The Bevington Bicycle Book

Me and the illustrious author, Mr. William Bevington, after he signed my copy.

 

 

Well, what a contribution Japanese Steel is going to make to my bicycle book collection.  It is chock full of meaningful information in regard to the history of the bicycle in this country (USA).  Not only is it meaningful, and important info, it is delivered in a masterful manner. It is a pertinent piece of bicycle lore that will only become more interesting as time goes by. 

Now he didn't create this book on his own.  Another fellow Fuji aficionado contributed greatly to this project with his photographic prowess.  Scott Ryder expertly captured the essence of each bicycle carefully placing the bicycle frames into the picture frames.  

I am privileged to have met both of these gentlemen and am thoroughly impressed by their creativity in bringing this book project to life.    

Could There be a Fuji in YOUR Future?

I love these old Fuji ads.  Usually I just feel manipulated by advertising.  For instance, I recently stayed in a hotel having booked just one night.  Right away I started receiving pop up ads on screen with the slogan, "One night is NEVER enough."  What is that!?  That is so blatant, and it just turns me off completely.  I'm already giving you money, and you just keep asking for more, more, more!

But read this ad.  It is not about money, in fact, they go in the opposite direction (sort of).  I mean, yes, Fuji wanted your money.  However, they were cooler, classier, about how they went about trying to get it from you.  You can tell from the first sentence they knew who their audience was.  The language is not manipulative sounding at all.  It sounds sincere, direct. This ad is full of confident words floating on a boat of integrity.  They're your friend, the business insider, helping you out.

And they knew the business.  They had it down pat.  By the time this ad was printed (1980?), I think they had probably been importing bicycles into the USA for at least 7 or 8 years.  This was near the end of the bicycle boom in this country, which had begun about the same time Fuji began importing their bicycles (1971?).  People here were into bikes in a big way for many different reasons.  Fuji could offer high quality at an affordable price that their competitors couldn't match.  In many ways, Fuji's quality even surpassed their competitors' as well.  This was a bicycle that couldn't be beat.  Their ads seem to tell the truth.

And so it remains today I think, for these old Fujis.  Many people bought them.  Some rode them like crazy.  Some are still riding that first Fuji.  Some are looking for that first Fuji they used to have.  And some just never got that attached, never really rode, and garaged that first Fuji.  They are being put up for sale, after all these years. 

That means that you still have a chance to experience the "remarkable handling ease and versatility" of a classic Fuji bicycle.  Being someone who has ridden quite a few different models of these vintage Fujis, I think you can believe them when they used to write in their catalogs, "Fuji starts with the top of the line in each use category and uses these top-performance characteristics to arrive at the lower-priced bikes.  The result is that a mid-priced bike from many manufacturers retains some of the 'feel' of their bottom-line bike, whereas a mid-price Fuji tends to retain the 'feel' of the top-line Fuji.  And, a Fuji never has a feature which is just there for show, or to make a model seem to be something it is not."

So if you're looking for a quality used bicycle, go find a vintage Fuji.  In my experience, I can attest to what they said in this ad, "We predict it will reward you with greater pleasure than any bicycle has before." 

Close Encounters of the Fuji Kind

I just realized that I have never posted about a crazy Fuji encounter I had in the fall of 2012.

On a beautiful sunny day I rode a Bikes at Work trailer back to my friend's house from whom I had borrowed it.  The trailer was empty, and even though it was quite a distance (at least 20 miles I think), it was an easy pull.  Being empty, it also kept my reflective "FUJI CAZY" license plate in full view.  It is thanks to that license plate that I can even tell this story.

I was riding along Susquehanna Avenue, minding my own business (in the bike lane), when suddenly a car pulled over in front of me.  It was obvious the driver had something to say.  So, I slowed down, and prepared my defenses as my imagination began producing all sorts of scenarios.

He exited the driver's side door with a beaming smile.  Thankfully there was nothing to defend.  He immediately asked, "Why are you so Fuji Crazy?"  I couldn't believe it.  I was astounded, but its a pretty simple answer, so I matter of factly replied, "because I could find these older bikes inexpensively but they are a good, quality bike."  The conversation didn't really get much beyond that, but he took a quick pic, and gave me his card.

As he drove away with a friendly wave, I read his card... "president of Advanced Sports Intl."  which is the company that owns Fuji!

