Ahh Youth

Peter sent this picture from 98. That was a long time ago. What a blast from the past, skinny, short hair, shocks, and gears too! Thanks Peter.

Wheel Building

Building a bicycle wheel is truly therapeutic. It starts with only a hub, a rim, and a big handful of spokes and nipples. The finished product is a work of art. It's also a form of healing, wholeness, strength, and fullness. Round, symmetrical, and rhythmic, it comes full circle. Right two and in, right two and in, left five, over under and in, left five, over under and in. Groups of 4, repeat the pattern, eight more groups of four to go, three-cross, 36 hole, and your done. The circle is complete. Strength in numbers. A hoop under tension.

Weaving spokes, hub, rim
Symmetry, form, and function
An endless circle

A Spring haiku

Almost overnight
the grass turned a bright green
after the soft rain

Updates

OK readers, hang in there while I update the site. I'm trying to bury the details about each bicycle I have in stock and links to the manufacturers' sites deeper in my site. Because I have a blog and not a web-site, it is not so easy. I have been told I need to keep people on my site rather than sending them away. So, like I said, hang in there.

Today is my day off. So, I have to go to work and catch up on some repairs and builds. I may even get to the dishes and laundry later today. ...nah.

Again, thanks everyone for all the support!

Shop News

New Redline bicycles will be here later this week. Biria bicycles will arrive early next week. Build, build, build.

The shop will be closed from April 3 until April 9. I am going home to Florida for Easter to see my sisters and extended family.

A Long Day

It was that and more. The maroon Biria in the photo of the shop now belongs to Michelle. I know she will enjoy it. On Monday I will order more of the Biria Touring City 8-speeds. These really are great bikes. I also sold a late 80's Motobecane road bike. It gets bar tape and a go-over and should go out the door in the morning. I want to say thank you to everyone who has bought a bike, had repairs done, or just dropped by to say hello and give such nice compliments on the shop. My goal is to continue to give you all the best service I can. Goodnight.

Humans on my right
I roll behind the Deer Fence
Mountains on my left

Black Elk spoke about
Hang-Around-The-Fort-People
Waiting for hand outs

A hundred wild elk
Eating hay behind the fence
Brings tears to my face

Why the tall Deer Fence?
With countless bones at its base
To save apples, shrubs?

Take the Deer Fence down
Let mountains and humans blend
Leave only a trail

Spring at Last?

Chickadees singing
Songs from every compass point
Snow melting quickly

Another Great Day

Four bicycles went out the door today! Scott took home a late 70's Japanese Schwinn (lugged frame, nice) as is. I will put a new chain and freewheel on it and turn it into a single speed at a later date. With new wheels and Tektro 521's this will be one sweet bicycle. For now, if it ain't broke, don't fix it? Keith bought a new Sun Comfort Sport Select. Ronald bought a Sun Retro Alloy 3-speed for his spouse and the last Cadillac! He got the "deal" on the Caddy, cost plus shipping. Thank you Ronald and Keith. Cash flow means I can pay some debt.

I'm Open

The Fire Marshall (his name was not Bill) says I am good to go. So, I am officially open. Today was a great first day. Three people came by looking for used bikes. I don't have very many ready to go but I'll be working on some soon. Lisa McKinnon came by and bought lights and helmets today, and a repair or two came in. I'm going to be real busy.

I've Received a Sign

I've always heard that "a business with no sign is a sign of no business." Well, now I have one. A Superior Sign, too. Thank you Dave Barber. If you ever need a sign, call Dave, 753-8702. The City building inspector came by and said things look good. He noted that my building was a real mess and that I've made a few improvements. The fire inspector is scheduled to come by today, and then I will be official. I will be building bikes, ordering bikes, and hopefully doing a lot of repairs and spring tune ups. So, come on in.

From Basement to Beautiful

Here is a picture of Clark's restored ride, a 53 Corvette. Last summer this bike was sitting in my basement collecting dust. Nice work Clark.

I know I've said this before, but I really mean it this time. The new shop will be open by the end of this week.

So Close

The flooring is down. The baseboards are up. Thank you John Bennett and Mike Fellows and others form the Hillcrest Second Ward. I have such great neighbors. Caulk and putty have been applied. The first of several layers of plastic wood is down near the doors where gaps are still exposed. The light covers and the bathroom door are back up. Paint has been scraped from most of the surfaces. Gas and electricity have been transferred to my name and large deposits have been paid. Paul and Seth helped me work tonight from 7 to 11. That's another 9 hours of work. What is the total now?

