Saturday, July 13, 2013

Gazelle Trimmer Trend and Batavus Champion

Hello and Welcome
On Wed July 10th I drove down to Troy Mi to get a look at two bikes that I was told by the picker were German. I will not give the pickers name as I carefully guard any info about about where I find my bikes. It was about a 45 minute drive, but when I got a look at what my picker had found I was glad I made the trip.

Above: The Gazelle "Trimmer Trend" step through frame commuter bike. The frame size is 54cm (o.c. crank to near top of seat tube clamp) And the frame length (o.c. head tube to o.c. seat tube) is 21 & 1/4 inches or 54 cm. This is my first Dutch bike and is very different from anything I have found before.

Above: Founded in 1892 by Willem Kolling & Rudolf Arentsen, Gazzelle is the biggest and most popular bicycle maker in the Netherlands. When I checked on the Gazelle web site their was no link to any US outlets. That is not to say they are not available here in the USA. I would imagine someone is importing them here for resale.

Above: As you can see the Generator light set and parts of the mounting bracket are badly rusted. I might have a replacement for the generator/light on hand. I have only seen pics of bikes with this type front brake. This one is not hooked up to the cable. I hope I can locate some detail pics of the brake and how it is supposed to be connected to the cable.

Above: I really like the Euro look of the wrap around or full chain guard. Again the rear hub and brake look totally foreign to me. I am glad I have a few other projects to finish before I start this project. I'll definitely need the time to do some research.

Above: A shot of the rear hub and brake hook up. (I think it might be a Sturmey Archer hub) brb..... Ok I just ran out to the shop to make some notes. The Hub markings are as follows "Sturmey Archer - STEELITE - Made in England - 87 or B7" The strap (that one that looks like it is for securing loads) is wrapped around the hub along with some tall grass. But the brake does work when activated by pulling the lever (on the hub) manually. As does the front brake. That's a good start anyway.

Above: I can easily imagine how nice this bike must have looked the day it first rolled out of the shop. The bicycle's rear rack is simple but sturdy with very good quality chrome plating. I have no doubt the rack will clean up beautifully. The bike appears to be a very nice mating of form and function. It is already easy to see why these bikes are held in such high regard here and apparently everywhere else!

Above: The bicycle bell is rusty and sticks a little bit, but I think I can get it working and shining again. The plastic plate has been broken off the Sturmey Archer shifter housing. The shifter itself is completely frozen with rust and will need to be replaced for sure. The brake cables are almost completely frozen and will definitely need to be replaced. I am assuming it is a three speed hub, but I guess it could have more than 3 gear selections. If you know the answers to any of these questions I am asking myself, Please leave a comment.

Above: Sweet head badge! I get the Gazelle part. I am going to see if I can get the other part translated brb.... RiJWIEL FABRIEK (Bicycle Factory) DIEREN (Town in the Netherlands) This was confirmed by a regular reader and long time follower Everett, whom I believe works at the D.I.A. (Detroit Institute of Arts) I have not been to the DIA since I was a kid about 40+ years ago. But I remember it was awesome!

Above: As popular as these bikes are I would think decals should not be too difficult to locate. brb... (again) Ok I have already located two sets. They are not exactly the same, but it is a good sign. I found these in just a few minutes. And I could do a combination of those decals and also have some made up. At any rate, I do not think decals will be a problem. Brakes... Now those might be a problem:)

Above: The Batavus Champion. Same picker, same day same price. (don't ask) The touring handlebars on this bike alone would have been worth the trip. And a skirt guard too. This is one cool little bike.

Above: If I'm lying, I'm dying These handlebars are fantastic! I might have to save these for a future project. I can see these bars on a lugged frame, single speed, vintage style "bare bones" board racer with white tires.

Above: This rack does not appear to be quite as sturdy as the rack on the Gazelle however the rear fender looks a lot straighter. The bicycle taillight and rack mounted reflector look very similar.

