Independent Fabrications City Bike

Spotted sometimes on Newbury Street, this bike always makes my husband stop for a second look. Those green and yellow rims are even the Indy Fab colors.

One thing that's made clear by this rusting steel washer and nut next to a pristine seat stay - a titanium frame makes some sense for an all-season bike like this one. Expensive for all of us who don't work at IndyFab, but certainly practical in Boston!

Stylish Safe Simplicity

After I posted South End Simplicity, a reader submitted a beautiful bike that is clearly a friend to that one, also with cloth-taped handlebars, but this one features a brake lever (and brake!):


I love the cloth tape on my handlebars. The natural feel in my hand is particularly nice for a city commuter on which I do not generally wear gloves (weather permitting). With my inverse levers I never had to wrap around a brake lever, however this bike looks great! I particularly like how the curve of the cable housing is integrated with that of the handlebar. It all looks so graceful.


The final classy touch is, of course, the wooden end caps. They make me think of a wine bottle stopper, or a child's toy, both much nicer than the plastic-y things that come in the box with handlebar tape. C - did you make these? Is there any place a person can buy a set?



A beautiful, simple, bike.

South End Simplicity

This is perhaps the most elegant stripped-down beautiful basic bike I've seen. While I personally like my bikes with brakes, this isn't my bike, and the aesthetic is just wonderful from the cream tires to the black frame to the custom leather accents.


This custom leather-accented U-lock is perfectly matched to the saddle.


My husband thinks the saddle came this way, I think that the owner carved off the skirt his/herself. The hammered rivets look lovely on this bike.


The inherent classiness of this bike is eye-catching from behind...


... and from the front.


Bravo to the person who put this bike together, it's beautiful!

Singlespeed Basket Bike

Spotted in Cambridge, this bike was notable for having what appear to be Pier 1 Imports-style baskets front and rear, but perfectly sized to fit correctly on those respective racks. It makes for an elegant and proportional look.


The headlight is mounted to the rack under the front basket.

The rear basket is larger and the rear wheel accented with an array of spoke cards. I'm not sure I've seen quite this much spoke accessorizing in general, I find it fun on this bike.

I like it!

Single Rose

Spotted parked in the South End, you know I smiled when I saw this racy-looking chromed red singlespeed, with a rose on the handlebars.

I imagine the person who rides this bike - probably someone who is usually a speedster, but was given this rose-ring by someone dear to them and so s/he abandoned the minimalist aesthetic to keep it close, there on the handlebars.

Or maybe it's a conscious reminder to 'stop and smell the flowers'?

Whatever the story, I love flowers on bikes in general, and the dichotomy of this mental image in particular.

Blue Pinstriped Bike

This blue singlespeed with the enormous basket and matching rack was cute enough to get me to cross the street to check it out, but it was the blue pinstripe on the fenders that really won my heart. Small detail with a big impact.

Christmas Singlespeed

Spotted on Newbury Street, this subtle but festive bike made me smile:

International City Bike

You all know that I'm a fan of the Raleigh International, particularly that model's chromed lugs. I was interested to see this copper International, all dressed up in city components. It certainly makes a lovely singlespeed, and the bridgepiece for the rear brake is effective in protecting this bike's tail light. It has the original cranks and pedals, and I believe the rear brake was put on the front because the brake pads were jammed all the way up in the slot, yet you can see that the clearance of the wheel looks like mine after I'd changed from 27" to 700c wheels.

The bike is a looker, and if my experience is any indication, it will attract the attention of old men everywhere, internationally. It's fun to strike up a conversation with them, I'm not sure if they miss their old bikes or their old youth, but they're every one of them nostalgic. Aren't bikes fun?

Long Shadow in green

Skinny jeans and ballet flats go well with the singlespeed aesthetic.

Simple City Bike

I just liked the clean lines of this bike, it's clearly a useful bike. I was especially amused by the plastic bag tucked in the Brooks saddle. Yep, I've got one of those too (though mine's in the bike bag).

Philosophical Question: If you were walking down the street in a sudden downpour, would you use that plastic bag to cover this stranger's saddle?

Inspiring Story on CNN

My friend M shared this CNN story, about 84-year-old nurse Lan Yin Tsai who rides a singlespeed 150 miles for MS research. To top that, she does the ride in a dress and heels.

I'm beyond impressed. I think I'm humbled.

One Lucky Girl's Motobecane Le Champion

The question of building up Dad's bike has made me new friends. I think you'll all enjoy this rags-to-restoration story of a Motobecane saved from the dump. It's a very chic bike, J's 'not-chic' protestations notwithstanding!


I'm not particularly chic, even when riding a bicycle, however, I offer this anecdote which may be of interest. In the spring I refitted a Motobecane Le Champion that I had found at my local town dump / recycling center last year. This was a bicycle that had been neglected for some time and deposited next to the scrap metal dumpster at the dump. I noted the chromed fork, seat and chain stays and thought it might have a higher end pedigree.

Indeed, it was a 1968 Motobecane Le Champion. This was Moto's top Reynolds 531 frame with Campagnolo drop-outs, comparable to Raleigh's Professional model and built with Campagnolo Nuvo Record components when it was new. I wasn't sure what to do with this, too small for me, 52cm frame, until my daughter expressed an interest in having a more refined city bicycle, an upgrade from her old Bridgestone. She lives in NYC, is an occasional recreational rider on the Henry Hudson Green Way and Central Park; the benefits of commuting to work have yet to become apparent to her.

The finished bicycle fits her well, provides a good ride and she likes it, much to my relief, as I had spent a considerable amount of time messing around with it. To sum it up: precipitous in cost, but fun.

