Category: Projects

Bent Bicycle, by Alicja Kwade, 2012., originally uploaded by dennis.

Bent Bicycle, by Alicja Kwade, 2012.

blackening the aluminum, originally uploaded by BikeTinker.

I used this trick to mask a bright silver scratch in an excellent budget IRO rim. I learned it from Problem Solvers’ photostream (they have a special pen for it: a sharpie with their logo on it).

Here’s a dramatically scuffed up LED “tactical” flashlight I found in the road on a bike ride. About a minute with the sharpie, and it looked a lot better. From a distance. It still looks gangrenous, but it was instantly appropriated by my 11 year old son as an Airsoft accessory, so I’d call it a success.
“Yes, son, trust in duct tape, Sharpies and things you find on the road. You’ll go far.”

2012 Kinetic Sculpture Race Day One 033, originally uploaded by hoops44.

Yessss…
Art, bikes, beachsand… is there anything else? Oh yeah – where’s the beer?

The main rig., originally uploaded by www.chicagowig.com.

Canoe by bike!
I’ve had fantasies of doing this with a kayak for a long time. Apparently the wheel/trailer part is much simpler than I was imagining.
“Just do it, fool.”

Matthews 29er Test ride, originally uploaded by Velo_Fraunk.

This is a beautiful bike. It’s graceful and burly at the same time. “Matthews” – I don’t think I’ve heard of this builder.

Sonoma County Light, originally uploaded by BikeTinker.

Same as Willamette Valley light, just more of it, more often.

Baggins Little Joe, originally uploaded by LNBright.

two cords, two cord locks, the end of each goes through a grommet back into the bag! That’s the genius part.
That middle bottom grommet might just be for looks. It’s a vent hole*.

Thanks for sharing these, Leslie – if I ever get another Little Joe, I’ll know to do it this way.

*cracked myself up.

bike mojo, originally uploaded by BikeTinker.

Elizabeth and Haley came over to poke through my ‘free’ pile of bike and art stuff.
This is Haley’s Hunqapillar, with Frodo ziptied to the bars. That’s Lizzie’s Peugeot in the background.

They took more stuff away than I thought they could get on their bikes. Backpacks, baskets and bags saved the day. I also was getting rid of a pair of panniers, so maybe they came into play. Haley’s Hunqapillar sure had the racks for them!

Little Joe (Opening), originally uploaded by Archival Clothing.

Oh. That’s how it works.

Thanks to the guy who bought the Little Joe from the guy who bought it from me for the link! Maybe I tried it this way? I don’t remember. Maybe that’s the way it even came?

Two cords, one for each side. Cinch one side up tight, leave the other loose. The smart thing Leslie (not Lesli) did, was run the cord back inside the bag through a lower hole before knotting it. Lots of slack, and no dangling cords. Smart.

Here it is on its new home. Matching Acorn straps, and a bike that really is the business! Thanks for the update on the bag’s new incarnation!

Fendered, originally uploaded by LNBright.

Mr.Orange himself, originally uploaded by MannyAcosta.

Check out the light mount sprouting from the vestigial brake mount hole. I swear I had this exact idea a few weeks ago.
Bike Psychic – that’s me.
I also quite like the U-lock / Saddlebag rig. One toe strap down to the seat stay bridge, then another one from the seat post to cinch it up. The U-lock goes through the saddle rails, and locks behind the straps, held in like a… a thing that can’t flop around so much.

Impromptu wheel truing stand, originally uploaded by chrisbwah.

Pure genius. Building the wheels for a new bike? Do this.
Downside – if you only have a built bike, it’s more trouble to remove the fork and stem than not.
I’m really digging on the “these things I had laying around worked together in perfect concert to do what I needed” vibe. V-brakes, gear cable, and a jag-wire barrel adjuster, and the ‘feelers’ are probably better than the truing stand I’ve been using for the last couple years. Serendipitous.