Saturday, January 31, 2009

Old "F-Frame" Movie: The Original Moulton

A British Pathe video documentary on the original F-Frame Moulton—the world's first full-suspension bicycle.


The "F-frame" was Dr. Moultons original production (1962-1974), preceding the sale to Raleigh and the modern "space-frame" AMs. The name comes from the shape of the frame without the front fork. The "F" shape is seen as the frame lies on the side and generally refers to the 1960's models. (The "Bridgestone Moulton" is a new aluminum "F" Frame.)

As the film notes, this dream bike was designed to replace not just traditional bicycles, but automobiles.

The video is 2 minutes long and a high-speed connection is recommended for the optimal experience. Audio is okay with slow-speed but some might wish to go to Google Videos and download the whole movie for best playback. Much of the footage was shot on location at "The Hall" the Moulton estate in Bradford-on-Avon, where research, design and production is carried on daily. The Hall also serves as a meeting and demonstration ground for the annual "Moulton Bicycle Club Bradford on Avon Weekend".

"The first real change in cycle design since the penny-farthing became outmoded."


More Moulton Movies:

Bikes? Prices start at Zero (and go up)!

trash-bike
What's it worth to YOU?
*mart trashbike or snobbish luxury cycle—a false dichotomy

The most valuable bike is the one you use, ride, treasure, spend time, enjoy, delight in looking at, admire the utility, find trouble free, find low maintenance, find fastest, find climbs the best…etc, on and on. I sell some fantastically expensive bikes and own several (deferring many car payments to afford them) but, I am often as happy with a more modest mount and enjoy cycling on inexpensive thrift store finds very much.

Now, it may sound elitist when you find out one of my "modest mounts" costs in the $2000-2500.00 range. I am not wealthy by any means. My dog does not have a mink coat. It is amazing what kind of bicycles you can afford if you spend thirty-five years earning a simple living and putting all your spare cash into the bikes without the burden of alimony or child support. I know dozens of people that own over fifty pro-quality racing bicycles (some decades old) and live by modest means. It's all what floats your boat.

I have met a number of travelers on department store bikes camping and touring great distances. These bikes, as offered, were truly not roadworthy by any half measure. These travelers' tales of woe and substantial mechanical failures would turn most people away from cycling forever—in less than a week. If you ignored safety (bad idea), most of these products just fell apart. As a lad of ninety-nine pounds when I received my first 26-inch wheel, balloon tired, bike I thought it would last forever. I never jumped or abused that bike at all but it, along with three replacements over the years, all failed at the frame from simple riding. None were subjected to touring loads.

It could be argued that department store bikes today are superior to those of old and, in many ways, it is true. The trouble is that when anything is built with price as THE major factor in the design criteria, everything is compromised. Case in point: the new Aluminum Mongoose that a *mart shopper drug into the store the other day—$225.00 and it weighed 48 LB! We normally expect light-weight when there is a move to aluminum! Not on this one. The sad thing is these bikes fail in so many ways, and so often, that repairing then is unaffordable; another poor failure prone bike is purchased as a replacement, and the buying/disappointment cycle is repeated. No one will become a serious cyclist on a bike that does not fully function.

As Peter White pointed out, a department store bike with rebuilt wheels is a heavily modified bike. Often, good replacement wheels cost in excess of the bike on which they would be installed. Is it not the age old dilemma: polishing a turd—outcome doubtful?

I certainly am not trying to criticize anyone's purchase decisions, but everyone that owns a department store level bike would genuinely appreciate a bike shop grade bike if they use it at all. Amazingly (to me), entry-level bike-shop bikes are LESS costly than top-end department store bikes and are not only better equipped, ride better and lighter, but, in addition to being properly assembled, they often have valuable service and parts warranties thrown into the deal!

Avoid false economy. You don't have to buy new either. Now with flea markets, eBay, and its surrogates (not to mention the rest of the prestigious internet) most people can educate themselves and buy a second-hand bike that is of very high quality and very suitable for their use for a modest sum.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

South India—Kerala & Tamil Nadu

Banana delivery bicycle
Hercules bikes are commonly converted to three-wheel cargo haulers for delivering produce.

Philippe Varichon has some great photos of south India (Kerala and Tamil Nadu), including cargo bikes, on CircumVista.com

Checkout:

  • The produce-hauling/vending Made-in-India Hercules bikes—lots of those.
  • Note the TaTa trucks and buses. The trucks are mostly school-bus yellow with lots of yellow/green/pink/blue decoration, garlands draped and eyes painted on the front. There's a gadget under the dash that makes the horn warble when you blow it (which is quite often).
  • Those old-fashioned looking cars are Hindustan Ambassadors, usually painted white, a few black. When you rent one, the driver is included. They're generally operated with the side mirrors folded in, to keep them safe.
  • The van that looks like a VW-bus is an Indian "Matador".
  • Those "STD/ISD" signs are for telephones.
  • Some good pictures of "auto-rickshaws" (usually called simply "auto"), they're painted mostly black in Kerala, yellow in Tamil Nadu. They're made with the side mirrors INSIDE the cab, to keep them safe.
  • Some one-man fishing boats. They're well worn, rough hewn vessels. Over in Tamil Nadu they're mixed with brand new boats—Tsunami/Tidal wave relief donations. Those are painted bright colors and bear sponsor logos from international banks, making them look like NASCAR.
I think Kerala has the highest literacy in India. Also, most religious diversity and is especially peaceful. They also resist big-box stores, over development and capitalism—they have TWO competing communist parties, though neither is currently in power. They're making news for banning Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Probably not big pepsi drinkers anyway, though I imagine pepsico has designs on converting the heathens. Lot's of lush greenery, though much of it is in the form of tea plantations. Temperatures usually in the 70s and 80s (°F). Good place for a bike ride! Sridhar has plans to grill fresh fish there. Also known for massages, yoga and Ayurvedic medicine.

Note also the "Safe motherhood bicycle rally" from Goa to Kochi: Team Safe Motherhood
"The message we want to disseminate is simple:
Eyes are for seeing, ears for listening and haemoglobin is for intelligence."
(Article from The Hindu)

If you're inspired to go, Mr. Pumpy has tips and Tim Gilbert has his South India bike-trip travelogue online too.

