Sunday Morning Single Speed Route

This morning I rode across the city. I used Alltrail for the first time to track my path. Check it out.

The Problem with Vintage Leather Saddles

Vintage leather saddles are cool, but as it ages, leather looses its flexibility, and it can lead to this:

My brother hit a pedal on the road in a turn, and the saddle just snapped. Bummer.

The Right Gear for Urban Bicycling

Riding in style requires some sense of style, that is a purposeful arrangement of what you wear in order to achieve a certain effect. A mix of fashion, comfort, and utility, your style must allow you to ride comfortably and safely while conveying your personality. 

Helmet (spray-painted skateboarding), dope looking sunglasses.

Muscle shirt, to show your muscles and tattoos, and also to stay cool.

Big shorts, for comfort, and also to clash with the conventional yet indecent bicycle shorts.

Pocket knife, for protection against feral pitbulls... a bike chain, and pepper spray can add several layers of intimidation, in case you have a run in on the road. Let's hope we never have to use those.

Cool leather gloves to absorb handlebar vibrations and save your hands when you fall... Wrist watch to know what time it is, and how long you ride for.

Shoes with a semi-hard sole and some good grip at the bottom. I personally found that Sketchers are awesome for riding. The worst are Converse (you feel the pedal cut in your foot bottom).

A phone, for emergencies, preferably a cheap one, so that it doesn't attract envy.

Winter gear coming up!

Customized 1960s Schwinn Corvette

That's what I'm riding these days because it's too hot to go any faster than cruising.

 

I added a spring fork to absorb front shocks, and for looks.

It has a spring gel seat for full comfort. Riding this bike feels like riding on a cloud... I found this little Syracuse bicycle license plate on another bike I bought at a garage sale.

Those Schwalbe Fat Franks tires are awesome. They make the wheels substantially bigger, and contribute to the smoothness of the ride.

1973 10 speed Schwinn Continental: 40 years old!

Remember this?

I took it all apart, cleaned it, derusted the chromes, repaired the brakes, greased it, and rebuilt it. I found white tires online and an old seat and post from another bike.

Now lives in Brooklyn with Teddy...

Girls 3 Speed Free Spirit

 
For Elie, whose bike was vandalized in Brooklyn.

Bicycle Rule #1: Walk that Dog!

Before you get on that bike, walk that dog!

Featuring Zoé.

3D Printed Lugs

VRZ 1. a tack bike frame with 3d printed lugs from Ralf Holleis on Vimeo.

Made in Italy

Check out this Italian bicycle manufacturer: Bella Ciao

Garage Find: Schwinn Continental and Raleigh Sovereign

Vicky brought me these two old bikes that were in her garage. They have the looks I always look for: horizontal top bar, old fashion forward thrusting fork, great original colors, cool little details, not too much rust... but they are not in working condition. Let's see what I can do to give them a second life.
1973 Schwinn Continental:

1980s Raleigh Sovereign:

I'm going to try to fix them and make them look good using as many recycled parts as possible.