Hoopty Fever

We converted Georgia's brass colored 1985 Trek 420 road bike to a single-speed the other day. She was as gleeful as we were upon completion of this beauty. The basic flip-flop cone-and-cup wheelset and single-speed 144mm bolt-circle-diameter alloy cranks and Action Messenger 700 X 23 tires were some of the new additions to this bicycle .

We added Wellgo track pedals and a used Velo saddle to the mix and Georgia elected to wrap the bars with red Deda tape with Jim's signiture twine binder. We charge an extra $15 for this touch which is longer-lasting than electrical tape or the lame end binder that comes with most wraps.

The process is fun to watch but and I have been fooling around with it feeling like a boyscout on a fishing expedition. It makes the bike look so classy that I want to do it to all bikes I can get my hands on. The problem is that it almost takes longer than wrapping the average bars including the electrical tape binder at the end of the job.

The nice quality electrical tape works pretty well to keep the bars anchored up top of the drops but eventually the adhesive dries out and your tape begins to unwind slowly but surely.

So far all the twine binders that I have seen have held up great. If you want a twine binder, just ask for Lataesha and he will get to it when he can.

Next project to be featured will be the Lit Fuse Tatoo Shop coffee runner. Stay tuned Brooklyn!

Beat's Custom Raliegh Lite Refurbish

We had the priveledge of fully refurbishing a Raleigh LTD-3 frame from the 70s for a dapper young professional man. We put on new 3 speed wheel-set with aluminum 26 X 13/8" rims, new cotter-less crank-set and cartridge bottom bracket, and vintage aluminum handlebars. We re-tapped the bottom bracket shell of the frame allowing the modern BB and cranks to be installed. This process is fun and takes full advantage of the great old British steel that these old frames are made out of.

Notice the MKS sylvan touring pedals and the modern crank-set. We installed refurbished old Japanese alloy calipers which stop the bicycle better than the steel calipers that came on the bike ever could. As well replacing all the Whitsworth with metric should go much appreciated by any mechanic that works on this bike.

With all these Japanese parts we had to reinforce the British roots with a genuine Brooks Saddle. The alloy post-style seat pillar and old Sturmey-Archer pulley cable-guide serve to lighten the bike up and reduce friction in the shifting cables.

This photo does not do justice to the beautiful alloy Phillips French three-speed bars and sweet clear cablehousing guiding the controls. Keeping the bike and rider cleaner and happier and lighter are some Planet Bike Cascadia fenders in black. Light for a three-speed is an understatement. This bike's brand new Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub shifts like a charm and the bike flies the way these were meant to glide through traffic and up bridges.

Stay tuned for the next installment where we feature a sweet conversion of a Trek road bike and the Raleigh Colt that was reborn as a Pacific North West tattoo parlor shuttle bike.

Gnarly Vines and Lit Fuse

Today is the Transportation Alternatives Park(ing) day.

Park(ing) Day NYC is a New York City Streets Renaissance collaboration which supports the conversion of parking spots throughout New York City's 5 boroughs into human-friendly places for a single day. These small, temporary public spaces provide a breath of relief from the auto-clogged reality of New York City, and aim to spark dialogue about our valuable public space and how we choose to use it.

As part of Park(ing) Day NYC, Gnarly Vines is reclaiming the parking spot in front of their store and transforming it into an engaging, people-friendly public space for wine tastings and bike repairs!

Angel and Sean will be tasting wine and helping our beloved Brooklynites with their human-powered cycles from 1pm to 4pm today while the wine tasting will last until 8pm.

A great partnering of vino and Cicli harkening to the days of Fausto Coppi.

Labor Day

Today my son turned 4 months! He is a cherub if ever I have seen one.
Those of us who work with our hands from time to time can slow down a little and enjoy a great barbecue. Today we are grilling for our forefathers.
Yesterday we completed Paul's lavish Tortelli refurbish. He has Miche 165 mm cold-forged-machined crannks with a 48 tooth-machined chainwheel and a set of blue Phil Woods fix/fixed flip-flop hubset laced onto 32 hole Mavic rims. His Nitto bars and stem give the bike solid steering and his blue-stripe Soma Everwears stick to the road like glue.
His frame pad is sewn up custom by my wife and his Keirin grips hold the horns while his cruising is on the Oury BMX grips. Shimano 105 brakes up front with Cane Creek Cross top lever, and Campy Headset.
Those of you who are close by, come visit us and celebrate labor day with us.

WE got dogs and refreshments