting system.  The bottle itself is also designed to choke you:

The lid secures tightly to the bottle and the nozzle opens and closes by pushing or pulling up on it. Inside the nozzle is a soft silicon flow fitting that regulates the flow of water in and out of the bottle. On one of our bottles, this piece detached from the nozzle and we nearly swallowed it mid-gulp. It’s tough to get this piece securely back in place so we had to replace the lid with a new one to keep the bottle functioning properly.

So basically if you dont crash trying to put your bottle back then youll certainly go down when that chunk of silicon gets lodged in your esophagus--all to save like 30 grams!  Perhaps this is part of a conspiracy to rid the cycling world of Freds and weight weenies once and for all--though ostensibly its also useful for cyclocross:

We found the cageless design to be especially useful for cyclocross practice and racing when we wanted to carry a bottle with us on warm-up laps but didn’t want to race with a cage. Instead of installing and removing a normal water bottle cage for each race, Fabric’s cageless system allowed us to carry the bottle when we wanted it and then remove it on the start line, leaving plenty of room in the bike’s front triangle for shouldering our bike.

Back when I was riding the cyclocross we used to just stick a bottle in our jersey pockets--or, you know, live life on the edge by riding our 10-minute warm-up laps without carrying water with us.  (And yes, of course true Cyclocross Freds wear skinsuits without big pockets, but youre supposed to wear a regular jersey over them while warming up, I mean come on.)

And the lowly water bottle cage isnt the only commonplace item being "disrupted" into oblivion.  Now you can also help fund a 40-function hooded sweatshirt!



Rest assured at least a small handful of these functions are cycling-specific.  Fore example, it emits an ambiguous neon halo around your head that does nothing to communicate which direction youre traveling in:


It also has turn signals for drivers to ignore:


Which double as warning lights when youre on foot so you dont get hit by one of those pesky cyclists:


Then theres the armpit ventilation system, which Im assuming is bicycle specific since hes wearing a helmet, though maybe the sorts of people who wear "smart jackets" also wear helmets while running:


For best results, pair with some "smart pants" featuring a similar crotchal ventilation system.

Or, if you decide "fuck bikes" and hop in an Uber instead, its equipped with both a neck pillow:


And a sleep shade:


Really, the only thing its missing is an airbag:

AS IT HAPPENED #hovding #airbagged

A video posted by abc3d (@abc3d_) on May 19, 2015 at 5:39am PDT

Though it does work as a TV remote control, so there you go:


Lastly, heres a new video from Specialized explaining their new Fred bike suspension system:



Hey, whatever happened to that new suspension stem on Kickstarter?


Looks like a feasting insect.

Available link for download

A Cozy Cool Look For The Girl On The Go

Photo via: Vogue Paris

Whether youre running errands, meeting up with friends or need a low-key work look, let this cool street style shot be your inspiration. Cozy up in a ribbed grey sweater tucked into slouchy high-waisted trousers. Then, add a chic bag of your choice and complete with anything from sneakers to heels to your favorite ankle boots.

Get the look:
+ Ray-Ban Original Aviator Sunglasses
+ Missguided Chunky Knit Sweater
+ Frame Cropped Ribbed Sweater
+ Rebecca Minkoff Quilted Affair Bag
+ ASOS Woven Peg Pants

Available link for download

A Fashion Forward Denim Look For Fall

Photo via: Vogue Spain

We love when we come a across an eclectic look that takes on the latest trends in a fashion-forward way. This denim look in particular keeps us on our toes with some incredibly cool pieces like a ribbed sweater with lace detailing at the neck, a lipstick red Mark Cross box bag, deconstructed jeans with raw hems, and white kitten heel booties.

Get the look:
+ Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini Turtleneck
+ Calvin Klein Two Tone Turtleneck Sweater
+ Mark Cross Grace Shoulder Bag
+ ASOS Tonal Deconstructed Jeans
+ Balenciaga Patent Leather Ankle Boots

Available link for download

A Festive Fashion Forward Look For The Holidays

Photo via: Style Du Monde

Street style muse Ada Kokosar was spotted in a festive fashion-forward look that is great for the holidays. Whether for a dinner with family or an outing with friends, a cozy oversized  black sweater, bold metallic print full skirt, and sock-style heeled boots are sure to make a stylish statement.

Get the look:
+ Brigitte Bailey Oversized Sweater
+ Free People Dont Let Me Go Sweater
+ Isolda Printed Pleated Midi Skirt
+ Topshop Ramble Print Midi Skirt
+ Topshop Maximum Loafer Boots

Available link for download