The Gift from Romance. Ron’s Bikes goods and R-werks EVOO 29er
Hi, it’s Sub and I’m a YouTube guy from BLUE LUG.
We’ve got a bunch of stuff from ULTRAROMANCE!
(It makes me feel like a Christmas present somehow.)
Today, I’m going to announce the release schedule and R-werk EVOO 29er which I recently bought.
This is the bike which he showed at MADE BIKE SHOW.
Firstly, here’re the release schedule and details of the goods!
BLUE LUG release date
Deceember 6th (Sat.) 12:00- BLUE LUG stores
December 7th (Sun.) 19:00- BLUE LUG online store
Let’s take a closer look at each!
They’re all with his iconic tulip graphics. We also have some new designs and color ways.
I think I’m going to get at least two of them.
laron star lily bandana
larons tulips and holly bandana (black lava doom)
larons tulips and holly bandana (periwinkle tan)
This one is also a new design. Great for adding some spice to your outfit.
larons tulips and holly cap (race red)
barn quilt cap
I’ve been wearing merino wool sock since the first time I tried it. This is mid-weight socks for the winter.
（natural）
(Black)
Merino wool material has been known for its great regulation of body temperature, quick drying and odor resistance, but this is what I really need for activities and this cute design always makes me happy.
With its odor resistance and quick drying, it also works great for something like an overnight bike-packing.
It’s helped me a lot in the wet conditions.
I think I’m going to have another pair for sure.
I believe that there’re so many people who are waiting for this.
This is a handlebar bag which allows you an easy access to the contents.
It comes with a side pocket on each side and I’m sure this is the best.
Available in three different colors, x-pac/black, waxed/olive and waxed/field tan.
I have to make up my mind which color I’m going to get!
This is a cap which we make in Japan for his request.
Quick-drying linen material may feel like it’s for the summer, but it works great underneath your helmet in the winter as well.
This is actually great throughout the year.
(yellow tan/chambray)
(olive/chambray)
And, we’ve also received that frames!!!
I couldn’t help writing about it, so please let me talk about it here.
(Sorry for the long blog!)
But, this is what my dearest Ronnie made!
So, now I’m going to introduce why I ended up buying this frame.
FYI, we’ve got some of these frames in stock and will be available at the same day.
BLUE LUG release date
December 6th (Sat.) 12:00- BLUE LUG stores
December 7th (Sun.) 19:00- BLUE LUG online store
I couldn’t help buying this frame at the end.
This name means,
R = Romance’s
Werks = Finest work (workshop)
EVOO = Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(He plays on words with Specialized’s EVO.)
29er = Maximum tire clearance : 29″x2.4″
Available in three different colors and sizes.
(red)
(raw/red logo)
(raw/black logo)
We’ve only got just few of them in stock and only one for Medium size in “black logo”.
I chose Medium one as my height 172cm and saddle height 71cm.
It’s a XC MTB which he reproduced the modern racing geometry in a fully rigid structure. Rim brake of course!
Here’s the YouTube video which he shows up and talks about it.
I’ve heard that the original idea came from Specialized S-Works M2 in 1990’s.
These years, I’ve been building a new bike every time I go to MADE BIKE SHOW.
I got CRUST BIKES alumalith in 2023.
I ordered Ron’s Bikes R-werks EVOO 29er in 2024.
I’m still thinking about a new one this year.
But now, I’ve just received R-werks EVOO 29er which I ordered in 2024.
Let’s get back to the morning of MADE BIKE SHOW in 2023.
He let me ride CRUST BIKES alumalith and went a ride with the two of ULTRADYNAMICO and Sean from TEAM DREAM.
I was surprised at how it rides nicely and bought alumalith right away.
The pictured bike on the right end is the alumalith which I used.
And the below is the one I built when I got back to Japan.
I’ve been riding this bike most of the times since I got it.
Here’s the picture of MADE in 2024.
There was R-werks EVOO 29er at ULTRADYNAMICO.
I was wondering how different it is. I just wanted to try what he came up with.
But, I couldn’t have a test ride since it was too big for me.
