tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-547404715764678572024-03-04T20:32:10.515-08:00DandyCyclean appreciation of the proper gentleman's bicycleUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-40704305389731255512010-10-30T23:02:00.000-07:002010-10-30T23:02:03.409-07:00The road less cycledIt's raining in San Francisco right now, and the streets are thronging with out-of-towners, here for Hallowe'en parties. In this unbikeable situation, I long for an open road of clean, dry tarmac, dressed up with a variety of trees and greenery, perhaps a canal or lake to provide a view, and not a car within miles. <br />
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Here are some photos of appealing cycling roads that I gleaned from Flickr (sources are listed below each one). Like all pictures on this blog, they're clickable for embiggening.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRqa4Kw0ibghL-h_GfuE3phrsTLZyDKr6-QyVYMsdHIeO3Qdghyphenhyphenoto1-9CjgP_PPOlCWS4zHNtMEye0nEUGyErTC7wzoaZ4OxTAvYoMeq28VwW3g99naNwXchA431-vSwVxfqOKpLiM8/s1600/cycling_roads02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRqa4Kw0ibghL-h_GfuE3phrsTLZyDKr6-QyVYMsdHIeO3Qdghyphenhyphenoto1-9CjgP_PPOlCWS4zHNtMEye0nEUGyErTC7wzoaZ4OxTAvYoMeq28VwW3g99naNwXchA431-vSwVxfqOKpLiM8/s640/cycling_roads02.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlennis/3050624375/">source</a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraytw8PkvWMecnKcrHK084R0vRBqWTiszjLKXD0DNkd1GpqANPAlPV1D3MUEZuP0lbXzihoDbf_haF1Wvg9M2-GV2XXoRyav5p6jrNHaOfuhwBDIhxWQn6TxFZ6RFUFd2YnSP-8MQHqs/s1600/cycling_roads04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraytw8PkvWMecnKcrHK084R0vRBqWTiszjLKXD0DNkd1GpqANPAlPV1D3MUEZuP0lbXzihoDbf_haF1Wvg9M2-GV2XXoRyav5p6jrNHaOfuhwBDIhxWQn6TxFZ6RFUFd2YnSP-8MQHqs/s400/cycling_roads04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steffe/3693339911/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdilz5DLX7f3W87zwuLm-LLS2OneApXCStvIW_USWxtXOZQNxuBQoV697FztC-Us9jwawGW9wCBy3Z_PPwsifnoBWOz566tDbTO0aj83DRGe7Ymo1hF6ZdzD1hdZWz_ZZwpbI8pkR2FOg/s1600/cycling_roads06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdilz5DLX7f3W87zwuLm-LLS2OneApXCStvIW_USWxtXOZQNxuBQoV697FztC-Us9jwawGW9wCBy3Z_PPwsifnoBWOz566tDbTO0aj83DRGe7Ymo1hF6ZdzD1hdZWz_ZZwpbI8pkR2FOg/s400/cycling_roads06.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/muledriver/3516223090/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2HyXn8lYmT6bRFNM2XV6YhxNl7dV7hC8ozJPRp67yD4vCNprAOCRFdQ3tN7lXbfmBOL9jL6DZPXKDK6HQzGp5xuD35ag53AlwUYYeiFvfkmiIk6UBSxULP8z9wTJSLOoUtVTQ_fnxLc/s400/cycling_roads09.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dzm/531536575/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuHg8zbxofkF-ZwwUrNfvSSgvMSuHbzVzlusz0_h_0NLawKXiOQaCpLkzH3YeeWv8Q8PEuB9H-q5sVzNXL8JEN-yq3N-JaT0f4wCXqAqm-fnRh6M5JzI4x6ce0srkDbLdjhYDQjdbhfg/s1600/cycling_roads10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuHg8zbxofkF-ZwwUrNfvSSgvMSuHbzVzlusz0_h_0NLawKXiOQaCpLkzH3YeeWv8Q8PEuB9H-q5sVzNXL8JEN-yq3N-JaT0f4wCXqAqm-fnRh6M5JzI4x6ce0srkDbLdjhYDQjdbhfg/s400/cycling_roads10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rotrauds-kleine-welt/3522852219/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYn7lLCidKrrrXBgETmt8xHlVcA7-W6_WV0wlEPjNi_4Nr8oyh5R0nMGQMxRLyjQ6Wpx6LzKiqNDSYqgn5Xs1FL-Vh0OuEcCSjFVgpYaTWjzU4HG6IB0XrfMxODdUBa1t6GpACJs3sHs/s1600/cycling_roads16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYn7lLCidKrrrXBgETmt8xHlVcA7-W6_WV0wlEPjNi_4Nr8oyh5R0nMGQMxRLyjQ6Wpx6LzKiqNDSYqgn5Xs1FL-Vh0OuEcCSjFVgpYaTWjzU4HG6IB0XrfMxODdUBa1t6GpACJs3sHs/s400/cycling_roads16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/larrythebiker/1738611745/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP94qhc57ibB5bCUYSgw1VDm1N3WUwLIPVer3r1O5YY78umdYeGvSe1rt-e7D6GHaiNCBgKAnRasqWY92AQFpWOyXG8QC83V0qBk-e6dAVtW6c_g25tAcV7cAuTYkxRZvy8odJx5DbaY/s1600/cycling_roads18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP94qhc57ibB5bCUYSgw1VDm1N3WUwLIPVer3r1O5YY78umdYeGvSe1rt-e7D6GHaiNCBgKAnRasqWY92AQFpWOyXG8QC83V0qBk-e6dAVtW6c_g25tAcV7cAuTYkxRZvy8odJx5DbaY/s400/cycling_roads18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bastian/187552381/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zLz-epPR7HT0QJD3jrGbwkAgY_H8aXlPQcKT2zbgriXS6AxBVzNpTayG-SlSUNKCzROtO_h9IJf1y6LQJZpv8VGisilxpklRaYU6Y3CP4ddlHBIA28_rWrisY6RA8ee5vDwUIG1Umf8/s1600/cycling_roads19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zLz-epPR7HT0QJD3jrGbwkAgY_H8aXlPQcKT2zbgriXS6AxBVzNpTayG-SlSUNKCzROtO_h9IJf1y6LQJZpv8VGisilxpklRaYU6Y3CP4ddlHBIA28_rWrisY6RA8ee5vDwUIG1Umf8/s640/cycling_roads19.