Out With The Old And In With The Older

Well, I sold one of my favorite personal bikes, today. Adam, one of the baristas down at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, was the victim of a scum-sucking bike thief, a while back, and needed a bike to get around town.

Gone but not forgotten.

I showed him some choices of frames we could build for him, and then I showed him the Cafe Scorcher. The C.S. won him over when he test rode it.

I felt the need to thin the herd, a little, since I just built up a new bike for myself. This orange Peugeot UO8 (a 1974 model) has decided to stay with me, and that brought my total of personal bikes up to 11. My self-imposed limit is 10, at the moment, so I had to let something go.

The Cafe bike was my go-to bike for running errands. The big tires took forever to leak down, if I inflated them to 80 psi. So I could just grab it and go without having to air the tires first. I probably put more miles on it, this summer, than any other bike I own.

However, the KHS fixed mountain bike is essentially the same bike, just geared shorter for off-road riding.

Cafe Scorcher

(Above)

KHS Fixed MTB

(Right)

So, I figure the KHS can take overe the short-haul errand running, in addition to being my off-road fixie. I eliminate an overlap in bikes, and clear a space out for the Peugeot, at the same time.

Speaking of the Peugeot: This one, oddly enough, has an actual headtube badge, rather than a decal.

So, out with the old (1980's MTB Cafe Scorcher) and in with the older (1974 Peugeot).

More pictures of the Peugeot here http://www.grinderbikes.com/jon_peugeot.html

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Today's Million-Dollar Idea

I had an idea for a new "reality" TV show, today, as I was working.

I call it "GROW, CAT, GROW!"

Two teams of suburbanites compete against each other to grow the lushest, thickest grass in town. Each week, we see the results of their labors, and how they adapt to "challenges" like peeing dogs, and kids playing baseball.

I figure watching grass grow would be no more boring than the rest of the "reality" programming out there.

(By the way: If you make this show for real, I want a piece of the action!)

More Painting News

I watercolored the Campy crank picture which I previously posted.

I'm pretty happy with it, but my sister liked it better as a plain pen and ink drawing.

Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I got this sudden urge, almost a compulsion, to do a painting of Edgar Allen Poe. I am particularly fond of his work, ranging from "The Raven" to "The Gold Bug", so I included them in the painting, along with a reference to "The Pit and The Pendulum" and a bottle of Eddie's favorite beverage.

I explored using brush and ink, along with my usual pen and ink plus watercolor.

I don't know why I suddenly had to paint him, but I guess Poe is appropriate for the month leading up to my favorite holiday (Halloween/Dia de Los Muertes).

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Painting In Progress

I'm working on another bicycle painting, this time of my Triumph fixed gear. I am digging the close-up views of bikes, concentrating on one major component (in this case the Nuevo Record crank).

It's not huge (about 5"x8"), but bigger than the mini paintings I usually do.

I pencil sketch, first, then go over that with a nib pen and India ink.

I actually like how this photographed.

Next, I will add the watercolor. I'll then get it scanned into a jpeg, so that I can post it. I plan on offering these for sale, once I have a nice selection of them completed. Hopefully, I'll have them available for Christmas time.

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Punk Rock and Roller Derby

Went to Roller Derby at the Bladium, tonight. The Derby was great; lots of hard hits and big fun.

The Swanks played during "halftime", and really rocked the joint.

If your town doesn't have flat-track Roller Derby, you should move!