an occasional guest spot...

after working this one for maybe 12 months i'm landing a larger audience with the SWOBO crowd.
check-out the new entry at http://www.guyswhocuttheirownhair.com/blog/detail/building_your_own/

achieving 'bike fit'

i have an idea what it means to have a bike that fits and i can tell you, but then somebody would tell me i was wrong. i do know the hazards of improper fit(pain/injury) and the cost of a custom fitting($50).there are likely 3 measurements that are most important

1. arm
2. torso
3. leg

like I said, i am not a bike professional , i know what works for me and i know my body size as it relates to bicycle fit. short legs/long torso/ average arms....complicating factors: swirly spine, and q factor tolerance. i ride a 56 cm road bike, kick the seat back and use a stem of 10 cm or longer, and try to ride a double up front and not a triple. has this evolved over time and will it continue to change, perhaps....but i'm sticking with old school brake levers and downtube shifters on my next build. ya see, i'm not enthralled with the position changes required by 'brifters' or integrated levers and shifters.

i'm 45 and i still can ride in the drops, in fact after my back surgury i asked the surgeon if i was going to need to modify my bicycle position, 'negative, the bent-over curve is actually better for your injury'...so i got that going for me. that said, i'm going to swap out a stem on my long distance touring bicycle right now before tomorrows ride.

loaded for bear...

there is a 105 mile gravel road race next month, the ragnarok 105. This competition is becoming a minnesota classic steeped in viking lore, 'ragnarok' in the sagas signifys the twilight of the gods.

I will be competing in the randonnee` and hope to be among the few making it in just under the time limit of 12 hours(or less). it's going on in Redwing, MN and the surrounding environs, surprising there is no charge for registration, there is also very little outside support, compete at your own risk, said the man.

wish me luck.

fixed gear/single speed conversion...don't try this at home

update 3/14:
this article was intended as a humorous piece, mis-use of language and incorrect usage of the singleator is intentional. i was wondering how long it would take for an astute reader such as tommy gun to catch my 'errors' thanx and have a nice day. the original post date was of course friday the 13th
please consult your local bicycle mechanic before attempting any single speed /fixed gear conversion

find yourself a 700 c freewheel compatible wheel(threaded), buy a sprocket, find an old bottom bracket retainer for use as a 'lock-ring', it won't actually lock(it may 'bind')
get an old school bike frame with semi-horizontal dropouts, or secure yourself a chain tension device such as a surley 'singleator'... strip bicycle down to bb, headset, maybe use stem and handlebars ...oh, and about the seat, you'll want one of those
find the optimum gearing: front ring and rear sprocket; i like 48x16 on the road, 38X16 cx, 2to1 on dirt
put on a front brake caliper and lever
new tires, new chain, new brake shoes
check the chain line
keep chain tension high

ride it into the ground and then build another

http://dmforladcykler.dk/

danish national cargo bike championships
copenhagen april 18, 2009

nice shot, bad subject

i was wondering where the photo would show up. seems hurl is representing MSP on the west coast for swobo. you know that guy can write, and i'm glad he's my friend.

the ladies of bloodline....

a motley crew, but each has it's own charm,

• jamis aurora: set for touring on gravel roads
• bridgestone XO-2: a single track mama
• schwinn le tour: a work in progress(still needs a new outfit) sport touring
• Missing from photo; the meister, parted out in the shop of horrors after a hard season, and still in transition, a vintage peugeot the two will be fighting it out for singlespeed cyclocross honors in the fall
  

2008 bicycling season

22 photos of the local minnesota race scene. somebody hire these guys and force them to take photos of the back of the pack.....like they say 'all business up front, and party in the back'

http://www.rawbeecg.com/photos/bike2008/

wednesday night ride..

...has been re-scheduled to 3 pm on wednesday afternoon. Seems the new team member needs to get the the buffet at 4:30 and falls asleep in front of the televisionary by 7:30 PM.

from copenhaganize.com

Cykelhjelm - Don't Get Scared, Get the Facts from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

end of an era...

and the beginning of a new team.

bicycle racing for the unemployed announces an addition to the roster;
formerly of the chesterfield kings, hailing from pastry shops unknown....