Yeah it’s pretty shitty. I’ve been riding my rain bike only for the last two weeks. I love the bike but I like it better when I can cycle through all of them more depending on mood.
@wes… Why not start a message board? I thought this was suppose to be a comments section for My fixed gear. Are you trying to kill the recent comments section? If so, this is a great way to do it.
JQ. I think there isn’t any way to do a proper stand alone message board on here. Think that’s down to the webmasters involved. Wes has done this to save us gobshites filling other peoples posts with our mindless prattle. It kind of works. Hey Wes. Nice arse!
Yes, I understand. Again, I think it doesn’t work for this site. Its four people monopolizing the whole Recent Comments area (“with our mindless prattle”). Hey, here’s an idea. Why not start a new site? I would be happy to follow your “message board” and even contribute. Or, reach out to the webmaster (who ever that is) and ask for it.
I would hope the webmaster looks in every now and then to check his site is ok. maybe he, or she will pick up on some of these comments. My i.t skills start and finnish with chatting to people face to face.I wouldn’t know how to start a website. Does include using angle grinders and large hammers?
Hey guys. Me and Wasptamer may be going racing tomorrow night! My old club is holding a series of 10 mile tts on a road track in Essex. We’re going to have a bash on 75 inch gears and see how slow we are. All I know about the course is it,s a bit hilly. It’s a replacement for the Eastway cycle circuit in east London that has been torn up to make room for the 2012 olympics. I am going to be in SO much pain on Wednesday.
Racing cancelled due to Pugs bottom bracket coming loose. I suspect an oval lockring. Mikey is planning a sealed insertion. Ooh, nasty! To remedy the prob. Maybe next week we’ll see how slow I really am. Went to see Dick Morris in hospital. He’s had a stroke and has lost the use of his right side. Very frustrating for a man who would spend hours filing and cutting lugs into fancy shapes. We chatted for about half hour. He is confusing the doctors because they don’t expect anyone in thier 90s to be sitting up in bed reading and chatting after a serious stroke. Not only a frame builder, he was a lifelong cyclist and racer. That may have some bearing on his recovery. He smiled when I told him I was still riding 1 of his frames. 94 and the flame is still there. Maybe there is hope yet for the rest of us. Cheers.
Sorry to hear about Morris, Alan. My mom had a stroke at 94 also and lived 4 more years in a nursing home. She had her speech still and brain was OK for memory but paralysis on one side persisted. Nice that you took the time to visit. Hopefully he can go home again soon if he recovers somewhat. Is the Peugeot french threaded or 24 tpi ? It would be nice if bottom brackets were some what standardized.
Pug took a standard bb fine. Had a happy tinker when I got in today. Replaced cups & bearings on Pug with sealed unit, swapped chainset for a shitty 44t off an mtb and old steel pedals, until I get my new Suntour 44t single and new MKS (or similar) pedals in a few days. Could probably do with new freewheel while I’m at it.
Also rebuilt Wasp as paint is done and I’ve bloody well missed racing around on it, so now got a nice bike for pleasure and a shitter for commuting. Cheers
Slo, the suntour is a bargain price (£20), but the LBS that has it only stock it with a 44t ring. Pug is just a cheap build just for going to work on. Plus I often have to lug my chef kit (box of knives, steel toe boots, whites and huge folder) around on the rack, so an easier gear kinda makes sense on Pug. I’ve been pushing it with a 46/17, using the wheels off Wasp for over a week and I’ll admit it’s been tough. The bonus of the suntour is I can get a bigger ring if I get bored or find it too easy (it’ll be my first crank with bolt on rings)
Why not start a message board? I thought this was suppose to be a comments section for My fixed gear. Are you trying to kill the recent comments section? If so, this is a great way to do it.
Yes, I understand. Again, I think it doesn’t work for this site. Its four people monopolizing the whole Recent Comments area (”with our mindless prattle”). Hey, here’s an idea. Why not start a new site? I would be happy to follow your “message board” and even contribute. Or, reach out to the webmaster (who ever that is) and ask for it.
27 inch rims without rust may be worth 50 if you find a buyer. many new bikes only take 622 rims and no room for the 630 from the old 10 speed road bikes. My trek 400 and Raleigh competition only have enough room for the 622 rims.
Ha! Wooden…you like when John Thompson drops by. I think it’s so funny how upset he gets. Combine that with the fact that he doesn’t really say anything….just gets mad and has poor grammar and sentence structure….I kind of like it too.
It seems John thinks Luftie vomits too much ! JT may be too busy to submit his bike pictures or does not care to be criticized. I have not submitted pictures either and some may think I am full of crap also. JQnyc or one of us has to figure a way to avoid taking up the recent comments spot with chit chat, can’t say it bothers me at all. Some comments are better lost .
I vote JT for MFG “angry clown”. A while back I encouraged all the people who visit this site to join the comments party. There’s plenty of room for everyone.
WSB – i’m everywhere on my pursuits. i go casually on top as you can see, or i’ll be holding where the bar starts to bend, or maybe find a time trial spot.
Yeah, Johnny boy. Where’s his bike again? I sure love to talk crap but have some clue as to what I’m talking about (I have a bike I built, after all). WSB–thanks for the rims tip. They’re dirty and rusty, too, so not sure if they’re worth cleaning to sell. May have a lead in the UK on some lesser known freestyle straps, still searching for the perfect set, have twenty dollars in change saved up (not kidding). cheers fellas.
Luftie, sell me some straps for my old MKS pedals. I am a novice and never caged the feet yet, size 11 US or 45 euro. I paid around 90 with shipping for 590 size steel rims with a 3 speed hub made in Austria when I was into 3 speeds, actually converted a 10 to a 3 speed in the hub and later fixed wheel (Trek 400) too small for me and now hanging from the rafters waiting for a photo and sell it. We all go thru stages of discontent and move on to something else. (bikes or women ) bikes are cheaper than women and both need to be ridden hard.
I would but the only straps I have are the F.U.B.A.R. doubles I’m currently using. They’re amazingly secure but even harder to get back into which drives me nuts. I wish I had some MKS’s again. These all-cityish ones that came with my power grips really suck.
power grips are eh… my buddy broke his after 1 week of riding, metal kept bending til it snapped, I would recommend Aurora straps for normal pedals, or Hold Fast straps for big bmx pedals.
Nothing wrong with MKS metal cages and brick lane bikes leather straps. Works perfectly well on MKS pedals and pretty much anything really
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 22nd, 2010 @5:24 pm
sorry but power grips are horrible
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 22nd, 2010 @5:26 pm
spend the extra cash and get holdfast or get some all city clips and orgin8 doubles
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 22nd, 2010 @5:37 pm
day in the life of spokley
2:30am strip club, 8:00am ride/road bike, brunch, 4:00pm ride/fixed + food shopping, 7:00pm ride/fixed downtown, post on mfg, nap, latenite bbq house party. such a fresh day
Spokely, you mean you worked until 2:30 am. ? at the club. I think I’ll borrow cages first and try before buying. reluctant to be caged. Thanks for the cagey advice.
Woody; Caged need not mean trapped. I find they do make me feel much more connected to the bike. It is surprising how much extra Oomph you get spinning up inclines when there is the clips to kick against. Even half clips with no straps help.
My point is I have power grip pedals left over from a horrible short stint of trying out the power grips themselves, which in my opinion are the crappiest designed straps to date. They were flimsy synthetic mesh, thin, slippery, unsecure and were difficult to get back into with their strange 45 degree entry point. I’d rather ride strapless and clipless than use power grips. Hell, even plastic MTB clips and $5 synthetic straps work better than those.
I recently got a set of Christofe plastic clips. The type with the double loop at the top for the strap to go through. The design keeps the straps open allowing better access for the feet. I’ve ridden with a similar set up on my old shimano pedals for years.Always easy to flip my foot in, never had them slip out when I didn’t want them to and usually no problem with my foot being stuck in them when I wanted to get it out. The only times my foot has stayed in when it could have done with being out have usually been caused by me being a complete knob.The double loop type is also more comfortable om the foot than the old single loop style. Even with the straps pulled tight. It spreads the pressure more evenly around the foot.
http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=43
These are the clips recently bought. Seems Christophe are part of Zefal. So the clips aren’t quite the style for the road race/track fraternity maybe, but they do what is needed of them. I do believe this company make chrome steel double loop clips too.
I know we’re talking cages and straps but honestly the best setup I’ve ever ridden fixed (and what I ride with now) are spd-sl’s. You’ll never get more connected to your bike than those or a set of look pedals. Of course they’re not cleats that you can hop off of and walk around in a store in. As far as clips go I’ve always just grabbed a generic pair of metal clips and decent straps (I do like the christophe straps) but I also don’t stop with my legs as much as I do with the brake so I’m not needing that extra grip to skid with. I like the metal clips better than the plastic personally b/c the plastic ones get ate up by the road after a while.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @9:31 am
yes wsb wore my best thong. cs with you on the metal clips mks all day i like double staps because i don’t use my brake but i suggested the all city’s cos they are cheap as are the orgin8 doubles. i got the all city’s doubles but they aren’t any better i was just being a label whore. holdfast are dope but i think the look of a big strap and no clips is ugly. the whole fgfs thing is cool but the bikes are ugly.
CS – i’ve been wanting to ride clipless… but the cost of it for me is too much. but i’m hoping to get my friend’s Look Carbo Max’s before the summer, because in the summer, im going down to SD velodrome.
Thanks for the info about cages and straps. Alan I think I’ll take your advice. I am only worried about finding the most practical setup and not collecting excess. I have excess bikes and not much room left for experimentation. Need to set up camera and sell and post andmake some room for the the wifes’ 78 pair of shoes and my 16 or 17 1/2 bikes.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @12:44 pm
wes if you’re going clipless just for the velo the looks are fresh. but if you’re riding everyday and if you’re clipping in and out often. i prefer i mtb pedal and shoe. you can walk in them and the pedals are dual sided easier/quicker clip in/out. i use eggbeaters “c” as a kick around pedal they are cheap $35-50 bucks or try craigslist i last month i sold a pair of shimano mtb pedals in nice shape/cleats for $20 and an old pair of diadora shoes for about the same.
I have no interest in using a pair of specialized shoes just to ride a single speed on the street. If you’re gonna do that may as well get some spandex and a damn aero helmet and go ride to a wine tasting. No thanks. Keep it simple. It’s really not that big a deal anyway. Not worth having a full blown debate.
Hahahaha. Luftsmensh you should be a daredevil because you just made a HUGE jump from clipless shoes to a weekend warrior rider. If you’re willing to completely write off clipless pedals for commuting and suggest that it equates you to a weekend warrior rider then you don’t really know enough about clipless pedals in general. You’re willing to invest money into your bike for single speed on the street riding but when it comes to pedals the wallet closes? Aside from the fact that the cost isn’t really that big compared to the rest of bike parts clipless pedals are BETTER for fixed riding especially if you skid to stop. You can get shoes for spds or egg beaters that look and walk just like regular shoes. If you don’t think its worth debating that’s fine stay out of it instead of being a dick about it.
Wes freshher right about the egg beaters. They’re relatively cheap and with the right shoes very inconspicuous. Spd’s are the same but just a bit more expensive. If you ever for any reason come through st louis write me first. We sell used but good spd’s for super super cheap (normally around 20-30 bucks). Look pedals are rad. They created the first large cleat pedals that have become the standard for most road and track racing. I highly endorse them if you’re looking to ride at the track. I’m glad to hear about you going down to the velodrome. It’s an amazing sport that’s completely understated in the US. Our track season started two weeks ago. I’m looking forward to heading out to watch and jump in a couple of races. It’s a hell of a challenge and a lot of fun.
ironicly, i been thinking of getting lycra. too young? most kids think its “gay” and if i get some i’ll be a “hipster”. then again lycra is expensive as well.
I’m just searching for some good cycle shoes, literally now.
I’m happy with my pedal/ clips & strap combo atm, but I just want proper shoes for general cycling cos I destroy trainers quickly enough anyway. Can anyone recommend anything? I need size 10 or 11 (UK), and will most likely use for a bit of walking around. I’m planning on going clipless too, but need to save cash first.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @4:18 pm
Yeah, I know I do. Only saw a couple of cages when we marshalled the tt a couple of weeks ago.
I’ve found a site that does pretty nice shoes, and does a good deal if you buy clipless pedals with them- £75 for carbon soled shoes and pedals they’ll fit. VERY tempting.
And btw, I’m kinda fond of lycra for just about any cycling *perverse grin* ha ha ha
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @4:27 pm
mj i have 2 pair of lake mtb shoes not sure of model got them cheap ($20 maybe) on nashbar bought 2 pair as a kick around shoe when i was riding my road bike more. but they are comfortable to walk in (better than my sidi’s) got them 4 years ago still haven’t opened the box on the 2nd pair.
Wes. Personally I normally save the lycra for long distance rides. Most of my commuting I wouldn’t benifit from it aerodynamically or it just wouldn’t be appropriate. I think where it makes the big difference is would be how breathable the fabric is. On a hot day its awesome. As far as other kids thinking its gay that shows more about their personality than yours. It shows that one they don’t know what they’re talking about and two they probably have a bit of homoerotic tendencies that they’re suppressing. I’d say go for it. Even if you wear shorts and a shirt over it you’ll probably see some benefit. Between that and clipless pedals you’ll have a much comfortable ride. All of my bikes have clipless pedals now except for my daily commuter (I have C&C cut eastern bmx pedals which are fucking amazing) and then my grandfather’s bike b/c that one stays all original. I think any commuter I have that I’m not going to put spd’s or spdsl’s on will have those eastern bmx pedals on it. They’re awesome.
MJ those look like nice shoes. Diadora makes great soccer (football) cleats. I’ve never tried their road shoes but if they’re anything like they’re other cleats they should be good. The only thing I see about them that I’d maybe speak against them on is that they have all velcro and no ratchet straps. This isn’t a big deal at first but over the years the velcro degrades and they don’t hold as well. I can’t find a pic of the road shoes I have but they’re similar to these:
The ratcheting strap at the top does most of the holding so even if the velcro on the bottom starts deteriorating the grip holding the shoe closed will still be pretty solid.
Also I’d look for a shoe that has the three holes for the spdsl or look style cleats but also the two slots for other standard cleat styles. If you do that then you’re not limited to the cleat style. My road shoes are only set up for the sl’s which is fine because that’s what I use but I can’t switch them back and forth.
Also also I forgot my new mountain shoes are diadora and they’re freaking awesome.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @5:28 pm
diadoras are nice just sold a pair a little too small but i’ve had them in the past. cs is on point about the ratchet my 2 y/o sidi’s have them but then you spending more money the lake’s i have are kinda old school in that they tie and have a velcro strap as well. i don’t think they make them any more in retrospect they be more like 5/6 y/o but the newer versions are the mx-85 not sure if you can get them super cheap though. trying to get my mitts on a pair of these though.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 23rd, 2010 @5:37 pm
btw mj those shoes are cool but it will a bitch walking in them. personally unless i’m on a serious ride on my roadbike i use mtb shoes. wes as for lycra was joking earlier but i do wear a full lycra kit when i’m on my road bike including college and my school was not in the best of neighborhoods so imagine the shit i heard. but if you’re going to be a serious cyclist it comes w/ the territory you wouldn’t play tennis in a parka right?
question – Wolber Gentlemen 81 Super Champion wheel. Mallard Helico Matic hub. 13 – 28 cassette unknown brand. Mallard skewer. bontrager tire/tube. untrue but no rust except for one spot on spoke. How much can i get for it? pics later.
an apiphany this morning.Forget the 27″ers on Mongrel.WSB was correct with his measurements,they totally do not work on this frame.The front tire comes within 2mm of the fork,the rear all but hits the seattube.I am so disgusted.A long night finalizing the rear build for naught.It looks bitching,too bad it won’t work.It was like the frame didn’t want cruizer wheelset.TO top it off the axle on the back was 110 spaced,the flip/flop on there is a fat 120(and the threads for the cog are not standard so I would be stuck with the 18t thats on there.A real mess.What was I thinking?So it’s back to the Bontragers for now I guess until something lighter comes along.Sorry to be so long winded but it’s been a long night and venting helps a lot.thanks
Relax Sloman, I bought an air pump listed as fit for a 60 cm. Not so I shopped for a 62 cm. just to justify the 17 dollar pump ? sort of. Like a woman shopping for shoes when she already has 68 pair. ( the 62 cm. has 622 rims by the way ) i.e. buy a Cruiser frame like Das Balloon. On the other hand the next lacing will go that much faster . of course the spokes may not transfer. Enjoy as they say in N. Carolina. I just received a fork for the Raleigh Record and now need to find a headset with 24 instead of 26 t.p.inch. Hobby or what.? still better than golf for me.
Today, afterschool, my friend was talking about getting a Hed (jet or 3, i don’t know) to another friend. I respond with “you don’t even deserve a hed” he retorts “yes i do” and then we engage in conversation on how he thinks he deserves one because he does tricks. i tell him that if anything, i deserve a Hed because i’m a fast rider and that hed’s weren’t intentionally made for doing tricks on. he disagrees. really made my day right there
Ha. Tell your friend to search the hed website for anything saying that the wheels are meant for tricks or free styling. There is nothing. Hed wheels are constructed for aerodynamic speed and that’s it. Saying that he deserves one because he does tricks is like saying ‘I deserve a pneumatic nail gun because I hunt’. It may work but its the wrong tool for the job (and a psychoticly expensive tool to do the wrong job with). It’s too bad you couldn’t record the conversation and then play it back for the kid 10 years from now.
I don’t feel right going out on the bike, especially if it’s a pleasure ride and not a slog to work, if I’m not in my lycra cycle kit. I may not be that fit or fast these days, but I am still a cyclist. Not just someone who rides a bike. Still do the leg shaving thing in summer for the same reason. P.S. The only lube I use goes on the bike. I ride with a saddle not a bare seatpost. Cheers.
Oh boy. This clothing debate could go on for a bit.
My view is this: people who just ride can wear anything they want; Cyclists have either certain clothes that they will always wear (like the slim fit combats and high-vis jacket I usually do for a general bash about), or full lycra that they always wear no matter what.
I can’t really give a particular viewpoint though, as I just got myself new lycra stuff that I’ll always wear whenever I ride, along with specific shoes with stiff soles (I’ve been told that cross-country running shoes with removable spikes are ideal if you don’t want to go clipless as the soles are practically solid)
I don’t give a damn to discuss the pros and cons because my position on the matter is clear. Obviously I care enough to express my disinterest. I just heard you have to lube the seat of your suit to wear it and that doesn’t sound like fun. That and I’m sure they don’t make a General Issue themed suit to match The Tank. And there Im going on about color matching again. But whatevs, you can lycra if you want to, you can leave your lycra-less friends behind. Cheers.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
May 27th, 2010 @8:13 pm
this has inspired me… im going to go to school one day, wearing what a full blown hipster would wear. Starting with, 1. balls tight skinny jeans cut up to my thighs 2. tight tank top 3. Vans 4. Ray Bands or some type of “rad” sunglasses anyone else have something to add?
I think the seat lube idea dates back to the days when cycle shorts had real chamois inserts in them that would stiffen up after washing, so you had to rub lanolin into it before riding. They would feel exactly like a window cleaners rag when dry. not very comfortable. This is why we now have synthicham and various other permutations on the theme sown in the seat of shorts. I wear cycle shorts for the comfort, and some times for the look. Hey! If women can get away with padded bras,why can’t I enhance elsewhere? Ha,ha,ha. Today I shall be wearing bright blue Troll Craghopper lightweight rock climbing trousers with a clashing hi-vis airtex polo shirt.Finished off with my size 8 steel toe work boots. I may even stick in an earing or two, just to piss the bosses off. Found out yesterday that the store boss thought I’d be wearing lycra shorts to do my deliveries and that’s why he’s banned us from wearing shorts. Stupid bugger! I will have to corner him today and put him straight on that. Have fun guys, whatever you wear. Luftie; You’ll have to try some lycra soon. I promise you, the ladies dig it. Cheers mate.
I wear lycra under my cargo shorts a lot when I ride some of my road bikes. Good saddles do a lot but depending on the length of the ride you still need some additional padding. The only bike I can really get away with long trips with no extra padding on is my commuter b/c it has an old school mattress saddle on it. That thing is the most comfortable saddle ever. Hands down!
Speaking of my commuters I just took updated pics of my ride every day bikes. I can’t post them on this site b/c they’re multi geared but I figure you guys might be interested in seeing them.
I ride this bike most days on my commute to work. It’s insanely comfortable (that’s the mattress saddle I’m referring to in my previous post). Most of the parts on it are either no name or old enough that people looking to steal good bikes and parts wouldn’t know what they’re looking at. The saddle and pedals are the only really ostentatious parts so I cover the brooks with tape and cross my fingers on the pedals. The generator light is off of matilda from when she used to be my dad’s daily commuter.
This is my crowning beauty. My Vitus 979: http://picasaweb.google.com/schmitz.chris/Vitus02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuNyez778CvjAE&feat=directlink
The only reason I have this bike is because a good friend sold it to me for an unbelievably low price. This is my ‘rides in the back seat instead of on the bike rack; gets brought inside instead of locking it to a bike rack; only ride on nice days’ bike. It’s an early 80′s Vitus with aluminum tubes and steel lugs. The frame is bonded together. It is full dura-ace components except for the pedals (105′s. my old dura-ace spd-sl’s bit the dust) and the stem. The bike is still lighter than most modern high end bikes and definitely moves faster than them as well.
I love these two bikes more than most things in life. If I lost everything I’d be a homeless man with two bad ass bikes! (of course the family bikes would go back to the family ).
Went down to Performance Bicycles today, asked the employee what clip-less pedals he would recommended for me. He lectured me about how my knees would get messed up if i got clip-less pedals… thanks man, i needed to know that, not what pedals you would recommend, but my knee health.
CS: nice geared rides. I’ve been thinking of getting a geared bike for a change of pace, figuratively and literally. Maybe some cheap road bike or mtb.
CS I am surprised the Mattress Brooks saddle is comfy for you. These come on the old Raleigh Twenty and I prefer the leather Brooks B17 or Wrights w3n. I see you have the North Road orig. bars on the Ral. sprite and self adjusting brake levers. The yellow color is the same as my 70′s 10 speed converted to fixed 52/18. I removed the cassette and but an 18 cog on and no problem, no skip stops either. My fork was bent and a new chrome job recently added. loose balls 46 of them. threading was close 26 or 24 not sure but the NOS chrome fork was OK with the old races and bearings and headset nuts. What year is your yellow sprite. I date mine from the diacompe levers not serial number. close I guess. Thanks
The hills are absolutely insane around here and that alone makes me wanna drive the five miles to work and back considering I walk ten to fifteen
miles a day at work. But when I quit my job my next and go back to school downtown I’m either gonna have to pay out the A for parking or bike and take the max and possibly leave the tank locked up somewhere.
WSB: I miss the 90′s when gay meant lame. It wasn’t a bash on homosexuality, it was just 90′s vernacular.
do not get a MTB.lots of older pugs and herons ect.out there.or basic new bike-everyone should have one new ride in their life $500 or $600 will get you on a Trek or Giant if you shop.
@wsb – I thought you’d like the sprite. Yeah the brooks mattress on this one is great. It’s nothing that I’d take out on a super long ride but for what I use it for (which is riding to work and back or the bike shop or the store. Pretty much anything in a 10 to 15 mile radius of my apartment) it’s perfect. Also because everyone around here thinks all mattress saddles suck as long as the brooks logo is covered no one thinks anything of it. Other than the pedals; sealed bottom bracket; and crank set (sorry my comma isn’t working) I’ve tried to keep everything either original or at least from around the same era. The bars and brakes are great. At first I was thinking about switching out the bars for drops but with how the bike is set up (and the fact that I’m not going for speed with it) the original bars seem to be the most comfortable/functional setup. Plus the brake levers are pretty rare now a days and I still wanted to use them.
Nice on your conversion. I considered turning mine into a single speed but since I use this as a work/comfort bike it would decrease the functionality considering I live in one of the hilliest areas of the city. We have another raliegh in our shop (it’s not a sprite but it has the same fork with the pipe instead of a crown where the fork blades connect to the tube that inserts into the head tube (I just realized that I don’t know what that part of the fork is called )). If your sprite’s fork is still bent and you have some reason to come down to stl soon you should swing by the bike shop and pick it up. A fork like that would probably be around 15 to 20 bucks. Yeah the sprite was a good lesson on being prepared for loose bearings when taking head sets apart. I spent an evening trying to find all of the bearings after I took the headset apart when I first got the bike. My cat thought I had just bought her a bunch of new toys to push around the apt.
I’m not sure about its year. It was a ‘hey I’m going to get rid of this bike. Do you want it?’ gifts from a friend and I’m pretty sure that’s how he got it too. I can see a painted over serial number on the top seat tube lug. The sn is 537095. A little bit of searching online places the frame around ’72 but its not an official listing so I’m just going to assume ’72 as an approximate. That puts it around the same era as my dad’s bikes which is pretty cool. I think the newest bike I have would be the vitus actually and that’s early 80′s.
just bought some System drops.Alloy,very tight curve(may have to run em at an angle so my hand is comfy),scary light weight.In short I love em.Was gonna chop and flop em but they are too nice.
CS, I picked up on ebay a 69 Raleigh Twenty non folder with the narrow 451 rims a ST. Archer 3 speed and the previous knuclehead host most of the bottom bearings in the headset, the top is a nylon bushing. I had taken apart trashed pedals from a Raleigh 10 speed Marathon and used the saved ball bearings from these pedals for the Headset of the Raleigh Twenty 24 of them, worked fine. I had them in a 3 inch top off the grease container and hooked them with the spatula and dumped half on the basement floor and found all of them. Tideous work at times but rewarding if done well. Original condition is nice not everything new is better. I put back one of my Puch 20 inch bars etc. even if it looks dorky , not the main ride anyway and some resale possibilities are more bucks if original. Nice that you keep dad’s and grand dad’s bikes in an honored condition. My daughter’s don’t quite get that yet. Trendy tops tradition for twits. Maturity comes too late for the masses. It was strange getting used to the noise the self adjusting Raleigh brake levers make when first drawing up the slack. I have one on a 76 Raleigh with the coaster 3 speed which only came with the front caliper and the coaster hub brake was not always there especially in 3 rd gear. St. Louis is about 250 miles from me, may get there sometime. My parents lived in Mt. Home Ark. and st. L was on the way down route 44 etc. Hot and humid usually in St. L in the summer and yes hilly and beautiful terrain.
CS that Vitus is incredible. It looks like a Rollex , did you buy it at a Jewelry store or bike shop ? The top tube appears butted outwardly as opposed to an internal strengthened tube. Nice colors with the alloy and green paint. I hope you lock it even indoors. Swiss made totally or some Japanese work ? How many gears do you use. I am thinking of putting one of my bikes back to gear, maybe just a two speed with a front derailer 52/42 and 18 rear.
@WSB – Thanks for the compliments. The Vitus is by far my favorite bike at the moment and I’m sure for a long long time to come. The vitus is a 14 speed. The gearing has been kind of a pain in the ass. The cassette is a dura-ace uniglide cassette which was only made for a brief period before they moved to hyperglide which is now the standard. Finding a replacement dura-ace uniglide cassette for anything less than an arm and a leg is next to impossible. When this cassette finally gives out I’m going to try transplanting a hyperglide cassette onto the hub. I know its possible with some dura-ace/shimano hubs but I’m not sure of the exact year of the hub so it will be an experiment for sure.
The frame itself is all french. The DA components of course are all japanese. Yeah the bonding on the bike is pretty awesome as far as providing stiffness to the ride as well as making the frame lighter. The bike is almost as old as I am and is lighter than most modern aluminum road bikes.
I think its important to keep at least one geared bike (in st louis that is) to deal with hills or long rides. Honestly where I live in stl its impossibly to ride in any direction without having to deal with hills for miles and miles. I love riding fixed but sometimes you can’t get around gears. I’m sure its easier to ride single speed all of the time in a flatter city. One of the the bikes we had in for a while was a salsa with a dingle speed (or double) rear wheel. For the most part you were in the cruising gearing but you had the option for one lighter speed. It was a fun bike for sure.
Yeah my dad is really big on passing down awesome stuff. A lot of my outdoor gear is stuff my dad gave me over the years. My one man tent is an old north face pup tent that my dad has used since he was in his 20′s and he gave me when I was in my teens and its still in near perfect condition. He more recently gave me his Hoyt recurve bow and I’m psyched about taking it out and shooting. It’s nice getting this stuff that I’ve learned to appreciate over the years to the point that I fully understand how special it is and will take care of it like it should be. Also it seems like the quality of things made has declined dramatically in the last 20 years so getting all of this quality gear is awesome.
We have a couple of coaster raleigh’s in our shop right now. Those and the 3 speed internals sell like crazy at our sales. A lot of women around the tower grove area want a cruise to the store or around the park bike and those 3 speeds are perfect for that.
Drove the 50 miles to London tonight so MJ could have a crack at a 10 mile tt. Got stuck in traffic and missed the sign on by 25 mins. Bollocks!!! Still they let him have a try out on the circuit after the last man had finished. It’s a purpose made road circuit of about 2 km. Lots of corners built on the side of a hill. MJ was running 48/16. I got him to stick a freewheel on when I heard what the track was like. Big drop or climb to the start/finish whichever way they run. Even with 48/14 fixed he’d be spinning like a bastard half the time then grinding his nuts off on the climbs. The gradients were in the order of 1 in 10s. I didn’t have a spin. Did my 25 miles in the rain earlier in the day. Maybe next week. I’ve gotta get some hills under my belt 1st.
It’s a purpose built road circuit for bikes?Cool.Once in a while they “let” riders onto a motor track over here for a charity ride or whatever.usually an oval track(NASCAR charities)but rode Bridgehampton once back in the ’70s.I was into car racing too at the time.The hills were bigger on a 10 speed!Go figure.
He had time to give it 5 laps and get a feel for the track. He enjoyed himself, despite trying to push a 78 inch gear on a circuit designed for carbon flyers with gears. There are a few youtube vids of the circuit. I’ll see if I can post one on here.
It doesn’t want to work properly. Bleeding technology. Bah!
Anyone who wants to see what we have to play with in the U.K type C.C Sudbury Hog Hill training day into your browser and it should come up with the youtube vid. Cheers.
OMG! YOU GUYS NEED TO GO START A MESSAGE BOARD SOMEWHERE ELSE! YOU ARE HIJACKING THIS MEGER SITE THAT HAS VERY FEW FEATURES!!! COMMENT ON THE BIKES IN FRONT OF YOU!! OR LEAVE… PLEASE!!!
SORRY.Thought this was the message board,to keep comments on bikes reasonable.Your immature rudeness is excused only because as an ex-NYer I feel your brain damage.Bugger off.
The circuit was a helluva lot of fun. Nice smooth surface, slightly cambered on the faster corners, wicked downhill sections I was spinning like mad on, Evil Bastard climbs.
Gotta be the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on.
I could do with a smaller freewheel and/or bigger chainring though- I think I can run a bigger gear and set a faster time that way.
Just checked the pic of me properly- damn my legs look big! Maybe it’s just the light etc
No this is NOT the message board. There isn’t a message board on this site. Other sites have message boards. Calling a “recent comments” chain a message board doesn’t make it a message board. Sorry about my “rude and immature” comment. enjoy.
