The Features have deflected enough false starts and dead-ends to kill most groups. Absorbed in full, it’s quite the litany of misfortune: at least two unreleased full-length albums to close out the ’90s; a pair of fruitless label dalliances; the departure of three band members. It’s oddly fitting, then, that the Features’ new LP is a self-titled affair. And apparently they’re also late-bloomers, given the measurable bump in song quality and musicianship that propels The Features (Serpents & Snakes/BMG). With its four members now well into their 30s, the band sounds like it’s just now coming into its own. Singer/guitarist Matthew Pelham, keyboardist Mark Bond, bassist Roger Dabbs and drummer Rollum Haas will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Features feature.
Rollum: The cycling world is hard to explain if you’ve never been around it or known anyone who was enthusiastic about it. Just like any other area of life, there are strange groups and divisions. People on tall bikes who eat out of dumpsters and joust, people purely into fitness and competition who rarely (if ever) ride their bikes for any other reason, people who spend ridiculous amounts of money on garaged vanity bikes, etc.
Bike Snob NYC is the pseudonym of Eben Weiss, a self deprecating writer whose blog (Bike Snob NYC) manages to poke the right amount of fun at just about every type of cyclist, politician with an anti-cyclist stance, celebrity bicycle advocate and, occasionally, entire cities. He’s also the author of three books. The first of which, Bike Snob, is a great primer for anyone getting into cycling who wants an awareness of the different idiosyncrasies that are out there. His second, The Enlightened Cyclist, goes deep into the psychology behind commuting and could almost be categorized as philosophy. He’s recently written a third book, Bike Snob Abroad.
At the root of his writing is a noble intention to help normalize cycling for the general public and enthusiast alike. I’d highly recommend his books and blog for any cyclist of any interest who’s yet to read them or Bike Snob for anyone who’s been curious about buying a bike but is intimidated by the seemingly limitless options out there.
Video after the jump.
