Random bits evidence photos and a new product.

It’s so nice to feel welcomed back to the bike world by my readers and my local bike friends.

It’s good to be back, even slowly and for short distances.

I got a bit of Covid, a mild case, just as Hamas decided to attack Israel and hold its Palestinian population hostage, which meant a week of isolation and probably a bit too much doom-scrolling for my mental health. Thankfully, today was the end of isolation so I took a short Coffeeneuring ride around the neighborhood. The weather was mild but showing signs of change; by the time I got home it had just begun to rain. I’m glad I got in a ride before Shabbat.

Along the way I enjoyed fall breezes from the east, beautiful changing leaves and even a little road find.

The singlespeed was a fine choice for today. Simple, fuss-free and fun. I keep pondering looking for a bigger freewheel, then I ride it and think it’s fine as it is. But I may look for nicer tires over the winter.

It’s a quick, fun ride and can carry just enough.

I did upgrade the PDW Takeout basket to the PDW Bodega basket, which is awkward because the attachment hardware for the latter doesn’t line up with my bars well, and the old basket hardware works better but is still not perfect. I did a few wraps on the bar to give some grip and used the Takeout hardware.

I still have the Takeout basket if someone wants it cheap. PM me.

 

And I road-scored the cutest little 10mm combo wrench.

The close end looks cheesy, but the open end looks perfectly useful. A nice addition to the toolkit for the Peugeot, now being upgraded in the stand.

I also have just started using some new-for-me cycling gloves. 

For the last seven or eight years, as the Crohn’s arthritis began troubling my hardworking hands, I noticed that my go-to padded gloves were becoming uncomfortable to ride in, and I wasn’t sure why. After talking to friends I decided to cough up the bucks on a pair of GOAT gloves from Rivendell. Using their interesting suggestions for sizing, I measured my hand and chose Small. They arrived last week and I started using them just before I got Covid. Today, I wore them again, and they are the most comfortable pair of cycling gloves I’ve used in quite awhile. Soft and supple, and the absence of padding combined with my thinly-padded grips seems to be just right. They’re not cheap at $27 a pair, but if padded gloves aren’t working for you these may be the way to go.

Next week, I’ll show a few progress photos of the Peugeot. 

Since scoring the bike, I’ve managed to find: 

Brooks B-17, $60 EUC

Planet Bike Cascadia fenders, $5 used

Carradice used saddlebag, I think a LongLow or Nelson LF, $60 used. Might need a bit of stitching but I can handle that.

I have a set of old Continental T & C tires that I’m thinking of swapping in, but I’m also considering other options. The tan sidewalls on these old Contis seem okay, but I’d really prefer black sidewalls for durability reasons. Need to be 26 x 1.75 to work with the fenders.

I may also install a rear-mount kickstand if I can find one in the pile.

Still looking for a North Road style handlebar that won’t cost me a hundred bucks. (Sigh)

All in all, I am hopeful that I’ll be able to enjoy some lovely fall rides in my area.

Hope you can, too. Happy riding!