Bicycle Updates

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Dave Feucht

In yet another move to make our bikes practical vehicles, we’ve gotten the front rack for the Secret Service, and mounted the big basket on the front. I think it fits the bike perfectly, and makes it really convenient to carry stuff.

10

The rack being frame mounted (rather than mounted to the handlebars and wheel axle) means that it doesn’t effect your steering. It is a bit odd, visually, that it doesn’t turn when you turn the handlebars, but you get used to it :) Next, we want to get some of the Wald folding baskets to put on the rear rack.

Have you all made any updates to your bikes recently to make them more useful for you?

This entry was posted in portland and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.joyofbicyclecommuting.com Micheal Blue

    Dave, so does it mean that there are times when your cargo heads in a different direction from yours? :-D  I made an update to my big bike by getting a new frame – Surly LHT.  Almost all of  the components I transferred over from the Trek hybrid bike.  Advantages for me?  Quiter ride and more responsive steering (the Trek’s front suspension was wiggly and noisy), longer chain stays for more heel clearance,  looks much nicer, more suitable for touring.

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      Well, technically it’s attached to the bike, so it has to be moving the same direction as you, but sometimes it’s not pointing the same direction that your wheel is pointing :) Though it’s somewhat rare to turn the front wheel very far while riding, at least for me, normally I just lean one way or the other to turn, with just a slight turn of the handlebars.

      I have a friend who has the Long Haul Trucker, and it seems like a great frame. Glad to know it’s working out for you!

  • dev*

    Mega lens flare, going for the JJ Abrams look? :P

    Does actually getting a bike count as an update? It’s certainly much more useful than not having one. ;)

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      Nah, going for the sunny-day look :)

      Going from nothing to something is the best update :)

  • Melinda

    I upgraded to leather Brooks handlebar grips on Gerty the Gazelle and love them!  One of my old handlebar grips would slide down and I was constantly having to push it up into place.  

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      Oh, I’ve been really interested in those, I’d love to know how they hold up as time goes on. They’re great looking grips!

  • Alex Reed

    I want that big front rack so bad, but I have a Workcycles Swan rather than an Oma, so it won’t fit!  If only Martina at Clever Cycles hadn’t convinced me to take the Swan because Omas were out of stock in my size. Oh well….

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      Oh, right, because the tube isn’t straight! They might still be able to fit one of the kind that attaches to the handlebars and the wheel axle like we have on my Raleigh – you should ask them about it!

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13302839 Malex Reed

        I wonder if I could put a massive basket like Patrina’s on the kind of rack you have, Dave! And then put my dog in it! Maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea because of the steering… I suppose the only way is to ask Clever.

    • http://www.mairzydoatsdesigns.com/ Patrina Feucht

      oh my heck the swan is sooooo pretty!!!!!

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=13302839 Malex Reed

         I do love it! :-)

  • Melissatheragamuffin

    Surly LHT’s are great bikes.  I went from a mountain bike to a LHT, so to me, it’s a very light bike.  Plus, when I recently got hit by an SUV the only damage to my bike was cosmetic and one of the wheels had to be re-trued.  That’s it.  I’m sure if I’d been on my aluminum mountain bike that it would have been toast.  Yay for steel frames!

    • http://pin-hole.tumblr.com Dave

      I think just about anything would seem like a light bike compared to the one I have now :) I crashed once on my old Raleigh, and it fell on the right crank and bent it – but since it was steel, it could be bent right back into place :) There are a lot of advantages to steel frames and components on bicycles, I think – particularly ones which are designed/intended for transportation (including touring).

      Your bike was ok after getting hit, I hope you were as well! It often seems the larger the vehicle someone is driving, the more right they feel they have to the space in front of them. Just had a guy in an SUV the other day trying to push me off the road on the one-lane, one-way street (it’s actually two-way, but there isn’t enough room for two cars to pass side-by side with the on-street parking) in front of my apartment, yelling “get out of the road, asshole!” at me out the window. Gotta love those folks…