Yesterdays Bridge Dedication

Here's the article from the Paul Bunyan Trail Bridge Dedication Yesterday:

                                   

A dedication of the Paul Bunyan Trail bridge was held Wednesday afternoon. Cutting the ribbon were, from left, Courtland Nelson with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Parks and Trails; Jerry Downs, trail advocate, Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji; Lori Dowling, Minnesota DNR, Sen. John Carlson, R-Bemidji; Bemidji Mayor David Larson; Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids; and Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker. Article by:Monte Draper | Bemidji Pioneer

 

I was not able to attend due to a trip i had to take, but it is now official.  Terry McGaughey would be so proud of what has been accomplished with the trail he faught so hard to get completed. God bless him and what he started.  I never had the pleasure of meeting "Mr. Paul Bunyan Trail" (Terry McGaughey), but I think of the 25 years he dedicated to getting this trail completed, and now he may rest in peace knowing that his trail he worked so hard to get, is complete.  He was the best thing that ever happened to the bicycle community, in my oppinion.  It was a sad day when he past of natural causes, in 2010. I hope that one day soon that someone with the compation and energy he had for getting this trail completed, will do the same for the rest of the trails and expand the trails statewide, or even all over the USA, so that bicyclists may get on a bike trail in Bemidji and end up in Texas, New York, or even Califonia, but we need someone that will stand up and do that for the bicycling community.

 

 

Keep on Biking...

Give us three feet

I went for a ride around lake bemidji on sunday evening.  When i got upto where old 71 and county RD 20 meet, the shoulder gets very skinny, just big enough for one bicyclist to ride in.  Afew people did give me the three feet or more, but eh rest of them did not give a crap if they ran me off the road, i can see if your meeting a car or goign around a curve, thats fine, just stay in your lane, but when you have the space to move over, PLEASE MOVE OVER!!!  We as bicyclist are vehicles of the road just as much as cars are.  We have our lanes, and you have yours, and sometimes we share the same lanes, so please, treat us like we are a vehicle of the road.  I wanna thank all the people who do move over for us bicyclist when safely allowable, We as bikers, THANK YOU!!! 

Keep on Biking...

Schwinn Sprint Update

The bike is pieces now.  I took it apart on Friday, and sanded it down to bare metal.  then I primed it and let that dry in the tree outside the shop.  Then when it was dry Jim, (my friend, and Jr. Grease Monkey at Shifting Gears), sanded it down so it was smooth, then we painted it.  All the parts; the frame, the fenders, and the chain guard; are all hanging from the ceiling drying.

Here's the before pic.s:

this is the frame, and below are all the other parts

the fenders, chain guard, and front fork

the pile of parts (it's a little dark, but you get the pic.)

Here's the priming pic.s:

(rear): the front fender

(front): the chain guard

rear fender

and here's the painted pic.s:

the frame

fenders and chain guard

front fork

When I put it back together, I will take more pictures, and post them.  On Tuesday I will be putting the pin stripes on the fenders.  i can't wait to get that done, so i can see what it looks like.  

Keep on Biking...

ReBrit

i just found this cool website of this guy in Madison, Wis., and he restores old American and British bikes.  Check it out if you like old bikes: http://rebrit.com/index.php, i had to let you guys know.

Keep on Biking...

I love Crazy Weather

I love biking in the rain, some people may think i'm crazy for doing it, like in this Yahuda Moon comic.

I love that one, some people think that biking is just for recreation, and that is cool and all, but bikes are also great for commuting back and forth to work, the store, or where ever your going.  I enjoy crazy weather, calm weather is nice, but it can get boring after awhile.

the bubble on the left, says: "Do you need a ride? we can put your bike in the back trunk?" it's a little fuzzy.  This is how i feel every winter when the first snow falls, getting on the bike and making the first set of tracks in the fresh snow.  when i tell people that i bike in the winter, they look at me and say, "are you out of you mind?" and i look back at them and say, "Yes i am but that is besides the point."  I don't get why some people hate the snow and the cold and yet still live here, if you don't like it you don't have to live here.  Us hardy Minnesotans love it.  

i have done that before, i get all that half frozen snow and moisture from your breathe, i helps some times, when you don't want to expose your lips to the cold to get a drink.  Let me know if your a winter biker...    or not...

Keep on Biking...

Comic strips from Yahuda Moon.com

Schwinn Suburban Before Pictures

Here's an update on my restoring project.  I took before pictures of my Schwinn suburban.  Here's some pic.s:

this is from the side

from the front

i like that little bag on the front, i can keep two spare tires in there and some tire levers, and all it is, is an old camera bag i found at goodwill for $0.99.

this is the bottom of the front fender

this is the rear fender, i wasn't able to get a picture of all the rust, i forgot to.  but this is the new color I'm painting it, it has a few dings in the fender, but those will be gone after Friday.  the rust was about a 1/2 - 3/4 inch stripe going from just above the reflector, to about three inches from the brakes. it was bad, and you'll probably be able to see it when we stripe all the paint away.

