Interesting Bikes

I'm going to start posting pics I've snapped of interesting bikes - usually bikes that are similar to the JPR, modified commuters built out of old steel frames, racing bikes, etc. Here's a couple:

Ok, right off the bat I'm throwing a curveball - this one isn't steel, it's a Cannondale, but pretty similar style to JPR. It is always parked outside my office and was definitely part of the inspiration for a 7-8 speed with a single chain ring and no front derailleur. Also note the swept bars and racks. Very nice commuter - though I imagine the aluminum frame is rather jarring on Oakland roads. She seems to be running 25mm tires, so faster, but bumpier. 

I only saw this bike once, but did a double take since it looks surprisingly like the JPR. It's a Panasonic, whoo hoo! I have no idea if this is a good frame or not, but the way it was built up looks like someone values it - inverted swept bars, nice saddle, and with non-caliper brakes - maybe it was supposed to be a cyclocross-type bike?

Snapped this from the passenger seat at Shattuck and 52nd - track bike painted solid gold with an internal hub and gripshift. Looks like the nexus so a 7 or 8 speed. Sweet get up and this guy looks like a serious cyclist, but he was in the right lane of two that merge into a freeway ramp, so he got off to a slow start across the intersection and then had to change lanes while people were gearing up to get on the onramp. Not the brightest move, but then, it's a crappy intersection anyway you slice it.

And finally, two glamour shots and a funny wheel insert - Rivendale, Merckx, BART:

A. Homer Hilsen

USA! USA! er, Bel-el-gium!

Remember these things?

Great Western Bike Rally

Two weeks ago, the JPR met her maker. So to speak. We packed up the car and headed down to Paso Robles for the 47th annual Great Western Bike Rally, where the JPR (as a newly minted Schwinn Paramount Series 3) was raffled off back in 1994.

We met Ralph and Laverne Boethling, who were the dynamic duo behind the GWBR for several decades, and who we learned purchased two identical 1992 Series 3 Paramounts from a friend who owned a local bike shop to include as the grand prizes for the raffle. Apparently both bikes were bought for $500 of Ralph and Laverne's own money! It would be cool to find out who won the other Paramount that year (1994). Maybe some day they'll see this post and get in touch?

We displayed the JPR at the Concourse de Elegance at the Rally, and although it didn't win a "best in show" honor, a lot of folks got to see the final result and read up about the project. It was a lot of fun to tell the story, and some people actually remembered the raffle from that year - I created a little a sign summarizing the rebuild:

Here's some iPhone video of Ralph and Laverne (who, incidentally, won the coed 60+ time trial earlier that day) checking out the JPR, and a few other shots of the display:

JPR on display at the Great Western Bike Rally

Talking to Ralph about the rebuild

The GWBR features over 20 different rides, including short, kid-friendly rides, wine-tasting rides, and metric or full centuries. We took the JPR out on her inaugural tour (non-commute ride) on Saturday, cycling about 22 miles out to Star Farms, a private residence with a giant pond and smoothie cabana, complete with sandy beach and palm trees. It was a bizarre scene to find in a landscape of back roads and vast farming plots, but it was a good ride to see how the JPR would handle longer distances - very comfortably, as it turns out!

Star Farms

I had signed up for the metric century on Sunday, but ended up going for a ride with a bunch of folks who were camped next to us, several of whom were riding custom Rivendell bikes:

Custom Rivendell, all Brooks'ed up

I rode the JPR with them on a route out to the Pacific and back, racking up 62 miles and 4400 feet of climbing. About halfway, right after lunch, we had a 10-mile stretch fighting brutal 20+ mph headwinds up the coast. I took my turns, along with the two gents featured in the following clip, pulling the group along. Both of these guys, each twice my age, then proceeded to catch and drop me on the final climb. So I would say I've got a little more training to do before next year...

All in all, it was a great weekend, and I highly recommend next year's Rally to anyone who might be interested. Here are some more pics from the weekend:

10 miles into the first "real" tour with the JPR, trying out a camelbak on the front rack. It was actually more of a pain that simply wearing it on my back, which I did on the following day's ride.

JPR overlooking a reservoir on one of the big climbs along Sunday's 62 miler

Father-in-law re-debuting his Roubaix on the way to Star Farms

Climbing out towards the coast

Returning to Paso...

...along the scenic route

At some point in the past, I got the notion that the Central Coast was devoid of hills. I was wrong: