Clik here to view.
Battaglin Portofino - Where Steel Imitates Carbon Fiber
Battaglin bicycles began in 1981, shortly after Giovanni Battaglin won the Giro d'Italia/Vuelta a España grand tour "double." The bike brand achieved its greatest fame when Irishman Stephen Roche won...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Red Dots Cycling Caps
If you're like me (and if you're reading this you probably are, at least a little) then you probably appreciate the classic look of a traditional cycling cap. Vintage caps with team logos, or favorite...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New Bikes for the Retro-Kids: Headbadges
I'm making progress on the new bikes for the Retro-Kids - bit by bit. One update I'd like to share at the moment is on headbadges.After getting the frames powder coated, I decided not to re-decal the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Modifying Kool Stop Brake Pads
Updating vintage brakes with modern pads and cables is a great and easy way to improve their performance. Modern cables often have less friction, which can lighten the "feel" of an old pair of brakes,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New Bikes for the Retro-Kids: Update
One of the new bikes for my daughters is just about finished - nothing left but a few final adjustments. We had a beautiful spring morning with clear skies and brilliant sunshine so I took the bike...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Not April Fools
Yes, it's April 1, and it might have seemed like a joke when I stepped outside this morning, but it was no April Fools gag. We had snow and 25° temperatures this morning for the ride to work. Keep in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You Don't Pay Taxes!
I'll bet a lot of you have heard this one. An angry driver puts you at risk, either by their inattention, ignorance, impatience - or just homicidal hostility. When confronted, they respond with some...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New Bikes for the Retro-Kids: Another One Done
If you've been following the progress on the new bikes for the Retro-Kids, then you've probably been waiting for a final update to see the second bike finished. Well, it's pretty much there. Let's take...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rebecca Twigg: The Kind of Follow Up You Never Want to Write
A few years ago, I wrote an article Whatever Happened To Rebecca Twigg? The occasion was her 52nd birthday and it was an overview of her stellar career as one of America's best bicycle racers, and the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wheelbuilding Saturday
I spent this past Saturday lacing up a new pair of wheels. I've covered wheel building here on the blog before (Here and Here) so I won't go into a ton of detail about it. But suffice it to say, wheel...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Motobecane Conversion
As mentioned in my last post, I've started working on a 650B conversion on an old Motobecane. I picked up the frame pretty cheap - the paint was tired, but the frame seemed to be in good shape...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Chater-Lea Returns
Chater-Lea is one of those grand old British names of bicycle lore (as well as motorcycles and even cars). The brand dates back to the end of the 19th century, and they produced high-end bicycle...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Motobecane 650B Conversion Project - Cockpit
The next part of my Motobecane 650B conversion project involves "cockpit" items - bars, stem, and levers. On most bikes this should just be a matter of choosing parts you like and which fit your...
View ArticleClik here to view.
RIP Roland Della Santa
One of the greats of American bicycle frame building died last week. Roland Della Santa, who was 72 years old, was found by a friend, having apparently died peacefully in his home.At the North American...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pacenti 650B Tires
Time for another update on the Motobecane conversion project: this time, it's tires. For 650B tires, I chose 38mm Pacenti Pari-Motos made by Panaracer. In terms of price, they cost more than a diehard...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Nearly There: Motobecane 650B Conversion
Well, the Motobecane Grand Jubile 650B conversion is nearly there. I still have a few odds and ends to complete - install toe clips and straps, wrap the bars, get some fenders, etc. - but it's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bike Commuting Wrap-Up
Another school year is coming to a close, and it's time for a look back at my bike-commuting numbers.Last year was such a big record-breaker (132 days - 76% bike-to-work average) that this year seems...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Summer Begins With A Bike Ride
School is out and I've officially been done with work for a week now. But Summer begins with a bike ride - or at least it doesn't feel like Summer until I get out on a weekday for a ride with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Befendered
Is that a word? Befendered? If it isn't, it should be. And it works better than "bemudguarded."I'm not about to say that all bikes need them (in fact, it would be difficult or impossible to mount them...
View ArticleClik here to view.
650B Ride Report
After a Thursday with nothing but rain and cooler temps, Friday turned out to be a beautiful day for riding. We had brilliant skies, low humidity, and temps in the upper 60s. Perfect. I decided to take...
View Article