Rush Hour on Mars

 — 
November 27, 2024

How Tom Reynolds and Christian Brecheis Experienced the Atacama Desert.

Like low-grade Dean Moriarty’s a half-dozen, half strangers said yes to a challenge jam-packed full of juxtapositions.
Having answered in the affirmative we agreed to be On The Road. As one.
Toeing the line; toeing one long white line. 
Finding the way was simple. There was just one long road. 
What we needed was to find familiarity. Common ground. Commonality.


So, let’s begin.
Just suppose.
We juxtapose.
Your life
And my life. 
And make it our life.
For one weekend.
On one road. 
On the road.
Our road. 

Just suppose.
We juxtapose.
The six faces of this new team’s juxtaposition.
Onto a blank canvas. 
This race with no real mission.
Per se. 
Just a journey.
From A-B.
With you three, us two, and me.

In trucks together.
But on the road.
Alone. 
One Hundred Years of Solitude?
Not quite.
More like 100 seconds. 
This was the night.
And we had nothing to offer. 
Except our own confusion.
Alone.
Unseeing.
With an unseen baton.
To continually pass on.
Hand-to-hand. 
Distant rumble.
Trucks pass.
Trucking on. 
Into the dawn. 
And with it, the sun arrives to juxtapose again. 

High contrasts. 
High-altitude high jinks.
Low light, low moods. 
Handcuffs. 
And hands of friendship.
Dancing beside the highway.
This team’s tarmac tormentor.
Very. Nearly. Tamed.

And just like that. 
We’re finished.
By the side of a white cross.
Stark, against the blackest of nights.
A contrast again.
Cold night and warm champagne, the final juxtaposition.
Just suppose. 
Six strangers. 
Become friends.
On The Road.
Our one, long deserted desert road.

WORDS: TOM REYNOLDS
PICTURES: CHRISTIAN BRECHEIS
Use Case
Intended use case by the brand, broken down into three categories: Trail, Road, and Race
Cushion
The softness of the shoe’s sole, determined by it’s use of foam. More cushioning increases the level of impact protection while running with minimal cushioning comes closer to a natural running experience (e.g. barefoot). Since there are different types of foams, the equation of “the more foam the softer” does not always work. It is crucial to consider which type of foam it is. Ranging from Hard to Super Soft.
Padding
The amount of padding in the upper. Ranging from No Padding to Very Padded.
Flexibility
The ability to flex when compressed from heel to toe and when twisted. Flexibility and Stability are highly interdependent. As a rule of thumb you can say: the more flexible, the less stable. Ranging from Stiff to Flexible.
Stability
The amount of support provided to the natural rolling movement of the foot. The main factors influencing stability are the sole’s construction and its width. The construction of the upper and the type of lacing can also add to stability. Special Lacing is not considered within this category. Ranging from Free to Supportive.
Traction
The ability of the shoe to maintain stable contact with the ground, mostly determined by the construction of the sole. Added components from external brands such as Vibram or Megagrip can highly influence traction. Ranging from Slick to Very Grippy.
Breathability
The overall mesh density of the upper. Ranging from closed to open
Propulsion
The amount of forward pushing energy return determined by the construction of the sole. Various sole types can add a propulsive effect to the sole such as a Rocker construction or a carbon plate in combination with an energy-returning foam. Ranging from Relaxed to Aggressive.
Drop
The difference in height from heel to forefoot. Ranging from 0mm to 12mm.
Stack Height
The amount of forward pushing energy return determined by the construction of the sole. Various sole types can add a propulsive effect to the sole such as a Rocker construction or a carbon plate in combination with an energy-returning foam. Ranging from Relaxed to Aggressive.
Width
The shoes overall width at its base. This category only refers to the upper to provide information for the overall fit. Ranging from Narrow to Wide.
Width
The overall weight of the shoe. For comparison, we always use the weight of size US 9 for men. Ranging from Ultra Light to Heavy—Ultra Light (<240g), Lightweight (240–280g), Medium (280–320g), Heavy:  (>320g).

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