http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpathcycles/6276730897/
Monday, October 24, 2011
A little bicycle education
It's very important to make sure that you use the correct names when you are describing the parts of your bike. Failing to name the part correctly can cause issues with getting a problem resolved or cause you to order the wrong parts. With that in mind, the link below shows some of the correct names for parts you might find on a vintage bike. You can click on the picture to see the labels better, too!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpathcycles/6276730897/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpathcycles/6276730897/
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Welcome Ritchey Logic!
Green Path Cycles is proud to announce that it is now Denver's newest Ritchey dealer!
Ritchey makes outstanding components for road and mountain bikes, tailored to fit the budget without breaking the bank, yet their top of the line stuff is also some of the nicest you can get.
I've personally ridden Ritchey on my mountain, road, and cross bikes over the last decade or more, and found that they are outstanding components that you can count on.
In addition to excellent components, Ritchey has also expanded their offerings on bikes, as well, for customers who'd like a new, high end bike. In addition to the traditional offerings of the Breakaway and Breakaway Cross, Ritchey also offers the P-29, a 29er hard tail, and has brought back the Swiss Cross in a new and improved cyclocross machine!
For pricing and availability, or to just view some beautiful bike porn, go to www.ritcheylogic.com, and to order, email info@greenpathcycles.com or give us a call at (303)317-5326.
Ritchey makes outstanding components for road and mountain bikes, tailored to fit the budget without breaking the bank, yet their top of the line stuff is also some of the nicest you can get.
I've personally ridden Ritchey on my mountain, road, and cross bikes over the last decade or more, and found that they are outstanding components that you can count on.
In addition to excellent components, Ritchey has also expanded their offerings on bikes, as well, for customers who'd like a new, high end bike. In addition to the traditional offerings of the Breakaway and Breakaway Cross, Ritchey also offers the P-29, a 29er hard tail, and has brought back the Swiss Cross in a new and improved cyclocross machine!
For pricing and availability, or to just view some beautiful bike porn, go to www.ritcheylogic.com, and to order, email info@greenpathcycles.com or give us a call at (303)317-5326.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
My Centurion ProTour 15
So, I was posting some pictures on Flickr of my Centurion. I found this bike on Craigslist, mis-listed as a Centurion Pro and since I was looking for a touring bike to get me started and preferably to restore/customize/improve, I was really excited to find it. The pictures looked rough that were in the listing, but when I got there and rode it, it was a smooth, polished ride, despite all the negatives of the componentry. The frame was actually a little rougher than I imagined, but I was happy to see that the chrome plating that Centurion put underneath was still intact.
My original pictures of the Centurion, as acquired
Since I've had the bike, quite a bit of improvements have been done and more are planned. So far, I've put on a Velo Orange saddle, updated to a new bar/stem and barcons, added a front and rear rack and will be converting to 700c wheels in a few days time, when the parts arrive. My baby will also be getting stainless steel fenderes, a dynamo front hub and lights, and new crank, BB, and headset.
I've found Suntour front and rear derailleurs for it, and a NOS 7 speed freewheel and new chain. It's still a little fidgey on the shifting - I'm not sure the chain length is correct, and since I'm still mid-upgrade, there's lots to be done. Once I have the new cranks on, I'll figure out the chain length and get the shifting dialed in.
It's been a growing project - I initially thought it'd be a decent sized project, but as I've worked on it, I have found more and more things done to it over time that weren't quite what I want - the rims, for example, are 27 inch and gargantuan in terms of width. Surprisingly, they're listed as 325 grams, so they're light, but they're also 27mm wide, which severely limits my tire size choices and also precludes fenders from fitting, as I discovered trying to put on the stainless steel beauties I purchased. Nevertheless, despite the scope creep on the bike, it has been a ton of fun to build it and plot the next upgrade or fix!
In any event, I've continued riding the bike as I've put in the work on her. I ride to work, to the shop, and generally around whenever I can - she's a comfortable bike and very practical, especially with some panniers. I've been very, very impressed with the design of the bike and how despite all the sub optimal treatment she's gotten, she still does very well, thank you.... I can't wait to have her set up more to my liking!
And, later, I promise to add some pictures of the work in progress. Maybe it'll be interesting to some of you to see how it all is coming together, and, when it's "done" I'll add more pictures, still!
