Happy US Thanksgiving

I hope all you good people south of our border have a great day with family and friends. Life is Good. Peace.

For those who don't regularly check FGG

you missed this one today. Dude uses a steering wheel on his bike. Apparently they feel like a set of narrow bullhorns. While I don't think I'd ever do this and I don't necessarily think it's a great idea, I do like it. To me it represents someone who thinks a little differently about bicycles and what they are. It's thinking like this that keeps bicycle design progressing. Or at least gives us some weird art bikes to look at.

Folding Handlebars

Here's an interesting concept. Handle bars that fold in for ease of storage, and security. Yup, the clever folks designing this had a good idea and then took it one step farther. While folded in, they lock! Obviously this doesn't constitute as bike security on it's own, but definitely another step if you have to store your bike in a place where bike theft is likely.

These would be great on a S/S or fixed gear city bike.

Dyno hub finally mounted

Not my permanent solution. I think I'll be building a front rack to incorporate a mount for the E6, but you know how it is when you've got something that can go on your bike just sitting there, not on yet. Can't wait. I had to try it out. I went for a short spin last night and the 3W E6 with the Shimano DH-3N72 is a great combination. I opted to run just the front light off the generator hub. That way I could get a 3W up front instead of a 2.3W, and I think that it would be hard to find a rear light as effective as the Superflash. With the great battery life of the superflash, I don't mind carrying one spare set of batteries for my rear light on extended trips. Good front lighting is far more difficult to achive with batteries on long rides. My first impression is that I do need to mount the light in a different location. The light pattern is very square (which is a good thing - there seems to be little "wasted light" with this pattern) but I think for it to be effective, it needs to be a little farther from the ground.

Based on my short test run I'm very impressed with the light output and this will certainly be the only front light needed. I may mount a front flasher to help in heavy traffic or city riding, but for out on the highway and as a light to see where I am going, this is the solution.

I spaced the light out from the fork with a 20mm chain right bolt and a small washer to protect the paint. It holds it out from the fork blade just enough so the housing of the light doesn't touch the fork blade. Again, not the final mounting solution, but it did satisfy my need to try this light and dyno-hub out.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Makes for a very fun evening with small children!

Who knew?

Wald baskets were so darn handy? I’ve had this little one sitting in my garage for several months now, and wanting to do something with it, I slapped it on my Sekine grocery/Lions meeting bike. First task. 1 can of chick peas for some hummus. Mmm hummus. (my wonder wife makes amazing hummus!)

I think that for city bikes, general commuter and errand bikes, the Wald baskets would be very hard to beat. Keep a few bungee cords lashed on and your ready for all sorts of loads. These chick peas didn’t even rattle around. Neat.

The coolest thing I've seen in while

I was driving home last night, around 5:30 and about 1 mile from Rockyford when I saw the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. Still unconfirmed, but most likely a meteor. I was actually looking at the sky (I always look in the sky when I'm driving. I see some of the most spectacular sights up there) and I saw the whole thing.

The sky above the clouds all of a sudden became bright orange and it looked just like lightning. Except it was orange. Then the whole landscape was as bright as day light and the fire ball dropped from the sky. It had a tail of fire and smoke that must have been several kilometers long. The whole issue lasted but a few seconds, but seemed to be in slow motion.

I was incredibly lucky to be looking exactly where it happened, right before it happened, and I didn't miss a single bit of it. Wow. Incredible.

With the size and the brightness of it, I know it wasn't anything man made.

Just as soon as quickly as it started, it ended and the world was dark again.

My wife and I were gathering with some friends last night and I told them about this. They all told me to lay of the liquor at work. Now, the search for it's landing location is underway and camera's are being searched all over the area for additional footage.

What a cool way to end a day.

Here is a video from Edmonton (I was about 300kms closer than where this video was taken) that sort of shows the splendor of this event.



I had my DLSR sitting on the seat beside me, and my tripod in the trunk, but even if I was taking a night sky photo (the reason I was looking up in the first place) I think it would have been next to impossible to photograph this event. But that was the first thing that went through my mind after it happened. If only......

Miyata is getting a new life

Willy received the Miyata 1000LT frame that I sold him. He sent me an email saying that it arrived and let me know what he had planned for the bike.

He's going to tag right into it, strip it down and powder-coat the frame.Then, he'll be building it up as a 650b.