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22599889@N05/4938076651/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimplnAea4s72jwd0wiDT6ilfD_6yYmQdMlI_m6At5tU9fJcnANd8FghR9nst8ZNGWvOC5FdjCko8UdncCm4nwsHoooYbjNaDHGYistIpfESEIWwCdjHXF5K3KcFvmSVMm3I8xFAjPt_j0/s1600/cycling_roads20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimplnAea4s72jwd0wiDT6ilfD_6yYmQdMlI_m6At5tU9fJcnANd8FghR9nst8ZNGWvOC5FdjCko8UdncCm4nwsHoooYbjNaDHGYistIpfESEIWwCdjHXF5K3KcFvmSVMm3I8xFAjPt_j0/s400/cycling_roads20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindmob/2940222609/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3oo-EUHdGlQqflqccZRUpHQ29qcsYIarShnHl1FjfZT94euxxJovRLbtwwtwDh_HGPbfsj6DBr5GbShkVg_3PVcuzSjyKV9iTTu3i9GrovElQ3FB_rlIoqmB6dohYgv-P6Q_ZHmJC-w/s1600/cycling_roads22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3oo-EUHdGlQqflqccZRUpHQ29qcsYIarShnHl1FjfZT94euxxJovRLbtwwtwDh_HGPbfsj6DBr5GbShkVg_3PVcuzSjyKV9iTTu3i9GrovElQ3FB_rlIoqmB6dohYgv-P6Q_ZHmJC-w/s400/cycling_roads22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnet/4961282914/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuQOeo0H33gvQOw2-mUkCWrfz_SzxOxvgmY_KZbhgrs8yBpJsjxqUeBjrggClQSjOXU3MGMP0Nd33Cvbrrw2L6X98VeDh7q4eSd9wE9YjWLbUkfJOU1dzmW2HY23PxtPKtpirQq9iM-w/s1600/cycling_roads23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuQOeo0H33gvQOw2-mUkCWrfz_SzxOxvgmY_KZbhgrs8yBpJsjxqUeBjrggClQSjOXU3MGMP0Nd33Cvbrrw2L6X98VeDh7q4eSd9wE9YjWLbUkfJOU1dzmW2HY23PxtPKtpirQq9iM-w/s400/cycling_roads23.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22269295@N07/2542512426/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF1XL1d3lOkOtEvKZSY755BpQhof3OJTCnkgAHmKLRXiSPOOoEz191g0d1JGYUNb57_0N88jcvQ419lsMzI1AGtwvYd75nJIOnqtz1NbueDzGt7M27kHzSawGATCmZMMUY1mQiOaz3Rk/s1600/cycling_roads25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF1XL1d3lOkOtEvKZSY755BpQhof3OJTCnkgAHmKLRXiSPOOoEz191g0d1JGYUNb57_0N88jcvQ419lsMzI1AGtwvYd75nJIOnqtz1NbueDzGt7M27kHzSawGATCmZMMUY1mQiOaz3Rk/s400/cycling_roads25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aixcracker/4693691940/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a2WC7DGDKlqhFQMiWCVtLPaGzIn-G7RJ5udo1EusS9D3aue1cyP27i3nZdaYQwHMbQVOpPBdIEqheGmhHtB7TPT8xhdKvB9axCYe_8eTn3-BWBvfKAzuLN9golrj86ruWJSxLAmJBTE/s1600/cycling_roads26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a2WC7DGDKlqhFQMiWCVtLPaGzIn-G7RJ5udo1EusS9D3aue1cyP27i3nZdaYQwHMbQVOpPBdIEqheGmhHtB7TPT8xhdKvB9axCYe_8eTn3-BWBvfKAzuLN9golrj86ruWJSxLAmJBTE/s400/cycling_roads26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8808110@N03/4996360994/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1j45HN7ksW6OW8WsiD3Ld9u-5fuqr2lzmpEPMjvFdpoB1m8MVnOHTOTV_VvU4LAQYo8L2V8MNTJd_OFwk2kKbVovr2QNd4Zfz6yKP-nbIrJo5kN3d5GrUBYd4_UlbDxZb6zrZZfK4es/s1600/cycling_roads30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1j45HN7ksW6OW8WsiD3Ld9u-5fuqr2lzmpEPMjvFdpoB1m8MVnOHTOTV_VvU4LAQYo8L2V8MNTJd_OFwk2kKbVovr2QNd4Zfz6yKP-nbIrJo5kN3d5GrUBYd4_UlbDxZb6zrZZfK4es/s400/cycling_roads30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolregion/4268802304/">source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-51241077659463422202010-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:002010-10-29T20:23:03.344-07:00Mighty HerculesIf these Hercules advertisements from the 1920s and '30s don't make you fall in love with cycling all over again, then sir: your heart is dead.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">For more Hercules goodness, visit <a href="http://herculesmuseum.wordpress.com/">the (virtual) Hercules Museum blog</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-15881225072820762002010-10-27T00:46:00.000-07:002010-10-27T19:07:05.651-07:00Introducing Titania I've been riding vintage bicycles (for these purposes, I mean "cycles predating 1970, or more than 30 years old -- whichever is greater") for about 25 years now. Most of them have been middleweight 3-speeds, and include a Raleigh, a couple of Schwinn "Racers" (which are anything but), and a Gazelle "stadsfiets". Each had their strengths, and each served admirably, especially given the fact that most have been free, or at least very cheap.<br />
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About three years ago, my old Vespa scooter was laid up with gearing troubles, and I thought I'd pick up another middleweight 3-speed to use for short trips while I repaired the Vespa. I posted a "wanted" ad on Craigslist listing my parameters and budget ("no more than $75") and was surprised to get a response from a fellow who lived less than a block away from me. And although we had never met, it transpired that we had worked at the same company, albeit not at the same time. The cycle he was offering was a 1969 Triumph. It's price: $75.<br />
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What's a Triumph, you ask? Well, as the name might suggest, it's related to the British motorcycle company (not the automobile one). In fact, the Triumph Cycle Company predated both. Founded in 1890, it's not the oldest bicycle manufacturer in Britain, but it's still early on. They produced their first all-in-house cycle in 1894, eight years before they expanded into motor-bicycles (as such contraptions were known back then). Soon after WWII, the Triumph Motorcycle Co. sold its bicycle division to BSA, which was soon thereafter swallowed up by the giant Tube Investments Corp., who owned Raleigh, about a dozen other British bicycle brands and everything else from Reynolds (who supplied steel tubing to so many cycle makers) to Swallow Coachbuilding, who made motorcycle sidecars.<br />
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Triumph bicycles were produced in Coventry until the Tube Investments acquisition, after which they moved to the sprawling Raleigh complex in Nottingham. They were made in a variety of grades, generally just below Raleigh's own offerings, although above some of the other brands produced at the Nottingham plant. Production of the Triumph brand seems to have ceased in the early-1970s.<br />
