glendowie bicycle club

Glendowie Bicycle Club's photostream

2011-11-08T10:01:00.001-08:00

Glendowie Bicycle Club's photostream on Flickr.

Finally finished rebuilding Nicky's Peuguot Competition this week. Was a $50 trade me special, with a broken rear axle and ripped seat. Stripped the bike down and just cleaned and regreased everything and some new cables, seat and an axle. Big thanks to Bruce at Adventure Cycles with all his help and replacement parts!

Cheap Chic

2011-09-06T01:31:00.000-07:00

I started writing this as an email to a female friend, but thought I'd post it as it might be useful for others. I'm currently working on, or trying to find, 4 different 'classic' bikes for 4 different cycle chics - all of them being new to cycling. They are all only spending $150-250 dollars and wanting something simple and stylish for summer, and nothing that requires lycra. There is a lot of bikes on Trade Me so after countless lost hours searching Trade Me and many more rebuilding old bikes, here's my bias view on some good options. Suggestions & questions welcome.

Nana style. Best for Tamaki Drive.

Raleigh's rule here. 70's or 80's models best. Solid but not heavy as such, they generally feel fast and nimble to ride. These are built to last and with a good service will keep running for another 30 years. Anything older gets a bit hard to find parts for. Anything from the 90's will be likely be poorer quality aluminum frames. Hercules is another brand - just a Raleigh in disguise.

Watch out for rust on the paint. Rust on the chrome bits (handlebars, forks and wheels) is fine - it will come off with a steelo pads in a few minutes but lots of rust on the frame means repainting, which adds $100 and a lot of hassle. I don't buy frames that have already been repainted as I don't trust that it's been done right. The above applies for any bike.

All these Raleigh's are either '3-speeds' or 'single-speed'. If your new to cycling and need to get up hills regularly, you'll need the 3-speed option. On the 3-speed you brake with your hands. On the single you brake with your foot by pushing back on the pedal - perfect for doing skids and scaring the patrons outside Kohi Cafe.

Other options include a japanese import from Mamachari. They look great and come fully serviced and ready to roll but are at the top end of this exercise at around $350-$500, and are also rare outside of Wellington where the importer/retailer is based.

French racer. Best for weekend cafe runs.

I'm a fan of Peugeots - from the 80's would be my pick. French flair but not too pricey.

These are proper road bikes, designed to be worn with Lycra, but don't let that put you off. Look for the ones that have 'clipless' pedals and can therefore be worn with normal shoes. These will come with lots of gears - typically 12-16 so getting up hills is easy. Or you can convert them to a single speed if you like clean lines, simplicity and a good thigh work-out riding up. The bike shown above is the same bike - with gears and without. Allow at best a couple of hundred extra to convert to single speed.

Old School. Best for doubling your kid brother.

Be transported back to 1982 on a Healing ten-speed or Raleigh 20. Just be prepared to wonder how as a 13 year old you ever managed to cycle up a hill. They weigh a ton. I still feel guilty for selling a Healing Cruiser for $38 to a 20-something girl who must have weighed about the same as the bike. If you only every ride downhill then fill your boots. These also seem to rust more than others, or maybe because they are cheap they just get left out in the rain more often.

Best thing going for them is ubiquity and price. I don't bother with them much but that's just my middle-age bias. Kids born in the 80's seem big fans.

Nowtro (new but retro)

These are new bikes styled to look old. Unless your spending bigger money ($500+ for a second hand model typically) on a quality bike brand like a Charge (pictured), Specialised or Trek, they tend to be cheap and flimsy 'warehouse specials' which some bike shops may refuse to even service. If your spending under $250 go for a genuine classic.

A final note. Good condition bikes like any of the above the above are getting very hard to find on Trade Me. Allow $55 to $85 to have a bike shipped for outside Auckland. Other sources are The Second Hand Bike Shop, Adventure Cycles, garage sales, small town second hand stores and your Nana's garden shed.

Campione Sportivo. Any clues?

