Needed a day like this…

I won’t kid anyone. It’s been slow in February. Slow where you get that nagging voice in the back of your head asking if you “did the right thing?” But then a day like today comes along. And not only because it was okay at the cash register, but because someone comes in who makes […]

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Spring has sprung…

Well, at least for yesterday, today, and, hopefully, tomorrow. Hit the road this morning for a ride up Highway 1 to Marshall – about a 20 mile round trip. Even though I still needed knee warmers, long sleeve base layer with long sleeve jersey, it was a perfect day. Still air. Temperate temperature. Mid-morning, minimal […]

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Chain, chain, chain: Observations on the bicycle chain…

I spend a fair amount of time reading cycling related websites like Cyclingnews, VeloNews, and Bike Radar. It’s my need to want to know what is going on in the world of cycling outside my slice of the 1800’s with cars out here in West Marin. I also want to be able to converse with […]

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What a great day to be closed…

We’ve had spectacular weather here the past 4 or 5 days. Beautiful clear skies. Temps approaching and into the 70s (depending how close to the water you are). Not much wind… So when my wife says yesterday “why don’t you go for a ride.” I know enough to not argue and I’m on my way. […]

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2008 Edition NAHBS…

Well, it’s that time of year again when frame builders from across the lands converge on one common spot to show off what they’ve created. I didn’t choose to go this year. At one point, I was a little bummed I didn’t go – not necessarily for the bikes, but to hang out with old […]

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What’s good about a 4 mile climb…

A four mile descent, duh. I finally got out for a ride this morning. Took the cross bike down to Five Brooks and climbed Stewart Trail to the ridge top and then headed back home. The climb up Stewart trail is a 4.1 mile climb to Fir Top at the top elev. 1324 feet. The […]

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Sheldon Brown…

I’ve visited Sheldon Brown‘s website (I don’t know if what he compiled can be called a website – website seems too small for what he made available to bicycle hounds) hundreds of times. It is such an incredible collection of bicycle history, references, information… I know that Sheldon’s website is the go-to place for just […]

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Parlez vous rollercam…

I don’t know exactly why that oh so influential magazine of the mountain bike so dissed rollercams in the late 80’s, but it seems that once MBA proclaimed they didn’t like the rollercam, manufacturers were afraid to spec it for fear that their bike would get a poor review. That was a prevailing fear among […]

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What’s in the stand today…

This sweet old Otis Guy was in for a triple conversion a while back. It’s here now to get a wee bit taller stem. The problem getting taller stems for these old bikes is that there ain’t a lot of options, especially when the parameters are: 1″ quill and it’s got to be the same […]

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Winter projects…

Okay, January started off slow. But hey, I’m 100% ahead of where I was last January ;-). I figure January is time for personal projects. I’ve got a few bikes that are in need of work and a couple of frames that are in need of building up. So, here’s Project #1. I built this […]

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Fender fun…

This neat old Land Shark was in recently for fenders. Originally, it was just going to get the strap-on fenders front and rear because there was no clearance under the brake calipers for any type of fender. The owner is a hard-core commuter. The strap-on fenders are pretty inadequate if you are riding in any […]

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That was easy…

Some things might seem difficult at first, but in the end are really pretty easy to do. Take my sign for instance. How does a retail establishment get a sign up in the first place? Easy, pick up the phone and call another business who’s specialty is sign making. Give them the design or parameters […]

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