Turns out he knew my friend too.  It really is a small world after all.

Bud Light Salutes, Real American Drivers: Here's to You Mr. Head-Shaker of Disdain Driver

Today we salute you Mr. Head-Shaker of Disdain Driver.  

Its obvious you really know your stuff.
(You really know your stuu-uuuff.)
If you see a cyclist trying to "share the road,"
You're NOT going to like it, and everyone else is going to know it.
Nobody on the road is immune to your watchful eye.
Especially if they're not in a car.
(Get a car you idiot!)
But you don't revert to yelling or cussing.
Mr. Head-Shaker of Disdain Driver is too civilized for that.
(You're so civ-il-iiized.)
You just think those words, silently, in your head,
as you shake it back and forth at your victim.
(Thinking and shaking.)

Ride of Silence 2013

Here in Trappe/Collegeville, Pa, we're riding our 4th Ride of Silence.  You can see video of our ride 2 years ago on a previous post.

This year we are going to stay solely on Main Street between the two boroughs of Trappe and Collegeville.  We'll do about 3 loops up and down Main Street, with turnaround points in the parking lot of Congressman Gerlach's office in Trappe, and the other at the new kiosk in Collegeville at 3rd and Main.

The event is free, and please wear a helmet.  I'm not sure if we'll have any traffic control help or not. We will ride single file, and follow the rules of the road.  We will stop at the stoplights if they are red.  It will be okay if we are not as a complete group all the time.  With the ride occuring only on a mile or two of Main Street, we will be noticed.  PrintCopy in Trappe is making two banners that a couple of us can attach to our bikes to help others recognize what we are doing.  The ride begins at 7pm, but please be there by 6:30 for preparations (poem reading, application of arm bands, etc...).

You Can't Blame the Bike: A Road Bully is going to be a Road Bully

I was driving our car last Sunday on Main Street.  There was nothing unusual about how I was driving.  I was going the speed limit, staying in my lane, watching for others around me.  I prepared to make a right turn into a parking lot drive way, slowed down, maintained my line, put my blinker on in advance.  However, the driver behind me remained right on my tail as I did these normal (in fact required) things.  Not only that, but he crossed over into the other lane of traffic to pass me at the moment I turned, garnering a honk from the passing car!  Neither of us could believe his behavior I'm sure.  I couldn't restrain myself, I honked too.  As he passed, he was waving his hand up at me.  I don't think I saw the classic middle finger, but I wonder what kind of expletive he was speaking in hopes that I could read his lips.

I'm commenting on this because I was not on my bike.  I want to say that I usually only experience this type of driving behavior when that is the case, however, on further thought about it, I realized that I do in fact experience just as much driver hostility on our Main Street when I'm NOT on my bike!

What does this mean?  It means you can't tell me that I'm 'asking for it' when I'm out there on my bike because it happens even when I'm out there in my car.  The bike really has nothing to do with how others treat me on the road.

It is simply the ATTITUDE of other drivers toward my presence, my very existence, that puts me at risk most.  I am in the way, slowing them down.  In their mind, I don't have a right to be there (even in my car if I have to slow down to turn), and they want me to know how they feel.  So they put me and others at risk by using their car to be 'pushy.'

 Why are Road Bullies so mean?  Where does their impatience come from?  Why can't they just slow down and wait?  Why don't they realize the danger they put others in when they let their bad attitude control the way they drive?

There is no excuse for that kind of driving behavior, and the responsibility lies solely on the driver.  I truly hope my road encounters never get more intense than what I experienced the other day.

My Left (Crank) Arm

What are you supposed to do when you are left with just a left crank arm!?  Well, I acutally have the right one too, but I'm not going to be using this particular crank anymore (at least for pedaling a bicycle).  But I've seen people trying to sell just one crank arm on Craigslist and Ebay, and I think that is ridiculous.... UNLESS.... you need a small towel rack!

My wife asked me to put a towel rack near our sink so guests can have a towel they would be comfortable using.  I have one, but it is too long for where the wall studs are.  I didn't want to go buy one.  So, down to the basement I went to admire my old unused bike parts, and see if I could come up with something from them.

