Breda bike, my studio.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Blue Richmond Bridge
Richmond Bridge. At speed. For the record, Meredith took this, but I love it too much to not include it.
Yellow
Following in Meredith's blog-prints, I'll be doing the week long color photo challenge. Here's yesterday: Yellow.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Snow fambly.
So with daring adventure tales of Friday's foray into snow country here in Sonoma Co. The family Har-son-ton or is that Jo-ger-hamil, went of snow-hunting expiditions saturday with no luck. Sunday we got up early and just drove east until we hit snow just as we were crossing into Lake Co. It was really fun and it made Meredith (ex-Michigan'er) super happy. I had my usuall reaction to snow: Ooo! Pretty! Ok, cold now. Where's the hot chocolate?
I think I would like to see it snow here more often. I wonder who'd I could write to about arranging that.
I think I would like to see it snow here more often. I wonder who'd I could write to about arranging that.
Perky Perky Dog.
"Pardon me good sir, but I believe you are standing upon my stick. If you would be so kind and just give it a toss, I'd be ever so grateful."
Beehive Collective Art @ Triptych
Thursday night Meredith and I went down to San Francisco to see the openning of the Beehive Collective Show at Triptych. We really went to see Mati's work, but all of it was impressive! Show here was another member of the newly formed Beehive Collective (Christina...I think). It was a neat show, with lots of people and good music. Mati's work was wonderful and I think Laurel nailed it with her description: " [It's] currently a sort of russian folk art and vintage fashion aesthetic running through her usual brightly colored birds, plants, and devilish supernatural kittens." Good Stuff.
Snowy Sonoma Mountain
It's March so I guess that means we finally get our winter here in California. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever break out my sweaters and heavy coat, but lo and behold: Snow on Sonoma Mountain last Friday!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The Blue Bike.
Ok, I'm almost done with my stable. I just wanted to get them all shot and online before I start making some drastic changes. This bike (variously: Blue bike, bomber, beast) has been the stalwart of the stable. I've had it the longest, ridden the most miles on it, and neglected it the most. This was my commute bike for most of my college career which logged upwards of 100 miles a week with little trouble. This was the first bike I built up as an adult, and was what I rode in my first critical mass (the 10th anniversary, and yes there's a sticker for that too). It also served as my mountain bike, grocery getter, urban beater, and general mule. It's a late 80s/early 90's Specialized mountain bike. Heavy, simple and comfy. The sticker you see here was hand cut from reflective tape by Laurel. The bike is covered with her stickers and others, but this unicycle guy is probably my favorite (more photos @ flickr). Sadly it's come time for some drastic measures. Surface rust is starting to make serious in roads on this frame so I need to strip it and repaint, which means I lose all my stickers. Sad but inevitable. I think I'll rebuild it as a mutli-speed scorcher/commuter. I really want to start commuting at least 50% of the time on a bike.
Photos from the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show
Over at my flickr page, I've got lots of photos I took at the NAHBS show in San Jose on Saturday. Needless to say it was stunning. Almost every booth had some neat design detail or flawless execution. There were steel bikes (lugged, fillet brazed, and tigged), titanium, carbon fiber, bamboo, and aluminum bikes. From race bikes to track bikes to jaw dropping gorgeous Randonneur bikes. Sonoma County and Portland were well represented. Bruce Gordon's work is elvish in it's detail and grace. Sycip (Santa Rosa) had a nice range of styles, and one of their former employees has struck out on his own with this beautiful track bike as Robolledo Cycles, whose shop is 5 minutes from my house.
Ahearne, Brian Bayliss, and ANT bikes were among my favorites as well.
Ahearne, Brian Bayliss, and ANT bikes were among my favorites as well.
Some of Todd's work at Roshambo
Todd and Dude had their openning at Roshambo winery last saturday. The work was amazing (go see it!) and the turnout was huge. Sadly I only got two decent photos because I had a bad headache, but that's ok because you are going to go check out their art anyway, right?
