DeLauney Delight

I have no idea if Boris Delaunay’s triangulation theory has anything to do with the ride characteristics of a bicycle frame. Perhaps you “math wizards” would care to comment?

I had not heard of DeLauney until consuming a few beers on a roof top bar in Ann Arbor in the company of a gentleman who was math gifted, an Olympic class fencer, and a brilliant conversationalist. He was working to apply Boris’s work to the stress analysis of a computer generated solid model. Well, enough of that.

I have been preparing for our “Circle the Vineyards” tour around the wineries in Galena and Jo Daviess County. The inspiration for this event is the enchanting and rigorous bicycle tour through the Italian Tuscan countryside. It is called L’Eroica (heroic), and it rolls over pristine white gravel roads or Strade Bianche.

L’Eroica obliges its participants to ride only steel bicycles made in 1987 or earlier. Shifters must be on the down tube, and clip-less pedals are not permitted. The heroics are in the hearts of gracious folks who get their vintage bikes up and down the hills wearing woolen cycling outfits of days gone by. L’Eroica celebrates that old roads and old bicycles should never die but be always there for us to enjoy.

And so, on this spectacular afternoon, of 15 settembre, I set forth from Stockton to shake-down of my old 1981 Trek 412 for our “Circle” tour.

We were bound through Elizabeth via old friends like Brown, Pleasant Hill, Reusch, and Skene Roads.

In preparation, we modified the 412’s gearing for the serious undulations. The original Silstar crank set with its 42 tooth small chain ring was relegated to the parts bin. On went Sugino’s compact crank with only 36 teeth. Our expectation was that six fewer teeth would significantly reduce the grinding of our own dentures and knocking of knees in the hills.

Our first test was up the hill to Massbach Ridge. To my great astonishment, the 412 jumped to the climb like a Labrador pup to a lake. Pedals turned freely considering that we also retained the services of the 412’s original six-speed freewheel and its 30 tooth sprocket.

The next phase of the shake-down was to test the sturdiness of the 412s frame. This commenced, as we plummeted off Massbach Ridge on Bethel Road. Again, my admiration for this old Trek swelled as sure as you can cry “Ishiwata 022!”

Up Bethel we went to Brown Road and up again to stunning ridge top views before dropping into Woodbine. From there we contended with a very rough and torn Woodbine Road on our decent into the Apple River valley. Again, the 412 proved steady and safe as houses-- its old Dia-Compe brakes keeping things in control.
As we rolled along Apple River Road, the harvest was in progress, although one wonders what yields will come of it. Another serious flood this summer slimed the cornstalks and spewed gravel across the road surface. Nevertheless, the 412 pedaled along comfortably up to Elizabeth.

We entered town by the old fort, crossed Route 20 and continued out the west end on Pleasant Hill. Turning south, we tucked into some really bold rollers before hitting the hell of the Hill. Nevertheless, my old Trek steel bike continued its climbing magic.

Last year, I installed a longer Nitto stem and their sensational Noodle Bars. The stem is formidable and the bars are so ergonomic— a positive addition to the 412’s solid feel.

Speaking of ergonomics, the Brooks saddle Bill Leibman sold me off his Waterford touring bike was blessedly comfortable. The way we test a saddle is to ride it on hard roads for more than 40 miles. Admittedly, fit, level, and bike frame make a difference, but they are constants in this inconstant design of fabrications per il fanny.

Once on top of Pleasant Hell, we took the first left on an unmarked gravel road heading east. The road forks in about a quarter mile, and we stayed to the right on Reusch Road. When the gravel turned to chipped seal, I stopped to have a snack in the sun. The air was warm and hushed disturbed only by my chewing the granola bar. I crunched quickly and was again at peace on a beautiful road.

Reusch Road descends through the forest into a lovely bucolic valley. I rounded the corner passed the Sullivans’ farm-- the 412’s mischief factor greatly enhanced by Nitto’s bar and stem and the big flat RMX pedals. I simply stood my weight on the outside pedal, pressed down with the inside hand, and around she went tight as a trout on the line.

At the next corner, I could hear barking and see tails wagging, but they were well back off the road as I spun past up the long hill. The climb continued in earnest up Derinda Road. At the crest, I turned back east on Skene Road for another rush through the woods.

I thought of my friendly Butterflies (Jilly & Colleen) and our near miss of a deer when we last flew down this hill. Skene Road runs through yet another scenic valley and climbs steadily back up to Massbach Ridge for the run into Stockton. There are days when you don’t want it to end.

On Saturday, we’ll do a full dress rehearsal of “Circle the Vineyards.”