Above: The Batavus head badge. I think I will try to clean it up a bit using Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish. I know nothing about Batavus except what I have learned in the last few minutes. From Batavus: "Batavus is the bike specialist from The Netherlands for all sorts of bikes, including the popular e-bike". From Wikipedia: I have learned in 1904 founder Andries Gaastra sold clocks and small farm machines from his shop. Soon after he began selling bikes built by German manufacturer Presto. Not long after that Andries began building and selling bikes under the BATAVUS brand. It makes sense to me that a man with a background in clocks and farm machinery would be the sort of fellow who could produce technically superior and reliable bikes.

Above: This horseshoe shaped AXA bicycle wheel lock is in the locked position. The lever won't budge, I think I need a key of sorts to unlock it before the lever will move.

Above: I suspect a key or tool of some sort is inserted into this hole (red arrow) to allow the unlocking lever to be pulled. In the mean time I will spray a little WD 40 in there to free things up a bit. I ran across a similar wheel lock before. But the last one was stuck in the open or unlocked position. I think it might have been on the KTM multi speed road bike.

Above: The skirt guard is missing a few of the tabs that hold it in place. I think I can still make it work though. I also spotted a crack in the seal on the left side of the crank. And I noticed like the Gazelle, there is a logo on the kickstand.

Above: I found the AXA site which has a online key service. The following is step one in the key service section: "Firstly you must fill out the key number of your key. You can find this on your spare key, the guarantee card, the steel disc or on your cycle insurance policy. If you no longer have a key number you cannot order a new key and you will have to buy a new lock. The number comprises of at least four characters and at most six. The key number of your key:"
LTMS Are You ####ing Kidding Me? Any chance the numbers engraved on the back of the lock housing might help? So it goes.....

Above: Thursday morning I rode the Diamondback 29'er into town to get a haircut at the world famous Jack's Barber Shop. I have only had two barbers in my entire life. When I first moved out here from the old neighborhood I would drive back to the old neighborhood barber shop on 4th street every couple months for a haircut. Finally I decided to ask around and try something local. And I have been a loyal customer at Jack's ever since. We have one of those discount barbershops now where you can get a haircut for under ten bucks. But your hair will look like you only paid five bucks..ltms. Besides I like to catch up with a the local goings on and talk hockey with Tommy. I don't think you get the small town treatment at the discount place. This past week the humidity came down quite a bit and we've had nice riding weather. But I hear the temp is about to go back up along with the humidity. So tomorrow morning might be my last chance for a comfortable morning ride for a while. I am still riding the 29'er exclusively since we got back from our Island holiday. I just love riding that bike!

Above: Something ran into the front left wheel on the Taurus when it was parked. Besides trashing the hubcap it knocked the front end much farther out of wack. I drove it on the expressway before I noticed the damage and it felt like the whole front end was coming apart at 65 mph. It already needed new tie rod ends and a new power steering pump. And the trans has been shifting really hard into second for about two years now. I had adjusted my driving to avoid the hard shift into second, so that was not really a problem. But I think it might be time to retire the old Taurus. We have decided we are going to donate it to the Purple Heart. Twenty six years old and in the family since it was new, the old Taurus has served this family well since 1987. So we might be purchasing our son's Mazda 3 (He's ready for a change) or we might end up buying new. Totally undecided at this point.

Above: Nothing new to report on the All Pro 3 speed delivery bike project. Or the Zebrakenko project for that matter. But the kitchen remodel is finished! And the front yard is ready for seed (new septic field). Also the new laundry area (stacked) and closet is supposed to go in Tuesday or Wednesday. This summer has mostly been about the house. But soon it will be finished (for a while anyway) and I can once again concentrate on the bikes. At least until the living room project starts. So it goes...

Above: Eddie is doing fine, He's still a pain in the a$$. Until next time Please Ride Safely and Remember to Always....RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE
Cheers, Hugh

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Bicycling on Macknac Island 2013

Hello and Welcome,
Carolyn and I returned home Sat June 29th after a wonderful vacation week on Mackinac island. There was lots of good food, carriage rides and sightseeing. And of course lots of bicycle riding for me. Carolyn was able to do some horseback riding on the island as well.

