SOLD - AMC Beach Cruiser

This mid-to-late 70's AMC Beach Cruiser has a new owner, Jodi, seen in the picture above with her husband. This bike has one of the most interesting frames I've ever seen on a beach cruiser. Enjoy rolling through the streets of Butler, PA, Jodi!

$100.00

Just a Little Blog Love

Just a Little Blog Love was the title of a wonderfully encouraging email I got earlier this week...

"I found your blog while surfing google trying to find information about an old Huffy 10 speed, "The Wind," I procured recently. The hit was upon the post about the vintage Huffy Omni you did for a client. From there I read every post in your blog.  I just wanted to say I love what you do and the project bikes you've worked on. Having come across all kinds of forums that call a lot of the old bikes (Free Spirits, Huffy's, Ross) junk, and making fun of people who ride those work horses proudly, your work is incredibly refreshing. I love my "crappy old 10 speed" and would love to see more people riding these vintage gems and fixing them up as you do. Keep up the incredible work and I hope to see more post from you as the year plays out." - Melissa C.

So, I'm going to crack open a beer and raise a toast to all the "people who ride those work horses proudly."

I just found this picture on my phone. It's from New Year's night 2012. We were walking back from a ridiculous party that was held inside of an old warehouse in Bushwick. It was around 2 a.m. and revelers were pouring into the streets. As we rounded the corner, I saw this gentleman, politely waiting for the traffic light to turn green. I flagged him down and we talked for a bit. I can't remember his name but I do recall that he was from France. He had just left a party and stopped by a bodega to grab a few groceries before heading home for the night. Another great example of combining style and function on an old bicycle.

Tom

This is Tom, a stylist from Pittsburgh. I saw him outside of a Trader Joe's and quickly noticed his great style and great taste in old bicycles. Tom commutes by bicycle to his salon as often as he can.

This Is Awesome

One of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh is OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe in the South Side. OTB recently hosted an Underwear Ride to raise money for a cyclist who was a victim of a hit and run accident. As you can see from the picture above (posted to OTB's Facebook page), everyone had a great time and the ride helped raise $350.00.

I found what one local news outlet had to say about the ride to be rather amusing...

This picture was taken and sent to me by my friend Carl. He snapped it outside of a college in Boston. There is nothing special about any one of these bikes. In fact, some of them are hideous. But seeing all that steel and rubber corralled together makes me feel good.

Killer

Too Cool

Pieces of History

Five and Dime has been selected by the Marshall County Historical Society in West Virginia to prepare two antique bicycles for the Historic Cockayne Farmstead. These beautiful bikes were found inside the farmhouse this past summer. From our initial research they are an 1897 Cleveland Lozier built by Columbia and an early 1900s Mead Crusader. The elegant yet solid craftsmanship of these cycles kind of blows my mind. I'll be posting updates of the progress in the weeks to come. 

The Burgers "Pick Up"

http://www.burgersfietsen.nl/collectie-2010/pick-up/1/

I'm Buggin'

Five and Dime has two really cool projects coming up. Living dreams and mountaintops and hustlin'. Stay tuned.

Papercuts

Hand cut paper. Amazing.

Recommended Reading

http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Diaries-David-Byrne/dp/0670021148

I Could Do This

Don't Steal Bikes (Unless It's For Love)

Brooklyn

My wife Molly and I chilling out with friends after a morning of cycling through Brooklyn, NY.

Fuel - Stickered in Pittsburgh

This guy sent me this pic, taken outside of the Whole Foods in Pittsburgh.

Fuel: Bookman Lights

I want these!

http://bookman.se/

Fuel: My Weekend

After work on Friday I'm doing this trip...

I'm taking a small backpack, a hammock, and a good book. I'll be sleeping in the woods and waking to the arrival of my family who have secured a pontoon boat for day of sun-soaked cruising on Ohio's lovely Seneca Lake. Life is good.