It didn't take long for me to put this together in my mind.  I immediately envisioned the crank arm serving as the towel rack.  But then I needed to space it out from the wall to make it easier to drape over the towel.  A fixed side bottom bracket cup served the purpose perfectly.  The outer flat side sits against the wall, and the inside threaded cup part sits snugly on the back of the crank arm.  I realized I could simply nail it to the wall, through to the stud of course, but I needed a washer for the nail head to push against.  The crank bolt cover itself is a natural choice and does the job perfectly as well!  Be sure that it is metal though, not plastic.

A side thought.... a variation or easy addition for extra hanging space could be to add a pedal (where it belongs anyway) or even just the spindle of a pedal.  Just remember that the threads are left handed, so lefty tighty, righty loosy.

So voila!  A shiny towel rack!  I don't have the verdict yet from my wife on this though, and I cannot promise you that you'll be able to get away with this in your house.  Hopefully I can though!  Of course it makes it extra special since this particular crank arm says 'FUJI' on it.  :)  Now everyone who dries their hands in our bathroom will realize just how 'Fuji Crazy' I really am (if they haven't already).

Flexible Bodies: The Suntour Freewheels

 Suntour Freewheel body models (L to R both pics): 1. Winner Pro 2. Winner 3. Perfect 4. Pro Compe 5. New Winner

Back in the day, these bodies were HOT.  Oh yes.  And so it remains today.  There are plenty around who still lust after these beauties.  

Their beauty lies in their design.  In The Dancing Chain, Frank Berto says, "The 1983 SunTour New Winner was the most flexible freewheel system made.  One body handled 12- to 34- tooth sprockets, 5-,6-, or 7-speeds, and narrow or regular spacing.  There were 42 different sprocketes available."  The narrow spacing is called Ultra (6 or 7 speed).  This Ultra design allowed for a 6 speed freewheel on a 120mm hub where usually it would have to be 5 speed.  Also, it allowed for a 7 speed on a 126mm hub where it was usually a 6 speed.  

Berto also states in his book, "SunTour started the trend to narrower spacers, and narrower chains, which has led us to 10 sprocket freewheels."  Oh why oh why did Suntour have to die!?  They were also the company who invented the slant parallelogram design for rear derailleurs in 1964.  This design kept the chain equidistant to the cogs as the derailleur would move from larger to smaller sprockets, providing for more efficient, cleaner shifting.  They were a smaller, non-aggressive company, and once Shimano was able to use their designs after the patents expired, it was all downhill for them from there.  

But yes, today when you go buy a new bike, it most likely has at least 9 speeds in the back if not 10 or even 11.  For me though, I don't need that many, and I am completely content using the Suntour freewheel.  My Fuji Royale II is set up with an Ultra 7 speed Winner Pro freewheel in back (12-32) and a triple crank (48-38-28).  That is 21 speeds!  Do I really need more than that!?  

I had never heard of these freewheels before that fateful day in December of 2007 when I received my Fuji Opus III via Fed Ex from an Ebay purchase.  It came with a Suntour Winner Pro "straight block."  Straight block refers to the cog set up, and that there is only one tooth difference between each.  It was set up as an ultra 6 speed with 13-18 teeth (first gear was 13, second 14, 15, 16, 17, and sixth gear had 18 teeth).  I am not a racer though,  and that set up would kill me out on the road!  

Thankfully, I learned that these freewheels had a lot of versatility built into them, and I could change my gearing without spending alot of money.  At that time, a wonderful community bike shop was available to me (Charlottesville Community Bikes), and I was able to find other Suntour freewheels at no or minimal cost.  At that time too, I was able to find some affordable ones on ebay.  Since then it seems, they are becoming more collectible and harder to find at lower prices.  Since the cogs were interchangeable with the bodies, I have been able to set up a freewheel with lower gearing so that I can handle the changing terrain of the road better (i.e. I can ride up the hills easier).  

Over time I have acquired the Suntour freewheel vise tool, the 2 and 4 pronged removal tools and the chain whip so that I can take them apart and mix and match all I want.  I have to say I have quite enjoyed doing this!  I have become very nerdy in how I draw up my gear charts to compare all the different possibilites before I make a final decision on all of my teeth counts for the rear cogs and the front chainrings.  And even though I just mentioned that it seems harder to find them affordably, it is still possible to come across some of these freewheels for free or very low cost.  You just have to keep your eyes peeled.

