The Low Buck

I remember, back in the 90s, how I once had an interest in motorcycles. I began to look at magazines, but I never followed through and bought a bike. I read Magazines about real motorcycles, and by real I mean Harley Davidson. Easy Rider was my first choice, but I couldn't see the bikes for the chicks draped over them. If I wanted to see tanned, shiny women, I would have bought Vogue or Harper's Bazaar. I looked elsewhere and found a far better choice: Iron Horse Magazine. This was the real McCoy. Bad grammar. Abrasive language. And real motorcycles, or, more accurately, choppers. And the guys at Iron Horse did not appreciate all those old yuppies who rode over accessorized Harleys while wearing Harley jackets, bandannas, underwear, and countless other yuppie corporate American junk. The Iron Horse crowd were minimalists and hard core.

What I miss about Iron Horse was a column called Chop on the Cheap, written by a guy who went by the nickname Low Buck Larry. He would find some BSA or a piece of junk Harley Sportster and make it work, and Larry always did this while staying true to his frugal calling. As I tinker and expand The Fleet, I often think of Low Buck Larry, for anybody can, with enough time and money, build a super bike, but to do so without spending money as though their project were destined for the Department of Defense, shows true ingenuity. This is one thing I truly love about the the cycling community here in Portland. I see some very cool, inventive bikes which cost less than either of my top creations while matching my work in style and inventiveness.

My focus on this, my last project, -it really is, honest- is to produce a commuter that can carry just about anything: groceries, recyclables, school books and binders, and bike parts. And I'm going to do it on the cheap.

Return of The Vitus: Bits and Pieces

Got a wheel. It's a super wide Sun rim, built around some low-buck hub. The bearings look like they will hold out through rain and sleet.









Looking in my stash drawer, I see stuff that should fit the frame. I've somehow amassed a collection of Campagnolo bottom brackets, with English and Italian threads. Step by step, the Vitus comes together.

Thinning The Herd

It's cold outside, brother! I don't see how the moisture on the road doesn't freeze. Checking the weather at KGW.com, I see that, right now, it's thirty-two degrees, and the high for today was in the forties. This is the kind of weather that thins out the herd of cyclists. I'll admit that I've been driving a lot the last two weeks, but that has to do with getting up late. After seeing a few hardy cyclists on the road early in the morning, I put myself down for being late to get up, and so I put on my layers, got the bike and went out to join in with the few that won't quit.

Why I Use It

I won't say I'm a tire buff, but I have proof that shows how one tire holds up.

My favorite tire is the Vvredstein Fortezza Tri-Comp. They're the best I have in terms of agility and speed, and their puncture resistance isn't too bad. But if I really don't want to have a flat, there is only one tire I count on; my Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase.

I purchased them back when I built the Motobecane. That was three years and hundreds of miles ago. Since then, they've been on every bike in the fleet (except the Coast King), and I've only had one flat in those three years. After all the broken glass, nails, a that beer bottle that exploded when I hit it head on, what finally brought them down?

One day while I had the bike on the stand for routine maintenance, I was surprised by the sight of a nail sticking out of the tire. I just got home and hadn't noticed anything wrong. I checked the pressure; still holding up at 120psi. The tire slowly gave up after I pulled the nail out.

I've tried installing Kevlar strips inside my other tires, and my luck hasn't been as good. I don't know what kind of shield the folks at Bontrager use, I just know it works. There are other brands of tires that claim to be bomb proof, but I haven't tried them, and I don't intend to. The Bontragers have proven themselves, I'm sticking with them.

So here is the one nail that got through.


Below, one of the many battle scars. I have a hole like that in one of my race tires. That tire is done for good. Meanwhile, the Bontragers keep on rolling.



Tags: Bontrager, Bontrager Race Lite

Last Night In Pendleton

I'll be glad to return to Portland. I just love that city. But I must admit that the scenery and roads here are a good place to train for a century ride. I feel like I'm the only guy on a bike who hasn't done a century yet.

I've noticed more than the usual number of cyclists around here. The usual number being me and me alone. There's some kind of century ride going on. I wonder what they think of the roadside decor out here. That would be the dead animals. This is Ruger 10-22 country, and if you have sheep or goats or whatever, you want to keep the varmints away from them. I've seen plenty of hides, rib cages, and smelled death in the air. Just the right thing to keep you alert while on the road.