(You can see the difference from this picture. It’s obvious!)
Alumalith is too good for me and I couldn’t help my curiosity, so I ordered it without any doubts.
And one year later, now here it is!
Going off the track, but I’m sure that you can easily notice the tires got narrower from MADE 2024.
Here’s the picture of ULTRADYNAMICO at MADE in 2025.
Also, there were so many 20″ bikes out there in 2024, but this year, it’s more about a 32″.
It’s started from ASTRAL CYCLING and they provided Tyler from BTCHN’ Bikes with 32″ rims.
And they also provided Cameron Falconer with some as well and he introduced his own 32″ bike there.
Cameron said like “it’s not a size for everyone, so I think it’s not going to be so popular.”
But, it’s one of the funnest things of this show to see that kind of creative works.
Every single bike at MADE has a certain charm and looks cool, so sometimes I feel I’m lost.
What makes me feel it’s cool? What makes me feel like getting it?
They’re all good and nice, of course.
So, this is my own answer.
“It’s made by someone I like and it fits my own way of riding a bike.”
- When I could sympathize someone’s aesthetic or character, I strongly feel like I wanna support that person and get their frame.
- It’s good to use it as my own tool. If it’s too much and too unconventional to ride, I think it’s out of my reach no matter how beautiful it is.
For me, R-werks EVOO 29er is something I could find these two, so I definitely wanted it.
Ronnie always gives me a good energy. There’s no need to say how cool his bikes are.
Ronnie and Patrick came to pick us up even they’re so busy before the show. They’re always so nice!
Their products also have their gentleness and aesthetic which I feel from them.
I wanna say that their products are great 100% for sure!
Oh, let’s get back to the main theme.
I wanted to tell how nice they’re, but the second one is really important when you choose the right frame for you.
The way of riding a bike which you can have fun.
Mine is “Under Biking”, which means riding difficult terrains than your bike is originally designed for.
(I recently learned this word from Samba and Shin, but I think this is the best word to describe EVOO.)
In other words, it means that riding a rigid MTB (without suspension) or gravel bike on the rough trails whre you generally need a modern MTB.
This is exactly what I’ve been doing with my alumalith.
(I think it’s something similar to riding Rivendell on the trail.)
The guy in the picture below is from a MTB park where we recently go.
We shred through this trail on rim brake bikes with no suspensions.
Santa and Wentz sometimes jump on SURLY bikes, and I don’t do that, but it’s still so fun!
Riding no only in a park, buy also on trails, mountains and single tracks.
“Under Biking” is so satisfying since it makes me feel challenging on any kind of terrain.
And, Ronnie also has written something like that before.
Here’re some quotes from his blog.
“This was a strange era between steel and carbon — and it did not last long with how quickly the planned perceived obsolescence virus was inoculating itself into just about every consumer good. I followed the tech crumbs all the way until 2001 when a crash on a fashionable free ride hardtail spiral fractured my humerus. after an 8 month recovery on a recumbent with my arm (more of an atrophied chicken wing) in a sling, my perception of mountain biking changed dramatically.”
“Around this time things in mountain biking really began to evolve for some and devolve for others. I disassociated, instead feeling more drawn to the euro roadie aesthetic where bikes still looked like bikes and remained largely uncomplicated pre aero era. this is when I turned my back on mountain biking — it had become a different sport.”
“Spent the remaining 3 years of college riding rigid, and impressing people by simply just keeping up with my suspension friends. it was challenging, but possible — but most importantly it was low stakes challenging.”
“I became a trail scholar — reading the trail like only a rigid rider can/needs to. you don’t roll/slam over things, you find ways around them. it’s fun and intentional!”
That’s all.
EVOO, which he made from this experience.
If I borrow his words, it would be smooth, rich, floral and little spicy, so it’s literally “Extra Virgin”.
Isn’t it the best, is it?
I’m still thinking about what “little spicy” means.
Thank you for reading till the end.
BLUE LUG release date
December 6th (Sat.) 12:00- BLUE LUG stores
December 7th (Sun.) 19:00- BLUE LUG online store
