HAPPY NEW YEAR

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  

Cheers to everyone.

See you all in 2013.

Keep on Biking.... in 2013

Royal Pain, but also a classic

About three weeks ago we received some old bikes at the shop and one of them was an old Royal three speed frame.  It was all rusted, the front fork and handlebars were rusted stiff in the head tube, and the bottom bracket wasn’t any better.  So I have been working slowly on it to get it all freed up and working.

 It’s a 27” tire size frame and I’m not sure whether to make it into a one, three, or five speed.  I have a pair of old Sturmey Archer three speed hubs, I would love to build at least one of them into a wheel for this bike and have it as a cruiser bike.

Right now I trying to get the bottom bracket freed up, I was able to get the bottom bracket out and the crank arms off, but one of the bracket caps won’t come off, I think its rusted in there.  I have been soaking it with Tri-Flo oil, and Liquid Wrench Penetrating oil, and so far I haven’t been able to get to come off.  My goal is to install a sealed bottom bracket and have removable crank arms rather than the dog ears.

 It’s taken me three weeks or more to get it this far, I think another three won’t hurt to get this beauty back on the road.  I just hope it doesn’t take three weeks to get this cap off. 

  I will be working on him as my main project, I would love to get him working by late January or Early February, depending on how the bottom bracket cooperates with me. 

  I don’t have any plans on painting him or not, but I don’t have to make a decision yet. I want make him run for years.  I will post updates as the month goes.

Keep on Biking….

My one speed is finished

I finally finished my one speed bike and here's the pictures of it:

all finished!!!!

 I decided to go with Gum walls instead, they look nice and 

plus i had them already.

Make: Engel 

Model: The Tourist

I put my last name on it, so that it would definitively be mine. 

Appalachian panniers work very nice, I would

recommend them to anyone looking for new ones, 

but they do cost around $50.00, but i found them on sale,

because of winter.

I am working on another bike right now, it's an old Royal three speed, but I just have the frame right now

I am going to turn it into a one speed cruiser bike.  It's a 27 x 1-1/4" tired bike, i'll take some pictures of it and i'll post them, by next tuesday.  Happy trails.

Keep on Biking....

One Speed Bike Is almost Complete

Last night i took the time to put on a rack onto my new one speed.  I had to make a few modifications to the axle to make room for a nut and screw to fit into the hole above the rear dropout.  I added a 15mm axle nut to the axle for in between the right rear dropout and the freewheel, so that the nut and screw didn't damage the freewheel.  Now that I have the rack on it, i have put my new panniers, they look great, and I will post pictures of the completed bike.  Sometime around Friday I will be getting the white walled tires, and as soon as i have the tires on, I will take pictures and will post them for you to see.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...

Keep on Biking....

Schwinn Suburban Pictures

Hey, Sorry it took me so long to get these posted, so here they are:

This is the new Schwinn Suburban, and The Sprocket Shop Bike.

Tashi is smelling it, not sure why?

right now i have a 5 speed racing cassette on it, but as soon as i get

the original rear wheel fixed, some of the spokes were messed up.

I would have left the original derailleur on but it's spring was wearing out.

I just took the pictures of this bike at the same time i did my one speed bike.  I'll start using it in the spring when everyone starts getting their bikes back on the trails.  This is the Bike sales business, come spring time i'm gonna put an attachment on so i can haul bikes to and from my garage.  

Keep on Biking....

My new one speed bike

This is my new/refurbished one speed bike:

Here's the beauty, it looks like it just came off the showroom floor.

I kept the original brake system, and chrome

Rear brakes

That's my cat Tashi in the background checking out my bike.  She always has to smell my bikes when I bring them in the house.

I took this freewheel off of a BMX rear hub, 

When doing this you want to be careful about which freewheel

you take from other hubs.  Be sure that it isn't a cheaper type, i came across 

that problem when i was choosing a freewheel.  When taking a used freewheel

you want to find one that you can take off without pulling out all of the bearings.  You

will need a different type of tool to take off the freewheel than what you would use to take off a cassette.

also make sure that it isn't rusty or stiff, if it is soak it in some penetrating oil or some Tri-Flo oil overnight and it should be working really good for you.

right now i have 27" x 1-1/4 Bontrager tires on it, but by the end of next week

i will have some white walled tires on it that i ordered.

i also put Bontrager fenders, these can put you back about $50, for these,

these fenders are meant for 700c x 28-35, but they are adjustable so if you have a 27" tired bike

they will fit perfectly.

