Bicycle Snow Cover!
As we head towards the New Year, I give you this image of our neighbor's awesome bicycle cover!It is snowing here in Boston again and the forecast promises that it will continue doing so for four days straight. So far, I have not exactly been a heroic winter cyclist, but in 2010, I hope to get increasingly more comfortable. Other cycling goals include: touring long distance, conquering drop bars, developing stronger upper body musculature for wielding the Pashley, learning more about bicycle components, and dare I say, wheel building? Yes, that may be in my future over the winter months. Stay tuned and have a Happy New Year!
Does the cover have locking provisions? If so, it'd be perfect if I ever had to leave my commuter bike parked outside instead of in my office.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI've been learning how to do almost all the maintenance on our Raleigh's bit by bit (apart from pulling apart the rear hub), and it's been a fun and interesting learning experience. I'm surprised actually, at how simple bikes are.
Wheelbuilding isn't too bad either, I had a friend walk me through rebuilding the rear wheel on my Electra Amsterdam with a nice heavy rim and spokes. The problem for me with doing more wheelbuilding is it really requires a truing stand and spoke wrench and stuff that I would use so infrequently it's not worth having really.
The little bit that I had to ride in the snow here in Portland so far made me again thankful for a few key components of my Raleigh (which are common to many city bikes) - wide tires with good tread, internally geared hub, and full chain case, as well as just the weight and stability of the bike. Was reading comments from people riding with derailleurs saying they were getting snow packed into the sprockets and their chain was slipping, people riding with clipless pedals had to walk because they would get snow stuck in the cleats on their shoes when they had to stop at a stop sign/signal and then they couldn't clip onto the pedals, people with skinny slicks having to walk or struggle up hills and such because they had no traction. Made me remember why a good city bike is so practical when you really need it as your primary transportation.
Happy New Year to everyone!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in all of your (cycling and otherwise) resolutions... they seem completely reasonable and doable.
ReplyDeleteAs for me? My end-of-year resolution to bike commute every day till the end of December, regardless of weather, has been achieved! Now for the most extreme of the Winter months...
Happiest of Happy New Years to you and the Co-Habitant!
-a fellow Boston area cyclist ;)
Astroluc - So impressive that you've commuted every day of December this year! There have certainly been some fun days. PS: Are you entering the group show at the Chorus Gallery?
ReplyDeleteSteve - I was wondering about that and will ask her the next time I see her. Still, even with locking provisions I guess someone could always slash through it or what have you if they were in a vandalising frame of mind. Our street is literally on the border between a very nice and a not so nice neighborhood, and unlike my neighbor I do not leave my bike looked outdoors for more than an hour.
portlandize - At this point I know some thing about bike maintenance and component fitting in theory and can discuss it with people, but do not spend a lot of time working on my bikes. This is partly due to a complete and utter lack of space - not just storage space, but space to even lay things out without making the entire apartment look like a warehouse. But mostly it is due to lack of time. Those who know me, know that this blog is actually a small fraction of what I do with my life/day; I have a high-stress dayjob, work as an artist at the same time, and have a few consulting projects on the side to boot. If I add bicycle mechanics to that, one of the other things would have to go, as there are simply not enough hours in a day : (
I enjoy reading this bicycle blog immensely - especially from work. At first it seemed odd that someone enjoyed riding old (not the fastest) beautiful bikes - especially in this city where speed and agility can save your life. Then the gestalt of the whole thing took hold and I am strangely drawn to the non-harried/non-adrelaline fueled craziness that your adventures entail, which is a refreshing departure from much of my grind on my best pal. This has led me to stop and "smell the roses" a bit more during my daily affair with the gears. Thank you.
ReplyDelete@Filigree: Yeah, I have the same space constraint issue, my maintenance happens in the living room of our apartment. It's not great, but it works when I need it to (which thankfully is pretty rare).
ReplyDeleteOf course, the reason we have bike shops is exactly what you mentioned - we don't all have the ability (mostly time or desire) to become full-service mechanics. While it's nice knowing how to do a lot of things, there are still things I will certainly take my bike in for if at all possible.
You just do what you do. No idealism, it's just a tool to get you places. If you enjoy working on them and you feel its a priority, go for it, if not, just use it as a tool to get you places and make use of the people who do enjoy working on them and get paid for it :) Same thing for winter riding - just ride when it's an effective tool to get you to where you're going. If it's not (and it isn't always), don't use it.
Best and warmest wishes for the New Year!
We have a motorcycle cover for our Bakfiets. It works mostly well but not completely waterproof so...
ReplyDeleteHappy 2010. Those are some great goals for the new year.
Happy New Year, Filigree, and thanks for a year of informative, interesting and lovely posts!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Filigree and MDI! Those are some worthy new year's resolutions Filigree, and I hope you manage to do all that in 2010. When the snow melts that is ;-)
ReplyDeleteCheers from a sunny and warm Down Under...
". . .it as a tool to get you places. . ."
ReplyDeleteWith independence. I include independence from outside "experts" (typically a high school kid or a moonlighting cab driver). One year's auto insurance will buy you every tool you'll ever need and it only takes a handful of hours to learn how to use them.
Something to think about, but to each their own.
Happy anniversary of the Imperial Era Day. Wake me up on Mayday.
Happy New Year to Filigree and MDI.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a better year 2009 for us(me & bf)
because of our encounter with both of you here.
I'm 'lucky' in that I've an 'unpaid' (:D heeeheee)but patient & devoted (to me :D haaaahhaa ...er-hmmmmm ..hmm! ) , 'bike-mechanic instructor', to train me how to attend to minor bike-repairs.
But what is really important is that the use of the bicycle(s) have enriched our lives more.
Filigree, you could be a fantastically wonderful MDirector of an equally fantastic bike-shop of your own. (Oooops , I hope I have not been too 'intrusive' .. it's just that we have high regards for you, your intense interest in bicycles and bicycling and your 'selfless'- you know what we mean - sharing of your interests ).
Thanks for sharing so much with us.;)
Oooops I forgot to 'sign off' in my previous post! ....Lemony
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to Filigree and MDI.
It has been a better year 2009 for us(me & bf)
because of our encounter with both of you here.
I'm 'lucky' in that I've an 'unpaid' (:D heeeheee)but patient & devoted (to me :D haaaahhaa ...er-hmmmmm ..hmm! ) , 'bike-mechanic instructor', to train me how to attend to minor bike-repairs.
But what is really important is that the use of the bicycle(s) have enriched our lives more.
Filigree, you could be a fantastically wonderful MDirector of an equally fantastic bike-shop of your own. (Oooops , I hope I have not been too 'intrusive' .. it's just that we have high regards for you and your intense interest in bicycles and bicycling).
Thanks for sharing so much with us.;)
Lemony.
Thank you everyone for all the good wishes!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you'll have a full 2010 :) Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone out there in vintage bike land recommend a cool bell for my Electra Amsterdam? Thanks, Kimon
ReplyDeleteI know that Electra make their own accessories, including bells - check out their website?
ReplyDelete