Click on the photo for big.Monday, February 18, 2008
BMX, Wine & Food
On Sunday, CTB and I took a jaunt via Swanson and Riverhead, to watch some BMX racing at Albany, and finishing up at the Devonport Wine & Food Festival.My day started on the train from Otahuhu to Newmarket, whence I rode to CTB's subdelux bachelor accomodation at Waterview.
By 9:30am, CTB was out of bed, dressed in appropriate gear, his Hillman fixie was suitably festooned with baggage, and the coffee machine was warmed up.
Our route took us along the North Western cycleway to Swanson, where CTB dropped me like a stone on the climb up Birdwood. So much for his assertion that he was handicapping himself by riding the fixie.
At Riverhead, we stopped at Hallertau for a beer before climbing Ridge Rd to the top of Highway 18. Descending into Albany, the boot was on the other foot as CTB ran out of legspeed while I coasted.
We spent long enough at the BMX watch a few races and inhale a hotdog each, then headed to Devonport for the Wine & Food Festival. There we ate yet more, sampled a few glasses of wine, the highlight being the Thornbury Pinot Gris, and were entertained by Hello Sailor and The Lady Killers.
By 9:30am, CTB was out of bed, dressed in appropriate gear, his Hillman fixie was suitably festooned with baggage, and the coffee machine was warmed up.
Our route took us along the North Western cycleway to Swanson, where CTB dropped me like a stone on the climb up Birdwood. So much for his assertion that he was handicapping himself by riding the fixie.
At Riverhead, we stopped at Hallertau for a beer before climbing Ridge Rd to the top of Highway 18. Descending into Albany, the boot was on the other foot as CTB ran out of legspeed while I coasted.
We spent long enough at the BMX watch a few races and inhale a hotdog each, then headed to Devonport for the Wine & Food Festival. There we ate yet more, sampled a few glasses of wine, the highlight being the Thornbury Pinot Gris, and were entertained by Hello Sailor and The Lady Killers.
We returned to Auckland on the ferry, parting at Britomart where I caught another train home to Otahuhu.Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Toei 'British Lightweight Model'
Found during my daily websurfing routine:
A Toei British Lightweight model, on Mr Akuta's 'My Cycle Touring with Toei' website (here mangled by Babelfish).
As you can see from Mr Akuta's own steeds, and those of his friends, most Toeis are in the French style, so an English-inspired Toei is something of a departure.
This bike features the bilaminate construction and lug design of an early 50s Claud Butler Avant Coureur, with the 'Greatest Hits of the 50s, 60s and 70s' component choices that are almost compulsory on English frames.
A Toei British Lightweight model, on Mr Akuta's 'My Cycle Touring with Toei' website (here mangled by Babelfish).As you can see from Mr Akuta's own steeds, and those of his friends, most Toeis are in the French style, so an English-inspired Toei is something of a departure.
This bike features the bilaminate construction and lug design of an early 50s Claud Butler Avant Coureur, with the 'Greatest Hits of the 50s, 60s and 70s' component choices that are almost compulsory on English frames.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
NAHBS 2008
Burn up a few hours of corporate broadband ogling some pix from the 08 North American Handmade Bicycle Show:Bike Portland's Flickr album
Clockwork Bikes downloadable NAHBS album, is now also at Wooljersey
Alex Wetmore's photos
Pegoretti Luigino photo from Clockwork Bikes
Friday, February 01, 2008
Italian Mystery Frame, part 2
In between the various annoyances and outright calamities of last weekend, I did manage to finish painting 'Esposito', the mystery Italian frame.Its obvious that lug lining is not one of my natural talents, but I have seen much worse.
I'm not sure what to do with this frame.The demise of the Holdsworth calls for a new fixie, which would probably be the sensible outcome, but I have a hankering for a 60s style Italian road racer.
I already have most of the parts for such a bike, including the 1968 Nuovo Record rear derailler that came with the frame.
Campag bar-end shifters and Universal 61 centrepulls would definitely feature.
Although they are a few years older, I have a pair of Campagnolo Gran Sport hubs that are too nice to keep on the shelf forever.
It could be just the ticket for a return to l'Eroica
Please email if you have any thoughts as to the identity of this frame.
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