I’m not generally one for the inefficiency of single or even double bike racks, but when one stores one’s ride in one’s home, you have to be clever about it to make it aesthetically pleasing*, and the cantilever with double-grabs (SugarDVD) here is pretty cool.

http://www.gizmag.com/bike-valet-bicycle-storage/21234/

*Or, like Lung, you roll bikes into this corner or that and then stare at them.

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So, when I first started planning the bike capable of carrying 2 kids plus groceries, it was between a Metrofiet, CETMA, and an Xtracycle Conversion. The CETMA was the most awesome, the Xtracycle the most reasonable. I settled on the Xtracycle. In Team Lope Junior Squad Project Version 1.0, I imagined building out of a mountain bike, specifically a 29er, giving me the option of breaking free and riding it if I wanted, in a conventional mountain biking scenario. I waffled a bit between the 29er and a 26" MTB standard, each offering advantages and disadvantages. Then, this past week, I started plotting the conversion of Rapscallion INTO the cargo bike. Sure, it’s a fixed gear, but why not? The Xtracycle has a derailleur mount, grab the extra parts needed, and run with it!

Over the last few days, though, I did more research. For one thing, I was really hot for using disc brakes on this project, for some added stopping power with that rear load on these hills, as I plan to ride said hills. Nay, I plan to RAHHHHDE them. That would require a fork with disc brake mounts, and a new front wheel. Plus disc brake system, front and rear. Next, I’d need a second brake and brake lever, both of which I have in the shop. Next, bigger tyres for stability, keeping within the size limitation of the Xtracycle Free Radical frame. Next, full drivetrain (front and rear deraiileurs, new rear wheel with cassette. So, basically, almost a full kit. Then, Lung advised I check rear dropout spacing, and sure enough, even with the 700c Free Radical kit, I’m 10-15mm short on the fixie frame.

Hm.

So I did some more research, went and did some field checks, and I think I have the new solution, Version 2.0, which is basically Version 1.0. I gave it a new version number because technically Version 1.5, the fixed conversion, slipped in there. I think I still like the 29er configuration. Little bit less maneuverable at low speeds, but much higher rolling speed per gear and easier over rough terrain. I spend all my time on road and fixed bikes anyway, so the 29er (the MTB industry can’t say 700c because, you know…) is a comfortable size for me. I tested the bike I was interested in today, and it felt VERY comfortable. I did the math: using a new bike was cheaper than a conversion. By a mile. I found the bike I was interested in, in my size, on sale, and test rode it. THis never happens to me, mind you, because I haven’t bought a built bike at a shop since what… 2000? Wow.

So, the new-old plan is thus:

Cannondale Trail SL 29er 4 in ‘Saffron’
Disc brakes, front suspension, 21 speeds, wide rims.

Xtracycle Free Radical Family Kit, with 2 seats, flight deck board and side panniers.
(I’ll get one seat first, the second in later summer)

And for tyres, switch out for sweet sweet Schwalbe Kodiak slicks.
I need the narrower tyre for the Xtracycle clearance, and I’m generally not planning single-track off-road rides with the kids and a bag full of eggs.

On track!

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Short and sweet: BEST PANTS EVER MAN
I love em love em love em
soft and ultralight so it’s like hardly there when riding, yet warm. No annoying friction or bumps like with jeans or dickies sometimes. Super comfortable.
I will say they wont take a beating like a proper pair of Dickies would, but they’re not for that sort of abuse. But I love em 1000 times.

http://www.chromebagsstore.com/apparel/ … icker.html

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This was a custom build by Stanridge that Prolly posted like 33 years ago. I found it in my concept file for bike builds. Just gorgeous work.

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2011/03/ … _the_g.php

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I remember when Cadence teased the Megane glasses, fabricated in Japan on a limited basis. I remember when they were ‘about to drop’ in March of last year. And you know what? I’m not certain they ever did. I can’t find evidence of it online. I’d think the lucky buyers (let’s assume it was a very small number, since apparently they were going for $300-500) would blog the living shit out of it.

Sure, I was in it just for the three dot motif, but what can I say. Dork is as dork does.

http://www.collectlondon.com/blog/2011/ … xhibition/

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Dig these photos of a BLK MRKT NSF as shot by Nick Brandreth.
This was the model for what almost became Ghostal, before Ghostal stayed white and became Ghostal in the first place, let alone the future Rapscallion, which will actually be a lot closer to this then you’d think, in the end. But what a gorgeous build.

http://blackmarketbikes.blogspot.com/20 … ersey.html

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Jason at Superb has shared that he is continuing the prototype glow int he dark everything project he started at Cambridge. Sounds reasonable, I suppose, but uhm.

http://superbbicycle.com/2011/12/28/glo … ark-bikes/

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On Raposcallion, my baby/cargo carrier, I keep changing bars as I experiment with finding a sweet spot between the moon bar upright riding position and the pitched-forward fixed-gear position when the kid seat is removed. I tried shorty arc bars I had cut down for Wrongbike at one point, and the latest is Sparrow knock-offs twisted up sort of like risers. I’m finding a bar position that will be fun when the kid seat is gone, but also allow me more of a conventional riding position even when Zoe (or Matteo, eventually) is on there. So, anyway, an aside to all that: I keep pulling grips off. Kind of wasteful when you don’t have an air compressor around to blast the grip off from within. This is the only bike I have that uses actual grips, the others all being tape-wrapped.

So, I got it in my head to look for grips that were removable. Beyond the usual shop methods, of course. And so I eventually found my way to these: Speed Metal by Portland Design Group. They aren’t the only grips out there using compression bolts to hold into place, but they would match the eventual look of this bike aesthetically, so why not.

It’s a pretty cool system. The inner ring is actually the outermost layer, contoured for your thumb, and the outer tube, the grip itself, slides up under it.

Each end point is secured with a tiny allen (of different sizes, interestingly) and overall it feels quite secure. In my case it’s only half-successful because the grips are too long for the curve point of the bar. So the outermost edge and that clamp ring are really just hanging out. But I secured them with plugs I fashioned and we’ll see how it works out. I tried putting blinkies on the ends but it looked kind of awkward. I may return to that anyway, just because I like having an outboard blinker when kids are on-board.

Pretty cool product!

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This pic is actually about a week old, but since I was up climbing over the hill again this morning on Crook Type 3, I was again reminded that I need to get some time set aside to finally commit to the slammed stem position. I’ve spent about 6 months now gradually decreasing the stack on this bike, with the intention of adjusting to the lower reach slowly enough that my back/pelvis recovery wouldn’t be adversely affected. I really like it now, so I need to get this spleen-killer off of the front end of this thing.

Great ride morning: cold but not frigid, energy stores despite only having coffee, burning legs and chest after getting to the summit… what a great way to get to work!

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You may recall that some months back, I came out of Peet’s, and discovered that some hooligan had stolen my bar ends off of Crook Type 3, My CinelliXMASH. Not the bike, which was unlocked. But the bar ends. I had used sweet black crank bolts. You never know, right?

Anyway, yesterday, I stopped about two blocks from where Peet’s is, to tie my perpetually untying Sambas (even with double knots)… and I spotted something in the foliage by the sidewalk.

YEP. One of my stem bolts, still wrapped with electritole tape, now rusted from exposure.
That’s a trip. The hooligans abandoned them after the theft. And trippier still, I found one.

Crazy.

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