Fairdale gave Taj Mihelich’s signature model cruiser a new look for 2017.
Sporting an “army green” colorway, somewhat reminiscent of the original Sunday Model C frame color, it’s ready for whatever you can throw at.
Sporting a full chromo frame & fork (available separately as a f&f set), it’s big enough to sit down and pedal on but still “BMX-y” enough get in a little shreddin’ along the way.
Way back in September, while poking around the displays at Interbike, it became clear that 26-inch cruisers were having a moment.
More and more companies were adding 26-inch cruisers to their lineups and it was pretty cool to see more big wheel BMX bikes getting some time in the sun.
One of the cooler 26″ cruisers on display was the Fairdale Taj Cruiser.
Built tough but maintaining a retro vibe in its appearance, it has always been a real eye-turner.
If you remember that post (or check it out here), you’ll remember we got the “inside scoop” that Fairdale had plans to offer it chrome.
Well, it looks like Fairdale is doing just that.
Upping the ante again, in the classic, old school looks department.
Yes, my friends…it looks like a classic chrome version of the Taj Cruiser is in the offing!
So nice!
Word on the street is that these will be arriving in the next couple weeks.
Don’t sleep on these though, I have a feeling these are gonna go quick.
Fairdale Bikes recently put out a preview of their 2015 lineup and part of that preview included the 2015 Taj Cruiser.
The Taj is now in an eye-catching red and features Odyssey grips, seat, pedals, brakes and levers. It will be available as a complete and as a frame and fork kit.
And while complete specs and geometry will be released later (probably around Interbike in September, I’m guessing) the preview does promise that the Taj Cruiser features:
“Wheelie Poppin’, Curb Hoppin’ Track Certified Geometry.”
That’s good enough for me.
Check it out.
It’s not often the bike industry gives away its secrets so freely, but Fairdale Bikes head honcho, Taj Mihelich is pulling back the covers for an in-depth look into the research and development of Fairdale’s line of bikes.*
Joined by fellow R&D test rider (and flatland legend) Leif Valin, Taj highlights how they test both their prototypes and current products. Even the 26″ Taj cruiser makes an appearance!
If this video doesn’t get you smiling, I don’t know what will.
*uhm, kinda sorta
The story behind Ray Petro and his wild idea to build an indoor bike park (so he’d have a place to ride in the winter) reads like a Hollywood movie.
To this day, I’m still surprised that someone hasn’t jumped at the chance to make a movie about it.
Thankfully, as Ray’s MTB celebrates its 10th anniversary this season, the story of how Ray took his dream and made it reality is getting shared by a number of mainstream media outlets.
One of them is Start UP , a new television series that looks into the experiences of American entrepreneurs. They caught up with Ray at the Milwaukee location and do a great job of capturing how Ray managed to pull it off. A truly inspiring story.
(Nice to see some Taj Mihelich riding in the clip too.)
Watch for the segment to air sometime soon on your local PBS station.
Another good feature done on Ray’s MTB was published recently by the Akron Beacon Journal. The article includes a good interview with Ray, pictures and a short video to round out the coverage.
If watching or reading these accounts doesn’t inspire you to follow your dreams, I don’t know what will.
So awesome.
In an article called The 50 Greatest BMX Logos, which ran in Complex magazine a couple of years ago, Taj Mihelich said,
There is definitely some connection between lightning and BMX. You can find lightning bolts on all kinds of BMX imagery. I think that maybe the very bones of BMX, chromoly steel, can only be created by a direct lightning strike.
This connection is especially true of BMX images from the 80s but still seems to noticeable to a certain extent today.
In a similar fashion, BMX is made up of a disproportionate number of brands that start with the letter “S”.
Maybe it’s due to the sport getting it’s start with kids riding Schwinn Sting Rays but it’s a little crazy how long the list is when you start to think about it.
Just off the top of my head, there is:
Even in my own personal stable, I also see the effects of this trend…I have, over the past couple of years, been on S&M, Sunday, SE, and Standard bikes.
I guess if you’re looking to start a BMX brand some time in the future, stack the odds in your favor with a name that starts with “S”…and maybe throw in some lightning bolts into the logo for good measure.
BMX legend Taj Mihelich, put together a cool article (that’s making the rounds today) for Complex magazine called The 50 greatest BMX Logos.
It’s a great read. A funny thing you’ll notice, and one that Taj notes in the writeups for each logo, is how prevalent the lightning bolt is in BMX logos. It shows up time and time again. In the Zap Pad writeup, he says:
There is definitely some connection between lightning and BMX. You can find lightning bolts on all kinds of BMX imagery. I think that maybe the very bones of BMX, chromoly steel, can only be created by a direct lightning strike.
For me, the Elina lightning bolt seat is the most iconic of the BMX lightning bolts. Those old school Elina seats are pure BMX.
Like I said earlier, it’s a great read.
For old schoolers, it’s like a trip down memory lane.
For new schoolers, it’s an opportunity to see (and maybe laugh at) what passed for cool back in the day.
The Giant Method 24 doesn’t get a lot of attention but if you’re looking for a well-spec’d, roomy bike for trails this could be the ticket. Featuring a a 22 inch top tube, this is probably one of the longest production 24s out there (not counting pure race bikes).
It features a traditional low bottom bracket and a slightly mellow 73 degree head angle, so it’s going to feel good dirt jumping but less so at the skatepark. It would also make a good race bike if you’re not to obsessed with how much your bike weighs.
This pic was “borrowed” from ridemonkey.com…it’s someone that goes by Cru Jones…no, not that Cru Jones…showing what the Method 24 is capable of in the dirt.
For 2010, Giant has dispensed with the cool tan & bronze look for something that looks a bit reminscent of the new 2010 Redline race bikes. Not sure what the thinking was behind that….while this look might be ok at the track, it looks a little bit too much for the trails…where I have feeling that a bike like this would see more action. No word on if the geometry has changed…Giant seems to have removed the specifications tab from their bike pages and I can’t seem to find the 2010 information anywhere else.
In somewhat related news: you may have seen the news that Giant is dropping some heavy hitters from their team, including Taj, Corey Bohan and Heath Pinter. It’s tough to see such talented riders losing their sponsorships so I’m hoping they find the support they need to keep riding and stay part of the scene. Giant’s Chris Arriga has gone on record that there will be a 2010 BMX program at Giant, complete with a team, in the new year but so far no details have been given.
Gold anodized parts that is.
Maybe it’s because gold seems to be the only thing not tanking in today’s economy or maybe it’s because what’s old is new again…I dunno…but I’m really feeling gold components again. And I’m not the only one. Freestyle legend Taj Mihelich seems to have been feeling the gold vibe for some time now…he’s been rocking gold rims on a number of his past bikes….his current Giant setup being no exception.
I think what got me thinking about/missing gold components is the ’08 We The People Unified 24″.
The mix of old and new school on this bike really work for me. Unfortunately, WTP has decided to go with a blue and white combo for ’09.
Perhaps, gold components represent something deeper. They do if we can trust a BMX academic like Wade Nelson. When asked by Momentum magazine, “What are the virtues of golden spoke nipples?” Wade simply responded, “Gold anodized spoke nipples are truth.”
Truer words were never spoken. Now where can I get a pair of those sweet vintage gold anodized valve caps he’s got on his bike?
cruiser revolution 
![blue and white combo](http://www.danscomp.com/showfullimage.php?type=products&image=107105.gif&title=WETHEPEOPLE WTP WE THE PEOPLE AVENUE 24" CRUISER BIKE 2009){kind=link}