Sunday, April 28, 2013

Front end tools

Ability to innovate, create new idea's and develope them to working machines is one of the homo sapiens great skills. They are the only species that clothe themselves, build fires and use tools in massive ways. Perhaps the greatest tool of Homo Sapiens is the hand itself.

New and old tools belong to bicycle world too, imagination is the only limit to creative problem solving. Here is just a few examples of variety of bicycle tools. These photos are from front end tools that are used to repair or build your precious machine.

threads tool by Hozan
blocks to hold the fork in 
threading or straightening by SJT
tools for fork straightening jobs by VAR and Pyykkö
tools to get rid of head tube dents by Pyörätohtori
tools to get rid of head tube dents by Pyörätohtori
bottle opener to finalize your picnic's

Monday, April 8, 2013

Knife Grinder vs. Gravel Grinding

They used to do other type of grinding before it came sportishly hip on gravel. Find this magnificent site of Museum of Tradesman's Delivery Bikes. 

These bicycles were made for hard work, not just for recreational fun. Also this site reminds me again how parallel history combustion engine motor cycles and bicycles have. Don't need the crystal ball to tell everyone that new cargo bike renaissance is crowing with electrical motors on them.

Work for fun, fun in work.

"Here he is, with his strings of onions, sun-tanned face, broken English and something in his gay appearance - all telling you he comes from France. Look out for him in the Summer"











Sunday, April 7, 2013

Cycle movies

Some excellent cycle films and clips needs to mentioned and linked.

  • Lucas Brunelle's Line of Sight is great except the shooting chapter
  • Valparaiso downhill has awesome shooting
  • Pedal, bike messenger documentary
  • Brussels Express is sad view to city with no bicycles
  • Lana Del Rey song. Angels Forever










Monday, April 1, 2013

Toronto and Hydra islands

Still, there is places with no cars.

Hydra is Greek island with no cars or mopeds. I got wonderful chance to visit there couple of years ago. Hydra is only two hours from Athens by boat and you got chance to do your morning wake up by roosters yelling. Soundscape is so good with no traffic noises or combustion engines. Hydra island is perfect for walking and cycling but we walked a lot because the steep topology and stairs. Local transportation of goods and heavy materials is done by donkeys and the truckers got special mustache style, possible in heritage to somebody important in Hydra history.

Toronto islands used to be like that, before they open new ferry route, capable to carry cars. People used to simply walk or cycle everywhere at any weather. Bicycles were the main transportation in cargo transportation too.

Manuel Cappel lives in Toronto island and builds beautiful and crazy looking utility bicycles. Read more from Cappel Custom Carts from here. This is where art meets function and food delivers the energy to move things.