Cycling weapon of knuckle destruction

I really like Cycling WMD's reaction to this tool.
No more sliced knuckles.

Image from Cycling Weapon of Mass Destruction.

Changing chain rings always seems like a great idea, and it usually seems to go well until you're down to the last couple of bolts when suddenly in less than a blink of an eye you've exposed the bone on two knuckles.
I once made a tool out of an old hacksaw blade that helped keep the bolts steady, but it didn't completely save my knuckles - and the hacksaw blade was pretty uncomfy to hold...

Wind

I was going to do a quick post about some cool bag maker, based in Brooklyn.

But then I just saw this on twitter and thought I should share it quick.

Mr. W - Epuron from TRAUMSTOFF on Vimeo.

A complete contrast to Will Self's brilliant A Point of View piece in 'Praise of Wind Turbines' on Radio 4 the other week. Listen here .

Speedway

8pm and I've just sat down.  I'm mapping out procedures and HACCP and god knows what else at work at the moment, and my mind is fried.  Sunday's long afternoon roast dinner, beer and Lego session seems like a life time ago...so it was great to find an email from Grant Robinson in my inbox just now.

I love to follow the blogs of photographers.  They aren't the most prolific, but when they post its always worth the wait.  This latest from Grant Robinson is from a Bike Speedway event in Sheffield (I think).  You can see more here.

Its all about the atmosphere, the speedway pro tyres (who knew?), the track flange hubs, the handle bars, flat frames...love it.

I meant to post this video from Cycle Oxford about Speedway earlier in the summer.  Speedway looks addictive and ultra competitive.  Lets get a track next door to the pump track.

Cycle Speedway 2011 - Horspath Vs Poole from Cycle Oxford on Vimeo.

Tubes & Tools

Lou just stumbled across this Swedish bike forum,while she was looking for furniture, or something...

Frame parts from here: http://www.framebuilding.com/ (Warning this website is stuck in 1998).

New Geek of the Week

Wow.  A few weeks ago I discovered the MAKEzine blog, which is a full of incredibly talented and committed hardware hackers and 3D printer using types.  I'm currently sat behind my desk, preparing for an inspection tomorrow (yes its 20.45 on a sunday night), but I felt like taking a quick peek at Make while I waited for a document to print.  15 minutes later I've just finished watching Michael Egger make a Video Bass and felt compelled to share it with more than just my Dad, Brother and Twitter followers.

Its 15 minutes long, but its just great to see the lengths to which he goes to make his guitar.
I've never seen Plywood being bent like that - I had no idea it could be that simple. Think I might start a mid-century furniture workshop...or build a boat bike.

Building the Videobass from Michael Egger on Vimeo.

(But, ha, it looks like he can't weld very well).

Wooden Cargo bike by Art & Industry

Another incredible project by two people just getting on with it.

One a boat maker, the other a bike fanatic.  Its a bit like a boat with wheels.

http://artandindustry.wordpress.com/

Doc

So maybe in the TV series of Back to the Future, the Doc could have made a bike that could reach 88mph and travel in time.  Maybe it would look a bit like this...

http://fbuc.org/2011/06/murray-the-fish-krank-boom-clank/

Cobble Wobble

This Sunday I'm taking the family to see the Cobble Wobble in Frome. Chris Akrigg won last years uphill sprint competition. Chris is Ru's mountain bike hero. Every time he gets on his bike, he says "I'm Chris Akrigg". Charlie is Danny Macaskill.

2010 Cobble Wobble from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Bristol Bike Polo

Gives you a better idea of what happened at the bike Polo thing:

Bristol Open 2011 Hard Court Bicycle Polo Tournament from Rex Martin on Vimeo.

NYC Bike Jumble and Bristol Bike Polo

This is how to jumble:

NY Bike Jumble: May 14, 2011. from NY Bike Jumble on Vimeo.

Bike Polo
I went for a quick spin while the boys were having tea (battered fish and home made chips). I nipped up to the Bristol Bike Polo tournament and watched the last 15 minutes of the final game. No idea what the teams were called, but the men in red bra tshirts won with a golden goal in extra time. The grey shirts fought back from 3-1 down to equalize with minutes to spare, but a crash 4 minutes in to extra time left the grey team 2 men versus 3, and the goal was inevitable. Both teams were seriously skilled, but the red bras had the better confidence and communicated well.  I reckon my old '95 Marin Palisades would make a pretty good polo machine to start with.  Just need to get down to Dean Lane.

Cruddy mobile footage of the final

Muddy Legs

Been out for a ride on the glorious new(ish) trails in Ashton Court tonight. One of those rides where every hill can be conquered and the trails flow. Its hard not to flow on the new trails, truth be told. I'm trying not to be snobby, but I can't wait for all those vintage 1997 Saracen riders to either give up or upgrade.

Pump track progress:

So with my new found effortless flow (ahem), I'm looking forward to Brunel's pump track opening at the end of September. Last week I had a look at feedback/test session, and its clear I have a pretty big skills gap. Its three minutes from work, so I'm planning lots of visits while the kids are at school.