The Moulton carries the day in Philly!

Pieter Maris, world's fastest folder
Pieter Maris, the world's fastest folder—boldly starting in the Maillot Jaune
(also a noted Moultoneer)
(…or at least, carries the Silk Paratrooper)

Our hearty "congratulations" go out to Pieter Maris for mercilessly slaughtering the Brompton competition at the annual Trophy Bikes' ROUND UP USA folding contest. It comes as no surprise to us, as the "Silk Paratrooper" was manufactured in the same sophisticated country that also produces the innovative Bridgestone Moulton bicycle. Thanks to Alex Moulton for designing a bicycle capable of easily transporting the victorious "Silk" folder to the starting line.

As a side note, it is rumored that Pieter's UK-produced Moulton is powered by Dutch Milk, Belgian Beer, Irish Whiskey, French Wine and American Freedom Fries. Also, I am certain the lighting system on that Moulton is manufactured in Germany—where there is no speed-limit.

"Dr. Who" fans may recognize Pieter from the episode filmed in North Carolina

(Ref.: Jim Foreman's Touring on a Folder piece on Bicycle Touring 101.)

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
PO Box 840
166 Court Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
Yanceyville: 336-421-4054
Raleigh: 919-828-8999
Toll-free: 800-321-5511
E-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

David Schroeder is "beside himself" with his AM2 and chromed Deluxe!

Hey, keep your hands where I can see 'em!

Gilbert's René Herse Démontable
Before cable-splitters were readily available, bikes with seperable frames solved the cable problem by mounting the shift levers on the same frame section as the derailleurs.
Shift levers on the SEAT tube?

We René Herse Démontable owners refer to those things as crotch shifters, and I must say reaching back there and fiddling is fun indeed! Actually, the bike performs flawlessly and, in practice, the shifting is very easy to get used to. A very tall rider might have a bit of trouble reaching back, but for most of us, «ce n'est pas un problème».

Cable-splitters had not been developed at the time the Herse Démontable was introduced. It is not unlikely that someone, somewhere, had produced them at some great expense and trouble, but this was an expensive bike and hard to produce in single numbers, so little time was invested in the cable-split solution.

Gilbert's René Herse Démontable
Gilbert's René Herse Démontable

The first photo of the Démontable Herse that I saw was a city bike (le Porteur?) from about 1960. These normally had a single chainwheel and perhaps five rear cogs; designed to go from auto to park road in an instant. The five-speed shifter presented few difficulties in use. I suspect that cyclotourists and a few racers saw the démontable idea as a handy way to carry their cycle with them with a MINIMUM of FUSS. It knocks down VERY QUICKLY. A démontable can be completely separated and have the bars tuned parallel in 10-15 seconds with practice. By comparison, you might spend that long just finding an S&S coupler tool.

Alex Moulton's cable-splitter
Alex Moulton's cable-splitter

In 1982, Alex Moulton introduced his space-frame AM2 and AM7. While the AM2 (two speed kickback with coaster brake) had no rear cables to fiddle with, the AM7 (seven-speed rear shifting derailleur gears) and it's child, the AM14 (dual-chainwheel fourteen-speed), had two and three cables to fiddle with respectively, with shifting and brakes. Alex used a much more conventional down-tube shifter mounted to a stainless steel démontable plate (actual name). The same 6mm allen key (stowed in a cute little holder under the saddle) removed the seat pillar (the pump was inside the pillar), tilted and turned the bars (with captive bolts that would not fall out) and removed the démontable shifting plate bolt to allow the shifters and a cam mechanism for the rear brake separation (complex) to be brought to the rear half of the frame whereupon they reattached to a duplicate brazed-on boss. While this procedure was relatively simple and quick, a couple of years later he introduced the stainless steel cable-splitters that are now common on take-a-part bikes of many stripes.

I'm not sure if he invented these items, but, knowing his passion for patenting everything, if he would have some sort of worldwide notice of the fact. I feel confident Alex Moulton was certainly the first to use cable-splitters in a production setting, as he built thousands of bikes before the clones of the mechanism were developed.

What seems like a simple idea now was in need of serious development effort before the idea was to come to life. WE are surrounded by examples of this in every day life.

Foggy Bottom, the Federal City: Washington DC

Washington DC (DC stands for "Delightful Cycling")


The ADC Washington
Street Map
Don't visit our
nation's capitol
without it.
The ADC Washington Street Map—don't visit our nation's capitol without it.

"But," you ask, "where do you get the ADC map? What is it?"

The ADC Regional Bike Map is the best map (not just for cycling) of the DC metro area and will be of great help should the C&O towpath be muddy—as there are many additional routes off of the path illustrated. Almost any DC bike store should have them and they may also be available inside Amtrak's Union Station (Map)—get one at a newsstand while you wait for your bike and gear to be unloaded (You will have time!) at the baggage-claim.

Otherwise, grab a cabbie or policeman out in front of the station and inquire as to the closest bike store. If all else fails, head for the river a few blocks away and then turn right, there is a shared use path along the river which will take you past a bike shop (if your eyes are sharp) or directly to the towpath (along the river).

The route between Union station and the C&O.

Ask a local cyclist were the shop is and the shop can direct you to the HI-Washington DC hostel. The hostel is just a few blocks from "M Street" (Map) which parallels the towpath and river bike trail in the Georgetown area. Make reservations now for the hostel, it is nearly always fully booked for walk-ins.

Adrian recommends the Hilltop Hostel over the HI-AYH facility: Fun place; friendly and helpful staff; convenient location; Very bike friendly, hammocks out back, relaxed atmosphere, major transit station just outside, min. age 18—no grade-school field-trip groups, laundry.

You will have a good time. By the way, we used to sell the maps but I have run out.

P.S.: The Lonely Planet advises, "Bring your own wiretap."

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
PO Box 840
166 Court Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
Yanceyville: 336-421-4054
Raleigh: 919-828-8999
Toll-free: 800-321-5511
E-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Leather--The New Old Health craze!

