Three’s Company
When the O’Brien’s opened up their bike shop at 138 Bradley Street, sometime in the early 1900’s, I can only imagine that they thought the location was special. East Rock’s summit was just as much in view then, if not more so. The street may not have been one way like it is today, but […]
Cyclists to Know: John Pescatore
The first time I met John Pescatore we were congregating for a group ride on the front stoop of the Coffee Pedaler. I could tell from the sling on his arm that he wouldn’t be joining us that morning, but equally obvious, was how badly he wanted to suit up. “Just a few more weeks,” […]
Photo Shoot
Occasionally a bike comes together so well that people can’t help but take notice. The angles look just right. The tubes are neither too long nor too short. The colors work together in perfect harmony. Jackie’s Cafe Racer S was just such a bike, I knew it when it was finished, but Seven Cycles also […]
Cyclists to Know: @bobbinnsprocket
The discovery feature of Instagram has introduced me to inspiring people, brands, and endless cycling culture. A few months ago I clicked on an image of a small bike on a pleasing dirt path because I wanted to be there on my bike. The trail turned out to be in Connecticut, as did the poster, […]
Birthday Bike
Fat white-walls, swept back bars, and massive sprung saddles provided all the luxury of a 70’s Cadillac as they rode down 1st avenue and gazed at the waves crashing on the beach. The bikes were rentals, used and abused, poorly fitting and absolutely perfect for the flat, slow roads of the Jersey Shore. They’d been […]
Delivered.
With a few days to go before Christmas, the final components for Ben’s Cafe Racer S had arrived. I wrote about his bike before, but in a nutshell it’s the ultimate family bike. Designed for heavy kid and toddler use his bike will be subjected to trailers, kid seats, rack and panniers, picnics, play-scapes, accidental […]
Winter is Here: Take Advantage!
Sunlight poured through our windows this morning and, from where I sat, looked like every other glorious “winter” day we have had thus far. But, stepping outside, it was clear today was different. In fact, with each passing hour, the temperatures actually went down all morning and well into the afternoon. Actual winter, quite possibly, […]
Bike Repair in Wallingford, Delivered to your Door
Jeff’s usual ride is a ten mile loop around town, one he has completed so many times that you might expect to see a 28mm wide depression in the shoulder of the road. He bought a flat bar Jamis Coda Comp seven years ago, and hasn’t changed a thing on it. His position is upright […]
Rapha’s Festive 500
Rapha’s Festive 500 starts up, as it has since 2010, on Christmas Eve day. The challenge, to ride 500 km between (betwixt?) December 24th and New Years Eve, is as much a challenge of time management as it is braving the elements. That translates to 311 miles, an average of about 39 miles a day. […]
The Build Party
Like any good party, music helps set the tone. So before organizing the components or even hanging the frame in the stand, I spent a few minutes thumbing through the LP collection looking for a record that will start the build off on the right foot. Sometimes the build calls for a certain a genre, […]