Two of the best web resources for these wonderful freewheels are:

1. Sheldon Brown's site (of course)...

2. Yellow Jersey (Madison, Wi) If you are using the winner or winner pro freewheels, and think you'll get into taking them apart and putting them back together, be sure to get the very inexpensive tech manual ($3.95) from Yellow Jersey.  It is well worth it.

Fuji on the Farm : Becoming a Human Ant

Since last September, I've had a 30 foot long Eastern White Pine log laying in the side of my yard.  I had it taken down because I learned that a few years ago, another one next to it had fallen on this house we just bought.  I didn't want that to happen to us!  I decided to keep it and have it milled.  The milling finally happened last week.  I got all of the nicely milled boards set up properly in the backyard for air drying,  found a place for all of the sawdust to go, put the tarp back in the garage, but there were still a bunch of heavy, smaller logs to move.  I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to move them, until I realized I could use my bike!  Of course!  I still have a friend's Bikes at Work trailer on loan, so I hooked it up to my Fuji Bedford, and got to work hauling.  I simply heaved them onto the trailer, and pedaled them about 100 feet to the back of the yard, their final resting place (for now).  It was perfect.  I was able to move much more weight using the bike than I otherwise would have been able to handle.  And it was just plain fun, riding my bike around in the yard, hauling logs.

I Ride My Bike on Main Street

I Ride My Bike on Main Street

By: Matteo Favero (Collegeville Resident)

For the past two and a half years, I have been riding my bicycle up and down Main Street here in Collegeville and Trappe.  I do not do this just for the fun of it. Though I do enjoy it!  I do it to get to places in OUR hometown. 

Most of the time, I have my two young daughters in tow.  Maybe you’ve seen me on the yellow tandem.  My 5 year old rides in front (don’t worry, she doesn’t steer!).  My 3 year old is in the trailer.   We go mostly to places like Happy Days Pre-school, the Community Music School for lessons, Redner’s grocery or Sears down in Collegeville Shopping Center, church, the doctor’s office, Dunkin’ Donuts (their favorite!),  the Dance Depot for class, the park, the post office, haircuts, and on and on.

How do I get to all of those places on my bike, especially with two young children, you ask?  On the same roads that you use to get to those places!

·         Why don’t you ride on the sidewalk?  That would actually compromise my safety more!  Drivers do not expect to see another vehicle on the sidewalk, and could easily turn into me. 

·         Why not use the trail?  Well, because the trail does not go to where I usually need to go.

·         Why don’t you just drive?  Well, it’s so close, I’d like to get a bit of exercise, and I want to save a bit of gas.  Plus, it’s just plain FUN to ride the bike!

Isn’t it dangerous to be out there with all the cars?  It does seem to be in ways, but our perceptions are often in-accurate.  After over two years of riding up and down Main Street multiple times a week, I am still alive!  Yes, it is true.  I have not been hit by a car.  I’m not trying to say that it can’t happen, but maybe the idea of riding a bike on Main Street in our hometown isn’t as scary as you may imagine.  In my experience cars have been able to pass with ease, and I do NOT hug the curb.

·         I ride about one to two feet from the curb (or more at times) in the lane of traffic.  I do that to be more visible and increase my safety. 

·         I communicate my intentions to drivers with a bit of eye contact and a few succinct hand gestures.

 Most drivers have been friendly and accommodating. 

By the way, as a friendly, accommodating driver, if you stop for me on Main Street to allow me to turn left (for instance into Dairy Queen), and I don’t immediately turn in front of you, I don’t mean to be rude.  I do appreciate the gesture.

·         I may not turn too quickly because the driver behind you is often maneuvering to the right to pass you because you are slowing down.  If I were to make my turn without watching them, and waiting to see what they are going to do, I might get hurt.

·          If you see me waiting in the middle of the lane at the 113 intersection, it is not because I think I am God’s gift to the world.  It is to be sure that opposing left turning vehicles see me as I come into the intersection.  If they don’t, they could easily turn directly into me without realizing I am there; because I was not in their immediate line of vision. 

But people speed on Main Street!  Yes, they do, but it can still be safe and fun to ride your bike there.   I learned something interesting when I attended a Trappe council meeting, at which Gilmore and Associates were discussing the current plans for future Main Street design.  When determining certain infrastructure changes, PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation), took into account, first, the documented average speed of traffic, as opposed to taking into account, first, the actual posted speed limit.  They gave precedence to what people were actually doing as opposed to what the law states should be done.  The average speed recorded was about 10 miles over the posted speed limit (45MPH for Trappe).  In Trappe the posted speed limit is 35MPH and in Collegeville, it is 30MPH.

