A quick ride

Come along with me on my motorbike up the road.

Trout

Some people think New York is all city, but the fact is that it's mostly rural. Got out to do some fishing and caught a 15" trout. The kids loved it.

Back again

I'm still here. I am going to be blogging again soon with Summer on it's way, and more adventures to share.

Sold Victor

Today Victor the Vintage Raleigh found a new home with, an adorable new couple, I wish them luck.

Updated pics of the Raleigh

I have decided to sell my Raleigh DL-1, it's for sale on my local craigslist here are some updated pics:
I want $100 for it and another $100 if I change the mattress saddle to a Brooks b66
Email me if interested, ask questions in the comments.
Local ad linkway

Happy Easter

Spending time with my family, and a little on my bike.

For Sale, and Facebook

I am going to be selling my Raleigh DL-1 soon, I want the money to fund some other projects I have been wanting to accomplish. I might even consider some trades. It is ready to ride, but definitely not a show piece. I does also have cream Schwalbe Delta Marathon Cruisers on it now. I will post a recent pic soon.
Here's  an older pic:

E-mail me if you are interested and live close to Upstate New York.
Also I have a Facebook page now, see the link in right column.

No More Procrastinating, and The Enlightened Cyclist

My  fixie with Eighthinch bullhorns

 

Eighthinch Crankset& bottom bracket

My pseudo-Walmart bike

The Enlightened Cyclist, came in more than half way through.

Parts In, Big Tree

I ordered some parts from various places, one of them Eighthinch, I got the stuff sooner then expected, I ordered bullhorns, bottom bracket(has anybody seen the price on those $18!!) and a crankset.
I will post some pics soon.
The crankset looks beefy although it's pretty light, only time will tell.
I also went with my friend Jon looking for some old mill site, didn't find it, but did find this huge tree, well huge for New York

Via really crappy cameraphone

Probably by far the biggest tree I have seen, I don't how to put it in perspective but I'm a big guy and this thing dwarfs me.

First Spring Bike Trip

I went on a small bike trip yesterday I am too tired for the shortness of  the trip.
My friend and I embarked on this journey to find some old house sites, we never did.
We started in Fort Plain, me with my fresh build

Via crappy cameraphone

and Jon with his dept store MTB.

We had some fun and lots of pain!!
The trail is unpaved and similar to pedaling through about 4-6" of snow, it was really soft, and littered with horse tracks which acted as jackhammers to our rear's and other regions.
I also carried every tool needed to tear my whole bike down, about 40lbs. so my shoulders and back are killing me.(Good thing I did, I got a flat)
The trail we took traveled along the old south side tracks (South side of the Mohawk River)
and also the old Erie canal.
Here's a screenshot of the trip on Google Earth.

Along the way we saw a dead spotted salamander, and a medium sized snapping turtle here

Via crappier cameraphone

She was probably ready to lay eggs.

We did get refresh at a local spring though, and I refilled my water.

Over I am really sore so I cut out of work half-day, but a good ride, and good company.

Round trip was 18.5mis. according to my comp, 18.3 according to Google Earth.

lukeofny

New Fixie

Since the weather has gotten nice I found myself pining for a fixed gear again.
So I hit the old standby... Craigslist
I found a Motobecane  for $25 I made the call and went to the guys' house.
He opened the garage and there was tons of bikes mostly old american cruiser crap.
He showed me the Motobecane and it looked too small, then said he has a really light weight one for the same price, rattle can black and rusty. I hefted it, it was light, and about my size.
I said I would take it.
I got it home and asked myself "What have I got myself into?"
So I started disassembling it, I notice things that I didn't pick up on earlier, 700c alloy rims with the spoke reinforcements, fluted micro-adjust seatpost, S&R crankset, wait a sec, is that a B on the fork crown!
Yes I picked up a Japanese Bianchi for $25.
I stripped it, painted it, and a assembled within 24h.
Here is the result :

Via crappy cameraphone

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody!!!
Remember it's not as dangerous drinking and riding bike as it is drinking and driving
seeing how the only person you are going to kill on a bike is yourself!

Slacking

I have taken the last few days off and have done nothing productive, I was going to go for a ride today but I backed out. Snowing, and if I don't need to go out I won't. Sorry for being lazy, hopefully I will get some film developed and have some pics to post soon.

Bikes of Upstate New York, A.K.A. Sam Walton's Revenge

I don't usually poke fun at other people's bike but check this one out, spotted outside Mickey D's

This is the kind of bikes that cover Upstate New York.

On deeper inspection:

Yes the forks or stem are on backwards.

And yes that is a gel comfort saddle:

With rear suspension and fat tires.

Judging by the seat height this person has about a 22" inseam.

