And now for something completely different

Today, my dad and I drove down to my house in Linton to pick up some books. As I have a number of bikes there, I couldn't resist bringing a couple home...so I decided that this week, instead of exploring, we should check out what else there is in the stable...

First up is my other English 3, a 1950 Raleigh Lenton Tourist.
-1950 dated Sturmey Archer AW
-original "aluminium" Raleigh style brake calipers
- ISO 597 rims (again, aluminium)
- 20" Reynolds 531 (single butted) frame, with a hi-tensile fork
- Brooks B66 saddle (original)


Next is the American version of it - a 1954 Schwinn Racer
- not-original Bendix kickback 2 speed hub
- Laced and built steel ISO590 rims
- completely original Schwinn pedals, crank, handlebars, stem, frame, saddle, and seatpost


One that came home with me today - waiting to be built up for my mom to ride - 1983 Raleigh Rapide
- originally a 10 speed, with cottered BB, stem shifters, and drop bars
- later converted to North Roads bars, and a coaster brake
- will retain the coaster (laced into 700c rims sporting 700X40 tires), be painted robin's egg blue (cream head tube), and wear a Velo-Orange Model 8 (same as the Phillips)


The Mountain bike - 1986 Bianchi Osprey
- Shimano Tourney components
- will be receiving the Bullmoose bars from the Univega (see below)
- 18" frame


Now, into the fast bikes...

1987 Cannondale Black Lightning
- Suntour Sprint components (all black anodized)
- Brooks B17 saddle (5,000+ miles)
- Bontrager bar tape
- Continental Ultra-Sport yellow tread tires (700X23c)
- Aluminum frame, cromoly fork - total weight, 18.5 lbs


1989 Nishiki Modulus
- Full Tange #2 cromoly (22 lbs total)
- Anodized Araya rims, laced to Suntour hubs
- Dia Compe components
- the deepest drops I've ever used...
- pre-softened NOS Brooks Professional saddle
- Michelin Speedium 700X25c tires (grey tread)


1990 Fuji Palisade
- Ishiwata triple butted cromoly tubing
- Araya 27" (ISO 630) front rim
- Weinmann single-walled 27" rear rim
- Shimano 6 speed freewheel
- Alhonga dual pivot brake calipers (modified by moi)
- Dia Compe brake levers
- CST hi-pressure 27X28c tires
- Zefal fenders
- Rivendell mudflaps
- Brooks B17N saddle
- Suntour friction DT shifters
- Shimano Tourney rear derailer
- Suntour XCM front derailer
- harlequin handlebar wrap (Tressostar cloth tape, red and black)


1973 Peugeot UO-8
- 62 cm Peugeot Speciale tubing
- Cinelli handlebars
- Belleri 22mm stem
- Campagnolo brake levers
- Varnished and Shellacked black cloth bar tape
- Planet Bike fenders
- Shimano dual pivot (long reach) calipers
- Alex Deep V rims laced to Formula hubs (rear flip flop)
- 48t Schwinn Approved crankset
- 17 tooth fixed gear
- 16 tooth freewheel
- Panaracer Pasela (700X25c)


1994 Univega Activa Trail
This bike was purchased 3 years ago as my commuter. It originally started out with riser bars, 700X38c tires, and a super huge (and super fugly) neoprene saddle. The risers made my hands numb, so I swapped to North Roads bars. Once I moved to a place with a bike club, it made sense for this to be the fast bike (lightest, best equipped bike I had then), so I got a set of Shimano aero levers, a co-op special aluminum drop bar, Suntour bar end shifters, and 700X28c tires (the smallest I could go). After I started my go-fast collection, I got a wild hair, and put bullmoose bars and thumb shifters on it...yeah, I don't know either. I rode it exactly twice, hated it, and shelved it until later. It'll be going back, so when updated, it'll be...
- Araya rims laced to Sunshin hubs
- 7 speed Suntour freewheel
- Suntour triple crankset (48X36X28)
- Schwalbe Kojack 700X35c tires
- the Co-op no-name bars
- Suntour power ratchet bar end shifters
- Brooks B17 saddle (eventually)
- SKS Esge fenders
- Dia Compe brake levers
- Dia Compe cantilever brakes (for now...)



Can you tell I like Brooks saddles? IMO, the best thing you could buy for your bike. Get one, ride it 500 miles, you won't regret it.

Not pictured - 1982 Schwinn World Tourist
- 1956 Raleigh Dawn Tourist (step through frame)
- 1962 Sears beach cruiser (middleweight)
- 1979 Raleigh Professional (basket case)

And of course, the Phillips 3 speed.

Neither rain nor sleet...

Today, I decided to swing out to my uncle's house, and wanted to get there while the first snow was still on the ground. I needed to help him with some lighting in the garage, then some Corvair destruction...

I'll let the photos speak for themselves this week. I wanted to play with distance, horizons, and lines...straight lines are interesting to me. So anyway,





























And ultimately, this is what was accomplished today:

10/30/10 - a good book and a sit-down. Plus, offroading!

Tonight, I decided to go on a ride out to my favorite place, with a thermos of tea and a holiday-appropriate book. Here are my travels:

We start out in little Bohemia - this is where all the late-blooming hippies would come to roost. Ten years ago, the typical issue for the area was corduroy pants, flannel shirts, and a VW of some sort - the dude in the white house had a Karmann Ghia. Riding down this street was the first time I ever smelled weed smoke...


Tarabithia...need I say more? In the front yard is a tombstone dedicated to "Duke, the Mailman's Dog"


Pedestrians? Yeah right...


Getting onto the Park lake-path, we see the Culver brothel

It was once a legitimate brothel, right next to the town park (and railroad station). It originally had a staircase going up the outside of it, and no provision for getting upstairs from the inside of the house. It's obviously been repurposed since.

The bike path:


All the boats are in, and the lake is once more peaceful


No swimmers at the park today


Now on campus, you see the Math and Science building in the foreground - Huffington library behind it


Need I say more? Near the Senior Ring


"Where we're going, we don't need...roads


Through the rabbit hole


And back out


The Council Ring. Originally built in the teens, this structure dates to 1979 (East portion), 1980 (West portion), and 1981 (center portion). It's scheduled to be completely replaced within the next 5 years


The High Ropes Course


My favorite place...might not look like much now, but in the 3 growing seasons, it's amazingly gorgeous.


Decked out for an afternoon of Max-Relax


Leaving, we look left and see...primordial soup


Inspired by this,
http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-09-01
(which is a fantastic read no matter - it's daily wake-up material for me)
I decided to go off-roading...kinda. Horse trails!



Yeah, we're not going up that trail...


Well, it IS a horse trail!


no comment necessary:


There are two wild turkeys in the direct middle of this photo - can you spot 'em?


Queen road!


Onto Queen, and off the off-beaten path:


Queen and SR10


Let's play "find the deer!"


The abortion that's become the Fleet Field. BRING BACK AVIATION!!!!!!

Bastards...

There are three deer in this photo - can you find them?


To the left lives a professor and good friend of mine:


I need to take photos of them during the day (as it was getting really dark), but in the little garage of the Guest House is a Whippet Model 4 and a Model T, both in as-new condition. I'd wet myself to get one of those things...


Across the road, the golf course:


This one's for Ben:


The Culver Homestead:


The Bedwetter (Ledbetter) Drydocked:


West shore sunset:


South Shore sunset:


Why fenders are invaluable:


And then back home - if you've been this far, you've seen the return route. Still thinking about a route for next weekend.