AH, SATURDAY!

Today Hank took a 3 hour nap in his bouncy chair on the back porch while I put down a couple of Coors Banquets and rebuilt this old Free Spirit Townie that I got out of a dumpster.  The whole project was a weird foray into the wacky world of gears.  The biggest challenges were de-rustifying all the chrome and overhauling the badly corroded bottom bracket. I also added new tires and tubes, replaced the chain, and topped it all off with an old crusty Brooks seat that I got from Vic at some point.  It looks downright classy.  I think I'll stick with riding fixed, but this bike looks and feels so sweet that it almost makes me want to keep it... Hopefully it will find a good home somewhere here in SLO.  For now though, it makes a good propaganda piece!

RAIN-PROOF COMMUTE

The rain finally showed up here in SLO this week.  Not that I'm complaining- after a January that felt more like July, we really need some good rain.  Unfortunately, the weather isn't all that great for cycling, and after getting caught in a downpour yesterday two miles from home, I decided to go out and get me a fender.  I picked up a set of plastic fenders made by Planet Bike for $12.00 at CBO, one of our local bike shops.  I got one of the last sets- I guess I wasn't the only guy sick of having a mud line up my back at the end of a commute. The rear fender clips on to the seat post and is secured at the brake bridge with a single bolt.  I didn't mount the front fender; it doesn't seem to be necessary.  I think my bike looks pretty stupid with this big plastic tail, but it keeps my ass dry, and after a little customization, I can live with it until the rain stops.

MY WHIPS

I thought it was high time I posted updated pics of my two main rides, a 1979 Peugeot PS10, and an early 80's Azuki.  Both were built up from old rusty frames off Craigslist.  My wife thinks I'm crazy for owning two fixed gears- she says there's no reason to own two of the same bike.  I keep telling her that one is silver and the other one's black, obviously making them different.  I ride one or the other of these to school (Cal Poly SLO) every day, a round trip of about 5 miles.  It's not a strenuous ride, but it's great exercise and I always look forward to it.

INTRODUCING: HANK THE TANK!

Well, building bikes is one thing; building little humans with perfect pot bellies is quite another.  My wife and I have been working on this one for nine months, and on January 2nd, we finished!  Welcome Henry Willard (aka Hank the Tank)!  Being a father is the most amazing experience of my life, and I can't get enough of it- something I never thought I would say.  I'm already mentally designing his first fixie... maybe for his first birthday!

SIMPLE GREEN **UPDATED!!**

It has been a pretty busy Christmas season in the bike-converting business. This one started life as a Raleigh mountain touring bike circa the early nineties. It was a budget build for my buddy's sister, but I managed to keep the cost at about $100. The back tire needs to be replaced as its side wall exploded during the first ride.  I think I'll add some black Continentals. I will probably also switch out the SR pedals for black mountain-style ones in better condition (see updated pic below!). I'm pretty proud of this paint job, seeing as how I shot it on a rainy day at 48 degrees in the wind.  This is the last of the frames I got from Vic a while back.  Pics:

UPDATED PHOTO!

Before:

CAP'N SHAF'S BLACK DIAMOND

My buddy Cap'n Shaf has been riding an early nineties Diamond Back mountain bike for a long time.  Too long, if you ask me.  So he let me have my way with it, and I rebuilt it as a single speed commuter.  I shot a new paint job, and threw on some sick Geex 26" road tires, terry drops with Cinelli tape, and a new chain.  I overhauled the ailing rear hub, spaced out the freewheel and left only the 15 tooth cog, creating a 38:15 gear ratio.  When i finished I only had one ball bearing left over: not too shabby.  Behold the Black Diamond!

Spaced out 15t SS Freewheel

Before:

OURY, MESA, ZOOM

I thought I'd put up some pics of the newest additions to the Black Plague.  I ditched the 2 pound goose neck stem in favor of a zero-degree Zoom with a removable face plate.  Although I love my Soma pursuit bars, they keep me pretty low and streamlined for around-town riding, so I decided to take advantage of the quick change potential of my new stem and get myself a set of risers.  I went down to the swapmeet this morning and scored brand new black Mesa risers for 3 bucks.  Well, actually $3.22, but the nice old guy at the booth said he'd cut me a deal- lucky me!  I cut them down to 19 3/4" with my trusty Bosch grinder.  I put on some red Oury grips that I got at Art's, and I think the whole setup looks pretty sick.  Now all I need is a straight fork and better balance and i can do bar spins.