Pink Bike had a competition with Rock Shox to re-design some graphics. There are 10 short listed designs. I really wanted to like Dan Sharpe's design because hes from the UK, but the whispy guy with the strawberry ruins it for me.

My short list.

...oh, and some how my legs were still muddy when I got out of the shower.  How does that work?

Cross Crazy 1950s

Just came across this on Cross Crazy.

"Its as much running as it is running, like."



"There's Wes. That's Garlic - he manges a Tesco store now. He had a transplant..."

Traffic Cycle Design

Inspiration.

http://trafficbikes.com/bicycles/

Especially the Lianna Longtail.  Everyone needs a bike that can give lifts.  And the Spencer Mountain Single speed, and the Coupled Cross...

On One?

Brant Richards re-joined On One today, after 2 years away doing Ragley and working for Chain Reaction Cycles...and now once again I find myself browsing the On One site designing a bike that I can afford.

Affordability is so much easier to justify when a bike is versatile.  So I'm building an easily serviced commuter that doesn't mind being left out in the rain.  Looks amazing, but plain enough to deter thieves.  Is excellent, no, breath taking, off road.  Endlessly practical for year long touring trips in South America and Asia.  Light enough to race, but strong enough to last a life time...  arse.

Actually, I'm in the mood to rebuild my ancient Raleigh Sprint in to a bit of a town bike.  Just need some bigger tyres and a riser handlebar.

New

Wow, its been ages.  New job is very great.  Steep learning curve, as expected, and no hiding among the team for a few months, either.  There is no team - so straight in at the deep end.

Been getting in to fine tea and learning to make coffee properly.  Milk is now used only on cereal and in white sauce for pasta.  More beverages, later.

New commute to work is practically a freewheel on the way in, and a steep sprint on the way home.  Met some great people recently.  People in to bikes, food, tea and coffee.  Going to pitch our tea to Lookmumnohands in a few weeks.  Shame the Tour has already finished.  But what a Tour?  Andy, you were robbed last year - but this year we saw some pretty poor character.  Nice one Evans.  Shame Wiggins crashed out.  I was hoping for a repeat of the '09 race, when it was like the Cav and Wig show.  Mr Thomas looks good for the future - but stay on the track for 2012, that's my advice.

New favourite teas:  Pouchong, Mi Lan Dan Cong, Roasted Long Juan Tie Guan Yin, Raw Puerh.
Still digging mint, too.

One day I'm going to learn to manual like a 4xer.  In the mean time I better learn to jump.

More Mountain Biking Videos
Video lifted from Hard Tail Nation.

Receipt Racer

receipt racer from d_effekt on Vimeo.

As found on Today and Tomorrow. Thanks to Boneshaker for the link.

Donhou at Bespoked

Short video showing the Donhou stand at Bespoked.

Donhou Bicycles - Bespoked Bristol from Dominic Yard on Vimeo.

More from Bespoked

I bumped in to a great project a few months back called The Bicycle Academy.  I read the blog and couldn't quite believe what I had stumbled upon.  Brian Curtis teaches you to braze bike frames, and in the process you donate the frame you build to those that need it.  The best Curtis frames are made from T45 tubing - which is used for making really high performance things in the Aerospace industry, and...lets save all that for another day - or maybe just have a look yourself?

No need to file

So, on Sunday, I met Andrew, who started the project.  I shook his hand and demanded that I be near the top of the list and pledged to give a donation.  This is the thing that I am most definitely going to do, and this here Blog is going to be the thing that makes sure I do it.

One builder I spoke to on the day said that he went to a course run by Dave Yates, and has been building hobby frames for mates for a few years.  He's now taking orders from real customers.

Kajak Custom showed this around-the-world-trip mountain bike.  Designed for Rohlhoff and gigantic mud tyres.

Titanium Burls - with gussets and bulging down tube.

Pipe bender at Downland Cycles

The Bicycle Academy - Coming soon from Facade on Vimeo.

 

More again, later in the week.

Sunday at Bespoked

Today I went to the Bespoked Bike show at the Paintworks, in Bristol.


Lee Cooper had some lovely Sturmey Archer 3sp Fixed-mobiles, with handmade wooden mud guards.

I chatted to Mr Paper Bicycle about his ingenious design.  Forgoing traditional chain stays in favour of a massively robust chain protector, and at the same time making a strong step through, for the Post Office.

Fresh Tripe had their bike parts on Butchers trays.

The Donhou stand was simply gorgeous.  I was quite surprised by the paint finish on one brand that I was looking forward to seeing, but Donhou surpassed themselves.  The scriptive logo on this frame is embossed under a few layers of clear coat.

I snapped this Paulus Quiros towards the end of my visit.  Wonderfully understated - especially compared to the Titanium mountain bikes on the stand next door.

Lots lots more to show and tell, later.

Bespoked Bristol

I'm going to the Bespoked Bristol show this sunday, after lunch.

The UKs first handmade bike show - following in the almighty footsteps of NAHBS.
A bike geeks dream is here in Bristol.  I cannot wait.

There'll be stuff like this...

http://www.donhoubicycles.com/category/news/

...and I'll be hoping to talk my way in to someone's workshop to have a look about and take pictures and hopefully to convince them to let me have a go.