I've been very interested in 650b bikes and I'm stoked to hear how this conversion progresses. Willy is going to send some pictures my way of the completed bike and I'll be sure to post them here.

Dyno hub arrives!

an origional quote

Have passion in your life, about your life.

-Jeremy Goertz-

1st Snow

First snow of the year here in the big R. I ran 10 great miles today. Running in cold snowy weather is my favorite type of running.

Molly had her first experience with snow. It was funny to see her constantly jumping when I let her out of the garage. Now though, I think she likes it.

LHT Out and About

DIY Ubber Bright Head Light

Found over at instructibles. Capable of over 500 lumens (that equivalent to a 45W Halogen light) and can be made for under $50! Interesting indeed. Here's a link to LED Supply. I think they'll probably have what I need to make a light that will work with my 6V Dyno hub that I have on order.

The memory of the bikes gone by

I was reflecting today on the bikes I've owned in the past. Some of them I wish I still had, some I'm glad to have sold, but I'm glad that I was able to own every single one of them, regardless of how long they were in my possession.

The list of bikes I've owned will continue to grow as time goes on, and the above listing is not every single bike that I've sold.

I still have 6 bikes and 4 frames in my garage, but the above pictures are bikes that I no longer own. What's more interesting is that I've sold all of the above bikes in the past year with the exception of the red and white fixed mountain bike (1st photo). That one went to a dude in Tennessee (if I remember correctly) who bought it for playing bike polo.

The more bikes I ride, the more about bikes I learn.

Give me education!

Fixie gets some brakes

Not installed yet, but they showed up in the mail today. While I know they're not the greatest, they were a deal for only $15 on eBay. It'll give me a nice chance to ride the fixie with a front brake and see what it's like.

I'll also change gearing down a bit and install some 42 width tires with tread I've got kicking around the garage. Call it the winter conversion.

Cluster

The massive gearing range of the LHT. Bring on the mountains!

LHT spotted in Great Falls

I'm enjoying an uber long weekend right now. Sitting by the pool, recovering the mornings shopping.

Two days ago while outside of Scheels (my favorite store in Great Falls) I saw this LHT sitting patiently in the rain.

It made me think about my bike sitting patiently at home. I miss my bike.

We are having such a blast here and this little 5 night get away is just what the doctor ordered. I've sent a few emails, made a few calls, but was able to get enough done before I left (it only took 2 weeks of 14hr days) that I'm pretty much out of the picture as far as work goes. The 4 phone calls and 7 emails I've sent have been done pool side and while sipping either a Fat Tire or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Not really not all that bad.

Electra is getting the picture

I own an Electra Rockabilly Boogy and my wife rides a June. They are great bikes, but designed for light recreational riding. They are a great way to get out and enjoy a summer evening or for zipping down to the local coffee shop for refreshments.

I've commuted on my RBB a time or two, but you're stuck having whatever it is you're carrying strapped to your body in one form or another.

Here is a sneak picture of what Electra might be releasing in 2009. Stylish and functional. Disc brakes? 8 speeds? Porteur rack? I think they're getting it.

You've got Mail

What you do will eventually catch up to you. Good or Bad. Some call it Karma, I call it consequence. Call it what you will, it's the way things work.

I was reading Victors blog and I noticed a post he had where he was asking if anyone knew where to find a head badge for an Apollo restoration project he had going. I've got an Apollo lying up in the rafters in my garage that I've been saving for a project of my own. My project however is a simple beater/gravel bike. I didn't need the head badge, so I drilled it out and mailed it to Victor. He got the head badge and thanked me and I thought that was the end of it. Today in the mail I received a package from Victor. Victor is a professional musician and he was kind enough to thank me by sending me a copy of his 1998 album, HUSH MONEY. I listened it all afternoon at work and I'm glad to have it in my collection. Thanks so much Victor, I most certainly enjoy and appreciate it. Also in the Mail today was my prize for a very difficult intellectual contest that Craig had going. I think it was to find out who was the smartest person on earth or something, I didn't really read the rules too closely. Anyway, I won! First I received a delivery of swag and in it was a note stating that indeed, I won the smartest person in the world contest and my grand prize was on it's way! Today, I opened it up and was pleasantly surprised to find my very own Vassago T-shirt! "bikes are effin cool" it says and hey, I can't argue that. Thanks so much Craig and also thanks Misty and Vassago for helping Craig answer the impossible questions, "who is the smartest person on earth." Or whatever that contest was about. (the preceding may have been altered slightly however some of the facts are based on an actual contest)

Now, check out these shots. Who's bad in a Vassago shirt baby?