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Fast
Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California ended in Santa Rosa yesterday. I'm not a big fan of sports, but I'm beginning to get interested in bike racing. Not having cable for most of the Lance Armstrong years meant that I missed out on most of the TdF video coverage. The small bits I did see were riveting. One of the things that is hard to convey on TV is just how fast these guys are going. So here it is, after 70-somthing miles on a pretty cold day in February and these guys are just hammering around Santa Rosa (9th street in this photo) at really crazy fast speeds.
The Tour of California (for those who haven't been bombarded by newspaper articles like we have) is hoping to become THE premier U.S. race, attracting lots of Euro competitors (which is key) and hopefully vaulting more U.S. cyclists onto the international scene. I hope they succeed.
If anyone has cable, and can record the coverage on ESPN2 for me, I'll be infinately obliged. I think it's on 10pm PST every night.
The Tour of California (for those who haven't been bombarded by newspaper articles like we have) is hoping to become THE premier U.S. race, attracting lots of Euro competitors (which is key) and hopefully vaulting more U.S. cyclists onto the international scene. I hope they succeed.
If anyone has cable, and can record the coverage on ESPN2 for me, I'll be infinately obliged. I think it's on 10pm PST every night.
Pinky's Pizza Party
Heidi turned 30. So that must mean: Pizza Party. Pinky's...sheesh I haven't been there since I was in organized sports as a kid. Which is funny because I work like 2 blocks from it.
It must be because the vice-principal of my junior high used to bartend there.
The pizza was good though.
It must be because the vice-principal of my junior high used to bartend there.
The pizza was good though.
Dang Cute.
Dog in skeleton costume. Super adorable. According to his owner, he likes wearing costumes. Just like Fargo.
Paranomal Paramours @ Boomerang
The openning to Paranormal Paramours, a group show, at Boomerang in Petaluma. It was PACKED. They recently enlarged their space, but the turnout increased too. Meredith had a lovely piece in it, as did Heidi and others. I think my favorite was Phoebe's which you can kinda see in the background (the girl with red hair). The evening was marred however by some bad behaviour by one of the artists. He decided to take down someone elses (fragile) work, and put up something else. What a chump.
Yoda and his pink pillow
Pet Tuesday: My new cat Yoda. He's a strange, puffy cat who is always yelling 'myeh'. He's the only cat I've met who prefers to be under things then on top. In our house we have lots of cozy, plushy spaces for a cat to sleep, but Yoda is always sleeping under a chair. Or in the middle of the floor. Like all cats, he loves loves loves wool. He's our non-evil cat.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Cables are too new fangled.
Give me a solid rod to stop my bike. Here's the mechanical linkage for the brakes. Another thing I love, mechanical age goofiness. Linkages, belt driven wood working tools, arcane electromechanical whozits...he says while typing on the antithesis of all things mechanical: A Powerbook.
Rod Brakes, and integral lock
The rusty thing on the left is a built in rear wheel lock. The best part is that it still had the key in it!
Breda, in all it's pre-war tech glory
I think it was made in the last 20 years, but it's based on OLD-school dutch bikes. There's only a little plastic on the rack and the reflector.
On any Saturday
I had a lucky Saturday (two in row, if you count last weeks flip-flop wheel find). This classy dutch-esque town bike was at the dump for $10. I saw the pin striping and rod brakes and was smitten.
I've been trying to control my bike collection lately, but really...rod brakes?
Of course it didn't look this good there. It was half taken apart, covered with weeds, mud, and just looked heavy.
I did a google search on the brand (Breda) and found nothing (!). After making sure I wouldn't be making a grave error by bringing another bike home, I woke up early Sunday and rushed back to the dump. I pulled up just in time to watch some guy poking at MY bike! And he already had a pile of bikes picked out. I wandered around feigning interest in kids BMX bikes, until he gave it up as a lost cause. Whoohoo!
I swooped in before he had a chance to reconsider. Paid my $10 and scurried, well drove, home.
To my delight, Orion showed up, and I immediately put him on polishing duty. Within a couple of hours we had fixed all the major problems and cleaned of most of the gunk. The tires even held air!