2011-09-04T01:34:00.001-07:00

Campione Sportivo. Any clues?, a set on Flickr.

Found this outside a local second hand store in Glen Innes. Very average condition - including cancerous lever hoods - but can't find any details on it's provenance. Cheap Shimano group set and riveted chainrings. No serial number.

Doesn't seem to be resprayed but possible - particularly given the chopped handlebars (not by me). Picking it up it feels more like a Healing 10 speed in weight than an italian road bike.

Nice bent suede seat though!

Any clues gratefully received.

Good cycling movie list

2011-08-31T20:28:00.001-07:00

Found here. Sadly Hugo's Magic Pump is no longer available.

Nicky's Peugeot

2011-08-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Third Peugeot on the rebuild block. This one is for a friend Nicky from Designworks who has done some amazing brand design for my brother-in-laws restaurant, Little Algiers. In return she's getting this teal-blue beauty. Thanks Nicky! More pics here

Glendowie Bicycle Club's photostream

2011-08-31T15:52:00.001-07:00

Glendowie Bicycle Club's photostream on Flickr.

Steelo pads. Very handy.

2011-07-02T01:37:00.000-07:00

Restoration commenced today on a Raleigh Sport from the 70's.

It's for a friend who needs a step through frame so her fashion sense isn't compromised by her work commute.

Most people would throw a bike like this away when anything chrome can be quite easily be brought back to life with a steelo pad and a quiet afternoon.

Full pics to follow once I get the wheels sorted.

glory is to be found in a cup of tea and a slice of toast handed to you with a smile in the arrival hall...

2011-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.rapha.cc/the-audax-diaries--the-bryan-chapman-2011

more bike less car

2011-05-14T00:59:00.000-07:00

fffound here

Bicycles for sale

2011-04-04T01:29:00.000-07:00

The workshop has become a little over crowded, so with some regret I'm listing on Trade me the light and fast Puegeot Triathlon, the highly social Bosomworth Freedom tandem and the neither light or fast Healing Cruiser, all Tweed Run veterans.

Serenity in movement

2011-03-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

They say long distance athletes are running away from something.

Or maybe they are just trying to exist in the moment, while not standing still.

Howies UK catalog says it better than me.

Arrive smiling

2011-03-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Best combined with a seat mounted bottle opener, this fine use of high-grade leather leaves your hands free for, well, drinking. It also avoids having to put a basket on the front of your bike and be mistaken for a dutch farm maiden.

Crafted by Walnut Studiolo

Tweed Run 2011

2011-02-26T19:16:00.001-08:00

Alan, tweed, tandems, beige, devonport and Tequila. Fine day well played.

Bike of the week.

2011-02-08T23:01:00.000-08:00

Cycling official’s shock weight gain

2010-11-04T17:52:00.001-07:00

-- Mmmmmm, pig hock

He used to be a skinny cyclist; a natural climber whose envious power-to-weight ratio saw him dance on the pedals in a style no other cyclist could match.

But that was last month and countless greasy binges ago.

Now, the only dancing is performed by fat jowls and the wasp nest swinging to its own rhythm under his chin.

And, like the red blood cell count of the Spanish pro cycling team, it looks like the needle on the GBC Chairman’s scales is only going one way – up.

GBC members attending a recent club meeting at German eatery Conditorei Carinthia looked on in horror as their once bird-like Chairman devoured a giant pig’s hock and 23 pints of lager – all before the meeting had even commenced.

Another day, another pig hock - a leaner looking GBC Chairman gets his first taste of pig hock. If only he'd stopped after the first pig.

Nice work Mamachari

2010-08-20T14:12:00.001-07:00

What started out in Wellington by Jason and Sarah as an idea to import second hand bikes from Japan looks to now be developing in to a superb bicycle restoration service as well.

Upcycling in it's finest form.

Nice work Mamachari.

Paul Smith. A man of fine taste.

2010-08-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

I've always admired Paul Smith for his fine range of gentlemen's attire and general curiosity for all things cycling related.

