#oneoftheseplease: week two

#OneofThesePlease is back this week, with a selection of printed matter that sets our pulses racing. We also reveal our winners from the past week. Check the end of today's post to see if your #oneoftheseplease ended up on the podium.

Reasons for inspiration this season. Each time that the mail comes with a new publication carrying words, photography and design, we get that tingly feeling. Crack the spine a bit, skim back to front or just sit with it for a while. Whatever your routine, there is something special about printed stuff. Not to mention that book and magazine subscriptions make fantastic gifts, especially when they are for rare-ish treasures. So here we go:

Great Road Climbs of the Northerns Alps

This is the book to use for planning your next adventure into the mountains. That or the one you set next to your fireplace and use to illustrate the climbs you have bagged over the years. Each grade will have been noted, the pages dog-eared over time, a small stub sticking out where you dodged the sheep on your way to the top of the Col de L'Arpettaz (1,581m).

See the recent review in Pez Cycling News  

Merckx 525

We have yet to hear a sound reason why we shouldn't go on considering Mr. Merckx to be the greatest cyclist of all time. And this book, from Velopress, upholds that belief impressively. Filled with gorgeous rare photography (authorized by the man himself) and laid out in a strikingly large format, this book sits well with any other cycling tome on the market.

Also: Merckx 525 will be available at the Rapha Cycle Club San Francisco later this week.

Race Notes

Coming in two sizes (A5 & A6) Race Notes is the perfect way to chronicle all of your racing trials and tribulations. In fact, if you were to attempt any of the climbs detailed in the Great Road Climbs this is where those accounts would fall to paper. Because of its heft and the quality of the paper the first few words will be the hardest to pen, but after that, let them flow.
_{[Look out for the Rider's Diary coming very soon]}

All My Bikes - by Chris Piascik

This beautiful little publication from Illustrator Piascik is short and sweet and in 28 pages outlines each and every bike that Chris has owned. In his own words he has been "completely bike crazy" his entire life and this theme works well as it plays itself out in the hand drawn typography around the bike frames. Perfect stocking stuffer due to its size and playful demeanor.

COPPI : Inside the Legend of the Campionissimo by Herbie Sykes

Rouleur, that purveyor of the highest quality cycling publication around has put out a new book with Bloomsbury about the other greatest cycling champion, Fausto Coppi. Also including never before seen images and first hand accounts from those who knew him. It's bound to be great as the author is Herbie Sykes - Italian cycling expert and author of Maglia Rosa.

Peloton Magazine - Photo Annual

Their photo annual comes at the perfect time this year. It is a delightfully odd combination of photos ranging from skateparks to boxing matches and even a few behind the scenes photos from the film House of Flying Daggers. However, where this photo annual is in their unparalleled number of female photographers - the always awesome Heidi Swift is joined by Emily Maye in her first appearance along with Michael Crook and Ashley Gruber (with her husband Jared). Their collective approach to this traditionally male dominated sport provides a breath of fresh smelling air. Run out and find issue seventeen - The Photo Annual - and then sign up for a year's subscription.

Other Notables:

Inventory Magazine - the current issue is worth it for the Bathing Ape interview alone, but there's more in a fashion spread with City Riding Rogue #1 Rob.

Cooler Magazine The Women's version of a snow/skate sports meets travel and leisure. The magazine does a great job of profiling who's who in the world of women's action sports and those ladies on their way up.

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WINNERS 1, 2, 3

With almost 400 instagram photos and about twice that on the twittersphere to pick through one clear winner could not be determined. So, we settled on a podium to help round out the week. Creativity always wins out. Take a look through some of the other tweets sent out by the winners, including Matthew Long the 2nd place winner for some creative ways to express his desires. Plus, they help give us an idea on how to pull together a proper gift for the likes of you. The "contest" if you will, continues for the next four weeks, so get creative and let us know what you wish for this holiday season — within reason of course — there will be no vintage Lamborghini's heading out of this office anytime soon.

WEEK ONE WINNERS:

First Prize - Jeff Bean @BikeCrave

A nice Rapha Leather Wash Bag (with Skin Care package) goes to Jeff Bean for this @BikeCrave creative compiling of the Rapha Skincare. Now you will have a way to store it when you travel.

Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. 2013 @rapharacing #oneoftheseplease instagr.am/p/STCLOBE8QT/

— Jeff Bean (@BikeCrave) November 21, 2012

Second Prize - Matthew Long @MCLGreenville

We secured both Rouleur and Peloton Subscriptions for Matthew Long - @MCLGreenville now you can read about bicycles to your heart's content.

subscriptions please! @rapharacing #oneoftheseplease instagr.am/p/SS8_IDxwLi/

— Matthew Long (@mclgreenville) November 21, 2012

Third Prize - Robert Roost @BuroBraaf

We found one of the last remaining SF Cycle Club mugs to send your way. Now you can go back to riding your bike. Thanks for playing.

@rapharacing #oneoftheseplease flickr.com/photos/johnpro…

— Robbert Roost (@burobraaf) November 26, 2012

Honorable Mentions:
We spent a good amount of time perusing all the entries from this past week. Keep up the good work. Here are a few people and style's that caught our collective eyes. Keep tweeting and instagraming this week to let people know what you would like this holiday season. We will pick another podium next week so be sure to check back here next Tuesday when #OneOfThesePlease returns.

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Alex Bethell - @inthewoodshed

@rapharacing #oneofthesepleaseW. Whiteley & Sons, Sheffield.High Carbon Steel Scissors.#MadeToLastForever:-) twitter.com/inthewoodshed/…

— alex bethell (@inthewoodshed) November 23, 2012

Jon Woodroof - @twotoneatl

a one of a kind #handmade #dulcimer built by my Grandfather | #oneoftheseplease @rapharacing instagr.am/p/Sb_QZeN2o4/

— Jon Woodroof (@twotoneatl) November 25, 2012

Nick Brandeau - @nickbradood

@rapharacing All I want for Christmas is Rouleur #1. #oneoftheseplease #rouleur twitter.com/nickbrandood/s…

— nick brandeau (@nickbrandood) November 26, 2012

Christopher Richards - @C_Richards

Love the priceless days when Anna dresses up in my old cycling gear & plays in the rain @rapharacing #oneoftheseplease twitter.com/c_richards/sta…

— Christopher Richards (@c_richards) November 26, 2012

Kevin Sparrow - @Sparrow_Kevin

@rapha_n_america @rapharacing #oneoftheseplease Paul Smith bicycle print pants (undies)! instagr.am/p/ShHEL5u7lc/

— Kevin Sparrow (@sparrow_kevin) November 27, 2012

John Herety - @RaphaJ

#oneoftheseplease @rapharacing Martell Malle Bar twitter.com/RaphaJ/status/…

— John Herety (@RaphaJ) November 20, 2012