John Kemp Starley (and a bit of bicycle history)

This is a bit of bicycle history that I just learned and thought it interesting enough to share. It’s common knowledge that many of today’s car companies began as bicycle companies (including Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow), and that the first car builders were in fact former bicycle mechanics. Well this apparently reaches all the way back to some of the bicycle’s originators. Case in point:  John Kemp Starley. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for him it happened shortly after his death. Mr. Starley was the inventor of the original Safety Bicycle, or the first bicycle that resembles those we ride today. Even more interesting is that he was the nephew of James Starley, the inventor of the Penny-Farthing, or the old fashioned bikes with the really big wheel in front. John Starely’s invention of the Safety was truly revolutionary. Not only was it chain driven and have rear wheel drive, it also had two tires the same size. All of these things made riding a bike much more safe, hence the bike’s original name (it was not uncommon for a Penny-Farthing rider to “pull a header,” or flip over the front wheel). At any rate, Mr. Starley and his business partner renamed the bike and their company the Rover (can you guess what’s coming?). I havn’t been able to find how, but a couple sites say that John Starley “died suddenly,” and that shortly after his death the company began making motorcycles and then autos with the same name…yup, you probably guessed it: the Land Rover. It’s interesting to note that this macho truck began as a humble bicycle. Thanks for inventing and building them Mr. Starley. And while it probably seemed like a good direction at the time, I’m sorry that the bikes morphed into trucks.  

>John Kemp Starley (and a bit of bicycle history)

>

This is a bit of bicycle history that I just learned and thought it interesting enough to share. It’s common knowledge that many of today’s car companies began as bicycle companies (including Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow), and that the first car builders were in fact former bicycle mechanics. Well this apparently reaches all the way back to some of the bicycle’s originators. Case in point:  John Kemp Starley. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for him it happened shortly after his death. Mr. Starley was the inventor of the original Safety Bicycle, or the first bicycle that resembles those we ride today. Even more interesting is that he was the nephew of James Starley, the inventor of the Penny-Farthing, or the old fashioned bikes with the really big wheel in front. John Starely’s invention of the Safety was truly revolutionary. Not only was it chain driven and have rear wheel drive, it also had two tires the same size. All of these things made riding a bike much more safe, hence the bike’s original name (it was not uncommon for a Penny-Farthing rider to “pull a header,” or flip over the front wheel). At any rate, Mr. Starley and his business partner renamed the bike and their company the Rover (can you guess what’s coming?). I havn’t been able to find how, but a couple sites say that John Starley “died suddenly,” and that shortly after his death the company began making motorcycles and then autos with the same name…yup, you probably guessed it: the Land Rover. It’s interesting to note that this macho truck began as a humble bicycle. Thanks for inventing and building them Mr. Starley. And while it probably seemed like a good direction at the time, I’m sorry that the bikes morphed into trucks.  

Tell Congress: Make walking and biking safe!

The following is cut-and-paste from Transportation For America website.

In the last 15 years, 76,000 Americans have been killed while walking or crossing a street – too many of our roads are built for cars only.

But thousands of people are stepping up to make biking and walking safe. Rep. Earl Blumenauer introduced a piece of legislation that could set aside $2 billion for grants to fund safe networks for biking and walking in communities all across the country. And Secretary Ray LaHood just joined the fight by issuing a directive that makes safe walking and biking a priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation!

Help us keep the pressure on! Urge your representative to co-sponsor the Active Community Transportation Act. Sign the letter below (follow the link below) and we’ll deliver your message to Capitol Hill…

Click here to sign the letter. 

>Tell Congress: Make walking and biking safe!

>

The following is cut-and-paste from Transportation For America website.

In the last 15 years, 76,000 Americans have been killed while walking or crossing a street – too many of our roads are built for cars only.