I added this Schwinn saddle, it was originally from a Schwinn mountain bike

but it's comfortable and the seat matched the color scheme of the bike.

After Christmas I will be adding the white walled tires, a rear rack, and a new pair

Appalachian Panniers.   So total the bike has cost me $61 to put together; $54 for the fenders, and about $7 for paint.  So i have been able to create a one speed bike for less than $120.  For the Magna Fix-d Bike it would cost about $128.38.  I saved about $67.  If you have the chance to make or do your own one speed conversion, DO IT! It is fun to do and it gives you a great experience and be more connected to your bike.

Here's a comparison of my bike and Magna's Fix-d Bike:

Keep on Biking....

My one speed conversion

As you all know, i did a review on the Magna Fix-d, and was going to create on just like it, so I took a Schwinn Varsity 10 speed and have taken it down to a one speed.  I took off the big chain ring and the five gear cassette and put on a one speed freewheel from a BMX bike hub. Yesterday, I went to the Ace Hardware and bought some red paint, clear paint, and some sand paper, then I sanded the paint down to the original primer and then cleaned it up and started painting it.  I put about two layers of red onto it, and three layers of the clear onto it. When it was all dried, i put it back together.  I put on new seat, seat post, handlebar tape, brake pads, levers, cables and housing, and new Black Blackburn Fenders.  I'm going to put on a rear rack and black double sided Appalachian panniers.

When i started  working on the bike i had forgotten to take pictures, i wasn't thinking when i tore it apart, but i will post pictures of it within the next couple days.

Keep on Biking...

Bike Picture perfect

Have you ever been going along and see a spot that you thought, "my bike would look good in a photo there."  Well i have that all the time, i have a couple different bikes and i like to photograph them, a lot.  Here's a few pictures i took the last week.

Schwinn Suburban

TREK 800 Sport

Specialized Crossroads

Upland Beach Crusier

same Schwinn

and again, this one i don't think turned out

as good as the rest, the bike blends in with the bush.

Specialized bike

i don't take pictures with a professional camera, i just use my water damaged cell phone, the camera that i did have died on me, and i'm in the process of trying to get it to work, so that i can take some better pictures.  I am in the process of doing some more photos of other bikes, and when i have them ready, i will post them for you to see.

My next post will be on Friday.

Keep on Biking....

A winters ride

My Winters Ride.
By: Dillon

I get onto my bike, and i'm wearing all my winter garb,
as i begin to pedal, my eyes start to water as the cold air hits them,
my feet start going faster, knowing that warmth is soon,
i cross a bridge, and struggle to climb it as my wheels spin on the ice and snow,
"I made it over," i say to myself as i round the curve at the bottom of the bridge,
there's a long stretch of straight path ahead, with the wind in my face,
i made it to the other side, with still another bridge, a field and a set of railroad tracks yet to cross,
as i cross the second bridge the wind dies for a minute, 
i make a left, the wind picks up as i cross the field,
over the bumps and through the weeds to the bike shop i shall go,
i make it to the tracks, but hear in the distance,
a whistle of a train, not even a forth mile away,
i scurry across the tracks to the bike shop,
hoping not to become a bug on the windshield of the train,
i fumble with the keys, as the train passes by like a speeding bullet,
i unlock the door, and drag in my cold, shivering bike,
i turn on the heat, and hurry to make some hot coffee,
as i wait for the heat to kick in, i hold on to the work bench,
as the train finishes it's pass by,
the heater finally warms the shop, 
so that my fingers may function enough to grab the 4mm hex wrench, 
and finish the bike i was fixing yesterday.



I just wrote that this morning, because it described my ride in today.
My next posting will be Tuesday, December 18th.
Have a great weekend cyclists.

