Author: Rob

Lunch Ride

Lunch time ride to grab a NoseFrida, the little girl has the worst cold yet and this contraption was recommended by a friend.  Works just like you would think, of you have kids under 2 I would recommend one for sure.  Also found a new fabric store while out on the ride.  SuperBuzzy, importer of some very nice and fun looking Japanese fabrics and yarn.  I will be heading back there for sure as time permits.

Sneak Peek

I have been keeping my cards to my chest on this project, but am at the point where I might pop if I do not share this one.  I have been working really hard on this project as of late, a dream come true with persistence and hard work.

Engineering is underway, prototype starting soon with production to follow.  I want this bike, and am confident that more of you out there do too.  This is a bike for riding fast as your legs will take you, or a toodle on a country road.  It will help you eat up the miles on the pave or gravel in comfort and style.

Basics: Frame and fork set with low trail front end geometry for front biased loading, sporty yet stout enough to get the groceries home, room for 42mm tires with 52mm fenders, 700c in the larger sizes and 650b in the smaller, no toe overlap in any size, even sizes from 50-62 cm measured center to center along the seat tube.

Details: Tig welded double butted steel with tube spec balanced to size, standard gauge tubing, investment cast fork crown,  brazeon option for Paul Racer brakes, everything in the right place for easy mounting and good fender line, brazeons for racks and fenders, possible offering custom tube spec for an up-charge, and a Brooks saddle friendly seat tube angle.

MADE IN THE USA!!!

There has finally been a convergence of my plans and a contractor to fulfill them, and things are charging ahead.  the initial run will have tubing from a mix of suppliers, but my long-term dream is to deliver a production sport touring bike made in the USA out of steel made in the USA at a price that is competitive in the open market.

The name??? My first impulse was “Rambler”.  I just like the sound of that.  The second one, sticking with an ocean theme, “Mullet”, it is a fish, not a glamorous fish but the dual meaning – Business up front and party in the rear!!!!  Since I am captain, cook and bottle washer on this ship I still need to get through my trademark search on the name though.

Timeline? I am doing my best to fast track this without cutting corners on things like destructive testing and confirmation of design.  The pre-sale should be ready to go in the next two months with projected delivery in the spring of the coming year.  Those who are keen of eye and have been riding a while may notice I am not re-inventing the wheel here, just bringing something to market that has been gone for quite a while.

Subscribe here, like me on Facebook, do what ever works for you to stay tuned.  I do not think this is something you are going to want to miss out on.

Sunday Standard

It has been a pretty bikey day in spite of the chilly weather. We rode as a family to breakfast the ladies all bundled up against the 40 deg temps.  Then later as it warmed up into the 50s I headed out to the farmer’s market.  Pretty close to perfect, but I should have had something to keep my knees warm.

I know better when it is below 60 or so, but with it being sunny I decided to push it.  The price is not too bad, but they are sore now, and kind of make me feel not so young at the moment.

As part of the efforts to get more motivated with my riding, I decided to track my efforts on the phone with a GPS app.  It still surprises me when the data comes in at 14 mph averages, sitting upright in the wind at least half the trip, on a 20 mile around town loop.  Not to bad for a guy feeling out of shape at the moment riding on a fat tire bike loaded with produce.  We will see how the rest of the week goes.

Closing Out Another Week

Another productive week, more time to get things going with childcare going four days a week, Friday is daddy day.  Fun stuff all day culminating in a ride to the hardware store to work on counting and then off to the beach.  She has fun playing with the other kids, but part of me misses that first year already.

The days are getting shorter still, the time seems to be getting away faster and the motivation to ride has been waning a bit with the cold windy weather.   I am working on a plan to get re-motivated, to ride and make pictures like last winter.  For now just enjoying the day with my little girl as it is coming to a close.

Happy Friday, and be sure to play outside this weekend!