Edelweiss Ride Support

Happy riding in 2012!

2011-12-23T18:15:00.001+01:00

It was a good year this year, not just for riding, but also for creating, dreaming, winning and grinning. May it be the same in 2012!

Happy holidays to everyone!

The missing link

2011-11-27T16:35:00.001+01:00

There is supposed to be an off season for riding bikes. In this period of five months you are supposed to store your bike in some dark corner of your basement or garage and focus on some other activities, like watching the TV, go skiing, celebrating during the holidays etc.

Or are you?

The photo above was taken yesterday, in the fog, while enduring almost sub zero temperatures. The ride itself was nothing special by the usual standards. Add some fog, dampness, cold and slippery roots and it becomes an epic adventure. OK, I hear you say, but that is still nothing unusual. True, but there is one very important thing to mention still; after a long, warm season of riding in the area, looking for a connection between two shorter trails, we discovered the missing link; a new part that connects two existing local loops and thus making one epic ride. Somehow, we forgot the damp and the cold. The scenery made it all just a bit more special as well, while the slippery roots, stones and leafs contributed to the fun factor.

So, back to the previous statement: Sure, the off season makes it hard to stay motivated, but the rewards can be so much bigger. The fact that the Edelweiss RS Bikebag makes life easier when you bring the muddy bike back home just makes it all that easier to just go out and ride. Still need proof? Ask these guys. They seem to be able to find the sun even in these cold and foggy days.

Off season is in fact the missing link.

I went on an epic ride today and all I got was this crappy photo. Thanks Luka Z.! :)

Hot Stuff.

2011-11-15T19:33:00.001+01:00

Sometimes bad things happen to good people. When the main honcho from Imbbus Bike Shop called us today to tell that his car burned up almost completely in the parking lot. As you can imagine, I really didn't know what to say. To make matters worse, he said his bike was in the car as well... What a way to start a day.

But something good always comes even from the worst of things. You see, his bike survived the fire almost unharmed. Why? He kept it in the Edelweiss RS bikebag. Now, we were well aware that the materials used are tough, but only in this unfortunate incident did we find out just how tough is "tough". The Bikebag did not catch fire, thus preventing the bike to be engulfed in flames and remain relatively stable. Unfortunately, the Bikebag deformed quite badly and did not survive. The bike, however, did.

So here you go: More proof, that our products are tough as nails. They are made from the best stuff currently available, by the most skilled and capable people.

P.S.: The aforementioned burned Bikebag will be replaced with a new one by the end of next week, just as the next batch of our products will come to Bike Shop Imbbus. We sincerely hope that its durability will never be put to such a test again.

Photo credit: Zdravc Božnar Sebanc, Bike Shop Imbbus

Warning: epic trails ahead!

2011-11-03T13:19:00.001+01:00

To most of you, the 2011 riding season reached its end. But for those of you who really love riding bikes no matter the weather, the season has just begun. The trails are less crowded (empty almost), the terrain more challenging and the rewards bigger. This is the Edelweiss RS season.

It was at this time of the year two years ago that we put our mud resistant, dirt defying products on the market. After a seemingly slow start, people from all over the country and from abroad started appreciating what we do and how we do it and the word of mouth started to spread. Our Bikebags have reached many happy costumers that couldn't be happier. Alas, we are constantly thinking of ways to improve our products and also to translate our core values to other areas as well. The fact that all our products are locally made helps this to no end.

Keep the wheels rolling!

Edelweiss RS hardtail frame

2011-10-11T01:08:00.002+02:00

The dream of making our very own bike frame seems to be of a reoccurring one. Publishing the previous post stirred some debate with people whose opinions are appreciated greatly. Here is a summary of the brainstorming we had so far:

- the geometry of the frame should put the bike in the "aggressive hard tail" category. This means a slack bike, able to tackle the downs with minimal fuss. How slack you say? The head angle somewhere around 67 degrees, with a relatively steep seat tube angle for efficient uphill pedaling. this would also result in a short cockpit, making the bike nimble.