That afternoon Meredith and I rode around Roseland enjoying the warm sun.
Someday I'll probably sell it, but not yet.
I've been trying to control my bike collection lately, but really...rod brakes?
Of course it didn't look this good there. It was half taken apart, covered with weeds, mud, and just looked heavy.
I did a google search on the brand (Breda) and found nothing (!). After making sure I wouldn't be making a grave error by bringing another bike home, I woke up early Sunday and rushed back to the dump. I pulled up just in time to watch some guy poking at MY bike! And he already had a pile of bikes picked out. I wandered around feigning interest in kids BMX bikes, until he gave it up as a lost cause. Whoohoo!
I swooped in before he had a chance to reconsider. Paid my $10 and scurried, well drove, home.
To my delight, Orion showed up, and I immediately put him on polishing duty. Within a couple of hours we had fixed all the major problems and cleaned of most of the gunk. The tires even held air!
That afternoon Meredith and I rode around Roseland enjoying the warm sun.
Someday I'll probably sell it, but not yet.
Brooks B.17
I like modern technology. But I like some traditional stuff better. I like traditional materials over all. Ride in wool? Yes. Sit on leather? yes. Steel frame? Please.
A lot of people swear by brooks saddles, and an almost equal number hate them with a passion. I was unsure, but curious for a long time, but I tried many different modern saddles and none of them were comfortable for long.
Then I bought this. After a couple of weeks riding, it started getting really comfortable. Now every time I ride on anything else I wish it was this saddle.
I also bought a green one and I'm still (months later) breaking it in. It's taking much much longer.
A lot of people swear by brooks saddles, and an almost equal number hate them with a passion. I was unsure, but curious for a long time, but I tried many different modern saddles and none of them were comfortable for long.
Then I bought this. After a couple of weeks riding, it started getting really comfortable. Now every time I ride on anything else I wish it was this saddle.
I also bought a green one and I'm still (months later) breaking it in. It's taking much much longer.
Davidson Deraileur
Campy something or other. When I was younger (11-13) I was a cycling fanatic. I couldn't afford the top end stuff (not to mention I was 11), but I lusted after campagnolo anything. As an older, one would hope, wiser man, I no longer lust after labels like I once did. But I still like the look of older Campy stuff. Does it work better than a cheap suntour or something? Nah, probably not, but it shifts when I want it to, and looks pretty. That's enough for me.
Davidson Front Hub
This hub and wheel was built by my friend Pat at the Bicycle Factory (sadly gond). It's a Campy Tipo hub, and I think it's one of the most beautiful hubs ever made. Pat did a nice job, and I love the crow's foot lacing. Someday, I'll have a rear to match.
Studio Bikes, my roadie
Since spring in on the way, my bike love has blossommed again. It took a hiatus for a little while because...well..life just wasn't very bike friendly. But now that my commute is back to reasonable, and I'm not commuting to see my lovely girlfriend, I've got the time to ride.
So I though I should document my bikes as they are right now (because I'm always tinkering and changing them).
This bike is my favorite to ride. It fits me just right, and handles really well, even with that atrocious aluminum fork. This was my main bike for commuting to school, and midnight mass rides. It is a lugged steel frame from davidson in Seattle. I traded an early 80's Merckx that was too small for it at Recyclery in San Rafael. The fork was the only thing they had that fit the frame, but someday I'll pony up the dough for a proper Davidson fork, but I don't have $250 sitting around...
So I though I should document my bikes as they are right now (because I'm always tinkering and changing them).
This bike is my favorite to ride. It fits me just right, and handles really well, even with that atrocious aluminum fork. This was my main bike for commuting to school, and midnight mass rides. It is a lugged steel frame from davidson in Seattle. I traded an early 80's Merckx that was too small for it at Recyclery in San Rafael. The fork was the only thing they had that fit the frame, but someday I'll pony up the dough for a proper Davidson fork, but I don't have $250 sitting around...
Motobecane makeover, ver. 0.9, the whole package.
Due to the cramped setup of my studio, the wide angle lens make the bike look a little funny.