Out in the Weeds

I don't know what's growing over at Marine Drive, but it's in bloom, and I'm allergic to it.

For those not from around here, Marine Drive is a stretch of highway that runs between the airport and a river. There's a paved area just for cyclists, joggers, and other folks out for recreation. On either side of the path is what looks like tall grass. It's a little more than that.

Today is my 'brisk' day, meaning I ride at about 75% of my maximum heart rate. I'm doing fine until, pow, my nose clamps shut and starts running, and I sneeze repeatedly. My eyes start itching and I rub them. Hands aren't clean. Now I have swelling eyes.

If that wasn't enough, my heart rate monitor started to go off and on. I guess the battery that came with it is about to expire. That's happened before with my first cycling computer. Still, I got in my miles and kept up a good pace. Sure got hungry. For a while I thought I might run out of energy and end up creeping home. Tough ride.

Still Another Reason to Ride the Bike

Today I'm driving from work. I figure, since the library is close, I'll take my chance on finding a parking spot and go check out a book I've been wanting to read.

I get a block away, there's a spot opening up. The person is trying to get out, she bumps the car behind her. It's too far forward in its spot. No problem. I can get in without touching that car.

I get ready to back up, the car behind me rushes up close. They finally go around. The next car does the same thing. I wait. They go around. I move back, then a third car rushes up. This one is piloted by an old lady. She's got the blankest look I've seen all year. She waits. I wait. Don't people know what those white lights mean? I turn on the hazard lights. Now I'm saying "Not moving. Staying put." Are we catching on? No. Stasis. I see a spot open up ahead. Fine, I'll go there. Big mistake. Have to stop for the light. Another car comes around the corner. Takes the spot ahead. I look in the mirror, the spot behind is gone. Sons of Bitches.

I head for home. No I won't. I'm mad. I go back. Nothing. I circle. I want to see someone try that again. No openings. I'm going to run out of gas. I give up.

So here is another reason why I ride; can't take anymore Mexican Standoffs.

Tapering Off

I'm a coffee addict. I got my first taste as a little kid, sneaking a sip from my parent's cup. I've grown to love that first cup in the morning. It gets the day started right. Portland is a coffee drinkers paradise. There is coffee from South America, Italy, and Sumatra. There are dark roasts, flavored roasts, full or medium body, and different levels of acidity. When I'm at the grocery store, I get close to each bin, tip the lid and smell the aroma. Right away I know the character of the beans; their strength, body,and how smooth they will be. If I don't want to make coffee that day, it's no bother. I'm never more than a few miles from a coffee shop.

But after many years of having caffeine in my system, I've reached a point where going too long without it causes me pain. There were times where I drank a thermos full in the morning, that's a quart, got some more later that day, about 12oz, then had three cups in the evening. And I made it strong each time. While I'm not at that level of dosage, the consequences of withdraw remain as severe today as they were then.

My special creamer, sugar, and coffee mug are constant companions. The creamer has to stay cold, at work I need the use of a refrigerator. Wifey-Do cleans my thermos every now and then, or it gets a dark film inside. If I don't stay on schedule, the headache begins, lasts all day, and is unabated by any medication.

I can't take anymore of this. I love my coffee, but it has become the master, and the love has soured. I must turn for help to my only defense; the bicycle.

The more I train, the less my body craves coffee. Instead I begin to feel better when I eat the things I'm supposed to eat, fruits and stuff. Imagine that. So, with my training and my willpower, I'll be down to about 8oz a day. Maybe then I'll feel the love again.

I Missed The Storm

Being lazy, I got up late and drove to work. I missed riding home in the rain, cold, wind, hail, and lightning. The thunder sounded like a gunshot. I had a chance to prove my mettle against the forces of nature, but I was only a spectator.

I saw dedicated cyclists on the road, bless their hearts. I wish I had been with them. I'm sure I'll get another chance to test my will against the weather, but to ride the lightning? That doesn't happen very often.