I’ve found a link that shows just what I have to contend with every day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA_Crc67SAM
this is at 4x normal speed, but it is taken from literally just outside my work (the first left you can see leads to where I park my bike). This is why I run a front brake and always wear a helmet. Cheers
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
June 2nd, 2010 @11:40 pm
luft you taught me something man parrish did some research wasn’t familiar w/ him which i hate to admit because i love that era and that late seventies early eighties downtown scene. thanks
Anyone have any experience with the Vittoria Rubino Pro III? Been reading good reviews, but wanted to see if any of you guys know or have used’m. I have a Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX on the front of one bike and am thinking of trying the Rubino Pro III on another. The only thing I’m not sure of is the whole “tpi” thing… The Open Corsa is 290tpi and the Rubino III is 150tpi. I understand that tpi-threads per inch is kind of a gauge on tire quality and ride feel…but I’m not sure how much of a difference it’d make for rugged fixed riding on the front rim. They’re now making a 320tpi tire also. But I don’t know how much it matters. Thanks for any info/opinions..
CS to my surprise the Brooks mattress saddle with the black vinyl off my Raleigh 73 onto a lady’s black Sears/puch austrian 3 speed is in fact soft and comfy. The mattress design with its many springs as an undercarriage is much better than the plastic shell on so many saddles such as the Italian jobs and many others. Most of the old brooks vinyl saddles rip at the seams however. I need a sewing machine or something. Thanks
@ CS…you’ll probably shed some light on the “tpi” subject. I hope…
Have any experience with the Vittoria Rubino Pro III? Been reading good reviews, but wanted to see if any of you know or have used’m. I have a Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX on the front of one bike and am thinking of trying the Rubino Pro III on another. The only thing I’m not sure of is the whole “tpi” thing… The Open Corsa is 290tpi and the Rubino III is 150tpi. I understand that tpi-threads per inch is kind of a gauge on tire quality and ride feel…but I’m not sure how much of a difference it’d make for rugged fixed riding on the front rim. They’re now making a 320tpi tire also. But I don’t know how much it matters. Thanks for any info/opinions.
@wsb – yeah my mattress saddle is coming apart a bit around the rivets right now. It’s still rideable but after a while I’m going to switch it out. Luckily I came across another brooks mattress saddle at the shop recently so I have a backup.
@ng – I don’t normally pay attention to threads per inch when I pick tires and I don’t know more than just the general stuff about it. Most of mine are used from our shop so its more finding ones that are the least balled out. The only times I’ve heard people worry about tpi is when they’re buying racing tires and normally the racers only hang on to them for one or a couple of races (depending on how well they’re paid by their sponsors ). Other than that I don’t know that it matters for the general tpi count (which I believe is around 120 but don’t quote me on that). I wouldn’t buy a high tpi tire for commuting though because you’re going to get flats a lot more often.
As a brand I like Vittoria’s tires, but they’re not usually my first choice. It’s less because of bad experiences with them and more because I swear by gator skins and michelins. Those have been my longest lasting tires overall.
CS, Thanks. I’m using gators now and they’re great! Super durable for sure. I want a bit of color on something tough. Maybe I’ll look at the Conti GP4000. Hearing good things there too. Cheers.
The blue hutchenson tires I got and put on matilda were from chain love and I got them for 14 bucks a tire. They’re definitely nowhere near as durable as the gatorskins, but 14 bucks for a decent tire with a bit of color on it isn’t too bad. The used tires we sell at the shop are normally around 10 bucks so it wasn’t too far off what I normally pay. Chainlove tends to have a decent number of deals pop up. A lot of crap but there is a gem or two from time to time.
ng: I wouldn’t go for a high tpi tyre for rugged riding if I were you. Yes it denotes higher ride quality and feel, but it also means thinner tyres. Thinner means lower weight and less rolling resistance, which is why racers opt for them, but it also makes the tyre more susceptible to damage from on-road debris. Hence a high tpi tyre would normally be used on tracks.
Hope this helps (although I admit I read it on sheldon brown a few months ago).
My tyre choice depends on the bike and how I plan on using it. I run schwalbe luganos on Wasp for commuting and racing, as they’re pretty tough yet light (and I had to have the black/yellow pattern to match the frame colours); specialized all-condition armadillos on Pug cos it’s my commuter and I want to avoid flats; and Deli (real cheap brand) knobbly tyres on my geared mtb with 700 wheels cos they give decent off-road feel and ride quality
Nice sketch Wes. I’ll be interested to see the full thing. I sketch bikes sometimes at my work meetings but they come out looking like crap. Speaking of making your own fixed drawings (kind of) have you guys seen this before: http://www.pedalmafia.com/mafid/mafia_id.html
Well, if you cant beat ‘em join ‘em I always say. Okay, say goodbye to the RECENT COMMENTS and say hello to MFGMB #2! Yes nice hot rod sketches the tubes seem oversized though… *sniff*. Love Gators but they are a bit boring. Panracers come in colors but I find them to be a tad slow. Even at 100 ips. Love Gators. o-pine away! Am I being a good sport? Now about the Vittoria Rubino Pro III… fast, light tire reputed to be delicate but that hasn’t been my experience. I run at 120 for the mean streets. *sniff* Im trying.. *sniff* sniff* oh how I miss RECENT COMMENTS. @ Allen I cant see your video is everything okay? Can you post it again… again and again…. and again? Or was it CS with the video? Anyway, repost!!
I like that crank, Wes…it’s purdy. I looked at it and it made me want to start another build. Uh oh….here we go again. I need a tranquilizer of some kind.
Shows what happens when company execs can only spell in phone text speak. Perhaps Tal is some new kind of hot beverage and they have only produced the chainset as a promotional item. “YOU WANNA RIDE FASTER,LONGER,HARDER??? THEN BREWTAL. The new hot energy/stamina drink” Who knows, could be a winna. Sorry. WINNER? I hate the way they try to make all this dumming down of language seem cool. A-holes!
seems I’ve rarly gone wrong when a product boasts an inventer’s-developer’s-seller’s name on the product.I don’t mind stickers on a fine produst(within reason of course)Cute name +cheap price all too often mean crap product.
I think I’ve found a new project. Found a used Bianchi Pista steel track frame for a decent price, and the previous owner is willing to part with his Campy super record/ Mavic cxp33 wheels with a Campy 16t sprocket for a little more cash. I just gotta find the rest of the parts to go with it. Cinelli stem and drops, Campy cranks, shimano spd-sl pedals and Campy brake with levers are on the shopping list. God it’s going to take a while to get this one built
Never got round to getting the system bars. Been trying to save for some proper cycle shoes and clipless pedals- Shimano R086 shoes and Shimano R540 or 105 SPD-SL 5610 pedals are on my shopping list.
I’m also saving for a new project as the dream frame I found has been sold already, so I’ll have more time to save and do it properly this time round.
I’m spending some time tinkering tomorrow, I’ve decided to restore Pug to geared and use it for road racing, and have a few bits I want to do to Wasp. Night all
Dammit! Now the “80′s Peugeot” has appeared, I’m reconsidering what to do with Pug. I’m now thinking along the lines of Halo aerorage wheels with 17t halo sprocket, the stronglight cranks off Wasp, get a Campag centaur chainset (it’s a double but has bolt on rings) for Wasp and a shimano 18t sprocket to go with it. The alternative is a sram or stronglight mygal track chainset on Wasp. There’s just so much choice for both bikes
I GOT A SUMMER JOB! woohoo! I’m working at a local bike shop, Irvine Bicycles. They pay me $7/hour, store credit, logging my hours there rather than giving me a free something everyday. also…… i got some shoes, SPD style. used but still, it was free.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
June 29th, 2010 @10:20 pm
nice move on the spd’s how’s that working out? next step get a roadbike too. personally my fixed is my everyday ’round town bike so i don’t go clippless on it. but it’s funny because since i built it i almost have to force myself to log in time on my roadbike and my mtb has 2yrs of dust on it.
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
June 29th, 2010 @10:24 pm
btw next time i’m in cali can i get a hook up @ your shop just need a couple of things omnium crankset, new set of deda drops maybe a kashimax saddle?
Nice one Wes. You’ll learn a lot while you’re there. I’m trying to find some work in any of my local bike shops, but I can’t fit it round my current job. Hope the spds work out for you, clipless makes an incredible difference. I’ve just got my specialized bg sport road shoes, and my shimano r540 spd-sls fitted to Wasp and took it racing last night- 10mile tt at redbridge cycle centre (hog hill on YouTube) in 32mins 6secs, with a wind that slowed everyone by at least 2 or 3 mins overall. Was running 48/18 free with just front brake, but only used it twice
the shop is entry – high-level road bike oriented but they can still get/order some track parts. they got some nice Colnago’s though….
haven’t clipped in yet, still need my cleats and pedals which i think i’ll work for. i love the job. i’m definitely learning a lot from nice friendly people.
@wes, i too got my first job wrenching at a bicycle shop when i was 14 and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. now im running a bike depot/bike shop. with the help of my dad, we opened the shop when i was 19..im 23 now and our shop is going strong. i havent talked to you before but i see your posts and can see you have a ton of passion for cycling. keep it up and you could go far in the cycling world! best of luck mate, and keep those ears and eyes open!
Well done Wes. Hope the bike shop works out for you. I still fall off my bike strapped in. Still makes me laugh like a drain. I’ve finally got my globe frame on the road with a pair of suspension forks off a dumped Trek mtb. Had to put a side pull brake through the hole in the fork brace cos the canti bosses were too low for 700s. Still a work in progress.Can’t seem to get comfy on the bars no matter which way I flip them. They are a set of ally risers that were on the Trek. Had to buy a really long seat post for it as its a smallish mixede aluminium frame, and nothing I had lying around would fit. Chain tension is another issue with vert dropouts. Will shoot it and post for the usual advice or derision soon.
For Lance its over (as I think he has said as much). He was involved in, I think, 3 crashes yesterday and fell to 33rd place, or so. As much as I love to see dominance and Lance has been dominant like few in history, I can’t say I am terribly troubled by this. I am big fan of Contador and it does seem like this is a good year for Spain (World Cup, Nadal, Contador, Pau Gasol, etc) and that isn’t all bad. What is a pity is that if he had been closer in these climbs, it would have been fun to watch. The Col de la Madeleine is a 25k climb in a 210k stage so that is pretty fricking sick.
What an amazing day on the tour. Those 4 climbs were a wonder to see and the work done by Contador and Schleck to catch the runaway group was something else. This is far and away my favorite stretch of the Tour, no matter how much fun the sprints are.
i messed up bad. thumb got caught in cog+chain. Doctor extracted my nail. living in a band-aid for a week. takes 6-9 months for nail to come back. Pictures soon….. thanks sheldon brown
Wow – that made me cringe. It’s awesome that you have a separate thread discussing a build and positions for riding with casts! Big up Wes!!
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Separately, has your injury meant that you could watch more of the Tour? It can be a nice consolation prize of summer injuries. Today was a really exciting day. Climbs and sprints and groups and chases. Great stuff with lots of drama & lead changes. Really ripping day. I thought Contador had actually caught Rodroguez and Schleck by surprise with his charge and I thought it was going to not only give him the stage (which was one of the best so far, I thought) but could even make the overall situation really interesting with Schleck. I generally check out Eurosport for my coverage when I can’t watch – http://www.eurosport.com or through a free iPhone app. Who do other people check out? Who’s got sweet coverage or worthwhile analysts? Get well soon dude
Ouchee Wes. Hope it stops smarting soon. Sounds like 1 of those niggly injurys that will catch from time to time. My wife is a nurse and even she has walked off holding her tummy and sucking in breath after reading about it. Sympathy, mate.
I feel your pain,lost a thumb nail when I was 6,stuck it in a spinning back wheel,the worst part was forgeting about it when i had a bath,hot water on raw nerves yyaauuwww.side topic,I don’t really watch the tour cos ain’t into pro roadie stuff but got to watch 2007 tour as I was home with only my 2yr old boy on holiday while rest of family were away,we camped out on the sofa bed for the entire tour and loved it
I kept the nail as some memorabilia. i thank God for the chain slack i developed by riding the steel outta my bike. i haven’t been watching the Tour lately since i can’t come to work. But i am resuming work on Monday i believe. how has it been? Lance fall again?
Can someone tell my something about Vitus bikes? i just bought one today for $250. It’s a 56cm Vitus 979 White, decked out with Shimano 600. there’s something funny about the shifters and derailleurs though. they have white on them and say “Santé” any information will be appreciated.
Check out Chain reaction cycles. That’s where I got my Vitus ally forks from. They have a bit of blurb on there about Vitus being used on the Tour. MJ thinks there is a link from there to the Vitus site too.
Hit 49MPH on my Vitus… i checked by a speed calculator police stand thing on the side of the hill.
Sup Freshher aka Hollywood Hogan
July 21st, 2010 @12:28 am
@fab co-sign w/ you on the climbs i really love the mountain stages seperates the men from the boys. been checking results on espn.com but haven’t been watching as much as past years (doping thing kinda made me lose intrest) plus i had some burn out after the cup, but i’m on it now (final 5 days) all futbol jerseys in wash cycling jerseys in rotation, been riding the roadbike for 3 days now, and most importantly found a tour friendy bar. as for lance all good things must come to an end i miss the glory days of usps but for all he’s been through he can still kick ass and did a bit since your post.
Sup Freshher aka Hollywood Hogan
July 21st, 2010 @2:34 am
Hi guys. Not been active on here lately as I’ve been trawling eBay for projects. Got my eye on a couple of nice frames (Fuji track, 80′s handbuilt Peugeot track bike in Reynolds 531, Nigel Dean racer built from 531c). Hope to make good progress as long as I’m successful getting them. Should give me even more bike tinkering time over the following months
53MPH! i beat the speed limit: 50mph. working at the bike shop is smooth and fun but i’m also learning a lot. Wheelset Project: Campagnolo Vento wheelset. Josh (bike shop main mechanic) will lace the back wheel to a 32 hole hub (16 spokes). My new wheelset…
Not wanting to dissuade any of you from commenting on My Fixed Gear, as it’s your comments and discussions that make this site great. However I’ve set up simple news sharing site/message board that you may find more useful for general bike chatter than this unofficial message board.
http://www.PedalJunction.com (I know some of you are already members – thanks) allows you to quickly and easily post topics//bike news/links and also tag your post. You can comment on posts as well as voting posts up and down.
Of course, if you’d like to continue using this unofficial message board for random bike stuff, please do, but hopefully you’ll find Pedal Junction more flexible and useful for that sort of thing.
re cranks – I like the Paul cranks. they are in that mid-high end but not crazy. The Paul stuff feels nearly custom made sometimes.
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btw guys – is this little logo on the top new (the little biker with the thought balloon)? New or am I nuts.
Yo CS – thanks for the help bud. I am slightly confused though. The username FabFive was already used so I had to pick FabFiveFede which is fine. When I then posted here with my usual FabFive with the email that i registered, no avatar. Should I now start posting with a username identical to what I picked at Gravatar? And was the result instant? Sorry I can be rather thick about these things.
While I am here – and I going to post this on both message boards – and IMPLORE Wes – to launch a third – EVEN if I know that Pedal Junction is the future (I am still waiting to be approved…argh).
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Would people agree that there is something fishy about some of the top rated bikes in our group? 300-500 votes easy on many of them and 700+ on a few? I just do not believe that this number of people has been voting on bikes here. Some of Gabe’s bikes had hundreds of votes, and not a positive comment in the house. Not that I really care because many of these are classic examples or our trade, but I think something isn’t quite right. MORE than happy to hear otherwise. Whattya guys think?
@WSB – On my picture – that was actually the last picture I took on a dive in Sudan in the Red Sea of schooling hammerheads. I then managed to basically have my right arm torn off as I was flung overboard during a storm tethered to 5 steel scuba tanks. I was lost at see, AT NIGHT, knowing that all those sharks were beneath me for 2.5 hours before being rescued and brought to the war hospital of Port Sudan. Long long long recovery story ensues from there… I keep it up there to remember just how lucky I was. It’s an amazing picture too…
Sup Freshher aka Spokely Carmichael
August 6th, 2010 @1:50 am
amazing photo and even more amazing back story. dangerous part of the world. what brought you there just the diving?
Yes , voting is mysterious lately. I think someone teaches school and has every student make a vote or something. I have voted twice many times to alter the average. The message board is too long and I also have a hard time to relog on P.Junction forgot my password, thanks Jon or is it John Thompson. also sometimes can not submit a comment. Fab. Five you are quite the explorer and your gravatar is the best and pleasing to look at, glad you survived. Luftie, why the fried eggs and bacon (Kosher of course)
It was purely pleasure. One day I will upload some of the picts that I took – never ending schools of hammerheads, tiger sharks, oceanic white-tips, mantas, lovely corals…as Sudan is a war torn country, no one is diving these reefs and as a result, its probably what Egypt was when diving first happened (now the largest fish you are going to see in Egypt, especially off of Sharm, is a fat German…
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Since the accident though, I have only been diving once – in Mozambique two years ago this January. And I was decidedly spooked from my accident and just didn’t feel right. And for good reason – after my operation to completely rebuild my shoulder – I was on ordered bed rest for *1 year* as a result of concern re: vascular pressure and my rebuilt artery. You would not believe how hard that was.
Holy cow fab, I just read your lost at sea tale. I’m glad you survived it. That’s some crazy shit. I’m sure it gives you a completely different view on life now.
I would be shitting bricks if it were me in the water,altho I have an amazing ability to just sink so i wouldnt be very good at serviving which is strange as I am an aquarius and love smashing into and getting smashed by waves,yer im a freak I guess
Guys and gals – today I had the pleasure of going to the NY Design and Arts museum to check the exhibit -Bespoke: The Art of the Handmade Bicycle: on show were bikes from Sacha White – Vanilla Bikesbin Portland, Mike Flanagan from Ant, Jeff Jones doing amazing Mountain Bikes, Richard Sachs and Dario Pegoretti. The link has all the bikes – for my money the Vanilla and Speedvagen by Vanilla track bikes were insane, as were his two bikes for his daughter including a trike with Phil Wood hubs and other amazing touches, and her new vehicle which resembles a WWII BMW motor bike; then the Dario Pegoretti road bikes were works of art; and two Richard Sachs fixies were stunning:highly recommended. REALLY – the regulars here will be receiving a take home exam in the mail!!!
– http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=advsearch&rawsearch=exhibitionid/,/is/,/516/,/true/,/false&profile=exhibitions
YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Ha, that has to be the most expensive tricycle I’ve ever seen
I Like the ant bikes a lot. I hadn’t really heard much about them until the whole bsnyc/ant bad joke debacle earlier this year (or was it late last year). Whenever that was going on I went and looked at the ant site. I’m really into his philosophy and his bikes are def rad.
Good link, thanks for the share Fab.
I bought the exhibit book (as I try to do when I have the money and when an exhibit really moves me) and the details of the trike just BLOW ME AWAY! The lugs on the Vanilla track bike and the Richard Sachs bike are simply stunning (although nothing touched the lugs on the trike). The dropouts on the Speedvagens are just amazing as well. Anyone in Portland has NO EXCUSE not to drop into Vanilla. Sacha White was one of nicest guys I have ever met!
Now THAT’s a tricycle. I’ve been dying to do a fixed gear trike!! But there’d be so much frame altering involved though to lower the center of gravity and probably widen the rear to reduce the risk of rollover. Imagine skidding that!!
Question: where can I buy nice dual pivot caliper brakes with nut mountings? I’m looking for preferably Campag brakes for my new project, and don’t want to drill the forks and brake bridge
Some really nice bikes at the Museum Fab. I like the child’s utility with the saddle at the same height as the rear wheel. Something fishy going on lately with the downward voting. Some oldies are resurfacing. Interesting anyway.
ANNOUNCEMENT: PORTLAND, OR. I need to trade my Armadillos (brick color) for a pair of used black tires. My rear tire has medium wear but there’s plenty of tread and rubber left, front tire is 90% (ie put the front on back and it’s basically new). i need black tires to complete the Tank (for now) but have ZERO dollars as a budget.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
August 17th, 2010 @10:20 pm
so the last girl i dated looked for 2 months (all over the country) to find a bianchi milano in celeste(she fell in love w/ the combo w/ the red tires)in her size (apparently these are very popular amongst petite fashionable women). rode it 3 times total mileage maybe 3.5. fast foward new gf just got her bike (generic path style) tells me she knows how and is (good) @ riding bikes. gets on (that’s sketchy) starts to ride and says “wait how do i stop” (w/ 2 perfectly placed brake levers in front of her).
Guys – as a quick disclaimer before I proceed – #1 I will not make an markup of this *score*; and #2 as a result of 1 – No bullshit will bet tolerated as I can’t be bothered to try to be a nice guy and then have aggravation:
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SO for my birthday present (last monday) a bit of misfortune for a good family friend (has been a stroke of luck for me – and I hoping for a few of you). My uncle’s best mate in Milano has decided after nearly 25 years to close down his bike shop and liquidate inventory. So my uncle asked me what I needed and I naturally said ANYTHING. SO I am getting a 2x shipments in coming weeks of some vintage Campy parts at absurd discounts (taking 10-20% of COST not even retail price). I have gotten shipment 1 and have realized that I am going to be in “lovely” parts paradise. However since greed turns into the grinch I am hoping to help our a person or two here. Especially if the know what they are getting and they are going to use the parts.
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SO I am going to use what I can but I would love – my mates – to get some “love” from all this as well. So of interested – drop me and e-mail and I will do the best I can one I have both packages in hand:
– drop me an e-mail like as I am looking to have some extra parts
-various seat posts (4x) (27.2, 25.0, 26.8mm) – Super Record, 1 Chorus and 1 Athena so far. WICKED polished. This order was all 27.2s but he suggested that there are more on the way
-a couple (2x) Record headsets (1″ threaded – didn’t have any unthreaded, doh) Expecting more.
-a set Record Delta brakes (those are MINE – hopefully there will be another set in order 2 (I asked for as many as he had – since they were last built in 1993-4. It’s THE most beautiful brake set I have ever seen: Check it -http://www.flickr.com/photos/72602548@N00/558147240
-a set of the Campagnolo Pista wheels (expecting at least 1 maybe 2 other sets) Jenson sells them – but to give an idea Jenson is selling new at $1000+. From Marco – the packing lip shows that he sold at Euro 150-200.
-and more – pedals (this next one doesn’t apply to us) but Record shifters and derailleurs, lovely brake leers for racing drop bars, etc.
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Only rule of the competition is that I get to choose where they go and please don’t get offended if things run out different. fedecrib@gmail.com . Oh and for the record – AGAIN I am not out to make a PENNY here so I will not tolerate any crap or accusations. The prices any of these will go at makes it impossible to think its a scam. Anyway from me a line in the next week or two and we’ll see what is left.
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ALSO – NO PROMISES. I am trying to spread some of the little good that came out of one Milano’s oldest bike shops closing. If that only benefits one person such is life. Just please don’t get me if it doesn’t work out for you.
@Sup – for what it’s worth- “Blowout Comb” has been my album of the summer. Like all great hip hop records it grows on you more and more and more and more (kinda like the poison ivy that I took a face-plant into this weekend – gotta love 700x23s). It all shines. Thanks again bro.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
August 22nd, 2010 @11:48 am
awesome to here you enjoyed it so munch, sorry about the poison ivy(the face, sounds rough). also i’m always looking for new music any suggestions? btw i listen to literally everything so it doesn’t have to be any particular genre.
Sup, check this song out: http://music.todaysbigthing.com/2010/08/20
I thought it was just funny at first but the song is pretty catchy. Just don’t listen to it at work
anyone know of a bike maker in London in the 50s(maybe early 60s)that started with W—,London,England?Very rusty frame here only W on head.VERY heavy,no way to tell brakes,looks maybe a SA shifter on top tube(?)cable wheel by seat post.AF,any ideas?
Cool Sup. Super Jedi powers that hopefully never expire or an emergency brake for the best of both.. Then again…I think in an environment like NYC it’s just a matter of time until impact no matter what.
thats what hipster brakeless buttheads should do!real riders put their hands to the front wheel to stop.don’t need no stinking brakes.they call me”Mr.Stubs”.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
August 26th, 2010 @2:12 pm
the front wheel “hand” brake seemed a bit dubious to me too. well you could stop at least twice using that method.
Wow, that article is a blast from the past. Yeah stopping in an emergency by grabbing your front wheel seems like a clear recipe for a front flip.
It’s interesting that they say that the couriers were ditching their 10 speeds for a faster bike. I guess it depends on the city and what the traffic is like, but from my experience my 10 (well 14) speed is much faster than my fixed. Yes my fixed accelerates faster and I can keep a decent clip on it, but I can get up to a much higher top speed on my road bike. Then again, in my city isn’t as dense and there is a lot more long stretches between streets than I imagine there are in nyc so a multi-gear bike would have a much better chance at using that top speed. All that aside, I haven’t run into a fixed commuter around here that could out accelerate me on my road bike. If I start off in a similar gear ratio we’re in the same boat and then after I start spinning at a decent cadence I have more gears to go up. Overall it’s not so much about the bike as the technique you use on it.
/rant
@CS I would say its where you ride as you say,in the centrol city I would ride my SS and would beat a geared bike all the time but in the burbs I would get hammered by a geared unless they were amatuer/recreational riders,I settle for middle of the road setting,I chose 3 cogs(14,16,18/w42) to suit downhill/fast,flatland and uphill riding and use a shaved shortcage deraileur,this was an experiment after riding 16/42 for awhile and would say in raining/windy winter is working better,alltho riding in winter is fine for me I tend to wana get to work quicker than on an ss until summer anyway,so I ride geared for the worst weather,it just gets me there quicker,like overdrive for a ss,hay at least 3 cogs is closer to 1 than 14
@Ryan, That sounds like a pretty decent set up. I wish our city was more densely packed (more for other socio-economic reasons than cycling). Even where I live in south city there is a decent amount of sprawl. It’s not nearly as bad as it is in the county suburbs, but its still there. We had a dingle speed salsa in the shop for a while that had a large and small chainring (I can’t remember what sizes) and that was pretty nice and versatile. I don’t mind the 14. I’d much rather my main road bike be geared for more than just city commuting. I love single speeds and fixed geared bikes, but personally I find more challenge in riding (and working on) a multi gear bike. Not saying that there isn’t challenge or skill involved in single speeds, it’s definitely an art, I just think there are more areas to master with a multi geared bike. It’s a different type of skill.
@ng, I hadn’t seen the pic in the second link before. That’s HILARIOUS.
@bill – it doesn’t look top ten to me. I agree it shouldn’t get a high rating. The whole point is just to have a makeshift forum. It would prob be a good idea for everyone to vote it down. It will still show up on most commented so it doesn’t matter what its rated.
don’t see it inthe top ten here.maybe most comments,thats what mess boards are for.fucktard-very creative.avoids the non-PC R word yet offends most everyone.way to go Bill.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
August 28th, 2010 @1:33 pm
@CS-its my bike but the wife wont let me sell it,Im 6’2″,all I know is it was built by a frame builder who went on to or worked for Avanti bikes,made of butted tubeing,nice and light,bloody nice and smooth to ride,very responsive
I know we all are tolerant of all things but how can skeets bike be voted so high?,I understand the laugh and kick out of posting it but please IMO it should have stayed out of voting,the log was more real than this
@SUP-sorry video was shorter than normal,find a full version if you can,in one scene you will see a man chasing a boy for tagging his fence,the song is in response to a real life event that happened a couple of years ago wher a man accidently killed a boy for tagging his fence http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1559495/423466/article.html
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 1st, 2010 @4:10 pm
They look good Sup. Half nude is how I roll too. I know some ppl freak out about bare metal…but I’ve got grip where I need it and I like feeling of cold metal.
Hey sup- so I just went through my collection to find some more obscure recommendations – mostly non-hip hop:
- Latin Playboys – Latin Playboys, Dose – the alternate project of David Hildago w/ Mitchell Froom and Chad Blake. Two alternative Latin projects. Insane. I interned on Dose
- Slint – anything they did. The core of the Louisville – Chicago alternative connection of the early 90s. The EP is probably my fav
- the Beastie Boyz – was listening to Ill Communication on a ride today and it blew me away
Much love Fab5Fede
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 1st, 2010 @10:57 pm
good looking out fab i’m going to check that stuff out. it’s funny i just rediscovered “paul’s boutique” by the beasties.
paul’s boutique is great! produced by the dust brothers….
i think i got this right, could be wrong, but:
paul’s boutique is FULL of samples….ie. recorded snippets of other people’s music. I believe they did it without having to pay royalties or having the samples cleared….i think there is a total of 105 samples in paul’s boutique. even two beatles songs.
then immediately after it launched, some lawsuit changed sampling laws and samples had to be cleared/payed for….so they got puals boutique out by a thread, and did it with one of the most sample heavy hip hop albums ever lol…if they had to pay for/clear every single sample, it probably would have never happened!
Paul’s Boutique…probably my favorite Beastie Boys album. I grew up with this stuff. License to Ill is classic and Check Your Head(which to my understanding was put out when they were “getting clean”) with more guitar and instrumental tracks is also awesome………..who am I kidding they’re all really good.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 2nd, 2010 @1:10 pm
i loke Hello Nasty
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 2nd, 2010 @1:18 pm
hello nasty is a good’n as well.
ill comunication, check yo head are great as well.
while license to ill is classic, not my fav. and the newest one 5 bouroughs is meh.
but hello nasty, ill communication, pauls boutique, check yo head, all great. i even dig their instrumental only jam cd as well. i like when they do live music with instruments instead of just rapping…
one thing I wish we could do is click on peoples avatars and find out more stuff,like quik referance stuff,latest posts and in what per individual,as I am in a differant time zone the recent comments section can get flooded by the time I next go into this site,I have to add bikes to the faverites bar to keep up with whats going on
@sloman,yer I sussed that out I mean within this site tho,like on the nz mtb site Vorb you can click on a members avatar and it will bring up the posts he/she has started so you have a better idea of who posted what and when including pics and replies but a bit more indepth,like a profile page
Hey guys – I am having a weird problem and I wonder if anyone would have any insight. I finally finished up the Bianchi and have tried to post it. I didn’t use the same name (ie I put “finished” in the name), the file was not too big (ie I made it to the “Thank you for submitting your bike” page) and I am not being impatient (the first time I tried was 6 days ago – I tried again on Friday). Now I know you guys *hate* my rides, but seriously Any ideas? Suggestions? Wes? Thank you boyos
Lovely lovely lovely. And I don’t like Felts in general. That one is a beauty. Thanks for the advice re the post. Will do but I am skeptical – at least 25 new bikes have posted since the first attempt. We’ll see…
@Fabfive-I had that trouble awhile ago,after about 4 days it came up,and once Im sure I got an email to say retry it due to an error,just drop em an email so they know whats up
Oh boy – I tried 3 times in total over the week – same name but one less picture each time (in case size was an issue). I *really* hope they don’t all post… I will send them an email. Sorry in advance boyz.
anyone heard from or seen Luft lately?kind of missing his…..unique style of commenting,hope he hasnt given up in this site,altho we all move on at some stage or another I guess,I used to be a regular on mtbr.com in the retro,classics section,and then just thought nah cant be bothered,maybe he has reinvented himself on here
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 6th, 2010 @5:14 pm
I would guess we’ll be seeing Luft again – we are way too interesting for him to leave for good It is admittedly nice to have someone who is willing to cause rather constant drama. And I did appreciate that he was trying to be a little less salty. But there were moments when I wanted to clock him – the one that stands out the most was his diatribe against poor Amy over the Bob Jackson build. http://www.myfixedgear.net/bob-jackson – None of us are perfect and we all have our moments (mine are rather frequent…). As such, he was a member of our little community and I would be sorry to see him leave.
@ryan – a very good looking frame and fork. I like how simple and clean it looks. Made out of steel? CroMo? Rough idea of cost? I am not familiar with the manufacturer at all.
