The Big Thaw

What a difference a week can make

March 29

April 5

Karate Monkey

Karate Monkey, originally uploaded by SaddleUpBike.

View of downtown Calgary from the bike path.

Bear Fight

Bear Fight, originally uploaded by SaddleUpBike.

A couple of bears duking it out for my bike.

Cruiser Style

Long and lean with semi-fat tires and a "longish" wheelbase, the Soulville rides like a freight train...in a good way.

Who said a cruiser had to be slow and heavy?

Spring is Here!, Spring is Here?

Now, we just need the snow to melt...

...on the trails

I had an awesome ride through the river valley today.

MonsterCross

My favourite category of bicycle is  Monstercross.  The basic concept is to take a cyclocross bike and stuff the largest tire you can onto it.  Put on large volume knobby tires running at low pressure.  Road bike speed with off road capabilities and loads of fun.

One of the most beautiful Monstercross bikes I've seen was a bike from Shamrock Cycles. It was their entry for the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

This bike looks all business with the  29er tires.

Here is the Shamrock Cycles NAHBS 2011 entry. Another beauty.

Every once in a while I see a custom bike and I think to myself:  "That's the way I would build them." That is the case with these Shamrock Cycles Monstercross bikes.  Good luck at the show Tim and thanks for allowing me to post photos of your bikes.

Tim and many other Monstercross bikes can be seen here over at  mtbr forums  on what is one of the longest running threads there.  Excellent quality photo coverage for past shows are from  Urban Velo.  Enjoy the handmade goodness!

Guitar Ted Productions: The Snow Dog Update: #2- Snow Crawling

Guitar Ted Productions: The Snow Dog Update: #2- Snow Crawling

Winter Cycling

In this part of the world, winter outdoor enthusiasts may be considered "insane".  And when you're a winter cycling commuter, you are hard as nails.  You have to be.  There's not very many people that are willing to walk or run, let alone ride their bikes when it's minus 20 or 30 below!

For me, a winter bike needs to be a bike that is fun to ride.  My commute to work is only eight blocks.  For me, a bike built for winter riding is different than a bike that someone would commute long distances on.  I have a couple of friends that commute long distances all year long and sometimes the ride is not all that pleasurable.  Their bikes are designed to make "good time" rather than explore.

 

The river overflowing her banks onto the bike path.  Now it's frozen ice.

 

 I build winter bikes so I can go out and explore and play in the snow. We get 8 months of winter, 3 months of bad weather and then summer or, July.  If I wait for nice or "perfect" weather to ride my bike, I may have to wait a long, long time.  Riding for pleasure in the winter is different.  I purposely go out when the weather turns bad and look for snow.

In previous years, I have gone out trail riding in the winter but I've been at the "mercy" of the walkers.  I needed to wait for enough time to pass for walkers to pack a path hard enough that I would be able to ride on.  It becomes quite challenging to ride a path in the snow that is only 18" wide.  Veer off the path and you stop immediately in the soft unpacked snow.

High volume and low pressure is the key to happy snow riding.  Fat tires will give you maximum floatation.  The wider the footprint, the better, as it will handle a loose surface.  There is nothing else like the feeling of a bicycle both floating and coasting on snow at the same time.  It's a very different feeling than riding on hard pavement. 

Tires need to be of a larger volume so you can stay on top of the surface and float at the same time.  The rolling resistance is so minimal that you can coast on even the smallest declines.  Huge fun!  Wheee!!!

Now, I'm one of the first people out on the trail clearing a path for other users. It's really quite comical when people see me coming.  I think it's hard for them to grasp that they are seeing a bicycle coming through the snow towards them.  It's awesome when people move aside for me and stand there in amazement as I pass by.

I live in the core of the city and I'm literally minutes away from a trail system 100's of kilometres long which follows some great wild nature systems.

I am constantly compelled to stop and take photographs of what I'm surrounded by as I ride through it.  Nature has a completely different feel when it's cold and in hibernation.  All is quiet.

So far this winter, I have had a great time riding my bike in the snow and will continue to do so.  No matter the weather, it's really true:  if you have the right tools, clothing and equipment, it makes riding so much easier.  And more fun!  Happy trails and saddle up!

the bikebike blog: Every Journey Starts With One Step

the bikebike blog: Every Journey Starts With One Step: "My 'gateway drug' aka my first cargo bike, September 17 2008 September 17, 2008 - little did I know that this day wou..."

Two Speed Bicycle

The simpler a bicycle's drivetrain is the more I want to ride it, given the choice between multi-geared and single speed I will generally pick the single speed.  Riding a single speed bike is a liberating feeling, it relies heavily on the riders ability to produce power with a limited amount of mechanical advantage. Go faster?, push harder!   

There are times though when having one gear simply is not enough and having the versatility and efficiency of a multi geared drivetrain comes in handy.  What generally happens for me is that I end up riding in 2-3 gears even if I have 18-20 gears available.  Having the ability to have 18 different gear ratios and only using 2 of them seems like a very complex and costly way to achieve what is essentially a 2 speed bicycle.

I've installed a Paul Components Melvin tensioner which allows the use of two front chanrings for a simple but effective two speed drivetrain.  I simply change gears with the front derailleur.

Two Speed Conversion

Lots of chain tension and wrap with the Paul Components Melvin tensioner.

The 18 Tooth Cog - 46 Tooth Chainring Combo

The 18 Tooth Cog - 36 Tooth Chainring Combo

Simple Cable Routing, Bar End Friction Shifter.

Riding this bike as a two speed has made the experience much more enjoyable for me. Making it simple and still enjoying the benefits of a multi geared bike. The bike is just as versatile as it was with 18 gears.  It does make the engine work harder, which is a good thing.

It rides and feels lighter without the large rear gear cluster.

Sometimes two is enough.