But thousands of people are stepping up to make biking and walking safe. Rep. Earl Blumenauer introduced a piece of legislation that could set aside $2 billion for grants to fund safe networks for biking and walking in communities all across the country. And Secretary Ray LaHood just joined the fight by issuing a directive that makes safe walking and biking a priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation!

Help us keep the pressure on! Urge your representative to co-sponsor the Active Community Transportation Act. Sign the letter below (follow the link below) and we’ll deliver your message to Capitol Hill…

Click here to sign the letter. 

v3 Mundo: Preliminary Comments

I’ve ridden the new Mundo for a couple of days and feel I am in a unique position for comments and comparison in that I originally owned a v1 and now a v3. My overall first impressions are that I love this bike. It will without doubt become my new “everyday bike,” something the v1 couldn’t do because of sheer weight and overall clunkyness (is that a word?). While this bike is essentially the same size as the v1 it is streamlined and refined, not to mention lighter. As best I can figure the v1 weighed about 62lbs while the v3 is about 50lbs. I deduced these numbers by first standing on a bathroom scale by myself, noting the weight, then standing on the scale again only this time holding the Mundo (which is no easy feat). Anyhow, here’s a few initial thoughts.

The first is purely superficial in that I love the flat black color with white logo. I’m not sure why but I’ve always liked my bikes black. Now that I’ve sold the v1 and the trike my (shrinking) fleet is once again black.

One thing about the new bike that pleasantly surprised me was the extra long heavy duty kickstand (this is a lot of bike to hold up with a single kickstand). While I plan on purchasing a stand alone double kickstand when it becomes available, I am surprised how well this one works. But the problem I have with it is that it leans the bike like a normal kickstand and would not be suitable for loading heavy loads. Nonetheless, it works surprisingly well and will be fine until the stand alone kickstand is available.

I love the extra gears. They shift great and work well. I rode through a park today and went up a hill at about a 60 percent grade and didn’t even have to stand up…just put it in 1st gear and pedaled slowly.

This brings me to a couple things that I miss, or at least are not too keen on the new bike. One is that I miss the full chain-guard that was on the v1. While my pants will not get caught in the chain they did rub against it as I pedaled. This will necessitate wearing something around my ankle if wearing dress pants or anything other than jeans. Also, when the chain is on the two lower gears of the front sprocket it sags because of its length, causing it to occasionally bounce annoyingly against the frame. The last thing is that there are no eyelets on the front fork, making it difficult to mount a front rack. I overcame this with the aid of a couple copper pipe clamps. These really are the only few things I have to say in a negative context about the bike…more good stuff below.

Speaking of threaded eyelets…there are tons of them all over the rest of the bike, making it ready for personal customization (why none on the fork I wonder?). One of the best, and smartest I think, that were included on this bike are the eyelets for mounting a water bottle cage…prior I had to bungee a bottle onto the back rack.

Another thing I really like about this new bike are the new handlebars and fully adjustable stem. The handlebars are slightly narrower…I know this doesn’t sound like much but it really makes a difference in your position (and yes, that is a cup holder on the handlebars…gotta have coffee). But what really makes a big difference is the adjustable stem. I moved the handlebars slightly back and upward which offers a perfectly upright riding position. I didn’t think it was possible, but this bike is even more comfortable to ride than the v1. With it’s lighter weight, streamlined frame, more gears, and better components, this bike is not for only shorter trips like the v1…I rode for about 10 miles today and it was smooth and nearly effortless.

I haven’t used the bike for any really big hauls yet, but when I do I’ll be looking forward to using the strap-slots that are located around the upper and lower rear carriers…no more slipped straps and shifting loads.

The real crown piece of this bike still remains, only more refined: the rear carrier. Measuring a full thirty-two inches long this thing can carry stuff. It’s refined in that the framework seems to be slightly thinner and it comes with a plastic top deck, which screws down tight with corresponding eyelets.

All-in-all I couldn’t be happier with this bike. I look forward to it not just as my everyday mode of transport, but also a couple longer excursions as well. Undoubtedly I will make small customizations…I’ll keep you posted.