·         So, instead of making decisions that would help slow traffic down to the posted speed limits on Main Street, they were making decisions that would accommodate continued speeding on Main Street! 

 Did you know that bicycles were invented before the motor?  But it was pretty tough going on a bicycle (especially the old Penny Farthing high wheeler) on the roads of those early days.  So, one of the first organized bicycling clubs in our country, The League of American Wheelmen, began petitioning for paved roads to smooth out their ride. This was before 1900.  Roads were first paved for bikes!  Ever since, it has been, and remains perfectly legal and appropriate for bicycles to use our roads.

But please realize, I am a car driver too!  It is convenient to be able to get far fast, but that is our privilege, not our right.  It is my right (and yours) as a driver as well as a cyclist, to use the road.  As both, I (and you) are responsible for our own negligence in regards to the other person.

·         When I come upon a cyclist in my car, I simply slow down, assess the situation, and pass in a safe manner.  When it comes down to it, the time lost by slowing down for a cyclist is a matter of seconds, literally! 

I love riding my bicycle around Collegeville and Trappe!  So does my 5 year old.  When we’re leaving the house she often asks with a hopeful tone, “are we taking the bike!?”  When I say yes, she squeals joyfully, “yay!”  We feel the breeze on our faces, we get to see and hear the wildlife (squirrels, birds, BMX’ers), and we smell things like the tasty food being cooked on the grills of Trappe Tavern, or freshly baked donuts (from you know where).  We have a wonderful bike shop, Bikesport, right there on Main Street (behind Dairy Queen), who will gladly help if you get a flat.   So get your bike out of your garage or attic, and experience our town in a new way!    You don’t have to be afraid to ride on Main Street.  Besides, I could use some company! 

Suspend Shelves with Spokes!

The other day I decided that it would be helpful to have shelves in the girls' playroom.  However, I didn't want to spend any money on the project.  I had some planks in the garage that were left here when we moved into the house last summer.  I cut those in half, and painted them with the left over yellow paint we bought for our front door a couple of months ago.  Then I was wondering how to get them on the wall.  After a bit, I thought about the box of spokes I have in the basement left over from the wheels I've rebuilt.  I found some clear plastic pieces which had a right angle.  Each side had small holes, perfect for a screw and the spoke.  I had to make a washer though for the spoke to be sure the head would not be pulled through the hole with weight on the shelf.  To do that I found small round plastic pieces into which I nailed a small hole.  I drilled diagonal holes in the shelf, and secured the spokes with spoke nipples underneath.  The shelf is supported in the back with a narrow piece of wood that is screwed into the wall.

Voila!  There it is.  A spoke suspended shelf.  I didn't have to search for studs because these walls are plywood sheets which are 4' x 8' in size.  I just had to drill a small hole anywhere I wanted, then I could screw into it easily.  I had to measure the distance of each hole from the front and end of the shelf on each side to be sure they were equidistant.  I also had to measure the distance between the holes and match that distance on the wall for placement of the wall mounts.

Parts and Tools that I used:

spokes and their spoke nipples
plastic wall mounts
shelf
shelf back supporter (narrow piece of wood)
screws
tape measure
pencil
level
philips head screwdriver
drill

I think this project could be refined for shelving in other rooms.  For instance, depending on your skill and tools, the spoke nipples could be hidden within the shelf for a cleaner look.  If you have money to spend, you could get nicer wood for the shelf, and cleaner looking wall attachments for the head of the spoke.  Maybe the spoke could even be painted or stained somehow to match the decor of the room in which they would be installed.  If the shelf is for books, the spokes serve double duty as book ends too!

Stained Glass Bicycle Wheel #2

Last summer I took my Nono (Grandfather) another wheel.  It is a coveted 40 hole Ukai touring rim from the 80's.  I really wanted to be able to keep using it on my bicycle, but the sidewalls are pretty worn, and it really needed to be replaced.  Again, like the other gold Ukai, I didn't want to just trash it.

I didn't specify any design this time.  My Nono designed this one himself.  I really like how he did the solder circles, and I like the colors and shapes he made with the glass.