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With its basic Sturmey-Archer AW 3-speed hub, fenders, cable-operated caliper brakes, north road handlebars and 26-inch wheels, this is what Sheldon Brown would've called a "light roadster". (A "real roadster" would generally have 28-inch wheels and rod-operated hub brakes.) It's a "compromise bike" -- doing nothing spectacularly well, but a few things quite well enough. It's lighter and more maneuverable than a true roadster, but at the expense of a bit of smoothness and solidity.<br />
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I was pleased to find that the Triumph was immediately rideable, although it had some aesthetic issues (mostly due to its ugly gumwall tires). I purchased it and straightaway began using it for shopping trips. My first such trip was something of a travesty, since I had forgotten that I lacked both a lock and any way with which to get the groceries home. I tried hanging the two full bags from the handlebars, which created an impressive pendulum effect, providing rush hour entertainment to dozens of drivers.<br />
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My next point of business was to outfit it with panniers. I ordered a pair of Wald wire panniers and rear rack to attach them to. They proved to be ideal, other than the fact that the gear selector cable rubs the inside of the right side basket. I discovered that an old leather shoulder satchel I have fits nicely in one pannier, and an old wool picnic blanket straps down to the rear rack very tidily with a pair of old ski straps.<br />
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The Triumph developed a little problem with slippage; it got to the point where pedaling produced no traction within the hub. I tried various fixes, but to no avail. Resigning myself to rebuilding the hub, I stripped the wheel assembly and ordered replacement parts. After thoroughly cleaning, lubricating, replacing any worn or damaged parts, reassembling and adjusting, I found that the problem persisted! At a loss, I lucked into an identical AW hub assembly on Craigslist. I simply pulled the guts out of the shell, plugged them into my wheel assembly and slapped it back into the frame. <i>Voil</i><i>à</i>! It worked. I still have no idea why my rebuild didn't do the job, tho'. <br />
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At the same time, I replaced the grotty original white rubber grips with cork ones, which I varnished. The tired old vinyl-covered seat was traded for something more substantial (although I'll probably be swapping it out for an unpadded leather Brooks/Ideale/Lepper). The gumwalls had to go, replaced with white C---- S---s, and I ditched the cast aluminum side-stand for a proper center hubstand that has the added virtue of locking in place. (Its further virtue is that it holds the rear wheel off the ground, which is a boon for adjusting and testing the shifting cable.) I found an old Italian water bottle cage into which I mounted an even older Thermos flask with a polished aluminum cap. I've already tested it with a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic refreshments. Finally, I added a lovely little vintage German thumb-bell of polished aluminum, purchased from a seller in Romania, of all places! It produces a very musical chime.<br />
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Astute viewers may notice that my cables are arranged in non-standard fashion. This is because I'm used to riding motorcycles and scooters which operate their front brake with the right-hand lever. To avoid confusion, I swapped levers, and in the process, routed the cables behind the headtube. Such viewers also may notice a small chrome addition to the left chainstay near the hub. This is a sidesaddle footrest. While living in Holland, I enjoyed carrying passengers, as the Dutch tend to do. To better accommodate this, I've removed the left pannier. And the folded blanket strapped onto the rack provides a nice padded seat for the passenger.<br />
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Future projects for the Triumph include finding and mounting suitable vintage head and taillights, fitting "reversed" brake levers (which mount in the open ends of the handlebars; much better leverage for braking), and getting a black leather toolbag for mounting under the saddle, in which to store my lock and chain. And I'd like to replace the old white Bowden cables with less obtrusive (and smoother) teflon-lined black ones. Yes, I'd greatly prefer rod-operated drum brakes, but fitting them is more of a project than a 26-inch cycle is worth. <br />
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Naming a vehicle has always demarcated those that I feel affection for versus those that may simply be temporary hacks. I've owned this cycle for about three years now, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that a name occurred to me which I felt fit it. I chose "Titania". As befits an old British cycle, it's an old British name (going back to Shakespeare), and it's simultaneously feminine and capable-sounding. (No jokes about Titania being the Queen of the Fairies, please.) And, oddly enough, after giving her a name, I feel more affectionate towards her. Perhaps it will encourage me to keep her cleaner and in better fettle than if I just thought of her as a utility hack with no personality.<br />