- the material choice is still up for discussion, but we are definitely going down the steel is real route. So chromolly or Reynolds steel are our favorites so far.

- the 29" frame will definitely be an option, but for all of you that do not like wagon wheels, a 26" frame will probably be the default choice.

- to give the frame some identity and also to improve its function, you will notice the bent top tube. This, of course improves stand over clearance. Since the devil is in the details, the rear drop outs have been modified, some gusseting has been aded to the rear triangle etc. This, of course is still just theory so far, but...

- ...last but not least, there is a "but". So far we all agree that we would really want to make this happen. So we are still very much looking forward to your feedback, which will help us bring this to reality sooner rather than later.

So, does anyone know a good frame welder?

Comments of any kind still welcome below or via Facebook. Thanks!

Pipe dreams

2011-10-06T20:04:00.003+02:00

A question to all you guys out there, near or far:

Would you like an Edelweiss RS bike frame, made out of steel, with slack geometry and built to survive a EMP strike? Would you prefer such a bike in the 29"or a 26" flavor? Do you like what you see below?

We are gauging interest here. if it proves to be sufficient, then we might decide on making this beast. We would be very glad to hear your thoughts on our Facebook page or in the comments on this blog.

Thanks!

Val Di Sole and some Q&A

2011-08-28T18:26:00.003+02:00

As you might have heard, the 2011 UCI DHI and 4X racing season is over. Unior Tools Team, made quite an big impact; It was the team's second season, which makes their achievements even more significant. UTT keeps getting better and better, from one race to the next, a positive trend, proven again in Val DiSole. All in all, a great season in every respect.

That doesn't mean that the riding season is over for all of us though. Trail conditions are as good as ever and we take advantage regularly with a lot of like-minded individuals day in, day out. The plan for this year is to keep riding throughout winter, because we don't fear mud. Mud makes us happy. Snow and mud makes us even happier. If you plan to do the same, we have a solution for muddy bike storage and transportation solution. See details here.

Last but not least, this is our second season running and we were recently asked a couple of good questions and here are the answers:

No1:

Q: How durable are your products?

A: The first prototype, used by yours truly has stood up against two full years of use and abuse without any damage to its structure, function and, to a reasonable extent, appearance. In fact, I just broke it in.

No2:

Q: Do you plan to make any other products, based on the same principles as the Edelweiss Bike Bag?

A: Why yes, yes we do. We know that you guys are not transporting only bikes. We also know that life is not just about bikes and riding (as much as we would maybe like it to be). More details will be announced in due time, so watch this space.

Happy riding!

Ride first, work later

2011-08-02T21:44:00.003+02:00

Disclaimer: Due to excellent trail conditions, great riding company and a bad need for a vacation our blog has been a bit neglected recently. Alas, we are sure you'll understand.

It hasn't been just riding and no work though. We got word from another happy costumer the other day, who found the perfect solution for storing his bike in the apartment with our Bikebag. To quote the email: "Congratulations dude. This is outstanding. Thanks a lot!" That made my (our) day and all we can say is that we are glad to help out.

On another note, the Unior Tools Team is supposed to be resting, but Nejc Rutar is currently holdin the 4th overall spot in euro IXS DH championship, followed closely by Ziga Pandur in 10th place overall. Harry Heath and Maria Michalogianna achieved great results as well, with Harry finishing 27th in Mount Saint Anne and Maria being 17th in Leogang. Our products played a part on the logistics front, enabling the team to have their steeds in pristine condition no matter how long the journey to the race venue was. Again, glad to be of service.

Last, but not least, going riding with the Imbbus guys and girls is making the weekends even nicer. This clip shows just one example.

Ride first, work later? If work is as fun as it is at Edelweiss RS, it doesn't make sense to make the distinction.

Happy trails everyone!

Our gear in action

2011-06-26T17:09:00.002+02:00

After Fort William, it was time for an Austrian doppelganger. Unior Tools Team went to Leogang for the world cup first, and returned the next weekend for more. On both occasions they had a great race, with Nejc finishing 6th overall in the European championship race. You can see the full report here. The team are leaving for Mt Saint Anne this week and we wish them a great race!