My original pictures of the Centurion, as acquired
Since I've had the bike, quite a bit of improvements have been done and more are planned. So far, I've put on a Velo Orange saddle, updated to a new bar/stem and barcons, added a front and rear rack and will be converting to 700c wheels in a few days time, when the parts arrive. My baby will also be getting stainless steel fenderes, a dynamo front hub and lights, and new crank, BB, and headset.
I've found Suntour front and rear derailleurs for it, and a NOS 7 speed freewheel and new chain. It's still a little fidgey on the shifting - I'm not sure the chain length is correct, and since I'm still mid-upgrade, there's lots to be done. Once I have the new cranks on, I'll figure out the chain length and get the shifting dialed in.
It's been a growing project - I initially thought it'd be a decent sized project, but as I've worked on it, I have found more and more things done to it over time that weren't quite what I want - the rims, for example, are 27 inch and gargantuan in terms of width. Surprisingly, they're listed as 325 grams, so they're light, but they're also 27mm wide, which severely limits my tire size choices and also precludes fenders from fitting, as I discovered trying to put on the stainless steel beauties I purchased. Nevertheless, despite the scope creep on the bike, it has been a ton of fun to build it and plot the next upgrade or fix!
In any event, I've continued riding the bike as I've put in the work on her. I ride to work, to the shop, and generally around whenever I can - she's a comfortable bike and very practical, especially with some panniers. I've been very, very impressed with the design of the bike and how despite all the sub optimal treatment she's gotten, she still does very well, thank you.... I can't wait to have her set up more to my liking!
And, later, I promise to add some pictures of the work in progress. Maybe it'll be interesting to some of you to see how it all is coming together, and, when it's "done" I'll add more pictures, still!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Dynamo lighting
OK, I admit it. I'm a big, big fan of dynamo lighting on a bike. Why? Well, there's a number of reasons.
First, dynamo lighting is always available. Whether it's a bottle dynamo, a bottom bracket model, or a hub dynamo, it's always attached to your bike, and it never needs charging. There's no need to remember to attach it when you leave, nor a need to remove it when you park the bike for that grocery trip, or when it's parked at work. When you need it, you switch on the headlight, and, if you have a tail light, too, they both come on and supply you with the light you need. In fact, the technology on dynamo lighting has evolved to the point that you can purchase a wide variety of lights with the ability to sense when its dark and turn on the headlight (and taillight) automatically! What could be more convenient than always having light, exactly when you need it?
Second, dynamo lighting is generally quite high in quality and reliability. Dynamo lighting is very popular in Europe and two of the leading dynamo light suppliers are based in Germany - Schmidt and Busch And Mueller (B&M). There are some very stringent safety standards and regulations for lights and bikes in the EU, and as a result, we get a product that is very high quality across the board. Whether it's a halogen bulb light designed for economy, or an LED light that you won't need to replace often, if at all, the light patterns have been refined and the products from hub to headlight are all designed with reliability and functionality in mind. These are headlights many Europeans use because they have bikes and not cars for transportation, so they have to be top notch.
Third, a dynamo lighting system can also add versatility/utility to a touring or utility bike. One of the newer products available is a set up that allows you to charge/use your mobile phone/GPS or other USB powered device while on the bike. While this may not be a big issue for commuters, it does allow a cyclist on tour to keep his electronics fully charged as he rides to the next destination, rather than needing to limit its use to ensure adequate battery life.
Finally, and it's an important point for me: Dynamo light is, relatively speaking, good for the environment! Forget about batteries that not only are environmentally unfriendly to manufacture, but also go straight to the landfill when they are discharged. Even if they're rechargeable, the batteries still have many toxins and exotic metals used to create them and allow them to hold their charge, and if they are rechargeable, odds are that the power to charge them comes from some non-green power generation. Dynamos, by contrast, might have similiar, or slightly reduced environmental impact from manufacturing, but are powered by you.
With all these advantages, it may seem that dynamo lighting is the perfect solution for a bike. Mostly, that's true, but there are two primary considerations before getting a dynamo light.