These are great tires, Avocet Cross II in a neato grey sidewall. High volume, cushy without feeling sluggish, and so far (3 different bikes, over a couple of years) very flat resistant. The rubber rots pretty quickly though.
These are great tires, Avocet Cross II in a neato grey sidewall. High volume, cushy without feeling sluggish, and so far (3 different bikes, over a couple of years) very flat resistant. The rubber rots pretty quickly though.
Motobecane makeover, ver. 0.9
I love this bike. It's almost perfect for rolling around town on a weekend morning. The kids and I were enjoying the great weather by going for bike rides whenever we got the chance. So far the makeover was on the cheap, as a proof-of-concept. Cheapo steel bars, and a lucky day at the recyclery netted me a flip-flop fixed gear wheel for only a few hamiltons. All the other stuff I had in my lab. What it needs now is a rack, some nice fenders, and a springy brooks saddle. In fact I like the setup of this thing so much I'm thinking of changing over my black fixie to this permanently.
Motobecane makeover, ver. 0.9, drive train
Simple, effective, and low-maintenance. It's also very very quiet, which has become really important to me.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Oh man.
It just keeps getting worse. From Newsweek: Presidential hits.
What happened to Congress? What happened to the Supreme Court? Where's my damn country?
What happened to Congress? What happened to the Supreme Court? Where's my damn country?
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
There's a John Cleese in my dreams
My afternoon nap microdream:
Radio Newsguy Voice: On a sad note, famed comedian and former member of Monty Python's Flying Circus committed himself to a mental institution outside of London. Several years ago we intervied Mr. Cleese on this very subject.
Cut to taped interview:
Interviewer: You work over the years has been called loopy, crazy, wonderful, and strange. How do you determine what is sane or crazy?
John Cleese: Well, I know my work has had crazy moments, but it's intentional. I think if elements of my work started showing up in real life, then I would in trouble. If naked organists, or silly walks began making a regular appearance then that would be it, wouldn't it? I'd have myself committed.
Radio Newsguy Voice: One of Mr. Cleese's well known skits was reading nonsense newscasts. Evidently the proliferation of nonsense spam emails appearing worldwide was enough to for him to decide that enough was enough. We wish well, and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Radio Newsguy Voice: On a sad note, famed comedian and former member of Monty Python's Flying Circus committed himself to a mental institution outside of London. Several years ago we intervied Mr. Cleese on this very subject.
Cut to taped interview:
Interviewer: You work over the years has been called loopy, crazy, wonderful, and strange. How do you determine what is sane or crazy?
John Cleese: Well, I know my work has had crazy moments, but it's intentional. I think if elements of my work started showing up in real life, then I would in trouble. If naked organists, or silly walks began making a regular appearance then that would be it, wouldn't it? I'd have myself committed.
Radio Newsguy Voice: One of Mr. Cleese's well known skits was reading nonsense newscasts. Evidently the proliferation of nonsense spam emails appearing worldwide was enough to for him to decide that enough was enough. We wish well, and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
M is for Motobecane & Meredith
I still haven't set up my shop. It's getting there, but most of my tools are still dull, and in boxes. I've moved the furniture around several times and I think that I've come up with the best layout for the space. Now I need a project to motivate me to actually get the rest of the unpacking done. So I present to you my newest project: Frenchy, the town bike.
This Motobecane Mirage came as a gift from Meredith. She found it languishing in a thrift store, and decided to suprise me with it a couple of months ago. Seeing as how I have a roadbike, a mountain bike, a folder, and a fixed gear, I knew I needed to build a sweet town bike. I've wanted something with fenders, baskets, and a comfy 'cruising around town' feel for some time now. But that's the future. Let's deal with the present. Here's the bike as it came from the thrift store: Steel rims, rotted flat tires, and rusty drive train. The frame is in good shape. It looks like it wasn't ridden much at all. First I'll stick a wheelset on it, and get a sense of it's geometry, and see how it fits.