Meanwhile, here are some pictures from Austria, where our products' full potential is very clear. How to pack the whole team's racing gear in one van? Easy.:)

On another note, tomorrow marks the 6th birthday of Slovenia's first and biggest mountain biking website, mtb.si. To mark the occasion, a very special celebration will be held. Looks like a lot of fun, riding with friends old and new, so we hope we'll see you there!

Edelweiss Ride Support at Fort William with Unior Tools Team

2011-06-07T17:44:00.006+02:00

Edelweiss RS Bikebags went racing to Scotland this past weekend. Full report after the photo gap!

Unior Tools Team in Fort William, 2011

Žiga Pandur, finished 67th

Nejc Rutar, Finished 81st

Maria Michalogiannaki, finished 24th

Harry Heath, finished 44th

As I am sure you know, the UCI DHI and 4X race event was held in Fort William, Scotland. Of course, Unior Tools Team, supported also by Edelweiss Ride Support, went there and came back with some great results in the bag. It was the most successful race weekend for them ever, with Harry Heath and Žiga Pandur finishing 44th and 67th in DH respectively and Neža Knez finished the 4X race in 11th spot. Nejc Rutar missed the finals by only a tenth of a second, consequently finishing in 81st spot. Maria Michalogiannaki, the team's female DH rider finished in 24th, also failing to qualify for the finals. The team put up a great show, not only race-wise, but regarding logistics and management as well. For that, big props to the riders, team manager and mechanics. William Wallace should also be mentioned, although I'm not yet sure why.

We are also very happy with the team's feedback regarding the Edelweiss RS Bikebag. In short, they were very much impressed with the Bikebag, which enabled them to pack all the gear in the vans for the long haul up north and protected their race machines the entire way there and back. To quote the team's manager: "Dude, I could't imagine so many bikes could fit in our van. It was like packing paper envelopes instead of big racing rigs (remember, the team uses Trek Sessions with double crown Boxxers and extra wide bars, so your precious steed will fit as well)!"

This is exactly what we set out to do with our core product; make life easier for riders of the world.

Different shades of having fun

2011-05-15T10:52:00.008+02:00

Mountain biking is a fast evolving sport whichever way you look at it. Now days we can ride bigger, faster and safer. We can choose between wheels big and small, XC, Trail, All Mountain, DH or Freeride biking. Then there is 4X, trials riding and dirt jumping. Fun can be had on the North Shore, the south shore, east or west.

But it is all about having a good time riding, isn't it? It really doesn't matter wether you had a successful race weekend or a nice after work blast on your local express trail, as long as you had lots of fun doing it.

The sense of achievement we get after a particularly fun day out with the Imbbus Crew is just as fulfilling as watching Neža, Nejc, Žiga and Harry rip it up on a race weekend.

Packing the gear before an all day epic is just as exciting as rooting for the Unior Tools Team on an UCI race.

Nailing a section of a trail for the first time feels just as good as ripping the local trail after work, chasing the last minutes of sunshine.

We are proud to be part of the biking community. Our products are made with pride as well. The Bike bag and gear bag fit every mountain bikers need, regardless of where he or she feels most at home at.

We are proud of that, too.

Videos by: PussyGato productions, made for the Unior Tools Team

Bike House Imbbus

The flower by the name of...

2011-04-16T20:01:00.006+02:00

Disclaimer: The photo above was taken in our office this week. It is the Edelweiss flower, which is, as you know, endangered. Picking these flowers is therefore strictly prohibited.

Alas, you can now buy potted Edelweisses in gardening centers. That's what we did.

Respect nature. Ride, don't slide.

Racing, however is a different story, a story about to begin once more on 23rd of April 2011,when the UCI MTB world cup starts. This means, among other things, that our Bikebags will soon get to see the world with the help from the Unior Tools Team. This is how to cheer for them on race day or when watching the race broadcast from the comfort of your home.