>v3 Mundo: Preliminary Comments

>

I’ve ridden the new Mundo for a couple of days and feel I am in a unique position for comments and comparison in that I originally owned a v1 and now a v3. My overall first impressions are that I love this bike. It will without doubt become my new “everyday bike,” something the v1 couldn’t do because of sheer weight and overall clunkyness (is that a word?). While this bike is essentially the same size as the v1 it is streamlined and refined, not to mention lighter. As best I can figure the v1 weighed about 62lbs while the v3 is about 50lbs. I deduced these numbers by first standing on a bathroom scale by myself, noting the weight, then standing on the scale again only this time holding the Mundo (which is no easy feat). Anyhow, here’s a few initial thoughts.

The first is purely superficial in that I love the flat black color with white logo. I’m not sure why but I’ve always liked my bikes black. Now that I’ve sold the v1 and the trike my (shrinking) fleet is once again black.

One thing about the new bike that pleasantly surprised me was the extra long heavy duty kickstand (this is a lot of bike to hold up with a single kickstand). While I plan on purchasing a stand alone double kickstand when it becomes available, I am surprised how well this one works. But the problem I have with it is that it leans the bike like a normal kickstand and would not be suitable for loading heavy loads. Nonetheless, it works surprisingly well and will be fine until the stand alone kickstand is available.

I love the extra gears. They shift great and work well. I rode through a park today and went up a hill at about a 60 percent grade and didn’t even have to stand up…just put it in 1st gear and pedaled slowly.

This brings me to a couple things that I miss, or at least are not too keen on the new bike. One is that I miss the full chain-guard that was on the v1. While my pants will not get caught in the chain they did rub against it as I pedaled. This will necessitate wearing something around my ankle if wearing dress pants or anything other than jeans. Also, when the chain is on the two lower gears of the front sprocket it sags because of its length, causing it to occasionally bounce annoyingly against the frame. The last thing is that there are no eyelets on the front fork, making it difficult to mount a front rack. I overcame this with the aid of a couple copper pipe clamps. These really are the only few things I have to say in a negative context about the bike…more good stuff below.

Speaking of threaded eyelets…there are tons of them all over the rest of the bike, making it ready for personal customization (why none on the fork I wonder?). One of the best, and smartest I think, that were included on this bike are the eyelets for mounting a water bottle cage…prior I had to bungee a bottle onto the back rack.

Another thing I really like about this new bike are the new handlebars and fully adjustable stem. The handlebars are slightly narrower…I know this doesn’t sound like much but it really makes a difference in your position (and yes, that is a cup holder on the handlebars…gotta have coffee). But what really makes a big difference is the adjustable stem. I moved the handlebars slightly back and upward which offers a perfectly upright riding position. I didn’t think it was possible, but this bike is even more comfortable to ride than the v1. With it’s lighter weight, streamlined frame, more gears, and better components, this bike is not for only shorter trips like the v1…I rode for about 10 miles today and it was smooth and nearly effortless.

I haven’t used the bike for any really big hauls yet, but when I do I’ll be looking forward to using the strap-slots that are located around the upper and lower rear carriers…no more slipped straps and shifting loads.

The real crown piece of this bike still remains, only more refined: the rear carrier. Measuring a full thirty-two inches long this thing can carry stuff. It’s refined in that the framework seems to be slightly thinner and it comes with a plastic top deck, which screws down tight with corresponding eyelets.

All-in-all I couldn’t be happier with this bike. I look forward to it not just as my everyday mode of transport, but also a couple longer excursions as well. Undoubtedly I will make small customizations…I’ll keep you posted.

