Arthur C Clarke

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

So long and thanks for all the books.

BBC: Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90.

at 13:39 in /misc | 10 comments

Single-speed Trek

My first from-scratch bike project is getting ready.

I converted a geared Trek hybrid into a singlespeed with the help of a friend who had already built one similar bike.

Here's a short photo-diary, some pics from me and some from my friend.

Getting started...

Here's how the bike looked in the beginning

Old crankset and chainrings had to go. We also washed the bike pretty thoroughly after this...

Getting rid of the gears. So long.

First version...

Chain tensioner and a 12T cog (which was way too small). There's a Surly ss spacer kit and the tensioner is the Surly singleator.

Second version...

No chain tensioner! With a bigger cog the tension is just about right. Hard to believe with the vertical dropouts but it's true.

It's starting to look like an actual bicycle. After this pic I took the first ride. Both the bike and the cyclist survived without casualties. The gear ratio felt pretty good. Also, meet little Mr. Curiosity.

Wrapping it up

There's still some stuff left to do. The suspended seatpost has to go and the rear brake needs some fixing.

Altogether it was a really fun project which also demystified my approach to bicycle mechanics a lot.

Now to get some riding done with this and see if any problems arise. I'm already pretty adjusted to the idea that sooner or later I'm going to need the chain tensioner back, but let's see.

at 22:31 in /cycling | 0 comments

1990 attacks

...teenage nostalgia hits the head???

Sonic Youth-Bull in the heather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T4BsnXmJaI&feature

Still making.. good tunes.

Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1N_qX_r4Iw&feature

Still.. not really.

Mudhoney - Blinding Sun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYc7zstNSCo

Still making some good stuff.

at 20:25 in /music | 0 comments

Saturday cycling

What to do on a sunny Saturday? What else than go riding with a friend.

We took a route around Uittamo, Katariina, Huhkola and Vasaramäki. Most of the time we were on trails meant for joggers, which were partly too icy to ride. There were some detours in the woods and over some fields. Some kind of relaxed pseudo-cyclocross. Total distance something like 20km, felt a bit more because of the terrain. Good fun.

Some pics below. Thanks for Tuhto for the photos of the weirdo in the red jersey.

map ... pic #1 ... pic #2 ... pic #3 ... pic #4 ... pic #5 ... pic #6

at 22:07 in /cycling | 10 comments

I'm not there

Still waiting to see the film itself. But I got the soundtrack, and I've been listening to it for a couple of days. For an OST it's a really good record.

I've been a big Dylan fan for at least ten years and I guess the soundtrack somehow reminds me of how it felt to hear certain songs for the first time. It's gotten me digging through my CDs and LPs for the originals with some kind of newfound affection.

I think my faves on the soundtrack are As I Went Out One Morning (covered by Mira Billotte) which is one of my favourite songs by any artist, and Highway 61 Revisited (Karen O And The Million Dollar Bashers) which by the way has propably the funniest lyrics ever.. Or One More Cup of Coffee (McGuinn, Roger And Calexico) which is a great track from the somewhat underrated Desire album.

And then there's Sonic Youth covering the previously unreleased track I'm not there. Sonic Youth and Bob Dylan at the same time. Brainfreeze.

at 15:00 in /music | 0 comments

Recumbent trailer

I'm not such a fan of recumbents in general, but anyway.. This thing is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. Even more so because the guy designed and built it himself.

Amazing.

I never thought I'd say THAT about any kind of a caravan, btw. :)

at 22:07 in /cycling | 0 comments

Taking it too easy

Getting over a slight fever. Stayed inside for too many days. But hoping to get out more and get some riding done next week.

While waiting for that, here is some cycling fun from youtube.

Macaframa SF Track Bike Promo
I don't ride a fixie, and I think that trails are more fun than car lanes. I still love to watch this stuff. Plus there's a White Stripes orchestra cover as soundtrack.

Mash SF Trailer - Fixed Gear Movie
This movie trailer has more fixies and The Mall playing.

Pure Sweet Hell "Cyclocross Film"
Another movie trailer. Featuring just about the only honest sport there is left today. It's honest because it sucks the most, as they say in the clip.

at 22:30 in /cycling | 10 comments

Hipit vanhemmat

This is like the awesom...est finnish music video ever? Up there anyway.

Also, Röyhkä & Mattila's new CD is pretty good.

at 19:45 in /music | 0 comments