This Motobecane Mirage came as a gift from Meredith. She found it languishing in a thrift store, and decided to suprise me with it a couple of months ago. Seeing as how I have a roadbike, a mountain bike, a folder, and a fixed gear, I knew I needed to build a sweet town bike. I've wanted something with fenders, baskets, and a comfy 'cruising around town' feel for some time now. But that's the future. Let's deal with the present. Here's the bike as it came from the thrift store: Steel rims, rotted flat tires, and rusty drive train. The frame is in good shape. It looks like it wasn't ridden much at all. First I'll stick a wheelset on it, and get a sense of it's geometry, and see how it fits.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Yay! Consumerism!
Whoohoo! There's two new bike stores in westside Petaluma. I'm always happy to see more bike stores because maybe it means that more people will ride bikes. And I'm especially happy to have two new stores downtown because a little over a year ago we lost our last downtown bike store. I was very troubled by it's closure. Sure I can order all my odd-ball goofy bike parts over the internet, but I like going downtown and talking to someone, and supporting my local-bike-shop. So far, I've spent a little money at both of them, and once they get some more stock (they are both under a month old), I'm sure to spend more money there.
the two shops (Bici, and Eastside Cycles) cover a similar range, if slightly different styles of bike shops. Eastside (so named because it's first store was on teh eastside of town) is your more standard bike shop. Bigger than Bici, it covers a lot of the mountain/road mid-range market. It's got a some small selection in helmets, shoes, clothes, accessories and bikes, with a decidedly Moutain Bike slant. But they also work on bikes, and the guy told me they are still setting up and getting stock in.
Bici, is decidedly more stylee. The fixed gear in the window, the pale wood floors, the large plasma tv on the wall, mark it as much more boutique. But I liked it. Good bikes, actually some fixed gear stuff (lock rings, cogs, etc..) on hand, and the Bici guy (whose name I didn't get) is really hoping to make it a 'destination' type bike shop, with group rides, clinics and the Tour on a bigscreen plasma on the wall. Also: coffee. So he's got my business.
Bici Sport: Kentucky Street, Petaluma. Nice guy.
Eastside: In the new parking garage building (ironic, huh?) near the new theater.
Oh my god.
Laurel just clued me in. There's a freaking national pie day and we missed it. I can't believe it, because I love pie. It's like missing the international congress of tea drinkers meeting or something. Good lord. Never again will I forsake Pie Day.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Art Art Art
Last Saturday Meredith and I went to Laurel and Andy's latest art show at Roshambo Winery in Healdsburg. It was awesome, hardly a surprise, but awesome. Go see it. Really.
We also got to see a lot of friends we haven't seen for awhile. Mati and Hugh were there, Dan & Julie & Aidan, Bo & Rosa and their two(!) little girls, gage, david pierce, wil & heidi, my parents..it was a good mellow show with lots of great art.
Laurel and Andy have been busier than usual. The night before they had an openning at SF City Hall, this week they are off to L.A. for another show, and next month they'll be in a show in Chicago too.
Which makes me wonder..with all this jet-setting artyness, do you have to forsake pie?
We also got to see a lot of friends we haven't seen for awhile. Mati and Hugh were there, Dan & Julie & Aidan, Bo & Rosa and their two(!) little girls, gage, david pierce, wil & heidi, my parents..it was a good mellow show with lots of great art.
Laurel and Andy have been busier than usual. The night before they had an openning at SF City Hall, this week they are off to L.A. for another show, and next month they'll be in a show in Chicago too.
Which makes me wonder..with all this jet-setting artyness, do you have to forsake pie?
Friday, January 20, 2006
Ok, so I'm not in Disneyland anymore
It's been a very busy 6 weeks however. There was lots of crazy work deadlines (everybody wanted everything done before the holidays) then I moved, then the holidays, and a bad flu, and it's only now that life seems to be returning to some sort of new normalcy. I'm still unpacking, and trying to remember where I put something. I'm still adjusting to my new roommates, who are smaller and funnier than my last one. And I'm still working like a dog.
However, that doesn't mean that I'll forsake this blog forever.