Brooks: "Leather is Healthy"

A favorite of Cyclosportifs world-wide, Brooks Saddles are handbuilt in Britain and equipped on Pashley and many Moulton Cycles. What follows is an excerpt from the Brooks 1934 publication "Brooks Saddles: Best for Riding". For more up-to-date information, see the Brooks England LTD website.
LEATHER IS HEALTHY

Reverting to seats constructed of leather, it is difficult to appreciate, from appearance only, the difference between the first grade article and the next best, but in reality the explanation is perfectly simple. Brooks Cow For Brooks Saddles only the "Butt" of a hide is employed : this, as will be seen from the illustration, is only the middle portion of the whole hide, and commands a much higher price. It is only by the use of such material, however, that the quality of Brooks Saddles can be maintained, and the experience of many thousands of cyclists confirms the value of this wise precaution. Saddles cut from butts, grease dressed during manufacture, are practically waterproof, yet capable of "breathing" in a healthy manner ; this means that a Brooks Saddle never becomes "clammy" and is always cool to the rider, thereby considerably conducting comfort on a long journey, especially in hot weather. In the cutting of the butts into saddle blanks, the avoidance of warble marks (caused by an insect that attacks the animal in life), barbed wire scratches and other blemishes in otherwise perfect hides, naturally involves waste and a comparative increase in production cost. The user, however, has the assurance that the extra cost is reasonable in that it guarantees the use of unblemished material in the saddle of his selection. Cheaper saddles cannot afford Brooks quality leather, and it is in the rider's interest that Brooks Saddles are clearly marked on both flaps and at the rear with the name BROOKS.

Brooks: Best for Riding

Brooks film fest


Support the Bicycle Film Festival with Brooks England and the Green Swallow 100 BFF Limited.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

New Series Movie: The Innovative Engineer—Alex Moulton

A video documentary interview for Bath University Engineering Department Training. Fascinating; really, Free Movie.

Download: [ GVP ] [ AVI / MP4 ]


I had this as a video but now it is in the public domain. It is better with a high-speed connection.

Please understand that this is a late 1990's film with older bikes featured, as they have changed a bit since then, but the movie is fascinating none the less. Please feel free to email or call with questions (calling is better as somethings are hard to explain without real-time interaction!).

The video is 20 minutes long and a high-speed connection is recommended for the optimal experience. Audio is okay with slow-speed but some might wish to go to Google Videos and download the whole movie for best playback.

Our Nickname: "Our Friend the Steel"

This is an early film of the design and development of the revolutionary Alex Moulton New Series bicycle. Although the bicycle has been updated considerably since it's introduction the design and engineering fundamentals are insist-rated here. Interview with Dr. Alex Moulton himself and lots of Moulton history and shots of his lovely home and grounds near Bath in England. North Road Bicycle proudly imports all forms of Moulton Bicycles for USA sales and distribution.

Best Quote: "Nobody Owns the Laws of Nature."

Best Observation: Alex's Ink-Method of idea incubation & illustration


More Moulton Movies:
More on the New-Series:

Caswell County

A.H. Motz Facility
Often voted one of the Top Twelve Moulton Importers of Caswell County.
Irrefutably, not the worst shop in town.

An hour, or less, away from the Triangle is a land of friendly people and quiet shaded roads that delight with long sections of smooth flat stretches punctuated by scenic hills and turns that remind many of the mountains—yet three hours closer to the Triangle. A cyclist's dream—in his August 14th 2005 article, Free wheeling, Joe Miller extols the virtues of the safe, serene and lonesome roads of Caswell County for cycling.

While tending to my family's farmland up there, I told the economic development guy that I was moving my shop.

"Where to," he asked?

"Well, I'm looking for something in Danville…"

"Danville? You don't want to go to Danville—that's in…Virginia!"

Finally the guy drops into my store few weeks ago. "I would like for you to open a bike store in Yanceyville," he says.

I reply, "I would like to open a bike store in Yanceyville."

"I've got a building…but…I can't pay you to move in there…"

"You trying to make me hold out for a better deal?"

Mobile Shop
On the move, and two-steps ahead of Cornwallis—in our "High Mobility" operating facility. Bring it on, your lordship, bring it on!

Yanceyville is about four hard days cycling to the Blue-Ridge Parkway. The County wants to host and promote bike events, and setup camping in town—It sounds like the perfect spot to locate an eclectic business, especially one with a cycling museum upstairs.

Caswell County is rich in American Revolution and Civil War History. Lord Cornwallis* unsuccessfully pursued General Nathaniel Greene through Yanceyville in the famous "Race to the Dan" (River). I also read that they hanged a guy (not legally) in the courthouse in Yanceyville, starting a war there and overthrew the governor; it's all over now, but we could revive it for a Halloween bike ride.


A.H. Motz
Back in the earlier days of Old Time Yanceyville—men were men, guns were guns, cars ran on rails and automobiles had real fenders.
Caswell County Historical Association, Inc.

Related links:

* 1st Marquess Cornwallis, Member of Parliament was Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of India, Justice in Eyre, Lord (Viceroy) Lieutenant of Ireland and Baron (Earl) Cornwallis.
(But, he couldn't beat Greene in a race.)

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

BikePacking: Lighten the load, and enjoy!

Compared to the backpackers I see traveling hostel to hostel here and abroad, bicycle camping is a liberating experience. Not only can you cover distances in a day that might require a week of more hiking, but moving the load off your body and on to the bike makes the traveling a fraction as tiring—not that you can't find a way to get tired cycling with a load.

bicycle river crossing
Traveling light can open the door to possibilities

I am always fascinated by English tourists that I see at rallies who seem to have everything they need, yet carry very little on the bike (Camping with 25 LB of gear). I remember at a Moulton rally in England I was riding with a group along a tow-path and we saw a number of overloaded cyclists with large panniers (front and rear) and a rack piled high with perhaps 80-100 lbs of gear, all riding suspended ATB style bikes. As it turned out they were all Americans and their gear and gadgets looked like they were purchased late the day before the ride. They were only managing 40 miles per day (nothing wrong with that) after being on the road all day with break downs etc, though their goal was 75.

The Hostel backpackers, despite taking buses and trains to Hostels, were loaded heavier than Marines on re-con duty without packing of weapons and ammo or before technology lightened the need for one guy to transport the lead-based radio batteries for a weeks use.

