Mad Acrobatics

Famille Oblige

My brother Stéphane and my nephew Adryen came to visit from Germany, so we biked together

I love to ride with my people.

This Stingray was all along designed with my nephew Adryen in mind, and he finally got to ride it...

I dedicate this Ralleigh to Stéphane, because he loved to ride it, when we went together on a cruise in Onondaga Park and down by the south side.

Custom Brigade in Paris, France

Custom Brigade Night cruise - July 2011 from hickone on Vimeo.

Anjou Vélo Vintage

Check out that vintage bicycle ride in the Loire Valley, France.

Painting step 4: pinstriping

I added a gold pinstripe between the main color and the accent color, to mark the transition to the chrome end of the fork, and around the lugs to accentuate them.




As I put the bike back together, I simplified it: I took out the cantilever brakes, and put a coaster brake hub on the back wheel instead. It has the great bare bone looks of a fixie, but with the added advantages of being able to coast, and brake.
A sweet track bike to ride fast in the city!

Painting step 3: actually painting

After applying two coats of the main color, I used painter's tape and newspaper to block certain areas, and applied a coat of accent color:


Tadaaaa! Sweet, now I'll let it dry for a couple of days and do the pin striping around the lugs, and between the colors.

Meanwhile I have to put a coaster brake on the back wheel, and clean and all those parts before they go back on.

Go to step 4

Painting step 2: Sanding and Priming

After a thorough cleaning and sanding of the frame with fine sandpaper, I applied a coat of self etching primer:


Go to step 3

Painting step 1: take your bike apart

This is the bike I selected for repainting: a Raleigh Super Record, already converted into a single speed, and with a homemade disc wheel. Great bike, but it can surely afford some cosmetic improvement. My plan is to repaint the frame, put a coaster brake on the back wheel, and stencil the disc wheel.


First I take it completely apart, stuffing the parts into plastic bags and into a box, so I don't loose anything.


Only the frame and the fork remain, it's ready for preping:


Go to step 2

SBWC 10th meeting: Painting

This time we'll learn how to clean a frame in preparation for painting. It'll be the first out of three meetings on painting. After this meeting, you won't be able to ride your bike until the third meeting, so make sure you have a spare one ready.

Bikes in France

There are all kinds of bikes in France, From French clunker, to English three speed, to classy road bike, to fixie: French people love riding bikes. It's just cool there.



Bike Rental Station in La Rochelle