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The following pictures were taken today in Golden Gate Park, as I scouted out a route for an up-coming ride. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED8CTMC0HfUlXad5GcnZP_9PfyLKoneEEWt2qrkrX7b-5PEy9Tn59f8LrVYcGW2NYg9GMGulzfdGQwSeI9LhzTg57cLQO6jXKbgzr0Lpz_zU6En8v_rE43_gYGcungXPkpSIG72vjjLM/s1600/Titania_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjED8CTMC0HfUlXad5GcnZP_9PfyLKoneEEWt2qrkrX7b-5PEy9Tn59f8LrVYcGW2NYg9GMGulzfdGQwSeI9LhzTg57cLQO6jXKbgzr0Lpz_zU6En8v_rE43_gYGcungXPkpSIG72vjjLM/s320/Titania_06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPFJ3dcI5OyaT8pRvzY5G3qXFTiWrkB7tjbVKMRB0HOuetdk3jRiI5WKsAxvSg8iinu65wEIfh5h_JzCSpNHLKyi1ryen0Z1dtv12XjcgSKoQ8lDPNxFPHwhNx1q2HMvzepV8rqmXxms/s1600/Titania_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPFJ3dcI5OyaT8pRvzY5G3qXFTiWrkB7tjbVKMRB0HOuetdk3jRiI5WKsAxvSg8iinu65wEIfh5h_JzCSpNHLKyi1ryen0Z1dtv12XjcgSKoQ8lDPNxFPHwhNx1q2HMvzepV8rqmXxms/s320/Titania_07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>man and machine</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvbGt-ksbrI9i1EyJAkubJyCCa4rshTIn4-wZrW-ZF2_AnJAbOKobvYaF5ggnzsu0SnqItusVbdKBMMPhML344JQbtT1fBKqE2B1SzIbid5KvImzIJPZvRw6JS_-hBJ1WkFkiGbvdVmc/s1600/Titania_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvbGt-ksbrI9i1EyJAkubJyCCa4rshTIn4-wZrW-ZF2_AnJAbOKobvYaF5ggnzsu0SnqItusVbdKBMMPhML344JQbtT1fBKqE2B1SzIbid5KvImzIJPZvRw6JS_-hBJ1WkFkiGbvdVmc/s320/Titania_08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>man, in his correct angle of repose</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-82198306595952214442010-10-18T22:24:00.000-07:002010-10-18T22:24:57.330-07:00The The Dandy Horse, Or how a German Baron and a Volcano Invented the BicycleThe bicycle has become so ubiquitous that it's difficult to imagine a time before it provided cheap, efficient transport for the masses. But the early history of the bicycle tells a very different story, and one known to few riders today. This is the story of the "dandy horse".<br />
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Since the early-18th century, there had been experiments -- mostly in Western Europe -- of human-powered vehicles. Invariably, these consisted of four or more wheels, accommodations for up to seven passengers, and handles or ropes with which men on foot could push or pull the contraptions. In this respect, they were little different from carts or carriages; simply substituting humans for livestock.<br />
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European gentry usually owned horses for drawing carriages, and those with country homes owned horses for riding as well, provided the gentlemen were fit enough to ride. Purchasing a horse for riding was quite expensive, and the requisite stabling, feeding, grooming and shoeing made pleasure horse ownership painfully costly. Still, no able-bodied gentleman would want to be without at least one horse for riding.<br />
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By "gentleman", it must be understood to refer to men whose income did not require their own labor; i.e., landowners, or men who had inherited or married fortunes. But in 1816, that world was thrown into chaos. Not because of wars or economic crises, but because of an island in the South Pacific, six thousand miles from Europe. <br />
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In 1815, Mount Tambora in Indonesia -- halfway between Asia and Australia -- erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in recorded history. With the power equivalent to 1,000 atomic explosions, it blasted about 38 cubic miles of ash, pumice and other matter into the atmosphere, creating a plume that spread eastward across the Pacific, blanketing the northern hemisphere in a gloomy haze. Since the ash reflected the sun’s light, the earth’s surface cooled. 1816 would become known as “the year without a summer”. Temperatures from Mexico to Vienna dropped below freezing in July. Snowstorms and freak rainstorms brought travel to a stop and washed away farms and grain storehouses. Crops failed. Livestock died by the tens of thousands. The world was gripped by the worst famine in a century, and typhus was rampant.<br />
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There was one silver lining to this disaster, and it appeared in the German state of Baden. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Christian Ludwig Drais, otherwise known as Baron Drais von Sauerbronn was a 31 year-old aristocrat, an expert in forestry , an enthusiastic rider and an avid inventor. With the failure of crops, the price of oats doubled, then quadrupled, then rose to 8 times the norm. Those horses that didn’t die from the cold, disease or famine were frequently targeted by mobs of starving peasants who would kill and eat any livestock they could find, regardless of to whom it belonged.<br />