Top and bottom tube

New color vs. old color

as you can see in this picture there is yellowish pin stripes, i am going to be putting antique cream colored pin stripes on to the fenders when all the rest of the painting is done.

rear of original seat

original GT 100 Schwinn Derailleur

I will be posting pictures of the painting process, next Tuesday.  I will have a lot of them.  I am hoping to have the bike painting finished by the end of next Tuesday.  All the

Timeline:

Friday: Strip of all the old paint, and put on new coat of green.
Tuesday: post painting process pictures, and Put on Pin Stripes.
Thursday: Post finished pictures.


I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as i enjoy showing them to you, can't wait till the bike is ready to be shown off.  Next year i plan on restoring my AMF Nimble, can't wait for that one.  The paint is bubbling up on the fenders and starting to on the frame. 

Restoring an old bike

I have a bike that i'm working on right now, hoping to get it restored soon, It's an old Schwinn Suburban. the rear fender was all rusted, parts of the frame, and the bottom part of the front fender are as well.  I am restoring it to its original colour on the frame, but i'm thinking of painting the fenders cream coloured.  I'm not sure yet, but when i do i'll let you know.  Heres a pic of what kind of bike i'm talking about, this is not my bike it's a picture i got from google.

Although mine is a little bit darker green than this one, but you get the picture.  When i get it finished i will post after pictures, but on thursday i will try and post before pic.s, so you can see the process.  It should be fun.

I also have AMF (by: Roadmaster) Nimble, it's maroon coloured, and i love it, it didn't need much restoring, the paint on the rear fender will need to be scraped off and repainted in a year or two, cuz it's starting to bubble up from the metal.  I plan to keep that one the same colour.  I'll post updated pictures as i restore the bike.

Keep on Biking....

Repair and Prices page Updated

I have updated the Repairs page, all the prices, repairs, and services are on there.  If you need a repair call email me at: thesprocketshop@gmail.com.

Keep on Biking...

What to look for if your tubes keep blowing out.

I have not had the best week.  In the last three days, three tubes have blown out on me in my front tire.  I wondered what would be possible making me tubes blow out like this.  Well I took my tire/tube off last night and low and behold, there was a sharp piece of metal sticking out from the rim.  Now I should have looked after the second tube blow out, but i was in a hurry that day, but if you ever have two tube blow out one after the other like I did, then take you tire off and look at the inside of your rim, take an old cloth and run it on the inside of the rim and if your cloth gets snagged, then you need to file that spot down.  That might be the reason for your blow outs, I know it was with me.  If that is not the case, then give me a call and i can give you some advice, and even meet with you and show some good technics for putting a new tube on.  My email is: dj.bicyclist13@gmail.com, and feel free to email me with any other questions you have.

Whos ready for winter biking? 

I am getting ready for winter biking/commuting.  I'm hopping that the upcoming winter will be like last year.  I really don't want to have to go through a lot of snow, but if we get it i'll be ready.  I'm still researching somethings about winter commuting on a bike, and if i find anything interesting i'll post it here for you to read.  I would love to see more people winter commute, we live in Minnesota and we're used to the cold, why not embrass it, heck it will wake you up faster than that morning cup of coffee. 

Keep on biking...

Tires, Tubes and Rims oh my....

Yesterday i was coming home, and i was about to go over our newly built Bicycle Bridge, and I here POP!!!   I look down and my tube was shredded.  For those of you who don't know what i ride, it's a Ross 10 speed from the mid 1970's, so i'm guessing that the tube was nearly as old as the bike.  I got off my bike and attempted to take it off and patch it at least till i got home, but there was a 3 inch long hole in the tube, there was no way i was going to be able to patch this, and i didn't have a spare, because i had used that earlier that day on the back of my bike.  So I started home and i thought to myself, how many people that bike ride accually know how to change a tire/tube.  I do because I'm a bike repairman, (speaking of a bike repairman check out "Bicycle repairman - Monte Python"  on Youtube, you'll love it.)  If there is anyone that wants to learn how to change a bike tire/tube, let me know, I would love to teach anyone that wants to learn.  Email me at: thesprocketshop@gmail.com. If you tell me that you saw this on my blog, there will be no charge, except if you want a repair kit, that costs $7.50, (it includes a spare tube and a pair of tire levers).  Also put in the subject line "I want to change a tire."

Keep on biking...

I screwed up

I am always telling people to wear a helmet, so that it saves their head if they fall.  And what do i do, i forget to wear mine.  I got on my bike this morning and i went off to college, i got to the school and i locked up my bike and i realized that i had not worn my helmet.  I was so mad at my self, but i guess that goes to show that everyone isn't perfect. 

