Box Dog Pelican

I mentioned in yesterday's post how you would be hard pressed to find an interesting, well-made production frame for $200. But I forgot about the Pelican frame. This frame has been discussed on the iBOB list from time to time, but it popped up today in a bunch of threads.

On paper, this looks like a great frame: standard-diameter (9-6-9; I wish it was 8-5-8) tubing, low trail, different wheel sizes (650b and 700c) according to the frame size, powder coated; fits fattish tires, lots of braze-ons for stuff. All for $300. Pretty sweet deal.

UPDATE: indeed, too sweet. $300 is the deposit! Total price is $1160. My bad! Still a sweet frame. And not a bad deal, just not a steal.

I'd like to ride one of these. It's a pretty perfect urban commuter, very similar to my hacked RB-T, which I ride more than any of my other bikes.

Selling Patrick's stuff

Patrick, of Scoop fame, is a buddy of mine. He's selling two interesting cycling items. I told him I'd post them here because he's a buddy, but also, because this frame should be put to good use.

It's a 1983 Trek 520 (56cm). The 1983 version of this popular model was special. Unlike the 520's that came after it, the 1983 520 used caliper brakes (not canti's) and it was a low-trail bike. In fact, the geometry is pretty close to Rene Herse randoneering bikes from the 50's (parallel 73 HT/ST; 55mm offset; "square" HT/ST length. It's also got pretty nice tubing: Reynolds 501 (not 531, thanks SteveP); 9-6-9 butted profile on the main triangle.

I had this same frame and hacked it into a canti-wearing, 650B-shod porteur. A worthy project. But ultimately, I discovered that the porteur configuration wasn't for me. I ended up trading the frame (in part) for my new cycle truck.

Anyway, Patrick is selling this frame. It's $200 and a bargain considering you'll not find anything approaching the quality of a USA-made, silver-brazed lugged frame (with interesting geometry) like this in production today... for anything close to $200. But I'm a nut for these kinds of frames and I probably wouldn't sell it because I'd hate to have someone lowball me. It would be hanging in my basement, or loaned out. So buy this frame, don't haggle, and enjoy it.

Apparently, Patrick will ship this frame. That's another thing I wouldn't do. For a couple reasons, but I'm droning on long enough here, so I'll spare you the rationalization. By the way: the headset is shot.

Item #2: Ye old Xtree.

$300. That's a $150 (+shipping) savings on this one for local buyers. For out-of-towners: No shipping on this one. Includes everything that Xtracycle includes except the long cable and cable housing for the rear derailleur.

Interested in either of these gems? Email Patrick: psully82 AT hotmail DOT com.

Why Do I Cyclocross?

Why Do I Cyclocross? from hank greer on Vimeo.

I spent today pointing my camera at everyone at the Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series races held at Riverside State Park. What a blast! Who's been hiding all this fun from me? As the video will show you, anybody can do this. And you don't have to have a top-end bike. One young man I spoke to was riding his sister's big, clunky mountain bike. He didn't care. He was riding and having fun.

There was one moment I did not get on camera. A young man riding by yelled, "Mom, I need the duct tape. It's in my car." But I was in the right place at the right time to catch a spill. (No bloggers were harmed in the making of this film.)

A big thanks to Nate for helping me shoot this and to Emde Sports for organizing and running the races. Sign me up!

Fresh air

I’m not much of one to ride bicycles indoors. I understand for some people this is a great way to keep in shape in the “off season”, but for me it’s a non-starter. I ride bikes to get out of the house. If I was going to ride indoors I could have saved myself a lot of money and just bought an exercise bike.

My winter fitness plan

Plus, riding when the weather isn’t ideal makes it hard for me to rationalize not riding when the weather is nice.

I love this sound.

And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it when all the non-cyclists I know tell me I am out of my tree.

CB-Zip

I found this bike up at Wheel Sport. It's a 1991 Bridgestone CB-0. It's been there for at least two months and has been on my mind for a couple weeks. Once a bike gets in like that, it's hard to shake the thought.

I like this frame: double-butted, Tange, with standard-diameter ST and TT; 73 degree HT/ST; mid-trail (about 52mm with the studded tires); takes 26" wheels. It's a lot like the famous XO-1, but tig-welded with less-fancy steel, and not as celebrated. It's also a lot like the Kogswell P/R that Jon is now enjoying. Anyway, $100 complete was a pretty good deal and it came clean and ready to roll.

Liza is not going to ride this winter when it's icy or snowy, so we had an extra set of 26" studded tires. That's how I justified buying this bike. We'll see where it ends up in the spring.

I put the tires, fenders and rack on it and swapped out the cockpit from straight bars to drops with the Softride. I may steal the dyno hub off the tandem for the winter and light it up too. We'll see.

It's fun to ride. I did the quickie Highdrive Trail loop this morning, and aside from the awful riding tires, it handled nicely. I wonder if this might make a good loaded tourer?

A Crash Course In Psychology

It was a moment of helplessness that happened in an instant. It could have been a tight turn on a wet road, an icy patch early one frosty morning, or maybe you just didn't realize your tires would lose traction on those leaves, that old cable car track showing through the asphalt or that thin layer of sand on the road. Regardless, it was like your bike was yanked out from under you and your body, no longer firmly supported and balanced on two wheels and a frame, obeyed the law of gravity and hit the pavement. Maybe even slid a little. Despite how fast it happened your mind is able to replay it back in slow motion, so much so that you think you could have avoided it. "If only I..."

You pick yourself up--quickly. Not because of the dangers of other traffic. It's the embarrassment. Here you are...a grown person...crashing on a bicycle...for a silly reason...and no one to blame...but yourself. "If only I..."

Paying little attention to the pain in your wrist or your hip or your shoulder, you pick up your bike and examine it. Your body can heal but your bike is your investment, your baby, or your work of art. Is it scratched? Is anything bent or broken? Are the wheels true enough to continue? How is the derailleur? Is the side of the saddle scraped away? Did a spoke break? Are the handlebars straight? Assessing the damage, the thought persists, "If only I..."

Your body interrupts to tell you how much more important it is than your prized LBS-purchased, name brand, pedal-driven mode of transportation. The aching, bruising and stinging reveal the many ways you have traumatized your flesh. You put on your best face and try to shake it off but your nerves persist in complaining about the unwarranted ill treatment. "If only I..."

You straddle the top tube and your hands are comforted by the familiar feel of the brake hoods. Stepping on a pedal and pushing off, you begin slowly, listening for any strange sounds coming from your bike and telling your sore muscles, strained ligaments and raw skin that everything is okay. They grudgingly acquiesce. The bike may have a scar, but you know you can rely on it. Like an alloy, body and bike coalesce and you eventually return to your rhythm. Again you reflect on what happened. "If only I..."

And for a time you'll ride past that same spot with a certain amount of caution. You'll coast. Your fingers will be ready on the brakes, maybe squeezing them just a little. You might even unclip one shoe. "If only I..."

This time you'll be ready.

As if.

CENTENNIAL TRAIL ON STREET VIEW

The Centennial Trail is being considered for inclusion in the Google Street View Special Collection of sites mapped with non-motorized technology.

More than 25,000 sites were nominated, the list was narrowed and the Centennial Trail is still in the running.

Go to the link below to vote for the trail.

https://services.google.com:443/fb/forms/streetviewussuggestions/?utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=van&utm_source=en-van-na-us-gns-svn-com/trike