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We don’t have records of whether Baron Drais’ horses died from environmental causes, were poached by peasants or managed to survive, but it’s clear that something set the Baron to thinking about the problems of mortal (and edible) horses, and how those factors affected gentlemen who rode for pleasure. Somehow, his thinking led to a synthesis of the basic form of the horse and its accommodations for a rider in a wooden and wrought iron frame with a pair of carriage wheels in tandem. The result would be recognized by anyone today as the genetic ancestor of all bicycles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ34cp5z-u9PVvDqK5lxgVisnQkKVqpfZAuGYidAD3T2ggr9Hg0Vp1MOO3uAEyC8Xkm86jnF0V3PvCYDPpLJno-FcNKLgIDSt1hll-lUrg_n73Aaiarry8z_n-J0UPYGbunr60ML49TE/s1600/baron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ34cp5z-u9PVvDqK5lxgVisnQkKVqpfZAuGYidAD3T2ggr9Hg0Vp1MOO3uAEyC8Xkm86jnF0V3PvCYDPpLJno-FcNKLgIDSt1hll-lUrg_n73Aaiarry8z_n-J0UPYGbunr60ML49TE/s1600/baron.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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It was more pony-sized than horse-sized, but this was essential, for the rider needed his feet to reach the ground, for propulsion. It had a saddle, handlebars and a steerable front wheel. With Teutonic precision that would do credit to the Bauhaus, the Baron called it his “Laufmaschine” (“running machine”). He tested and improved it throughout the next year, patenting it in January of 1818. <br />
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The Laufmaschine proved to be a sensation. Well, among young gentry who missed being able to ride their horses, anyway. Germans preferred to call it a “Draisine”, after Count Drais. News of it spread westward across Europe, and it was most enthusiastically adopted in Britain within a certain circle of young aristocratic men known as “dandies”. <br />
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The term “dandy” today, when applied to a man, is frequently pejorative, and a synonym for “effete”. But in Regency Britain, to be a dandy was the masculine ideal. More than any other factor, this was due to one man: George “Beau” Brummell. Confidant of the Prince Regent, Brummell nearly singlehandedly reshaped the masculine ideal from the Francocentric “fop” with his powdered wigs, makeup and perfumes, flashy silk breeches and long waistcoats, and yards of frilly laces -- barely capable of walking (much less riding) -- into a virile, scrupulously clean sport-loving gentleman, wearing trousers, a simple frock coat, riding boots, white shirt and short hair. In many ways, Brummell invented modern men’s clothing, as well as making sport a gentlemanly pursuit. And since demonstrating one’s manly abilities was key for dandies, the Laufmaschine was a novelty too challenging and exciting for any dandy to pass up.<br />
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Of course, the name was a bit, well, foreign to British ears. And so it was renamed the “dandy horse”. (Why not the “dandy cycle”? Remember: there was not yet any such thing as a “cycle” in the world of transportation.) Soon, every young gentleman who aspired to the dandy ideal owned a dandy horse. A basic dandy horse in 1818 cost the equivalent of about $800 in today’s money, which made it a rather expensive plaything. The best of these were constructed by carriage builders; the more crude ones were cobbled together by blacksmiths.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eZ-SPUTHxiqtjfVUdhkW61i6WXd1QlhMNyL2RKY52u05uhCP0yoz-1PbClEM2JDAA_Tt0Fr4dfFcHarOTDe_n8RmRflNbQPkivduev7crd6u-3rHuEYwwn3jwjxtd4FyRRS0e0SXDSE/s1600/sophisticated_draisine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eZ-SPUTHxiqtjfVUdhkW61i6WXd1QlhMNyL2RKY52u05uhCP0yoz-1PbClEM2JDAA_Tt0Fr4dfFcHarOTDe_n8RmRflNbQPkivduev7crd6u-3rHuEYwwn3jwjxtd4FyRRS0e0SXDSE/s400/sophisticated_draisine2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaP1f5XT3j4mNNHd5wy_sDKeoGHWI00LrtwKPriZGBMstkq1vWz2KAkPNShxQx0l_IP1Y0-w6A35WiTXNXe0YUZlPFqpzT_cA5yV0y_VsMZlKgmGIGHMsav2g9v-TLssWexHUZUF28A/s1600/crude_draisine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaP1f5XT3j4mNNHd5wy_sDKeoGHWI00LrtwKPriZGBMstkq1vWz2KAkPNShxQx0l_IP1Y0-w6A35WiTXNXe0YUZlPFqpzT_cA5yV0y_VsMZlKgmGIGHMsav2g9v-TLssWexHUZUF28A/s400/crude_draisine2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPe8NdAlHBF3lYhAULZcAGOyNKtkxXJChbwsnj7Dqe-fMcqWmYJKRo_2g2KCOnsZHF2hyphenhyphenuHX8bgjuAavNDm1F8yZ92dW30MC2NDBXrqipypR3gdq3R9a1RrdOFTYPLzIIx6mgeGq_m9v4/s1600/crude_draisine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPe8NdAlHBF3lYhAULZcAGOyNKtkxXJChbwsnj7Dqe-fMcqWmYJKRo_2g2KCOnsZHF2hyphenhyphenuHX8bgjuAavNDm1F8yZ92dW30MC2NDBXrqipypR3gdq3R9a1RrdOFTYPLzIIx6mgeGq_m9v4/s400/crude_draisine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Given the fact that the “tires” were wrought iron and roads at the time were either dirt or cobblestone, and that it lacked brakes or suspension, to actually ride a dandy horse risked one’s limb, if not life. The preferred venue was a grassy slope or carefully groomed dirt path. Even so, injuries were frequent, which only added to its masculine appeal.<br />
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The BBC miniseries "Regency House Party" featured some of the cast of their "reality TV" show riding a rather crude reconstruction of a small dandy horse. The portion of the episode with the dandy horse begins at about 7:40 (sorry I can't excerpt the clip). <br />