Haha!! Thanks Fab… Amy’s my wife. I remember when Luft went off about her comment on Bob Jackson and suggested that her bike was a piece of shit. The funny thing was that he had already said something positive about her bike…and that as you know is/was rare. I admit when I first found this site Luft got on my nerves big time. It took a while but eventually he grew on me. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the “fights” here sometimes…but it does keep things entertaining. All in all I think we have a pretty well rounded, fun crew. Luft…where are you? Are you working on the Nishiki?
@ryan – that lock video is pretty interesting. I’d be interested to see the inside of the hub’s cups look like after the drilling. It doesn’t seem like you’d have all that much room to drill in before you break through the cup and you’re exposing the bearings and grease, though when he took the lock back off it didn’t look like he punched a whole completely through. I’d just be worried about the bearings rolling smoothly against the inside of the cup if there are weak or exposed points on the inside. I wonder how much room he has where he can screw the lock down into the threads and cup and how much it would hold up under the stress of riding fixed. it’s a really interesting idea though. I’d like to see more on it. Also I guess a lot of the wheels that you’d do this to would be pretty old and if they fail who cares. Most of our wheels that take freewheel cassettes we sell for 10 or 20 bucks so if it fails who cares. The part I’d worry about is it failing while riding. Cool vid. Also yes I want that frame too! That rear triangle is freaking AMAZING!!!
I could deal with luftsmensh except for the drastic hypocrisy. If you’re going to be hard nosed about stuff that’s fine, I know I sure am sometimes, but don’t be a hard nose jerk and the flip flop on yourself (the amy/bob jackson comment along with a couple of other choice comments is what really set me off about him too). I have a hard time reading stuff like that and not saying something about it.
sounds like a good bunch of guys http://www.stijncycles.com/
@CS-I would hope the bolts that lock it into place would be aircraft or super grade,I dont think you would drill too far in and I would be measureing the lengh of bolt pertrution(shit thats a big word for me,did I spell that right?)so I know to put a mark on the drill bit for the right depth,self tapping screws?I also was thinking that after long term use would it start stressing and stretching the holes that were drilled?(prolly a lot of torque?,at the end of the day if the price is right it would be a good poor mans fixie,at least if you try fixed and dont like it you havent blown $$$ on a proper setup?
Hiya boyos: a few things, quickly, which came up over the last few days that I wanted to mention.
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First – 10 days after my first attempt at posting the finished Bianchi Brera, I have come to the conclusion that this site hates. So screw you guys. I hate you guys so very very much. Words can not express just how much I. hate. you. guys. (Cartman at his best).
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Second – there is a ton of spearmint and peppermint growing around my folks’ place in CT so I picked a ton of it and made “sun tea” with it fresh. The result of leaving it in big 2 gallon jugs for 3 days in the sun was basically “mint water”. I then chilled it all and have been using it during my longer road rides bringing 2 insulated water bottles for a 4-5 hour ride. IT IS THE BOMB. If you make it with dried mint, you get mint tea and that’s a bit much. Doing it with fresh mint (a mix of both spear and pepper) gives you the slightest aftertaste that I have found to be the best water bottle mixture that I have come across in my years.
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Lastly – mainly @sup but for all – after mentioning to you the Latin Playboys I have been listening to both records over the last couple of days. If I was forced to choose 1, I would go with Dose – just outstanding. The first one is killer as well but might be a bit more of an acquired taste. The amazing thing about having worked on Dose with Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake was just how much I learned from them. Tchad plays bass on the record and was the lead engineer. Mitchell Froom plays keyboards and produced it. We were doing things like running vocals through old Fender amps and miking those to another amp. Tons of samples looped on 1″ tape. Unbelievable stuff. Really worth checking out.
And Luftmensh, did he emmigrate to Kenya ? Did Sloman take his hallowed spot , check the pH please. High acid content. @ FAB I also have mint growing wild and it smells good when I cut the grass, much better than the wild onions.
please no hallowed spot for me,only speeky meesee.feel free to call attention to excesses though.I’m sure Lufty is just tied up with life at the moment,sounded like he was getting real busy.
A manufacturer that I have been checking out lately and who is making some of the most interesting lugged frames I have seen is Dave Ellis. This is his single speed / track frame. I think it’s absolutely lovely. He has taken a number of awards at the North American Handbuilt Bike show and you can see why. Everything is handmade. His main site is elliscycles.com but here is a Picassa album of the track frame frame: http://picasaweb.google.com/stevewages/Daves_single_ellis_purple?feat=flashalbum#5444314842616553650
cheers
Very nice and clean frame,love the color,I had a bmx in the mid 80s,wanted to paint it but didnt have much money,found two small cans of spraypaint in a bagain store for a couple of dollars so got them and painted the bike,color was so close to this frame of D ellis and always liked it,got mixed reactions back then cos it was an unusual color compared to the usual dayglo/pastel/chrome of the time,I also got a puch ten speed a bit later on in a similar color too,has an elegance feel to the color,so for me he has chosen a great color to win me over as color plays a big part in first impressions
Very nice, Fab. As much as I’d love to have a hand built, custom frame like that I think it’d make me completely paranoid and neurotic every time I took it out. My OCD would be off the charts. But yeah, nice work of art for sure. I love the fastback style stays.
Trust me ng – when I got popped by a cab on my Civilian, I came up much more worried about what my frame was going to look like rather than how my elbow or left side felt after taking a dive on asphalt. So I definitely know how you feel. The nice thing with steel though is that you can fix just about anything you can do to a bike – especially if it’s lugged (unfortunately my Civilian is TIG welded).
Oh – and ng – I hadn’t looked at your anteater links before – freaking hilarious. Now every time I look at your avatar I start laughing. Absolutely brilliant
I hear you. I’d be the same way…glad you’re ok.. At first when you said that my heart sunk and I looked up “civilian wish” and was gonna paste the link in here to ask you if you meant that bike…..then I saw in the comments that it was your orange one. I think I would have cried if it was your blue one. I LOVE that bike….one of my favorites here. Actually…..glad you’re both ok. No disrespect to the orange one intended.
No disrespect taken. The blue one is in London so I miss it madly. The orange one is still back with Tyson and his frame alignment table (although if his freaking painter takes anymore time he’s going to find my foot in his ass) ergo the Bianchi project. Neither has the class or attitude of your anteater! Classic
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 11th, 2010 @2:11 am
had to replace a spoke and true the front wheel on my road bike, less spokes mo’ problems.
for shizzle Sup. Whenever I have gotten cute with radials or fewer spokes, I have *always* regretted it
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On a side note: a rough day in Gotham: took a flying face-plant into a garbage can (thankfully plastic) after losing traction on gravel and my right knee & left elbow are becoming comically swollen – knee approaching a melon and elbow a plum. I do wish I had video. It must have been at least humorous.
Hi guys. Back from a week in Scotland(Dumfries and Galloway area) Only managed 1 short ride out unfortunately. Had to be on hand to taxi people ect most of the time. Did a bit of fishing too. Wild brown trout taste Sooo good! Didn’t take the fixie with me. Didn’t want to waste all those exciting downhills, so I used my old hardrock sport. Big tyres for boggy ground. I can reccomend the west of Scotland to anyone who likes scenery and good beer. Cheers all.
Welcome back Alan. That is beautiful country. I’ve never mountain biked any of it though. I would like to (if I still mountain biked – not that I don’t want to but – have you guys noticed how there just isn’t nearly even close to enough time to do everything you want to? It’s just killing me recently.
@Fab-yer man,I onlygot time to commute to/from work and then I have to drive sometimes cos gotta take care of bussiness in town before/after work,my Redline xc gona divorce me soon,but I ride it to work sometimes as there are ramps to launch,gaps to jump and stairs to ride off on the way to work,gotta utilize the concrete jungle
damn,missed out on a red Japanese Bianchi yesterday.grumble,grumble.would have been perfect home for my now done 27″Mavic GP coasters.grumpy.best go kill some paint and chill.grumble.
well I started to strip the paint off my drillium bike project (old reliable pt2),started to take out the BB which had a tange double lock ring on it,me thinks weird as you normaly have one,well anyway there were two,undid the first one and then the second,to my surprise this had a threaded piece about 5mm wide on the innerside of the lockring that threads into the BB shell(by now im thinking “what the F**k”)as now I dont know how the bearing race is still in the BB as this is a few mm smaller diameter,anyway I unscrew the bearing race to find out there is a cylinder in it with thread cut into it,so like acting as a shim or BB shell within a BB shell,the BB bearings are smaller than normal too as the axle is the same as a normal size axle,in my 30 years of tinkering I have never come across this at all,its kinda like having a 1 inch steerer,getting a tube and cutting an inner thread putting it on the 1 inch steerer and then cutting an outer thread on the tube so you can use a 1 and 1 quater headset,this is new to me anyone know whats up wid it?
Loose ball bearings are enough of a challenge for me and heating bb with propane torch to unglue the mess and break the bond. It is difficult to get a purchase point on Raleigh bb. Put it back together and ride it and feel good about getting everything back in order. Direction of unscrewing can be counterintuitive on the right and left side from my experience.
yer was thinking of cleaning it out,checking the race on the side I took out,the axle and bearings and if all good reassemble it all,but still wanted it all out as was gona put in a sealed unit,GGGRRRRRR,you know I have the bad luck when what ever you do when it comes to the last bolt it rounds out or snaps,my engine block the lawnmower engine mount when swapping the lawnmower bodies over,the last hex bolt on the disc brake hub,the last bolt on the bmx stem clamp you name it I did it,and it always when its an important job and not just tinkering
Amen,someone needs to drop his ass,put a cap in it,bat to the dome,make him win the wet t-shirt compatition,one way ticket to hellsville or what ever you say these days,stick murphy and his law.
Same on the Raleigh twenty bb. the last nut on the system has very little rise to it and you need a new sharp open end wrench or in my case I set it up in a vice and then I could exert downward force while at the same time using both hands on the bike frame to loosen the part. Propane heat applied 3 times and it slipped in the vice about three times also but got it eventually. Direction can be counterintuitive….what else is new, British, French, Japanese etc. I rounded off a 5 mm. allen bolt on a Benz Vacuum modulator on transmission and sold the car. Had enough of the old thing. Beat the shit out of a McCulloch chain saw with an 8 pound sledge since it ran crappy anyway and felt way better after that. That’s why I like bikes, fairly simple machines and they always Start.
@WSB-yer heated it too,got a burn on my palm as a reminder that it didn’t cool down as quik as I would have thought,ruined my BB spanner,even used a couple of 4inch diameter,5mm thick washers on a 15mm thick bolt run through the BB to lock the BB spanner on so it wouldn’t slip and used a 3foot pipe as leverage and also soaked the BB over night,no luck so cleaned it all up and only wear is on the axle so will replace it and just rebuild it,just for everyones interest the inside of the main BB is 35mm and the inside of the inner BB shell is 30mm,got your address too wsb,cheers
Problem is that then you still have to take care of Sod (the Brits version) and Nonno (the Italian version). They run in packs with tightly defined geographical boundaries!
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Have any of the regulars successfully posted a bike recently? If so – how long did it take you? Cheers
Ryan , are you sure you were cranking in the right (left) direction. 1 st time on the British bike one fooled me and made no sense. I went clockwise and it came undone. I believe this was the right side half of bb. @ Fab you never said what part of your brake system failed.
@wsb-I still thro tools and smash shit when dealing with bikes,if I gona kill it I gona kill it REAL GOOD,you know those builds where its all going kosha and just as your putting on the last couple parts…BAM it don’t fit/the spanner slips and scratches the new paint/the nut won’t fit the bolt/you tighten too much and strip the only part you don’t have spares of/and so on…….the joy of building bikes
@fab- I should post my girls blue 70′s chopper just to see if it works and to post something different
Ryan, what type of flame, Propane or Acetylene ? I never throw tools but the 8 lb. sledge on the malfunctioning 10 year old 2 cycle chain saw was a wondrous event. I tossed it on top of the trash and in 30 minutes someone grapped it. Aluminum value maybe ? Can you weigh the chopper also.? I recently scraped a 20 inch wheeled trendy dept. store crap bike after removing the pedals, and without the wheels it still weighed 30 pounds ! silly design to look like a motorcycle or something, fat steel tubes. No wonder some kids don’t like to bike.
propane and its weight is 30.5Lbs and the frame is 70′s chinese lookalike,I only thro my shitty tools,I have two sets,crap for the average work and top shelf for the new or top qaulity parts/builds,I chopped up my 85 honda prelude with only a sawzall and a cold chisel/small sledgehammer,after removing the doors and sunroof it only took about 4 minutes to cut in half,made me wonder that in a Tbone accident it would be so easy to get ripped in half(scary)
Yer we got alot actually,mostly old people drive them,and those toyota prius ugly things,nearly got run over as I didnt hear it reversing as I walked past
@wsb – I gloriously managed to take two diggers in total that day after a solid few months without gotham taking a piece of my for kicks- it was a particularly slippery day and i forgot my brain in the bed side table. Now I have scraped knees and elbow like a 10 year old.
Oh – and after a week of volunteering at my local building bikes, i have to admit that I am getting a serious woody for coaster brakes. For non critical applications of course – but i am thinking that a single speed townie around a coaster brake could be quite cool. Can one run just about any size cog on a coaster brake or do not want too pressure on it?
I’m keeping the cog down to an 18i just to keep the speed low.Combined with around a 44t or 46t crank should work on a heavy frame.no Land speed records for this old guy.plan to run 27×1 1/4 skinnys(should be great skidders)and only the coaster to keep the bars clean so easy gears should suffice.If you are useing a Shimano type hub gear cogs down to 12t are available.
I have a coaster two speed kickback Sachs duomatic on a Puch take a part and it is ok but not the feel of togetherness of the fixed. Sloppy riding feel. It will stop no matter the size of cog. It compares to automatic and manual stick shift in cars . I like stick shift and fixed gear.
Guys, I think we need another new message board- this one is almost as long as the old one.
On a side note, I’ve just watched a quite interesting video/ documentary about an english bloke who travelled all round the world to get the parts to build his dream bike. It’s called “Ride of My Life”, on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ride+of+my+life+the+story+of+the+bicycle&aq=4
I was impressed with it, you may like it if you’re passionate about bikes in general
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 18th, 2010 @8:32 pm
@wsb i’m on my third volvo have been in accidents in two (only one of my own) they’re tanks.
Yes, even the sales person referred to them as Tanks, I had a couple 74′s a 75 164 and an 80 etc. M.B. also are tanks. Now drive Jap cars, less trouble. They weigh almost the same and seem solid. Cars cost four times as much as in the 70′s and I make half as much. ( I got lazy along the way ) Have not driven a Volvo newer than 87 . Saabs where fun…stick shift four banger with turbo 105 MPH and it had something more but I backed off, old tyres and cops may not appreciate a flying Dutchman in Peoria.
Sup Freshher aka Duppy Cogqueror
September 18th, 2010 @11:12 pm
yeah the old mercs especially my dad had a ’68 300sel (i think) when i was a kid in that flat green awesome car, my first was a ’85 volvo 240 in almost the same colour wish i still had it.
Now Skoda are part of the VW/AUDI group you can get all that build quality and reliability for 5000 les than the equivalent VW/AUDIS simply because the name Skoda became a bit of a joke. They stuck to the same rear enging layout for years without the ability of Porche to pull it off. Now it’s all front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive systems. They do solid hatchbacks and estates. The Scout range is a slightly raised 4×4 version of the estates, similar to the Volvo xc70 ect. I drive an older 1.8 Octavia hatchback vrs.180bhp,180 tourque. 140mph if pushed, 45 mpg if carefull. Got 3 bikes a dog and a cool box in the back for the trip to Scotland and averaged 37 mpg over 320 miles of A-roads and country lanes.Speed limits were observed(of course officer, ahem) Route 66 from Scotch Corner to Penrith was a dream. For those not in this isle it goes from the noth east of England, over the top of the Pennine hills, to the north west of England. High and barren looking in places. Dramatic looking on an overcast day. I’ll do it again next year. Already looking forward to it. Ha,ha.
Yer I have seen the new skoda range,bloody nice looking,the closest I got to scotland was wales,Trawsfynydd to be exact,loved it,bloody cold and raining for the month I was there,a bit hellish to ride but snowdonia was awesome,took the train to the top,checked out some slate mines,all in all a nice adventure
speaking of 84,all you guys into cultural comedies with morals and principles chucked in you should watch “BOY” a new movie from here in NZ about a Maori boy growing up in 1984,I thing its on megavideo on the net
Is everyone else having problems uploading atm?
On a side note, got a challenge for all speed freaks: set up a 42-17 ratio and spin like a madman. we’re talking spin-out top speed folks.
my current record is 38mph on a flat road (not tried downhill yet), which made my legs feel like jelly afterwards. musta been the fact I was probably spinning at about 200rpm.
Have fun with it guys!
I have been waiting (seriously) 3 weeks. How’s this for irony- the Bianchi Brera made bike of the week at NYC Velo (an accomplishment for an off the rack frame) in less time than it took me to post it here!
I felt I should point something out- my 38mph was achieved on Inconnu ( my lightest bike at 18lbs), runnibg 42-17 fixed brakeless. it was fun but a little scary
hey ryan – you tried to upload something as well to no avail right? My emails went unanswered to the address as well so I am thinking that this becoming a losing experience. There are basically no ads – and the list of subscribers can be counted on one hand. I sure hope that’s not the answer.
I may have met your record MJ but I unfortunately don’t have a speedometer. Took a friend’s 42-17 out for a spin and spun the sheeeiiiit out of it down some gnarly hills. I’m also tearing up my 48-18, god I love it. There should be some sunshine tomorrow (clasps hands), possibly pictures to come if there’s still a loving admin to take them in and house our insanity. Thanks boys.
yer-im thinking maybe the sites only being checked once in awhile but been along time,even tho its limited to what you can do its still a good site and the small amount of regulars makes it more managable to stay in communication altho I would like the recent comments box extended to maybe the last 25 comments as differant time zones around the world mean we have to play catch up with who said what and could miss out in alot of back and forth comms
@fab-I think there a lot of peeps look at the pics and vote(judgeing by how many there are)but couldnt be bothered or dont have the time/interest….maybe
agree Slo,but has been classed as all things bike related,but not stepping on toes,I think maybe another message board,to keep bike post comments for the bike,if anyone wants to add anything just put MB3 at the end of their comment so we can go to it,that way the comments within the bike post doesnt get too cluttered as we all get a bit side tracked and start going on to other things,who will start MB3?,cos if half a dozen of us post a new MB3 we will get even more confused
then again,the present mishmash seems more spontaneous and off the cuff.if threads get kind of long-so what?it’s only opinions and babble so lets enjoy I guess.
I have to agree with the “casual” approach. We aren’t running a business where efficiency counts and comments on bikes are reviewed by judges for a contest. This is a site for bike related fun. So while I agree that maybe we should try to keep things to the message boards, who cares. Let’s just try to keep it fun and easy and light.
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And Punch – of course you have met MJ’s feat. I bet you even bested it. Hell, what haven’t you done?
On a totally different note – how about we organize a once-a-quarter my-fixed-gear-regional beer? I can handle the organization of a NYC chapter and it sounds like we have folks in Portland and in the middle of the country. Whattya think?
I am tempted to list on Ebay and put a high price on it and let this MFG know and if it sell s OK with the high price and build another. That may cost 5 dollars and make shipping high also but I can post on Ebay easier than here. I tried two times and it only said NO Action what ever that means. a 10 dollar one time donation on here does not amount to much and I would rather remain anonymous for the donation. Thanks Ebay MFG here I come. maybe run into Gabe and Luftie again. No offense Luftie whereever you are. 42/17
I haven’t done a lot of things Fab. I haven’t raced on a velodrome, owned a geared road bike, built wheels from the ground up, painted a frame, built my own frame, ran a gearing lower than 48-18 on my fixed. I haven’t been to space, driven a Porsche, built my own house, watched every minute of a Super Bowl, been to Paris, been on a cruise or to Hawaii, or been able to teach my son how to ride a bike (yet, too young). I really haven’t done much Fab. What gave you the impression I have?
Look dude – I don’t want to get into a tiff with you. I am sorry for my comment. Congrats on being a father. That’s something I haven’t done which I very much look forward to. All the best.
Man – there is something f*cked with voting. There is no way that my Civilian is now a 6.68. And 2 months ago the top of the chart was 6.33 – now it’s 7.63 with the bottom being 6.39? Just not possible. Then again, if people don’t have time to ok bikes that are posted, I doubt they have time to mess with voting.
The voting on here is wacked. Sometimes it allows multiple votes on the same bike. I notice it often on newly posted bikes….sometimes 3 or 4 votes before it recognizes it’s coming from the same computer. As much as I’d like to support the “star” system it is flawed. Then of course there are the haters that just one star everything. I remember seeing a comment from one guy who said something like “slammed all the bikes here.. i was bored.”
@Fab yer its wierd thats why all I can think of is all lot of people are voting but not commenting,but that doesnt seem logical by the way the voting is going,it seems off i.e some bikes have hundreds of votes but maybe 10 comments,surely there would be more comments,I dont know
the odd voting waves are interesting in that they change so arbitrarily.how many times has a personal fav risen one day and then sunk only to arise a week or month later.one vote cast on the first day would stagnate and maybe on further reflection a 5 should be a 9 or a 3.happens to me all the time as I cruise the list.a detail I never saw before,a part description not read in the rush to judge a new post.yes,some counts are crazy but most of us see them for what they are.same with trolls.
So guys I stumbled onto another site…maybe you’ve seen it…
There aren’t as many bikes over there…and a few from MFG are there. But it’s a bit more organized…It does need a recent comments section though. I was getting tired of waiting for more bikes to post here…Anyway, if you’re in the mood to comment on some “new” bikes. Same game, different field.
Wow – are giving up on these folks? Wouldn’t be surprising if we were…
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‘Sup sup – been listening to the MF Doom record you recommended – I really dig it – much more lyrical than musical and took longer to get it on, but I am really diggin it. Thanks!
After going to my-daily-fixed, I must admit – I hope we don’t give up (or are forced to give up) on this site. I like this format much more. And I *hate* change: funny story on that note from when I was a kid in Italy – when my mamma would come back from the hairdresser I would look at her and say “you are not my mamma anymore”!
I wasn’t suggesting we jump ship here….BUT in the event that this site goes down or something happens, I’d like to think there would be a back up plan. I pass valuable work time posting here and don’t know what I’d do without you crazy bastards.
I agree with many people on this thread, adding a message board to this site would be a great addition. I would happily build and host the message board, does anyone know the owner of myfixedgear or if they read the emails coming in on the gmail account?
yourdailyfixed looks okay, but it just hasn’t got the selection of bikes on myfixedgear, also everyone seems to be a bit too polite!
Your Daily Fixed isn’t bad but it’s definitely not MFG. No recent posts or comments section and unable to click for the next bike on the current page is time consuming. I do, however, like their categories by date, make, and color. That’s helpful when you need inspiration for a particular frame. But I prefer this site and would to hate adapting to something else, especially where hipsters rule supreme (no offense hipsters).
I’m glad someone else noticed the “hipster” vibe over there.not very ride oriented,lots of flash bikes and Kool commentary,seem very impressed by themselves.
I’ve managed to pickup a near new Bianchi Super Pista Frameset from one of my friends for a pretty good price (due to a disastrous attempt at respray). So I’m thinking new build!
The basis would be getting the frame soda blasted, then polishing it up to a relatively high shine, stenciling out some detailed monotone Yakuza tattoos and then getting a genius air brush guy I know to spray on the tattoos to the frame and fork mostly in black with a few highlight colors.
The airbrushing would end just before the wheel stays to mirror the Yakuza style where they only tattoo up to their wrists and lower necks.
The rest of the bike would be finished in a mix of black and gunmetal grey.
Is this going to far? I’m also concerned that the tattoo thing might be too obvious.
yes!my prediction on affordable Pistas seems to becomeing real.re think the tattoo art,it is rsther obvious.the rest sounds cool just try to work in some Celeste(tires,tape,or?)as a nod to EB.
@slo: You’re probably right on the tatoo thing, also the Yakuza Tatoo thing would probably make more sense on a all Japanese build. Working in Celeste might be a little difficult with the rest of the colors I have in mind, but probably worth the effort as a nod to EB.
Otherwise your on the money with regards to inexpensive Super Pista’s starting to turn up I’ve seen a couple of relatively inexpensive complete builds with SP frames on CL over the last month.
Ryan, I saw that you, Punch and Fab checked it out…Yea that site is better in some ways than this one…but overall doesn’t have the content or sections as MFG. I saw some nice bikes there though. Yeah that Otto’s bike is nice! Not sure why the brake was on the rear though…my only complaint. I was just hard up for some new bikes to post on…(too much time on my hands at work) I wonder if more ppl visited and commented on that site if they’d make it better. Probably could just email the admin and suggest what it needs. I’ve seen improvements to this one since I found it.
@ng-yer,I went through all the bikes last nite,and alltho there were some nice rides,most looked too flash bastard to me,some looked like they just chucked $$$ at them,we must be unique as the only bikes worthy of my comments,bar a few were ones that you guys also commented on,alot of peoples comments just seemed for lack of a better word…plastic,the site itself is o.k,but missing the vibe,seems a bit too “clever bastard” on the whole (need some prep H) on the comments for me,imo
Yeah Ryan…I agree. Seemed to be a lot of blowin sunshine up each others asses in the comments….or no comments at all on bikes that had hundreds of views. That’s what I love about the crew here. No bullshit, givin each other a pat on the back for everything.
My main problem with your daily fixed is the lack of bikes. Looking at the categories I counted less than 100 bikes total and 4 of them where leaders (nice to see that some of you guys have already made appropriately rude comments).
Otherwise I concur with Ryan and NG way too many flash bastard bikes (I know of what I speak) and plastic/boastful comments with one guy casually mentioning that he owned five custom frames. Puke…
sucking ass for no reason is the oldest trick in the book apart from ho’s n pro’s,now blow assing is a whole nuther realm
but we won’t go as far as fudge packing,that just wouldnt be cricket,speaking of which,massive match fixing this season on the pro level
new bike on YDF max’s ridley,now this is what I mean,it has a huge lack of attitude,passion,inspiration,its an object to me not a bike,frown $$$ at the LBS,flash bastard,maybe I am getting harsh,or too critical,but its like getting a bog standard lambo or farri and showing it off at a classics,concourse show,I payed more for mine than you did for yours,oh really shall i tell you how much time I spent planning what I wanted,getting the parts,loveingly putting it together MYSELF useing countless hours,that my friend is PRICELESS,so take your store bought junk and be gone ass suck…….(composeing myself as I finish speaking)..woah what happened there http://yourdailyfixed.com/bikes/maxs-ridley-2/comment-page-1/#comment-4615
nice one bad idea! Any injection of some good drama when we lack new bikes can keep us going for at least a little while.
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Does anyone here (I once thought Wes did since he had posted the msg boards but I think I am wrong) have any contact or communication with the MyFixedGear.net folks? I am sure a group of us would be more than willing to handle approving bike posts and email accounts. At least more attention than is currently being given. I can imagine the backlog they have is pretty daunting by this point. But I am not sure how to offer help.
I am increasingly feeling that one can go two ways (well many more really but for the sake of this argument two) with a fixie: track racing machine or urban assault vehicle. This cup holder fits nicely in the latter while employing the looks of the former
A few things come to mind:
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1. I am beginning to take my inability to post the Brera on either here, or My Daily Fixed, personally. Screw you guys
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2. My Daily Fixed could play the roll if absolutely needed but it doesn’t have nearly the following as here. We (slo, ryan, me, punch, etc) are the only comments and there is no background noise.
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3. @ryan – I have that dude’s stash of vintage Campy parts and started drooling. His prices are out of control – ie a campy seatpost selling at Eur285 that sells on e-bay as new for $60. Shit like that makes you see all the stuff that you don’t inherently know the prices for, in a different light.
Oh and @ Punch – after this line, I laughed soooo hard that I swear I will never give you shit again, no matter what the circumstance. You are all my witnesses: “Not interested. These frames are so overrated—huge chunks of aluminum. You kids need to get some grown up frames.”
Just been reading back up this page- makes for an enjoyable read.
@Slo- you ever find out that brit frame manufacturer you mentioned? Maybe a pic link might help, I’ve been researching vintage frames recently as I fancy doing a restoration.
@Fab- do you still have some of the vintage camp components you got in august? I may be interested.
general question: any recommendations for a French bb? I need either cups or sealed for Inconnu. otherwise it’s off to the shop to be rethreaded with the Italian pattern. cheers
@fab-a lot of campy stuff is beautiful but nah,dont think its worth what he’s asking unless its a unusual design that had a short manufacture run and looked bloody nice,its interesting to see what people think stuff is worth.I was checking an 80′s dragster bike the other week and it was going for $1 no reserve,I found the same type of bike in same condish going for $200 minimum start somewhere else
hi guys- so I just got some crappy medical news and am going to have to bugger off for 45 days in a hospital where I will not have access to a computer. I leave Monday morning. As such, be well, I’ll log back on when I am back. Enjoy the fall riding weather and shred as many Leaders as possible. If the Brera ever comes up, spare it a kind thought. Be well.
Yes Ryan, I saw that Rinse Out made an appearance in the top 10 the other day. I’m ok with you thinking it’s not worthy comp to Hotwheels..(sniff, sniff)…but please, please don’t speak of Rinse and and those olmos in the same sentence.
@NG-ha ha yer bro I know what you mean,and understand,Rinse is on a higher plain,my bad,ol…oops…I mean ‘those other bikes dont come close to Rinse and glad it gets in the top 10,these ratings go crazy sometimes,I see skeets on top…wtf eh?
Anyone going to the SF bike Expo? It would be cool to put a few faces to names. I’ll be there with my company Enki Sports (just look for the bright red tent like structure). We’ll likely be using a couple of my builds as demo bikes.
Haha Ryan, I was just bustin your balls about Rinse Out. But thank u… As for it being mentioned in the same breath as olmos, I came close to crying in my beer. Cheers.
ha ha NG,ya bikes shit,get a haircut and a real job ya hippy…..na just bustin your chops bro,dig your artwork,I been lazy for awhile now,gona start paintin some more skateboard decks soon,I got Dropbox but havnt used it properly,when I do I will put some stuff on there
Ryan, I’m lookin forward to seeing some decks. We need to find a better way to share art etc….Are you on Facebook? I’ve got some new artwork (bike art) that I don’t want to put on here….but would love to share with you guys. Facebook anyone?
Hey has anyone heard from Fab? He posted about goin into the hospital, left his email a ways up the msg board here. I emailed him but haven’t heard back. Hope he’s ok.
Okay, so perhaps I’m being a dick, but why are people posting factory made stock bicycles on this site?
I don’t want to sound elitist but the two latest Masi posts are almost completely pointless. If I want to look at a stock Masi then I’ll visit the Masi website.
@NG-Im not into myface sort of sites,I mite add an art section to my FlickR page,yer I will do that,and I will start a new board tommorow I think,I posted my FlickR page on here,scroll up to about august 27
Cheers for the shout, Mr Idea. I’m itching to upgrade RKDN, but funds are drying up. If any of you kids does want to put a face to a name, add me on Facefuck. Jamie Elfman. There’s only one of me, so I’m easy to find. Just let me know your online name so I know who’s who. Could be good to get to know some kids for next time travel mooching opportunities… Jokes.
Ryan, I’m not really into those sites either. But I recently broke down and accepted the undeniable fact that I can only run from “it” for so long. Anyway, I’ve never twatted on twitter, never will and will continue to resist as much of “it” as possible. I’ll check in on ur FlickR.
Twatted on Twitter, I like that. facebook about the same, not for me to open to the world. Fab must have a serious trtmt. for 45 days and no computer access ?
