JP Bike Research

This is a great idea:

http://bikehacks.com/leather-shoe-laces-for-handlebarbrake-wrap/

I might have to try this someday soon…

For the last few weeks, karen and I have had a regular Thursday night babysitter. We’ve seen our first in-theater movie in a while, done some relaxing shopping, but last night with the great weather, we took a bike ride. We stayed looking stylish and cruised around, enjoying the spring air. We headed to booksmith in coolidge corner to browse around. I’m getting really used to the xtracycle, and the funny thing is that the bar-end shifters are really the most noticeable difference with any other bike I’ve had. We ended up at the Belgian beer serving Publick House and chilled outside next to the bikes, while waiting for a spot. A beautiful evening! Once inside, we tried a variety of beers, along with some mussels and Belgian frites. We had a delightful, slightly-drunk ride home in the cool air.

The next morning (today), I got up at 5:30 to get ready for my first bike-train-bike commute to work. Fortunately I looked at the schedule last night to see that all the trains are on Good Friday schedules. 25 minutes of biking down the Jamaica Way and along the Esplanade was so refreshing and scenic. I got to the train station faster that I had expected and so I had a bit of a wait. Boarding the empty train was pretty basic and there were only three other passengers heading outbound. I got off at the Reading stop and biked another 45 minutes — grand total 19 miles. I have to do it on the way home too, which ought to be fun!

Here are some pictures of the ride that I’ve finally got up and running. I took it grocery shopping and zipped around town successfully, but didn’t capture those photographically. I’m quite happy with the build-up, but am looking forward to using the cargo capacity to its fullest.

It’s also interesting to go back and look at what this bike was when I got it. I’ve put enough time and money into it, that’s pretty much a different bike. Only the frame, fork, headset, wheels, derailers, cranks, chainrings and bottom bracket are ‘original’. Now that I list it out, I don’t feel like I swapped nearly as much stuff as I thought I had!

Over the course of last week, I managed to put the xtracycle together enough to take it for a farewell ride around Boston for my friend Mike, who is moving to SF. It felt great, but crazy how far back the rear wheel was. I’d go over a bump, and there’s a half second delay from where I would expect the rear wheel to bump. Just a matter of getting used to it. I lugged around an extra sweater and a 6-pack of beer to drink on the Harbor. The best part of the evening was after drinking those cold beers in front of the windy ICA, we went an warmed our hands and bellies with some delicious 1am Chinese food. Nothing better. The bike is definitely heavier and a bit slower, but I have a feeling that is due to the different geometry, since my other bike is easily 37 lbs of steel.

I’ll get some pictures up soon, though I’ve disassembled it again to fix the derailer problem. and to put on the rear fender and 700c spacers for the racks. I also had to adjust the brakes and will shellac the cork grips tonight.

Mine isn’t going to look anything like this, but still a great video:

Xtracycle Custom Big Dummy Build from Xtracycle on Vimeo.