The first issue with dynamo lighting is cost. A dynamo system will never be as cheap as a small battery powered light, but it's a far superior setup. While you can invest $400-500 in building up the lightest Schmidt dynamo hub into a top notch wheel and then getting some high quality, top of the line lights, you can also get something nearly as good and every bit as functional for far less. For example, Sanyo offers a reliable, reasonably high quality dynamo front hub for $40. You can get it from some places (including Green Path Cycles, soon) as a prebuilt wheel, too, for anywhere from $75 and up, so cost-wise, it doesn't have to be a large jump from a traditional front wheel. Dynamo hubs are currently available from Sanyo, Shimano, SRAM, Sturmey Archer, and Schmidt, and are generally not too much more compared to a regular front hub.
For those who don't want to spring for a whole wheel, there's also the option of running a bottle generator, that runs off the tire sidewall, or a bottom bracket generator, which runs off the smooth center tread of your rear wheel. Both of these choices, while not as weatherproof or convenient as a hub, are good economical choices for powering some dynamo lights.
Likewise, in addition to affordable hub options, the lights themselves cover a wide range of costs. A simple halogen dynamo powered light can be had for $30 or so, and an entry level LED light for around $40-50. You can certainly spend more, just like you can spend more to get a battery powered stadium light to use on your mountain bike, but you don't need to for many applications. A taillight, too, is affordable, usually running about $20-30, again comparable to its battery operated counterpart.
The second issue with the dynamo setup is weight. Really, a dynamo setup doesn't necessarily weigh much more than a traditional battery light, although some of the newer state of the art LED setups have very light batteries, but rather that the weight is always with you. A dynamo hub can add a pound to the bike, which can sometimes be concerning to the weight weenies out there worried about every pound. But, when you consider that having other lights is also added weight, and that the added weight, as a percentage of your total weight - e.g. body weight, clothes/gear weight, bike weight - the added weight of the dynamo system is fairly minimal, especially considering the safety benefits it supplies. True, it's not for a race bike, but for a utility bike, a commutter, or a touring bike, dynamo lighting is a small amount of weight for something you'd need to have anyway, at least part of the time.
So, that's why I love dynamo lights, and also why Green Path Cycles is looking to become a leader in supplying dynamo lighting systems for all kinds of cyclists. It's better and it's greener. What's not to love?
First, dynamo lighting is always available. Whether it's a bottle dynamo, a bottom bracket model, or a hub dynamo, it's always attached to your bike, and it never needs charging. There's no need to remember to attach it when you leave, nor a need to remove it when you park the bike for that grocery trip, or when it's parked at work. When you need it, you switch on the headlight, and, if you have a tail light, too, they both come on and supply you with the light you need. In fact, the technology on dynamo lighting has evolved to the point that you can purchase a wide variety of lights with the ability to sense when its dark and turn on the headlight (and taillight) automatically! What could be more convenient than always having light, exactly when you need it?
Second, dynamo lighting is generally quite high in quality and reliability. Dynamo lighting is very popular in Europe and two of the leading dynamo light suppliers are based in Germany - Schmidt and Busch And Mueller (B&M). There are some very stringent safety standards and regulations for lights and bikes in the EU, and as a result, we get a product that is very high quality across the board. Whether it's a halogen bulb light designed for economy, or an LED light that you won't need to replace often, if at all, the light patterns have been refined and the products from hub to headlight are all designed with reliability and functionality in mind. These are headlights many Europeans use because they have bikes and not cars for transportation, so they have to be top notch.
Third, a dynamo lighting system can also add versatility/utility to a touring or utility bike. One of the newer products available is a set up that allows you to charge/use your mobile phone/GPS or other USB powered device while on the bike. While this may not be a big issue for commuters, it does allow a cyclist on tour to keep his electronics fully charged as he rides to the next destination, rather than needing to limit its use to ensure adequate battery life.
Finally, and it's an important point for me: Dynamo light is, relatively speaking, good for the environment! Forget about batteries that not only are environmentally unfriendly to manufacture, but also go straight to the landfill when they are discharged. Even if they're rechargeable, the batteries still have many toxins and exotic metals used to create them and allow them to hold their charge, and if they are rechargeable, odds are that the power to charge them comes from some non-green power generation. Dynamos, by contrast, might have similiar, or slightly reduced environmental impact from manufacturing, but are powered by you.
