NAHBS - Correction and Update

I've got more photos from NAHBS from Saturday, but need make a correction from my last post where I described Jeremy Shlachter's Gallus Cycles cool rando bike as being "fixed, no brakes". I was mistaken. I didn't see the coaster brake lever tucked discretely behind the opposite chainstay. Now I'm pretty sure that he used the Sturmey Archer S2C hub. I really liked that bike with its dual headlights, handmade rack, and wooden fenders.

I also wanted to get back to Steve, who asked for details on the Pashley Clubman.

This bike was built using the Sturmey Archer S3X hub which is a 3-speed fixed wheel hub. Since I'm a bit of a fixed wheel fan, that hub attracts.

Steve asked about the shifter, and the apparent absence of a "travel agent" to help with cable travel issues. I believe this matter is addressed in this case because a SA brand bar end shifter was used. This is an elegant arrangement, and now I'm even more intrigued by the S3X hub.

More photos from my Saturday visit forthcoming.

NAHBS - Friday

My VO Polyvalent among many practical steeds

The weather in Austin on Friday was perfect. Some of the afternoon was spent indoors appreciating the fine art of bicycle building, and some of the afternoon was spent appreciating the function of the bicycle. When one attends a show intended to focus attention on details, and when one spends a few hours admiring thousands of those amazing details, one can be overwhelmed.

I took a lot more photos than this, but I don't even have the time to describe these few adequately. There were a lot more cool bikes that I didn't spend much time with, or photograph. So, as I said in my previous post, let's just say these are a few things that caught my interest and attention.

Brakeless, fixed gear, rando bike

I think easy travel was the motivation for this design

ANT had several clever designs present

I'm a sucker for retro

Richard Sachs cyclocross bikes, complete with mud

Lovely wooden fenders

Do I need these? No, but I want them anyway

Comfortable, functional, light

No BCD problems here, flexible design

My favorite Ellis bike, 23.4 pounds with racks, fenders, and lights

Bilenky beauty

Chainguard closeup

If I still used foot restraints...

Bishop beauty (matches Bilenky mixte)

There were all kinds

As one guy said, there's another show outside

February sunshine, warm in Texas

Austin skyline across Lady Bird Lake

Nice day, looking forward to Saturday...

NAHBS Send Off

I'll be heading from my little house out here on the prairie down to Austin, Texas for the 2011 version of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. The plan is to drive down Friday morning, spend Friday afternoon and Saturday morning at the show, and return sometime on Saturday afternoon. I'll probably bring one of my bikes and try to ride around town a little sometime during my stay. My plan also is to post some photos here of a few things that catch my interest.

I've read a few blog posts from some of you folks saying that you'd be there. Although we might not have met in person, maybe we've exchanged a few blog comments or email messages. It would be great to put a more complete personality and a face with your blog presence. Unfortunately, I might not immediately recognize you. I probably know your bicycle better than I know you, especially in street clothes. So to help minimize missed opportunities, I've devised a scheme, and it is quite simple.

The appropriate thing to say when you see my hat walking around is, "Howdy, Pondero!"

Safe travels, ya'll.

Horse County Loop

I'm calling this new route the Horse Country Loop, and I'm pleased that I had enough time on Saturday to get out and explore it. Because, with a little advance planning, a new route means new gravel.

I left early and headed southeast to Aubrey, Texas. The forecast called for a stiff wind from the southeast, and I wanted to stretch the mileage a bit. Since winter has eroded my fitness significantly, I knew I'd need a little help on the return.

The first refreshment stop was at the FM 428 Greenbelt Trail access. I parked ol' Homer by a picnic table and unpacked the goodies.

But the wind had picked up considerably, so I found a spot to enjoy my coffee in peace. As I sat there, I pondered how I preferred 5% climbs with a tailwind over descents with a headwind, and I pondered the crazy whitecaps I saw on stock ponds. Unfortunately it wasn't time to turn around just yet. I had more wind to face.

There were a few more new gravel roads to explore.

After a cloudy, grey start, the sun finally appeared, and it was tailwind time!

Since I was enjoying the tailwind and scenery so much, I didn't stop often for horse farm photos, but I will testify that there has been some serious money spent on the horse business in the vicinity of Aubrey, Texas.

I began to lose my energy as I returned to more familiar roads. When I came over a ridge, and finally had Sanger in sight, I spotted a pleasant little hillside for rest stop number two. How pleasant it is to sit back and enjoy warm 75 degree sunshine, refuel, and refresh.

I had just enough in me to finish the route and add the Horse Country Loop to my quiver of excellent north Texas country routes.

Had to Wear Shades

After a couple brutal (for Texas) cold blasts, the weather returned to something resembling normal...where normal means the occasional February day high temperature in the 60s. It was about 65 when I got away this afternoon, and it had that "school's out for summer" feeling.

The sky was deep blue. Layers of wool, which had been constantly within reach, were left laying around the house. Birds were singing, and my wife's furry rascals were out in the yard napping in the sun. It was such a contrast to the last couple of weeks, I was startled with memories of the smell of freshly cut grass, and I wondered when it would be time for pitchers and catchers to report.

And my exposed skinny legs were so winter white, I had to wear shades.

Big Thaw Watching

By the time I ventured out, the Great Storm of February '11 Thaw was well underway. Mostly the roads were as clear as the skies, the wind was slight, and the temperatures had climbed back in the happy zone.

Still, there remained a few patches of ice and slushy spots. Even with the quite helpful fixed wheel and fenders, I felt like a winter cycling amateur at times.

But overall it was simply a delight to be back outdoors and enjoying the countryside. Under certain circumstances, that fluffy white stuff can be pleasing to the eye.

Hopefully weird winter is behind us now, and we can get back to something more typical for Texas.

Two Hundred Feet

-2(F) windchill

We don't really do much snow here in north Texas, but we're pretty good at having a few ice storms every winter. Like last night.

Unlike the more common rain followed by a 25-30 degree freeze, something horrible leaked across the Red River into our fair state from somewhere way up north. Something painful. It's been about 16-18 degrees all day. All the streets are a sheet of ice, and the wind has been blowing at 25-50 mph.

I did ride the bike today. I went two hundred feet out to my mailbox, and back. That was enough.

You guys up north...you who let winter out of your yard...please come down here, get your winter, and take it back home. And keep it on a better leash from now on.