As I am sure you know, they do know how to rip it up. In case you don't here's a sample.

Saturday, a day well spent

2011-04-03T12:32:00.002+02:00

This Saturday, we went for a ride with the guys from The Imbbus Bike House. Great weather, excellent conditions and a scenic trail, all that while enjoying the company of some awesome individuals.

Here is the link to the video, courtesy of the Imbbus Crew. You can also read a short recap of the day in this article. Thanks for making the day, guys!

How and why get a Bikebag

2011-03-05T20:11:00.009+01:00

So, how to get your Bikebag?

Try one (or more) of the following:

- Contact us via email,

- Like our Facebook page and get in touch there.

- Visit the guys in Bike House Imbbus.

- Visit the stand of Unior Tools Team at one of the UCI DH/4X races in the 2011 season.

Prices available upon inquiry.

Why get the Bikebag?

This is what Mud season can do if you are having too much fun to bother about tidiness (just like you should).

But if you drive to and from your favorite bike spot by car and if you keep your bike inside it, Mud season can cause problems. Well, the car transporting this muddy (but happy) ride and rider is still clean as a whistle.

The Bikebag is also very useful if you like to keep your bike in the apartment and don't want your significant other, or mom, or dad or your roommates, to get angry at you for bringing 43 kg of muck into the living room. Trust me. The Bikebag helps. A lot.

Unior Tools Team

2011-02-07T17:41:00.002+01:00

In one of our previous posts, we mentioned that Edelweiss Ride Support is proudly supporting the UCI Unior Tools Team in 2011. For more info about them, check out their new website, read the news in this article (slovene only) and be sure to show your support on this year's races. Let the good times roll!

P.S.: The picture is from about a year ago. Stay tuned for new ones, a detailed introduction to the team and more.

3,2,1, take off!

2011-02-05T17:13:00.003+01:00

Spring came early this year. To set the season off properly, may we suggest some new tunes.

Edelweiss RS Bikebag User Manual

2011-01-31T16:32:00.008+01:00

For a bigger, printable version of the user manual, click here.

Winter hibernation

2011-01-31T15:53:00.006+01:00

Here is to all the bears, frogs an all other hibernating creatures. It is not easy to hibernate. Although it does (did) seem like we went all "the big sleep" on the world, nothing can be further from the truth. As mentioned in one of the previous posts, we had lots to do, developing new stuff and taking care of our other business.

So, why am I writing this now?

Firstly, there is an upgrade of the site worth mentioning: the Bikebag user manual is added. Hopefully it will make the function of the Bikebag more understandable and save the existing users some time when packing their bike. You can find the hi-res manual here.

Secondly, we have some news that can be made public. In the 2011 season we are proudly supporting the Unior Tools Team, a Slovenian DH and 4X racing outfit. Our products will see the world and that also means that you will be able to see our products in most of this year's WC venues, national races and other events. Be sure to also check the team's website for more info.

Thirdly, my trusty steed is back from its winter overhaul. It is better than new, thanks to the guys at Imbbus.

That is all for now. Since the "winter hibernation" is finished, keep posted or get in touch.

Edelweiss RS Chronicles - fall edition

2010-11-08T20:04:00.003+01:00

Rain and mud. The days got shorter and colder. It must mean then that fall is here and winter is not far away. Never mind though. It was a nice summer, and also a bit longer than expected. Some of us went south for a long vacation, some for work. That doesn't mean nothing has been done. So far, it looks like 2011 will be an interesting season, not least because we have some very interesting ideas in the pipeline. Pics or it didn't happen? Watch this space!

Random Race Faces

2010-08-29T13:38:00.005+02:00

The UCI World cup season is almost over, with the final round taking place this weekend in Windham, NY. This got us thinking about this year's events, races and rides that are under our belts. Here are some snapshots.