Keep on Biking...

The Benefits of Riding a Bike

No matter why you ride or what you ride, it's healthy for you.  Getting out into the fresh air, instead of being locked inside of a metal box of wheels.  When you get into a car, you don't get any exercise, your stuck in one position for the whole ride, and plus because you are more apt to eat when your in a car vs. when you are out in the fresh air, moving your legs to get you where you want to go, and your not thinking of eating, your thinking about whats going on around you and all the things your going to do when you get to your destination. When your out biking your legs get moving, your heart starts to beat because your getting exercise, and your not stuck in traffic, or smelling car exhaust, if you want to sit in a car smelling car exhaust, you might as well start smoking as well. they are all going to kill you a lot faster than if you ride a bike and smell the fresh air on your way into work.

Down below is an article by Derek Markham on the Discovery Channel Website that i found listing the top 7 health benefits of biking, give it a read:

The Top 7 Health Benefits of Cycling

By Derek Markham
Mon Oct 3, 2011 11:07 AM ET 

Cyclists are a diverse group. Some of us ride fat tires down rocky trails, some of us ride road bikes up burly hills, some of us ride for sport and some of us ride just for fun. Some ride for the adrenaline rush and some ride their bikes for basic transportation. But all of us can take advantage of the healthy benefits of cycling, even if we never ever buy a single item made from spandex.

Bicycling, along with being the most efficient mode of human locomotion, is also one of the best all-around activities for improving our health. From head to toes, cycling’s health benefits are hard to beat.

7 Health Benefits of Cycling

1. Cycling is good for your heart: Cycling is associated with improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease.

2. Cycling is good for your muscles: Riding a bike is great for toning and building your muscles, especially in the lower half of the body – your calves, your thighs, and your rear end. It’s also a great low-impact mode of exercise for those with joint conditions or injuries to the legs or hips, which might keep them from being active.

3. Cycling is good for your waistline: You can burn a lot of calories while biking, especially when you cycle faster than a leisurely pace, and cycling has been associated with helping to keep weight gain down. And cycling has the added benefit of ramping up your metabolism, even after the ride is over.

4. Cycling is good for your lifespan: Bicycling is a great way to increase your longevity, as cycling regularly has been associated with increased ‘life-years’, even when adjusted for risks of injury through cycling.

5. Cycling is good for your coordination: Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is good practice for your coordination skills.

6. Cycling is good for your mental health: Riding a bike has been linked to improved mental health.

7. Cycling is good for your immune system: Cycling can strengthen your immune system, and could protect against certain kinds of cancers.

Even with all of these health benefits to cycling, some of us may ride them just for fun. I know I do. Why do you ride a bike? Let us know in the comments below.

Image: pasotraspaso at Flickr.

For more adrenaline-pumping content, check out The Adrenalist.

Tags: Adventure, Bicycles, Health

My next post will be on Friday, December 14th. I'm not sure what it will be about yet, so check back on Friday to find out what it's about.

Keep on Biking....

Riding on the road with traffic and things you should know before you ride.

Whether you are a on road commuter or getting into it, you are going to want to know these few simple things about riding with traffic.

1. Never let them wave you through, that one person may be waving you through but the other drivers may not have the same idea, when you are at an intersection never make long eye contact with drivers, because they will sometimes try and wave you through, but you are a vehicle of the road, so go through the intersection like the rest of the cars.
2. You need to know what's behind you, if you don't have a mirror, that's OK, you don't necessarily need a mirror to know what's behind you. If you are on of those people who tries to look behind you but you end up swerving because of it, try this little trick.  No matter what type of bike your on, (except for Recumbents),  Get on your bike and find any empty parking lot or some area you can practice in, and start pedaling in a straight line, then pull your left arm behind you as you turn your body to look behind you to look and see if you can do this without swerving all over the place. This trick is taught in most traffic 101 classes, and it works like a charm.
3. When making a turn or stopping at an intersection, you need to use arm signals to let drivers what you are about to do.  Being on the road and traveling with traffic you need to be predictable so that drivers know how to react to what you are or are about to do.
4. When traveling at night, whether on the trail or on the road you need to have a white headlight and a red taillight by law.  i would also recommend investing in a reflective vest, you can buy them at any hardware or construction store for anywhere between $8.00 to $30.00 each. They help give that extra visibility so drivers can see you better.  DO NOT wear dark clothing when biking, wear something light colored that you can be seen in during all hours of the day.
5. Expect the unexpected from drivers.  When riding on the road you have to be on your toes at all times.  Be ready for anything to pop out at you at any time, like doors opening and drivers coming out of parking lots, or little kids coming out from behind cars, things like that.  If something pops out at you would you be able to stop or swerve in time and yet still be safe yourself.  (1.) Make sure that your brakes are working really well, and (2.) make sure that you can swerve without getting in the path of cars and other vehicles as well.