@wooden-yer wonder what it could be if your not allowed a puda,sometimes I dont get to pay internet fees quik enuff and get shutdown (think thats gona be soon)so I use my phone to go on net,wonder if he allowed a phone even?
Ryan, I dig your style. Classic Old School with a modern twist is my first impression of the deck. Love the tattoo gun and the masks. I don’t know what’s popular in NZ right now but the Old School tats are very popular here in San Diego now…I see a lot of ppl getting’m done. I guess it’s like anything else though….it all goes in circles. I’d like to see more work. Definitely like to see your graf. Did your buddy hang this in his shop?
@NG-yer he was way pleased,he put it up real quik,he works out of home as most artists do here as traveling is a big part of the bussiness plus saves renting a place(cost a fortune at the moment)our Ta Moko(native maori tattoos)is very popular at home and international,alot of tourist’s get kirituhi which is like ta Moko but has no meaning or identity,Ta Moko is for maori people only,and designs incorerate family history or a life story and also repusents where thay are from depending on design and is tapu (sacred) to maori,it goes pretty deep,but apart from that western tattooing is very broad from oldskool to artistic madness to your average mainstream stuff
for sure on needin more ink,I got plenty of real estate to fill up ha ha,I got some of my work on some fotos somewhere too so when I find them i will scan em in and put on flickr,I will be putting stuff on there randomly with allsorts so give it a check now and then.
Heres the site that cherryliner is on,I would say I like 70% of whats on here,if you like oldskool/ratbikes/cruisers this is for you if you aint into them…well…just have a look anyway you may like what you see http://www.ratrodbikes.com/?page_id=30
some of those are so cool looking.been thru the klunker wars so know how poorly most of them ride.Having said that,why isn’t there a modern frame builder making curved top tube and tanker style frames?Modern tubing would keep the ride reasonable and you could fit modern wheels ect.and CF forks.Retro looks with modern works.Imagine an aluminum Phantom tanker frame with 700 wheels(coaster?)Brooks,track drops,brake free(coaster remember)at about 19 lbs.The main problem with Klunkers is they weigh a ton,same as they did back in the day.also parts compatability means you are stuck with crap parts so at the end of the day you are pushing 30+ lbs. up the hills which ruins it for me.Why do you think the original Mt.Tam MTBers were downhill?
Some hipster 8th grade kid I know (Dolan, front white aerospoke, no breaks), asked me if H+SON is better than my Campagnolo Vento’s. What should I tell him? haha
Sloman, with your use of drops , drops and more droops, has your back taken on the shape of drops as well ? I have settled with flat bars or North Road on some oldies or Noah’s arc with the slight back sweep. Did you get the coaster cruiser laced up yet ? Gotta go with Huffy or Schwinn or J.C. Higgins for sheer dorkiness. Is recumbent on the horizon ? Hopefully only by choice not need. enjoy the beach old boy.
wheelset is laced and looking for a frame. had several near misses but chainline or conversion sizing re;rear wheel .Where are those affordable Pista frames when you need them?Pulled an old Schwinn MTB frame off the pile and have been cutting and shaving the stuck post and brake mounts off.Sure would be ugly(It had assymetrical seat stays and 1 1/4 fork tube!)I might weld in track ends if the shave ever gets done. Rather do an old Bianchi or Pista but tuff times,small budget.And drops keep you limber.cheers
I may put the drops made with alloy on my 70′s Raleigh (made by Gazelle under Ral. license in Holland) just to have one bike with drops. They do look good even if the neck takes a beating. Thanks
Wood, I went out for 30 miles the other day. Just before the ride I had the urge to switch from my riser to my drop bar…thinking I’d want more hand positions. I wish I hadn’t switched. I’m still surprised how comfortable risers are even with basically one hand position. Riser is back on and will stay. I know a lot of ppl rag on risers and I never thought I’d prefer them to drops. But now I understand why they’re so popular. I know Sloman would shudder at this… but riser bar with Ourys is the most comfy I’ve ever ridden.
@NG-yer then there would be battles over who owns the posts
“dis ma post bro!…nah fuck homes dis ma post bearch….oh yer? come git some if you tink yo cun take id fool…..shit aint no thing but a chicken wing bleed”or sumink like that,did you check out my girls longboard,and the frame I half done? I got some more boards in the sketch faze too
all I’ve ever meant was drops work here,for me,at this time. No Draconian rants. Lots of wind here by the beach so aero is important so deep Vs are out for me too.If risers work ,use them.Drops are still better looking if not practical for all.cheers
ryan b,nice look on that frame,any plans for a full buildup? Would be quite a challenge,line between clunker look and art bike but useable. What frame is it? Coaster brake would be one way to go.no cable clutter in the wat of the art.cheers
Slo, I wasn’t beefin w/you. I agree drops look sexiest and get you nice and low. I was just reflecting on how much less comfortable my ride ended up being after switching. I was surprised.
Yes Ryan I got the New Zeeland stickers, thanks. I have not put them on the bike yet buy will after a little respray this spring. Would you like stickers from my part of the USA ? Thanks Ed
MEEERRRRRYYYY freakin CCHHHRRIIISSSMMMAAASSS ery one,Im chillin wid my family,its time to chill for one day without the drama of life,pause and reflect for those less fortunate than ourselves,even if you aint into xmas
as an idea of where we are all located and for future hookups/referance how about a “Origins” post,just put up country,town who you are,maybe just the basics,yes?/no?
if a good idea I will start it after say 10 yes votes?
OK with me, Ed in Elgin Illinois, worked on a Raleigh Twenty white folder today which I picked up on Ebay from Miami. 46/14 with Continental reflective tyres 37/406 . Put in 8 hours on it today and the time flew by. 6 hours before that. It had no front wheel and a Sturmey archer 3 speed hub on a badly rusted chromed steel rear. Rear brake cable needed maybe 55 lbs. of pulling force to yank out of the housing. no front cable but both Altenburger levers where there. No saddle but the chrome post was there etc. Had a 50/406 front tyre which does not fit in the narrow fork,hence no paint on inside of fork where tyre used to rub. Some fool messed with it, maybe I am a fool for buying it but it is fun. Put a dyno Sturmey Archer steel wheel up front with the generator and powered a square shaped headlite off a 76 Schwinn freebie 10 speed, bulb still worked and rode it home tonight. Ryan, I can not read your handwriting well enough to send you some bike related things. Thanks Ed.
might as well do it here I guess,so if you wana check where we all at just look from jan 1/1/11 on this post.
well I am Ryan from Whangarei(north of the north island),New Zealand.in the maori language New Zealand is called “aotearoa” a.k.a “the land of the long white cloud”.born in NZ,grow up/educated till my late teens in england lived in u.s.a couple of years and back to NZ in 1991,I am a bike freak,mainly build bikes for pleasure and some extra bread and milk money(will be posting my “BareBones”drillium build soon)I am into all the bike genre’s but this hipster thing is hopefully a fade,sorry to all hipsters but I just cant dig it,click on my username to check out my random flickr page,cheers. RIDE STRONG,RIDE SAFE,RIDE TO LIVE TO RIDE.
I hear you Slo. I gave up on the ratings a while ago. Too many flaws with it. And it’s too bad since the best bikes on here are never in the top ten where they’d be seen and would help those in need of inspiration and guidance for their builds.
….so 4 corona’s later and some cog’s,broken fork and a piece of wood,I made a stem stand……who the hell wants a stem stand…I guess I did……after 4 corona’s remember,I just cant leave shit alone ,at the moment it is mounted on the wall using a couple pieces of 2×4
I was at a bar last night and I saw this music video where a bunch of people were dressed up riding around on fixed gears doin tricks and shit. The song was Kings & Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars. Have any of you seen this video? The song is actually not that bad. It was kinda crazy though I was all into it and shit and then all of a sudden this dude gets NAILED by a sedan… kinda scary to see it even if it wasn’t real.
Heres a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A
Alright thats it, Later.
It always amazes me how a bicycle that was here before the car is here and always will be everafter,still takes second freakin place in the mind of alot of drivers and pedestrians minds yet hardly any pedestrians get hit from cyclist and apart from a 1 in a trillion case no cyclist has crashed into a car and killed the driver,the local paper done a survey and most said it was too dangerous to ride a bike,wonder how many doing the survey actually ride a bike?
when all bikes had to share road with were other bikes,cool. share with autos,less cool. share with drivers talking,texting,yanking ect,less cool still.cars trump bikes(and motorcycles),pickups trump cars,big trucks trump pick ups.Laws of mass can’t be changed.Size does matter.Not right but true.Be careful out there.
So what did we learn from this kids? Fuck Cars. Ride your damn bike… or sail you boat.
Sorry, I just threw sailing in there becasue that is my other passion.
Anyone else a sailor?
I use my bike almost every day to get to work, have not used the wooden canoe in 4 years. I love being in a small boat but too much grass to cut and cars to wash and marriage changes things. Two kids etc. Love the bike and it is a great commuter rain or shine or snow.
I have friends that are so car orientated that when shit hits the fan and they dont have a car they would rather walk for an hour (hour & a half for the fatties)rather than borrow my bike and get there in 20-25mins,and the ones that do give in dont want to use one of my spare helmets(usually buy on auction sites if for only couple o dollars and not cracked,always could do with some spares),my sis in law stayed at mine for awhile,the shops are 5mins away and she wouldnt walk that far,……mentalness,just plain mentalness!,as a positive bike month in nz here is going well,we have a bike to work day where you can stop off at the local library for free breakfast and coffee and companies can enter a compition for the most staff from a company to win prizes,also is the mayoral cycle challenge where mayors from large towns and cities have a fun ride and there is compation between district mayors to see how many cyclists join them in the fun rides
The Japanese are really good about biking as well. I know in Tokyo that have bike to work days and things like that. Here in Okinawa people just ride. It doesn’t matter about age, trying to look cool, guys, girls, etc. Shit there is a 80+ year old woman in my village that rides everyday on her tricycle.. AND IT’S A BRAKELESS FIXED GEAR TRICYCLE TOO!!! .. Nah I’m kidding about the brakeless fixie part.. but she really does ride everyday.
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May 16th, 2010 @7:58 am
Looks like great riding weather Wes. It’s been raining for the last 2 weeks here. I miss the sun :/
May 16th, 2010 @8:33 am
ya got me at Cinelli.that and your action shot.
May 16th, 2010 @12:09 pm
CS, raining for two weeks?!! They’d have to talk me down from a bridge or building ledge.
May 16th, 2010 @12:19 pm
Yeah it’s pretty shitty. I’ve been riding my rain bike only for the last two weeks. I love the bike but I like it better when I can cycle through all of them more depending on mood.
May 16th, 2010 @12:28 pm
@wes… Why not start a message board? I thought this was suppose to be a comments section for My fixed gear. Are you trying to kill the recent comments section? If so, this is a great way to do it.
May 16th, 2010 @2:24 pm
JQ. I think there isn’t any way to do a proper stand alone message board on here. Think that’s down to the webmasters involved. Wes has done this to save us gobshites filling other peoples posts with our mindless prattle. It kind of works. Hey Wes. Nice arse!
May 16th, 2010 @3:46 pm
Yes, I understand. Again, I think it doesn’t work for this site. Its four people monopolizing the whole Recent Comments area (“with our mindless prattle”). Hey, here’s an idea. Why not start a new site? I would be happy to follow your “message board” and even contribute. Or, reach out to the webmaster (who ever that is) and ask for it.
May 16th, 2010 @3:55 pm
I would hope the webmaster looks in every now and then to check his site is ok. maybe he, or she will pick up on some of these comments. My i.t skills start and finnish with chatting to people face to face.I wouldn’t know how to start a website. Does include using angle grinders and large hammers?
May 17th, 2010 @1:36 pm
arn’t there tons of free message board forum sites? just add a link to it under “recent comments”…
May 17th, 2010 @3:38 pm
Hey guys. Me and Wasptamer may be going racing tomorrow night! My old club is holding a series of 10 mile tts on a road track in Essex. We’re going to have a bash on 75 inch gears and see how slow we are. All I know about the course is it,s a bit hilly. It’s a replacement for the Eastway cycle circuit in east London that has been torn up to make room for the 2012 olympics. I am going to be in SO much pain on Wednesday.
May 18th, 2010 @3:02 pm
Racing cancelled due to Pugs bottom bracket coming loose. I suspect an oval lockring. Mikey is planning a sealed insertion. Ooh, nasty! To remedy the prob. Maybe next week we’ll see how slow I really am. Went to see Dick Morris in hospital. He’s had a stroke and has lost the use of his right side. Very frustrating for a man who would spend hours filing and cutting lugs into fancy shapes. We chatted for about half hour. He is confusing the doctors because they don’t expect anyone in thier 90s to be sitting up in bed reading and chatting after a serious stroke. Not only a frame builder, he was a lifelong cyclist and racer. That may have some bearing on his recovery. He smiled when I told him I was still riding 1 of his frames. 94 and the flame is still there. Maybe there is hope yet for the rest of us. Cheers.
May 18th, 2010 @6:50 pm
Sorry to hear about Morris, Alan. My mom had a stroke at 94 also and lived 4 more years in a nursing home. She had her speech still and brain was OK for memory but paralysis on one side persisted. Nice that you took the time to visit. Hopefully he can go home again soon if he recovers somewhat. Is the Peugeot french threaded or 24 tpi ? It would be nice if bottom brackets were some what standardized.
May 20th, 2010 @2:39 pm
Pug took a standard bb fine. Had a happy tinker when I got in today. Replaced cups & bearings on Pug with sealed unit, swapped chainset for a shitty 44t off an mtb and old steel pedals, until I get my new Suntour 44t single and new MKS (or similar) pedals in a few days. Could probably do with new freewheel while I’m at it.
Also rebuilt Wasp as paint is done and I’ve bloody well missed racing around on it, so now got a nice bike for pleasure and a shitter for commuting. Cheers
May 20th, 2010 @3:01 pm
MJ,how come not a bigger ring?the 44t from the MTB works so why not go 48t or 50?you sound strong enough to pull it.why duplicate the set-up you have?
May 20th, 2010 @3:22 pm
Slo, the suntour is a bargain price (£20), but the LBS that has it only stock it with a 44t ring. Pug is just a cheap build just for going to work on. Plus I often have to lug my chef kit (box of knives, steel toe boots, whites and huge folder) around on the rack, so an easier gear kinda makes sense on Pug. I’ve been pushing it with a 46/17, using the wheels off Wasp for over a week and I’ll admit it’s been tough. The bonus of the suntour is I can get a bigger ring if I get bored or find it too easy (it’ll be my first crank with bolt on rings)
May 20th, 2010 @5:14 pm
sounds like a plan with a future.enjoy
May 21st, 2010 @5:23 am
I must admit I like the occasional blast from John Thompson.
May 21st, 2010 @5:28 am
Wes, I see you are on top with the pursuit bars also.
May 21st, 2010 @5:55 am
Why not start a message board? I thought this was suppose to be a comments section for My fixed gear. Are you trying to kill the recent comments section? If so, this is a great way to do it.
Yes, I understand. Again, I think it doesn’t work for this site. Its four people monopolizing the whole Recent Comments area (”with our mindless prattle”). Hey, here’s an idea. Why not start a new site? I would be happy to follow your “message board” and even contribute. Or, reach out to the webmaster (who ever that is) and ask for it.
May 21st, 2010 @9:58 am
Question: 1979 Weinmann 27″ 10 speed rims. How much are they worth?
May 21st, 2010 @12:59 pm
27 inch rims without rust may be worth 50 if you find a buyer. many new bikes only take 622 rims and no room for the 630 from the old 10 speed road bikes. My trek 400 and Raleigh competition only have enough room for the 622 rims.
May 21st, 2010 @1:10 pm
Ha! Wooden…you like when John Thompson drops by. I think it’s so funny how upset he gets. Combine that with the fact that he doesn’t really say anything….just gets mad and has poor grammar and sentence structure….I kind of like it too.
May 21st, 2010 @1:21 pm
It seems John thinks Luftie vomits too much ! JT may be too busy to submit his bike pictures or does not care to be criticized. I have not submitted pictures either and some may think I am full of crap also. JQnyc or one of us has to figure a way to avoid taking up the recent comments spot with chit chat, can’t say it bothers me at all. Some comments are better lost .
May 21st, 2010 @1:25 pm
JT hammered Sloman also regarding one of Gabriella’s builds. His father had one of the Belgium bikes. Can not recall which one it was.
May 21st, 2010 @1:29 pm
I vote JT for MFG “angry clown”. A while back I encouraged all the people who visit this site to join the comments party. There’s plenty of room for everyone.
May 21st, 2010 @10:33 pm
WSB – i’m everywhere on my pursuits. i go casually on top as you can see, or i’ll be holding where the bar starts to bend, or maybe find a time trial spot.
May 21st, 2010 @10:52 pm
Yeah, Johnny boy. Where’s his bike again? I sure love to talk crap but have some clue as to what I’m talking about (I have a bike I built, after all). WSB–thanks for the rims tip. They’re dirty and rusty, too, so not sure if they’re worth cleaning to sell. May have a lead in the UK on some lesser known freestyle straps, still searching for the perfect set, have twenty dollars in change saved up (not kidding). cheers fellas.
May 22nd, 2010 @6:32 am
Luftie, sell me some straps for my old MKS pedals. I am a novice and never caged the feet yet, size 11 US or 45 euro. I paid around 90 with shipping for 590 size steel rims with a 3 speed hub made in Austria when I was into 3 speeds, actually converted a 10 to a 3 speed in the hub and later fixed wheel (Trek 400) too small for me and now hanging from the rafters waiting for a photo and sell it. We all go thru stages of discontent and move on to something else. (bikes or women ) bikes are cheaper than women and both need to be ridden hard.
May 22nd, 2010 @9:00 am
I would but the only straps I have are the F.U.B.A.R. doubles I’m currently using. They’re amazingly secure but even harder to get back into which drives me nuts. I wish I had some MKS’s again. These all-cityish ones that came with my power grips really suck.
May 22nd, 2010 @11:37 am
WSB,try Power Grips.Easy in Easy out.Ignore the howls of protest soon to eminate from San Diego.enjoy(they are on sale too at Nashbar)
May 22nd, 2010 @12:10 pm
power grips are eh… my buddy broke his after 1 week of riding, metal kept bending til it snapped, I would recommend Aurora straps for normal pedals, or Hold Fast straps for big bmx pedals.
May 22nd, 2010 @1:31 pm
Nothing wrong with MKS metal cages and brick lane bikes leather straps. Works perfectly well on MKS pedals and pretty much anything really
May 22nd, 2010 @5:24 pm
sorry but power grips are horrible
May 22nd, 2010 @5:26 pm
spend the extra cash and get holdfast or get some all city clips and orgin8 doubles
May 22nd, 2010 @5:37 pm
day in the life of spokley
2:30am strip club, 8:00am ride/road bike, brunch, 4:00pm ride/fixed + food shopping, 7:00pm ride/fixed downtown, post on mfg, nap, latenite bbq house party. such a fresh day
May 22nd, 2010 @7:10 pm
Spokely, you mean you worked until 2:30 am. ? at the club. I think I’ll borrow cages first and try before buying. reluctant to be caged. Thanks for the cagey advice.
May 23rd, 2010 @12:07 am
Woody; Caged need not mean trapped. I find they do make me feel much more connected to the bike. It is surprising how much extra Oomph you get spinning up inclines when there is the clips to kick against. Even half clips with no straps help.
May 23rd, 2010 @1:31 am
My point is I have power grip pedals left over from a horrible short stint of trying out the power grips themselves, which in my opinion are the crappiest designed straps to date. They were flimsy synthetic mesh, thin, slippery, unsecure and were difficult to get back into with their strange 45 degree entry point. I’d rather ride strapless and clipless than use power grips. Hell, even plastic MTB clips and $5 synthetic straps work better than those.
May 23rd, 2010 @1:44 am
I recently got a set of Christofe plastic clips. The type with the double loop at the top for the strap to go through. The design keeps the straps open allowing better access for the feet. I’ve ridden with a similar set up on my old shimano pedals for years.Always easy to flip my foot in, never had them slip out when I didn’t want them to and usually no problem with my foot being stuck in them when I wanted to get it out. The only times my foot has stayed in when it could have done with being out have usually been caused by me being a complete knob.The double loop type is also more comfortable om the foot than the old single loop style. Even with the straps pulled tight. It spreads the pressure more evenly around the foot.
May 23rd, 2010 @1:56 am
http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=43
These are the clips recently bought. Seems Christophe are part of Zefal. So the clips aren’t quite the style for the road race/track fraternity maybe, but they do what is needed of them. I do believe this company make chrome steel double loop clips too.
May 23rd, 2010 @6:05 am
I know we’re talking cages and straps but honestly the best setup I’ve ever ridden fixed (and what I ride with now) are spd-sl’s. You’ll never get more connected to your bike than those or a set of look pedals. Of course they’re not cleats that you can hop off of and walk around in a store in. As far as clips go I’ve always just grabbed a generic pair of metal clips and decent straps (I do like the christophe straps) but I also don’t stop with my legs as much as I do with the brake so I’m not needing that extra grip to skid with. I like the metal clips better than the plastic personally b/c the plastic ones get ate up by the road after a while.
May 23rd, 2010 @9:31 am
yes wsb wore my best thong. cs with you on the metal clips mks all day i like double staps because i don’t use my brake but i suggested the all city’s cos they are cheap as are the orgin8 doubles. i got the all city’s doubles but they aren’t any better i was just being a label whore. holdfast are dope but i think the look of a big strap and no clips is ugly. the whole fgfs thing is cool but the bikes are ugly.
May 23rd, 2010 @11:19 am
CS – i’ve been wanting to ride clipless… but the cost of it for me is too much. but i’m hoping to get my friend’s Look Carbo Max’s before the summer, because in the summer, im going down to SD velodrome.
May 23rd, 2010 @12:09 pm
Thanks for the info about cages and straps. Alan I think I’ll take your advice. I am only worried about finding the most practical setup and not collecting excess. I have excess bikes and not much room left for experimentation. Need to set up camera and sell and post andmake some room for the the wifes’ 78 pair of shoes and my 16 or 17 1/2 bikes.
May 23rd, 2010 @12:44 pm
wes if you’re going clipless just for the velo the looks are fresh. but if you’re riding everyday and if you’re clipping in and out often. i prefer i mtb pedal and shoe. you can walk in them and the pedals are dual sided easier/quicker clip in/out. i use eggbeaters “c” as a kick around pedal they are cheap $35-50 bucks or try craigslist i last month i sold a pair of shimano mtb pedals in nice shape/cleats for $20 and an old pair of diadora shoes for about the same.
May 23rd, 2010 @2:30 pm
I have no interest in using a pair of specialized shoes just to ride a single speed on the street. If you’re gonna do that may as well get some spandex and a damn aero helmet and go ride to a wine tasting. No thanks. Keep it simple. It’s really not that big a deal anyway. Not worth having a full blown debate.
May 23rd, 2010 @3:43 pm
Hahahaha. Luftsmensh you should be a daredevil because you just made a HUGE jump from clipless shoes to a weekend warrior rider. If you’re willing to completely write off clipless pedals for commuting and suggest that it equates you to a weekend warrior rider then you don’t really know enough about clipless pedals in general. You’re willing to invest money into your bike for single speed on the street riding but when it comes to pedals the wallet closes? Aside from the fact that the cost isn’t really that big compared to the rest of bike parts clipless pedals are BETTER for fixed riding especially if you skid to stop. You can get shoes for spds or egg beaters that look and walk just like regular shoes. If you don’t think its worth debating that’s fine stay out of it instead of being a dick about it.
Wes freshher right about the egg beaters. They’re relatively cheap and with the right shoes very inconspicuous. Spd’s are the same but just a bit more expensive. If you ever for any reason come through st louis write me first. We sell used but good spd’s for super super cheap (normally around 20-30 bucks). Look pedals are rad. They created the first large cleat pedals that have become the standard for most road and track racing. I highly endorse them if you’re looking to ride at the track. I’m glad to hear about you going down to the velodrome. It’s an amazing sport that’s completely understated in the US. Our track season started two weeks ago. I’m looking forward to heading out to watch and jump in a couple of races. It’s a hell of a challenge and a lot of fun.
May 23rd, 2010 @3:50 pm
I would love some spd pedals+shoes and prefer lycra(spandex) for riding over baggy shorts. Don’t even get me started on the wine tasting!
May 23rd, 2010 @3:59 pm
i rock a full lycra kit when i’m on my road and the ladies love it.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:03 pm
ironicly, i been thinking of getting lycra. too young? most kids think its “gay” and if i get some i’ll be a “hipster”. then again lycra is expensive as well.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:11 pm
I’m just searching for some good cycle shoes, literally now.
I’m happy with my pedal/ clips & strap combo atm, but I just want proper shoes for general cycling cos I destroy trainers quickly enough anyway. Can anyone recommend anything? I need size 10 or 11 (UK), and will most likely use for a bit of walking around. I’m planning on going clipless too, but need to save cash first.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:18 pm
if you’re going to race you need it.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:24 pm
Yeah, I know I do. Only saw a couple of cages when we marshalled the tt a couple of weeks ago.
I’ve found a site that does pretty nice shoes, and does a good deal if you buy clipless pedals with them- £75 for carbon soled shoes and pedals they’ll fit. VERY tempting.
And btw, I’m kinda fond of lycra for just about any cycling *perverse grin* ha ha ha
May 23rd, 2010 @4:27 pm
mj i have 2 pair of lake mtb shoes not sure of model got them cheap ($20 maybe) on nashbar bought 2 pair as a kick around shoe when i was riding my road bike more. but they are comfortable to walk in (better than my sidi’s) got them 4 years ago still haven’t opened the box on the 2nd pair.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:42 pm
Sup: they sound cool- may be worth an investment. What brand/ model are they?
I’m currently looking at these as a possibility: http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/Products/Lightracer_Carbon_Road_Bike_Shoe.aspx
Depends if I can find some I can try on first
May 23rd, 2010 @4:44 pm
Wes. Personally I normally save the lycra for long distance rides. Most of my commuting I wouldn’t benifit from it aerodynamically or it just wouldn’t be appropriate. I think where it makes the big difference is would be how breathable the fabric is. On a hot day its awesome. As far as other kids thinking its gay that shows more about their personality than yours. It shows that one they don’t know what they’re talking about and two they probably have a bit of homoerotic tendencies that they’re suppressing. I’d say go for it. Even if you wear shorts and a shirt over it you’ll probably see some benefit. Between that and clipless pedals you’ll have a much comfortable ride. All of my bikes have clipless pedals now except for my daily commuter (I have C&C cut eastern bmx pedals which are fucking amazing) and then my grandfather’s bike b/c that one stays all original. I think any commuter I have that I’m not going to put spd’s or spdsl’s on will have those eastern bmx pedals on it. They’re awesome.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:49 pm
MJ those look like nice shoes. Diadora makes great soccer (football) cleats. I’ve never tried their road shoes but if they’re anything like they’re other cleats they should be good. The only thing I see about them that I’d maybe speak against them on is that they have all velcro and no ratchet straps. This isn’t a big deal at first but over the years the velcro degrades and they don’t hold as well. I can’t find a pic of the road shoes I have but they’re similar to these:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=14366&src=froogleUS¤cy=USD
The ratcheting strap at the top does most of the holding so even if the velcro on the bottom starts deteriorating the grip holding the shoe closed will still be pretty solid.
May 23rd, 2010 @4:52 pm
Also I’d look for a shoe that has the three holes for the spdsl or look style cleats but also the two slots for other standard cleat styles. If you do that then you’re not limited to the cleat style. My road shoes are only set up for the sl’s which is fine because that’s what I use but I can’t switch them back and forth.
Also also I forgot my new mountain shoes are diadora and they’re freaking awesome.
May 23rd, 2010 @5:28 pm
diadoras are nice just sold a pair a little too small but i’ve had them in the past. cs is on point about the ratchet my 2 y/o sidi’s have them but then you spending more money the lake’s i have are kinda old school in that they tie and have a velcro strap as well. i don’t think they make them any more in retrospect they be more like 5/6 y/o but the newer versions are the mx-85 not sure if you can get them super cheap though. trying to get my mitts on a pair of these though.
http://hypebeast.com/2010/04/brooklyn-machine-works-adidas-eddy-merckx-shoe-preview/
May 23rd, 2010 @5:37 pm
btw mj those shoes are cool but it will a bitch walking in them. personally unless i’m on a serious ride on my roadbike i use mtb shoes. wes as for lycra was joking earlier but i do wear a full lycra kit when i’m on my road bike including college and my school was not in the best of neighborhoods so imagine the shit i heard. but if you’re going to be a serious cyclist it comes w/ the territory you wouldn’t play tennis in a parka right?
May 23rd, 2010 @8:18 pm
question – Wolber Gentlemen 81 Super Champion wheel. Mallard Helico Matic hub. 13 – 28 cassette unknown brand. Mallard skewer. bontrager tire/tube. untrue but no rust except for one spot on spoke. How much can i get for it? pics later.
May 24th, 2010 @4:05 pm
Hmm. Pics would def help.
May 25th, 2010 @5:06 am
an apiphany this morning.Forget the 27″ers on Mongrel.WSB was correct with his measurements,they totally do not work on this frame.The front tire comes within 2mm of the fork,the rear all but hits the seattube.I am so disgusted.A long night finalizing the rear build for naught.It looks bitching,too bad it won’t work.It was like the frame didn’t want cruizer wheelset.TO top it off the axle on the back was 110 spaced,the flip/flop on there is a fat 120(and the threads for the cog are not standard so I would be stuck with the 18t thats on there.A real mess.What was I thinking?So it’s back to the Bontragers for now I guess until something lighter comes along.Sorry to be so long winded but it’s been a long night and venting helps a lot.thanks
May 26th, 2010 @1:35 pm
Relax Sloman, I bought an air pump listed as fit for a 60 cm. Not so I shopped for a 62 cm. just to justify the 17 dollar pump ? sort of. Like a woman shopping for shoes when she already has 68 pair. ( the 62 cm. has 622 rims by the way ) i.e. buy a Cruiser frame like Das Balloon. On the other hand the next lacing will go that much faster . of course the spokes may not transfer. Enjoy as they say in N. Carolina. I just received a fork for the Raleigh Record and now need to find a headset with 24 instead of 26 t.p.inch. Hobby or what.? still better than golf for me.
May 26th, 2010 @4:17 pm
Today, afterschool, my friend was talking about getting a Hed (jet or 3, i don’t know) to another friend. I respond with “you don’t even deserve a hed” he retorts “yes i do” and then we engage in conversation on how he thinks he deserves one because he does tricks. i tell him that if anything, i deserve a Hed because i’m a fast rider and that hed’s weren’t intentionally made for doing tricks on. he disagrees. really made my day right there
May 26th, 2010 @4:29 pm
Ha. Tell your friend to search the hed website for anything saying that the wheels are meant for tricks or free styling. There is nothing. Hed wheels are constructed for aerodynamic speed and that’s it. Saying that he deserves one because he does tricks is like saying ‘I deserve a pneumatic nail gun because I hunt’. It may work but its the wrong tool for the job (and a psychoticly expensive tool to do the wrong job with). It’s too bad you couldn’t record the conversation and then play it back for the kid 10 years from now.
May 26th, 2010 @5:08 pm
Wow. That’s why I stayed out of the speed pedal debate because I really don’t give a damn. White noise. Lycra? One word: lube. Ewwwwwwww. PASS.
May 27th, 2010 @4:28 am
If you really don’t give a damn why even comment?
May 27th, 2010 @5:21 am
well my mornings work here is done.Time for a cup of coffee and then spread cheer to the rest of the world.Later ya’all.
