Bike Show at The Dudley Flea Market

Give Thanks for Bikes Show

Sunday November 20th

7AM until its over

Large indoor bike show with all kinds of bikes and parts

 Free Admission

$25 for display space

At the Dudley Flea Market

10 West Main St, Dudley, Massachusetts 

For more info call 800-336-2453

For Directions Click here

The Dirty Dozen Hill Climb Race

Saturday November 5th 

9:30 AM

Cycling Concepts 

2343 Main Street

Glastonbury, CT

Dirty Dozen Link

Tom Danielson Ride Wrap Up

We lucked out with some nice weather, the temperature was in the low to mid 60s. It was windy but hey you can't have everything. We waited at the East Lyme high school for the arrival of Tom so the ride could begin, he was a wee bit late.

A small portion of the rides participants waiting for the ride to start

He finally arrived in a limo with a police escort

Tom, his wife Stephanie and son Steven

Tom was greeted by his childhood neighbor before the ride. Photo taken by Abigail Pheiffer/The Day

Tom talks to Grace Vandal from Mystic, CT. while waiting for the ride to start.  Photo taken by Abigail Pheiffer/The Day

Approximately 270 riders started the ride leaving the high school in a giant peleton. We had a police escort which blocked off the busy intersection at Flanders four corners. Tom Danielson and all the locals who have ridden on the Post road, including myself were excited to have the whole road to ourselves. Naturally as the ride progressed the peleton thinned out. By Mile Creek Rd I found myself riding in a group of 3, I never said I was fast.

The ride split at Ashlawn Farm. Those riding the 25 mile route went to the left down Town Woods Rd., those riding the 50 mile route continued on Bill Hill Rd, past Ashlawn Farm just to the right of this picture.

The farmer's market was going strong at Ashlawn Farm

Tom at the presentation in the auditorium where he 
once watched others as a high school student

At 4:00 PM there was a presentation given in the high school auditorium. The presentation consisted of a short video about Tom Danielson's career, then Tom talked for a bit, followed by a Q&A session and ending with autographs and pictures.
 During the presentation he spoke about his 9th place finish in this years Tour de France, his first time ever riding in the TDF. He told us how the roads are really narrow and bumpy in France, and the roads we cycled on today were much better than most of the roads on the TDF. He was asked about the impact of the cheering fan's along the roads in the mountains. He confirmed that they sometimes did pose a danger to the riders but mostly they encouraged you to go as hard as you can. It was the first time his ears ever hurt from the cheering. He is stoked to get to the TDF this year and try to improve on his 9th place finish.

Vista Tour de Shore

              Leaving from Westbrook Center, Westbrook, Connecticut 

               Registration: 8:00 AM

               Start times:  8:30 AM - 60 mile ride

                                 9:30 AM - 40 mile ride

                                 10:00 AM  - 25 mile ride 

                                 11:00 AM - 1 mile fun ride

                For more information click this link: vistatourdecure.com

Tom Danielson Charity Ride

Ride 25 or 50 miles with the 2011 Tour de France 9th place finisher. 

Saturday October 15th

Benefits Connecticut Chapter of the American Heart Association

 

Ride starts at East Lyme High School, East Lyme, Connecticut
Sign in starts at 8:00 AM, ride leaves at 9:15

Click here to get route cue sheet

Click here for registration information 

Ladies' Nights

October 12th and 13th Cycling Concepts in Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, CT our hosting a group ride for ladies from 4-6PM, and at 6:30-8:30PM a basic bike maintenance and skills clinic. For more details go to the link below.

http://cyclingconcepts.com/

Trikes To Bikes

October 9th at Niantic Bay Bicycles 

                                     http://www.childrensmuseumsect.org/trikestobikes2011.html

Tom Danielson Event

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Tom Danielson charity ride to benefit the Connecticut American Heart Association
Ride 25 or 50 miles with the 9th place finisher of the 2011 Tour de France.
Ride starts at East Lyme High School.
Check in at 8:00 AM. The ride leaves at 9:30 AM
2:00 PM meet, greet and get an autograph
Registration Fee $25
To register go to Wayfayerbike.com

Two Ferry Ride Update

Sunday, September 18th
Sponsored by Cycling Concepts. They won't be riding the ferries but the ride is still on with new routes, fully supported, cookout afterwards.