The other one is hanging in the kitchen window, and I'm not sure where to put this one yet.  I can interchange them, but I really want to have them both displayed at the same time.  Maybe I'll be able to come up with some kind of stand or mount for it.

Now that I have two stained glass bicycle wheels, I suppose I'll have to make a stained glass bicycle frame to go with it!

Night Rider

No, my bicycle isn't named Kitt, and it doesn't talk to me and drive itself.  I had to ride home in the dark tonight, about 12 miles.  First, let me be honest.  I'm not such a hard core cyclist that you might think I am.  I don't really enjoy riding in the dark.  I've heard that statistically most cyclists are hit by motor vehicles at night.  That scares me.  But at least I had a good companion during my whole ride home.  Can you guess what it might have been?

But there are steps we can take to try and lessen the chances of being in an accident.  I have reflective stickers on the back of my helmet.  I have reflective materialNathan Tri Color Vest (Google Affiliate Ad) on my jacket, including the arms so that it will reflect if I want to show that I'm making a turn.  I have a white lighT on my handle bars as well as on my helmet so I can see and be seen.  I have rear red lights, multiple ones which are very bright.  One will not suffice most likely, and some are not bright enough.  Then I have my Road ID little blinky light, which I put on my helmet, hanging next to my left ear.  I am happy to report that tonight drivers passed me giving me plenty of room.  They would slow down as they approached me, and take their time as they passed.  I was definitely seen.

There are otHer potential problems that I consider and try to prepare for as well.  Like dogs.  I hate dogs.  I mean, I'll pet them if I'm at a friends house, or see one in the neighborhood.  But when I'm on a bike, dogs will never be my friend.  I'm always on the lookout, and listening for the charge.  So I carry dog mace with me just in case there is an extra crazy one out there waiting for me.  The darkness would make a dog encountEr worse.  I don't want to be fumbling through a dark bag looking for the mace if I really needed it.

The fact that it is night time makes everything seem a little more trepidacious.  The air feels different, more threatening.  The trees look different, more scary.  The land is more Mysterious.  Strangers seem stranger. I guess another thing for me that adds to that trepidacious feeling is the fact that we are out in the open.  Our bOdies I mean.  There is no protection between us and everything around us.  If we're hit, we're going down hard.  Somebody could chase us in the car, try to kidnap us, shoot us, beat us up.  We're more vulnerable that way.  One thing I did to help alleviate some of these feelings for myself was sing one of the songs I was just singing in the Music Together class I had just finished leading.  Shenendoah.  What a beautiful song.  I sang as loudly as I wanted.  It didn't matter if anyone heard me.  They would never have any idea who I am.  It doesn't matter if they didn't like my voice. They would never hear it again.  That sOng was comforting, to hear it, to feel it in my chest and head.  It took away the darkness of the night.

I did ask friends if they could pick me up, but they couldn't.  Our car is in the shop, and I can't get it until tomorrow.  I HAD to go teach the Music Together class.  Thankfully, the weather was good.  Better than good in fact.  It really was a gorgeous day and evening.  The sky was bright and clear, and the evening air was comfortable, even going dowNhill.  The route I chose was a good one, and that was confirmed when I saw the road paint markings put there by the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia.  I was on one of their routes.  That's a good sign.

It turns out I'm glad I did the ride instead of being driven home in a car.  It turns out my fears of the unknown were all for naught.... this time.  I still don't recommend riding at night if you don't have to, and I'm not going to start going out doing it on purpose.  Did you guess my companion that was with me for the whole ride?  It is a full moon this Monday, so it is over half full now.  It was clear and in full view the whole way home.  Thank you moon for staying with me, and good night moon.

How Far for Fuji?

70 miles.  That is how far I drove today to pick up my latest Fuji acquisition.  I found it on craigslist the other day, for $30.  That is how much the seller paid for it, but he has too many other bike projects going that he is  letting this one go.  He bought it from a woman, the original owner, who bought it about 30 years ago, rode it a few times, then put it away in the garage or basement.  As you can see, it is the Cambridge III model.  A very worthy 3 speed that is good for getting around town, doing grocery shopping, pretty much anything you want to do.  Although, our town is kind of hilly, so the 3 speed may be an issue and have to be changed at some point to acquire lower gears.

