Tinkering, or, A Day Without a Comupter

Desert San Campus Bike from Tucson, AZ

I rarely used my Dynamo Hub--only on long Brevets.  So I got this idea to try and put the wheel on the Desert San--once used to run errands on hot days while working at the hospital--now used for work and trips to downtown--often through snow and mud.  

The commuter bike tires seemed to fit okay on the hub wheel--so now it was a matter of attaching my powerful "Layton Light" made for me by my rando bud Paul.  Also, I've been spending weeks on the computer looking for and applying for new employment--I just needed a break, mes amis!

The Wald front basket has gotten pretty beat up.  A couple of times Rico borrowed the bike to ride around downtown, and well, if you're not careful the bike will fall over.   I dropped the bike a few times too--its a big tall bike so if you have anything slightly heavy, its easy to have it fall.

The clamp for the headlamp took some tinkering

Here's the hub on the front fork.  This Schmidt Dynamo Hub has an interesting history--for one I don't really know how old it is.  It was given to me in 2005 by Gerry Goode--I believe his Randonneur No. is something like 60.  He was one of the handful of the first Brevet Riders that set up RUSA in 1998 in Boston.  I know he used this particular Dynamo in at least three PBP rides--and countless BMB rides as well.  The hub was still working well but I had to replace the wheel last year right before I rode a 300.

I went out for some parts, and rode down the local bike shop to get a few adjustments made to the front brake cable.  I found the old head lamp and clamp on an abandoned junk bike in Tucson.  The larger tire on my commuter bike fit and held on the road wheel and hub--thank goodness!   The wrench at the bike shop got my brake cable and other issue fixed quickly.  It was cold but sunny outside so that was good!

The clamp will work, as well as the light, but I had to get a nut that would hold tight because it has to hold the Layton Light such that is pushes down on the fender.  The fender is down as low as it can go, but the light can't be aimed down much more.  I have to mention that this Layton Light--hand-made by Paul--has four incredibly bright LED lights built into it.  Its like a very bright motorcycle light, brighter than the Super Nova by Schmidt.  It will light up the entire block on my street--like yeah, its that bright!

 The basket looks much better after some re-bending on my part.

The black box for now (on/off switch) held to the basket with rubber bands.  I had to get all the tools and stuff put away as Little Egypt was on her way home.  It was Nat'l Guard weekend so she was out with that.  Rico has moved out of the basement of the Little House, and although I miss him and the music and the recording studio (he's a drummer in the band, and a great guitar player too) It was nice to have a place to work, and place away from the computer for awhile.

I've also given up my car to Rico, and although he won't drive it that much (only lives a mile from KU campus) he's got it handy.  I would rather it sit in the garage when he's not using it, but sometimes you just have let things go.  I don't need a new car, not in this town, so I have a bike that can do everything I need.

When I was downtown, all the streets were packed bumper-to-bumper as there was going to be a home basket ball game.  People from all over descending on Lawrence.  Well, first of all, there's no parking anywhere in this city as it was really a horse and buggy town since the 1850s.  KU is on top of Mt. Oread, which is just a steep rocky bump in the Prairie--no parking anywhere up there--so anyway the city becomes one huge jam-packed parking lot.

I darted through and around all that mayhem swiftly, and got my errands done and parts procured.  One drawback however is the cold--but even that too is waning.  There will still be a few cold days, but I'll be ready!

Thanks for stopping by the blog!

Cheers!  Bruce