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5AM alarms never get’s easier but you do get faster, you do get better.

Instagram Roundup, It’s been a lot of cycling. 

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Jayson broke his collarbone in this morning’s bike race. He has been working like a dog over the past months to get into great form and it’s a shame he has to sit out for a few weeks. Don’t worry Face, you will be dropping us again in no time. 

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If you ride a bike and wear clothes you have probably heard of the new H&M x Brick Lane Bikes collaboration (if you havent catch up here). As a man who likes clothes and loves bikes I was stoked when they reached out to me to have me help spread the word and give away some pieces from the line. All you have to do is tag an Instagram photo of you and your bikes with #HMBikeStyle by Friday and 5 dudes will win some new threads. 

Now grab a camera, finds some tailwinds and show us your bike style.  

Back in August Deux North took a group of riders to the Adirondacks to learn a bit about passion, pain and themselves. Directed by Aaron Vaquez whose talent and kindness is a blessing and inspiration. 

If you are new around here, Deux North is brand I run with my little brother Dylan that’s telling a different kind of story.  It is a story of unabashed childish freedom and thrill. This is about the past, happening now. Friendship, adventure, and experience are your characters in a story about city life told amongst nature, and the last one there is a rotten egg.

You can watch our other videos here, and buy socks or a t-shirt here. 

Dylan and I pulled on our Daddy Long Socks and did some Sandy hunting yesterday. 

HUNT2: THE FIRST TIME WE WERE COLD 

Hunt 2 was the first time we were cold in a long time. The temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees on our 8 mile journey up to the summit of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks. The air at the top of that mountain left us shivering the sweat off of ourselves, and scattered around a picnic table with peanut butter & Nutella sandwiches in hand, the Deux North Hunters took a moment to reflect on the last 24 hours of hunt 2: a hallway sized van, a demolition derby, bacon burgers, maple shakes, passion, pouring rain, a remote campsite, a smokey fire, and a round of stories. The day combined 50 miles and 7,000 feet of climbing over the sometimes nearly impassable dirt and gravel roads of the Adirondack Mountains. From atop the summit we could see some 40 miles out, but we didn’t stay long. Stuffing our jerseys with local maps, and tourism pamphlets, we bombed down the washboard memorial highway, smelling burning carbon the whole way down. At the bottom, there is still 35 miles to go, but everyone knew - we had found what we came to hunt.

Directed by Aaron Vaquez

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Life isn’t all that different from cycling really. When the road tips up you have two choices: sit back and let it hurt you or attack it, and when you think about it, that’s not really much of a choice at all. 

Yesterday Dylan and I emptied our legs, filled our lungs and cleared our heads. It’s in times of turmoil that I am most thankful for my bike and it’s ability to temper you. The physical unraveling of yourself can help you not to become unraveled emotionally. 

Dylan and I released Deux North socks today, you can buy them here. The whole idea behind Deux North is to create amazing experiences on and off the bike and have talented people document those experiences. Part of making that possible is paying for some of the costs by selling product. So, if you are excited about seeing pretty photos and videos of skinny dudes with shaved legs riding around the Northeast, please feel free to pick up a pair of the Daddy Long Socks. 

The style and charisma of the daddy long leg spider, pholcus phalangioides, meets the casual, sophisticated spirit of the turtle neck to create the best in inner footwear. This good foot look is made on the DeFeet Aireator with a tall enough 5” cuff.

$14.99 | BUY NOW

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GPOYW: sometimes you have to go at it alone. Bike racing has taught me the benefit of taking chances and committing to your decisions.

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Things get sticky at 23%,

Find some freedom @DeuxNorth (Twitter & Instagram, see more here)

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Do you remember, as a kid, the first time you went really fast on your bike, and it felt like you were flying, or the first time you got both wheels off the ground, and how you could feel, almost hear, your heart beating. It was like the first time you held her hand, or ran away from home and got lost.

Now, do you remember the last time you drove by a lake and wondered if there was a rope swing but never stopped, or the last time you looked at a smooth stone and imagined throwing it across the water but finished your conversation instead. When was the last time you considered a tree based on climb-ability? Ran across the grass barefoot, or decided to be a robber instead of a cop? Well, no one wants to be a cop anyways.

Let’s pretend again, and play a prank; we’ll defend a fort, or draw a map to plan an escape. All we have to do is take off our shoes and jump in, or walk outside and find an adventure.

Deux North is a story of unabashed childish freedom and thrill. This is about the past, happening now. Friendship, adventure, and experience are your characters in a story about city life told amongst nature, and the last one there is a rotten egg.

The story begins with the Summer Hunt Series, ten trips north, to the high peaks of the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains in New York City’s backyard. We invite everyone to follow along in realtime on Twitter & Instagram @DeuxNorth, and #Hunt1. The complete story will be told through film, word, and image on deuxnorth.com in late july.

Deux North was bro-founded by myself and Dylan Nord and designed by Michael Miano and Dan Forbes. 

Dylan and I sat on the front of the race, chased down breaks, got into other ones, came into the last lap looking to lead out Dylan, got blocked by FGX, went from 5th wheel to 25th in 100 yards, ended up with no result.

Lots of work for nothing but a lesson, so it goes, so it goes. 

pictures mostly from my ever lovely mother

Bridle Your Courage