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Within a year, other inventors and tinkerers modified Drais’ dandy horse. Someone substituted carriage springs for the solid wooden “forks”, another installed stirrups for the feet, when coasting. The brilliant French inventor Nicéphore Niépce added an adjustable seat, which may qualify as the least impressive of his many accomplishments. Nevertheless, he had to rename it something suitably French: the "velocipede".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnwGl3VznXOTAh-Ho9v2Sh6vmkeHzl817xy-aS_-12Koy2LY5DAHGZtW919zhv9Q-JmXhTHw1X1yK_psFUOxDk8BVNEFkPYHJ6gDk8SK2-3iyRuLwEyHsyIj-OffkFQTo_TbOl7_iaFw/s1600/velocipede.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnwGl3VznXOTAh-Ho9v2Sh6vmkeHzl817xy-aS_-12Koy2LY5DAHGZtW919zhv9Q-JmXhTHw1X1yK_psFUOxDk8BVNEFkPYHJ6gDk8SK2-3iyRuLwEyHsyIj-OffkFQTo_TbOl7_iaFw/s400/velocipede.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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And then, nearly as quickly as it appeared, the dandy horse disappeared. By 1820, the price of oats was back down to pre-1815 levels, and horses were readily available to those who could afford them. It wouldn’t be until the mid-1860s that someone had the idea to put pedals on the front wheel of a dandy horse, giving it an improved means of locomotion, as well as a scrub brake for the rear wheel; an improvement for stopping over crashing it into a hedge.<br />
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And our Baron Drais? He had the misfortune to belong to the losing political party when the Prussians took over Baden, and he had his title and property stripped; he died penniless and forgotten two years later. But without the Baron and the aristocratic plaything he invented, the history of the bicycle might have been very different, and certainly less colorful.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-88622957522859044032010-10-18T01:20:00.000-07:002010-11-02T23:52:20.477-07:00Twiddering tweedsThis may well be remembered as the Tweed Run that Almost Wasn't.<br />
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San Francisco's weather patterns are generally very predictable. In the 25 years or so that I've lived here, I've only seen it rain in autumn before Hallowe'en <span style="font-style: italic;">once</span>. Make that twice now. Our Indian Summer arrived a few weeks ago, pretty close to schedule, but when we awoke this morning, clouds extended to the horizon. We kept reloading the WeatherUnderground radar loop, watching in chagrin as an immense train of yellow storms advanced upon the West Coast. By breakfast time, it was drizzling on Nob Hill. By 1:30, as we left the house, it was raining. Appropriately tweed-y weather, but still! As San Franciscans, we're contractually obliged to complain about the weather if the temperature exceeds 80 or dips below 50, and unseasonal rain elicits handwringing and moaning, if not raised fists and maledictions.<br />
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And so, we walked our bicycles down the sidewalk towards Union Square, feeling the appropriate level of woe. Then, as we got onto Market Street at 5th, the storm seemed to lose its nerve. We pedaled down the bike lane towards the Embarcadero, feeling ever emboldened by the waning mist (and the light traffic). By the time we got to Justin Herman Plaza at the 2pm meeting time, there was already a group of 20 or so cyclists already there. We had a little while to meet new faces and admire machinery as stragglers filtered in. By the time we left on the ride proper, we were about 50.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJL54Na_aU337JmAl9zhzzRykEDR3YtZ0_oiz6i_-F4VTCiTg8dOuwishTbkSakvNFLw-96IwGASWygslVESWokWAPda9UfQT3rt6ZikxKi_kzhIaE9Lg_NDvAEqz6av_s9HizM2oHA/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwJL54Na_aU337JmAl9zhzzRykEDR3YtZ0_oiz6i_-F4VTCiTg8dOuwishTbkSakvNFLw-96IwGASWygslVESWokWAPda9UfQT3rt6ZikxKi_kzhIaE9Lg_NDvAEqz6av_s9HizM2oHA/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><br />
There were some novel rides in attendance, including an old Schwinn tandem and a new 3-person tandem ("trindem"?) manned by a father and stoked by his two young children.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZE-5GxBSL6klVrOm0wCZlyHzx50rMlp8ot5Srd-d9sytkXnYrIr3USlM8t6uAuMLGc8u0n6ZtZpKSKVqoU4AxhFp3E_PRD-Dx1Yt-9F8uADuXZd9j6GFNUbk6dDCTtZah8MG3jdLNHQ/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZE-5GxBSL6klVrOm0wCZlyHzx50rMlp8ot5Srd-d9sytkXnYrIr3USlM8t6uAuMLGc8u0n6ZtZpKSKVqoU4AxhFp3E_PRD-Dx1Yt-9F8uADuXZd9j6GFNUbk6dDCTtZah8MG3jdLNHQ/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Colin, the event's intrepid organizer, rode a lovely "the Londoner" British 3-speed with a delightful handlebar bag and a wooden (!) thumb-bell.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKin2BxXVekevmRkcTC4navRbUpDTaLnzyn3iBIYQvM83gAg_GP_KIclg9co8U5a5LYd4N8CCNNJxpWsjeSX0legNVnGvRTqXoYmUCdZPC8G5jL6w1deV_Qgv1HA0TZwWIuu2veUGVOQ/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKin2BxXVekevmRkcTC4navRbUpDTaLnzyn3iBIYQvM83gAg_GP_KIclg9co8U5a5LYd4N8CCNNJxpWsjeSX0legNVnGvRTqXoYmUCdZPC8G5jL6w1deV_Qgv1HA0TZwWIuu2veUGVOQ/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ1Zf4bTHdKsRJIr0g2gRJOGJLerrggfC8nuq9ZWinIRRA0oOyouU0TSxgEqlD1ydoTmc-9zvUWMVkEKirUPb81Xq23i_6MSmM4NDEvBrFfJ-f73Swcvi35YGZeXBjLe92R6NNZJc3WE/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ1Zf4bTHdKsRJIr0g2gRJOGJLerrggfC8nuq9ZWinIRRA0oOyouU0TSxgEqlD1ydoTmc-9zvUWMVkEKirUPb81Xq23i_6MSmM4NDEvBrFfJ-f73Swcvi35YGZeXBjLe92R6NNZJc3WE/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Many of the attendees were appropriately dressed, as this charming couple demonstrate.