Tri Co.

On the mini tour post a few days ago I mentioned our very own store, Tri Co. I realised that some of you may not know too much about the place. We have been open for two and half years now and it has really taken on a life of it's own. Wil does a great job as shop manager and Rosie and Maria fill in the spare days. If you are in town come on over, we have the Dice office in the back and we are always up for a chin wag. We have in stock jewelery from the Great Frog, bike parts from BCM, Haifley Bros, Speed Merchant, Noise, Busch Bros and Internal Combustion. Clothing by Dixie, Eat Dust, Cycle Zombies, Loser Machine, Dark Seas, Sailor Jerry, Chopper Fever, Blackboard Cafe and of course Dice. We also have a small vintage section too and a whole bunch of different magazines from around the world including GKM, Sideburn, Show Class, Vibes, Clutch etc etc. We even have some comfy chairs to lounge in. See you soon.

Ramen Yokocho 2014: The Biggest Ramen Festival in the U.S. Is Back

Well we love Ramen so are pretty excited about this. If your dreams often take place in Shinagawa ramen joints, elbows down on a tiny counter, noodles slurped alongside drunk companions seated under the low clouds coming off vats of tonkotsu broth, then you'll be overjoyed to know that Ramen Yokocho - billed as the largest ramen festival in the U.S. - is returning to Los Angeles. Specifically, Sat. March 29 and Sun., March 30, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. The ramen shops coming to this next festival include, from Los Angeles, Jidaiya, Men Oh Tokushima, Daikokuya, Fujin, Hayatemaru and Shin-Sen-Gumi; Hiromaru and Monta from Las Vegas; Shalala from San Jose; Tajima from San Diego; and, all the way from Japan, Tatsunoya, Horaiya, Mattou Seimen and Tsujita Tokyo. If that last one sounds really familiar that's because you've probably spent many an hour in line outside the Tsujita on Sawtelle, the L.A. outpost of the Tokyo shop. And of course, many minutes inside, consuming excellent ramen and tsukemen. So now's your chance to get all of this, for $8 a bowl, under the looming San Gabriel Mountains and permanent sunny skies. Because although slurping hot soup might indeed be more fun in the Tokyo wintertime, all weather is ramen weather at this point. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days; on Saturday, there will also be things to do other than noodle-eating, namely Japan Family Day and the Tokyo City Cup. Entry to the festival is $5, although those under 17 get in free.

Bixby Moto!

These guys are absolute legends!
More HERE.

Mini Shop Tour.

When I say mini I mean not far, mostly Hollywood but these tours take time y'know. Last week we got to the office, turned on the computers and sat there ready to start the day. Sometimes the creative juices are just not flowing as well as they should. The sun was shining, the bikes were sitting outside, so we downed tools, grabbed our helmets and went on a tour of our friends shops, mostly new places that have just opened up. it seems everyone is opening stores these days, the more the merrier I reckon. If you manage to get to LA for a visit then here is a quick guide.

First stop was Guisados Tacos on W Sunset in Echo Park for breakfast. The sampler plate is always fantastic, apart from the well dodgy Pork fat one.

 

Across the street from Guisados is Al and Brittany's Blackboard Cafe. They make their own line of clothes by hand out the back which sit side by side with vintage clothing and bike parts in the front of the store. Still a little to do to get it finished but they are so close. It has a great vibe with plenty of sidewalk parking if you're on a bike. If not, why not?!

A couple of miles down Sunset towards Hollywood proper is Koske's Chopper Fever. He has been after this place for about 5 years (his bike workshop is in the alley round the back) and has now finally talked the landlord into letting him have it. It's small at the moment but right now he is building a large section in the rear which should be finished pretty soon. Again this place is filled with some cool vintage garments and some Chopper Fever gear too.

Heading further west on your two wheeled freedom machine, turning left off Sunset and then a right after a couple of miles onto Melrose you arrive at Yaniv's Powerplant Choppers. He has had the old shop around the back for years, workshop and store sitting neatly in the alley. Both always look great and are stuffed full of some very interesting stuff. Up on Melrose itself he has just managed to sign the lease on a double fronted store front that is pretty bloody big. Empty as of our visit but soon, along with Roland Sands, it should be all decked out and up and running. Park in the alley at the shop and take some time to look around.

Moving still further west down Melrose a couple of miles is the new Great Frog LA flagship store. While they still have a large stock and presence in Tri Co, this place is for the high end big spenders who shop in that part of town. Reino did an amazing job refurbishing the gaff.

Finally cut across to Santa Monica Blvd and pull up on the sidewalk outside Thunder Road Motorcycles. An older establishment that has been here ever since I can remember. Well worth a look and good if you need some oil or something after this long exhausting day.
Well that's it for now, don't forget to add Tri Co to your tour. Come and say hello, we are always there.....erm.......

March 29. London Town.

Eat some breakfast, go for a ride, eat some BBQ at the the Kingdom Of Kicks store opening. I'm sure there will beers in there somewhere too. I want to go.

For Sale.

 

 

Our friend jay is selling some of his goodies!

Email him direct for more info, pics and prices: thespacevacation@gmail.com

1969 Marshall Major 200 watt (fuckin beast!)
1978 Marshall super lead master volume 100 watt with 6550's in it tone for days.
3 4/12 cabs 80's JCM 800  1/18 cab 80's JCM800 

1970 Les Paul Custom.

70's Ludwig vistalite smoke kit double kick re done up. Revamped and buttery since photo. 

Every thing is in my storage in North Hollywood. So the pics are so so. 

Also have; LP 4000, Drums 2500, Major 3000, JMP 1800, Cabs too....