The Country Seat

I'm feeling more at home on my dear old 83 Trek 760, thanks to a great new country seat.

Long have I lusted after a Stella San Marco Regal saddle. Typically Italian, it incorporates those classic buttons of a Brooks without looking clunky and overweight. Regrettably, the $100 price wedged itself between my fanny and the Regal.

Ahh, but then I ran into Nick Ginster at the Heartland Velo Show last Saturday. Nick owns a company called Fyxation, and he designs and markets cool products for the BMX and Freestyle dudes. To my great delight, Nick also has a saddle which looks surprisingly like the Stella Regal.

Nick's classic button saddle may not be quite as graceful looking as the real Regal, and it doesn't come with titanium rails. And the likes of Greg LeMond, Tom Boonen, and Stijn Devolder haven't ridden the Fyxation Classic Button.

But Nick's saddle was mine for a special Velo Show price. The classic button is a dead ringer for the real Regal. It is also clad in real leather. And most importantly, I have discovered that it is very very kind to me bum.

ABBANDONATO Schwinn Tiger.

SCOPERTO (Discovered) in the front yard of Lance & Judy Barney.

DORMIRE (Sleeping) as a yard ornament near the Barney’s garage for two years.

RINNOVATO (Renovated) To new luster as a bespoke towne n beach cruiser.

We pulled the Tiger from the hostas and tore into it with WD-40 and my Milwaukee reciprocating saw. The stem was rusted through the head tube, so we sawed it off. The rest eventually came loose thanks to WD and a hammer.

We scoured the frame and then reprimed and finished from a can of Rustoleum's Hammered Metallic Verde Green paint. Other than the frame, nearly everything on this bike was beyond saving. Truth be told, I did have the crank arm, cloverleaf chainring and seat post clamp rechromed, but we'll save those for another project.

We painted over the white background on the head badge with metallic copper to give it that "beach" accent.

In all, about 300 bucks worth of new crank, chainring, bottom bracket, chain, wheels with Shimano built-in three-speed and coaster brake, tires n tubes, chrome fork, stem, handlebars with ergogrips, and a smart looking tan Bontrager saddle. Whew! Restoring an old bike isn't cheap. But we now have a one-of-a-kind beach cruiser to auction off for our community college's foundation.

Ooo, forgot the sweet flat peddles. Whether you ride in town or on the boardwalk, this Tiger will turn heads-- especially with your white standard poodle trotting alongside.

Alas, please take a step back as you admire the paint job.

Our thanks to Joe Dadez, at Freeport Bicycle Company for his collaboration in this renovation.

Also to Checkered Flag Auto Body and Troy Pukoj for a professional clear coat finish on the bicycle frame.

Day at the Bike Shop Sorting the 760

On Friday morning after a thirteen hour drive from Evergreen, Colorado back to Freeport, Dave stopped at Freeport Bicycle Company to have Joe Dadez look over the vintage Trek 760 roadie he purchased from Bob Barones in Denver. This was a Fathers’ Day Purchase to last a lifetime, or at least through L’Eroica in 2012.

Before leaving Evergreen, Dave sought the good counsel of his boyhood pal and steel bike fan, Dan DeKoven. He also had time to look over some Campy jewelry in Dan’s parts bin, meet Dan’s two grown sons for the first time, visit with his lovely wife, Margaret, and enjoy a superb supper, good vino, and a soft bed afterwards. Oh, did we mention riding Dan's 94 Eddy Merckx up High Road to a stunning view of Mount Evans?

Dave and Dan concluded that the original racing blue paint was in pretty good shape. So eventually, Dave will remove the old decrepit decals and replace them with new.

So what did Joe and Dave accomplish at the bike shop?

Joe used his handy tool to straighten the bent rear derailleur hanger, and then he straightened the derailleur pulley wheel cage to keep it out of the spokes. Joe trashed the worn 7-speed freewheel and installed a 14-28 tooth 6-speed Shimano made in China along with a new drive chain to the proper length. Dan suggested Dave's old knees would favor having the 28 teeth on the hills.

Joe changed both brake cables and housings, and Dave cleaned up the brakes and pads.

Together, they cleaned and greased the Stronglight headset, and Joe tightened it for a smooth action.

Dave trued the front wheel and Joe the rear. Joe’s was truer. Then, Dave cleaned the wheels, rotated the tires and added new tubes. This lightened the bike considerably, as Former-Owner-Bob had injected green slime into the old tubes to avoid punctures and delays to his daily commutes.

Dave cleaned and greased the Cinelli stem repositioned their Giro d'Italia handlebar and the non-standard but very comfy Tektro brake levers. Now we have a sweet flat feel over the bar and hoods. We also like the look of how the drops parallel the down tube. Finally, Joe finished it all with beautiful silver wrap.