Lovely to see then that he was not only born in the home of Raleigh but a proud owner of one of it's finest exports.

White Wall BSA

2010-08-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Finished restoring Johns BSA a while back but it taken a bout of the flu to give me time to actually post the results.

I replaced and regreased all the bearings, got the dynamo working for the rear light and put on new grips and tires.

More pics and story here

Glendowie Bicycle Restoration Workshop. Now open.

2010-04-29T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Glendowie Bicycle Restoration Workshop is now open for business. Steel bikes only. Will work for alcohol or bicycles parts.

Short run-down on how it came together...

The garage under the house - as it was. Not exactly a professional outfit. This is half-way through ripping the old workbench out.

Bench gone. I have no idea how to put bolts into concrete so framework remains.

19mm marine ply for bench top and backing board. Note petrol guzzling V8 in background. (AYHSMB).

Possibly the most over-specified work-bench of all time. Dressed 4x2. Even where you can't see it. Bit carried away.

Bench top in place.

Tools up. Special features include a blue vice to go with the Park tools. Rotel am/fm tuner (2 years of searching trade me) and Rouler calender (air freighted from the UK). May my wife never read this blog.

Special close up of tools. Mrs Chairman works for Avanti who import Pedro's, hence the mixture of Park and Pedro's. Sad but true side story - I emailed Park tools and they sent me a bunch of stickers to put up.

Very handy ball bearings. Headsets, Bottom brackets, and Hubs.

First restoration project in the new workshop. Sutt's 1972 Raleigh Limited. New bearings throughout plus a spit and polish. Also convinced him to throw on a Brooks Tan B66 (the original vinyl seat was split) and some Panaracers. Mint bike.

The happy 'customer' outside the newly refurbished G.B.R.W.

If you need to get your old steel bike back rolling get in touch. Like I said I'm fully supportive of the barter economy. As long as the barter involves beer, wine or bicycles parts - cheers for the Panaracers Sutts.

Tweed Run 2010. The pictures.

2010-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Lovely day for a ride.

Thanks all. Nice turnout.

Full pictures here

Annual Tweed Run confirmed

2010-02-15T23:30:00.000-08:00

Jolly good. It's all on.

The now annual GBC tweed Run is officially confirmed for April 24th.

That's a saturday, so a start time of 2.35pm.

Route to be confirmed but likely mission bay to town and back.

With a rin quin quin along the way. Horray.

Tweed essential.

A good excuse to own a polo mallet

2009-06-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

We're thinking a game of bicycle polo might be in order. New York couriers seem to have invented the urban genre and defined the rules, but it was the photo above from Knog that really sparked our interested.

All we need is a suitable venue. A paved court, but with sides of some description to keep the ball in play. Close to Glendowie a bonus.

Ideas anyone?

Putting the terroir back in to cycling

2009-06-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Holding a wine and movie evening in anticipation for the world's greatest cycling race seems to have hit the mark, with the 28 spaces available filling up in little under a day.

We'll be undertaking a gastronomic "Tour De France" up at Maison Vauron in New Market, with wine and food from 6 different regions of France, followed in the goodness of time by a wide-screen showing of perhaps the finest cycling documentary every made "A Sunday in Hell".

Cycling to and from the venue on a French made bicycle is recommended, as are French costumes and generally high levels of panache all round.

Vive Le France indeed!

That feels better

2009-06-08T19:55:00.000-07:00

The call goes out

2009-05-03T21:04:00.000-07:00

I'm just going out for a ride. I may be some time.

2009-04-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

Technical Director Richard and I have been thinking about a ride (for next year March/April 2010). A race, sort of, but mostly against oneself. A test of stoutness and fortitude. An investigation of body and soul.

Broadly, we all catch the Overlander train down to National Park Friday morning. We'll stay the night at the Chateau (port/cigars/tales of bravado etc). On Saturday we set off on our bikes back to Auckland. 340km. Mainly downhill. Ideally we'd ride individually.