Doing it Right

I'm riding the Blackbird downtown heading to the East Bank Esplanade, there's a guy ahead of me on his bike wearing street clothes. No, make that office attire. We're heading toward the Fed-Ex near SW Market. A horn honks. I look back, a car is approaching. It gets near the guy ahead of me. The passenger asks, "Where is your helmet?" The guy on the bike says something like, "I left it at the office." I have to paraphrase, I didn't hear him clearly. I catch up to the car and tap on my helmet. The car pulls ahead and the passenger says to the cyclist, "Behind you is a good example."

The passenger in the car was Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams.

I hear enough from my motoring co-workers about the foils of cyclists, I can only imagine the volume of complaints Sam Adams gets on a single day. Every time we make a mistake, it's all you hear about. I'll stay on track and walk the line (ride the line?), I don't want the man's job to get any harder than it is.

The Fleet (Part 7)

It took five months to complete this project. Earlier I wrote how this bike, a 1984 Trek 760, may change everything, and this seems to be the case. The fit is perfect, raising the bar on performance and comfort to a level my other bikes cannot seem to reach. The only thing I would have done different is my choice of a rear hub. It's fixed/free, and I wish I had chosen fixed/fixed. I had no idea I would enjoy a fixed gear this much.

Though the Blackbird is my last bike, just like my last two, I still look at frames in the many shops here in Portland, as well as ebay. Some of us are destined to build things, and I include myself in that category, but if the frame isn't a 57cm size and made from Reynolds tubing, I'm not interested. The size rules out a lot of Italian frame builders, although, thankfully, my beloved Somec is not one of them. This Trek brings up a question; can Columbus tubing match the feel of Reynolds steel? What about Ishiwata tubing? There's much to explore.

Below are the before and after shots of the Blackbird. It's hard to believe it's the same bike.

The Specs:

Project Name: Project Blackbird

Nickname: The Blackbird

Class: Strength and endurance trainer. Clear weather only.

Gearing: 46 x 16

Frame: 1984 Trek Model 760, 57cm. Reynolds 531 tubing, including fork and stays.

Crank and BB: Sugino

Pedals: Speedplay Light Action

Headset: Chris King

Wheels: Phil Wood hubs, 28 and 32 hole. Front laced radialy, rear 3x. Velocity non machined rims.

Tires: Bontrager Race Lite X. (Slow, but I never get a flat.)

Post: Oval Concepts.

Seat: Fizik Arione.

Stem: Thomson (I'm sold on Thomson, it's like the bar and stem are welded together!)

Bars: Syntace

Brake System: Cane Creek levers and Campagnolo Veloce Skeleton Brakes.

Not one Shimano part on the whole bike!

Tags: Trek Model 760, Fixed Gear, Fixed Gear Bike.

The Fleet (Part 6)

This, my only Italian racer, is the pride of the fleet; an extremely rare Somec Air Record. The only other Air Record I have seen was on e-bay. According to a catalog I discovered, this one was the top of the Somec line.

I almost didn't buy the frame at first. The paint scheme, an Americana theme, didn't excite me, and I had no idea who Somec was. When I picked it up, I thought, "is this steel?" I had become very curios, and went home to learn more about Somec. Thirty minutes later, I was back in the little bicycle shop on Sandy Boulevard with a hand full of cash, eager to buy the frame.

Although this frame is nicked, gritty, and one size too small, my Somec always gets me home after a long ride.

Many Italian frame builders carve a unique symbol into the frame lugs. Somec chose the lotus, as shown in the photograph above. Below, the unusual routing of the rear brake cable.

The derailleur cables are nearly invisible. They are neatly routed through the down tube to exit at the back of the seat tube, and the other at the end of the chain stay.

I tidied things up a little, but bits of dirt remain here and there. Below, one of the frame's mysteries: who made the fork? It's not from Somec.

More details...

My Somec Air Record. I'll never sell it.

The Specs:

Nickname: Somec Americana
Frame: Columbus steel tubing, most likely SL. 56cm.
Wheels: Velocity deep V laced to Gippiemme hubs.
Gear train: A hodgepodge of Campagnolo Victory, Mirage, and Chorus, with a Regina freewheel and chain.

Pedals: Campagnolo Centaur
Seat: Fizik Arione
Tires: Vittoria Rubino Pro
Bars: Ritchey Bio Max
Brakes: Campagnolo C Record levers (good looks, so-so performance) and Gipiemme calipers

Tags: Somec, Somec road bike, Somec Air Record

Who is This Guy?