In my next posting i will be talking about The benefits of biking. my next posting will be on Wednesday, December 12th.

Keep on Biking....

What to do if you encounter an Angry Driver

Any of us who commute everyday, or ride on the roads have encountered those angry drivers that would love to run us of the road.  The best thing to do when they start screaming at you or flip you off on their way by, or anything else for that matter.  It is best to do nothing, unlike what Yehuda Moon did.  They want to to react to them, it's like a bully at school, you have to walk away from the situation and ignore them.  I have had this happen to me many times and i have ignored them and they don't bother me anymore.  I have become a regular on the roads over the last three years and they have come to accept me, except for the once and awhile out-of-town traveler, but that's mainly when i'm on the highway or the main road in town.  If you are out on the road everyday and don't back down from biking on that road when they yell and scream at you, they will slowly get used to you and eventually leave you alone and let you be.

In my next posting i will be talking about riding on the road with traffic and things you should know before you ride. My next post will be tomorrow.

Keep on Biking....

What type of winter bike is the best.

             Different Speeds:

·         Three speeds:

o   3-speeds are great for winter because all the gears are in the hub. With having all the shifting inside of the rear hub, you don’t have to worry about them rusting.  The only thing you have to keep clean is your chain.  The nice thing about three speed wheels, is that you can put them on almost any bike that is equipped for that size of tire.

·         Multi-Speed Bikes:

o   They are great for going into the wind and going long distances, but with multi-speeds you have to keep the rear derailleur and the cassette clean, because if you don’t, it will start rusting really easily from all the salt on the road.

·         Single Speed Bikes:

o   Single speeds are just like three speeds you don’t have to worry about many gears being exposed to the cold, salt, and snow, but they are a little slower than say a three speed or a multi speed bike.

Different Types of Tires:

·         Road tired Bikes:

o   Road tires are nice for riding on the road, but if you run into an ice patch, or a pile of snow that was left by the snow plow, you are going to have trouble.  See with the skinny tires, they are great for being on dry pavement, but the minute they hit ice, snow, or anything like that, they start to slip all over the place.  So unless you are going to be riding where there is clear pavement, they are great, but if yo encounter snow and ice, then I wouldn’t recommend them for the winter.

·         Wide Tires Bikes:

o   If you are planning on riding in the snow, I would recommend getting wider tires.  Wide tires work the same in sand and dirt, as they do in the snow.

Bikes Designed For Winter:

·         Fat tired bikes:

o   If you are planning on riding in the deep snow, you are going to want to check out the Fat Tired Bikes from Surly, and 9 zero 7. I will warn you, the price is what’s going to make you cough, they can range from$1,000.00 all the way up to $2,100.00.


I am not sure what my next post will be, but i have Sunday to think of one, so check back Monday sometime for my next posting.


Keep on Biking.....

Which tires are the best for you and your bike?

Tires can be fairly easy to choose, depending on what surface you are planning on biking on.
Now the thing to remember is that you need to keep with the same tire size.  Say you have 26" x 2.125'' tires, well you can't use 1.95"'s or 1.50"'s either, they just won't fit as well, if you have tires that are too big, they might slip and pop your tires, but if you have tires that are too small, than obviously you won't be able to get them onto the rims at all.