Above: If you are staying on the island you will probably want to use the services of one of the many bicycle porters on the island. The porters are incredible cyclists maneuvering through pedestrians, horse and buggy traffic and visiting cyclists. (many of whom appear to be inexperienced and totally oblivious to anything going on around them) And they do this usually with heavy loads of luggage on their bikes. And they make it look easy, and I am sure it is anything but. In our experience the porters have all been very polite and extremely helpful.

Above: I brought along the 3 speed Kalkhoff folding bicycle that I restored this past winter. I have no real experience traveling with a folding bike, so I thought I would give it a try. And maybe learn a few things from the experience. The first thing that occurred to me was that folding pedals would have been an excellent idea. This would allow the bike to lay flatter on the floor of the trunk. I should also mention this is a subcompact Ford Fiesta with a very small trunk. I was impressed by how easily the bike fit into the trunk. I could have loosened the handlebar clamp and seat-post/seat-tube clamp and made the bike even more compact if necessary. We folded down the rear seats to make room for our luggage. The ferry company will haul your bike but there is a charge for it. Our two round trip ferry tickets were 25.00 each and an additional 8.00 for the bike. (also round trip)

Above: This fancy coach is from the world famous Grand Hotel. We stayed at the Lilac Tree Hotel. The Grand is a little "too grand" for me. But if you like luxury and dressing up for dinner it might be the place for you.

Above: The Lilac Tree has bike rack parking in the rear of the building. However you can also park your bike inside on the ground level if you like. (check with the front desk first)

Above: I forgot my bicycle lock again this year. But I did purchased a cable lock rom the Mackinac Bike Barn on Main Street. They are a bike rental outfit as well as a full service bike shop. And I thought $21.99 was a fair price for the lock "considering where we were". They have different types of bikes for rent including Single speed Beach cruisers, seven speed comfort bikes, 21 speed Mountain Bikes or comfort bikes. They also offer single and multi speed Tandem bikes and tag along bikes as well child or adult strollers. They also carry quite a few cycling accessories. These are very helpful and knowledgeable folks so stop in even if just to say hello.

Above: The early morning view from our suite's balcony. If this view looks familiar it is the same room we stayed in last year.

Above: I told myself I would not take pictures of the stone monuments built by visitors along the shoreline this year. But when I saw this arch built off shore while on one of my morning rides around the island... I could not resist.

Above: Folks on the island are for the most part pretty laid back. This is one of the few signs I have seen displaying any cycling rules on the island. Also I have never seen a bike parked or ridden on the sidewalk, so I assume those are unwritten rules as well. Also no bikes can be left out on the street at night. And although someone has removed the sign, there are still no bikes allowed in rooms at the Lilac Tree Hotel.

Above: This Seagull just happens to be perched upon one of those monuments I am not photographing this year. Technically this is just a photograph of a bird or "waterfowl" might be a better word choice. Just in case you didn't pick up on it, this part of the post is about my rides around the island :)

Above: This sign is posted on the wall at a roadside hotdog stand located about half way around the island. If you are not familiar with Seagulls, they are master hotdog thieves. Years ago (when we still ate garbage) a Seagull swooped down and took a hotdog right out of my wife's hand when she was looking the other way.

Above: On this particular morning the Loons were not very active and I was able to get a few good photographs.

Above: One of the drivers or "teamsters" told me, Many of the people who come to the island never make it off Main street. And that is truly a shame because the wilderness or natural parts of the island are absolutely beautiful. The locals call these folks Fudgies because the Island is known for it`s many fudge shops on Main Street. They also have a Saunders on main street (a Detroit original) with the best ice cream you will ever taste anywhere. I think they have fudge too.

Above: These two Loons seem to be posing for this picture. I don`t know if they are nesting or just relaxing. Either way they sure are nice to look at.

Above: I wanted to get a photograph of "yours truly" sitting in this natural chair. But there was no one around to take the pic. I will make it a point to try it out next time:)

Above: There are a few picturesque rock formations along the roadside as well. This one appears to have a tree growing out of it.