May 27th, 2010 @4:45 pm
I don’t feel right going out on the bike, especially if it’s a pleasure ride and not a slog to work, if I’m not in my lycra cycle kit. I may not be that fit or fast these days, but I am still a cyclist. Not just someone who rides a bike. Still do the leg shaving thing in summer for the same reason. P.S. The only lube I use goes on the bike. I ride with a saddle not a bare seatpost. Cheers.
May 27th, 2010 @4:58 pm
Oh boy. This clothing debate could go on for a bit.
My view is this: people who just ride can wear anything they want; Cyclists have either certain clothes that they will always wear (like the slim fit combats and high-vis jacket I usually do for a general bash about), or full lycra that they always wear no matter what.
I can’t really give a particular viewpoint though, as I just got myself new lycra stuff that I’ll always wear whenever I ride, along with specific shoes with stiff soles (I’ve been told that cross-country running shoes with removable spikes are ideal if you don’t want to go clipless as the soles are practically solid)
May 27th, 2010 @7:58 pm
I don’t give a damn to discuss the pros and cons because my position on the matter is clear. Obviously I care enough to express my disinterest. I just heard you have to lube the seat of your suit to wear it and that doesn’t sound like fun. That and I’m sure they don’t make a General Issue themed suit to match The Tank. And there Im going on about color matching again. But whatevs, you can lycra if you want to, you can leave your lycra-less friends behind. Cheers.
May 27th, 2010 @8:13 pm
lube your seat? wtf.
May 27th, 2010 @9:10 pm
this has inspired me… im going to go to school one day, wearing what a full blown hipster would wear. Starting with, 1. balls tight skinny jeans cut up to my thighs 2. tight tank top 3. Vans 4. Ray Bands or some type of “rad” sunglasses anyone else have something to add?
May 27th, 2010 @10:31 pm
The seat of your suit, like the seat of your pants. I don’t know. Maybe some incompetent tourer didn’t know what he was talking about.
@Wes: 5. Chain link bracelet. 6. Pointless loop of keys. 7. Gauged earrings. 8. Porkpie hat. 9. Tattoo sleeves.
May 27th, 2010 @10:32 pm
i like vans been wereing them since i was 11. and the only sunglasses i wear are ray ban or persol ( actual glass lenses don’t see that much anymore)
May 27th, 2010 @10:36 pm
flannel shirt, american apparel zip-up hoodie?
May 27th, 2010 @10:40 pm
knit cap in 80 degree weather
May 27th, 2010 @10:43 pm
i’m starting an mash/nwa look this summer riding in cut off dickies, raiders snap back, chucks, no shirt and “loc” sunglasses.
May 27th, 2010 @11:34 pm
I think the seat lube idea dates back to the days when cycle shorts had real chamois inserts in them that would stiffen up after washing, so you had to rub lanolin into it before riding. They would feel exactly like a window cleaners rag when dry. not very comfortable. This is why we now have synthicham and various other permutations on the theme sown in the seat of shorts. I wear cycle shorts for the comfort, and some times for the look. Hey! If women can get away with padded bras,why can’t I enhance elsewhere? Ha,ha,ha. Today I shall be wearing bright blue Troll Craghopper lightweight rock climbing trousers with a clashing hi-vis airtex polo shirt.Finished off with my size 8 steel toe work boots. I may even stick in an earing or two, just to piss the bosses off. Found out yesterday that the store boss thought I’d be wearing lycra shorts to do my deliveries and that’s why he’s banned us from wearing shorts. Stupid bugger! I will have to corner him today and put him straight on that. Have fun guys, whatever you wear. Luftie; You’ll have to try some lycra soon. I promise you, the ladies dig it. Cheers mate.
May 28th, 2010 @5:01 pm
I wear lycra under my cargo shorts a lot when I ride some of my road bikes. Good saddles do a lot but depending on the length of the ride you still need some additional padding. The only bike I can really get away with long trips with no extra padding on is my commuter b/c it has an old school mattress saddle on it. That thing is the most comfortable saddle ever. Hands down!
May 28th, 2010 @5:30 pm
Speaking of my commuters I just took updated pics of my ride every day bikes. I can’t post them on this site b/c they’re multi geared but I figure you guys might be interested in seeing them.
This is my sprite 27:
http://picasaweb.google.com/schmitz.chris/SpriteUpdated?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnvuq_e2eihFQ&feat=directlink
I ride this bike most days on my commute to work. It’s insanely comfortable (that’s the mattress saddle I’m referring to in my previous post). Most of the parts on it are either no name or old enough that people looking to steal good bikes and parts wouldn’t know what they’re looking at. The saddle and pedals are the only really ostentatious parts so I cover the brooks with tape and cross my fingers on the pedals. The generator light is off of matilda from when she used to be my dad’s daily commuter.
This is my crowning beauty. My Vitus 979:
http://picasaweb.google.com/schmitz.chris/Vitus02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuNyez778CvjAE&feat=directlink
The only reason I have this bike is because a good friend sold it to me for an unbelievably low price. This is my ‘rides in the back seat instead of on the bike rack; gets brought inside instead of locking it to a bike rack; only ride on nice days’ bike. It’s an early 80′s Vitus with aluminum tubes and steel lugs. The frame is bonded together. It is full dura-ace components except for the pedals (105′s. my old dura-ace spd-sl’s bit the dust) and the stem. The bike is still lighter than most modern high end bikes and definitely moves faster than them as well.
I love these two bikes more than most things in life. If I lost everything I’d be a homeless man with two bad ass bikes! (of course the family bikes would go back to the family
).
May 28th, 2010 @9:54 pm
Went down to Performance Bicycles today, asked the employee what clip-less pedals he would recommended for me. He lectured me about how my knees would get messed up if i got clip-less pedals… thanks man, i needed to know that, not what pedals you would recommend, but my knee health.
May 29th, 2010 @1:27 am
he was just citing conventional “wisdom”.history says its so,your milage may vary.it they do start to hurt-cease.replacement parts suck.
May 29th, 2010 @7:47 am
CS: nice geared rides. I’ve been thinking of getting a geared bike for a change of pace, figuratively and literally. Maybe some cheap road bike or mtb.
May 29th, 2010 @10:17 am
CS I am surprised the Mattress Brooks saddle is comfy for you. These come on the old Raleigh Twenty and I prefer the leather Brooks B17 or Wrights w3n. I see you have the North Road orig. bars on the Ral. sprite and self adjusting brake levers. The yellow color is the same as my 70′s 10 speed converted to fixed 52/18. I removed the cassette and but an 18 cog on and no problem, no skip stops either. My fork was bent and a new chrome job recently added. loose balls 46 of them. threading was close 26 or 24 not sure but the NOS chrome fork was OK with the old races and bearings and headset nuts. What year is your yellow sprite. I date mine from the diacompe levers not serial number. close I guess. Thanks
May 29th, 2010 @10:25 am
Geared bikes ? When I coast it feels gay. (may I use that word ?) Yep !
May 29th, 2010 @11:40 am
The hills are absolutely insane around here and that alone makes me wanna drive the five miles to work and back considering I walk ten to fifteen
miles a day at work. But when I quit my job my next and go back to school downtown I’m either gonna have to pay out the A for parking or bike and take the max and possibly leave the tank locked up somewhere.
WSB: I miss the 90′s when gay meant lame. It wasn’t a bash on homosexuality, it was just 90′s vernacular.
May 29th, 2010 @11:46 am
do not get a MTB.lots of older pugs and herons ect.out there.or basic new bike-everyone should have one new ride in their life $500 or $600 will get you on a Trek or Giant if you shop.
May 29th, 2010 @11:54 am
don’t the muni buses in Portland (right?)have racks?
May 31st, 2010 @3:41 am
Has anyone seen or tried System EX track drops? My LBS just got some in, they reckon they’re pretty good and would suit Wasp. I’m undecided so far
May 31st, 2010 @6:00 am
@wsb – I thought you’d like the sprite. Yeah the brooks mattress on this one is great. It’s nothing that I’d take out on a super long ride but for what I use it for (which is riding to work and back or the bike shop or the store. Pretty much anything in a 10 to 15 mile radius of my apartment) it’s perfect. Also because everyone around here thinks all mattress saddles suck as long as the brooks logo is covered no one thinks anything of it. Other than the pedals; sealed bottom bracket; and crank set (sorry my comma isn’t working) I’ve tried to keep everything either original or at least from around the same era. The bars and brakes are great. At first I was thinking about switching out the bars for drops but with how the bike is set up (and the fact that I’m not going for speed with it) the original bars seem to be the most comfortable/functional setup. Plus the brake levers are pretty rare now a days and I still wanted to use them.
Nice on your conversion. I considered turning mine into a single speed but since I use this as a work/comfort bike it would decrease the functionality considering I live in one of the hilliest areas of the city. We have another raliegh in our shop (it’s not a sprite but it has the same fork with the pipe instead of a crown where the fork blades connect to the tube that inserts into the head tube (I just realized that I don’t know what that part of the fork is called
)). If your sprite’s fork is still bent and you have some reason to come down to stl soon you should swing by the bike shop and pick it up. A fork like that would probably be around 15 to 20 bucks. Yeah the sprite was a good lesson on being prepared for loose bearings when taking head sets apart. I spent an evening trying to find all of the bearings after I took the headset apart when I first got the bike. My cat thought I had just bought her a bunch of new toys to push around the apt.
I’m not sure about its year. It was a ‘hey I’m going to get rid of this bike. Do you want it?’ gifts from a friend and I’m pretty sure that’s how he got it too. I can see a painted over serial number on the top seat tube lug. The sn is 537095. A little bit of searching online places the frame around ’72 but its not an official listing so I’m just going to assume ’72 as an approximate. That puts it around the same era as my dad’s bikes which is pretty cool. I think the newest bike I have would be the vitus actually and that’s early 80′s.
May 31st, 2010 @5:00 pm
Got some shoes to ride in : Chrome Kursk shoes in Grey Cordura, very comfortable and stiff
May 31st, 2010 @5:25 pm
just bought some System drops.Alloy,very tight curve(may have to run em at an angle so my hand is comfy),scary light weight.In short I love em.Was gonna chop and flop em but they are too nice.
May 31st, 2010 @8:05 pm
CS, I picked up on ebay a 69 Raleigh Twenty non folder with the narrow 451 rims a ST. Archer 3 speed and the previous knuclehead host most of the bottom bearings in the headset, the top is a nylon bushing. I had taken apart trashed pedals from a Raleigh 10 speed Marathon and used the saved ball bearings from these pedals for the Headset of the Raleigh Twenty 24 of them, worked fine. I had them in a 3 inch top off the grease container and hooked them with the spatula and dumped half on the basement floor and found all of them. Tideous work at times but rewarding if done well. Original condition is nice not everything new is better. I put back one of my Puch 20 inch bars etc. even if it looks dorky , not the main ride anyway and some resale possibilities are more bucks if original. Nice that you keep dad’s and grand dad’s bikes in an honored condition. My daughter’s don’t quite get that yet. Trendy tops tradition for twits. Maturity comes too late for the masses. It was strange getting used to the noise the self adjusting Raleigh brake levers make when first drawing up the slack. I have one on a 76 Raleigh with the coaster 3 speed which only came with the front caliper and the coaster hub brake was not always there especially in 3 rd gear. St. Louis is about 250 miles from me, may get there sometime. My parents lived in Mt. Home Ark. and st. L was on the way down route 44 etc. Hot and humid usually in St. L in the summer and yes hilly and beautiful terrain.
May 31st, 2010 @8:46 pm
CS that Vitus is incredible. It looks like a Rollex , did you buy it at a Jewelry store or bike shop ? The top tube appears butted outwardly as opposed to an internal strengthened tube. Nice colors with the alloy and green paint. I hope you lock it even indoors. Swiss made totally or some Japanese work ? How many gears do you use. I am thinking of putting one of my bikes back to gear, maybe just a two speed with a front derailer 52/42 and 18 rear.
June 1st, 2010 @5:06 am
@WSB – Thanks for the compliments. The Vitus is by far my favorite bike at the moment and I’m sure for a long long time to come. The vitus is a 14 speed. The gearing has been kind of a pain in the ass. The cassette is a dura-ace uniglide cassette which was only made for a brief period before they moved to hyperglide which is now the standard. Finding a replacement dura-ace uniglide cassette for anything less than an arm and a leg is next to impossible. When this cassette finally gives out I’m going to try transplanting a hyperglide cassette onto the hub. I know its possible with some dura-ace/shimano hubs but I’m not sure of the exact year of the hub so it will be an experiment for sure.
The frame itself is all french. The DA components of course are all japanese. Yeah the bonding on the bike is pretty awesome as far as providing stiffness to the ride as well as making the frame lighter. The bike is almost as old as I am and is lighter than most modern aluminum road bikes.
I think its important to keep at least one geared bike (in st louis that is) to deal with hills or long rides. Honestly where I live in stl its impossibly to ride in any direction without having to deal with hills for miles and miles. I love riding fixed but sometimes you can’t get around gears. I’m sure its easier to ride single speed all of the time in a flatter city. One of the the bikes we had in for a while was a salsa with a dingle speed (or double) rear wheel. For the most part you were in the cruising gearing but you had the option for one lighter speed. It was a fun bike for sure.
Yeah my dad is really big on passing down awesome stuff. A lot of my outdoor gear is stuff my dad gave me over the years. My one man tent is an old north face pup tent that my dad has used since he was in his 20′s and he gave me when I was in my teens and its still in near perfect condition. He more recently gave me his Hoyt recurve bow and I’m psyched about taking it out and shooting. It’s nice getting this stuff that I’ve learned to appreciate over the years to the point that I fully understand how special it is and will take care of it like it should be. Also it seems like the quality of things made has declined dramatically in the last 20 years so getting all of this quality gear is awesome.
We have a couple of coaster raleigh’s in our shop right now. Those and the 3 speed internals sell like crazy at our sales. A lot of women around the tower grove area want a cruise to the store or around the park bike and those 3 speeds are perfect for that.
June 1st, 2010 @4:32 pm
Drove the 50 miles to London tonight so MJ could have a crack at a 10 mile tt. Got stuck in traffic and missed the sign on by 25 mins. Bollocks!!! Still they let him have a try out on the circuit after the last man had finished. It’s a purpose made road circuit of about 2 km. Lots of corners built on the side of a hill. MJ was running 48/16. I got him to stick a freewheel on when I heard what the track was like. Big drop or climb to the start/finish whichever way they run. Even with 48/14 fixed he’d be spinning like a bastard half the time then grinding his nuts off on the climbs. The gradients were in the order of 1 in 10s. I didn’t have a spin. Did my 25 miles in the rain earlier in the day. Maybe next week. I’ve gotta get some hills under my belt 1st.
June 1st, 2010 @4:47 pm
It’s a purpose built road circuit for bikes?Cool.Once in a while they “let” riders onto a motor track over here for a charity ride or whatever.usually an oval track(NASCAR charities)but rode Bridgehampton once back in the ’70s.I was into car racing too at the time.The hills were bigger on a 10 speed!Go figure.
June 1st, 2010 @4:58 pm
We used to have a track in Hackney called The Eastway Cycle Circuit, but that is slap, bang in the middle of the new Olympic rebuild that is going on. So it’s been redeveloped.
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/UmQ8q94lsc2zUlIWjbMLsFPneaUkUaZhG0FHE-BSZoc?feat=directlink
This is MJ straining his greens on one of the hills. Ha,ha.
June 1st, 2010 @5:05 pm
nice pic,good call on the freewheel.too bad about the traffic
June 1st, 2010 @5:16 pm
He had time to give it 5 laps and get a feel for the track. He enjoyed himself, despite trying to push a 78 inch gear on a circuit designed for carbon flyers with gears. There are a few youtube vids of the circuit. I’ll see if I can post one on here.
June 1st, 2010 @5:34 pm
This is a 6 minute vid taken shortly after the course opened. It’s a bit greener and more established now.
June 1st, 2010 @5:35 pm
I’ll try that again.
June 1st, 2010 @5:36 pm
June 1st, 2010 @5:38 pm
just give me the name,I can Utube it.
June 1st, 2010 @5:39 pm
It doesn’t want to work properly. Bleeding technology. Bah!
Anyone who wants to see what we have to play with in the U.K type C.C Sudbury Hog Hill training day into your browser and it should come up with the youtube vid. Cheers.
June 1st, 2010 @5:40 pm
Done!
June 1st, 2010 @5:41 pm
Hog Hill also goes under the name of Redbridge Cycle circuit.
June 1st, 2010 @5:57 pm
OMG! YOU GUYS NEED TO GO START A MESSAGE BOARD SOMEWHERE ELSE! YOU ARE HIJACKING THIS MEGER SITE THAT HAS VERY FEW FEATURES!!! COMMENT ON THE BIKES IN FRONT OF YOU!! OR LEAVE… PLEASE!!!
June 1st, 2010 @6:24 pm
SORRY.Thought this was the message board,to keep comments on bikes reasonable.Your immature rudeness is excused only because as an ex-NYer I feel your brain damage.Bugger off.
June 1st, 2010 @6:59 pm
The circuit was a helluva lot of fun. Nice smooth surface, slightly cambered on the faster corners, wicked downhill sections I was spinning like mad on, Evil Bastard climbs.
Gotta be the most fun I’ve had with my clothes on.
I could do with a smaller freewheel and/or bigger chainring though- I think I can run a bigger gear and set a faster time that way.
Just checked the pic of me properly- damn my legs look big! Maybe it’s just the light etc
June 1st, 2010 @7:09 pm
Nah! They ARE big… All 3 of them. hahaha.
June 1st, 2010 @7:45 pm
No this is NOT the message board. There isn’t a message board on this site. Other sites have message boards. Calling a “recent comments” chain a message board doesn’t make it a message board. Sorry about my “rude and immature” comment. enjoy.
June 2nd, 2010 @3:39 pm
i drew a frame yesterday… inspired by Rebirth Driftcycles and motivated by boredom. i’ll upload a picture on photobucket soon or something else…
June 2nd, 2010 @4:00 pm
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1054.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1055.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1057.jpg
The geometry is weird and so is the seat stay and tube. it’s unique… i like the design, not like that though. the front is wayyy too low
June 2nd, 2010 @4:25 pm
I’ve found a link that shows just what I have to contend with every day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA_Crc67SAM
this is at 4x normal speed, but it is taken from literally just outside my work (the first left you can see leads to where I park my bike). This is why I run a front brake and always wear a helmet. Cheers
June 2nd, 2010 @8:34 pm
http://s928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/
check out my three pictures of my drawings! comments please
June 2nd, 2010 @10:49 pm
you need to chill jq. seriously. who cares. cool sketches, wes.
June 2nd, 2010 @11:10 pm
sup where’d you post that mix? jesus it’s hard to keep track of bikes on here with short term memory.
June 2nd, 2010 @11:22 pm
under negra modelo luft
June 2nd, 2010 @11:35 pm
http://www.myfixedgear.net/negra-modelo
link to update pics of my bike there too
June 2nd, 2010 @11:40 pm
luft you taught me something man parrish did some research wasn’t familiar w/ him which i hate to admit because i love that era and that late seventies early eighties downtown scene. thanks
June 3rd, 2010 @9:37 am
Anyone have any experience with the Vittoria Rubino Pro III? Been reading good reviews, but wanted to see if any of you guys know or have used’m. I have a Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX on the front of one bike and am thinking of trying the Rubino Pro III on another. The only thing I’m not sure of is the whole “tpi” thing… The Open Corsa is 290tpi and the Rubino III is 150tpi. I understand that tpi-threads per inch is kind of a gauge on tire quality and ride feel…but I’m not sure how much of a difference it’d make for rugged fixed riding on the front rim. They’re now making a 320tpi tire also. But I don’t know how much it matters. Thanks for any info/opinions..
June 3rd, 2010 @9:46 am
No idea, ng. JQ probably knows but he does not use this site as a message board. LOL
June 3rd, 2010 @9:55 am
CS to my surprise the Brooks mattress saddle with the black vinyl off my Raleigh 73 onto a lady’s black Sears/puch austrian 3 speed is in fact soft and comfy. The mattress design with its many springs as an undercarriage is much better than the plastic shell on so many saddles such as the Italian jobs and many others. Most of the old brooks vinyl saddles rip at the seams however. I need a sewing machine or something. Thanks
June 3rd, 2010 @9:55 am
Ha! I hear ya…he gets pissed! Personally I don’t see the msg board(s) as a problem. They just come and go thru the recent comments section…
June 3rd, 2010 @9:58 am
@ CS…you’ll probably shed some light on the “tpi” subject. I hope…
Have any experience with the Vittoria Rubino Pro III? Been reading good reviews, but wanted to see if any of you know or have used’m. I have a Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX on the front of one bike and am thinking of trying the Rubino Pro III on another. The only thing I’m not sure of is the whole “tpi” thing… The Open Corsa is 290tpi and the Rubino III is 150tpi. I understand that tpi-threads per inch is kind of a gauge on tire quality and ride feel…but I’m not sure how much of a difference it’d make for rugged fixed riding on the front rim. They’re now making a 320tpi tire also. But I don’t know how much it matters. Thanks for any info/opinions.
June 3rd, 2010 @12:33 pm
@wsb – yeah my mattress saddle is coming apart a bit around the rivets right now. It’s still rideable but after a while I’m going to switch it out. Luckily I came across another brooks mattress saddle at the shop recently so I have a backup.
@ng – I don’t normally pay attention to threads per inch when I pick tires and I don’t know more than just the general stuff about it. Most of mine are used from our shop so its more finding ones that are the least balled out. The only times I’ve heard people worry about tpi is when they’re buying racing tires and normally the racers only hang on to them for one or a couple of races (depending on how well they’re paid by their sponsors
). Other than that I don’t know that it matters for the general tpi count (which I believe is around 120 but don’t quote me on that). I wouldn’t buy a high tpi tire for commuting though because you’re going to get flats a lot more often.
As a brand I like Vittoria’s tires, but they’re not usually my first choice. It’s less because of bad experiences with them and more because I swear by gator skins and michelins. Those have been my longest lasting tires overall.
June 3rd, 2010 @1:09 pm
CS, Thanks. I’m using gators now and they’re great! Super durable for sure. I want a bit of color on something tough. Maybe I’ll look at the Conti GP4000. Hearing good things there too. Cheers.
June 3rd, 2010 @1:30 pm
NP ng. If you don’t already go to chain love I’d suggest keeping your eye on it.
http://www.chainlove.com
The blue hutchenson tires I got and put on matilda were from chain love and I got them for 14 bucks a tire. They’re definitely nowhere near as durable as the gatorskins, but 14 bucks for a decent tire with a bit of color on it isn’t too bad. The used tires we sell at the shop are normally around 10 bucks so it wasn’t too far off what I normally pay. Chainlove tends to have a decent number of deals pop up. A lot of crap but there is a gem or two from time to time.
June 3rd, 2010 @2:05 pm
Thanks CS. I hadn’t heard of it. I’ll keep an eye on it. Yeah… 14 bucks for a new tire is awesome.
June 3rd, 2010 @2:43 pm
Nice drawings Wes…you obviously dig the funny frames too. Maybe you should look into a metal work/welding class..
June 3rd, 2010 @3:57 pm
my next bike is going to be on paper… fully drawn.
June 3rd, 2010 @4:51 pm
ng: I wouldn’t go for a high tpi tyre for rugged riding if I were you. Yes it denotes higher ride quality and feel, but it also means thinner tyres. Thinner means lower weight and less rolling resistance, which is why racers opt for them, but it also makes the tyre more susceptible to damage from on-road debris. Hence a high tpi tyre would normally be used on tracks.
Hope this helps (although I admit I read it on sheldon brown a few months ago).
My tyre choice depends on the bike and how I plan on using it. I run schwalbe luganos on Wasp for commuting and racing, as they’re pretty tough yet light (and I had to have the black/yellow pattern to match the frame colours); specialized all-condition armadillos on Pug cos it’s my commuter and I want to avoid flats; and Deli (real cheap brand) knobbly tyres on my geared mtb with 700 wheels cos they give decent off-road feel and ride quality
June 3rd, 2010 @4:59 pm
Nice sketch Wes. I’ll be interested to see the full thing. I sketch bikes sometimes at my work meetings but they come out looking like crap. Speaking of making your own fixed drawings (kind of) have you guys seen this before:
http://www.pedalmafia.com/mafid/mafia_id.html
June 3rd, 2010 @5:43 pm
Well, if you cant beat ‘em join ‘em I always say. Okay, say goodbye to the RECENT COMMENTS and say hello to MFGMB #2! Yes nice hot rod sketches the tubes seem oversized though… *sniff*. Love Gators but they are a bit boring. Panracers come in colors but I find them to be a tad slow. Even at 100 ips. Love Gators. o-pine away! Am I being a good sport? Now about the Vittoria Rubino Pro III… fast, light tire reputed to be delicate but that hasn’t been my experience. I run at 120 for the mean streets. *sniff* Im trying.. *sniff* sniff* oh how I miss RECENT COMMENTS. @ Allen I cant see your video is everything okay? Can you post it again… again and again…. and again? Or was it CS with the video? Anyway, repost!!
June 3rd, 2010 @6:25 pm
JQ,it’s easier to just go UTubeing search HOG HILL.pops right up.awesome place.i reccomend Cheddar Gorge also.trust me.
June 3rd, 2010 @8:40 pm
i’ve heard of pedalmafia. fun lil’ thing to do. doesn’t have much variety though.
June 4th, 2010 @12:46 am
JQ; Cheer up mate. Get yourself over the pond to Cambridge and pop round for a beer.
June 5th, 2010 @10:46 am
recently submitted my new bike, Paper Rider (literally)
June 5th, 2010 @4:01 pm
anyone seen these cranks before? these are really nice for the price. http://store.citygrounds.com/store/product/7168/Brewtal-ReTro-Nuovo-Pista-Crankset/
June 5th, 2010 @5:17 pm
I like that crank, Wes…it’s purdy. I looked at it and it made me want to start another build. Uh oh….here we go again. I need a tranquilizer of some kind.
June 5th, 2010 @5:39 pm
That crank looks a bit 60s or 70s stylee. Nice for us lovers of older frames.
June 5th, 2010 @6:07 pm
enough with the cutsy names though.Brewtal.really.A rose and all that I guess but still.
June 5th, 2010 @6:29 pm
Shows what happens when company execs can only spell in phone text speak. Perhaps Tal is some new kind of hot beverage and they have only produced the chainset as a promotional item. “YOU WANNA RIDE FASTER,LONGER,HARDER??? THEN BREWTAL. The new hot energy/stamina drink” Who knows, could be a winna. Sorry. WINNER? I hate the way they try to make all this dumming down of language seem cool. A-holes!
June 5th, 2010 @6:30 pm
Back shortly. Off to put the kettle on for a nice hot cup of Tal. tee,hee.
June 5th, 2010 @9:07 pm
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/IMG_1067.jpg
June 6th, 2010 @2:38 am
Looks like the deepest of deep Vs on that drawing Wes.
June 6th, 2010 @6:28 am
seems I’ve rarly gone wrong when a product boasts an inventer’s-developer’s-seller’s name on the product.I don’t mind stickers on a fine produst(within reason of course)Cute name +cheap price all too often mean crap product.
June 15th, 2010 @6:23 pm
URGENT: how much should i sell this wheelset? what you see is what you get. http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Sale%20Parts/IMG_1124.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Sale%20Parts/IMG_1123.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Sale%20Parts/IMG_1122.jpg
June 16th, 2010 @3:49 pm
I think I’ve found a new project. Found a used Bianchi Pista steel track frame for a decent price, and the previous owner is willing to part with his Campy super record/ Mavic cxp33 wheels with a Campy 16t sprocket for a little more cash. I just gotta find the rest of the parts to go with it. Cinelli stem and drops, Campy cranks, shimano spd-sl pedals and Campy brake with levers are on the shopping list. God it’s going to take a while to get this one built
June 16th, 2010 @4:20 pm
http://s928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Sale%20Parts/
how much can i get for my wheelset? no major damage, just not true
June 16th, 2010 @5:39 pm
MJ,you have just described my dream project(is it celeste or chrome?)the one that keeps my on E-Blow .no matter how long it takes-do it!
June 16th, 2010 @7:02 pm
MJ,did you ever get those System bars?Like ‘em?
June 17th, 2010 @8:55 am
please disregard sloerman
June 17th, 2010 @11:08 am
You drinking sloe gin, sloman?
June 17th, 2010 @12:31 pm
sumthin like that Lman
June 18th, 2010 @8:08 pm
Never got round to getting the system bars. Been trying to save for some proper cycle shoes and clipless pedals- Shimano R086 shoes and Shimano R540 or 105 SPD-SL 5610 pedals are on my shopping list.
I’m also saving for a new project as the dream frame I found has been sold already, so I’ll have more time to save and do it properly this time round.
I’m spending some time tinkering tomorrow, I’ve decided to restore Pug to geared and use it for road racing, and have a few bits I want to do to Wasp. Night all
June 19th, 2010 @9:07 am
Dammit! Now the “80′s Peugeot” has appeared, I’m reconsidering what to do with Pug. I’m now thinking along the lines of Halo aerorage wheels with 17t halo sprocket, the stronglight cranks off Wasp, get a Campag centaur chainset (it’s a double but has bolt on rings) for Wasp and a shimano 18t sprocket to go with it. The alternative is a sram or stronglight mygal track chainset on Wasp. There’s just so much choice for both bikes
June 29th, 2010 @8:18 am
It’s obvious I need a more “mature”place to lurk.Picking on my life,wife and art is way over the line.enjoy
June 29th, 2010 @12:29 pm
Agree Sloman…That was a major douche bag move. It’s that type of shit that separates the men from the boys though.
June 29th, 2010 @9:19 pm
I GOT A SUMMER JOB! woohoo! I’m working at a local bike shop, Irvine Bicycles. They pay me $7/hour, store credit, logging my hours there rather than giving me a free something everyday. also…… i got some shoes, SPD style. used but still, it was free.
June 29th, 2010 @10:20 pm
nice move on the spd’s how’s that working out? next step get a roadbike too. personally my fixed is my everyday ’round town bike so i don’t go clippless on it. but it’s funny because since i built it i almost have to force myself to log in time on my roadbike and my mtb has 2yrs of dust on it.
June 29th, 2010 @10:24 pm
btw next time i’m in cali can i get a hook up @ your shop just need a couple of things omnium crankset, new set of deda drops maybe a kashimax saddle?
June 29th, 2010 @11:03 pm
Awesome Wes. Hope you learn a lot. This is def a great opportunity for you. I hope you enjoy it.
June 30th, 2010 @5:46 am
Nice one Wes. You’ll learn a lot while you’re there. I’m trying to find some work in any of my local bike shops, but I can’t fit it round my current job. Hope the spds work out for you, clipless makes an incredible difference. I’ve just got my specialized bg sport road shoes, and my shimano r540 spd-sls fitted to Wasp and took it racing last night- 10mile tt at redbridge cycle centre (hog hill on YouTube) in 32mins 6secs, with a wind that slowed everyone by at least 2 or 3 mins overall. Was running 48/18 free with just front brake, but only used it twice
June 30th, 2010 @1:20 pm
the shop is entry – high-level road bike oriented but they can still get/order some track parts. they got some nice Colnago’s though….
haven’t clipped in yet, still need my cleats and pedals which i think i’ll work for. i love the job. i’m definitely learning a lot from nice friendly people.
June 30th, 2010 @1:38 pm
@wes, i too got my first job wrenching at a bicycle shop when i was 14 and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. now im running a bike depot/bike shop. with the help of my dad, we opened the shop when i was 19..im 23 now and our shop is going strong. i havent talked to you before but i see your posts and can see you have a ton of passion for cycling. keep it up and you could go far in the cycling world! best of luck mate, and keep those ears and eyes open!