Participants carry nothing but a can of baked beans (no opener) and $3.49 in cash. No phones, cash/credit cards, or pre-organisation. We will encourage digital cameras to record interesting events along the way.

Some may try to complete the trip in one day; others may take it easier, using their skill and luck to find somewhere to hunker down for the night.

Just putting it out there. Keen to here your thoughts...

It’s a hard road finding the perfect glove

2009-04-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

The benefits of gloves stretch much further than protecting fingers

from the bitterness of frosted air. A well-chosen pair disguises
telltale signs of toil beneath one’s station and emboldens the wearer.

While suburbanites suffer the indignity of shopping mall fatigue and
price promotions, those in possession of the right pair of gloves are
endlessly rewarded with unspeakable joy. The elegant cocooning of
fingers is a close second to the cocooning of another appendage;
pretending to not notice admiring second glances from appreciators of
gentlemanly accoutrements stirs a tremendous warm feeling; and, in
quieter moments, the thrill of inhaling scent of leather stirs images
of goat slaughter and a manual curative process.

But where does the gentleman cyclist find such a thing? Trademe?
Certainly not. Trademe is a clearinghouse for mass-produced synthetic
impostors. Chock full of dinkyness; crude instruments for crass
pursuits.

What about golf gloves? More promising and certainly finely engineered, but still golf gloves and below the station of every self-respecting bicycle rider.

Saddleries are more fertile ground. Horse folk have long appreciated
the magnetism of leather tastefully contoured for maximum efficiency
and social intrigue. The horseman’s wardrobe is inspired by traversing
the pencil thin line between silk lined tents heaving with post chukka
twittering and the slapping of hot rump in the musty confines of horse
float.

Yes, if anyone is going to make a fine pair of leather gloves it is
horse folk. But, alas, their eye for detail stops short of commercial
distribution. Finding a pair for sale is nigh impossible.

Perseverance and luck eventually lead to K Road icon and lesser known
gentleman outfitters Leo O’Malley. There,
the mention of gloves brings a smile to the pursed lips of a
delicately wristed shop attendant, who at the working day’s end fondly
recollects the personal highlight of fishing a fine leather selection
from a secret draw.

The bicycle rider departs a better person, in a better world.

Invercargill here we come

2009-03-26T14:44:00.001-07:00

Stumbled upon a lovely Raleigh Randonneur Touring Bike over the weekend for $20 from the local Sacred Heart School Fair. More photos and details here

Photos from Friday's Gentlemen's Ride

2009-03-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

Some pics here

More here and here

Full ride report to follow. Possibly.

Wheelmen and Ladymembers

2009-03-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Adam J Scott

Rain, hail or shine the Gentlemen's Ride will go ahead next Friday 20th March. 5pm the Paddington Pub in Parnell, leaving along Tamaki Drive sometime around 6pm. Bring a brolly if it looks inclement.

Preparations by the individual riders seems to be coming along nicely with both Trade Me and the Salvation Army Outlet Stores reporting a flurry of sales of old bicycles and tweed three-piece suits respectively.

For those gents still looking for sartorial inspiration I'd recommend a quick gander of the recent Tweed Run in London. Splendid stuff.

Lady riders may likewise want to peruse the ever lovely Copenhagen Cycle Chic

If anyone is short of a bicycle I may be able to rustle up a fairly respectable 1980 Healing 10-speed, complete with original kickstand. Just let me know

Please pass on this message to others you know who may wish to join us on the day.

Long socks set to rid the world of lycra leggings

2009-02-20T10:45:00.001-08:00

IMG_9747.jpg
Originally uploaded by I'm Roxy dammit

While Auckland battles 98% humidity the members of Tweed Bicycle Club in London have been facing quite a different challenge - how to keep riding during the chilly London winter without resorting to lycra leggings. The answer is of course long socks and tweed plus-fours.

Their recent 'Tweed Run' showcased some glorious examples, and should be the perfect inspiration for all of the wheelmen and ladymembers planning to take part in march's Gentlemens Ride.