Prowling the net again. Found this...

Thisahere

Wow. Who is this guy? Anybody seen him? He has a lot of the same things I have on the Blackbird (the quintessential fixed gear parts: Velocity rims, Sugino crank, Phil Wood hubs).

The Blackbird's maiden voyage is scheduled for Friday night. I made a few test runs up some hills and over to a coffee shop. The braking is good. Getting up hills is good. The gearing is tuff, but it will whip me into shape. Still don't have the neon, but she's going into the night anyway.

Stepping it up

I've tried to keep up my cycling during the winter, but haven't been successful. I've ridden to work most of the time, but other than that, I haven't been on the road as much as I would have liked.

The obvious answer is an indoor trainer, and I got one yesterday. What a choice I made. I didn't get one that holds the bike safely in place. Oh no. I got the ultimate trainer that forces you to produce a better form at the risk of falling off. I got a roller. It's like learning to ride the bike all over again. On ice. With a little silicon lubricant thrown in. They recommend you start out in a doorway until you learn to stay on the thing, so I get in the one doorway where the bookshelf is on my left and the shelf with Wifey-Do's breakable special stuff is on the right. Can't afford to crash.

After minutes of slipping and skewing and reprovements from Wifey-Do to return the roller, I'm able to stay on. Several things become clear; my pedaling is jerky, I've developed a kind of squirrely hip movement I didn't know about, and I tend to lean forward. The roller is quick to teach.

I'm going back to Pendleton in a few days. I'm taking the roller and the Somec with me. For the next two weeks I will be riding with my new teacher, unlearning the bad habits I unknowingly programmed into my muscles.

Check this dude out. The roller king.

Rain and Crows

Let me tell you one thing about my Cervelo. It's a crappy foul weather bike. It has no fenders, racing bikes never do (although I have seen an R series Cervelo with fenders). There is something about the wheels on this bike that allow them to get every drop of water off of the street, along with the dirt, and spray a trail from my seat to my head. I waited out the rain, but mother nature got enough water on the road that it didn't matter. Should have rode a different bike today.

By the way, I took shelter at a closed up coffee shop. Starbucks is remodeling the place. Is it a bad omen when there is a huge dead crow on the doorstep of the coffee shop you're remodeling? Just wondering.

Project Blackbird: Visibility

I started writing this post days ago, but saved it as a draft until I found something feasible. Thanks to Kate Gawf, I have.

Kate Gawf brought up an important topic for all cyclists: visibility. It's easy for a cyclist to blend in to the road at night. I've seen it happen with people on light colored frames and with colored clothing on. Lights are the obvious answer, so I'm thinking how to make The Blackbird, and my other commuter, more visible at night?

I found something that looks promising...

This site shows an inventive little light called The Knog, it goes into the end of the handlebar, and I think it's meant for a flat bar. The idea behind this is the white light faces forward and the red faces back, so you've got two solutions in one light. I have seen versions of the Knog that have a light on one side only.

Bike Nashbar has some interesting options. They show a bar end light for the drop bars found on road bikes. (Incidentally, I own the Planet Bike Blinky Superflash Taillight. Oh yeah, it's bright. They're easy to find, I got mine at City Bikes.)

Here's the update:

Kate met another cyclist who turned her on (oops, a pun) to CoolNeon.com , a company that sells LyTec electro-luminescent wire. The wire can be powered by a small AA or AAA battery source, making it a good choice for cycling. Perfect. One question is, how water proof is the power source? I'll probably have to house it in something, that shouldn't be a problem. How well does it handle UV exposure? My old Motobecane will receive this wire as well as The Blackbird, and it sits outside for a minimum of 40 hours a week. This is more of a challenge in the summer where the days are longer, night visibility isn't as much of an issue, I could remove the wire. Or I could park it in a sheltered area.

The wire and power source are sold in separate parts, you have to strip the wire and solder the connections. I do this kind of stuff for a living, so I'm not worried. Elam EL Industries, the company who manufactures LyTec, has a PDF file with better detail on making the connections and terminating the other end. Anyone who hasn't learned the art of soldering and doesn't have the tools may have to find another way. I suppose if they knew the exact length of wire and the power source, Cool Neon could put it together for them.

