Boxes on the Back Porch...

means BIKE PARTS!

Just got home from a week on the road to several boxes waiting for me. This is a good thing. Hubs are here for the Raleigh Record build. New Brooks Flyer for my expedition bike build/tour bike. The hubs I ended up ordering are Sturmey Archer. Ordered an X-RD5 for the rear and an XL-FDD for the front. I would have liked to have the 90mm drum for the rear, but apparently they aren't available state side at this point.

More parts have been ordered and will be trickling in over the next few weeks. Hopefully a complete bike or two will be coming out of the shop in a few weeks.

Pictures...forthcoming.

Aaron

Almost There!

From Redline R530

My Dutch inspired bicycle is almost done! I got my Basil Karvan II panniers installed, along with a Esge double legged kickstand. Thanks to Portlandize and Rat Trap Press for their input.

Just a few more goodies and I will declare the bike done. I want a different set of pedals the touring pedals from Velo-Orange look like what I want, then most likely a set of Power Grips. Still toying with the idea of getting a different tail light that is generator powered with the stand light, current tail light and PB Super Flash are doing just fine so I may pass on that for the time being. I am also toying with the idea of a set of cork hand grips, but that is more of an aesthetics thing.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

Aaron

Learn a New Language?

Buy a bicycle that isn't sold in the US and have to translate a German website.

Bought this bike off the used bike rack at my LBS . Someone apparently had brought it from Germany and traded it in on a new bike. It is a Staiger Florida. I find it interesting that Staiger would choose to name it's entire line of bikes using names from North America...undoubtedly one of the least cycle transportation oriented countries in the world.

The Florida was from their Trekking line, and comes well equipped, with fenders, generator hub, B&M lights, chain guard and bell (typical in the countries it is sold in, but not in the US). I bought it with the original intent of stripping the components for use on a different bike, but got to riding it around and decided to keep if for a beater/grocery getter bike.

The only items I have added to it have been: the Wald folding rear baskets and the Euro style Wald front basket I also swapped out the suspension seat post for a slightly longer non suspension one. The bike came with a plastic/lexan chain guard, but it broke at the mounting points and has not be repaired/replaced yet.

This bike, with it's 27 speed Shimano drive train, shies away from my normal IGH bikes but has been well worth the $175 that I paid for it. As best I can determine it is a 2002-3 model, and apparently sold originally for ~$650usd

Aaron