Many thanks to I'm Roxy dammit for sharing her pics.

Glendowie Bicycle Chic up for grabs

2009-02-16T23:33:00.001-08:00

After a fair bit of pressure from Mrs Treasurer (on left), Mrs Chairman (on right) & Rachel of Takapuna (absent from photo) we are relieved to announce that our club t-shirts are now available for the ladies. At this stage we have only done a yellow version. But what a flattering yellow it is to be sure.

If you'd like to win one, just leave a comment with a caption for the above photo (and your email address if you're really serious). Given we get about 2 comments a month, even something mildly amusing should be in with a chance for best caption. We'll do the draw next week sometime.

Fancy riding clobber

2009-01-21T19:33:00.000-08:00

Rachel of Takapuna sent me an email concerning the dress code for the Gentlemen's Ride. If she couldn't wear lycra, what could she wear? No need to panic Rach...florals, tweed, pearls, fur, braces, toweling, and even cast iron seem to work well on two wheels. Of course these are just suggestions and really, as long as it's not lycra, you'll be riding in style.

Gentlemen's Ride Announced

2009-01-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Ride postponed till Friday 20th March due to shite weather headed our way. Same place/time etc.

Forget the Tour Down Under. This is the big one. The first annual GBC Gentlemen's Ride.

Don't let the title fool you, all welcome, especially the ladies.

This will be slow biking at its finest, so leave the lycra at home and dust of your Raleigh Twenty. Ride will kick off at 5pm, Friday 20th of February from the Paddington Pub in Parnell. From there we will wander slowly along the Tamaki Drive cycle-lane, stopping for amber liquids as needed. End destination is La Vie En Rose bar in St Heliers. They are expecting us.

$3.49 entry fee, but that will also give you lifetime membership to the Glendowie Bicycle Club, so outstanding value all round really. Please have the correct change available on the day. Stevo the treasurer is no good with money.

Looking forward to it already.

Bike of the week - in support of doubling

2008-12-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

So what if your toes get stuck in the spokes every now and then. Doubling rocks. Even side-saddle.

Gonzo bike blogging

2008-12-09T11:50:00.001-08:00

Founding club member Richard (that may or may not be him above) now has a blog. Hunter S. Thompson meets Eddy Merckx kind of thing. Be good to see just how crazy it gets.

Kitchen table bike

2008-12-03T19:12:00.000-08:00

I've been working on my 1985 Peugeot Elan in my garage, but everyone seems to photograph their do-up bikes in their kitchen. So here's my work-in-progress, on my kitchen table. Next step new cranks.

Bike of the week - Beer anthem

2008-12-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Best use of a bike in a beer ad ever.

Things not made of lycra

2008-11-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

Our new club t-shirts. Thanks to ESP printers for the nice work. Sweet!

Jeans specially made for cycling from swrve. Note the reflector strip on the cuff. Cunning!

Helmets that look fairly normal from yakkay. Cool!

And belts and bags made from recycled bicycles tyres. Nice!

Bike of the Week - here comes the sun

2008-11-24T12:14:00.000-08:00

Nice to see some blue skies again this morning. Made me think of this...

Pinus Radiata. The new carbon fibre.

2008-11-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

A few wooden frame bikes seem to be popping up here and there. Likeabike has a cool plywood bike for kids and Calfee's bamboo range looks pretty cool. Then Steve sent this through this morning, a concept bike by a dutch design student...solid wood, all the way.

Bicycle of the Week

2008-11-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

I was doing this daily but weekly now feels about right. This weeks bike is another Fast Boy bike out of NYC. Nice clean lines and real attention to detail. Enjoy. Still amazes me that a Brooks leather seat looks great on almost every kind of bike.

Bicycle Film Festival

2008-11-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Les Ninja Du Japon

Sutts from Avanti was trying to get the bicycle film festival over to NZ but wasn't having much luck. Maybe we should start a petition? Looks far to good to miss out on.

