Pedal Room: What's your name, where are you located, and what do you do?
Kyle j. , greenpoint, Brooklyn, new dork city, currently funemployed.
Pedal Room: What's in a typical week for you, as far as bike-related stuff? Rides, bike building, etc.
Kyle: While I'm funemployed I try to spend as much time as possible in my studio. Which, since it's so close to home I don't have to ride too far. And given the warmer weather out here, I'm tryin to hit the park or the track as much as possible. Spring is bike overhaul time, and my road bike is finally back in shape so I plan to get some much longer rides in.
Pedal Room: Tell us about your custom track bike. Looks like an awesome frame. Was it custom built for you?
Kyle: I wish. I just totally lucked out with an ebay find. But I must say this bike is the shiznittlebamsnipsnap and I hope I never have to give it up. What's dope about the ebay part of it is that it actually came from Jacopo of dodici/milano fixed, just when they were getting started up. Apparently it's the first frame they sold and there's a recent post here. Anway, Jacopo told me who built it back in the day, but I've since forgotten. The only mark is a letter ‘k' stamped on the bottom bracket. I always assumed that since it's my first initial, the universe knew it would be mine...oh, by the way, I call my baby Suzie.
Pedal Room: It looks super stiff with those gussets and triple triangle. How's it ride?
Kyle: You said it, superstiff! And though I haven't really raced it yet, it does whip around the streets like a track bike should. It's aggressive and agile, but surprisingly comfortable. It definitely feels like it was made for me.
Pedal Room: Any interesting stories with the bike?
Kyle: Well the first is the story of how the bike was gotten and jacopo's interest in jeff koons, my former employer. This was kind of our common ground (other than bikes) and has kept me talking to him since. The other is the crash I was in last year. While hauling down fifth ave (in the bike lane no less) I was riding the wave of green lights when I got to the busy 14th st. intersection where this asshole cabbie decided to run a red light ridiculously late. So late in fact that pedestrias had already started to cross the street and so the cab stopped dead in the bike lane… well, there's not much to say after that. The steel fork that originally came with the frame was pretty much toast, which left me lookin for a new one. I settled on the wound-up and found one for a steal-of-a-deal and it all just worked out perfect (considering I wasn't too banged up in the crash). I credit the gussets and triple-triangle design for keeping the frame solid and intact through the ordeal. I mean, the seel fork blades were shifted like 4cm to the side, yet the headtube never budged. Long will this aluminum live!
Pedal Room: Do you have any future plans for the bike?
Kyle: Maybe have another one built? I plan to kick this one around for as long as possible, (this is my 3rd summer with her) but I've been thinking for awhile what it would be like to copy the size+geometry in maybe steel or titanium. I love how light she is, and I have always wondered what the ride would be like in another material. Maybe the next one really will be custom.
Pedal Room: What about other bikes? Any future plans?
Kyle: Well, I've got an old Brooklyn gangsta that I gets me around with comfort. It's kind of the closest thing I have to my mountain bike days (country mouse lives in the city now) and reminds me why I got into biking in the first place: having fun dodging+jumping obstacles with big fatty tires.
But my other love is my '92 merckx century. Silky smooth, and when it rides right, really makes me love the feel of steel.
Other than that, I have another Japanese steel pursuit project that has been in the works for more than a year. At this point I'm just tryin to get it back from a painter who's too busy to paint. Once I do, I think I'm putting it together as a rat rod inspired TT track setup. (rat rod example)
Pedal Room: We hear you're making some cycle-worthy products. Wanna tell us a bit about that?
Kyle: Sure do. I started making belt bags probably 2 years ago out of simple necessity and began trading them with artist and sculptor friends while on art residencies. Basically, making a jump out of my sculpture, but still maintaining the sewing. From there I started printing bandanas and other goods and have finally massed enough product for a line, which should be officially launching this summer. Mainly, I am focused on natural materials (like waxed canvas and cotton), and am working o make an american product from american materials. For now I'm selling locally at bike swaps and at Affinity Cycles here in Brooklyn and am looking for more LBS to carry the stuff, in and out of new york. I'll be sure to let you know when it's official, national and when the site is up and running (demploi.net).
Pedal Room: Thanks for talking with us! Anything else you'd like to say?
Kyle: Man, thank you! I'm definitely stoked to talk and open this whole thing up to everybody. I am working on a few print collaborations and am looking for anyone wanting to turn out some dope product! If you're interested, be sure to hit me up! Find me here: demploi.posterous.com or here: flickr.com/photos/demploi. Other than that, thanks, christian for helping me waste time lookin at sweet bikes. It's an ongoing inspiration, for sure.