Mention in the Philadelphia Daily News

Thanks Ruben!

My PBP tool kit

After many years of wrenching on bikes and thousands of miles riding, this is the mini-toolkit I have come up with for randonneuring and for Paris Brest Paris. 568 grams total, about 1lb and 6oz, not too bad.
(2) cables- one shifter and one brake- 38g
tire lever- 13g
Allen hex wrench set- 75g
spoke wrench- 17g
multitool set(chain tool, 8/9/10 wrenches, little pliers)- 161g
bag of various nuts/bolts/zipties/chain master link, spare taillight batteries- 58g
Y socket wrench (8mm/9mm/10mm)
*crank tools(ta extractor and campy crank bolt tool)-143g


*Normally I don't carry the Campagnolo crank bolt wrench and TA crank arm extractor, but I do have to take off a crank to fit my Hanford in the S&S suitcase for travel, so I thought it would be best to bring the crank bolt wrench, and while I'm bringing that, I might as well bring the TA extractor, as anything is possible and it is a unique tool.

My Hanford all ready for PBP

I took my Hanford out for one of the last rides in the US before PBP, and even with a overly stocked front handlebar bag, the bike always performs flawlessly. I am now meticulously scrutinizing what will go in the handlebar bag and debating on a small rear saddle bag. I have been deciding on what tools to bring, how many inner tubes(i think I decided on 3), and I think I finally decided on arm and leg warmers, no tights.

I decided not to use a dropbag(a service offered to bring a bag to a certain checkpoint) because I feel it is a little against the spirit of self-sustained riding. This has left me with a dilemma, because I need to bring 2 spare pairs of shorts and a few pairs of socks. It might sound like a luxury, but nothing feels better than a fresh pair of shorts after riding in the same pair for 24-35 hours. I don't want to cram the clothing in the handlebar bag, and my only seat bag is way too big and I know if I had the space, I would probably start to fill it up. So I will look around work for something that might work.

I'm also thinking about posting the contents of my handlebar bag, so other randoneurs can compare. I know that I am probably bringing more tools than the average rider, but at the same time, I usually offer my services to help others if I can and the tools assist me with that.

Bike Shop stickers

So I finally started a Tumblr of bike shop stickers that I have been taking pictures of. The initial idea was a Tumblr of just the stickers, but I have expanded it to try and see if the shops are still in business and to include their website.
It is an interesting concept on a couple different levels. First, seeing all the different local shops that have come and gone over the past few decades and really understanding how difficult it is to run a bicycle shop. Second, the distance some bikes travel to get to our shop to be worked on. I once thought Michigan shops were cool, but now we get California. . Belgium. . and England. International. Lastly, the life these bikes live. Some were sold back in the 1970s and have not left the postal zipcode they were first purchased, while others have traveled the country and show it, but are still very functional bikes with a lot of life left in them.

So here is Bicycle Shop Stickers tumblr.

customer's bike- Early 1970s chrome Schwinn Paramount

Wartime headlight

During World War 2, cyclist still had to ride their bikes to get from place to place and still needed lights on their bikes. To avoid being seen from above by enemy planes, they came up with the idea of concealing the light beams. I am not sure how effective it was, or more importantly, how necessary, but here is an example of one such headlight.

They even used the black-out headlights on the car in the movie "Captain America"

customer's bike- Late 1950s green Bates

A beautiful Bates. I have always wanted a Bates, and I even have went as far as buying a Diadrant fork, in hopes a frame would later come in my possession(so far, not yet). Bates were known for the wacky fork design and the use of Reynolds Cantiflex tubing, also known as 'cigar tubing.' Cantiflex tubing gets larger in diameter in the center and it looks like a rolled cigar.

The owner of this beautiful bicycle came in inquiring about restoring the bicycle to period correct parts. We were more than happy to help him.