37TH Surfman Award: The Wheelmen

I am extremely proud of this week's surfman award winner - The Wheelmen. They have been around over 100 years and bring much bicycle enthusiasm and joy the world over. The picture to the left is of an Ariel Bicycle made by Starley and Smith in 1870, it is generally recognized as the first commercially produced high wheel bicycle. The Wheelmen began as The League of American Wheelmen or L.A.W. for short until they became international is scope and became The Wheelmen. There is a chapter here in Canada. The Canadian Wheelmen began back in 1882 and changed their name officially to the Canadian Cycling Association in 1968, however I still prefer The Canadian Wheelmen. Wheelmen the world over are about preservation, collection and enjoyment of historical bicycles. You don't have to own an old bike to be a member, but it is a given that you will pretty much get yourself one after being exposed to such fine machinery. I have a CCM Ivanhoe made in Toronto at the old Canadian Cycle and Motor Company that I think was from @circa1902, that I have yet to fix up, but one day I will repair it and ride it a century(100 miles). Thank you Wheelmen for existing and being a incredible source of bicycle knowledge throughout the ages.

36th Surfman Award: Frank Miller & The 300

Recently I purchased a copy of Frank Miller's The 300 and I was extremely impressed by the story and art so much that I cannot wait to see the movie later this afternoon. Lynn Varley's colors are also perfect for the story, giving it a dark and vivid texture. If you are not familar with The 300, it is based on a real battle back in 480 BC, where King Leonidas and his Spartan bodyguards fought as many Persians as there are stars in the sky. They did perish in the end but they held the Persians off long enough for the rest Of Sparta and Greece as a whole to rally their troops into one unified force to defeat the Persian invaders. This was no little feat considering that Greece was made up of many city-states that were constantly divided among themselves.

Lat night I watched the 1962 classic The 300 Spartans to get a perspective of the film made than to compare/contrast it to today's 2007 CGI blockbuster The 300. The 1962 film was slow and a bit campy, yet surprising entertaining...however, I'm sure it will be no contest for this afternoon's imax experience. I do not believe Richard Egan's Leonidas will be any match for Gerald Butler's.

35th Surfman Award: Austin Reed of Regent Street

Today I purchased a vintage Austin Reed silk bow tie in Kensington Market. I imediately went home and learned to tie it from Tie-a-tie.net. I just love the leafy pattern and dark & light shades of blue, I can't wait to wear it to work. Austin Reed found his elegant and classic English style tailored clothing company back in 1900. Today his company has over 70 outlets in the UK and across the world, with the flagship store on Regent street.

I have not worn a bow tie since I was a lad, so this week will be the test on whether I make the switch. I am fascinated by it, because it is different and more individualistic, leaving the longer ties for the masses and conformists. However that is just one man's opinion, and who knows if I have the stuff to carry it off. It has been said that the Bow Tie originated among Croatian mercenaries during the prussian wars of the 17th century. The Croatians used a scarf around their neck to hold together the opening of their shirts. The method was soon adopted by the upper classes in France, and flouished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The famous writer Honore de Balzac even wrote a book on the subject.