Tag: Movie

Film Friday – Lincoln Park in West Seattle, Washington

/ Matt Talley / 4 Comments

OK, so it is not Friday, but I started working on this video Friday night…  Does that count?

Lincoln Park in West Seattle is one of my favorite spaces in all of the Seattle metro area.  It is a phenomenal urban space:  Stamps-With-Foot and I go there all the time just to hang out, I used to run there along the beach and through the trees in the mornings, it was my first outing after hip surgery, our monsters puppies love it there, it is romantic, great for picnics, strolling hand and hand along the beach, a fine hour+ long hike after work, a protected kayak launching point, good fishing spot when the salmon are running (the pink run started earlier this week…), there is a public pool, bald eagles nest in the trees along the shore, and sometimes I go and watch the sunset from on e of the many benches when I have had a bad day.  I hope this little film captures part of the magic of the place.

Film Friday – Shoe Repair Shops: Part 1

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

I am a sucker for a fine pair of shoes or boots. I love to go into a shoe shop to watch the cobblers work and smell the leather & dye. I have a pair of Justin Roppers ™ that have been with me since I was 17. I have had them half soled more than 5 times and full soled twice. I have had cuts stiched up and new heels nailed on. They fit my feet like a pair of bespoke calf-skin gloves. I wish all my shoes fit and felt like they do. I have Al’s Attire in San Francisco building my dress shoes and boots now and I hope to have that sort of relationship with their products as well someday.

First Rate Shoe and boot repair in the Great State of Texas:

Austin Shoe Hospital:Craftsmanship from Mosaic Media Films on Vimeo.

A part-time cobbler making shoes in his garage:

The Shoemaker from Pete Stone on Vimeo.

Western boot builder:

Lisa Sorrell from Tiana Jade on Vimeo.

Film Friday – Brooks Saddlery

/ Matt Talley / Leave a comment

I hate breaking in a new leather bike saddle – hate.  It takes a month of riding for it not to feel like some sort of 15th century Transilvanian torture device.  When it finally does wear into place, there is nothing better on long slow rides.  A properly broken-in and adjusted saddle makes back to back all day rides possible and enjoyable without any pain the next day.  My favorite of all time was a 1970’s vintage Rolls that I got with when I traded a pair of skis for a time-trial bike in the 1990’s.  It was like a soft calfskin glove for my butt.  It died in a horrendous crash on a colorado mountain road – a crash that left me with some serious road rash and some broken fingers.  When I replaced the bike and saddle, I put a Brooks B-17 (black) on my new stead.  After the initial torture, it was a constant companion for about 10 years.  It was heavier that most saddles, but I am not in the ounce counting club and a comfortable ride is worth POUNDS of added weight.

Below is a video of the Brooks factory tour.  They still do it all by hand.  Watching the video makes me want to buy an new one just because of its provenance.