July 3rd, 2010 @9:18 am
My pedals looks something like this:
http://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/pedals/mountain/product.-code-PD-M520-L.-type-.html
Though i think mine are an older version and my (clown) shoes are on my photobucket.
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1166.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1170.jpg
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Bike%20Porn/IMG_1179.jpg
July 3rd, 2010 @5:19 pm
Finally fell over clipped in – with one foot. Was going to happen sometime….
July 3rd, 2010 @5:39 pm
rite of passage!congrates and welcome.
July 4th, 2010 @12:27 am
Well done Wes. Hope the bike shop works out for you. I still fall off my bike strapped in. Still makes me laugh like a drain. I’ve finally got my globe frame on the road with a pair of suspension forks off a dumped Trek mtb. Had to put a side pull brake through the hole in the fork brace cos the canti bosses were too low for 700s. Still a work in progress.Can’t seem to get comfy on the bars no matter which way I flip them. They are a set of ally risers that were on the Trek. Had to buy a really long seat post for it as its a smallish mixede aluminium frame, and nothing I had lying around would fit. Chain tension is another issue with vert dropouts. Will shoot it and post for the usual advice or derision soon.
July 5th, 2010 @8:10 pm
dad got a new bike: 53cm Bertoni Road bike. Shimano 600 group minus brakes. Biopace Crankset
, Ambrosio Wheels
July 12th, 2010 @8:54 pm
anyone been watching the Tour de’ France lately? Lance Armstrong is GONE! he’s crashing like nothing.
July 12th, 2010 @9:21 pm
For Lance its over (as I think he has said as much). He was involved in, I think, 3 crashes yesterday and fell to 33rd place, or so. As much as I love to see dominance and Lance has been dominant like few in history, I can’t say I am terribly troubled by this. I am big fan of Contador and it does seem like this is a good year for Spain (World Cup, Nadal, Contador, Pau Gasol, etc) and that isn’t all bad. What is a pity is that if he had been closer in these climbs, it would have been fun to watch. The Col de la Madeleine is a 25k climb in a 210k stage so that is pretty fricking sick.
July 13th, 2010 @8:46 pm
What an amazing day on the tour. Those 4 climbs were a wonder to see and the work done by Contador and Schleck to catch the runaway group was something else. This is far and away my favorite stretch of the Tour, no matter how much fun the sprints are.
July 14th, 2010 @1:04 pm
i messed up bad. thumb got caught in cog+chain. Doctor extracted my nail. living in a band-aid for a week. takes 6-9 months for nail to come back. Pictures soon….. thanks sheldon brown
July 14th, 2010 @1:06 pm
yikes!!hope you get good pain killers anyway.
July 14th, 2010 @1:14 pm
Sounds nasty Wes! hope it heals up quickly
July 16th, 2010 @9:42 pm
Wow – that made me cringe. It’s awesome that you have a separate thread discussing a build and positions for riding with casts! Big up Wes!!
–
Separately, has your injury meant that you could watch more of the Tour? It can be a nice consolation prize of summer injuries. Today was a really exciting day. Climbs and sprints and groups and chases. Great stuff with lots of drama & lead changes. Really ripping day. I thought Contador had actually caught Rodroguez and Schleck by surprise with his charge and I thought it was going to not only give him the stage (which was one of the best so far, I thought) but could even make the overall situation really interesting with Schleck. I generally check out Eurosport for my coverage when I can’t watch – http://www.eurosport.com or through a free iPhone app. Who do other people check out? Who’s got sweet coverage or worthwhile analysts? Get well soon dude
July 17th, 2010 @3:09 am
Ouchee Wes. Hope it stops smarting soon. Sounds like 1 of those niggly injurys that will catch from time to time. My wife is a nurse and even she has walked off holding her tummy and sucking in breath after reading about it. Sympathy, mate.
July 17th, 2010 @4:25 am
I feel your pain,lost a thumb nail when I was 6,stuck it in a spinning back wheel,the worst part was forgeting about it when i had a bath,hot water on raw nerves yyaauuwww.side topic,I don’t really watch the tour cos ain’t into pro roadie stuff but got to watch 2007 tour as I was home with only my 2yr old boy on holiday while rest of family were away,we camped out on the sofa bed for the entire tour and loved it
July 17th, 2010 @3:15 pm
I kept the nail as some memorabilia. i thank God for the chain slack i developed by riding the steel outta my bike. i haven’t been watching the Tour lately since i can’t come to work. But i am resuming work on Monday i believe. how has it been? Lance fall again?
July 17th, 2010 @3:18 pm
HOLY SHIT! I’m glad your finger didn’t get chopped off. Sorry to hear about yours Ryan. Hope you heal up fast.
July 18th, 2010 @2:37 pm
Can someone tell my something about Vitus bikes? i just bought one today for $250. It’s a 56cm Vitus 979 White, decked out with Shimano 600. there’s something funny about the shifters and derailleurs though. they have white on them and say “Santé” any information will be appreciated.
July 18th, 2010 @3:16 pm
CS owns a chromed Vitus I believe, nice bike he linked to it on a message board.
July 18th, 2010 @3:22 pm
Wes, May 28 at 5:30 cs referred to his Vitus post, sorry I can’t paste it here have not learned the technique yet. on this message board.
July 18th, 2010 @3:27 pm
Check out Chain reaction cycles. That’s where I got my Vitus ally forks from. They have a bit of blurb on there about Vitus being used on the Tour. MJ thinks there is a link from there to the Vitus site too.
July 20th, 2010 @8:51 pm
Hit 49MPH on my Vitus… i checked by a speed calculator police stand thing on the side of the hill.
July 21st, 2010 @12:28 am
@fab co-sign w/ you on the climbs i really love the mountain stages seperates the men from the boys. been checking results on espn.com but haven’t been watching as much as past years (doping thing kinda made me lose intrest) plus i had some burn out after the cup, but i’m on it now (final 5 days) all futbol jerseys in wash cycling jerseys in rotation, been riding the roadbike for 3 days now, and most importantly found a tour friendy bar. as for lance all good things must come to an end i miss the glory days of usps but for all he’s been through he can still kick ass and did a bit since your post.
July 21st, 2010 @2:34 am
the cannibal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EddyMerckxHourRecordBike.jpg
July 23rd, 2010 @3:33 am
you’re welcome guys
http://www.fyxomatosis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=86:fyxomatosis-version-30&catid=55:bicycles&Itemid=93
July 23rd, 2010 @6:46 am
Thanks Spokelywood!
July 24th, 2010 @10:04 am
That’s nasty Wes!! Hope you’re doing okay.
I saw this comic while searching for nishiki’s for inspiration, and thought you folks would like it. http://www.yehudamoon.com/images/strips/2008-03-29.gif
July 24th, 2010 @8:37 pm
Hi guys. Not been active on here lately as I’ve been trawling eBay for projects. Got my eye on a couple of nice frames (Fuji track, 80′s handbuilt Peugeot track bike in Reynolds 531, Nigel Dean racer built from 531c). Hope to make good progress as long as I’m successful getting them. Should give me even more bike tinkering time over the following months
July 24th, 2010 @8:54 pm
53MPH! i beat the speed limit: 50mph. working at the bike shop is smooth and fun but i’m also learning a lot. Wheelset Project: Campagnolo Vento wheelset. Josh (bike shop main mechanic) will lace the back wheel to a 32 hole hub (16 spokes). My new wheelset…
July 25th, 2010 @1:38 am
Hi All,
Not wanting to dissuade any of you from commenting on My Fixed Gear, as it’s your comments and discussions that make this site great. However I’ve set up simple news sharing site/message board that you may find more useful for general bike chatter than this unofficial message board.
http://www.PedalJunction.com (I know some of you are already members – thanks) allows you to quickly and easily post topics//bike news/links and also tag your post. You can comment on posts as well as voting posts up and down.
Of course, if you’d like to continue using this unofficial message board for random bike stuff, please do, but hopefully you’ll find Pedal Junction more flexible and useful for that sort of thing.
Thanks,
My Fixed Gear team
July 27th, 2010 @12:27 am
Just a general query to the masses-what are your opinions about the best budget, mid range and high end cranksets?
July 27th, 2010 @9:09 am
^I’ve always really liked my Sugino cranksets. Very stiff and not crazy expensive…..unless you go with Sugino 75.
July 27th, 2010 @11:26 am
Hi wbizbot,
You might want to try posting that question on http://www.pedaljunction.com as well (see my previous post).
Cheers,
My Fixed Gear Team
July 27th, 2010 @3:58 pm
Ah.Thanks. Will do.
July 28th, 2010 @7:23 pm
re cranks – I like the Paul cranks. they are in that mid-high end but not crazy. The Paul stuff feels nearly custom made sometimes.
–
btw guys – is this little logo on the top new (the little biker with the thought balloon)? New or am I nuts.
July 28th, 2010 @8:41 pm
new
August 2nd, 2010 @7:54 pm
I like it Wes – big up. H0w do you add a profile pict?
August 2nd, 2010 @9:21 pm
Fab, just in case you don’t see the answer on Troy’s track post, here’s the website for the profile pic:
http://en.gravatar.com/
Just sign up for an account with the same email address you use here.
August 3rd, 2010 @3:31 pm
Yo CS – thanks for the help bud. I am slightly confused though. The username FabFive was already used so I had to pick FabFiveFede which is fine. When I then posted here with my usual FabFive with the email that i registered, no avatar. Should I now start posting with a username identical to what I picked at Gravatar? And was the result instant? Sorry I can be rather thick about these things.
August 3rd, 2010 @3:31 pm
Yo CS – thanks bud.
August 3rd, 2010 @3:33 pm
Oh – and – once it gets approved from moderation – there will be a question here that I got answered so don’t worry about it.
August 3rd, 2010 @4:24 pm
Question, how do you cool ones get a picture into the upper left hand corner of your comments ? Hammer Head Shark, must be a lawyer.
August 3rd, 2010 @4:25 pm
Thanks dudes. It is 2010 after all.
August 3rd, 2010 @4:31 pm
http://en.gravatar.com/
August 3rd, 2010 @4:33 pm
Gravatar Thanks now to choose a pic.
August 6th, 2010 @12:54 am
While I am here – and I going to post this on both message boards – and IMPLORE Wes – to launch a third – EVEN if I know that Pedal Junction is the future (I am still waiting to be approved…argh).
–
Would people agree that there is something fishy about some of the top rated bikes in our group? 300-500 votes easy on many of them and 700+ on a few? I just do not believe that this number of people has been voting on bikes here. Some of Gabe’s bikes had hundreds of votes, and not a positive comment in the house. Not that I really care because many of these are classic examples or our trade, but I think something isn’t quite right. MORE than happy to hear otherwise. Whattya guys think?
August 6th, 2010 @12:57 am
@WSB – On my picture – that was actually the last picture I took on a dive in Sudan in the Red Sea of schooling hammerheads. I then managed to basically have my right arm torn off as I was flung overboard during a storm tethered to 5 steel scuba tanks. I was lost at see, AT NIGHT, knowing that all those sharks were beneath me for 2.5 hours before being rescued and brought to the war hospital of Port Sudan. Long long long recovery story ensues from there… I keep it up there to remember just how lucky I was. It’s an amazing picture too…
August 6th, 2010 @1:50 am
amazing photo and even more amazing back story. dangerous part of the world. what brought you there just the diving?
August 6th, 2010 @5:11 am
Yeah the voting system is weird. You can vote more than once at different times and also different computers.
Crazy story. Was this a recreational or professional outing?
August 6th, 2010 @10:32 am
Yes , voting is mysterious lately. I think someone teaches school and has every student make a vote or something. I have voted twice many times to alter the average. The message board is too long and I also have a hard time to relog on P.Junction forgot my password, thanks Jon or is it John Thompson. also sometimes can not submit a comment. Fab. Five you are quite the explorer and your gravatar is the best and pleasing to look at, glad you survived. Luftie, why the fried eggs and bacon (Kosher of course)
August 6th, 2010 @12:20 pm
Because I love food and it’s happy food. I have Jewish blood but I don’t go to Temple.
August 6th, 2010 @2:12 pm
mazel tov, btw kosher bacon heh?
August 6th, 2010 @5:41 pm
It was purely pleasure. One day I will upload some of the picts that I took – never ending schools of hammerheads, tiger sharks, oceanic white-tips, mantas, lovely corals…as Sudan is a war torn country, no one is diving these reefs and as a result, its probably what Egypt was when diving first happened (now the largest fish you are going to see in Egypt, especially off of Sharm, is a fat German…
–
Since the accident though, I have only been diving once – in Mozambique two years ago this January. And I was decidedly spooked from my accident and just didn’t feel right. And for good reason – after my operation to completely rebuild my shoulder – I was on ordered bed rest for *1 year* as a result of concern re: vascular pressure and my rebuilt artery. You would not believe how hard that was.
August 6th, 2010 @6:15 pm
Holy cow fab, I just read your lost at sea tale. I’m glad you survived it. That’s some crazy shit. I’m sure it gives you a completely different view on life now.
August 6th, 2010 @7:08 pm
I would be shitting bricks if it were me in the water,altho I have an amazing ability to just sink so i wouldnt be very good at serviving which is strange as I am an aquarius and love smashing into and getting smashed by waves,yer im a freak I guess
August 8th, 2010 @8:06 pm
Mr.Martins web site bike museum.not ST.Brown but an interesting read.
August 8th, 2010 @11:58 pm
Guys and gals – today I had the pleasure of going to the NY Design and Arts museum to check the exhibit -Bespoke: The Art of the Handmade Bicycle: on show were bikes from Sacha White – Vanilla Bikesbin Portland, Mike Flanagan from Ant, Jeff Jones doing amazing Mountain Bikes, Richard Sachs and Dario Pegoretti. The link has all the bikes – for my money the Vanilla and Speedvagen by Vanilla track bikes were insane, as were his two bikes for his daughter including a trike with Phil Wood hubs and other amazing touches, and her new vehicle which resembles a WWII BMW motor bike; then the Dario Pegoretti road bikes were works of art; and two Richard Sachs fixies were stunning:highly recommended. REALLY – the regulars here will be receiving a take home exam in the mail!!!
–
http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=advsearch&rawsearch=exhibitionid/,/is/,/516/,/true/,/false&profile=exhibitions
August 9th, 2010 @12:11 am
Vanilla Track Bike-uhmmm good.
August 9th, 2010 @4:58 am
YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Ha, that has to be the most expensive tricycle I’ve ever seen
I Like the ant bikes a lot. I hadn’t really heard much about them until the whole bsnyc/ant bad joke debacle earlier this year (or was it late last year). Whenever that was going on I went and looked at the ant site. I’m really into his philosophy and his bikes are def rad.
Good link, thanks for the share Fab.
August 9th, 2010 @8:12 am
I bought the exhibit book (as I try to do when I have the money and when an exhibit really moves me) and the details of the trike just BLOW ME AWAY! The lugs on the Vanilla track bike and the Richard Sachs bike are simply stunning (although nothing touched the lugs on the trike). The dropouts on the Speedvagens are just amazing as well. Anyone in Portland has NO EXCUSE not to drop into Vanilla. Sacha White was one of nicest guys I have ever met!
August 9th, 2010 @8:38 am
Now THAT’s a tricycle. I’ve been dying to do a fixed gear trike!! But there’d be so much frame altering involved though to lower the center of gravity and probably widen the rear to reduce the risk of rollover. Imagine skidding that!!
August 9th, 2010 @9:00 am
Question: where can I buy nice dual pivot caliper brakes with nut mountings? I’m looking for preferably Campag brakes for my new project, and don’t want to drill the forks and brake bridge
August 9th, 2010 @12:01 pm
Some really nice bikes at the Museum Fab. I like the child’s utility with the saddle at the same height as the rear wheel. Something fishy going on lately with the downward voting. Some oldies are resurfacing. Interesting anyway.
August 9th, 2010 @12:26 pm
I heard today that there actually might be a possibility to acquire a Speedvagen frame this fall or winter. That would make anyone at least dream about it!
–
these dropouts are one of the real highlights for me:
http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=media&id=8635&mediaid=30026
but the whole frame is quite drooly (I know you can’t say that in English – you can in Italian and it’s a grand expression).
http://collections.madmuseum.org/code/emuseum.asp?emu_action=searchrequest&moduleid=1&profile=objects¤trecord=1&style=single&rawsearch=id/,/is/,/8635/,/false/,/true
August 10th, 2010 @10:51 am
ANNOUNCEMENT: PORTLAND, OR. I need to trade my Armadillos (brick color) for a pair of used black tires. My rear tire has medium wear but there’s plenty of tread and rubber left, front tire is 90% (ie put the front on back and it’s basically new). i need black tires to complete the Tank (for now) but have ZERO dollars as a budget.
August 17th, 2010 @10:20 pm
so the last girl i dated looked for 2 months (all over the country) to find a bianchi milano in celeste(she fell in love w/ the combo w/ the red tires)in her size (apparently these are very popular amongst petite fashionable women). rode it 3 times total mileage maybe 3.5. fast foward new gf just got her bike (generic path style) tells me she knows how and is (good) @ riding bikes. gets on (that’s sketchy) starts to ride and says “wait how do i stop” (w/ 2 perfectly placed brake levers in front of her).
August 18th, 2010 @1:48 am
so the girl can’t stop herself-and thats a problem?I crack myself up sometimesLOL
August 18th, 2010 @5:32 am
I don’t what’s scarier—the riding or the girl. That sounds like my wife the first few times on her coaster brake. “Where’s the brake?!!”
August 18th, 2010 @10:35 pm
@punch yeah it was def scary she told me this as we were approaching an intersection. we live in nyc and i am truly afraid to let her ride on her own.
August 20th, 2010 @9:22 pm
another nice piece from cinelli
http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/2010/08/20/barry-mcgee-unicanitor-saddle-for-cinelli/
August 20th, 2010 @11:14 pm
Guys – as a quick disclaimer before I proceed – #1 I will not make an markup of this *score*; and #2 as a result of 1 – No bullshit will bet tolerated as I can’t be bothered to try to be a nice guy and then have aggravation:
–
SO for my birthday present (last monday) a bit of misfortune for a good family friend (has been a stroke of luck for me – and I hoping for a few of you). My uncle’s best mate in Milano has decided after nearly 25 years to close down his bike shop and liquidate inventory. So my uncle asked me what I needed and I naturally said ANYTHING. SO I am getting a 2x shipments in coming weeks of some vintage Campy parts at absurd discounts (taking 10-20% of COST not even retail price). I have gotten shipment 1 and have realized that I am going to be in “lovely” parts paradise. However since greed turns into the grinch I am hoping to help our a person or two here. Especially if the know what they are getting and they are going to use the parts.
–
SO I am going to use what I can but I would love – my mates – to get some “love” from all this as well. So of interested – drop me and e-mail and I will do the best I can one I have both packages in hand:
– drop me an e-mail like as I am looking to have some extra parts
-various seat posts (4x) (27.2, 25.0, 26.8mm) – Super Record, 1 Chorus and 1 Athena so far. WICKED polished. This order was all 27.2s but he suggested that there are more on the way
-a couple (2x) Record headsets (1″ threaded – didn’t have any unthreaded, doh) Expecting more.
-a set Record Delta brakes (those are MINE – hopefully there will be another set in order 2 (I asked for as many as he had – since they were last built in 1993-4. It’s THE most beautiful brake set I have ever seen: Check it -http://www.flickr.com/photos/72602548@N00/558147240
-a set of the Campagnolo Pista wheels (expecting at least 1 maybe 2 other sets) Jenson sells them – but to give an idea Jenson is selling new at $1000+. From Marco – the packing lip shows that he sold at Euro 150-200.
-and more – pedals (this next one doesn’t apply to us) but Record shifters and derailleurs, lovely brake leers for racing drop bars, etc.
–
Only rule of the competition is that I get to choose where they go and please don’t get offended if things run out different. fedecrib@gmail.com . Oh and for the record – AGAIN I am not out to make a PENNY here so I will not tolerate any crap or accusations. The prices any of these will go at makes it impossible to think its a scam. Anyway from me a line in the next week or two and we’ll see what is left.
–
ALSO – NO PROMISES. I am trying to spread some of the little good that came out of one Milano’s oldest bike shops closing. If that only benefits one person such is life. Just please don’t get me if it doesn’t work out for you.
August 21st, 2010 @6:22 pm
Skeeter’s Pursuit Bike in #2!!LOL-love it,are we haveing fun yet?
August 21st, 2010 @7:37 pm
August 21st, 2010 @7:42 pm
@Sup – for what it’s worth- “Blowout Comb” has been my album of the summer. Like all great hip hop records it grows on you more and more and more and more (kinda like the poison ivy that I took a face-plant into this weekend – gotta love 700x23s). It all shines. Thanks again bro.
August 22nd, 2010 @11:48 am
awesome to here you enjoyed it so munch, sorry about the poison ivy(the face, sounds rough). also i’m always looking for new music any suggestions? btw i listen to literally everything so it doesn’t have to be any particular genre.
August 22nd, 2010 @1:33 pm
Sup, check this song out:
http://music.todaysbigthing.com/2010/08/20
I thought it was just funny at first but the song is pretty catchy. Just don’t listen to it at work
August 23rd, 2010 @5:14 pm
anyone know of a bike maker in London in the 50s(maybe early 60s)that started with W—,London,England?Very rusty frame here only W on head.VERY heavy,no way to tell brakes,looks maybe a SA shifter on top tube(?)cable wheel by seat post.AF,any ideas?
August 23rd, 2010 @10:24 pm
Haha! I love it. This msg board is in the top ten.
August 24th, 2010 @7:31 am
@cs i like that song. cee-lo green is a soul machine
August 24th, 2010 @9:15 pm
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad126/iRideFixed/Atherton/Campy%20Wheel%20Project/ahhahaahhhhh.jpg
August 25th, 2010 @4:47 pm
came across this from the 60′s lookslike a track bike and i don’t see brakes?
http://hypebeast.com/blog/kinfolk/2010/08/diggin-in-the-crates/
August 26th, 2010 @1:31 pm
ny times story from ’87 about messengers switching to track bikes
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/14/nyregion/for-manhattan-couriers-brakeless-bikes-are-the-way-to-go.html
August 26th, 2010 @1:42 pm
Cool Sup. Super Jedi powers that hopefully never expire or an emergency brake for the best of both.. Then again…I think in an environment like NYC it’s just a matter of time until impact no matter what.
August 26th, 2010 @1:45 pm
thats what hipster brakeless buttheads should do!real riders put their hands to the front wheel to stop.don’t need no stinking brakes.they call me”Mr.Stubs”.
August 26th, 2010 @2:12 pm
the front wheel “hand” brake seemed a bit dubious to me too. well you could stop at least twice using that method.
August 26th, 2010 @3:10 pm
Wow, that article is a blast from the past. Yeah stopping in an emergency by grabbing your front wheel seems like a clear recipe for a front flip.
It’s interesting that they say that the couriers were ditching their 10 speeds for a faster bike. I guess it depends on the city and what the traffic is like, but from my experience my 10 (well 14) speed is much faster than my fixed. Yes my fixed accelerates faster and I can keep a decent clip on it, but I can get up to a much higher top speed on my road bike. Then again, in my city isn’t as dense and there is a lot more long stretches between streets than I imagine there are in nyc so a multi-gear bike would have a much better chance at using that top speed. All that aside, I haven’t run into a fixed commuter around here that could out accelerate me on my road bike. If I start off in a similar gear ratio we’re in the same boat and then after I start spinning at a decent cadence I have more gears to go up. Overall it’s not so much about the bike as the technique you use on it.
/rant
August 27th, 2010 @12:20 am
@CS I would say its where you ride as you say,in the centrol city I would ride my SS and would beat a geared bike all the time but in the burbs I would get hammered by a geared unless they were amatuer/recreational riders,I settle for middle of the road setting,I chose 3 cogs(14,16,18/w42) to suit downhill/fast,flatland and uphill riding and use a shaved shortcage deraileur,this was an experiment after riding 16/42 for awhile and would say in raining/windy winter is working better,alltho riding in winter is fine for me I tend to wana get to work quicker than on an ss until summer anyway,so I ride geared for the worst weather,it just gets me there quicker,like overdrive for a ss,hay at least 3 cogs is closer to 1 than 14
August 27th, 2010 @2:40 pm
http://cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/3/anteater-12.jpg
August 27th, 2010 @2:42 pm
http://spf.fotolog.com/photo/63/43/55/pikaisimo7/1244154275773_f.jpg
August 27th, 2010 @2:44 pm
August 27th, 2010 @3:53 pm
@Ryan, That sounds like a pretty decent set up. I wish our city was more densely packed (more for other socio-economic reasons than cycling). Even where I live in south city there is a decent amount of sprawl. It’s not nearly as bad as it is in the county suburbs, but its still there. We had a dingle speed salsa in the shop for a while that had a large and small chainring (I can’t remember what sizes) and that was pretty nice and versatile. I don’t mind the 14. I’d much rather my main road bike be geared for more than just city commuting. I love single speeds and fixed geared bikes, but personally I find more challenge in riding (and working on) a multi gear bike. Not saying that there isn’t challenge or skill involved in single speeds, it’s definitely an art, I just think there are more areas to master with a multi geared bike. It’s a different type of skill.
@ng, I hadn’t seen the pic in the second link before. That’s HILARIOUS.
August 27th, 2010 @7:09 pm
@CS,yer I got a 14spd,was hand built in the 80′sfor a pro roadie,I got it in the 90′s for $500 put flatbars on with gripshifts(bad back) the wife will never let me sell it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/endlesschain/3854457291/in/set-72157622047555717/
August 28th, 2010 @5:27 am
well done fucktards for rating this pos in the top 10.
August 28th, 2010 @5:37 am
@ryan – very nice. What make is the frame? Man, how tall is your wife? That headtube is huge!
August 28th, 2010 @5:40 am
@bill – it doesn’t look top ten to me. I agree it shouldn’t get a high rating. The whole point is just to have a makeshift forum. It would prob be a good idea for everyone to vote it down. It will still show up on most commented so it doesn’t matter what its rated.
August 28th, 2010 @6:56 am
don’t see it inthe top ten here.maybe most comments,thats what mess boards are for.fucktard-very creative.avoids the non-PC R word yet offends most everyone.way to go Bill.
August 28th, 2010 @1:33 pm
@ng that shit is hilarious
August 28th, 2010 @4:42 pm
@NG a 10 for the Aunt Eater !
August 28th, 2010 @11:34 pm
@CS-its my bike but the wife wont let me sell it,Im 6’2″,all I know is it was built by a frame builder who went on to or worked for Avanti bikes,made of butted tubeing,nice and light,bloody nice and smooth to ride,very responsive
August 29th, 2010 @11:15 am
wow,needin’some heavy numbers to crack the top ten lately.6.39 or better.lotta votin’ goin’ on,eh?
August 29th, 2010 @1:40 pm
I know we all are tolerant of all things but how can skeets bike be voted so high?,I understand the laugh and kick out of posting it but please IMO it should have stayed out of voting,the log was more real than this
August 29th, 2010 @1:51 pm
it was funny-ironic-silly.it was.was.
August 29th, 2010 @2:40 pm
yes, it was.
August 29th, 2010 @3:33 pm
MY REAR CAMPY WHEEL IS FINISHED!!!! BAHAHAHAAHAHH. It looks baller.
August 29th, 2010 @5:13 pm
ahh gee,Wes,sorry to hear that,or is that a good thing?what bike is it for?Campy hub or rim or both?
August 29th, 2010 @6:38 pm
Some voting is a Backlash. Jessie Ventura as Governor of Minnesota. ? Who will run against O’Bama ? Hulk Hogan ?
August 29th, 2010 @6:41 pm
voting is good.voting for the wrong reason(not the wrong side)is bad.motive is prime.
August 29th, 2010 @8:00 pm
you’ll see sloman
August 30th, 2010 @9:15 pm
yet something else for me to droll over
http://hypebeast.com/2010/08/kinfolk-for-wallpaper-magazine-brooks-saddle/
August 30th, 2010 @9:37 pm
not many people here in NZ even know we have a top frame builder,check the first link,wouldnt want the bars to break
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~njturner/history/images/10.jpg
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~njturner/aboutus.htm
August 31st, 2010 @6:09 am
@sup – nice. Is that design carved in or painted on?
September 1st, 2010 @4:12 am
@SUP,a bit of NZ hip hop style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DJdD6EYgV8&feature=related
September 1st, 2010 @11:50 am
Hey im trying to Trade my Thomson Seatpost and Stem… I have a Thomson Elite Setback Seatpost in black (31.6 i think) and a Thomson X2 90mm Stem.
Id like a straight seatpost and a shorter stem. Let me know…
kevine17@hotmail.com
September 1st, 2010 @1:05 pm
@SUP-sorry video was shorter than normal,find a full version if you can,in one scene you will see a man chasing a boy for tagging his fence,the song is in response to a real life event that happened a couple of years ago wher a man accidently killed a boy for tagging his fence
http://tvnz.co.nz/content/1559495/423466/article.html
September 1st, 2010 @4:10 pm
put the drops on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50681249@N06/4949877212/
September 1st, 2010 @5:01 pm
They look good Sup. Half nude is how I roll too. I know some ppl freak out about bare metal…but I’ve got grip where I need it and I like feeling of cold metal.
September 1st, 2010 @5:07 pm
just cap the ends then so you don’t add extra holes to your bod.some wrap is better then none if thats where you use it,cool.enjoy
September 1st, 2010 @9:00 pm
ends are capped. i’m actually going to do a full wrap on the bars w/ chrome tape just trying to find it in the city so i don’t have to order on-line.
September 1st, 2010 @9:19 pm
Hey sup- so I just went through my collection to find some more obscure recommendations – mostly non-hip hop:
- Latin Playboys – Latin Playboys, Dose – the alternate project of David Hildago w/ Mitchell Froom and Chad Blake. Two alternative Latin projects. Insane. I interned on Dose
- Slint – anything they did. The core of the Louisville – Chicago alternative connection of the early 90s. The EP is probably my fav
- the Beastie Boyz – was listening to Ill Communication on a ride today and it blew me away
Much love Fab5Fede
September 1st, 2010 @10:57 pm
good looking out fab i’m going to check that stuff out. it’s funny i just rediscovered “paul’s boutique” by the beasties.
September 1st, 2010 @11:51 pm
the beasties are awesome,listen to them all the time,sure shot and root down I play the most
September 2nd, 2010 @8:43 am
paul’s boutique is great! produced by the dust brothers….
i think i got this right, could be wrong, but:
paul’s boutique is FULL of samples….ie. recorded snippets of other people’s music. I believe they did it without having to pay royalties or having the samples cleared….i think there is a total of 105 samples in paul’s boutique. even two beatles songs.
then immediately after it launched, some lawsuit changed sampling laws and samples had to be cleared/payed for….so they got puals boutique out by a thread, and did it with one of the most sample heavy hip hop albums ever lol…if they had to pay for/clear every single sample, it probably would have never happened!
September 2nd, 2010 @9:11 am
Paul’s Boutique…probably my favorite Beastie Boys album. I grew up with this stuff. License to Ill is classic and Check Your Head(which to my understanding was put out when they were “getting clean”) with more guitar and instrumental tracks is also awesome………..who am I kidding they’re all really good.
September 2nd, 2010 @1:10 pm
i loke Hello Nasty
September 2nd, 2010 @1:18 pm
loke couldn’t decide if i love or like it
September 2nd, 2010 @3:28 pm
hello nasty is a good’n as well.
ill comunication, check yo head are great as well.
while license to ill is classic, not my fav. and the newest one 5 bouroughs is meh.
but hello nasty, ill communication, pauls boutique, check yo head, all great. i even dig their instrumental only jam cd as well. i like when they do live music with instruments instead of just rapping…
September 3rd, 2010 @9:22 am
Skeeters at 6.66.quick,please vote him down.the world as we know it is at stake!