They universally carried a fully loaded expedition pack on the back, a belt pack, a large day-pack (worn reverse front) and most had a smaller duffel attached in front of that. They were loaded for an overseas move rather than traveling. I suppose a gal or guy backpacking or cycling on a budget will carry everything that they might need rather than what they need, to avoid the expense of an on the trip purchase. If they left the CD player (and CDs) at home, or would fore go the iPod purchase, they could easily buy a souvenir sweatshirt or sweater if it got chilly on the trip. Many had a stove, but after 2 weeks had yet to cook water on their trip.

Look forward to cycling; indeed you should, rather than take one step with a load like I saw on these burdened backs.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com
Simple tube tents
It's hard to beat a tube-tent for weight, cost and simplicity.
On all other counts, you can beat tube-tents handily,
but they sure are simple.

What, The Wheel Size?

Hello folks,

Forget 700c fixed-wheels. The high-wheelers are the ultimate city bike; view traffic hazards from a trucker's perspective—eye to eye. It is very intimidating to them and they give your wide berth, which is a good thing, as cars don't see you at all and turn rather impulsively in front of you. The High-wheeler has a fixed-wheel drive, which is all the rage with the ladies; especially the Gothic bike-gang types we like to swoon over in our fair city.

No real brakes, of course, are a FEATURE that adds to the danger in traffic and the possibility of certain death from this, the ultimate two-wheel high wire act. It's only a matter of time before Ford tools up their old bike production line and we see one like the new-old mustang production.

On wheels noted earlier and below:

Triathletes often have bikes equipped with smaller than ATB (ATB are nominally 26x1.5-2.125 559mm ISO) 650 C (nominally 26 inch wheel 571 mm ISO) wheels. The 650 B size (demi Balloon nominally 26x1-1/2 inch 584 mm ISO) is actually an older French touring standard size that sits between the modern ATB (thorn 26 noted below) and the common 700c (622 mm ISO) road diameter. The Triathlon racing wheel noted is actually a 650c (nominally 26x1 inches 571 mm ISO) which is an old Schwinn Balloon Cruiser 26x1-3/4 nice narrowed up for race use. I hope I got this correct?

On rolling resistance that latest wisdom that some people have claimed is that wider tires have less rolling resistance. this goes against the intuitive reasoning that says that the 700x18 mm tire is faster than a 700x25. "The wider the better," some say, "and we have testing to prove it." Continental did some original testing on their equipment and found that their 700x25 tires had lower rolling resistance than their 700x23 tires a few years back. They attributed this to the larger tire having a smaller, but perpendicular, contact patch (compared to the longer, parallel contact patch of the narrower tire). Seems reasonable.

Thorn claims that their 26 inch (ATB size tires) have lower rolling resistance than larger wheels. While I have not seen this, I do not doubt this statement, but I will say that in bicycles, as in all things, this "DEPENDS." If wider is truly better, the Triathletes would certainly gravitate away from their skinny 650c x20-23 tires (nominally 26x1 inches 571 mm ISO) to the faster Schwinn Balloon Cruiser tire 26x1-3/4 (571 x47 size 571 mm ISO) and watch the records be broken! This will not happen for many reasons, chief among them it would be impossible. Between these similar diameter tires (wider tires are taller tires too!) the wider tire has so much more rolling resistance that the narrow one might have lower rolling resistance riding on the rim uninflated. I personally set a personal best in a Time Trial years ago placing second riding 23-miles on a flat front tire in a 25-mile event. Very tricky and I would have never attempted it but a fellow in New Jersey placed first or second in the national championship 8-9 months earlier doing essentially the same thing; not by choice of course.

There are so many variables: tread, tread compound, casing fabric, thread count, width of rim, air pressure, diameter, weights of various components and the biggest are the limits of testing equipment, time and budget. The old skinny tired high wheelers had very low rolling resistance. This could be as much because of the hard (high pressure before it was cool) solid tires as the large wheels compliance to irregular pavement (sort of a suspension system of the day).

The Alex Moulton small wheel bikes we sell have been tested many times on rolling resistance and always test very well ( tops in many tests) regardless of testing style even though many claimed tests for rolling resistance did not account for other variables, An older version of this bike holds the world land speed record for upright bikes and many older HPV records were set with the newer (at the time) high performance, high pressure 17 inch wheel (most Moultons use 20-inch wheels these days). The absolute world land speed records set behind automobiles on the Bonneville salt flats are over 160 mph and they have been set with 20-inch (nominal) wheels. While I don't feel that smaller 17-20-24-26 inch wheels are necessarily faster than 700c or larger wheels my experience is they are not slower either and similar setups can vary quite a bit for a number or reasons. I was recently at a gathering of small wheel bikes in Philadelphia where, after climbing nearly 400 vertical feet in a mile, I was treated to a long steep downhill in company. After a slow start down I realized a downhill race was formulating ( my specialty). A fellow on a late model Bike Friday had about a 200 foot head-start before I realized the game was on. He was loaded with a hefty belt/backpack for the weekend and was sailing. Even though I had a very unaerodynamic handlebar bag, mudguards and rear rack and small bag I not only caught but passed him going about 4 mph faster than his 43 mph top speed all the time coasting. We had similar wheels, tires (20-inch 120 psi) and overall weight. His body, luggage and bike were probably more aerodynamic than my setup. What was the variable? I suspect it was that the Moulton has a full front and rear road tuned suspension and this may have lowered the rolling resistance but who is to know.

Conclusions and Observations:

Most rolling resistance tests rely heavily on downhill coasting contests that test ease of pedaling more than actual rolling resistance. I have seen some that tested coasting UPHILL, A small wheel bike with lighter wheels and less wheel momentum will be handicapped in this test but a heavy larger wheel wheel will often have an advantage.

IS wider better?
Perhaps, but only to a point. On a very wide tire the contact patch can grow and the aerodynamic handicap increases, tire pressure generally decreases, and the weight increases, all affecting performance and test results in a negative way.

Most tests have shown conclusively that higher air pressure tires do lower rolling resistance, but a rough surface can makes this figure go the other way unless road-tuned suspension is added.

Smaller wheels are stronger, lighter, more aerodynamic (bigger advantage than most people realize, even at touring speeds) and more compact than similar performing large wheels, which has advantages for touring and transport. In the proper frame, tires from a 20-inch wheel rim can accept 28-52 mm width tires on the same rim, offering much more versatility than is typically available with 26-700c wheels and frames.