With all these advantages, it may seem that dynamo lighting is the perfect solution for a bike. Mostly, that's true, but there are two primary considerations before getting a dynamo light.
The first issue with dynamo lighting is cost. A dynamo system will never be as cheap as a small battery powered light, but it's a far superior setup. While you can invest $400-500 in building up the lightest Schmidt dynamo hub into a top notch wheel and then getting some high quality, top of the line lights, you can also get something nearly as good and every bit as functional for far less. For example, Sanyo offers a reliable, reasonably high quality dynamo front hub for $40. You can get it from some places (including Green Path Cycles, soon) as a prebuilt wheel, too, for anywhere from $75 and up, so cost-wise, it doesn't have to be a large jump from a traditional front wheel. Dynamo hubs are currently available from Sanyo, Shimano, SRAM, Sturmey Archer, and Schmidt, and are generally not too much more compared to a regular front hub.
For those who don't want to spring for a whole wheel, there's also the option of running a bottle generator, that runs off the tire sidewall, or a bottom bracket generator, which runs off the smooth center tread of your rear wheel. Both of these choices, while not as weatherproof or convenient as a hub, are good economical choices for powering some dynamo lights.
Likewise, in addition to affordable hub options, the lights themselves cover a wide range of costs. A simple halogen dynamo powered light can be had for $30 or so, and an entry level LED light for around $40-50. You can certainly spend more, just like you can spend more to get a battery powered stadium light to use on your mountain bike, but you don't need to for many applications. A taillight, too, is affordable, usually running about $20-30, again comparable to its battery operated counterpart.
The second issue with the dynamo setup is weight. Really, a dynamo setup doesn't necessarily weigh much more than a traditional battery light, although some of the newer state of the art LED setups have very light batteries, but rather that the weight is always with you. A dynamo hub can add a pound to the bike, which can sometimes be concerning to the weight weenies out there worried about every pound. But, when you consider that having other lights is also added weight, and that the added weight, as a percentage of your total weight - e.g. body weight, clothes/gear weight, bike weight - the added weight of the dynamo system is fairly minimal, especially considering the safety benefits it supplies. True, it's not for a race bike, but for a utility bike, a commutter, or a touring bike, dynamo lighting is a small amount of weight for something you'd need to have anyway, at least part of the time.
So, that's why I love dynamo lights, and also why Green Path Cycles is looking to become a leader in supplying dynamo lighting systems for all kinds of cyclists. It's better and it's greener. What's not to love?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Welcome Velo Orange!
It's now 100% official - Green Path Cycles now carries Velo Orange as their newest dealer in Denver! While I work on determining what products I want to stock, I can take any and all orders for things Velo Orange that your little heart desires.
I'm also looking forward to many happy updates of some magnificent older bikes, using the highly functional and exceptionally beautiful products that Velo Orange has to offer.
If you're interested in ordering, shoot me a note at scott@greenpathcycles.com and I'll be happy to get the ball rolling!
I'm also looking forward to many happy updates of some magnificent older bikes, using the highly functional and exceptionally beautiful products that Velo Orange has to offer.
If you're interested in ordering, shoot me a note at scott@greenpathcycles.com and I'll be happy to get the ball rolling!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Coming together!
Well, I've managed to get the website started. It's www.greenpathcycles.com, not too surprising.
I've got the basics together,but I'm also finding that I'm bumping up against some of the limits of what I've bought, already! I was a little surprised by that. But, the bright side is that it's up and as I learn all of the things I need to know about managing and creating a website, it'll get better and better. I've got some plans, for sure, for what I want to do. Now I just need to figure out how to get them all done.
I did, however, manage to get pictures up for the two bikes I'm selling! I'll have more pictures soon, once I can figure out how to manage the pictures better. I've already got several ideas on how to get things done, so it hopefully won't be long.
I've got the basics together,but I'm also finding that I'm bumping up against some of the limits of what I've bought, already! I was a little surprised by that. But, the bright side is that it's up and as I learn all of the things I need to know about managing and creating a website, it'll get better and better. I've got some plans, for sure, for what I want to do. Now I just need to figure out how to get them all done.
I did, however, manage to get pictures up for the two bikes I'm selling! I'll have more pictures soon, once I can figure out how to manage the pictures better. I've already got several ideas on how to get things done, so it hopefully won't be long.
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