I'll do a little more investigating, then pick a power source, some wire, and place the order.

Project Blackbird: Hubs and Stuff

I called Wife-Do yesterday, the hubs have arrived. When I made the order, I ran into a problem. It seems a lot of manufacturers won't honor their warranty when you use a radial lace pattern. It put's more stress on the hub flanges. I intended to go with Surly hubs, but they don't come in a black 28 hole version. Naturally, Phil Wood hubs do all of that and more, so I went with Phil. I know that with a set of hubs like this, I shouldn't have to worry about bearing maintenance for a very long time.

Speaking of Surly, I found Surlyblog, an interesting collection of things going on with Surly. From there I found this guy. Check out how he carries a whole lot of goodies with a really simple design. I'm considering ways to haul big loads on the bike, so this got my attention.

Project Blackbird: A Fistful of Dollars

Got money. Got parts. Wifey-Do's camera died, so I can't show you what I have.

They're black Velocity Deep V rims with non-machined sides. The rear rim is the usual 32 hole variety. I got it from The Veloshop. I wanted a 28 hole rim for the front, but they didn't have one. No problem, I know one guy who always comes through. I call him The Man. Everyone else knows him as Dean, and he ownes Bike Central. I called him. He had it. When I'm in a pinch, he always has it. That's why I call him The Man. I would be ashamed to build a bike that didn't have something from Dean's store.

I'm heading out of town again, and if I had thought about it, this would have been a good time to get the frame painted. But I got it in my head to save that for the day when I have all the parts and I'm ready for the final assembly.

Since I'm heading out of town, I'll order my hubs. If they take a day or three or more to arrive it won't matter. I won't be here either way. Wifey-Do can pick them up while I'm gone.

It looks like I'll have my wheels done by the end of February. Wow. That's the most expensive part of the project. After that, it's all downhill.

The Trick Continues

I still don't have my old Ford truck running. Got the battery in. The points are in. I still haven't set the dwell or checked the timing. Guess what I don't have? The specs. Misplaced them. So it goes without saying that I've been riding to work faithfully.

The co-workers ask, "Did you two-wheel it today?"

"Yup."

Same as always: through the rain, the snow, and the cold.

I love the feel of the road. It's right.

The Fleet (Part 5)

If anyone thought I was finished posting stuff about The Fleet, they're wrong. I have this bike and two more. The others are the Somec and the Blackbird. Of course, I'm still building the Blackbird.

It was this time last year that I planned what I called project BK_Ultra. Yes, I do love my goofy project names. This was meant to be my ultimate bike and the last one I would do. It's a first in two ways. This is the only one that's all Shimano, and the only one I didn't build myself. I'm an Italian bike snob, this took some attitude adjustment.

The engineers at Cervelo, a Canadian firm, did a good job on selling the bike. They go into a lot of detail at their site about what they wanted it to do and how they did it, without giving away the secrets. Still, the proof lies in the pudding. A test ride was in order.

Did it do all Vroomen and White said it would? Yes.

It took me over a month to get the fit right, this thing is a pain to tweek. The seat developed a creak, I got three flats in the first fourty miles, and more than a few back pains riding it.

I finally got it all dialed in and fixed the creak. It's super comfy, and the bike goes as fast as my meager muscles can push it. I took it down Mt Hood to see what it would do. Stable even up to 45mph. When the aerodynamics go into effect, this thing locks in and doesn't waver. But don't expect me to try that stunt again. You can get killed.

Because of its stability, stiffness, and acceleration, it's the only bike I use to ride the hills. It just loves them.

The specs on the Soloist are at Cervelo.com, so I'll only list the general things.

Bike: Cervelo Soloist Special Edition (It has red paint)
Frame: Aluminum
Nickname: Cervelo-1, The Warbird
Project Name: BK_Ultra
Drivetrain: Shimano Ultegra

Tires: I did have Vvredstein Fortezza Tri-Comp tires on it, but switched to my trusty Bontrager Race Lite XXX Hardcase. I do all of my century riding on this bike, and I don't want to deal with a flat tire.

Weight: 17 pounds