The Edelweiss RS photo contest

2010-08-05T17:14:00.002+02:00

A while ago we wrote about the F word and what it means to us. We are sure you have seen our photo galleries and read our blog posts. But now it's time for you to show us what riding means to you. Therefore we are opening the 1st Edelweiss RS photo contest.

Here is the deal:

We will be looking for originality, composition qualities, use of.... Well, not really.

Post your pictures that you feel best describe the way you feel about riding bikes (or flying your kites, riding your surfboard... anything outdoor sports related goes, really) on the wall of our Facebook page. If you are not on Facebook for whichever reason, you can also send your entries via email.

By the end of August The chosen one will get a brand spanking new Edelweiss Ride Support T shirt.

The only real condition is that you must be the author of the entry, so no copy/pasting links to random photos from the internet. Aight?

Oh, and when we say "photo", what we really mean is also "video", "drawing" and "animation". So you can post that as well. There are no limitations to the number of entries per person.

Happy hunting!

Itak Bike Fest 2010, Vacation and The Flag

2010-08-01T21:25:00.004+02:00

It has been quite interesting for the past couple of weeks. The Itak Bike Fest was great as always. The weather was, shall we say, diverse, but the company and organization was great. Three cheers for the guys behind the event!

Last but not least, we got our first chance to christen The Flag. So the next time Eddie Izzard comes and does this, we have an answer. (no countries were invaded during the christening of The Flag, nor were any guns used during the proceedings. Don't have a clue what we are on about? watch this clip. We urge you.)

All in all, a great weekend. There was the XC race, a Junior "mini" DH race and of course, the DH race for the national championship. Not to mention the Pump track contest and something called the Pumpler (kind of hard to explain, this. See photos for details). You can see all of it from our point of view here. Also, we gave away a couple of Gearbags and a Bikebag as prizes. Hopefully, they will be put to good use.

After the race weekend we all went for some well deserved vacation (that is why this post is a bit late). We are all back now though, rested and full of new ideas. Watch this space for updates!

Edelweiss Ride Support? Itak!

2010-07-16T20:26:00.002+02:00

A quick reminder, that tomorrow the Itak Bike Fest starts in Kranjska gora. As mentioned before, we will be there as well. Be sure to meet the team with the red, white and blue logo!

Itak Bike Fest 2010

2010-07-14T20:50:00.002+02:00

We are sure most of you know that this weekend there is a lot going on in Kranjska gora. However, we are pleased to announce that we will be there as well. Since there will be a lot going on, there will be people to see, photos to shoot and music to hear, we will mostly be mingling with the crowd.

Since the production of Bikebags and Gearbags is in full swing, we will gladly be taking orders as well. If you would like to place an order, if you have any questions about our products or would just like to say hi, look for the guys and girls proudly wearing the familiar sign on our chests.

Also, we are proud to announce that we will be giving away the Edelweiss Ride Support Bikebag to the winner in one of the categories.

That's it for now. See you on Itak Bike Fest 2010!

Music

2010-06-29T16:35:00.005+02:00

The sun is out, trails are dry and school' out for the summer. Everybody seems to be on vacation, cooling down after the daily grind. Listening to the vuvuzela concerts on TV while 22 people are chasing after one ball seems like a good excuse to pack the bags and face the music.

By music, we mean the sound of grinding gears, banging chains and hissing suspension. And the birds. And the screams of stoke that are a direct consequence of a perfect line, nailed.

Or do we? Some like to press play on their iSomething players and go with it. Recently, a debate sprung out on top of the mountain considering the music choices we make while ripping it. Here are some of the suggestions for all of you who would like to update your playlists. The Edelweiss RS playlist, compiled for our, and your listening pleasures.

(Disclaimer: We do not own the rights for any of the songs. All songs are sourced from public websites and as such available to all)

Since I am writing this already, there is one more point to make. We all know riding can be fun, and we all know there is always room for improvement, so here comes an endorsement of sorts: to get the most out of the music on the bike, give the guys at Imbbus a shout. Riding with them is not only fun, but they happily share their knowledge and experience with others, too. Don't believe me? Believe this guy's testimony.