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MTQ-wajHITW8ePchNcZ5Y-ncB06fGzq45b27nLcTeqkpvb7tgcTIBBKgkBm2KHzW3yV09G9Nk0TU3apVdNlhI4C6KXxjY-eY3liFLMraUBmPK9fTeKfE8Ige9qD_XSkPWk_5rD8pgtw/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MTQ-wajHITW8ePchNcZ5Y-ncB06fGzq45b27nLcTeqkpvb7tgcTIBBKgkBm2KHzW3yV09G9Nk0TU3apVdNlhI4C6KXxjY-eY3liFLMraUBmPK9fTeKfE8Ige9qD_XSkPWk_5rD8pgtw/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_05.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br />
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My favorite bicycle was this proper Dutch <span style="font-style: italic;">stadsfiets</span> owned by an appropriately stylish fellow. Lugged steel frame, wide handlebars and saddle, full chaincase, coat-guard, capacious, waterproof panniers, proper rear wheel lock, upright seating position, not one but <span style="font-style: italic;">two </span>brass bells -- such bicycles are common enough in the Netherlands, but sadly rare in the US. And yet, what an ideal vehicle for our cities and suburbs! Seeing it left me missing my old Gazelle.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QDkoRDB-1SuOmasoPmGPict9PhY7OLtD60j93ImpKOIvMmFww_XNAzcpiKxoAWVrFQFq2IbtNfz1nF6XXAqmoEQ76RI08jvjmrr4LXIdGHhFwrMRtOhbIkBEoIU7SpWU-hteQE26tck/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QDkoRDB-1SuOmasoPmGPict9PhY7OLtD60j93ImpKOIvMmFww_XNAzcpiKxoAWVrFQFq2IbtNfz1nF6XXAqmoEQ76RI08jvjmrr4LXIdGHhFwrMRtOhbIkBEoIU7SpWU-hteQE26tck/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_09.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGVFgHi_XreK2KrN7fi0tspqUSOskLtltaoPk3V14wWCeEZrifCZASomSYb-3Q6i5RQM5d1VROI5jTOwrKW7rnei42cOV3uJF-TonCdF_Ee8E9GFuNwrPgALWGmF6hRq6-tZVIqVQULM/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGVFgHi_XreK2KrN7fi0tspqUSOskLtltaoPk3V14wWCeEZrifCZASomSYb-3Q6i5RQM5d1VROI5jTOwrKW7rnei42cOV3uJF-TonCdF_Ee8E9GFuNwrPgALWGmF6hRq6-tZVIqVQULM/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MdDZ6i9a0fvVYazWZvlSpe2KoOTEIx0l4Qg6Kz39W3v-3ef51oTuOJEtXllAlnhSk3ORiPRfJTltDvQFvJgFYfyDLwer2gHrQ7ixNvT_QFpF_cLkYu2sW_qk9vNga8SPKn0lZ2Q3YbA/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MdDZ6i9a0fvVYazWZvlSpe2KoOTEIx0l4Qg6Kz39W3v-3ef51oTuOJEtXllAlnhSk3ORiPRfJTltDvQFvJgFYfyDLwer2gHrQ7ixNvT_QFpF_cLkYu2sW_qk9vNga8SPKn0lZ2Q3YbA/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2Lt8TsNsGytronUVEwq8vJHnlEVH06QJxLqwTr-uPvG4iqvfl1kcLnFHqMt10TuoWrXRFEq7WWyy581LJ2EKN_1kgDmpsZ51uryKz0xbKIGe4IBCjkOBlCIRwxBo_eN7aO7uqIN4aqs/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2Lt8TsNsGytronUVEwq8vJHnlEVH06QJxLqwTr-uPvG4iqvfl1kcLnFHqMt10TuoWrXRFEq7WWyy581LJ2EKN_1kgDmpsZ51uryKz0xbKIGe4IBCjkOBlCIRwxBo_eN7aO7uqIN4aqs/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_12.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgftYFLsU7oE74HvlJuQGI2PO-c9qJ0Hz85_FoolN16T7F2v7oyLrNLHZumLCdpRcWQeUie0cjlBbJeKERjo1a_U7NB2jsm676dlePble3glxpVFNE3jghyphenhyphen7izKzTqBLc-Aw-Ldzxu4s/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgftYFLsU7oE74HvlJuQGI2PO-c9qJ0Hz85_FoolN16T7F2v7oyLrNLHZumLCdpRcWQeUie0cjlBbJeKERjo1a_U7NB2jsm676dlePble3glxpVFNE3jghyphenhyphen7izKzTqBLc-Aw-Ldzxu4s/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_13.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsZEHxLmOjyax2WZIyytaBa9W2LzURIKjxTurGdv0wTZpvzwGsODRrZeKKReoCMwv5yZ-6y8jp6jhVtIJHkIUBfLgDah4hdWjaJQZzkgR9ltZZyUWftUz62hD2c-IzBsTS-kzOtsOGMw/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsZEHxLmOjyax2WZIyytaBa9W2LzURIKjxTurGdv0wTZpvzwGsODRrZeKKReoCMwv5yZ-6y8jp6jhVtIJHkIUBfLgDah4hdWjaJQZzkgR9ltZZyUWftUz62hD2c-IzBsTS-kzOtsOGMw/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCryY2wCX_VmVnBjsoeL0IWB3TvdvRJpHJ6FROL0hMqQ2TJES6RK6I7QzQMPNtT-7xJMDjQZA017sd8vYK2HvBmBapkvf6iId-rwV0yL76q7G5Utyqk318B3WoldngTjitZP30KnW6mWM/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCryY2wCX_VmVnBjsoeL0IWB3TvdvRJpHJ6FROL0hMqQ2TJES6RK6I7QzQMPNtT-7xJMDjQZA017sd8vYK2HvBmBapkvf6iId-rwV0yL76q7G5Utyqk318B3WoldngTjitZP30KnW6mWM/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R7qcSVCLHnX75IuclGEl0pMOJ7-M4eN7wULfulqrz3bNIgmsVUelT2Bb7W8WzJJIrEBKSMOw_U1ars8zBnjOUagptZTyIdBNWUCv_RCfW1S3OfodMKE-_9gwXwxDaK6zh9myc_QGoJA/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R7qcSVCLHnX75IuclGEl0pMOJ7-M4eN7wULfulqrz3bNIgmsVUelT2Bb7W8WzJJIrEBKSMOw_U1ars8zBnjOUagptZTyIdBNWUCv_RCfW1S3OfodMKE-_9gwXwxDaK6zh9myc_QGoJA/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