Dave cleaned and greased the LaPrade seat tube and replaced the non-standard ugly ( & too small) saddle with an Italian made-in-suede Turbo, which looks appropriate on this bike.

Now the 760 is solid and slick shifting, and what a sensational ride. At last, we have a superb Trek steel bike Made in Waterloo and another satisfying “Joe n Dave” collaboration. And thanks to Dan & Margaret for a lovely afternoon and evening in Evergreen, CO.

https://picasaweb.google.com/106097685508719356454/Trek760?authkey=Gv1sRgCKGCwrPPscqlnQE

The Krape Park Bridge Lives!

We’d like to thank all those who helped keep the Krape Park Bridge open for foot and bike traffic. It is such a handy way to get into our lovely park from the neighborhoods on this side of Yellow Creek.

During the terrible flood last year, we walked over to gasp at the high water at least six feet above the bridge deck. We were even more anxious to see a large tree wedged against the west steel span. When it survived that assault, we knew we had one tough bridge.

The Krape Park Bridge is a classic “Pony Truss” design and is registered on the Bridgehunter.com website.

We have cycled over the Apple River on a longer three-span “pony truss” bridge on Georgetown Road just north and west of Elizabeth. That bridge was erected in 1890, and was eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Sadly, the great 2010 flood took that bridge out.

These old structures are fast disappearing from our landscape. Many have been replaced by newer decking or have succumbed to ravages of age, flooding and neglect. We’re so pleased that the City and the Park District have chosen to try to preserve our sweet old bridge as a charming entry point to Freeport's most beautiful park.

Raleigh Cool Single Speed

The Raleigh Record conversion to a single speed is done.

Three years ago I was in Freeport Bicycle Company talking to the manager, Joe Dadez, about a single-speed conversion project and asked Joe if he had anything interesting he wished gone from the basement. Up came a vintage mid 70s Record.

The Record was Raleigh’s entry-level road bike, so there was little need to preserve the entire package. Also, the frame had serious road rash, because this Record had been across the USofA three times.

Moreover, the lemon yellow and black paint scheme did not suit my English bike. It simply had to be British Racing Green.

So we repainted it BRG with a stealth charcoal metallic accent on the head and seat tubes and the fork blades. I had to use a pin to dab the red and black paint into the head badge. This was a shaky business, and the damned green paint proved prone to chipping.

So the steel frame and fork is all that remains. The rest were either: (A) purchased Additions or (B) from Bin parts on hand. I’ll hit only the highlights.

I love the Sram brake levers (A). They feel great beneath my hands just like the Force shift levers on my Madone.

The Biopace 42 tooth chainring (B) was inspired by Sheldon Brown. Sheldon was an exemplary authority on the bicycle, and he was perfectly correct. Biopace is how to drive a single-speed bike. For more on this, check out Sheldon’s Bioplace page at http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

From my first-foot experience, peddling from a standing position on flat peddles is so much easier with Biopace. Your feet don’t pop off the peddles at the top of each stroke.

Now what you can't see in the photos is the magnificent Phil Woods bottom bracket (A) that compliments the Biopace to give the drivetrain its silky smoothness.

Other main components are Nitto handle bars (B) and stem (A) and the Tektro brakes (A). The Mavic MA 40 wheels were purchased used from Joe along with the Shimano 600 headset gimmie which is tight as new. It was remarkable the 600 headset threaded onto the Record's fork tube.

In all, this was an excellent collaboration with Joe who has helped me on a couple other conversions. Thanks, Joe.

Eureka L'Eroica

When I shared a Vimeo video of L’Eroica with a good friend, he suggested I might rather ride a three-stage tour in Wisconsin if I wished to rip my legs off.

With all due respect to our more competitive riders, here is my answer:

Those who ride in L'Eroica must ride steel bikes built before 1984 with down tube shifters and no clip-less peddles. 11-speed electronic transmissions on carbon fibre bikes need not apply.

Those who ride L'Eroica sport kits like Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Wool, not spandex, is de rigueur. Even modern helmets—though extremely important for safety—appear out of place.

L'Eroica's routes are over white gravel roads -- strade bianche. The Triple Crown no doubt is all tarmac.

L'Eroica is one stage only -- but one may choose grand 200K route to fill the day.

L'Eroica is a "happening." Triple Crown is a race.

L'Eroica is in Tuscany. Parma ham n cheese come from over the Apennines maybe 50 miles away, and the chianti is picked, pressed, aged, and bottled locally. Need we say more.

Ci vediamo a Gaiole in Ottobre 2012.