Surfaces:

• Paved surfaces: 
• For paved surfaces, you will want something that is smoother and not all nobby, that will only slow you down. If you have tires that look like this:

• there are different types of road tires, they can be completely smooth, or they can have some tread like  in the picture to the left.  Most road bike will have road tires on them, look and see what company they were from, and see if one of the local bike shops will order them for you at a low price, and if not see what other company is cheaper to order from but with good quality tires.

• Off Road:
•  If you are planning on hitting the local dirt spot, you'll wanna have some nobs on those tires, because the nobs give you that needed traction in the dirt and sand.  
• Also your going to want them to be wide tires, because if you try to go into dirt, sand, or gravel, with skinny road tires, your most likely going to sink in the dirt. it will be like riding in quicksand, you aren't going to go very far at all. 
• They do make tires that are wide for going off road in the dirt, and they are also good for going on the road as well, they do have nobs on them, but the nobs are smooth for being on the road too.  i have some on my Panasonic ATB and i love them.  
• Studded Tires:
• they have tires that are studded, for off winter time, if your a winter cyclist.  They have little studs sticking out of the nobs in the tires to give you more grip in the snow and ice. they make them in almost every size, i know them make them for 26", 27", 28", and 700c sizes, but before you go buy a pair, check you local or state bicycle laws about studded tires.  here in Minnesota you can only have them from November to the end of March. 

For more info about different types of tires check them out at your local bike shop, and see whats right for you and your bike. 

My next post will be about what type of winter bike might be right for you.

Keep on Biking....

A flowery bicycle for the Ladies

When i first walked into Target today I saw the nicest looking step through frame bike. It's an "Alice + Olivia Bike" and here's a picture of it:

 

this is a picture i took with my cell phone.

and this is a nicer looking picture from Target.com

here's the Specifics from Target's website:

Ride into the sunset or just to the store perched on the seat of this playful Alice + Olivia bicycle. The three-speed, steel body bike is wrapped in a floral print with signature pops of bold colors that Alice + Olivia is known for. It comes equipped with handle breaks, neon kickstand, dual spring saddle seat, purple bell, logo license plate and belted basket to bring home all your treasures.

• Manufacturer's Suggested Age: 12 Years and Up
• Gear Speeds: 3
• Bicycle Frame Height: 19"
• Bicycle Frame/Component Features: Chain Guard, Alloy Rims, Adjustable Handlebars
• Bicycle Frame Material: Steel
• Seat Features: Quick Release Seat, Adjustable Seat Height, Spring Construction
• Seat Material: Leather
• Front Brake System: V Brake
• Rear Brake System: V Brake
• Brakes Manufacturer/Type: Chitech
• Derailleur Manufacturer/Type: Shimano Non Series
• Shifter Manufacturer/Type: Shimano Non Series
• Bicycle Chain Material: Steel
• Pedal Material: Plastic
• Wheel Features: Pneumatic Tires
• Rim Material: Metal Alloy
• Front Wheel Height: 28"
• Rear Wheel Height: 28.0 "
• Tire Type: 700c
• Tire Width: 2.25"
• Includes: Rear Fender, Basket, Front Fender, Shimano Derailleur, Kickstand
• Maximum Weight Capacity: 227.0 Lb.
• Care and Cleaning: Wipe Clean With Soap and Water W
• Dimensions: 69.0 " L x 25.0 " W x 29.0 " H
• Folded Dimensions: 69.0 " L x 25.0 " W x 29.0 " H
• Weight: 39.6 Lb.
• Warranty Description: Multiple Warranties and/or Time Frames Apply
• Release Date: December 1, 2012

Usually i would say that either gender could use this bike, but i don't think most men would want to ride a flowery bike.  I would because i don't care what color it has on it, and as they say, "real men wear pink," well i think that "real men can ride pink bikes" as well.  It does have a hefty price tag: @ $499.99.  So i wouldn't recommend going right out a buying this, i would wait til the price drops. check back in either February, when  the prices on bikes are low, or in 6-7 months when the price has dropped after sitting on the show room floor for awhile. check it out @ http://www.target.com/p/alice-olivia-bike/-/A-14189923#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=Bikes

Keep on Biking....