So a quick update is in order: Disneyland was great, but also exhausting. The 'snow' they promised every night was actually soap bubbles, which tasted terrible, and stung the eyes. It's a Small World seemed to break down every 2 hours (which spared me the pain of *that* song). Of course I feel terribly for the people who were stuck in there when it broke.
California Adventure was actually freaking awesome. It's got more modern rides, but they still imagineered the place up a bit to resemble various areas of California. I was impressed. I think they did a really good job.
By day 3 we were all toasted. After our morning excursion to hit those last few 'must ride' rides, we spend the afternoon sitting in the hot tub and waiting by the pool.
There was no down time after disneyland though. I had 10 days to pack up 7 years of crap and move it to a smaller place in Santa Rosa. I alternated between taking car loads of stuff to the dump, and car loads of stuff to Goodwill. In the end, I still had way too much stuff. But after a wild couple of days moving M's house out, I got most of my stuff crammed into my shop, and we cleaned up for a Christmas Eve party.
Christmas Eve was really fun, it was the first year in a long time that I had a Christmas tree in the house, and we had about 30 people over for fondue and drinks. Ben and Mickey laughed at my attemps of nacent step-fathering, and kids ran crazily through the house. Sylvan and Zelia did an awesome lip-sync to the 'never trust robots' song.
After everyone left, and we got the kids down to bed, I got to see, for the first time, behind the curtains of Christmas. Meredith and I stayed up and wrapped presents as Santa, filled stockings, and ate Santa's cookies (making sure to leave some crumbs). It was really cool, except for one thing.
I was definately coming down with a cold.
Christmas morning I was very sick, feverish, achey, bad sore throat, the whole package. Which made the whole "presents, candy, good cheer" thing a blur. We opened presents with the kids, who then went off with their dad to spend the day with his family. Meredith and I got dressed and went to my parent's but I could only hold out for a few hours before I had to go home and sleep. Thankfully I had the week off of work so I got to spend most of my vacation on the couch sleeping.
But even with the cold, it was a great Christmas.
However, that doesn't mean that I'll forsake this blog forever.
So a quick update is in order: Disneyland was great, but also exhausting. The 'snow' they promised every night was actually soap bubbles, which tasted terrible, and stung the eyes. It's a Small World seemed to break down every 2 hours (which spared me the pain of *that* song). Of course I feel terribly for the people who were stuck in there when it broke.
California Adventure was actually freaking awesome. It's got more modern rides, but they still imagineered the place up a bit to resemble various areas of California. I was impressed. I think they did a really good job.
By day 3 we were all toasted. After our morning excursion to hit those last few 'must ride' rides, we spend the afternoon sitting in the hot tub and waiting by the pool.
There was no down time after disneyland though. I had 10 days to pack up 7 years of crap and move it to a smaller place in Santa Rosa. I alternated between taking car loads of stuff to the dump, and car loads of stuff to Goodwill. In the end, I still had way too much stuff. But after a wild couple of days moving M's house out, I got most of my stuff crammed into my shop, and we cleaned up for a Christmas Eve party.
Christmas Eve was really fun, it was the first year in a long time that I had a Christmas tree in the house, and we had about 30 people over for fondue and drinks. Ben and Mickey laughed at my attemps of nacent step-fathering, and kids ran crazily through the house. Sylvan and Zelia did an awesome lip-sync to the 'never trust robots' song.
After everyone left, and we got the kids down to bed, I got to see, for the first time, behind the curtains of Christmas. Meredith and I stayed up and wrapped presents as Santa, filled stockings, and ate Santa's cookies (making sure to leave some crumbs). It was really cool, except for one thing.
I was definately coming down with a cold.
Christmas morning I was very sick, feverish, achey, bad sore throat, the whole package. Which made the whole "presents, candy, good cheer" thing a blur. We opened presents with the kids, who then went off with their dad to spend the day with his family. Meredith and I got dressed and went to my parent's but I could only hold out for a few hours before I had to go home and sleep. Thankfully I had the week off of work so I got to spend most of my vacation on the couch sleeping.
But even with the cold, it was a great Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)