So close. However, there is still so much to do. The baseboards need a few nails set and will get a little more caulk in the morning, and then painted on Friday by Paul. The windows and the bathroom need some serious cleaning. I need switch and electrical plates in many places. I also need to buy backer rod (don't ask me what backer rod is, I have no clue) and furring strips. I don't know what those look like either. I need to put up my tool board and another section of wall board. The wall board will require anchors and a masonry bit to set them. There are still spots of old paint and additional pieces of vinyl on the old flooring. I will get them up and then get all the floors mopped. Sweep, scrape, clean, and mop. The plastic wood needs some coloring applied to match the wood flooring. I'm not sure about that step at all.

Then? Then I may be able to begin putting bikes on leaning racks and accessories on the display walls. I can even begin building some bikes already in stock. My building inspection is scheduled for next Thursday. I will try and schedule a Fire Marshall inspection for the same day. I'll be official. Officially in deep debt. This is so exciting.

Rent is due tomorrow. I need to order some bikes. I will order the Redline bikes first. Then the Kogswell P/Rs, and a few Birias. Then, perhaps On One. Where will I get the money? Great question. My budget is shot. My cash flow is glaciated.

It's almost midnight. I should go to bed. Or, I could do laundry and dishes. Manic? Me? Does anyone remember my first post?

Craftsmanship

An unsquare building
Makes for some ugly baseboards
I will need more caulk

I've been busy

Really, I have been busy. And, the computer has been down for a couple of weeks. The shop is very close to being ready. I should be open by the end of the week. Painting has been a slow and expensive ordeal. The walls were in bad shape with layers of vinyl stickers, wall paper, and latex and oil based paints. Hundreds of pounds of joint compound have been put on the walls. Bottom line: Paul Stewart is a hero. Stay tuned.

An Update for Lynn (and the other two or three people reading this)

The lease is signed and dated. The new address was sent to Phone Directories and to the State of Utah. As soon as the landlord removes his junk, I will get started on repairs and moving my junk (used bikes and parts) into the basement. The list of things to do is quite long. I need a City license, signs, paint, tile, flooring, slat wall and hooks, lettering removed from the windows, lots of cleaning, liability insurance, completed new vendor applications, a digital camera to take pictures of the shop to prove I am a shop to said vendors, and lots of new bicycles. The things that require money will take a while. If all goes well I should be open with existing inventory, ready to do repairs in two or three weeks. I sound stressed out but I am pretty excited. Perhaps that is why I am posting at 12:40 AM.

I will be live at Cafe Ibis this Sunday, February 4, for late brunch, 12:30 - 2:30. I will have a few new songs (Sun Kil Moon, and a short set of "protest songs") as well as the usual Texas singer-songwriter covers (yes, an extended Robert Earl Keen set). I may even do some kid music. Please come and listen. Please buy food and coffee.

So Much For That Idea

Gees, Louise! Recycled (and new) Bicycles will not be opening at 55 W Center. It turns out that another tenant has an option to lease more space behind Great Harvest. The short story is, I am out. Quick, call Dex and tell them to forget about the address change I changed last week. Call Lowes and cancel that order for slat wall. What a pain in the anus.

I am looking again for a space. Small spots with reasonable rents are not easy to find in downtown Logan, Utah. I went yesterday to look at 170 E Center. It is not perfect by any means, but I may be able to make it work. If I want to re-open soon, I do not have a lot of choices. I am down, but not out. And now, a haiku for all the Preparation H users and women who have birthed several children:

It's like a plump grape
burning, itching, and swollen
blocking my rectum.

Shop News

I am gearing up to re-open soon. It looks like the spot behind Great Harvest is a go. I do not have a lease yet, but I hope to soon. Right now the time frame looks to be early to late February. I will be working on licenses and shop set up in the coming days. I am also working on getting in bicycles by Redline, On One, and Planet X.

With the cold weather, I have not done any long rides, just the normal commuting. The air outside is not healthy. It looks like basketball again today. I love basketball.

Biria Touring City Bicycles

I have one 17" blue Biria TC3 with lights and one 17" maroon Biria TC8 without lights still in stock. Full fenders are perfect for melting snow. Big 700c wheels make these bicycles perfect commuters. Call me for a test ride.

Shop News

I am getting closer to finding a shop location. It looks like the spot behind Great Harvest may work out. Stay tuned.