Why did I drive so far just for an old fuji bike, especially with my two young children in tow?  I don't know.  That is part of the reason I named this blog Fuji CRAZY.  Something compelled me to go ahead and get this, to take the drive even though it was far away.  I could have gotten a flat tire, gotten into an accident in an unfamiliar town, with two young kids.  Who would I have called for help?  What would we have done?  But I didn't care.  I HAD to go get this crazy fuji.  It's just a bike, right!?  Why do I need it!?  What's going to happen to it now that I have it?  Am I going to give it away to a friend, like I've done with many fujis before?  Will I actually keep it for years like I think I might, for my daughters to ride when they are tall enough?  Will my wife actually ever ride it sometimes, instead of her Schwinn (which she loves because of its burnt orange color) and condone even more this crazy fujiness, Fuji craziness of mine?

Only time will tell, and now that this fuji is safe and sound in my possession (and we are safe and sound back home) I don't regret the trip at all.  I think it will prove to be well worth the effort.

Fighting for Bicyclists Rights in Hong Kong

Hey!  Check out this brief news story about cycling in Hong Kong.  Two of the friends I met when I was there in March 2011 are featured, Will Soo and Martin Turner!  They're working hard to promote a better cycling life in Hong Kong....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19881892

Fujita Racket Holder

I was recently in Madison, Wisconsin, and I had the opportunity to visit in person a bike shop that has been useful to me in the past.  Yellow Jersey has been around since 1971, and they are the kind of shop that has that special obscure thing you didn't know you've been looking for.  They are conveniently located in the 400 block of State Street, the hotspot of 'Mad City.'  What they helped me with in the past was to understand better how my Suntour Winner Pro freewheels work.  With a useful Suntour brochure from Yellow Jersey, I was able to remove and redo my cogs to get a better set up for my style of riding.

I was hoping to find something more specific to vintage Fuji while I was there, but I didn't.  1971 was in fact the year that Fuji began importing their bikes into the U.S. market (I think).  But I don't know if  Yellow Jersey was a Fuji dealer or not.

I walked into the shop slowly, and began perusing from the front corner.  I went through at least twice to be sure that I didn't miss something tucked away in a corner (although I probably did).  That is how I found the Fujita Racket Holder.  It was behind the checkout desk tucked back by the wall among lighting gear.  I didn't know something like this existed.  I probably won't be using it for my tennis racket very often, but I look forward to finding other items with which to utilize it.  One friend suggested using it for my rocket launcher!  I guess this would be called the Fujita 'Rocket' Holder then.  Well, I don't own a rocket launcher, but maybe I will soon.  It has run through your mind now too, right?  James Bond?  Riding his custom Fuji Bicycle with a custom rocket launcher.  Where would the button be to launch it?  On the handlebars?  Maybe it would be voice activated.  Mr. Bond would just have to casually say, "Fuji Away" or something profound like that, and the bad guy wouldn't know what hit him.

The picture above of the bicycle sporting the racket holder is in fact a Fuji.  It is a mixtie frame, a S-12-S it looks like.

What Would it be Like for Bicyclists... in 'Opposite World?'

• People would be surprised if you drove your car to work.
• The average speed of vehicles on the road would be 10-12mph.
• The League of American Car Drivers would lobby every year for more car lanes and car specific infrastructure.
• The annual death toll of cyclists would probably be zero.
• There would always be a secure place to park your bike.
• Talk about gear ratios would just be simple chit chat.
• Not only could we ride two abreast, but we could ride three or even four abreast.
• Everyone would have a true sense of how far one mile really is.
• Instead of smelling gas fumes on our morning commute, we would be smelling fresh air, the flowers, bread baking, each others cologne or perfume....
• We would never be run off the road or relegated to riding in the gutter.
• People would wonder if it was legal to drive a car in the road.
• Some would drive their cars on the sidewalk for fear of being in the road with bikes.
• Instead of hearing blaring horns and cussing, we would just hear the delightful dings of bicycle bells and gracious 'hellos' as we pass each other.

Do you have any thoughts about what it might be like for bicyclists in 'Opposite World?'

Fuji Bedford Makeover

I acquired this bike for free a few years ago from my friend Charles when we lived in Virginia.  My Fuji Bedford 3-speed is now a 5-speed.  I've had this plan in mind for a while now, and it has finally come to pass.  I wanted to change the steel wheels that this bike came with for aluminum ones to help with braking in wet weather, and to lessen some of the weight.  I also wanted more gear options to help with the hills around my local area.  This bike is supposed to be a joy to ride, but with the limited gearing, it was not fun!