The smaller the wheels used, the more road shock is transmitted to the rider. This may raise rolling resistance and certainly will fatigue the rider. Mountain bike suspension used on the road is styled a little like landing gear on aircraft and is designed to take sudden, very hard impacts. It does increase potential comfort, but tends to absorb pedaling effort in many designs and may actually slow the bike down rolling resistance wise on rougher roads as it tends to overcompensate small bumps. A suspension system used on the road should be designed for the road and can decrease rider fatigue and lower rolling resistance, which can be very beneficial for touring.

Continental tire tests compared several tires, but results might vary with different brands as well. I have found that Continental tires feature very stiff side-walls which, on anything but the smoothest roads, seem to increase rolling resistance in my own simple tests. A flexible side-wall tire might have different results with wide verses narrow,

Few tire tests take into account road surface variation, bumpy verses smooth and grades in between. Certain low ranking tires might out-perform high ranking ones, if the surface is changed.

Disc Brakes are hard on spokes, frames and forks. Disc brakes on small wheels may or may not exacerbate this problem.

With tires, like most things bikes, I believe I can construct tests that will make winners out of almost anything and give conflicting conclusions.

Ideal Touring Wheel and Tire:

  • Tough enough to carry the loaded bike and rider
  • Large enough cross section to protect the rim.
  • High enough rim weight and spoke count for the job at hand, without being overly heavy
  • Small enough for easy transport
  • Easy to patch, boot, install and remove
  • Self-healing from cuts (this is not advertised, but varies a lot from tire to tire.)
  • Heavy enough to do the job, Light enough to accelerate easily
  • Low aerodynamic profile (Small narrow wheels are the best; choose smilie short- if not narrow if you have to choose one).
  • Long wear between replacements
  • Accepts a high enough pressure to protect the rim and offer low rolling resistance.
and for Off the beaten path add—
  • Ease of finding local replacement
  • Small enough for economical shipping or carrying (folding models are a plus, 20-inch folders are now available.)
  • Very long wear between replacements
  • Tough enough to survive minor falls while loaded.
  • Wide enough for some off road capability (may also be needed above)
Small wheel to high wheel, it's not only the size that matters. They all can work well.

I hope my experience has been of value.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379 USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Moulton's small-wheeler up for an Award

Hippyshopper says:
Moulton NS Speed Stainless
Still prevaricating about whether to ditch the bus for an about-town bicycle? Here's an incentive to help you off the fence: Alex Moulton's classic NS Speed Stainless bike (pictured) is up for a design award for its featherlight weight, gorgeous looks and ability to motor along despite having tiny wheels. Regardless of whether it wins, the nomination by James "cyclone vac" Dyson adds a lot of credibility to this ideal city commuter. It's up against the iPod, Millennium Dome and Jasper Morrison in the New Designers' awards.
You can vote here and find an Alex Moulton dealer here . [found via Treehugger]

Even non-hippies can vote for their (my) favorite bicycle in this British design competition. There is, naturally, only one bike—which makes things a bit one sided—but as Grant Peterson might say: "There is nothing wrong with that."

Besides, good touring bikes don't get much press. Vote early and often; no lines, no waiting, everybody counts.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert "They hate us for our small wheels" Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Flying with Bikes & the TSA

It has been suggest that the prudent traveling cyclist always accompanies his/her own luggage through the TSA inspection, to see what they do and to put things back the way they are supposed to be. This idea, if you do not mind waiting, and arrived early enough (since it would naturally take a bit more time and handling), would save a lot of grief and complaints. I seem to recall requesting this in Buffalo in the summer of 2003, where upon I was rebuffed with "Absolutely not."

A printout of the official regulations in the coat pocket is always handy in this situation. I've flown my bike overseas many times for free, with a recording from an airlines 800 line stating bikes fly free internationally after initially being told there would be additional charges for the bike. I suppose with the secrecy necessary to fight terrorism so deep within our current government, actually publishing the rules would seem out of character.

Should you get placed on the "NO FLY LIST", even by accident (as some congressmen have found themselves), you will discover that there are no published criteria for this honor and no official way to get off the list. As cyclists we have a natural propensity to be seen as subversive anarchists by our very nature—as we would choose for transport or recreation the most energy efficient machine every devised, and thereby invoke class warfare against the heavily government-subsidized horseless-carriage industry and their users. As Phreds, we always must be ever vigilant—keeping our helmet mirrors pointing rearward and eyes forward.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

For want of a pole, the Tent was lost…

Update: Topeak Bikamper!

A broken pole is hard to fix in a storm at night, which is where poles would ideally prefer to fail. A local ultra-lightweight tent designer tells me that aluminum poles are both lighter and stronger than fiberglass poles, but cost a good-deal more. Strength is usually not an issue with poles used for cycling tents, as these tents are small, weigh little, and can be pitched easily away from weather. Poles are not weight-bearing in a classic sense, but strong winds and storms can flatten a tent pitched improperly—from either flapping or being aimed such that the structure catches wind rather than plowing through it.


Love thy Bike

Freestanding tents: Over time, I have purchased several large and small freestanding tents—back when, I like to think, they were still somewhat of a new idea, though they had been around for many years. While not universal with every design, most took took a very long time to pitch and pack-up, cutting into riding and rest time. They really should be staked down, unless you are inside, and even then wind gusts will send a tent and gear tumbling away and, unless it is small, it will lift up and potentially tear or break poles with a person inside. It is the flexing and flapping that tears fabric and breaks poles—staking down prevents this.


Topeak Bikamper

Many times you cannot drive a stake into ground, especially with: (1) the cheesy stakes that are OEM with most tents, and (2) the packed-down commercial camping pad style sites. Ditto for the concrete pads, which I find to be be universally bad for stake insertion. Flexibility in placement, and designing for a reduced number of anchor points needed for secure tent setup, can really help avoid the requirement for a free-standing tent. Two of the tents which I use utilize two poles each, and just three anchor points. The anchor points must be secure, but the tents are the aerodynamic tunnel / hoop style with pointed ends that can be oriented into the wind for extra ventilation and to reduce stress on the fabric and poles. The three anchor points are ½-inch long web-loops that attach to different upper and lower attachment points on the tent. The anchor points can be vectored quite a bit without moving the tent an inch—to find soft ground for stake placement as anchor guy lines plant about 3 feet from the tent proper and, being essentially web loops, can be looped or tied around large rocks, picnic tables, trees or—something I always bring on a bike trip—a bicycle. Once, at a stealthy camp site, I tied my tent off to my bike and tossed the bike down a small incline into a dry creek bed which did double duty as the many reflective surfaces of the bike were obscured from cars passing on a nearby roadway.

