[enricosonic]

^^^ Nice springy Brooks Frans, and that beefy rack - I cannot figure out - it attaches to your handlebars?

Since we're posting some non-electric bikes I will date myself with my unwillingness to embrace new tech and materials!

Commuter bike (when Trek still hand built bikes in the '80s) :

https://flic.kr/p/ND1B5s https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

Around the neighborhood and just for some exercise, Seattle is extremely hilly and this thing makes me work (an oddly comfy old Panasonic):

https://flic.kr/p/29oeJ12 https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

 

[enricosonic]

Behold:

Ahh. Okay. I've never seen this bar. How did you cram brake levers, shifter(s) and a bell into that relatively meager space? Your grips may allow a bit more real estate than the ones pictured perhaps?

 

[enricosonic]

I don't have an electric bicycle but have this 1950's Gazelle which still gives a nice ride. Frans, you will know this famous old manufacturer well.

Wow, that's in great shape for its age, Steve. Even us Americans (if you were a kid during the mid-'70s during the 10-speed boom here) know Gazelle. They made some beautiful racers too, but for everyday useful riding, that geometry your bike has provides a more upright and relaxed position.

 

[enricosonic]

Yes, Champion Mondial frames. Again, I knew that they existed but did not know they had a specialized workshop up to the mid Eighties, employing a staff of 30 to hand-build these frames. During the 'fixie' craze they were sold for scrap and mutilated to turn bikes into fixies

OMFG... fixies. Don’t make me post in the grumpy old man thread.

 

[enricosonic]

Please do!

I have another rant up my sleeve for that one.

 

[enricosonic]

Here you go:

Plenty of room.

 

[enricosonic]

Are those bamboo fenders?

 

[enricosonic]

Good Call !

Thanks - I've considered buying some myself.

 

[enricosonic]

They are very pleasing to the eye. It suits the overall look of the bike quite well. What was not on the bike when I took the photo is a (partly) leather covered aluminium bidon with a cork stopper. Mid 50s model.

I've looked for those too!

Wouldn't it fit right in on this old road bike:

https://flic.kr/p/NKEFrG https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

 

[enricosonic]

Ahhh, the classic Shimano 600 group. If it's a true race frame (no eyelets on front or rear fork and tight spacing between brake and wheel) it could become tricky. It a regular fender set doesn't fit, this bamboo set won't either. But there are conversion sets for that, clamps that fold around the bottom of the forks. I paid 45 Euro for the set.

No the fenders definitely won't fit, especially since I've upped the tire size for more real-world riding, no I was thinking of the bidon you have!

The fenders would go on my old commuter.

 

[enricosonic]

https://flic.kr/p/2aT7Lds https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

Yeah I get the prop thing - it's a cool look. I'd probably compromise and go for a modern cap/nozzle to be practical. Regarding fenders, I don't think the bamboo would fit either bike - you can see how small a clearance I've got. I have a pair of ABS, snug-fitting fenders but they're rather boring to look at. I have been eyeing some newer bikes though.

Apologies for the rampant thread-jacking.

 

[enricosonic]

You vintage train passenger, you.

 

[enricosonic]

For the bike I have a heavy chain lock (too heavy ) and would you believe I have covered the nylon cover with the same leather? I took the strip of leather to a shoemaker and he stitched it for me. Inside out and it took me ages to reverse it and slip it over the chain (lots of grease too). But now it looks as stylish as the bike

Wow. I thought I was messed up. Your priorities are clearly out of whack. Seriously though, why not? I still use cloth tape and finish it off with hemp twine, I'm certainly not going to wrap electrical tape around my bars. Then I rub in a coat of shellac over it all.

 

[enricosonic]

You don't know half of it

Uh-oh...

 

[enricosonic]

Sweet ride, lucky!​

Poor Napoleon. Reminds me of my ‘70s BMX bike, but that had top tube (and handlebar crossmember) foam protectors with tacky, snap-on, vinyl covers.

They did little to lessen the pain of the twig and berry slam.