The revolution will not be motorized

2008-11-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

The world needs more bike shops like the MC Cyclery. It doesn't actually sell bikes, just repairs them, which is quite nice in itself. This is from their home page:

We're not your typical bunch of bike riders, we don't all shave our legs (at least not for riding), we don't all ride the latest carbon road bikes and we don't do AMEX. But we all love riding!

We ride to work, we ride trails, we ride to our girlfriends place, we ride to the pub and roll back home again, we dream of magical trails, of roads with no cars and refreshment stands. When we're not on our bikes we work on them, we read about them, we tell people about them. We believe in them!

MCC the revolution will not be motorized!

Simple never goes out of style

2008-11-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

Found this on flickr. Lovely bike from 1899/1900, which apart from the double top tube isn't a mile away from a modern fixie. Looks fast just standing still. More details and a great related story here

Elite breakaway group dominates Tour de Tamaki

2008-11-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Nice work to the four hardy riders who actually made the day. I'm sure 30 years from now you'll be telling your grandkids 'I was there'.

Rich emailed a fairly random race report and some pics as follows....

"Steve took stage one - he was the only rider making it to the start line on time....Halfway through his first glass of Pims when I arrived.

A mechanical cost me huge chunks of valuable time.Darn pedal fell off and I returned home for a replacement bike. For a minute I thought my director Sportif was going to suggest an abandon, but luckily the mechanic had set up a replacement bike and I was quickly back in the saddle, zigzagging through team cars to minimise losses.

However, I lost points for style - a 1980s Morrison Town and Country doesn't have the same cache as a 1940s BSA.

A generous tailwind took us to the Mission Bay feeding zone, where Steve ordered Nachos and we were joined by Team Bauer rider Stu Jones and Glen,who lost points for breaking rule #103 - turned up on a flash mountain bike and wore a poncy jacket.

A nice hard braking broadside down the car ramp saw Steve secure most aggressive rider of the day.

Later, Glen's points were reinstated when he told us about the hard line his missus took on mowing the lawns before riding.

The stage 3 sponsor refused to open the doors to the corporate feeding zone and we were forced to swap allegiances. I think Steve's JC Penny walk shorts and leather suitcase had something to do with it.

Further stages were abandoned when Steve distracted the peleton with stories of his German nanny (how do you spell o-pear?). She's still trying to reconcile Steve's 1970's Wimbeldon/bowling club crossover look with a "bike tour".

No more calls we have a winner

2008-10-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

Steve scored a mint old Healing off trade me over the weekend, just in time for the Tour de Tamaki. Loving that double top tube.

A good start

2008-10-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Righto. We seem to be underway. Rich set a high standard by not only hosting the first meeting but also catering. Nice work Rich.

So what happened? Well we talked a bit about what we are trying to achieve with the GBC, but quickly agreed that we are not actually 100% sure. Beyond having a good time with friends while riding bikes, we don't have much of an agenda. Riding for fun with other lovely people seems more than enough really.

We also decided on our first event...the Tour de Tamaki. It was a close call between sprint races up the Waitak's or fancy dress races up Mt Wellington, but those will have to wait for another day.

The 'Tour' will take place on November 1st, starting from the Paddington pub in Parnell at 11am then winding our way to St Heliers over the course of the next few hours. There are four or five good pubs along the way which we are hoping will be bike friendly. If not, I guess we will just keep riding. If your interested in joining in the rules are simple. No bike over $100, you must wear a helmet of some description and no lycra. Email mike.pepper@bravenewworld.co.nz if this sounds like something you might just enjoy.

We also talked about some club t-shirts or some kind of formal club apparel but Steve Davis had a great idea...felt flags. I'll try and post up an example I've since drawn up but they should be quite useful...perfect for your scout blanket or back of the bike as a safety device.

So there you are. Four founding members, a real event and some felt flags. We're all go.

For the glory of the bicycle

2008-09-17T19:10:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Glendowie Bicycle Club. At the moment we only exist online but hopefully we should have a 'clubhouse' organised shortly. The idea is to meet monthly...beyond that we are not quite sure.