September 3rd, 2010 @4:53 pm
one thing I wish we could do is click on peoples avatars and find out more stuff,like quik referance stuff,latest posts and in what per individual,as I am in a differant time zone the recent comments section can get flooded by the time I next go into this site,I have to add bikes to the faverites bar to keep up with whats going on
September 3rd, 2010 @6:06 pm
just had a 7.4 earthquake in Christchurch here in NZ luckly it was at the other end of the country,still a bad one for us but no deaths reported yet
September 3rd, 2010 @6:19 pm
Ryan,glad alls well.click on the name and if they have a website it goes there.is that right all?
September 4th, 2010 @5:20 pm
@sloman,yer I sussed that out I mean within this site tho,like on the nz mtb site Vorb you can click on a members avatar and it will bring up the posts he/she has started so you have a better idea of who posted what and when including pics and replies but a bit more indepth,like a profile page
September 5th, 2010 @3:27 pm
Hey guys – I am having a weird problem and I wonder if anyone would have any insight. I finally finished up the Bianchi and have tried to post it. I didn’t use the same name (ie I put “finished” in the name), the file was not too big (ie I made it to the “Thank you for submitting your bike” page) and I am not being impatient (the first time I tried was 6 days ago – I tried again on Friday). Now I know you guys *hate* my rides, but seriously
Any ideas? Suggestions? Wes? Thank you boyos
September 5th, 2010 @3:31 pm
just wait. Admin probably didn’t update in a while?
September 5th, 2010 @3:32 pm
BTW, check out this sweet new ride from Felt http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2011/Track/Track-Series/Tk4130.aspx
September 5th, 2010 @6:38 pm
Lovely lovely lovely. And I don’t like Felts in general. That one is a beauty. Thanks for the advice re the post. Will do but I am skeptical – at least 25 new bikes have posted since the first attempt. We’ll see…
September 5th, 2010 @6:40 pm
@Fabfive-I had that trouble awhile ago,after about 4 days it came up,and once Im sure I got an email to say retry it due to an error,just drop em an email so they know whats up
September 5th, 2010 @10:40 pm
Oh boy – I tried 3 times in total over the week – same name but one less picture each time (in case size was an issue). I *really* hope they don’t all post… I will send them an email. Sorry in advance boyz.
September 6th, 2010 @2:43 pm
anyone heard from or seen Luft lately?kind of missing his…..unique style of commenting,hope he hasnt given up in this site,altho we all move on at some stage or another I guess,I used to be a regular on mtbr.com in the retro,classics section,and then just thought nah cant be bothered,maybe he has reinvented himself on here
September 6th, 2010 @5:14 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVELTxKRoHA
September 7th, 2010 @1:37 am
I want it
http://fixacwb.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/stijn_cycles_gent_666_1.jpg
September 7th, 2010 @3:32 am
I want it….maybe
http://www.fixkin.it/joomla/montaggio-lock.html
September 7th, 2010 @1:54 pm
couple more pics,smooth and elegant,And ny fav color
http://fixacwb.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/stijn-cycles-gent-666/
September 7th, 2010 @2:02 pm
I would guess we’ll be seeing Luft again – we are way too interesting for him to leave for good
It is admittedly nice to have someone who is willing to cause rather constant drama. And I did appreciate that he was trying to be a little less salty. But there were moments when I wanted to clock him – the one that stands out the most was his diatribe against poor Amy over the Bob Jackson build. http://www.myfixedgear.net/bob-jackson – None of us are perfect and we all have our moments (mine are rather frequent…). As such, he was a member of our little community and I would be sorry to see him leave.
September 7th, 2010 @2:05 pm
@ryan – a very good looking frame and fork. I like how simple and clean it looks. Made out of steel? CroMo? Rough idea of cost? I am not familiar with the manufacturer at all.
September 7th, 2010 @2:22 pm
Haha!! Thanks Fab… Amy’s my wife. I remember when Luft went off about her comment on Bob Jackson and suggested that her bike was a piece of shit. The funny thing was that he had already said something positive about her bike…and that as you know is/was rare. I admit when I first found this site Luft got on my nerves big time. It took a while but eventually he grew on me. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the “fights” here sometimes…but it does keep things entertaining. All in all I think we have a pretty well rounded, fun crew. Luft…where are you? Are you working on the Nishiki?
September 7th, 2010 @2:28 pm
Mmmmm Ryan that’s pretty! Why do have to do that to us? You know we’re all addicts.
September 7th, 2010 @4:13 pm
@ryan – that lock video is pretty interesting. I’d be interested to see the inside of the hub’s cups look like after the drilling. It doesn’t seem like you’d have all that much room to drill in before you break through the cup and you’re exposing the bearings and grease, though when he took the lock back off it didn’t look like he punched a whole completely through. I’d just be worried about the bearings rolling smoothly against the inside of the cup if there are weak or exposed points on the inside. I wonder how much room he has where he can screw the lock down into the threads and cup and how much it would hold up under the stress of riding fixed. it’s a really interesting idea though. I’d like to see more on it. Also I guess a lot of the wheels that you’d do this to would be pretty old and if they fail who cares. Most of our wheels that take freewheel cassettes we sell for 10 or 20 bucks so if it fails who cares. The part I’d worry about is it failing while riding. Cool vid. Also yes I want that frame too! That rear triangle is freaking AMAZING!!!
I could deal with luftsmensh except for the drastic hypocrisy. If you’re going to be hard nosed about stuff that’s fine, I know I sure am sometimes, but don’t be a hard nose jerk and the flip flop on yourself (the amy/bob jackson comment along with a couple of other choice comments is what really set me off about him too). I have a hard time reading stuff like that and not saying something about it.
September 7th, 2010 @8:03 pm
My thoughts exactly Chris. I was cringing with each turn of that drill!
September 8th, 2010 @1:08 am
sounds like a good bunch of guys
http://www.stijncycles.com/
@CS-I would hope the bolts that lock it into place would be aircraft or super grade,I dont think you would drill too far in and I would be measureing the lengh of bolt pertrution(shit thats a big word for me,did I spell that right?)so I know to put a mark on the drill bit for the right depth,self tapping screws?I also was thinking that after long term use would it start stressing and stretching the holes that were drilled?(prolly a lot of torque?,at the end of the day if the price is right it would be a good poor mans fixie,at least if you try fixed and dont like it you havent blown $$$ on a proper setup?
September 8th, 2010 @3:45 am
O.k techno junkies Benny benassi is touring on a fixed.
http://fixacwb.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/turne-de-fixa/
September 8th, 2010 @12:16 pm
a try out on a poor fixie is a turn off.a fair trial is the way to go,on a good example.ask how I know.
September 8th, 2010 @4:29 pm
Hiya boyos: a few things, quickly, which came up over the last few days that I wanted to mention.
–
First – 10 days after my first attempt at posting the finished Bianchi Brera, I have come to the conclusion that this site hates. So screw you guys. I hate you guys so very very much. Words can not express just how much I. hate. you. guys. (Cartman at his best).
–
Second – there is a ton of spearmint and peppermint growing around my folks’ place in CT so I picked a ton of it and made “sun tea” with it fresh. The result of leaving it in big 2 gallon jugs for 3 days in the sun was basically “mint water”. I then chilled it all and have been using it during my longer road rides bringing 2 insulated water bottles for a 4-5 hour ride. IT IS THE BOMB. If you make it with dried mint, you get mint tea and that’s a bit much. Doing it with fresh mint (a mix of both spear and pepper) gives you the slightest aftertaste that I have found to be the best water bottle mixture that I have come across in my years.
–
Lastly – mainly @sup but for all – after mentioning to you the Latin Playboys I have been listening to both records over the last couple of days. If I was forced to choose 1, I would go with Dose – just outstanding. The first one is killer as well but might be a bit more of an acquired taste. The amazing thing about having worked on Dose with Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake was just how much I learned from them. Tchad plays bass on the record and was the lead engineer. Mitchell Froom plays keyboards and produced it. We were doing things like running vocals through old Fender amps and miking those to another amp. Tons of samples looped on 1″ tape. Unbelievable stuff. Really worth checking out.
September 8th, 2010 @11:59 pm
Manifold De Amour,I love that song
September 9th, 2010 @12:31 am
I know this is bike unrelated but between riding to work and riding home this has been my sort of phycological day,today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTB4Si_HiOo&feature=related
September 9th, 2010 @4:54 am
And Luftmensh, did he emmigrate to Kenya ? Did Sloman take his hallowed spot , check the pH please. High acid content. @ FAB I also have mint growing wild and it smells good when I cut the grass, much better than the wild onions.
September 9th, 2010 @9:14 am
please no hallowed spot for me,only speeky meesee.feel free to call attention to excesses though.I’m sure Lufty is just tied up with life at the moment,sounded like he was getting real busy.
September 9th, 2010 @1:33 pm
A manufacturer that I have been checking out lately and who is making some of the most interesting lugged frames I have seen is Dave Ellis. This is his single speed / track frame. I think it’s absolutely lovely. He has taken a number of awards at the North American Handbuilt Bike show and you can see why. Everything is handmade. His main site is elliscycles.com but here is a Picassa album of the track frame frame:
http://picasaweb.google.com/stevewages/Daves_single_ellis_purple?feat=flashalbum#5444314842616553650
cheers
September 9th, 2010 @1:51 pm
Very nice and clean frame,love the color,I had a bmx in the mid 80s,wanted to paint it but didnt have much money,found two small cans of spraypaint in a bagain store for a couple of dollars so got them and painted the bike,color was so close to this frame of D ellis and always liked it,got mixed reactions back then cos it was an unusual color compared to the usual dayglo/pastel/chrome of the time,I also got a puch ten speed a bit later on in a similar color too,has an elegance feel to the color,so for me he has chosen a great color to win me over as color plays a big part in first impressions
September 9th, 2010 @1:56 pm
Very nice, Fab. As much as I’d love to have a hand built, custom frame like that I think it’d make me completely paranoid and neurotic every time I took it out. My OCD would be off the charts. But yeah, nice work of art for sure. I love the fastback style stays.
September 9th, 2010 @2:23 pm
Trust me ng – when I got popped by a cab on my Civilian, I came up much more worried about what my frame was going to look like rather than how my elbow or left side felt after taking a dive on asphalt. So I definitely know how you feel. The nice thing with steel though is that you can fix just about anything you can do to a bike – especially if it’s lugged (unfortunately my Civilian is TIG welded).
September 9th, 2010 @2:30 pm
Oh – and ng – I hadn’t looked at your anteater links before – freaking hilarious. Now every time I look at your avatar I start laughing. Absolutely brilliant
September 9th, 2010 @2:36 pm
I hear you. I’d be the same way…glad you’re ok.. At first when you said that my heart sunk and I looked up “civilian wish” and was gonna paste the link in here to ask you if you meant that bike…..then I saw in the comments that it was your orange one. I think I would have cried if it was your blue one. I LOVE that bike….one of my favorites here. Actually…..glad you’re both ok. No disrespect to the orange one intended.
September 9th, 2010 @2:38 pm
HAHAHA!!! Yeah I don’t know why but that shit cracks me up!! There are a bunch of ridiculous ones on google images. Cheers.
September 9th, 2010 @7:47 pm
No disrespect taken. The blue one is in London so I miss it madly. The orange one is still back with Tyson and his frame alignment table (although if his freaking painter takes anymore time he’s going to find my foot in his ass) ergo the Bianchi project. Neither has the class or attitude of your anteater! Classic
September 11th, 2010 @2:11 am
had to replace a spoke and true the front wheel on my road bike, less spokes mo’ problems.
September 13th, 2010 @3:28 pm
for shizzle Sup. Whenever I have gotten cute with radials or fewer spokes, I have *always* regretted it
–
On a side note: a rough day in Gotham: took a flying face-plant into a garbage can (thankfully plastic) after losing traction on gravel and my right knee & left elbow are becoming comically swollen – knee approaching a melon and elbow a plum. I do wish I had video. It must have been at least humorous.
September 13th, 2010 @3:29 pm
i sold my first bike. woohoo.
September 13th, 2010 @3:38 pm
Nice one Wes! Was it the one with those bad ass Campy wheels and the higher bb? Or something else?
September 13th, 2010 @3:52 pm
Hi guys. Back from a week in Scotland(Dumfries and Galloway area) Only managed 1 short ride out unfortunately. Had to be on hand to taxi people ect most of the time. Did a bit of fishing too. Wild brown trout taste Sooo good! Didn’t take the fixie with me. Didn’t want to waste all those exciting downhills, so I used my old hardrock sport. Big tyres for boggy ground. I can reccomend the west of Scotland to anyone who likes scenery and good beer. Cheers all.
September 13th, 2010 @5:01 pm
nah, at my job. sales person status. hahaha
September 13th, 2010 @9:53 pm
Welcome back Alan. That is beautiful country. I’ve never mountain biked any of it though. I would like to (if I still mountain biked – not that I don’t want to but – have you guys noticed how there just isn’t nearly even close to enough time to do everything you want to? It’s just killing me recently.
September 13th, 2010 @9:53 pm
and big up wes
September 13th, 2010 @10:22 pm
@Fab-yer man,I onlygot time to commute to/from work and then I have to drive sometimes cos gotta take care of bussiness in town before/after work,my Redline xc gona divorce me soon,but I ride it to work sometimes as there are ramps to launch,gaps to jump and stairs to ride off on the way to work,gotta utilize the concrete jungle
September 14th, 2010 @6:36 am
damn,missed out on a red Japanese Bianchi yesterday.grumble,grumble.would have been perfect home for my now done 27″Mavic GP coasters.grumpy.best go kill some paint and chill.grumble.
September 15th, 2010 @3:18 am
@Sloman-nevermind there might be one in here….somewhere
http://gizmodo.com/5632757/all-along-the-biketower
September 17th, 2010 @3:07 am
well I started to strip the paint off my drillium bike project (old reliable pt2),started to take out the BB which had a tange double lock ring on it,me thinks weird as you normaly have one,well anyway there were two,undid the first one and then the second,to my surprise this had a threaded piece about 5mm wide on the innerside of the lockring that threads into the BB shell(by now im thinking “what the F**k”)as now I dont know how the bearing race is still in the BB as this is a few mm smaller diameter,anyway I unscrew the bearing race to find out there is a cylinder in it with thread cut into it,so like acting as a shim or BB shell within a BB shell,the BB bearings are smaller than normal too as the axle is the same as a normal size axle,in my 30 years of tinkering I have never come across this at all,its kinda like having a 1 inch steerer,getting a tube and cutting an inner thread putting it on the 1 inch steerer and then cutting an outer thread on the tube so you can use a 1 and 1 quater headset,this is new to me anyone know whats up wid it?
September 17th, 2010 @6:23 am
Loose ball bearings are enough of a challenge for me and heating bb with propane torch to unglue the mess and break the bond. It is difficult to get a purchase point on Raleigh bb. Put it back together and ride it and feel good about getting everything back in order. Direction of unscrewing can be counterintuitive on the right and left side from my experience.
September 17th, 2010 @2:16 pm
yer was thinking of cleaning it out,checking the race on the side I took out,the axle and bearings and if all good reassemble it all,but still wanted it all out as was gona put in a sealed unit,GGGRRRRRR,you know I have the bad luck when what ever you do when it comes to the last bolt it rounds out or snaps,my engine block the lawnmower engine mount when swapping the lawnmower bodies over,the last hex bolt on the disc brake hub,the last bolt on the bmx stem clamp you name it I did it,and it always when its an important job and not just tinkering
September 17th, 2010 @2:23 pm
Murphy is a Mutha.
September 17th, 2010 @2:32 pm
Amen,someone needs to drop his ass,put a cap in it,bat to the dome,make him win the wet t-shirt compatition,one way ticket to hellsville or what ever you say these days,stick murphy and his law.
September 17th, 2010 @4:45 pm
Same on the Raleigh twenty bb. the last nut on the system has very little rise to it and you need a new sharp open end wrench or in my case I set it up in a vice and then I could exert downward force while at the same time using both hands on the bike frame to loosen the part. Propane heat applied 3 times and it slipped in the vice about three times also but got it eventually. Direction can be counterintuitive….what else is new, British, French, Japanese etc. I rounded off a 5 mm. allen bolt on a Benz Vacuum modulator on transmission and sold the car. Had enough of the old thing. Beat the shit out of a McCulloch chain saw with an 8 pound sledge since it ran crappy anyway and felt way better after that. That’s why I like bikes, fairly simple machines and they always Start.
September 17th, 2010 @5:54 pm
@WSB-yer heated it too,got a burn on my palm as a reminder that it didn’t cool down as quik as I would have thought,ruined my BB spanner,even used a couple of 4inch diameter,5mm thick washers on a 15mm thick bolt run through the BB to lock the BB spanner on so it wouldn’t slip and used a 3foot pipe as leverage and also soaked the BB over night,no luck so cleaned it all up and only wear is on the axle so will replace it and just rebuild it,just for everyones interest the inside of the main BB is 35mm and the inside of the inner BB shell is 30mm,got your address too wsb,cheers
September 17th, 2010 @5:56 pm
Problem is that then you still have to take care of Sod (the Brits version) and Nonno (the Italian version). They run in packs with tightly defined geographical boundaries!
–
Have any of the regulars successfully posted a bike recently? If so – how long did it take you? Cheers
September 17th, 2010 @6:07 pm
Ryan , are you sure you were cranking in the right (left) direction. 1 st time on the British bike one fooled me and made no sense. I went clockwise and it came undone. I believe this was the right side half of bb. @ Fab you never said what part of your brake system failed.
September 17th, 2010 @6:09 pm
I tried to post but my pictures ? it said No action. I tried two times. Ebay pictures loaded no problem.
September 17th, 2010 @6:10 pm
@wsb-I still thro tools and smash shit when dealing with bikes,if I gona kill it I gona kill it REAL GOOD,you know those builds where its all going kosha and just as your putting on the last couple parts…BAM it don’t fit/the spanner slips and scratches the new paint/the nut won’t fit the bolt/you tighten too much and strip the only part you don’t have spares of/and so on…….the joy of building bikes
@fab- I should post my girls blue 70′s chopper just to see if it works and to post something different
September 17th, 2010 @6:13 pm
@WSB-tryed both ways,the proper way first(left)then the other way,which is what I usually do to free up the locked threads abit
September 17th, 2010 @7:35 pm
Ryan, what type of flame, Propane or Acetylene ? I never throw tools but the 8 lb. sledge on the malfunctioning 10 year old 2 cycle chain saw was a wondrous event. I tossed it on top of the trash and in 30 minutes someone grapped it. Aluminum value maybe ? Can you weigh the chopper also.? I recently scraped a 20 inch wheeled trendy dept. store crap bike after removing the pedals, and without the wheels it still weighed 30 pounds ! silly design to look like a motorcycle or something, fat steel tubes. No wonder some kids don’t like to bike.
September 17th, 2010 @8:26 pm
propane and its weight is 30.5Lbs and the frame is 70′s chinese lookalike,I only thro my shitty tools,I have two sets,crap for the average work and top shelf for the new or top qaulity parts/builds,I chopped up my 85 honda prelude with only a sawzall and a cold chisel/small sledgehammer,after removing the doors and sunroof it only took about 4 minutes to cut in half,made me wonder that in a Tbone accident it would be so easy to get ripped in half(scary)
September 17th, 2010 @8:36 pm
a Honda is not a Volvo . Do you see any M.B. Smart cars in N.Z ? they look like bowling balls to me.
September 17th, 2010 @8:45 pm
Yer we got alot actually,mostly old people drive them,and those toyota prius ugly things,nearly got run over as I didnt hear it reversing as I walked past
September 17th, 2010 @11:29 pm
@wsb – I gloriously managed to take two diggers in total that day after a solid few months without gotham taking a piece of my for kicks- it was a particularly slippery day and i forgot my brain in the bed side table. Now I have scraped knees and elbow like a 10 year old.
September 17th, 2010 @11:35 pm
Oh – and after a week of volunteering at my local building bikes, i have to admit that I am getting a serious woody for coaster brakes. For non critical applications of course – but i am thinking that a single speed townie around a coaster brake could be quite cool. Can one run just about any size cog on a coaster brake or do not want too pressure on it?
September 18th, 2010 @5:54 am
I’m keeping the cog down to an 18i just to keep the speed low.Combined with around a 44t or 46t crank should work on a heavy frame.no Land speed records for this old guy.plan to run 27×1 1/4 skinnys(should be great skidders)and only the coaster to keep the bars clean so easy gears should suffice.If you are useing a Shimano type hub gear cogs down to 12t are available.
September 18th, 2010 @5:59 am
I have a coaster two speed kickback Sachs duomatic on a Puch take a part and it is ok but not the feel of togetherness of the fixed. Sloppy riding feel. It will stop no matter the size of cog. It compares to automatic and manual stick shift in cars . I like stick shift and fixed gear.
September 18th, 2010 @6:19 am
yep,not the same but fun in their own way.cheers
September 18th, 2010 @7:27 pm
Guys, I think we need another new message board- this one is almost as long as the old one.
On a side note, I’ve just watched a quite interesting video/ documentary about an english bloke who travelled all round the world to get the parts to build his dream bike. It’s called “Ride of My Life”, on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ride+of+my+life+the+story+of+the+bicycle&aq=4
I was impressed with it, you may like it if you’re passionate about bikes in general
September 18th, 2010 @8:32 pm
@wsb i’m on my third volvo have been in accidents in two (only one of my own) they’re tanks.
September 18th, 2010 @9:11 pm
Yes, even the sales person referred to them as Tanks, I had a couple 74′s a 75 164 and an 80 etc. M.B. also are tanks. Now drive Jap cars, less trouble. They weigh almost the same and seem solid. Cars cost four times as much as in the 70′s and I make half as much. ( I got lazy along the way ) Have not driven a Volvo newer than 87 . Saabs where fun…stick shift four banger with turbo 105 MPH and it had something more but I backed off, old tyres and cops may not appreciate a flying Dutchman in Peoria.
September 18th, 2010 @11:12 pm
yeah the old mercs especially my dad had a ’68 300sel (i think) when i was a kid in that flat green awesome car, my first was a ’85 volvo 240 in almost the same colour wish i still had it.
September 19th, 2010 @11:59 pm
this one started as a $1 no reserve,wish I had some dollars to bid,but I would have put on some 17/18inch chromies with lowpro tyres
@MJ-cool as doco bro
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=317757509
September 20th, 2010 @12:57 am
Now Skoda are part of the VW/AUDI group you can get all that build quality and reliability for 5000 les than the equivalent VW/AUDIS simply because the name Skoda became a bit of a joke. They stuck to the same rear enging layout for years without the ability of Porche to pull it off. Now it’s all front wheel drive or 4 wheel drive systems. They do solid hatchbacks and estates. The Scout range is a slightly raised 4×4 version of the estates, similar to the Volvo xc70 ect. I drive an older 1.8 Octavia hatchback vrs.180bhp,180 tourque. 140mph if pushed, 45 mpg if carefull. Got 3 bikes a dog and a cool box in the back for the trip to Scotland and averaged 37 mpg over 320 miles of A-roads and country lanes.Speed limits were observed(of course officer, ahem) Route 66 from Scotch Corner to Penrith was a dream. For those not in this isle it goes from the noth east of England, over the top of the Pennine hills, to the north west of England. High and barren looking in places. Dramatic looking on an overcast day. I’ll do it again next year. Already looking forward to it. Ha,ha.
September 20th, 2010 @1:33 am
Yer I have seen the new skoda range,bloody nice looking,the closest I got to scotland was wales,Trawsfynydd to be exact,loved it,bloody cold and raining for the month I was there,a bit hellish to ride but snowdonia was awesome,took the train to the top,checked out some slate mines,all in all a nice adventure
September 20th, 2010 @1:35 am
oh and that trip was done in my mums 84 alfa sud,no worries
September 20th, 2010 @3:54 am
speaking of 84,all you guys into cultural comedies with morals and principles chucked in you should watch “BOY” a new movie from here in NZ about a Maori boy growing up in 1984,I thing its on megavideo on the net
September 20th, 2010 @5:59 pm
Is everyone else having problems uploading atm?
On a side note, got a challenge for all speed freaks: set up a 42-17 ratio and spin like a madman. we’re talking spin-out top speed folks.
my current record is 38mph on a flat road (not tried downhill yet), which made my legs feel like jelly afterwards. musta been the fact I was probably spinning at about 200rpm.
Have fun with it guys!
September 20th, 2010 @6:59 pm
I have been waiting (seriously) 3 weeks. How’s this for irony- the Bianchi Brera made bike of the week at NYC Velo (an accomplishment for an off the rack frame) in less time than it took me to post it here!
September 20th, 2010 @7:20 pm
And damn MJ – 38mph on flats with a 42-17 is damn impressive. I don’t think I could manage close to that.
September 20th, 2010 @9:44 pm
I felt I should point something out- my 38mph was achieved on Inconnu ( my lightest bike at 18lbs), runnibg 42-17 fixed brakeless. it was fun but a little scary
September 20th, 2010 @9:47 pm
which bike shall I ride today
http://urbanvelo.org/atlasberg-bike-shop/
September 20th, 2010 @9:49 pm
yes please
http://urbanvelo.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/handsomet6.jpg
September 20th, 2010 @10:59 pm
hey ryan – you tried to upload something as well to no avail right? My emails went unanswered to the address as well so I am thinking that this becoming a losing experience. There are basically no ads – and the list of subscribers can be counted on one hand. I sure hope that’s not the answer.
September 20th, 2010 @11:22 pm
I may have met your record MJ but I unfortunately don’t have a speedometer. Took a friend’s 42-17 out for a spin and spun the sheeeiiiit out of it down some gnarly hills. I’m also tearing up my 48-18, god I love it. There should be some sunshine tomorrow (clasps hands), possibly pictures to come if there’s still a loving admin to take them in and house our insanity. Thanks boys.
September 20th, 2010 @11:28 pm
yer-im thinking maybe the sites only being checked once in awhile but been along time,even tho its limited to what you can do its still a good site and the small amount of regulars makes it more managable to stay in communication altho I would like the recent comments box extended to maybe the last 25 comments as differant time zones around the world mean we have to play catch up with who said what and could miss out in alot of back and forth comms
September 20th, 2010 @11:40 pm
@fab-I think there a lot of peeps look at the pics and vote(judgeing by how many there are)but couldnt be bothered or dont have the time/interest….maybe
September 20th, 2010 @11:47 pm
curious there’s so little function in the Junction.seems that would be a cool place for our various music/lit/art/lifestyle ramblings.
September 21st, 2010 @12:26 am
agree Slo,but has been classed as all things bike related,but not stepping on toes,I think maybe another message board,to keep bike post comments for the bike,if anyone wants to add anything just put MB3 at the end of their comment so we can go to it,that way the comments within the bike post doesnt get too cluttered as we all get a bit side tracked and start going on to other things,who will start MB3?,cos if half a dozen of us post a new MB3 we will get even more confused
September 21st, 2010 @12:57 am
then again,the present mishmash seems more spontaneous and off the cuff.if threads get kind of long-so what?it’s only opinions and babble so lets enjoy I guess.
September 21st, 2010 @1:19 am
all good with me
September 21st, 2010 @8:40 am
I have to agree with the “casual” approach. We aren’t running a business where efficiency counts and comments on bikes are reviewed by judges for a contest. This is a site for bike related fun. So while I agree that maybe we should try to keep things to the message boards, who cares. Let’s just try to keep it fun and easy and light.
–
And Punch – of course you have met MJ’s feat. I bet you even bested it. Hell, what haven’t you done?
September 21st, 2010 @8:44 am
On a totally different note – how about we organize a once-a-quarter my-fixed-gear-regional beer? I can handle the organization of a NYC chapter and it sounds like we have folks in Portland and in the middle of the country. Whattya think?
September 21st, 2010 @9:07 am
A damn fine idea Fab. I’m in San Diego….we have a lot of amazing local breweries.
September 21st, 2010 @10:35 am
I am tempted to list on Ebay and put a high price on it and let this MFG know and if it sell s OK with the high price and build another. That may cost 5 dollars and make shipping high also but I can post on Ebay easier than here. I tried two times and it only said NO Action what ever that means. a 10 dollar one time donation on here does not amount to much and I would rather remain anonymous for the donation. Thanks Ebay MFG here I come. maybe run into Gabe and Luftie again. No offense Luftie whereever you are. 42/17
September 21st, 2010 @12:31 pm
I haven’t done a lot of things Fab. I haven’t raced on a velodrome, owned a geared road bike, built wheels from the ground up, painted a frame, built my own frame, ran a gearing lower than 48-18 on my fixed. I haven’t been to space, driven a Porsche, built my own house, watched every minute of a Super Bowl, been to Paris, been on a cruise or to Hawaii, or been able to teach my son how to ride a bike (yet, too young). I really haven’t done much Fab. What gave you the impression I have?
September 21st, 2010 @12:46 pm
Look dude – I don’t want to get into a tiff with you. I am sorry for my comment. Congrats on being a father. That’s something I haven’t done which I very much look forward to. All the best.
September 21st, 2010 @12:47 pm
And please – btwn friends – you can call me Federico
September 21st, 2010 @12:55 pm
Man – there is something f*cked with voting. There is no way that my Civilian is now a 6.68. And 2 months ago the top of the chart was 6.33 – now it’s 7.63 with the bottom being 6.39? Just not possible. Then again, if people don’t have time to ok bikes that are posted, I doubt they have time to mess with voting.
September 21st, 2010 @1:27 pm
The voting on here is wacked. Sometimes it allows multiple votes on the same bike. I notice it often on newly posted bikes….sometimes 3 or 4 votes before it recognizes it’s coming from the same computer. As much as I’d like to support the “star” system it is flawed. Then of course there are the haters that just one star everything. I remember seeing a comment from one guy who said something like “slammed all the bikes here.. i was bored.”
September 21st, 2010 @1:34 pm
@Fab yer its wierd thats why all I can think of is all lot of people are voting but not commenting,but that doesnt seem logical by the way the voting is going,it seems off i.e some bikes have hundreds of votes but maybe 10 comments,surely there would be more comments,I dont know
September 21st, 2010 @2:14 pm
as for the mfg beer quarterly Im in,prolly only be me an my fixie mate BUT as luck would have it he works in a booze shop….FREE BEER
September 21st, 2010 @2:18 pm
MFGMB#2 is now number 1,Im havin a beer to celebrate
September 21st, 2010 @2:23 pm
@fab-fondriest has 882 votes but only 23 comments? surely theres something up
September 21st, 2010 @2:47 pm
Ryan, did you say “free beer?” I’m coming over right now!!!
September 21st, 2010 @4:36 pm
the odd voting waves are interesting in that they change so arbitrarily.how many times has a personal fav risen one day and then sunk only to arise a week or month later.one vote cast on the first day would stagnate and maybe on further reflection a 5 should be a 9 or a 3.happens to me all the time as I cruise the list.a detail I never saw before,a part description not read in the rush to judge a new post.yes,some counts are crazy but most of us see them for what they are.same with trolls.
September 22nd, 2010 @11:57 am
So guys I stumbled onto another site…maybe you’ve seen it…
There aren’t as many bikes over there…and a few from MFG are there. But it’s a bit more organized…It does need a recent comments section though. I was getting tired of waiting for more bikes to post here…Anyway, if you’re in the mood to comment on some “new” bikes. Same game, different field.
http://yourdailyfixed.com
September 22nd, 2010 @12:50 pm
man my faverites bar is getting full,looks all right,will check it out later
September 22nd, 2010 @2:19 pm
Wow – are giving up on these folks? Wouldn’t be surprising if we were…
–
‘Sup sup – been listening to the MF Doom record you recommended – I really dig it – much more lyrical than musical and took longer to get it on, but I am really diggin it. Thanks!
