Our new messenger bag, the zero, is in. 

 

  

 

Outer Shell: 1000d Cordura

Inner Shell: 18oz Truck Tarp

Volume: 2025 Cubic Inches

Double Layer Bottom (new!)

2 Large pockets on the front (under flap) fold flat and shut tight with a velcro'd flap

Interior pen organizer

Secret stash pocket

Colors: Currently black, purple, teal, spanish yellow, light red, blaze orange, light blue, grey, and olive. 

 

Our large version, the body bag, comes in at 3672 cubic inches and will be out soon. We also have cellphone holders, laptop sleeves, backpacks, and quite a few other things in prototypes. Lots and lots of new things for us to release, stay tuned! 

Hey, there's a new feature on blaq design - user comments! You can view any comments, and comment on any post by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of the post (or on the post title itself). It's pretty self-explanatory really, it's not like we reinvented the wheel! We'd love to hear from you (and we'll be happy to respond), so please feel free.

Check back in the coming week as well - we will likely be debuting our messenger bags for your buying pleasure!

Saturday nov 11th marked our first annual blaqcat alleywhack race. The weather was perfect, and we had a great turnout. Rather than a lenghty story, heres some pictures thanks to Chris Barnes. Click any pic for a full size version.

 

Custom "zero" for the first place winner.

 

Aaron welded some killer trophies.

 

The prize table.

 

Racers ready.

 

Tex's house.

 

The main street bridge stop.

 

Costume contest contestants. Say that 3 times fast.

 

Trackstands.

 

Ghandi knows how to track skid.

 

First place men's, Kevin Carlin, and first place girl's Denise Michels.

 

Ghandi wins the costume contest, and a set of alien track wheels.

 

Taylor won trackstands, and a new set of Alien hubs.

 

Track skidz champion.

 

First blood award.

 

It's an alleycat race. It's in kent.

 

Here's a map to the event. "B" marks the spot.

 

Registration will start at 3-ish on 10/11 and race will get going le-mans style at 4:30-ish.

Entry fee is $10 at the event or through pre-registering. Fee includes racing, food, drink etc.

Costumes, Skids, Trackstands etc to be judged post race.

Meeting place / finish line will be our house (right by twin star bowling alley on 59).

After the race well have a bonfire, grill out, music,prizes etc.

Email us (blaq@blaqdesign.com) for exact details or to register early.

Sponsors: blaq, Alien Bikes, gonzo bikes, zero per gallon (more in the works)

Check the event out on Facebook.

 

Band: The Legendary Seagulls

Food: Veggie Stromboli, Veggie Burgers, Aaron's Amazing Vegetarian Chili, Grape Leaves etc.

After a ton of work, and several times pushing the release date back, the bags are actually ready. The final prototypes have come together in the last few days, and they are exactly what we wanted. Materials are on their way, along with a new industrial sewing machine, and the bags will be out before the end of the month.

 

Some changes from what you might have seen in the past:

-1000d Cordura Outer Shell

-14oz Truck-tarp Inner Shell

-Recycled Seatbelt Buckles and Webbing for the shoulder straps

-The webbing on the flap-straps now has reflective tracers running through it

-And finally, we can officially do all kinds of custom work, screen printing and more

 

The Mid size bags will be out before the end of September, and the Larger size will be out at the same time or shortly after.

Our product catalog is live! It's taken a while, but we think you'll like what we've put together. We're pulling out all the stops, so there will be much more product available in the coming days and weeks, stay tuned!

The Gonzo VItamin Q frames are in, and so are the blaq lite bars. These first several frames are un-numbered, and very limited. No future bike will be quite the same or devoid of a serial number. Get em while they last.

 

 Check out the product catalog for specs and more pics.

 

They're not far away now:

 

It's been some time, but our first official product release is just around the corner.

 

Towards the end of July we will have a few products available:  our Gonzo Vitamin Q bmx frames, a set of lite bmx handlebars, the first production run of our mid messenger bags (sewn by us) in all kinds of colors, earth friendly grocery bags, and our new tees. All of these products will be available right here from the site.

 

Moving into fall, we're going to be expanding our frame selection and we'll be offering a much bigger selection of soft goods. We're looking at track jakets, zip hoodies, more tees, raglans, baby doll tees, scarves, beanies, wallets - you name it! (all soft goods = american apparel) Want to help us out with our product line or let us know what you're interested in? Send us feedback here.

 

Own a small shop or retailer and want to be among the first? Shoot us a line - it will be towards the end of the year before the online system is 100%, but we're actively working on the technology to power our patner network. Let us know what you want now, and we'll make it happen.

 

Here's a peek at some of the artwork from our new talent, Tyler Quigley

 

 

blaq / gonzo bikes spent 3 full days and 4 nights at snowshoe, this is their story.

 

We traveled for what could have been days, not a soul in sight. We scarcely saw a single highway, opting for trecherous back roads and covered bridges. It was coming on midnight before we arrived at our destination, snowshoe mtn, W. VA. There was four in our party; Jon, Jeremy, Paul, and John. Whether we would all make it back alive was questionable, but of no concern.

 

 

Our lodging was comfortable, offering ample space for our unreasonable amount of luggage (and at an unreasonable cost, but what are you gonna do...). We had all the comforts of home, and there wasn't another soul in sight. We had that corner of the mountain to ourselves.

 

The first day was marked by spending too much time repairing bikes that wouldn't be ridden, and a late start on the mountain. To our dismay we learned the lifts only run the busier days of the week, and only the Western Territory shuttle ran on Thursdays. Never the less, we took to the slopes. With the shuttle delayed by road construction, we made only 5 runs but we saw a great deal of the Western Territory, including the much loved "Power Line," a run best described as a taste of Whistler's "A Line," featuring a flowing succession of tight berms and big jumps. After riding the last shuttle to the top, we retired to our condo and waited for dark. Much argument persists as to the normalcy of that night's sky, but normal or not, we witnessed six beautiful shooting stars, several satallites, and we lost a couple hours (at least).

 

The second day brought even better riding. All day we charged down the main part of the mountain - some dozen-plus runs. We strang together every combination of varous trails we possibly could. We found countless rock drops, ladders, jumps and so forth. We all rode like we never had before. The bravery award goes to Jeremy for launching a four foot rock drop into a rock garden, valiantly ignoring the need for brakes. The trail had no respect for his valour, though, and returned a taco'd front wheel and a nice helping of body abuse. Like the loyal friends we are, we took a few runs while he triumphantly marched down the remaining 500+ vertical feet to the lift return. After a full day's riding well beyond our limits, we retired and nursed our bodies in the hot tub, followed by dinner, beer, Fear, and Loathing. Many stars  were out once again, but none hitting earth this night.

 

 

The third day was spent in the coffee shop, waiting out the rain and wind. Ultimately, we relaxed and the Jo(h)ns collaborated on the backend of the website. The day faded away as we drank our coffee. As night fell Jeremy and I went for a bike ride, and found the most delightful, if only "meh" sized huck - right at the top of one of the chairlifts. We dragged the Jo(h)ns from their robot boxes to help record the feat, and tease me if I happened to crash and burn. At any rate, it went well.

 

 

The final day and drive home was plauged by hail and thunderstorms, and driving back via the same back roads route we took on the way in. Fortunately, the hail couldnt dampen our mood - this was a first rate trip, the best any of us has taken in a while. Were thinking about a late season repeat of this trip, camping edition. Next spring/summer were thinking about a road trip to whistler, count on it.