Clear Sailing

Well the bike trail is finally thawed thanks to our unseasonable warm weather in New York.
Now I don't have to worry about being ran off the road :)

Thank You Snowmobilers

A special thanks goes out to all the snowmobilers that illegally use the rail tral for their personal trail.
 Because of the warm weather we have had I decided to give the rail trail a go. Friday after work I headed down I hit some snow and ice, nothing nonnegotiable at first, just a little sliding.
Then I hit a large  section of ice about 1000' long and tried to ride it. I got about 10' in and crack, down I went. Up I came with a severely bruised ego.

Happy Birthday to:me

Celebrating my birthday tomorrow, but started early tonight with some Harp

Via Crappy Camera phone

                           

Cyclists, Yes People Are Trying To Kill You

Yesterday two vehicles opened their doors while driving in an attempt to get me off the road, one shouted while doing so.
Snow was covering both license plates so I could do nothing legally.
Now my question is: What does my wife tell my children when there Daddy is dead.
Probably something like: Well kids, some people thought it a joke to open their car door and hit Daddy and he fell and they ran him over then drove away.
Perhaps I should  prepare a will and review my life insurance.
Feel free to chime in in comments of how you would handle a situation like this.

Fat Cycling, Cycling For Obese People

Clydesdale, super Clydesdale or Pachyderm, animals, well maybe. These words are used to define cyclists of larger build. These classifications are best defined here.
I would be in the pachyderm section.
I don't know my exact weight right now, but last time I checked it was anywhere from 363-357 lbs.
I am also short for a man at '5 7" my waist is just a little smaller around than I am tall.
I however fat, do not have a hang-up, what I mean by that is I know several people ( that shall remain nameless) that are overweight that think they can't do anything because they are fat.
  I overcame this mentality fully when I moved to Johnstown, a small city(town) from the rural setting I grew up in. I walked everywhere and for the first time I realized that skinny people get winded and feel pain too.
  Now I would like to share what works for me, but understand that this is constantly changing; new products, trials, errors, failures.

Frames
I have rode few bikes being fat and I forgot to mention that I am not wealthy.
Aluminum bmx
GT mtb, forgot the make sorry
Schwinn aluminum mtb
Raleigh DL-1
Shogun Primo Sport
Raleigh Record
Free Spirit Greenbriar
Free Spirit Sunbird
Lotus Excelle Sport Series
 I have had a few problems with frames; the Raleigh's forks bent under my massive weight, the aluminum frames tweaked too much but they were both smaller frames, the Free Spirits are tanks (super heavy straight-gage gaspipe tubing), the Lotus flexes but doesn't bend same for the Shogun.
 Bottom Brackets
The cup and cone bottom brackets don't work, they loosen up because of stresses from weight (which is fine because they are pretty much obsolete). I use a Shimano UN-54
One piece cranks bend
Wheels
I have only a few problems with wheels, either the axle bends ( not often) or spokes break/wheel goes out of true. I haven't had any problems with 36h aluminum rims laced x3 or x4. Cross 2 (x2) spokes break.
Tires
I like the cheapo Bell Streetser's, and Schwable Delta Cruisers they both are tough the Bell is a folder, I am also satisfied with the Kenda Kwikroller's (28c), and almost any mountain bike tire is going to do the job as long as the pressure is up.
Handlebars 
I have had no problems with any handlebars, but realize that if you have bars that are lower you're supporting alot of your weight with your wrists and hands.
Seats
I like Brooks but they are expensive, I would have tried a Selle An-atomic but they said I was too fat for there beta testing.
Don't skimp on a saddle the better the saddle the more you will ride. Soft saddles suck don't be conned by them they maybe comfy at first but after few minutes/miles they will hurt. Sprung saddles may absorb some harshness.
Seatpost Clamps
This is something to pay attention to when you are looking at bikes, you want a seatpost clamp that is robust (because you will have to tighten it tighter)
Pedals
Never use plastic pedals they are sure to fail at the most importune time, I use alloy pedals with replaceable bearings.

Hopefully this will get you riding if you are overweight. I ride 5 miles 4 days a week more if it is nice out, but this New York, and the weather like most people, doesn't cooperate. If you are overweight feel free to post in the comments what works for you.

Merry Christmas from lukeofny

The End Of EcoVelo.info

Alan & Michael from EcoVelo dropped a bomb today, they are closing shop.
After years of being the voice of bicycle commuting and life, they are throwing in the towel.
Alot of bike blogs and bike websites are stopping or slowing down.
I am sad for EcoVelo and Yehuda Moon I will miss them.
 Here's the link to the announcement: http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/12/01/happy-trails/ 
Maybe this goes along with my mini rant here: http://lukeofny.blogspot.com/2011/11/autumn-cycling.html