Good stakes do make a difference. Some OEM aluminum stakes fail with normal use right away. Titanium, tempered spiral steel, the oversized plastic style and Jim Foreman's patented eight-inch aluminum Gutterspikes work well for stakes and rarely fail, but usually I carry a spare, in case of loss or breakage. [Mr. Foreman carries at least three extras, from which he constructs his camp-stove -ed]

When I ordered my current tents (over 20 years ago) it was a lot like ordering a custom made-to-measure bicycle which lots of discussion of on use and travel size. I had wanted a freestanding tent (as that was what my friends and I had been using) but, after lifting his finished tents, and seeing how quickly they could be erected, I was sold. It was then down to colors and weights of the various fabrics of the various sections and waiting several months, Obviously, these were not store bought items.

Anyway, a little extra para-cord is always handy when camping.

Nothing that I have noted means you shouldn't buy a free-standing tent but the free standing feature often adds significant weight, complexity, setup and take down time. The tents I have can be set up by one person easily in 30 seconds with practice. The maker of those tents can setup his tents in less than 10 seconds, and will be sitting cross-legged inside the tent in that time. It is like a magic-trick to me.

These tents also use sleeves for the poles which speeds setup and take-down. I'm not sure why some have a preference for clips-to-pole attachments over pole-in-sleeves, unless they've had bad experiences with poles separating inside the sleeves. This can be easily remedied with a little practice and proper technique, though some designs may be prone to pole separation anyway. Sleeves are harder to make properly, with little room for error, but clips can break, and setup time is increased when using them.

One thing to add: All of the tents which I've had built were made locally by Treklite and, sadly, they no longer produce these products (though I hope I can get them to revive them one day). These tents were all single-wall designs, and extremely well ventilated. On the hottest most humid nights I have never had a problem with condensation. Eliminating a fly saves lots of setup time and reduces weight enormously. My small 1.5 person tent (2 adults fit if friendly) weighs about 2 lbs. with poles and stakes.

The Treklite fellow used to work for Stephenson's Warmlite, which also makes unbelievable lightweight single-wall tents nowadays. As for my potential recommendation, I would certainly replace my very old tents with these or something similar.

Other than Warmlite, I'd look at Tarptent (with floor), the GoLite Den and others.

All these designs are very light, quick setup, single-wall tunnel designs—similar in style and function to my favorites. The Stephenson costs a good bit more, but can have custom choice of fabrics, colors and many other features. Might be worth a look.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Saddles & seat-tube angles

In the good-old days, the famous coaches used to specify an extremely slack seat angle for the longest-legged riders, but this may have been to extend the top-tube for their proportionally longer torso more than saddle position. When I was racing, we set up our bikes with many different positions over time, but it was more influenced by trends than performance. I raced well with all of them, though comfort certainly varied. These days, comfort seems to be much of a side-issue in racing.

One simple way to avoid having your rear-most parts slide off the back of the saddle is to simply raise the seat. It can be an extension issue more than seat-tube angle, but there are so many variables. As the saddle is raised, the seat angle will push the saddle rearward. The angle doesn't change, but the relative position behind the bottom bracket does. One thing about saddles: Many similar shaped saddles can change your seat posture dramatically and this is a very person-specific thing. Most modern bikes have 74° or steeper seat-tube angles, so you are limited as to how far the bottom bracket offset can be adjusted.

I know that some of our Alex Moulton models have extraordinarily slack angles—approaching 71° (some are 68°)—but they change when the suspension frame is loaded in compression. I, for one, prefer to use a straight, non-offset seatpost with most of my Moultons, which returns the effective angle/position to around 73°s or so (to match my other bikes), but most people don't bother and are very satisfied.

A custom builder can produce anything for which you are willing to pay, but many will refuse—because of the fear of ridicule for producing an odd design, or the likelihood of perceived future dissatisfaction with an odd design, if extreme.

I hope this is of value to you.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Beat the heat? Not a chance!

Even on the Northern Tier (USA) route don't expect to escape the summer heat. In 2002, there was a heat-wave up there and a Moultoneer fellow that I know finished the last stage of his 'round-the-world travels through there. Over 100°F every day, for quite a while. The roads melted, tires and tubes melted and just fell apart. He rode a small wheel on his Moulton and I feel that these do not dissipate heat as well in extreme conditions. You can travel a long way in North Dakota in the summertime without shade on the road and the days are amazingly long up Nawth for a Carolina boy.

While these temps are not typical, even in the central USA—like Iowa and Wisconsin—I've ridden through summer temps over 100°F several times, though the nights were usually much more pleasant.

biking with beverages
Always carry plenty of refreshments

Also, be aware of your personal level of vulnerability in the heat. Some people seem to be immune to heat—with enough water—while others seem like they can dehydrate in a swimming pool with cold drinks in their hands. I have customers that are afraid of heat in the high 70°Fs, and I've seen them nearly pass out. Me, I prefer the modest temps, but can take the heat OK. If the heat is an issue where you roam: shorten your mileage, start early, or light-up your bike and ride at night in sensible areas.
Enjoy your trip.

That C&O tow-path is shady and Ohio has a lot of Youth Hostels that might be good layover spots. (See also: HI-USA.)

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

There's toolbags, and then there's TOOLBAGS!

Motorcycle Tools-1943
So you want to fix your bike, do ya?

Motorcycle Tools-1943

As Slim Pickens once said, "Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff…"

Teak is the New Carbon!

Over in Portugal Xylon Bikes takes "an approach apart from what has been done so far by other enthusiasts"—cool wooden frames!

What do they Cost? To paraphase Mel Pinto, "How wood I know?"



This side of the Atlantic, we have some big downed birch trees above the spring on the farm to work with. They are seasoned and ready to go.

Why carry shovel AND griddle?

No Panniers!

Putting the Panniers-vs-Trailer debate to bed!

