Sunday, November 30, 2014

Fenders!

When I restored this Raleigh Sport and customized it, I had removed the fenders, which were bent and a bit rusty. Yet I saved them, and now that winter has come, it is time to reattach them.




This bike is sweet!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Pinces à vélo

In the winter, those pants clips come in handy. They prevent your pants from getting caught in the chain wheel.



Everyone in France had those when I grew up.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Homemade Bullhorn Handlebars




I saved those old handlebars a little while ago, and always intended to make them into bullhorn handlebars that I could use as an alternative to regular ones. Let's do this.



First, take everything apart, and keep only the bars and the stem.



Clean those with steel wool until they look like new.



Mark the handlebars on both sides with electrical tape where you want to make the cut. Measure to make sure each side is the same. Cut with a pipe cutter or a hacksaw. File the ends.



Put it back together, and add a brake if necessary.



Remount.



Tape.

I didn't know what to expect but those are very comfortable and easy on the wrists. Love 'em!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Safety Brake


Coasties are the best, but what happens if your chain breaks as you're bombing down a steep hill? This scenario has crossed my mind now and then or someone reminded me of it. For vital systems it's better to have a back up... 
I've kept a whole bunch of old cantilever brake parts over the years, and pieced this one together with all recycled materials.



Peace of mind at last!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Cool Backlight


 

I found this skull and crossbones rechargeable back light at the Pucker Street Bike Shop in Marcellus, NY.
(3 NORTH ST
 
MARCELLUS, NY, 13108
 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Toe-clips

I learned the hard way that pedals without toe-clips can slip, and lead to a fall. It's a nice safety feature.


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Truing Stand: had to have it

I've been making wheels without it for a while now, and I must say that they were never perfect. Using a truing stand is the guarantee to making balanced, vibration free wheels, and to having a perfectly smooth ride.


Found on Craig's list.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Skull & Cross Bone Disc Wheel



Today I finished my homemade disc wheel.


I first cut a paper pattern to custom fit on the wheel, and then two discs of corrugated plastic.


I joined their seams with duck tape, and drilled holes between each spoke.


I joined the two discs through the spokes with cable ties and used duck tape to finish covering the wheel and valve hole.


I covered the duck tape with foil tape for finish, and tried the wheel on.


Then I spray painted my skull and cross bone stencil on.


Tomorrow, I'll ride it through Syracuse...




Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Meanwhile, in France...

This is what my brother Stéphane's been working on this winter:


Do you recall this bike my father had outfitted with a Mosquito motor from Italy? It used to belong to my uncle Bernard. He had it at his country house in Royaucourt, France. I remember riding it as a kid through Picardy's country roads with Stéphane and our cousins Isabelle and Juliette.


Well, Stéphane stripped it, had it sand-blasted and powder-coated:


Then he found the right parts, that fit his style, put it all back together, and gave that ol' Peugeot a second life:



This is how he rolls... You got style brother!


Meanwhile in Syracuse, New York...


(Two last photos taken the same day)