My own better half looked fetching in her cape and beret. This was her first ride on her new (well, 40 year-old) bicycle and she had to adjust very quickly to its idiosyncrasies.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The bud vase and greenery were an impromptu accessory I made last night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdZ0j-lXXpnYny4kv4MwNN9K8vP_OzR30ESwOYWza-YM8vJbg6dokcilaiKxYF-EyQCNOXX3jfY5gr-jd6bIwzqCclniSmaFCalHlAQhR4GjRcQnY-iq9_Wyvue3qAjfbx-PqW_re1Tc/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdZ0j-lXXpnYny4kv4MwNN9K8vP_OzR30ESwOYWza-YM8vJbg6dokcilaiKxYF-EyQCNOXX3jfY5gr-jd6bIwzqCclniSmaFCalHlAQhR4GjRcQnY-iq9_Wyvue3qAjfbx-PqW_re1Tc/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The ride's route followed the Embarcadero south, passing below the Bay Bridge and onward to the far side of Potrero Hill, where we enjoyed coffee, live music and good cheer, courtesy of the good folks at Rickshaw Bagworks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhlf2aIBqQHXiyactGWSbC0SmcO9hjV2TbHQ6pgQRwdEaZUTwS1oEH0mX5CnsJW_fyxygUWkn0DLMtfJhaYac2cyxCZ_2McfsUsiyVvDzyJipwTaaK-BGrwE4LrNWq0b5O9_jQV9JEfY/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhlf2aIBqQHXiyactGWSbC0SmcO9hjV2TbHQ6pgQRwdEaZUTwS1oEH0mX5CnsJW_fyxygUWkn0DLMtfJhaYac2cyxCZ_2McfsUsiyVvDzyJipwTaaK-BGrwE4LrNWq0b5O9_jQV9JEfY/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06oZoN3ZBYWGIe7G6t4Vs21Ta2TlTRL19P9bK4GLDjLQ7VuMu8Pe7x3hTok2ue6eANdWFRu2UVP1X1fVQ8XJRz9XfpzE5ZHFVhVa5TTI1W3Dzog9jXgSVkI_J2mpX8jb1TEWqyNP-gp0/s1600/SFTweed_10-17-10_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06oZoN3ZBYWGIe7G6t4Vs21Ta2TlTRL19P9bK4GLDjLQ7VuMu8Pe7x3hTok2ue6eANdWFRu2UVP1X1fVQ8XJRz9XfpzE5ZHFVhVa5TTI1W3Dzog9jXgSVkI_J2mpX8jb1TEWqyNP-gp0/s400/SFTweed_10-17-10_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">K insisted upon having me ride past on Titania while she filmed me. If I look odder than usual, it's because the video had to be rotated 90-degrees, which squished the aspect ratio.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lQ0bwB9TDo8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lQ0bwB9TDo8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, after a couple of wee drams of single malt and a bottle of porter, my aspect ratio was already a bit squashed. But it was all in the name of tweed, and despite the threatening weather, the day (or what parts I am able to remember of it) turned out to be a success for all. Thanks go out to Colin, Rickshaw Bags and everyone involved in carrying off the fall Tweed Run!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGRELiZcFn1i7rDTT7v7b8iR-9eEjLO-Ur-L_WZY1jTa0KtVmembX8jFZvuUzRWrGsOvAOyWXaR-HRg8egpZJ6u27YS6QnBDLCySHEeyhRiotNGpgvAEX1p5w-TDbSzPf9FeXBHwvZsw/s1600/me_on_tweed_run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGRELiZcFn1i7rDTT7v7b8iR-9eEjLO-Ur-L_WZY1jTa0KtVmembX8jFZvuUzRWrGsOvAOyWXaR-HRg8egpZJ6u27YS6QnBDLCySHEeyhRiotNGpgvAEX1p5w-TDbSzPf9FeXBHwvZsw/s400/me_on_tweed_run.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54740471576467857.post-42876367184564726942010-10-17T00:50:00.000-07:002010-10-18T11:05:20.314-07:00Gentlemen, mount your cycles!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ini1Qo8Ozb1akzwS9WqQeyFgCOxSzjAcrICjLtBTHIV2BOriXjmMvJvroUbNJ-ac1M827gLDGI0klPW1MMzUVVcQe2tQ9YrIRIq5WrmVwv7W-FKm3Rg0l1XLXyqWOLSUXULiMqJLfYY/s1600/logo2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ini1Qo8Ozb1akzwS9WqQeyFgCOxSzjAcrICjLtBTHIV2BOriXjmMvJvroUbNJ-ac1M827gLDGI0klPW1MMzUVVcQe2tQ9YrIRIq5WrmVwv7W-FKm3Rg0l1XLXyqWOLSUXULiMqJLfYY/s400/logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528920332946108370" border="0" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;">After reading more bicycle blogs than I can remember, and after riding bicycles for more years than I'd care to admit, I think it's finally time for me to put some content back into the farrago of the internet. The focus of this blog will be -- as its title suggests -- what I might consider to be "proper" gentlemen's bicycles. (Each of those three words is quite loaded, wouldn't you say?) That means, among other things, one </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;">won't</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> find any glow-in-the-dark 36-speed, nanofiber-framed </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;"></span><span style="font-family: times new roman;">bicycles here. But the sorts of things that one </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: times new roman;">might </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;">find here will, I hope, prove to be interesting and singular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">A couple of explanations may be in order. Why the gender-specificity of the blog? It is because many of my favorite blogs are written by women and predominantly read by women, and their focus on the aesthetic experience of riding is something largely missed by most gender-neutral or androcentric blogs. I'd like to explore a similar path, but from a male perspective. And the name? I'll explain that more fully in an up-coming blog entry, but it goes back to the original name for the bicycle -- the "dandy horse". And it lends itself to description as well, as in "that's a dandy cycle, sir!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times new roman;">I chose today to launch this blog because it happens to be the day of the second annual SF Tweed Run. In anticipation of this event, I've spent the past week cleaning and fettling my old bicycle, as well as my wife's new (old) cycle. When I come back, I will bring with me an illustrated account of the day's activities. Please check back tonight!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0