The Company Vehicle

In celebration of Environmental Day in Canada I thought I would share my bicycle with the world sporting it's new sign. Lately the 'bykadelic' project bike is better known as the "Company Vehicle". Still working out some details as the gearing is way too high for an upright commuter bike. Man is it fast and hard to peddle in 8th gear! Changing to a 39 tooth chain ring helped considerably but I am still passing cars in 8th gear...not the desired effect. I am going to get pulled over for speeding!. I need to to get a 36 tooth chain ring which will tone it down but the Gain Ratio will still be the same as a street racing bike ! Yikes!!! Any advice on this dilemma is appreciated.

Bike to Beach

I recieved my Bike to Beach bicycle iPod player by iHome today. It delivers great sound and yet is safe for commuting as you can still hear the traffic around you. Earphones-not so safe.

Rebecca's CCM Mixte

This bicycle rides like a dream. With a 5 speed transmision, comfy Brooks B67 Saddle, new 'dirt rag brown' cables, brake pads and wicker basket. In tall gears the bike chain was seizing. I replaced the chain today as no amount of cleaning or chain wax was smoothing things out. Now it drives perfectly.

The Reveal

The project is now completed and already I wish to make some modifications. The ride is very comfortable however the lower gear doesn't quite manage the hills like my previous bike. I have ordered a Sugino 38 tooth chainring and it should help handle the hills to work much better (think San Fransisco). The higher gears are like a rocket which I don't need however it will be plenty fast even after the modification. I also ordered a Bike to Beach iPod player. I'm totally addicted to that sound technology on my other bicycle.

Progress Report

The Bykadelic project has been completed this past weekend. It started out as a restoration but truly it is a transformation. The project was met with many delays. Several parts that I ordered last fall only arrived last week. What I didn't realize is that the wholesalers often let their inventory drop back at the end of the season and don't replenish their stock until the new season. So the Sturmey Archer 8 speed hub was one of the last things to arrive.


The light set that works off the front SRAM dynamo Hub were tricky to find. As it turns out, although the wholesalers sell the dynamo hubs, no one supplies the lights that would run off them. What is that about? In any case, I stumbled across Peter White Cycles who is the distributor of these lights to north America. The product I purchased were Busch Muller lights from Germany. They have features such as turning on automatically when the ambient light is dim and also stay on for several minutes when you come to a stop.

Rebecca's CCM Elite

This is a side project I've been working on, and in the celebration of the first day of Spring, we launched her on her maiden voyage after an overhaul. New wicker basket, cables in 'Dirt Rag Brown' (matches the wicker-it's all about the esthetics), Brooks seat, and cream coloured Schwalb tires.


Rebecca, sporting her new LuLu Guiness sunglasses, reports that she finds the bike very chic.

Bykadelic Project Bike Pics

Just a few pictures I've taken today of my bike restoration project.

Rebecca's New (Old) Bike

While waiting for more parts to arrive to facilitate my main project I've decided to do a side project. A friend of mine gave me an old bike that her father had which was very grimy and rusty. I've cleaned it up and polished through much of the rust and put new tires on it. I've yet to do a bit more but it is in good working order as is. This is a fine 5 speed for my lovely wife. Happy Valentines day!?

Cycle Chic London Circa 1908

This is a photo of my great grandmother, Kate Maud Thornborrow (nee Fosten), taken approximately 100 years ago. It was possibly taken by her husband Thomas who was very interested in photography. At the time they were living in West London (Ealing). I have many family pictures taken at the turn of the last century but only one with a bicycle.

GO BY BIKE CHALLENGE

Happy New Year

Many obstacles have been encountered whilst trying to commute on a daily basis. These obstacles can be summarized under the heading 'Canadian Winter Weather'. Both black ice and hard packed snow, i.e. white ice, have come up and bit me in the ass on more then one occasion. The first effort to confront this demon has been to employ my daughters mountain bike, a Gary Fisher. That helped somewhat with it's thick tread pattern, however serious ice was still treacherous. I recently installed some Nokian studded winter tires; they are the cat's pajamas! They do not eliminate completely the element of surprise, but I can live with a little excitement in my life. I also have elected to wear a helmet for now as the cars on the road are dealing with the same element of surprise, so I wear it for now so that car drivers can drive like idiots. The helmet I am using is a snowboarders/skiers helmet hence it is better suited for winter, i.e. it keeps my ears warm. That and a belaclava keeps me toasty warm in -10C weather.

The bike restoration has been bogged down awaiting many parts on back order but once they arrive, with a flurry, this project will be completed.