I learned something new by going through this process.  Bikes are always teaching me something!  I learned that just because two wheels say they are 26" does not mean they are actually the same size.  The width given makes a difference in their diameter.  The steel wheels that were on it originally were size 26 x 1 1/4.  The beautiful gold ukais you see on it now are 26 x 2.125.  Well, the ukais have a bit of a smaller diameter.  That changed everything!  Again, Alan of Alan's Bicycles in Phoenixville, Pa helped me solve these issues.

 One, it lowered my brake reach, so I could not simply re-use the original calipers.  My brake reach measurement became 82mm!  We had to find and purchase the Odyssey BMX brakes with a super long reach.  Thankfully they weren't too expensive.  

Two, it also lowered the bottom bracket.  Thankfully this did not pose a real problem.  It originally had 165mm steel cottered cranks, but I changed them to a 170mm cotterless aluminum crank.  Even though the bottom bracket is lower and the crank is a bit longer, the pedals are still high enough off the ground to work.  

Three, the chainline changed due to using a different bottom bracket.  Thankfully I was able to use some adjustable bottom bracket cups from a different fuji frame with a 109mm suntour sprint spindle I bought a while back.  I was pleasantly surprised that it worked.  

I put a 42 tooth chainring on the front with a 14-32 cog on the back.  This gives me a nice low gear to work with, and a little bit of umph on the top end range.  I don't need to be going super fast on this bike.  It is not for distance riding.  It is just for riding around town a bit and having fun, the kind of riding we do when we're kids!  

I was disappointed to learn that this Fuji was made in Taiwan in the mid-80's,  a time when the factories in Japan were still running.  You can see that the quality of build is not quite the same as those made in Japan at the time.  Maybe at some point I will get a better quality Fuji cruiser type bike, but in the meantime this will have to suffice.  I'll probably end up loving it.  Replacing all of the steel parts has made it much lighter.  I now have a cruiser with bmx brakes and mountain bike wheels.  Although I will not be using it to race or ride single track, I am looking forward to riding it often, and enjoying it!

Specs:

Hsin Lung stem

V.C. nylon saddle (made in taiwan)

Suntour ratchet thumb shifter

Suntour Cyclone crank

Ukai gold clincher rims 26 x 2.125

SR gold hubs

Shimano freewheel 14-32

Dia compe brake levers

Odyssey 1999 bmx brake calipers

Fuji vx rear derailleur (made by Suntour)

Seagull Bell

Why do People Like Vintage Fuji?

The title of this post was in my blog stats under the google searches that lead someone to my page.  I thought that was an interesting phrase to search, and I thought I might try to answer the question.

First and foremost (to take a phrase that Fuji used in their advertisements back in the day), vintage Fuji bicycles are quality.  Simply put, they were made well.  The frames were not too heavy.  The componentry they put on the bikes was quality too, and reliable.   Along with their quality, they were affordable.  By the way, Vintage Fuji refers to those that were made in Japan, when it was still a Japanese Company.  This changed in the mid-90's.

They have a nice aesthetic.  They look good!  The logos and design put into them is very appealing to the eye.  Strangers have noticed my vintage Fuji bikes when I've been out and about.

They ride well.  They absorb road vibration.  It just feels good to be on them.

They're fun.  Hey, it's a bike!  Bikes are fun (whether they say Fuji or not).   But the fact that they do say Fuji makes it a bit more fun and interesting, knowing that you are riding a quality piece of craftsmanship that began its life halfway across the globe.

With that in mind, the bikes themselves are 'worldly.'  The marketing gurus gave them names such as 'Bedford,' 'Cambridge III (and VI),' 'Touring Series IV,' 'Opus III,' 'Sagres,' 'Ecco,' 'Palisades,' 'Odessa,' 'Monterey,' 'Del Rey,' and I can go on and on and on.....  You'll just have to take a look at classicfuji.com to see the rest.

Fuji Bikes in the Bikecentennial Ride?

How many of these Fuji (now vintage) bikes rode in the Bikecentennial ride across this great country of ours?  I know of at least one.  

Do you know anyone who rode their bike in this special event?  Did YOU ride your bike in it?  Was it a fuji?  Let me know!