September 22nd, 2010 @2:32 pm
After going to my-daily-fixed, I must admit – I hope we don’t give up (or are forced to give up) on this site. I like this format much more. And I *hate* change: funny story on that note from when I was a kid in Italy – when my mamma would come back from the hairdresser I would look at her and say “you are not my mamma anymore”!
September 22nd, 2010 @2:55 pm
I wasn’t suggesting we jump ship here….BUT in the event that this site goes down or something happens, I’d like to think there would be a back up plan. I pass valuable work time posting here and don’t know what I’d do without you crazy bastards.
September 22nd, 2010 @3:06 pm
I agree with many people on this thread, adding a message board to this site would be a great addition. I would happily build and host the message board, does anyone know the owner of myfixedgear or if they read the emails coming in on the gmail account?
yourdailyfixed looks okay, but it just hasn’t got the selection of bikes on myfixedgear, also everyone seems to be a bit too polite!
September 22nd, 2010 @10:46 pm
i dont think they read emails but i could be wrong
September 22nd, 2010 @11:43 pm
Im sure I received an email from these guys when I asked to delete my first shit quality posts
September 22nd, 2010 @11:45 pm
daily fixed seems to be a good back up,but only as a last resort,mind you we all communicateing to each other even tho no new posts have come thro
September 23rd, 2010 @2:24 am
@ng-Otto’s dream works would be a good build off comp for Hot wheels build?
September 23rd, 2010 @6:16 am
Your Daily Fixed isn’t bad but it’s definitely not MFG. No recent posts or comments section and unable to click for the next bike on the current page is time consuming. I do, however, like their categories by date, make, and color. That’s helpful when you need inspiration for a particular frame. But I prefer this site and would to hate adapting to something else, especially where hipsters rule supreme (no offense hipsters).
September 23rd, 2010 @8:00 am
I’m glad someone else noticed the “hipster” vibe over there.not very ride oriented,lots of flash bikes and Kool commentary,seem very impressed by themselves.
September 23rd, 2010 @8:09 am
I’ve managed to pickup a near new Bianchi Super Pista Frameset from one of my friends for a pretty good price (due to a disastrous attempt at respray). So I’m thinking new build!
The basis would be getting the frame soda blasted, then polishing it up to a relatively high shine, stenciling out some detailed monotone Yakuza tattoos and then getting a genius air brush guy I know to spray on the tattoos to the frame and fork mostly in black with a few highlight colors.
The airbrushing would end just before the wheel stays to mirror the Yakuza style where they only tattoo up to their wrists and lower necks.
The rest of the bike would be finished in a mix of black and gunmetal grey.
Is this going to far? I’m also concerned that the tattoo thing might be too obvious.
September 23rd, 2010 @8:35 am
yes!my prediction on affordable Pistas seems to becomeing real.re think the tattoo art,it is rsther obvious.the rest sounds cool just try to work in some Celeste(tires,tape,or?)as a nod to EB.
September 23rd, 2010 @10:19 am
@slo: You’re probably right on the tatoo thing, also the Yakuza Tatoo thing would probably make more sense on a all Japanese build. Working in Celeste might be a little difficult with the rest of the colors I have in mind, but probably worth the effort as a nod to EB.
Otherwise your on the money with regards to inexpensive Super Pista’s starting to turn up I’ve seen a couple of relatively inexpensive complete builds with SP frames on CL over the last month.
September 23rd, 2010 @11:24 am
ain’t it cool?a quick look a CList had 5 of them.all around $250-#300 complete.not a bad deal for a good bike.
September 23rd, 2010 @11:27 am
maybe just a Bianchi labeled seat,they are most of them SI and cheap on Ebum.enjoy
September 23rd, 2010 @11:40 am
Ryan, I saw that you, Punch and Fab checked it out…Yea that site is better in some ways than this one…but overall doesn’t have the content or sections as MFG. I saw some nice bikes there though. Yeah that Otto’s bike is nice! Not sure why the brake was on the rear though…my only complaint. I was just hard up for some new bikes to post on…(too much time on my hands at work) I wonder if more ppl visited and commented on that site if they’d make it better. Probably could just email the admin and suggest what it needs. I’ve seen improvements to this one since I found it.
September 23rd, 2010 @12:48 pm
@ng-yer,I went through all the bikes last nite,and alltho there were some nice rides,most looked too flash bastard to me,some looked like they just chucked $$$ at them,we must be unique as the only bikes worthy of my comments,bar a few were ones that you guys also commented on,alot of peoples comments just seemed for lack of a better word…plastic,the site itself is o.k,but missing the vibe,seems a bit too “clever bastard” on the whole (need some prep H) on the comments for me,imo
September 23rd, 2010 @1:09 pm
Yeah Ryan…I agree. Seemed to be a lot of blowin sunshine up each others asses in the comments….or no comments at all on bikes that had hundreds of views. That’s what I love about the crew here. No bullshit, givin each other a pat on the back for everything.
September 23rd, 2010 @1:33 pm
My main problem with your daily fixed is the lack of bikes. Looking at the categories I counted less than 100 bikes total and 4 of them where leaders (nice to see that some of you guys have already made appropriately rude comments).
Otherwise I concur with Ryan and NG way too many flash bastard bikes (I know of what I speak) and plastic/boastful comments with one guy casually mentioning that he owned five custom frames. Puke…
September 23rd, 2010 @1:37 pm
Oh and keeping with the sprit of this board, as I’ve been too agreeable in my last couple of posts, all you guys suck ass for no particular reason.
September 23rd, 2010 @1:57 pm
sucking ass for no reason is the oldest trick in the book apart from ho’s n pro’s,now blow assing is a whole nuther realm
but we won’t go as far as fudge packing,that just wouldnt be cricket,speaking of which,massive match fixing this season on the pro level
September 23rd, 2010 @2:13 pm
new bike on YDF max’s ridley,now this is what I mean,it has a huge lack of attitude,passion,inspiration,its an object to me not a bike,frown $$$ at the LBS,flash bastard,maybe I am getting harsh,or too critical,but its like getting a bog standard lambo or farri and showing it off at a classics,concourse show,I payed more for mine than you did for yours,oh really shall i tell you how much time I spent planning what I wanted,getting the parts,loveingly putting it together MYSELF useing countless hours,that my friend is PRICELESS,so take your store bought junk and be gone ass suck…….(composeing myself as I finish speaking)..woah what happened there
http://yourdailyfixed.com/bikes/maxs-ridley-2/comment-page-1/#comment-4615
September 23rd, 2010 @2:38 pm
just found this guys stuff for sale,Im drooling again
http://www.classicbikeparts.de/xtcommerce/index.php?cat=c12_–VINTAGE-PARTS–.html&XTCsid=449284636b5506fdb1db757090aa1679
September 23rd, 2010 @2:50 pm
nice one bad idea! Any injection of some good drama when we lack new bikes can keep us going for at least a little while.
–
Does anyone here (I once thought Wes did since he had posted the msg boards but I think I am wrong) have any contact or communication with the MyFixedGear.net folks? I am sure a group of us would be more than willing to handle approving bike posts and email accounts. At least more attention than is currently being given. I can imagine the backlog they have is pretty daunting by this point. But I am not sure how to offer help.
September 23rd, 2010 @2:59 pm
how do we post one of Gabe’s rides on YDF?devil’s advocate.
September 23rd, 2010 @3:02 pm
@slom-HA HA copy and paste…copy and paste
September 23rd, 2010 @3:05 pm
Well Im off to work stopping off to swap a wheel for a crank,see ya.
September 23rd, 2010 @8:08 pm
As a side note – Andrew (the owner of NYC Velo) hosted a party today to help kickoff the cross season. While there after I made a nice comment about one, he gave me one of these Felt cup-holders.
–
Check it: http://2009.feltracing.com/09-catalog/parts/accessories-and-extras/09-felt-cafe-coffee-cup-holder.aspx
Looks totally slick on the Brera, next to the bell!
September 23rd, 2010 @11:05 pm
thats a cool cup holder all right
September 23rd, 2010 @11:44 pm
I am increasingly feeling that one can go two ways (well many more really but for the sake of this argument two) with a fixie: track racing machine or urban assault vehicle. This cup holder fits nicely in the latter while employing the looks of the former
September 24th, 2010 @1:00 am
yeaya NEW POSTS
September 24th, 2010 @2:16 pm
@Punch
http://www.macs.co.nz/home/
September 25th, 2010 @3:50 am
LIKE or DISLIKE,kinda in the middle for me
http://urbanvelo.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ldg5.jpg
September 26th, 2010 @7:19 pm
A few things come to mind:
–
1. I am beginning to take my inability to post the Brera on either here, or My Daily Fixed, personally. Screw you guys
–
2. My Daily Fixed could play the roll if absolutely needed but it doesn’t have nearly the following as here. We (slo, ryan, me, punch, etc) are the only comments and there is no background noise.
–
3. @ryan – I have that dude’s stash of vintage Campy parts and started drooling. His prices are out of control – ie a campy seatpost selling at Eur285 that sells on e-bay as new for $60. Shit like that makes you see all the stuff that you don’t inherently know the prices for, in a different light.
September 26th, 2010 @7:23 pm
Oh and @ Punch – after this line, I laughed soooo hard that I swear I will never give you shit again, no matter what the circumstance. You are all my witnesses: “Not interested. These frames are so overrated—huge chunks of aluminum. You kids need to get some grown up frames.”
September 26th, 2010 @8:03 pm
@fab-so he’s selling a campy super record crank for 450.00eur($605us)thanks but no thanks,would they REALLY be worth that much?
September 26th, 2010 @8:32 pm
you can get one new at Competitive Cyclist for $320… SO how much is something sitting in a box for each year worth to you?
September 26th, 2010 @9:12 pm
Just been reading back up this page- makes for an enjoyable read.
@Slo- you ever find out that brit frame manufacturer you mentioned? Maybe a pic link might help, I’ve been researching vintage frames recently as I fancy doing a restoration.
@Fab- do you still have some of the vintage camp components you got in august? I may be interested.
general question: any recommendations for a French bb? I need either cups or sealed for Inconnu. otherwise it’s off to the shop to be rethreaded with the Italian pattern. cheers
September 26th, 2010 @10:29 pm
@fab-a lot of campy stuff is beautiful but nah,dont think its worth what he’s asking unless its a unusual design that had a short manufacture run and looked bloody nice,its interesting to see what people think stuff is worth.I was checking an 80′s dragster bike the other week and it was going for $1 no reserve,I found the same type of bike in same condish going for $200 minimum start somewhere else
September 27th, 2010 @6:01 am
Bit of a warning guys: Gabe is back.
The new ones look ok though, I’m sure you’ll all have comments about them lol
September 27th, 2010 @8:36 am
fedecrib@gmail.com
–
some stuff is still not spoken for but most is. Still expecting another crate or so – drop a line
September 28th, 2010 @3:16 pm
Guys – check out Brick Lane Bike’s new track frame. Reminds me of Richard Sachs’ frames. Absolutely sick if you ask me. I suddenly wish I was in the market for a frame.
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http://bricklanebikes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/new_blb_la_piovra_framesets_25.jpg
September 28th, 2010 @5:47 pm
MJ=best I could dig was Nichols-A???? #4-London.Ovalcheckerboard decal.Union Jack to left side.Sound familiar?pipe tubing,heavy,SA pulley.
October 2nd, 2010 @12:58 pm
hi guys- so I just got some crappy medical news and am going to have to bugger off for 45 days in a hospital where I will not have access to a computer. I leave Monday morning. As such, be well, I’ll log back on when I am back. Enjoy the fall riding weather and shred as many Leaders as possible. If the Brera ever comes up, spare it a kind thought. Be well.
October 2nd, 2010 @1:15 pm
luck to ya.hurry back,I enjoy the voice of reason.
October 2nd, 2010 @4:30 pm
No lap top in the Hospital Fab ? We hope it goes well for you. Get fixed and ride fixed soon.
October 8th, 2010 @1:16 pm
grass no.1,fair comp for hotwheels but how did olmo and rinse get above too?
October 9th, 2010 @1:48 pm
after another drunk night?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbRMyjWe-Yk&feature=player_embedded
October 9th, 2010 @1:50 pm
check out the 2 in 1 dropouts on the red hechins
http://www.hetchins.org/305.htm
October 9th, 2010 @1:57 pm
find the gallery section,you oldskool lovers will be well impressed
October 9th, 2010 @7:27 pm
Multifunctional–but I’ve never found Swiss army knives all that aesthetically pleasing. The lugs, however, are beautiful and intricate.
October 11th, 2010 @8:11 am
anyone else try to post on Daily Fixed site?Twice I’ve tried but no-go yet.Hard to believe Mongrel 3 is not worthy. LOL.San Fran elitism maybe?
October 11th, 2010 @10:01 am
My bet Slo is that due to lack of activity the guy who runs that site rarely checks in.
October 11th, 2010 @10:31 am
Yes Ryan, I saw that Rinse Out made an appearance in the top 10 the other day. I’m ok with you thinking it’s not worthy comp to Hotwheels..(sniff, sniff)…but please, please don’t speak of Rinse and and those olmos in the same sentence.
October 11th, 2010 @3:12 pm
@NG-ha ha yer bro I know what you mean,and understand,Rinse is on a higher plain,my bad,ol…oops…I mean ‘those other bikes dont come close to Rinse and glad it gets in the top 10,these ratings go crazy sometimes,I see skeets on top…wtf eh?
October 12th, 2010 @12:46 pm
Anyone going to the SF bike Expo? It would be cool to put a few faces to names. I’ll be there with my company Enki Sports (just look for the bright red tent like structure). We’ll likely be using a couple of my builds as demo bikes.
Perhaps we could arrange a ride post show?
October 12th, 2010 @1:14 pm
Haha Ryan, I was just bustin your balls about Rinse Out. But thank u… As for it being mentioned in the same breath as olmos, I came close to crying in my beer.
Cheers.
October 13th, 2010 @12:16 am
ha ha NG,ya bikes shit,get a haircut and a real job ya hippy…..na just bustin your chops bro,dig your artwork,I been lazy for awhile now,gona start paintin some more skateboard decks soon,I got Dropbox but havnt used it properly,when I do I will put some stuff on there
October 14th, 2010 @9:47 am
Ryan, I’m lookin forward to seeing some decks. We need to find a better way to share art etc….Are you on Facebook? I’ve got some new artwork (bike art) that I don’t want to put on here….but would love to share with you guys. Facebook anyone?
Hey has anyone heard from Fab? He posted about goin into the hospital, left his email a ways up the msg board here. I emailed him but haven’t heard back. Hope he’s ok.
October 14th, 2010 @7:11 pm
Okay, so perhaps I’m being a dick, but why are people posting factory made stock bicycles on this site?
I don’t want to sound elitist but the two latest Masi posts are almost completely pointless. If I want to look at a stock Masi then I’ll visit the Masi website.
More RKDN’s please!
October 15th, 2010 @1:34 am
@NG-Im not into myface sort of sites,I mite add an art section to my FlickR page,yer I will do that,and I will start a new board tommorow I think,I posted my FlickR page on here,scroll up to about august 27
October 15th, 2010 @3:46 am
Cheers for the shout, Mr Idea. I’m itching to upgrade RKDN, but funds are drying up. If any of you kids does want to put a face to a name, add me on Facefuck. Jamie Elfman. There’s only one of me, so I’m easy to find. Just let me know your online name so I know who’s who. Could be good to get to know some kids for next time travel mooching opportunities… Jokes.
October 15th, 2010 @9:30 am
Ryan, I’m not really into those sites either. But I recently broke down and accepted the undeniable fact that I can only run from “it” for so long. Anyway, I’ve never twatted on twitter, never will and will continue to resist as much of “it” as possible. I’ll check in on ur FlickR.
October 15th, 2010 @10:32 am
Twatted on Twitter, I like that. facebook about the same, not for me to open to the world. Fab must have a serious trtmt. for 45 days and no computer access ?
October 15th, 2010 @1:28 pm
@wooden-yer wonder what it could be if your not allowed a puda,sometimes I dont get to pay internet fees quik enuff and get shutdown (think thats gona be soon)so I use my phone to go on net,wonder if he allowed a phone even?
October 18th, 2010 @9:38 pm
@ NG-found my skate deckfotos,just need to find my old harddrive for my graf pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/endlesschain/sets/72157625195385042/
October 19th, 2010 @9:34 am
Ryan, I dig your style. Classic Old School with a modern twist is my first impression of the deck. Love the tattoo gun and the masks. I don’t know what’s popular in NZ right now but the Old School tats are very popular here in San Diego now…I see a lot of ppl getting’m done. I guess it’s like anything else though….it all goes in circles. I’d like to see more work. Definitely like to see your graf. Did your buddy hang this in his shop?
October 19th, 2010 @11:58 pm
@NG-yer he was way pleased,he put it up real quik,he works out of home as most artists do here as traveling is a big part of the bussiness plus saves renting a place(cost a fortune at the moment)our Ta Moko(native maori tattoos)is very popular at home and international,alot of tourist’s get kirituhi which is like ta Moko but has no meaning or identity,Ta Moko is for maori people only,and designs incorerate family history or a life story and also repusents where thay are from depending on design and is tapu (sacred) to maori,it goes pretty deep,but apart from that western tattooing is very broad from oldskool to artistic madness to your average mainstream stuff
October 20th, 2010 @9:43 am
Very cool Ryan. Man I wish I had the extra cash for more ink right now. Hope to see some more work soon. Lookin forward to you graf stuff.
October 20th, 2010 @12:12 pm
for sure on needin more ink,I got plenty of real estate to fill up ha ha,I got some of my work on some fotos somewhere too so when I find them i will scan em in and put on flickr,I will be putting stuff on there randomly with allsorts so give it a check now and then.
October 20th, 2010 @12:57 pm
Ryan,put you website on next time you submit so it goes from your gravitar.nice to see other sides of regs.
October 20th, 2010 @10:27 pm
will do,Slo cheers for that
October 21st, 2010 @1:48 pm
Hey guys…I’m looking to buy a Shimano 600-Arabesque crankset in silver.. 170mm or 172.5
If anyone has one or sees one for sale, please let me know. I’ve looked online and no luck so far. Thanks.
October 24th, 2010 @1:44 pm
Heres the site that cherryliner is on,I would say I like 70% of whats on here,if you like oldskool/ratbikes/cruisers this is for you if you aint into them…well…just have a look anyway you may like what you see
http://www.ratrodbikes.com/?page_id=30
October 24th, 2010 @3:23 pm
some of those are so cool looking.been thru the klunker wars so know how poorly most of them ride.Having said that,why isn’t there a modern frame builder making curved top tube and tanker style frames?Modern tubing would keep the ride reasonable and you could fit modern wheels ect.and CF forks.Retro looks with modern works.Imagine an aluminum Phantom tanker frame with 700 wheels(coaster?)Brooks,track drops,brake free(coaster remember)at about 19 lbs.The main problem with Klunkers is they weigh a ton,same as they did back in the day.also parts compatability means you are stuck with crap parts so at the end of the day you are pushing 30+ lbs. up the hills which ruins it for me.Why do you think the original Mt.Tam MTBers were downhill?
October 24th, 2010 @9:31 pm
Some hipster 8th grade kid I know (Dolan, front white aerospoke, no breaks), asked me if H+SON is better than my Campagnolo Vento’s. What should I tell him? haha
October 24th, 2010 @9:31 pm
wups, brakes*
October 29th, 2010 @12:54 pm
this is cool if your living space has wooden furnature/shelves/bookcases etc.
http://knifeandsaw.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/ash-bike-shelf/exif_jpeg_picture-2/
October 29th, 2010 @1:46 pm
hay all you car drifters and enfuze-ists,check out a little new zealand drifting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joEHPtROiqI&feature=related
November 2nd, 2010 @3:25 am
freaky but I love it
http://vimeo.com/16148446
November 3rd, 2010 @11:23 am
haha wes! that picture was taken right by burger king and my old house
November 9th, 2010 @12:45 am
BMX is ever evolving,this trick is cool,shame he didnt land it properly
http://fixacwb.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/gcq0r.gif
November 9th, 2010 @4:22 pm
how you doing adrian? heard you got hit. and your voice is higher than….. might i say justin bieber?
November 12th, 2010 @12:50 pm
oh im too cool for helmets,I have a headbag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Oud3iGXWY&feature=player_embedded
November 12th, 2010 @4:42 pm
@NG-added my daughters longboard
theres a sneak peek at my next post “BARE BONES”
November 18th, 2010 @1:53 am
well not a good week for new zealand 5 cyclist died in five days from accidents
http://www.3news.co.nz/Cyclist-road-toll-at-five-for-the-week/tabid/309/articleID/186893/Default.aspx
November 18th, 2010 @2:06 am
tamaki drive,prolly nz’s most dangerous stretch of road
http://www.3news.co.nz/A-cyclists-eye-view-of-Tamaki-Dr/tabid/367/articleID/186877/Default.aspx
November 19th, 2010 @6:01 am
top ten is looking pretty tasty lately.Hope it doesn’t get too good or I’ll be forced to stop complaining.like that would happen
November 19th, 2010 @6:14 am
Sloman, with your use of drops , drops and more droops, has your back taken on the shape of drops as well ? I have settled with flat bars or North Road on some oldies or Noah’s arc with the slight back sweep. Did you get the coaster cruiser laced up yet ? Gotta go with Huffy or Schwinn or J.C. Higgins for sheer dorkiness. Is recumbent on the horizon ? Hopefully only by choice not need. enjoy the beach old boy.
November 19th, 2010 @6:40 am
wheelset is laced and looking for a frame. had several near misses but chainline or conversion sizing re;rear wheel .Where are those affordable Pista frames when you need them?Pulled an old Schwinn MTB frame off the pile and have been cutting and shaving the stuck post and brake mounts off.Sure would be ugly(It had assymetrical seat stays and 1 1/4 fork tube!)I might weld in track ends if the shave ever gets done. Rather do an old Bianchi or Pista but tuff times,small budget.And drops keep you limber.cheers
November 19th, 2010 @3:12 pm
I may put the drops made with alloy on my 70′s Raleigh (made by Gazelle under Ral. license in Holland) just to have one bike with drops. They do look good even if the neck takes a beating. Thanks
November 19th, 2010 @5:04 pm
stick with it,practice makes perfect.
November 24th, 2010 @3:00 am
yes please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPFrww6zdA&feature=player_embedded
November 24th, 2010 @10:35 am
Haha.. Ryan I saw that on Bikesnob the other day. I guess the only problem would be if someone else came and raised their bike under yours.
November 24th, 2010 @10:49 am
Wood, I went out for 30 miles the other day. Just before the ride I had the urge to switch from my riser to my drop bar…thinking I’d want more hand positions. I wish I hadn’t switched. I’m still surprised how comfortable risers are even with basically one hand position. Riser is back on and will stay. I know a lot of ppl rag on risers and I never thought I’d prefer them to drops. But now I understand why they’re so popular. I know Sloman would shudder at this… but riser bar with Ourys is the most comfy I’ve ever ridden.
November 24th, 2010 @11:49 am
@NG-yer then there would be battles over who owns the posts
“dis ma post bro!…nah fuck homes dis ma post bearch….oh yer? come git some if you tink yo cun take id fool…..shit aint no thing but a chicken wing bleed”or sumink like that,did you check out my girls longboard,and the frame I half done? I got some more boards in the sketch faze too
November 24th, 2010 @11:56 am
all I’ve ever meant was drops work here,for me,at this time. No Draconian rants. Lots of wind here by the beach so aero is important so deep Vs are out for me too.If risers work ,use them.Drops are still better looking if not practical for all.cheers
November 24th, 2010 @12:04 pm
ryan b,nice look on that frame,any plans for a full buildup? Would be quite a challenge,line between clunker look and art bike but useable. What frame is it? Coaster brake would be one way to go.no cable clutter in the wat of the art.cheers
November 24th, 2010 @12:07 pm
Slo, I wasn’t beefin w/you. I agree drops look sexiest and get you nice and low. I was just reflecting on how much less comfortable my ride ended up being after switching. I was surprised.
November 24th, 2010 @12:09 pm
Ryan, I tried to find. Where did you posted it?
November 24th, 2010 @12:12 pm
just click on my “RyanB” name
and also just watched this plane crash,its funny as
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP4OxDP332U
November 25th, 2010 @5:32 am
Happy Thanksgiving from one turkey to you all.enjoy.
November 26th, 2010 @2:55 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDqUKj1GwJY&feature=player_embedded
December 4th, 2010 @10:24 pm
@wsb-did you get the second lot of stickers I sent?
December 4th, 2010 @10:35 pm
Yes Ryan I got the New Zeeland stickers, thanks. I have not put them on the bike yet buy will after a little respray this spring. Would you like stickers from my part of the USA ? Thanks Ed
December 4th, 2010 @10:50 pm
yer that would be cool my friend
December 21st, 2010 @5:19 pm
Punch missing again?
December 21st, 2010 @7:50 pm
Gone but not forgotten. He will be back I think.
December 21st, 2010 @10:04 pm
hope so,keeps us honest.cheers
December 24th, 2010 @1:17 pm
MEEERRRRRYYYY freakin CCHHHRRIIISSSMMMAAASSS ery one,Im chillin wid my family,its time to chill for one day without the drama of life,pause and reflect for those less fortunate than ourselves,even if you aint into xmas
December 24th, 2010 @3:08 pm
Likewise to ya all,enjoy
January 1st, 2011 @4:40 pm
as an idea of where we are all located and for future hookups/referance how about a “Origins” post,just put up country,town who you are,maybe just the basics,yes?/no?
if a good idea I will start it after say 10 yes votes?
January 1st, 2011 @5:23 pm
OK with me, Ed in Elgin Illinois, worked on a Raleigh Twenty white folder today which I picked up on Ebay from Miami. 46/14 with Continental reflective tyres 37/406 . Put in 8 hours on it today and the time flew by. 6 hours before that. It had no front wheel and a Sturmey archer 3 speed hub on a badly rusted chromed steel rear. Rear brake cable needed maybe 55 lbs. of pulling force to yank out of the housing. no front cable but both Altenburger levers where there. No saddle but the chrome post was there etc. Had a 50/406 front tyre which does not fit in the narrow fork,hence no paint on inside of fork where tyre used to rub. Some fool messed with it, maybe I am a fool for buying it but it is fun. Put a dyno Sturmey Archer steel wheel up front with the generator and powered a square shaped headlite off a 76 Schwinn freebie 10 speed, bulb still worked and rode it home tonight. Ryan, I can not read your handwriting well enough to send you some bike related things. Thanks Ed.
January 1st, 2011 @8:18 pm
might as well do it here I guess,so if you wana check where we all at just look from jan 1/1/11 on this post.
well I am Ryan from Whangarei(north of the north island),New Zealand.in the maori language New Zealand is called “aotearoa” a.k.a “the land of the long white cloud”.born in NZ,grow up/educated till my late teens in england lived in u.s.a couple of years and back to NZ in 1991,I am a bike freak,mainly build bikes for pleasure and some extra bread and milk money(will be posting my “BareBones”drillium build soon)I am into all the bike genre’s but this hipster thing is hopefully a fade,sorry to all hipsters but I just cant dig it,click on my username to check out my random flickr page,cheers. RIDE STRONG,RIDE SAFE,RIDE TO LIVE TO RIDE.
January 28th, 2011 @1:51 pm
Barnacle Bob and Univega numbers one and two!Aagghh-the shame!!LOL. Ya’all crack me up.
January 28th, 2011 @2:10 pm
I hear you Slo. I gave up on the ratings a while ago. Too many flaws with it. And it’s too bad since the best bikes on here are never in the top ten where they’d be seen and would help those in need of inspiration and guidance for their builds.
January 28th, 2011 @3:27 pm
checking out the top ten will still give a good representation of styles though.The top spots are a trip.
February 3rd, 2011 @8:07 pm
Wheres my updated photos at? I need to speak to the manager… LOL
February 3rd, 2011 @11:14 pm
What pics? You posted your bike again, Anthony?
February 5th, 2011 @11:29 am
I posted an update to no avail? Anyways just reposted it, i’m thinking it was my computer. LOL sorry
Repost at the time of this msg.
February 10th, 2011 @11:12 am
myalottaMiyatasgotintoptenlately
February 10th, 2011 @5:58 pm
….so 4 corona’s later and some cog’s,broken fork and a piece of wood,I made a stem stand……who the hell wants a stem stand…I guess I did……after 4 corona’s remember,I just cant leave shit alone
,at the moment it is mounted on the wall using a couple pieces of 2×4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/endlesschain/5434422101/in/photostream/
February 12th, 2011 @2:01 am
Gentlemen,
I was at a bar last night and I saw this music video where a bunch of people were dressed up riding around on fixed gears doin tricks and shit. The song was Kings & Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars. Have any of you seen this video? The song is actually not that bad. It was kinda crazy though I was all into it and shit and then all of a sudden this dude gets NAILED by a sedan… kinda scary to see it even if it wasn’t real.
Heres a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A
Alright thats it, Later.
February 12th, 2011 @11:13 pm
It always amazes me how a bicycle that was here before the car is here and always will be everafter,still takes second freakin place in the mind of alot of drivers and pedestrians minds yet hardly any pedestrians get hit from cyclist and apart from a 1 in a trillion case no cyclist has crashed into a car and killed the driver,the local paper done a survey and most said it was too dangerous to ride a bike,wonder how many doing the survey actually ride a bike?
February 13th, 2011 @9:04 am
when all bikes had to share road with were other bikes,cool. share with autos,less cool. share with drivers talking,texting,yanking ect,less cool still.cars trump bikes(and motorcycles),pickups trump cars,big trucks trump pick ups.Laws of mass can’t be changed.Size does matter.Not right but true.Be careful out there.
February 13th, 2011 @11:53 pm
@SLO-true dat bro.
February 14th, 2011 @12:30 am
So what did we learn from this kids? Fuck Cars. Ride your damn bike… or sail you boat.
Sorry, I just threw sailing in there becasue that is my other passion.
Anyone else a sailor?
February 14th, 2011 @7:13 am
I use my bike almost every day to get to work, have not used the wooden canoe in 4 years. I love being in a small boat but too much grass to cut and cars to wash and marriage changes things. Two kids etc. Love the bike and it is a great commuter rain or shine or snow.
February 14th, 2011 @1:19 pm
I have friends that are so car orientated that when shit hits the fan and they dont have a car they would rather walk for an hour (hour & a half for the fatties)rather than borrow my bike and get there in 20-25mins,and the ones that do give in dont want to use one of my spare helmets(usually buy on auction sites if for only couple o dollars and not cracked,always could do with some spares),my sis in law stayed at mine for awhile,the shops are 5mins away and she wouldnt walk that far,……mentalness,just plain mentalness!,as a positive bike month in nz here is going well,we have a bike to work day where you can stop off at the local library for free breakfast and coffee and companies can enter a compition for the most staff from a company to win prizes,also is the mayoral cycle challenge where mayors from large towns and cities have a fun ride and there is compation between district mayors to see how many cyclists join them in the fun rides
February 14th, 2011 @10:54 pm
NZ sounds great Ryan.
The Japanese are really good about biking as well. I know in Tokyo that have bike to work days and things like that. Here in Okinawa people just ride. It doesn’t matter about age, trying to look cool, guys, girls, etc. Shit there is a 80+ year old woman in my village that rides everyday on her tricycle.. AND IT’S A BRAKELESS FIXED GEAR TRICYCLE TOO!!! .. Nah I’m kidding about the brakeless fixie part.. but she really does ride everyday.