Bicycles in Motion

This has been a busy week for me in regards to bikes moving through my life. Exactly one week ago today I sold the v1 Mundo to Derrick in Toronto. Then yesterday I received an email from someone who saw my trike listed on craigslist; they came by today and purchased it. The above picture is of the new owners of the trike: Jason, Andreea, and daughter. In the same way that I felt good about selling the Mundo to Derrick in Toronto because he was a “bicycle person,” I felt the same today when I sold the trike to Jason and Andreea. As they looked at the trike Jason had a gleam in his eyes as he commented how he was going to restore it and the different modifications he planned on doing. To see pictures of the trike a couple years ago, before it sat outside under a tarp all winter, click here (I don’t have enough room for my bikes, nor do I use them all, hence the reason I’m selling a few…I may be selling a tandem if anyone is interested).

But the big news of my week is that my shiny new v3 Mundo finally arrived today, and I couldn’t be happier. It took me about an hour to put together, then I took it on about a 4 mile ride. All I can say thus far is that I love it (it’s amazing what a few less pounds and many more gears can do). I’ll post a full review of it in a week or so after I’ve become fully accuainted with it. Here it is below (I love the matte black color).

>Bicycles in Motion

>

This has been a busy week for me in regards to bikes moving through my life. Exactly one week ago today I sold the v1 Mundo to Derrick in Toronto. Then yesterday I received an email from someone who saw my trike listed on craigslist; they came by today and purchased it. The above picture is of the new owners of the trike: Jason, Andreea, and daughter. In the same way that I felt good about selling the Mundo to Derrick in Toronto because he was a “bicycle person,” I felt the same today when I sold the trike to Jason and Andreea. As they looked at the trike Jason had a gleam in his eyes as he commented how he was going to restore it and the different modifications he planned on doing. To see pictures of the trike a couple years ago, before it sat outside under a tarp all winter, click here (I don’t have enough room for my bikes, nor do I use them all, hence the reason I’m selling a few…I may be selling a tandem if anyone is interested).

But the big news of my week is that my shiny new v3 Mundo finally arrived today, and I couldn’t be happier. It took me about an hour to put together, then I took it on about a 4 mile ride. All I can say thus far is that I love it (it’s amazing what a few less pounds and many more gears can do). I’ll post a full review of it in a week or so after I’ve become fully accuainted with it. Here it is below (I love the matte black color).

This Made Me Smile

I came across this short clip at 24 Oranges, it’s a video of a couple, then a few, then a bunch of people casually biking through the city of Tilburg. I was feeling a little grumpy today and when I watched this video it made me smile so I thought I’d share it. This is what biking should be about…not just about a mode of transport (and definitely not just about racing or posing with your fixie); biking should also be about carefree fun…at any age and in everyday clothing.

>This Made Me Smile

>I came across this short clip at 24 Oranges, it’s a video of a couple, then a few, then a bunch of people casually biking through the city of Tilburg. I was feeling a little grumpy today and when I watched this video it made me smile so I thought I’d share it. This is what biking should be about…not just about a mode of transport (and definitely not just about racing or posing with your fixie); biking should also be about carefree fun…at any age and in everyday clothing.

Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#146)…with a few comments

$120.21 in groceries from two separate stores in a Bike Rev trailer.

I haven’t used this trailer in a while, but since I’m without a cargo bike at present and had to go grocery shopping I thought I’d put it to use. It was a beautiful, albeit chilly day today and there were a lot of people out enjoying the sunshine…fair-weather cyclists are starting to return as well. I always find it interesting the comments I get when I have either a trailer or a Mundo. I think people are sometimes surprised to see such useful bicycles and accessories…and a grown man using it as his main source of transportation. Today was no exception; I received no less than 5 comments and had two full conversations with people as I loaded the trailer in the parking lot of the local Co-op. There’s always comments like, “I wish I could do that,” or “That is so great, I wish I had the time,” and my favorite today was, “My husband would be so jealous if he saw that trailer.”  Well, people, all I can say is this: just do it…it’s not that difficult. On the city streets I pedal almost as fast as the crawling cars and I’d wager to bet that I am having way more fun. And it’s easily apparent when you talk to me (or read this blog) and see the trailer or Mundo that almost anything you carry in your car can be carried on a bike. Just do it. You won’t regret it.

>Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#146)…with a few comments

>

$120.21 in groceries from two separate stores in a Bike Rev trailer.

I haven’t used this trailer in a while, but since I’m without a cargo bike at present and had to go grocery shopping I thought I’d put it to use. It was a beautiful, albeit chilly day today and there were a lot of people out enjoying the sunshine…fair-weather cyclists are starting to return as well. I always find it interesting the comments I get when I have either a trailer or a Mundo. I think people are sometimes surprised to see such useful bicycles and accessories…and a grown man using it as his main source of transportation. Today was no exception; I received no less than 5 comments and had two full conversations with people as I loaded the trailer in the parking lot of the local Co-op. There’s always comments like, “I wish I could do that,” or “That is so great, I wish I had the time,” and my favorite today was, “My husband would be so jealous if he saw that trailer.”  Well, people, all I can say is this: just do it…it’s not that difficult. On the city streets I pedal almost as fast as the crawling cars and I’d wager to bet that I am having way more fun. And it’s easily apparent when you talk to me (or read this blog) and see the trailer or Mundo that almost anything you carry in your car can be carried on a bike. Just do it. You won’t regret it.

More Experiments in Fermentation (Cinnamon-Raisin Bread)

I made a bread recipe that is slightly different but at the same time just a variation on a theme. I made cinnamon-raisin bread using a traditional recipe but including the raisins in the preferment. It was interesting because the raisins, though not entirely disintegrated, became so soft that when I mixed the dough they sort of melted into it…becoming part of the dough. It was as if they were predigested, which is not too far off from what fermentation does. They gave the dough a brownish color that looked like I used whole wheat flour (I didn’t) and they also gave the dough an interesting flavor and suppleness. Anyhow, here’s how I made it.

I mixed together white bread flour, water, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins and let it rest at room temperature. Here it is after 18 hours.

Then I poured the preferment into a mixing bowl and added a few eggs, more flour, a little more yeast, and kosher salt. After kneading it for about 5 minutes i added melted butter and kneaded it for another few minutes. You can still see some of the raisins in the dough at this point.

Then I put it in a bowl, let it rise twice, cut it into 18oz pieces, rolled them into loaves, put them in pans, and let them rise again. Just before baking them I brushed them with an egg wash.

They didn’t seem to rise that much but when the went into the oven they had probably a 20-30% oven spring. The aroma of the breads baking was intoxicating to say the least. The resulting loaves are delicious…soft, sweet, full flavored. (Note the lack of whole raisins in the sliced loaf.)

>More Experiments in Fermentation (Cinnamon-Raisin Bread)

>

I made a bread recipe that is slightly different but at the same time just a variation on a theme. I made cinnamon-raisin bread using a traditional recipe but including the raisins in the preferment. It was interesting because the raisins, though not entirely disintegrated, became so soft that when I mixed the dough they sort of melted into it…becoming part of the dough. It was as if they were predigested, which is not too far off from what fermentation does. They gave the dough a brownish color that looked like I used whole wheat flour (I didn’t) and they also gave the dough an interesting flavor and suppleness. Anyhow, here’s how I made it.

I mixed together white bread flour, water, yeast, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins and let it rest at room temperature. Here it is after 18 hours.

Then I poured the preferment into a mixing bowl and added a few eggs, more flour, a little more yeast, and kosher salt. After kneading it for about 5 minutes i added melted butter and kneaded it for another few minutes. You can still see some of the raisins in the dough at this point.

Then I put it in a bowl, let it rise twice, cut it into 18oz pieces, rolled them into loaves, put them in pans, and let them rise again. Just before baking them I brushed them with an egg wash.

They didn’t seem to rise that much but when the went into the oven they had probably a 20-30% oven spring. The aroma of the breads baking was intoxicating to say the least. The resulting loaves are delicious…soft, sweet, full flavored. (Note the lack of whole raisins in the sliced loaf.)