Peace.

Stupid Kids

They deserve their injuries.

Therapy

Work is incredibly hectic right now. I've got 7 projects on my plate, 2 of which involve the most notoriously difficult consultants in the business to please, and I'm behind on just about everything I'm involved in. Start work at 6, bringing work home now and then, and still not getting on top of it all. I haven't logged 5 miles on my new LHT for Pete's sake.

At the beginning of the day, I'm tired, but productive. The first 2 hours in the office before anyone else gets in are really nice, but by the time 5 o'clock comes around and I start thinking about packing up for the day, I'm thoroughly spent. My driving is slow (often below the speed limit) and I generally feel like I have nothing left in the tank.

One would think that getting home to a house with 3 kids would be the straw that breaks the camels back wouldn't one?

It's completely opposite.

After a few minutes of hanging with my family in the kitchen while my wife finishes cooking supper (an amazing cook my wife) I'm feeling better already. As soon as I walk in the door, my two boys literally run to me everyday for a hug. I can make their face light up with the first glance they have of me through the glass pane door in our boot room.

Supper is a great time. We all talk about our day, get back in touch with each other again, and it seems we laugh a lot. Much of it has to do with listening to my youngest son repeat everything the rest of us say. The only way we can easily discern what he is saying is because he is repeating what we're saying.

After supper, I generally clean up and load the dishwasher. My wife will enjoy a bit of down time as it's her first break from the kids all day. The boys usually help me with the dishes, and they are learning to do the dishes. Well on their way to taking over the task. They don't know that though.

Once dishes are all cleared up, it gets loud. That's the time when the boys and I wrestle. Everything from foam sword fighting, to rolling from one end of the house to another while clasping the "vicitm" tight to my chest. We chase each other while roaring like lions, and play throw the kid across the living room onto the leather sofa. The one that's the hardest on me is horse. I prefer it when I'm simply a nice riding horse, but sometimes they want a bucking horse. It's worse when we play in the living room on the hardwood and I definately prefer it upstairs in their carpeted bedroom.

I've learned that children do not sleep well right after this type of exercise. So, we usually settle the evening down by playing a board game. Or playing a board game 5 times. Candyland, snakes and ladders and Caribou. It's fun playing the game, and playing referee, keeping all the "turns" in order.

By the time we take the boys upstairs for prayers and tucking them into bed, I feel good. So good. Relaxed, refreshed and incredibly content and happy. Family is an incredible blessing and every single night I go to bed thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family. I'm in a much better space to talk with my wife and I completely forget the sins of the day and the stress of work.

I can think of nothing else that makes me feel so good and that I enjoy as much as getting home and seeing my family. That is some good Therapy.

3 feet please

I received an email this morning from Joe in Tallahassee Florida, and he has started making cycling jerseys to remind motorists that cyclists need 3 feet of "safe space" while sharing the road. 3ft while passing a cyclist is currently law in 12 states. In Canada, cycling activist are lobbying local government officials to also make it law to give cyclists 3 ft of space. I think one of the biggest benefits of laws like this being passed, is simply the awareness that would be publicized to watch out for cyclist and give them the room they need.

Kudos to Joe for taking action and helping make cycling a little safer for everyone. You can order one of these spiffy jerseys at 3 Feet Please.

Laurel-Lea Shannon, editor of womenscycling.ca has taken some other useful steps (including posting about the 3 ft jersey) and has also done up a form letter that you can use to send to your local government representatives to help form laws that would keep cyclist safer while on the road. We do what we love because we love it. Why not take a little time and make your passion a little safer.

Interesting concept

Osobike. Inexpensive, affordable single speed bike. What I like is the coaster brake on a road frame. Seems like a crazy idea you'd only see born of some dudes garage. Keep the clean lines, simple looks and eye appeal of a fixie, but actually have a brake that doesn't require more effort than pedaling. Cool.

Looks like something that I might have to try. I've probably got parts to build up 3 of these, so I wouldn't' buy one, even with their affordability. On the other hand, do I really need another bike project? With 2 on the go right now (and progressing slowly) it's probably the last thing I need. But, if it keeps me out of trouble.....