Look ma - no poles!

The Topeak Bikamper uses the front-wheel to support the far end of the tent, eliminating the need for poles.

Can't Touch This!

Update: Raleigh Loses a Beloved Icon

Russell "Can't Touch This" Lee's Full car-stereo setup & lawn-mower battery! - Raleigh NC USA

Color-coordinated to boot!

"But Officer, I AM driving a car!"

Have Grill, Will Travel

Now here's the man who's bringing the party!
Have Grill, will Travel

Spotted at the US-Pros / Small-wheel festivities in Philly—2005

Traveling with Dog?

High-Head—better than no head at all

High Head Roadster
Roadster
The High Head Roadster-style kickstand: All current men's traditional 3-speed style have this kickstand (rear wheel wrap around; none of that troublesome bottom-bracket bolting) with built-in rack. We sell them separately but, while the attached rack is okay, some of my…more determined customers saw it off above the axle mounts! The whole rig works great on a 28-inch Raleigh DL-1 Tourist 3-speed Roadster.

Pashley Deli Bike
Deli bike
The Pashley Deli bike's large basket carrier is attached to two mounts (at least a pound of steel extra there), brazed near the back of the head-tube, and is not easily retrofitable. This, with the small front wheel, make it a surprising delight to ride—far from high-performance, but hard to equal for hauling rocks, sand, wine, groceries or large Macaws without a trailer. The mounting system lives on—in a lighter refined version—on Moulton bicycles, where their front platform and pannier racks carry touring loads with ease, stability and confidence.

Remember: At Pashley, "Wicker is the new Nylon, and Steel is the New Titanium."

P.S.: I've found a source for kickstand tips—Deluxe, made in the USA, just USD $1.40 ea.! They look sharp, and for ease of installation they handily beat the old golf-ball glued to the end approach. Everybody needs a couple! I can check, if need be, for proper fit on the dual-leg stand by Esge, but they are made for Esge and Greenfield center-mount (rear-mount is same) kickstands. Someone once asked, "How do you do it so cheap?" It's simple really: Volume, Volume, Volume! Bulk discounts on 100/1000/10,000-piece lots available.

P.P.S.: A solid kickstand comes in quite handy when making deliveries!


on the way to Smithfield You must realize, of course, that Park Tool only sells those work stands because it's so hard to grow a proper tree within the confines of a typical bike shop.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Touring, retro-style

Nothing wrong with a Superbe for touring. We had a group do the C&O towpath in the fall of 2002. There were twelve (or so) of us (the dirty dozen) that slogged through a little rain and sunshine on the 184 miles of hard dirt canal path—many on internally-geared and retro bikes.

There were three reliable Sturmey-Archer three-speeds along, and plenty of Carradice bags. I'm in the neo-retro group—I use vintage equipment, where it seems better:

  • Wool clothing (when there is no need to wash often) is preferable in all but the hottest circumstances.
  • Knickers are wonderful as they cover a wider temperature range than tights (with proper layering).
  • Canvas cycling bags are naturally waterproof, and wax can easily renew their coatings.

Primus Stove
The Primus Stove
I do like modern pack towels, stoves, etc., but the old standards are out there. The Primus Climber (also known as the Classic—the little brass cylinder style) white-gas stove has been around for over 100 years in one form or another, as have many others. (Incidentally, the truly stove-obsessed will be interested in perusing Classic Camp Stoves at SpiritBurner.com, an online venue for collectors & users of vintage camp stoves such as those made by Primus, Optimus, Radius, Svea & many others. I've got half a dozen stoves I'll bet, and that website makes me want to buy 10 more!)

My sweetheart has a Superbe that she often loads up with groceries around town. The racks used on most of those that I have seen are actually a stamped steel platform with steel tubular legs painted to match the frame. Our company imports Pashley classic cycles from the UK that are modern (neo-retro again) three-speed style bikes equipped with a similar rack. They are black and could be painted—though the black looks pretty good, or good enough to paint later. We have a limited number of these racks on hand for a bout $40.00 (or so), if you would like one.

There was an informal group in Wisconsin, I think, that had a Three-speed overnight tour arranged over the summer. I think it is an annual event. Trophy Bike Shop in Philadelphia hosts the Great British Bike Weekend every Spring—that might be worth your while to attend. People showed up from all over the country the last time I was there.

I was in scouting in the 60's and 70's and I never saw a steel tent pole, but wooden ones with steel separators were common. (Speaking of steel vs wood, over in Portugal Xylon Bikes are making these cool wooden frames!) The tents we used were too heavy (30lbs+) for decent cycling, and we never hiked with them on backpacking trips.

Another nice retro thing is a Vietnam-era rubber coated poncho, army surplus. They are absolutely waterproof and weigh about 2 lbs.. Two, snapped together, make a huge tarp or tent (the seam in middle looks bad for rain entry in tent mode). Put together a visqueen ground cloth and a surplus Mosquito bar with a long cord suspended between two trees and you have a sub-4.0 lb, retro, tent/tarp rig that is cool, provides bug protection and is easy to pack. A nylon poncho weighs about a pound less.

Army shelter half-tents (pup tents) are not light, but are cheap and easy to find. However they also suffer from that seam in the top center that worries me. Canvas can be easily waterproofed with Linseed Oil or Paraffin and Turpentine.

I'm getting way into this (sorry) but you could also find an old Green Coleman cooler and tow it on a trailer to spite the cowboys.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Working in a bike shop—It's all about attitude

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed below are from a frustrated UK shop owner with an attitude and in no way reflect North Road Bicycle Imports's attitude. Should we arrive early for critical work and find someone tapping their foot, we will continue past the shop and proceed to go for coffee, adding about fifteen miles to our morning constitutional — as many physicians of high standing caution that hurrying is not to be encouraged in our line of work.

Besides, a proper cyclist should be equipped, practiced and prepared to fix a puncture — otherwise it only encourages one to develop these problems. My father always felt that walking long distances while pushing a bicycle was a great teacher for anyone who forgot the Scout Motto: "Be Prepared."

Originally published on the web site of the North Road Bicycling Club


SO YOU THINK IT'S EASY WORKING IN A BIKE SHOP?