Above: Another rock formation along the side of the road. If you really want to see rock formations in Michigan you will want to visit Munising located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. And while you are there take the Painted Rock Boat Tour. And spend a day or two checking out the half dozen or so local waterfalls. I am looking forward to our next visit to the Munising area.

Above: Arch Rock is also visible from the road. Or if you do not ride, it is also a stop on the "mega Coach" tour. I had to use a pic from last years picture file. Somehow I totally missed it this trip.

Above: If you click on this pic to enlarge you might be able to see the carriage approaching from the road ahead. If you have the nerve you can also rent a carriage and a team and drive it yourself. Being a city boy at heart I decided to pass on that experience (for now).

Above: While stopping for a drink of Gatorade and to check out the woods a hiker named Wayne offered to take a picture for me. Wayne and I chatted for a few minutes and he told be he rides bikes (motorcycles). I told him I too rode "chrome horses" for 30+ years, but health issues put an end to that. Today Wayne was hiking with his wife as no motor vehicles are allowed on the island. So I guess that would make Wayne a "biker hiker". Sorry...lol

Above: Some folks do live on the island year round. Which is impressive, as the winters this far north can be brutal. So they have a school and a clinic with a certified emergency room and a grocery store. I was told the most common visit to the emergency room is the result of head wounds suffered by tourists on bikes with no bicycle helmets. After what I have seen riding around the island that is no real surprise.

Above: If you click on this pic to enlarge, you might be able to make out the Mackinac Bridge in the fog. If not you will have to trust me on that one.

Above: A picture of the old Round Island lighthouse (built in 1895) taken that same foggy morning on one of my bike rides. The building was restored in 1978 for use in the movie "Somewhere in Time.

Above: There are some modest homes on the island. This is not one of them :) If you hire a carriage and driver you just might hear some interesting stories about the former owners of these beautiful homes. But you won`t hear any from me.
Above: On this particular morning ride as I was finishing my ride around the island I spotted my darling wife with my Fuji camera in hand and she took this photograph. Thanks Carolyn, Your the best!

Above: As for the Kalkhoff folding bike, once I raised the seat post and stem it was actually fairly comfortable. And loading and unloading the bike was fairly simple, although some tools are required. I would imagine a more modern folding bike would be even easier to break down and set up. As for performance, the Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub functioned perfectly. The front wheel has a slight wobble which causes the front brake to intermittently rub ever so slightly. That problem I will correct when I get a chance. Would I bring along the folding bike again? If space was an issue and I was not planning on riding any great distance, then yes. But if I really wanted to ride a lot and for longer distances? Then of course I would choose another bike. But for what it is, the little Kalkhoff performed really well. But as they say "It is what It is" Now here are some more pics from our trip.

Above: Sunrise on Haldimand Bay

Above: J.L. Beanery right on the harbor. They make the best B.L.T. on the planet!

Above: Period dressed rein-actors at Fort Mackinac.

Above: Great Lakes Maritime Academy vessel coming out of the fog.

Above: Fountain in the Garden at the Grand Hotel. (in the background)

Above: A sailboat going through maneuvers. Possibly practicing for the racing season that starts this week.

Above: Bell and Star, the team that pulled our buggy around the island and their driver Jeramey. It turned out I had family in the upper peninsula town Jeramey grew up in.

Above: Another working bicycle. This fellow cleans up after the horses. I did finally wake up early enough to hear the crew fire hosing down Main street just before sunrise.

Above: The flag raised at the Fort

Above: A freighter passing by the harbor.

Above: A view from the Tea Room at the fort.

Above: A porter hard at work

Above: Sunrise on Main Street

Above: Resident of the Butterfly House

Above: The Lilac Hotel Mackinac Island

Above:Relaxing on Friday the 28th of June our last full day on the island. At this point I was ready to go home and start planning our next holiday.

Above: A special Thank You to my sometimes photographer and full time partner in life Carolyn. That pretty much covers our week on Mackinac Island. Until Next Time Please RIDE SAFELY and Remember to Always....RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE
Cheers, Hugh
 
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