Month: September 2011

Damn Hippies

  • Foggy coastal California town – check!
  • Riding a bike to get around – check!
  • Taking compost to the pile – check!
  • Shipping with a reused box – check!
  • Organic cotton clothes – check!
  • Riding said bike with sandals – check!

The list could go on, but the truth is what it is – Happy Monday!

 

Wendesday Standard – On the S&SUB

Usual run around town this morning.  First longish ride on the Trek.  As the initial impression is taking shape all I can say is that this bike gives a really nice ride with the 650b conversion.  The handling is shockingly precise and smooth for an old beat up bike like this, with heavy frame tubes too.  Big thoughts are forming…

First Panda Poles for Sale

I think many of you are familiar with the shots I am able to get with my pole and GoPro set up.  Almost every fish eye shot of me on my Roadeo in the last 6 months was taken with one of these combinations.

I have started to make these by hand in small batches, and am offering them for sale. 

This example shows the one I use almost daily, with the first two that are available.

They are about 15″ long, custom lengths are available by request.  The handles are 1″ Diameter by 6″ long with shellac to seal them.  The all-thread is 1/4″ 20 and will fit most common camera tripod lugs and or Micro ball head mounts for greater angle control.  I cover the thread with shrink-wrap to protect you and your gear while leaving the end exposed for the jam nut and camera to mount.  Please note that the GoPro housing is there for example and not included.

I would only recommend these for use with light cameras like the GoPro or smaller point and shoot models.  I have tried it with my 3 pound GF1 and it did not go well.  With a little creativity you can capture a variety of angles:

  • Hand held of course
  • The shrink-wrap allows you to hold it in your teeth if needed
  • Stab it into the sand on the side of the road
  • Prop it up in the top of a pole or sign post
  • Stoker on the tandem
  • Toe strap to hold it to a pole or tree

As for how to carry them?  Mine fits well into the frame bag or saddle bag.  For shorter rides I leave it sticking out of my handlebar bag or lay it across the hoods of the brake levers.

Starting price on these is $25 shipped in the US.  Please use the contact page to purchase on while I am getting my shopping cart sorted out.

Thanks – Rob

P.S. I am also starting to re-populate the yard sale page a bit each day.

S&SUB Build and Details

I took some pictures this morning of the bike I threw together over the weekend from parts in the garage.  The Frame is an older Trek 400 sport bike converted to 650b.  By using the smaller rim I could run a fatter cushier tire, and also bring the front end geometry into a range that will handle well with front biased loads.

 

I have a few Trek frames in my garage that I bought off of Craig’s List and they have been hanging from the ceiling for almost 2 years now.  All three have their dents, scratches and other marks of age.  I decided it was high time to do something about it.  The fringe benefit is the fun in building a bike up instead of stripping one down to sell.  With a little planning and 30 minutes here and there I was able to put this together from parts in my bins of spares.

 

About a month ago I picked up a pair of NOS Weinmann 750 brakes, and they pushed me to get this done.  The 750 calipers have just enough reach to get to the 650b rims.  There is plenty of room for the 584×37 Col De La Vie tires, and fenders are in the works.  The wheels are decidedly not S&S, Phils laced to Velocity Dyads, but they belong to my wife and i am “borrowing” them.  I used an old MTB stem, bars and levers that span 20 years of age.  The shifting is handled by a Shimano Deore DX in the rear, Suntour XC high normal front and NOS 105 clamp on DT shifters.  The front rack is the Bruce Gordon (made in Oregon) rack that used to live on my Rawland.  The saddle is an Avocet Touring in pretty good shape.   All of the cables and housings are from my recycle bin.

Initial rides have been unloaded and it handles fantastic.  This will become my around town bike for errands and such.  There are only a few things I hope to change.  The handlebars will be switched out with some Wald 867 bars that are on the way.  I may do something about the saddle, but i tis OK for shortish trips.  I have some newer brake shoes to put on, but the old black blocks have been slowing things down acceptably.  As for fenders, I have an older set of the VO zeppelins that were bought on clearance 3 years ago, and will be re-shaped to work here.

Yes, new bikes are fun, but sometimes the best bike is what you have.  At least for the moment.

Remember – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle

S&SUB First Ride

This has been an interesting week, and for some therapy I went through te garage to help a phoenix rise from the ashes.  You may have heard of the Bridgstone Urban Bike or even Jan Hine’s much more refined GBUB (Grand Bois Urban Bike), I now have my very own S&SUB:

As in Sanford and Son Urban Bike, finally bringing a beater Trek 400 back to life a sa 650B conversion with a fantastic spread of parts from all corners of my garage.  With the Rawland on its way out the door soon as well as a couple of others it was time to press some of the lonely frames back into action.

Initial impressions are pretty good too, this is going to be a fun bike in the stable.