From the editor of the Corinium CC Newsletter (Previously published in the North Road Gazette Jan 2003)

You wake up in the morning, open up the curtains and the sun is shining which bodes well for the commute to work — of course undertaken by bike.

You arrive at work at 8.30am ready to get the shop open for 8.45am, but as you turn the corner, so you see the first customer of the day already stood outside, tapping his feet and looking at his watch impatiently. As you pull up, without him even saying good morning, he demands "I need my puncture fixed in a hurry, I'm on my way to work".

You open the shop up, go inside and put his bike up onto the workstand — all the while he's looking at his watch, tutting and murmuring something about being late. You then of course discover the wheel nuts are rounded off. Anyway, you eventually get the job done, then when you tell him the price he moans about how expensive it is but finally pays up and without so much as a thank you leaves the shop still tutting and murmuring under his breath.

The shop can then be opened up properly and your next customer comes in — another puncture — and it's the dreaded rear wheel on a three speed shopper bike! Of course the lady has just ridden through a message that a dog has left on a grass verge, so you don rubber gloves and face mask ready to dive in. Being a three-speed wheel it has a steel rim which — as everyone who has ever tried to remove a tyre from one of these rims would know — is near to impossible. Two snapped tyre levers and two lots of skin removed from knuckles later, the lady pays up and leaves the shop, satisfied as you drip blood all over the counter.

The shop goes quiet for a while but then in come two deliveries — as always you can guarantee there is something missing and it takes you half an hour to convince the supplier that the bits were not in the box and you're not trying to con parts out of him.

Then suddenly he arrives! Mr. Roadie! In his brand new Cofidis gear thinking he's David Millar. He'll start to talk to you about the merits of 9-speed Shimano Dura-Ace over 10-speed Campag Record. This banter will go on for 20 minutes before you discover that all he actually wants is a spoke key, which you have priced 1.50. He then mentions something about spotting it 1.40 in 'The Comic' (real roadies always refer to Cycling Weekly as 'The Comic'!) and can you match the price? Finally he waddles out in his Look cleats.

The next person that comes in is quite normal looking in jeans and t-shirt, but you know you're on to a loser when he starts to ask if you have Shimano part number 84A 5179. You reply with a blank stare and the question "what might that be sir?"

To which he answers, "It's the return spring for a 1995 left-hand RSX lever", as if you should have known? When you tell him that you haven't got this part in stock but you can order it from Shimano he says "I thought you were a proper bike shop and carried spares". He then asks the price and when you tell him it's 50p he says he's got to think about whether he can afford the expenditure.

Anyway, it's now getting onto time for a tea break and you can absolutely guarantee that as soon as you take a bite out of your buttie either somebody will come in or the phone will ring.

You plod on through the day until about 3.30pm when it's the dreaded going home from school time and the shop fills up with kids with no money and big ideas. You have to watch them like a hawk, for the very second you look away all of your accessories can be emptied into their school bag and they'll be out of the door.

It's getting close to closing the shop now, it's 5.30 pm and you want to go home. The shutters are down, the lights are off and bingo! — somebody pulls into the car park. When you tell them you're closed, they reply "but I need a waterproof jacket tonight", and never wanting to turn down a sale you agree reluctantly to open up. You spend the next hour-and-a-half talking about the difference between Gortex and Pertex and them trying on every jacket a least three times. Then after the hour-and-half they turn round and say "OK, I'll think about it — sorry, have I kept you open?" You'd love to punch them in the mouth, but you grit your teeth, smile politely and bid them farewell closing the door at last.

So you still want to work in a bike shop?

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Pashley Movie!


Pashley bicycles are the "genuine article"—quality bicycles hand-built in England. This video discusses how the Pashley fights the tide pulling toward modern mediocrity and thrives delivering the kinds of bikes that people really want while keeping highly-skilled manufacturing traditions and jobs alive and at home and the resulting social impact on the surrounding community. Includes brief interviews with Adrian Williams, Dave Cook, Clive Morton and Dave Moldstock.

[ Full Screen ]

About Us

North Road Bicycle Imports is a treat to visit. High in the A. H. Motz building overlooking Courthouse Square (off North Road), visitors to the shop are greeted by a lively macaw ("Mikey") and an energetic Border Collie ("Moo"). North Road Bicycle Imports sells a variety of dealer brand used bikes.

The shop specializes in new Pashley bikes from England and is also the U.S. importer for the Alex Moulton Co. (also in England). Moulton, an 85-year-old British engineer, is famous for his uniquely designed bicycles that separate for traveling. Not cheap, these engineering works of art start at USD $1,300.

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville NC 27379
[Map]

Caswell County: (919) 828-8999.

Note to stalkers & arch-enemies: The street-savvy assassin knows the value of familiarizing oneself with the battle-ground. To this end, we provide this handy slideshow of our premises!

I'm the Ice Cream Man, honey, I'll be Good to You.

"Ice-cream is exquisite—what a pity it isn't illegal."
—Voltaire

Pashley 33
A fine machine (click the image for specs),
but there ARE alternatives…

The April 2006 article "Wheels of desire: the return of the Pashley" (published in The Independent) notes:

"Pashley is making serious headway in London with its work-bikes. The sandwich chain Pret-a-Manger uses Pashleys to courier its lunchtime orders around the city, and Green & Blacks uses the fridge-loaded, ice-cream vending trike to keep its organic chocolate cool. Domino's Pizza, a recent convert to Pashley, was, perhaps, a little hasty in choosing red for the colour of their work-bikes; the police came knocking at their headquarters, convinced they had stolen the bicycles from the Royal Mail."

The specs indicate a load capacity of 200kg—that's nearly a quarter-ton! (31 stone.) But, as the most reputable Pashley dealer in Caswell County, we at North Road Bicycle Imports are compelled to note, in the interest of full disclosure, that the "33" (lovely bike though it is) is NOT your only choice when it comes to delivering those frozen confections that the youngsters adore:


fridge on bicycle
(Sorry, not in stock.)

"I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
Oh my my, I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy."

—V. Halen
fridge on bicycle
(A customer-pick-up-only item)

More on the "Domino's" deal here.

Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Imports
P.O. Box 840
166 Courthouse Square
Yanceyville, NC 27379
USA
toll free: 800-321-5511
local: 919-828-8999
e-mail: cyclestore@aol.com