100 Mile Route Details



64 Mile Route Details



37 Mile Route Details



For more details go to Cycling Concepts

Bicycles by the Sea, Follow Up

Yesterday a went to the bike show at Mystic Seaport. It was a small show with only about 5-6 vendors, a bit of a disappointment considering the price of general admission to the Seaport. In terms of value, it was too expensive if you only wanted to look at bikes. If you have never been to the Mystic Seaport and you like bikes as well as early American history, ships and a beautiful setting, then it was worth it, monetarily speaking. Let me apologize in advance for the lack of specifics about each bike, I forgot to bring a notepad so details are to the best of my recall. Also it was sometimes difficult to photograph the bikes because they were often displayed in less than optimal conditions. No studio quality pics here.

Both of these bicycles featured wooden rims, their age and make is unknown. 

Here is a closer look at the wooden handle bars. The saddle on the other bike in the background had Birmingham engraved in the leather, note the small cut out that was later used by Brooks in the late 1800's.

Not much leather left on the saddle. Note the seat stays are fastened to the frame via the seat post clamp, I saw this design on other bikes from the late 1800's. Although the pneumatic tire was invented in 1888 by John Dunlap, I seriously doubt the tires on these bikes are original due to the tread pattern and lack of dry rot. 

A 90's Japanese track bike, Nagasawa fixie. I love the pealized color. The seat is fondly referred to as a hatchet.

This is a training stem which allows easy adjustment for various riders.

sweet lug detail

This late 1800's Columbia single speed tandem was one of my favorites. It features a loop frame in the front and diamond in the rear. Presumably a woman was supposed to ride in the front and a man in the back. Some other particulars to note are the wooden rims, and the crank design which made it easier for 

 the woman to pedal while the man pushed a higher gear.

Here again is the same integrated seat post bolt and seat stays.

The rod brake up front is the only brake for the entire bike! The design is about as simple as it gets. If you look closely you will note a curved metal bar attached to the left side of the fork running down to the the second head tube just beyond the cranks. This allows the steering to be controlled by both riders.

This bike was made by Westfield Manufacturing (Columbia) in the late 1800's. It had a rear suspension and the same integrated seat post bolt - seat stay attachment as seen in some of the previous bikes. 

 The T seat post seams to have been a common design for this era.

  Westfield Manufacturing headbadge

I don't know what the syracuse on the headbadge is all about. If anyone has any ideas I would love to here them.

Circa 1930's Western Flyer (single speed, balloon tires)

Circa 1930 AFC tricycle (refurbished)

The Pedersen bicycle was designed by Mikael Pedersen circa 1984 after a suspension bridge. This bicycle was made by Copenhagen Pedersen who began reproducing the Pedersen in 1978 with modern components.

The saddle is one of the most out standing features of the Pedersen. As can be seen in the photo above it is suspended by a strap like a hammock and indeed like a hammock there isn't anything beneath the saddle in terms of support. Unfortunately for me the bike was too large for me to ride, but the vendor held the bike so I could sit on the saddle. It was like sitting on a sling with the leather sides bending to sides of my inner thighs. The ride was described to me as being light and providing a feeling of floating. I really would of liked to have ridden it to see for myself. To see and read more history and pictures about the Pedersen click here.

Picture of a Copenhagen Pedersen in action.

The weather was perfect and I enjoyed talking with the various vendors. Below are couple of non-bike related pics I snapped of the Seaport.

Cycling Concepts Two Ferry Metric Century

Two Ferry Metric Century:

Bicycles by the Sea

Bike show and swap at Mystic Seaport

Calling all bike enthusiasts, a bicycle show is coming to Mystic Seaport. This traveling bike show has been around for more than 20 years and  stops in Pennsylvania and all over New England. Hundreds of bikes will be on display, Vintage high wheels, road bikes,bmx and more. Enjoy talking to bike owners and fellow enthusiasts as well as watching demonstrations of both new and old bicycles. Visit with the vendors who may be selling that hard to find part you are looking for.

Swap spaces are 35.00. This entitles the vendor to a vendor space and 1 free admission pass (2) people admitted for free. Admission for the general public is 24.00. This includes the entire day to enjoy and tour the entire Seaport museum and the bicycle show.

Please contact Joe Rapoza for more information
Spaces are limited so please reserve your space.

Email: jrapoza@earthlink dot net