Project Mixte, part IV - Honey coloured leather goodness

Yes, I do realise that the topic sounds a bit bad. But how else could you describe gorgeous Brooks saddles and grips that happen to be honey coloured? These will be fitted in my girlfriend's upcoming bicycle:

Project Mixte, part III - Repainted frame

The project has proceeded well. The sandblasted and repainted frame was a success, and it turned out better than expected. My girlfriend ended up choosing RAL 3005, which is essentially the colour of red wine, as the new colour of the frame. I was a bit worried that the powder coating would not work out with the lugs, as the coating is usually quite a thick. Luckily this was not the case. Below some pictures of the frame with the fork attached.

Project Mixte, part II - The wheels

My girlfriend was quite definite that she wanted cream coloured tires and a coaster brake, with some gearing as well. We ended up buying ready built cheap wheels from Biltema with a Shimano Nexus 7-speed rear hub. The quality of the wheels isn't too good, but for this purpose I think it will be sufficient, as the bike will be used mainly for short trips around Helsinki.

The tires had to be of a bit better quality with a decent puncture protection in order for them to survive the hazards of broken glass etc. Not too wide so they'll fit in the frame, nor too narrow to give a comfortable ride. Pretty much the only option I was able to find in Helsinki wese cream coloured 622x38 size tires by Specialized. Below some pictures.

Project Mixte, part I - Finding the frame

As girlfriend of mine was in need of a bicycle and I was in a need of a new building project, I decided to take the logical step of making her one. It was clear to me from the beginning that the bicycle should have a mixte frame, as they are both stylish and functional. Well, to be honest, it was the good looks of the frame type mainly, and luckily my girlfriend agreed.

I started by looking for an old used lugged frame. I wanted to get it relatively cheap, and it didn't matter whether there was a lot of rust, as the frame was going to get sandblasted and powder coated anyway.

I was able to find an old Nishiki Rally Mixte -frame for EUR 40 from a Finnish fixie forum Yksivaihde.net (onegear.net literally). Below some pictures of the frame before it was repainted.

I'll be posting more as this project proceeds.

Classic approach to modern bicycles: Pashley

Here's another video worth watching. This time it's about Pashley bicycles, a British manufacturer with a long tradition of making quality bikes. I, by the way, own one as well!



Pashley Cycles from IL Futures on Vimeo.

How a Bicycle is Made (1945)

I'd imagine quite a lot has changed since then, but still a thoroughly entertaining little film. Enjoy!

Helsinki Winter Tweed Run 2012

Different kinds of Tweed Runs and Rides have been quite a trend in the recent years around the globe. Here in Finland we are no different, we also enjoy beautiful old bicycles together with appropriate clothing. We like to, however, do things with a bit of twist. Finland is, as most know, situated in the northern Europe, between Sweden and Russia. Finland's capital, Helsinki, is the worlds most northernmost capital. Therefore it is only appropriate that we do our Tweed Runs in the wintertime.

I've collected below some links to photos from the events both this and last year. My personal favourites are the ones by Krista Keltanen.

Winter Tweed run 2012 by Krista Keltanen

Winter Tweed run 2011 by Krista Keltanen

Jussi Hellsten, 2012
Teemu Mykkänen, 2012
Dare, 2012
Martti Tulenheimo, 2011

Doff of cap!

I happened to stumble upon a lovely video from the Stockholm Tweed Run by Kristoffer Hilmersson on Vimeo today. Yours truly can be seen doffing the hat to the pedestrians! The atmosphere of the event is well presented in the video. Loads of wonderful bicycles as well, naturally.

Some photos from Stockholm tweed ride

I visited the lovely city of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, last October to attend to the first ever tweed run (officially called Bike in Tweed to avoid any legal problems) held there. Needless to say, the event was a joy to the eye. Luckily I had taken my camera with me, so I managed to take some rather nice photos. Below are some of them, the rest can be found here.

The winner of the moustache competition.

A Sögreni bell mounted to a vintage velocipede.

Three Pashley Guv'nors, one from Sweden, one from Finland and one from Latvia.

Appropriate use for Dagens Nyheter.

What and why?

This blog exists, because I happen to find bicycles beautiful. Simple as that.

Touring bikes, path racers, panniers, cycling jerseys, leather saddles, moustache bars etc. etc. The list could go on forever. All these beautiful, but still practical items have been manufactured to different styles and purposes for well over a century and half now. I find many of them very pleasing to look at, but in the end the marriage of style and function is what compels me most about them. I am a friend of classic bikes in particular, as the gradual evolution of elegance and functionality is best manifested in them.

This blog is about the aesthetics of bicycles and related things. I intent to try to pass on to the readers some of that what I find beautiful in bicycles. As this objective is, I believe, more easily achieved with pictures than words, the blog will most likely be quite heavily photo-oriented. Having said that, I plan to post more informative entries as well.

Welcome!

This is what it would look like to be ran over by a Pashley Guv'nor.