Everywhere i go, i always see garbage on the sides of the road, or the trails, and it makes me mad to see that.  everytime that i go for a ride, i end up coming home looking like a garbage truck, with a couple bags full of garbage.  I took a trip to montana last year, (not on the bike, although that would have been fun to do), and I went through MN, and when i got out of Fargo, ND, I couldn't believe my eyes. THERE WAS NO TRASH IN THE DITCHES!!!!  I couldn't believe it, what was the difference between MN and ND.  we are right next to each other.  It was like some one drew a line between us and said, ''the trash stops here."  We here in MN need to stop littering our ditches.  it's not healthy for us, the environment, and the animals that live there.  If your looking for a New Years resalution, welp, there ya go, just start doing it about two-three months early.  The earth will thank you.

I took a bike ride around lake bemidji Sunday.  It was such a beautiful day, and the smell of fall was in the air, blowing the falling leaves around, and thats the kind of weather that brings everyone out. When i was going around the lake, i probably saw about, oh i don't even know, there were that many people on the trails, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, etc...  It was paradise for me, I love seeing people out and about, not using their cars to get from point A to point B.  thats boring...   Why not enjoy the ride, smell the air, and feel it in your hair.  "If you can't enjoy the ride, why do it at all." thats my quote, and it's so true. 

Keep on biking...

New Old bike

I bought a white Ross Gran Eurosport 10 speed about three weeks ago and it had the french style handle bars on it.  I can't bend that far over on a bike with out wrenching my back all to heck.  So two nights ago i took the handle bars off and put on the old one speed style bars and it's much better on the back, heres a picture of it.

Isn't it a beauty, i'm going to be putting the same style handlebars on to my winter bike, which is a White TREK 800 antelope 21 speed.  It's been the best winter bike ever.  I just got it working last night.  It wasn't shifting right and the brakes were loose, but I was able to straighten it all out and it's working now.

 I have been working on getting a few bikes for sale, if anyone is interested, leave a comment and i'll get back to you and let you know what i got. 

I biked to class today and I was nice just to kind of be alone, there wasn't that many cars on the road i took, at least till i got to the college.  I love bike along the trails and smelling the trees, water, the fall air with the leaves falling to the ground in front of me, but it's when i get near the city streets that i start gaging from the carbon coming from the cars, thats what i hate. 
If you have a cool picture of your bike, send me a copy to: dj.bicyclist13@gmail.com.  I'd love to see it. Or if you need a bike repair let me know whats wrong and i'll get you back on your bike.

Biking Rant!!!

OK don't get me wrong, cars are nice for getting back and forth quick from place to place, but people take their big SUV's or Hummers out and drive half a mile to get a cup of coffee, then thats what makes me mad. I don't get people like that.  Why waste the gas in any vehicle just to go half a mile, or even across town.  grab your bike, and GO!  Think of the benefits people, I can't tell you how many people i see do that.  uhg....   And on another note people who through things out the window as if the world were a giant trash can.  well think of this people, i no one picked up that trash, ever again, we would be buried so dang deep, that swimming through it wouldn't be an option either.  keep a bag in your car, or put it in the side pockets of your car doors till you get to your destination and then dispose of it the right way.  this is the end of my rant, will post more later.

Day 1

Welcome to the Confessions of a bike-aholic

This is who i am...

My name is Dillon, or DJ as some people call me. I've been riding a RANS recumbent for a little over a month now, and i love it.  my back hasn't felt this good in years, I have a schwinn sprint but it's the french style handlebars, and with my back.  oww...   I'm going to get rid of the current handlebars and switch them out for ones that are like the old style, the kind that look like a wide U shape.  I love those kind, cuz you don't have to wrench your back just to steer it. 

I volunteer at a local non-profit bike shop here where i live, called Shifting Gears.  I've been there for the last 3 going on 4 months now.  I love volunteering there!  I have been trying to get a job at one of the other two local bike shops here in town but they never hire me.  thats why i started volunteering at shifting gears.  I am self taught on most bike repairs, but with the help of Diane, (Owner of Shifting Gears) she has taught me the rest, and i have been building my tool kit.  I still have a long way to go but I'm getting there.

I am in the process of trying to start my own bike shop here as well.  I am still not sure on a name yet, please help me by using the comment section below.  I am not going to be selling new bikes, the prices on new bikes always makes my walet wanna throw up.  Getting used bikes are easy, just by looking in the right places(not by stealing them, I do not like stolen bikes, i had one of mine get ripped off once and still haven't found it.).  the only new things that would be in my shop are parts, accessories, etc...

I am a bike-aholic, and i'm not afraid to admit it. I love biking all year 'round, and yes even in the winter.  You just have to know the right bike to use and the right clothing to wear.  Let me know what your comments are and if your a bike-aholic, i'd love to hear from you, and if you have a bike blog of any sorts put a link to it in your comment and i'll check it out. 

Keep on biking!!!