Attached are some pictures of the bicycle built up as a fixed gear / single speed and my notes and descriptions of the components used. This might suggest some ideas or offer inspiration for refitting your Raleigh Competition GS, which, in my opinion, would be lovely built up with the original paint work in a black and silver theme.



I neglected to photograph the frame in the as found condition, so this picture is of the Motobecane Grand Record frame, (with Nervex professional lugs, comparable to the
Raleigh International, but without the chromed rear stays) and is similar to what the paint scheme was originally like. The pictures of the bicycle with the fenders and chain guard were from an early configuration. Later, I had to remove the bottle cage to the down tube and move the rear fender attachment as close as possible the chain stay bridge behind the bottom bracket to allow for easy removal of the rear wheel.

I'm a Brooks fan, and if you have an everyday relationship with your bicycle with a Brooks saddle you will eventually become best of friends with it. Many riders are unwilling to work through any initial discomfiture to reach that point. Occasional bicycle riders will have a more difficult time liking a Brooks. I wanted my daughter to appreciate Brooks and that is why I splurged on the Brooks Imperial saddle, which is fairly comfortable from the start. If you ride a lot with this particular saddle, it is necessary to keep the lacing properly tensioned so that the seating area will not hammock. Rather a bother, and if riding daily and willing to persevere, one would probably be better off starting with a B-17.

In building the Motobecane Le Champion up I was influenced by the beautiful Rene Herse Criterium des Porteurs depicted and described in Jan Heine's book "The Competition Bicycle". Picture from book here, but also refer to Bicycles of the Porteurs des Journaux -and- Rene Herse for many more examples.


The 1968 Motobecane Le Champion--

• Frame: Reynolds 531 double butted frame, fork & stays, Prugnat lugs. I considered having the frame repainted as the existing paint work was very poor, but opted for glossy black powder coating, which is a much less costly alternative.


• Headset: 25x1mm, french threaded, Stronglight Competition V4. Was able to use some of the bits from the headset as found on the bicycle, being one of only two of the original components that were salvageable.


• Stem: 8.5mm, 22mm French head tube diameter, Philippe aluminum forged. The French answer to Cinelli.


• Handlebars: 50cm Nitto "Dove Bars" (much like a Northroad bar) with Origin-8 "Ivy" rubber grips with Velox bar end plugs.


• Brake levers: Early 80's long lever Dia Compe Mountain bike levers. Yes, inverted Mafac or CLB levers would be cool, but she didn't like them.


• Seat post: Simplex aluminum 26.4mm.


• Saddle: Brooks Imperial, womens model. This is the cut out model patented in 1898, so far no complaints.


• Brakes: Universal 61 center pulls, original to the bicycle. Nice looking, good working brakes. Black brake cable housing. Original Universal cable clamps.


• Bottom bracket: Phil Wood, french threaded 35x1mm cups, 110mm spindle, 5mm drive side offset. The original spec. Campagnolo BB and cranks were long gone. As found Spidel BB was toast. An expensive upgrade.


• Crank set: Sugino Mighty Touring, 110mm BCD, 170mm arms, 44 tooth Sugino black BMX 1/8 chain ring. This is a very nice, versatile 110 BCD, crank set.


• Chain: Izumi 1/8 silver track chain.


• Pedals: MKS Stream.


• Wheels: Mavic Open Pro 700c 32h black rims laced using silver DT butted spokes to Formula black high flange 32h hubs, solid axle - bolt on (don't forget your 15mm or adjustable spanner when riding), rear hub is a flip-flop with a White Industries Eno 19 tooth freewheel / Euro-Asia 17 tooth fixed gear cog. This provides a 62" and 69" gear inch, respectively.


• Tires: Hutchinson Top Speed 700cx28, folding kevlar, black wall.


• Bottle cage: TA clamp-on black top chrome steel. Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottle.


• Fenders: Honjo 43mm smooth fluted aluminum.


• Bell: Universal brass bell.


• Chain Guard: English Mfg. chrome steel.


• Seat Bag: VO Croissant bag, looks like a Berthoud, but like that it straps on and costs less. Two spare tubes, tire levers, Lezyne tire pump, (the Zefal hp X is the best frame pump ever made, but the Lezyne works well and fits in the bag) Park chain tool, adjustable wrench.

Accessorize!

Since returning from my vacation I've noticed more and more bikes decked out with accessories. Take this bike, for instance, which appears to be wearing its own scarf:



This bike has a head tube wrapped in ferns:


The chainstays are sporting their own teddy bear (or perhaps that's a little dog?):


And for those who just don't do fake flowers, this bike on Newbury Street has flower pots and real flowers:

Wooden Beads and Feathers

I knew they were fashionable this summer but I never would have thought to add them to my bike. It looks cool though, and very personal.

New Season, New Flower

I saw this bike again, now with a new flower (and fender). Happy springtime riding!

Singlespeed Cargo Bike

Here's a bike I've been seeing for the last few months, up and down Cambridge Street. I've been holding out on posting it, hoping that I will happen to catch a glimpse of it being ridden. No such luck.


How odd it must be to steer with that rubber-wrapped bar! I notice that there are no brakes, so it must be fixed-gear. (Updated: Ooops, I was wrong - it has a coaster brake, thank heavens!)


Here it is in January, still on Cambridge Street:

I couldn't find any maker information on the bicycle frame itself. There are two forks being used to hold the two front wheels, it's my theory that this is a DIY cargo bike. Isn't it wild?

Cheerful Colors Beat the Cold

This was taken through a window, there's a slight bit of reflection in the image.

Short on gears, long on style

Some Boston/Cambridge singlespeed ladies, each with her own look: