The Bluebird came out fighting today. A trial by fire… and ice. She’s a great bike. Rides well. I’m not quite certain what makes a bike a good ride. So as I’m building her, I can’t help but worry: what if she’s not a good bike? One test of a well riding bike is: can…
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I received an e-mail from my Godmother. She is very concerned: “Dear Peter, I love the blue color but am concerned about one thing, where’s Zora’s bike basket? Am I showing my age here? But a girl’s bike must have a basket, no? Preferably one of those large wicker ones.” How right she is! In…
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I got the package of fenders and tubes today! This bike reminds me of that old Johnnie Cash song where he builds a car “one piece at time.” Of course, that didn’t cost him a dime. But it’s interesting to see a bike come entirely in the mail. I fixed the bike tire (man, that…
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I’m done with another hard day at the office. Off to bike home. I picked up two tubes for the Bluebird. So I can make the bike rideable and give her a little test spin tomorrow! Very exciting. Then I’ll probably have to re-true the wheels. And the handlebar grips are waiting for Zora’s return.…
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I put in the tubes (I’m afraid there’s a slow leak already in the rear tube, but I’m not sure. Maybe the valve was just leaking at first, but now it’s fine? But some air was definitely coming out. But now it seem to be fine. I’ll guess I’ll know in the morning). The tires…
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Back from Chicago, the brakes had arrived. But annoyingly, the tubes and fenders weren’t even shipped from Boston. Some screw up on their end. I don’t like putting cables on bikes. I never had. I don’t know why. It always takes longer than it should. It’s hard to cut cable housing. And getting the length…
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She’s going to be a handsome steed: swift in motion, yet steady afoot; demure in public, yet wild in private; mischievous by nature, yet polite in mixed company; her hubs stay loose and her wheels tight; femme enough to turn all the boys’ heads, butch enough to be the center of attention in any dyke…
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Well, actually, putting on rim tape isn’t too exciting at all. But it’s kind of satisfying because it’s cloth and it fits very nicely in the rim. I put a screw in the tube-valve hole to hold the tape in place. But the wheels are very finely trued and ready to go. At least as…
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Victoria hosted a wonderful birthday party for Tamara. I went there with Katie, who drove. Very exotic to drive around Northern Manhattan. Especially up to 181st St and Broadway. I walked up Broadway once, but it’s still a foreign land. Washington Heights: Big apartment buildings. Hills (gosh, do we turn our wheels when we park?).…
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I officially decommissioned Zora’s old Tour de France (RIP). I took the handlebars off. The grips came off without too much trouble. Luckily they’re very hard plastic, so I could get a strong grip on the with adjustable pliers without causing real damage. The handlebars are standard (Walt brand) with 25.4mm diameter that fits standard…
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