Ironweed Bicycle Products
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Panniers
    • Dolliver Trunk Bag
    • Orpington Front Bag
    • Racks, Decaleurs, and Straps
  • Ironweed Retailers
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Proper Pannier Fit
  • Installing Stiffeners
  • Our Guarantee
  • Contact Us
  • Ironweed Blog
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Panniers
    • Dolliver Trunk Bag
    • Orpington Front Bag
    • Racks, Decaleurs, and Straps
  • Ironweed Retailers
  • Gallery
  • About
  • Proper Pannier Fit
  • Installing Stiffeners
  • Our Guarantee
  • Contact Us
  • Ironweed Blog
  Ironweed Bicycle Products

Two Cycling Videos from 2012

12/28/2012

0 Comments

 
I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite bicycle-related videos from the past year.  First is Back to Earth from El Zumpango a Bay area film maker.   I think this video beautifully captures the liberation, whimsical energy, and fellowship of a group camping ride.  The other, What is Bicycle Travel?, is a short promotional video, but very well done.  It conjures up some warm thoughts and images on a cold December day.

Back to Earth from El Zumpango on Vimeo.

0 Comments

Happy New Year and Thanks!

12/26/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
This past year Ironweed had the opportunity to work with some really great folks.  Most recently, we added Wallingford Bicycle Parts to our list of retailers.  Many Ironweed customers are probably familiar with Wallingford.  Their product line is top notch.  So I am proud to have Ironweed as a part of their offerings.  I remember discovering Wallingford when I was looking for the proper gear to outfit my Mercian.  They had everything I needed including Gilles Berthoud fenders.  

I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of our Midwest retailers. First is Budget Bicycle Center in Madison.  If you're in the Madison area, I suggest you pay them a visit.  They have the largest collection of classic and vintage bicycles for sale anywhere in the world!  I have spent hours in their used bike shop ogling the impressive collection.  It’s like going to a bicycle museum except you can buy the exhibits!

Another retailer and long time supporter is 30th Century Bicycles here in Iowa City.  Locally, we referrer to them as 30 Cent.   It's a shop of the people, started by a couple of former Iowa City Bike Library volunteers and board members.  In some ways, their shop is really an extension of the Bike Library’s mission.  They are committed to getting people on bikes and offer a very welcoming environment; particularly for those new to cycling. They've sold quite a few Ironweeds over the past couple of years. 

I would also like to thank Bike Friday for including Ironweed bags on their 20th anniversary New World Tourist.  I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this very special bike and to help in the celebration of their 20th year of making top quality, hand-built folding and travel bicycles in the USA!   

I’m looking forward to great things in 2013!

Brian 

0 Comments

Winter Projects

12/23/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Peugeot NSL-40 with gratuitous placement of Ironweed trunk bag
Winter is project time.  Earlier this week, we had a blizzard going on here in Iowa City.  I took the opportunity to finish working on one of the three winter bike projects I’ve got going on. 

I’m in the process of finishing up a Peugeot NSL-40.  The “NS” stands for Nouveau Style and the “L” signifies Luxury.   It’s a five speed, and this frame style also came as a single speed folder,.  The wheels were very rough and, unfortunately, an obsolete size 550A (490 mm ISO/BSD).  Thankfully, it was an easy fix by  substituting small MTB rims (24” or 507 mm ISO).   It also has internal cabling and dynamo wiring with    Franco-rific fender-mount lights. 

This was a pretty straightforward clean and tune project.  However, in addition to the wheels I did swap out a couple of components.  For instance, I replaced the cottered crank with a 3-pin alloy Stronglight TS.   Next, I changed the tattered Simplex Prestige with another very clean white label Prestige from my French derailleur box.  What’s more, I had already done a preemptive Suntour pulley wheel transplant on this derailleur.   There were several other very nice Simplexes in the box, but I chose to keep my powder dry a least until I see how this thing performs. 

The Simplex Prestige transmission system is much maligned.  I will concede the integrity is horrible.  But the rear derailleur actually performs well before the pieces start cracking and crumbling.  Simplex rear derailleurs had the upper pivot return spring on everything from the Prestige to the SLJ models.  This feature gave them superior shifting by wrapping chain and keeping pulley wheels tight and close to the freewheel/cassette.  I did, however, replace the fragile Simplex Prestige shifter with a smooth and sturdy Simplex Criterium lever.    

After fishing the cable housing through the frame, I grabbed a shift cable and started to install it.  Then I remembered these old Simplex shifters take a cable end that is significantly smaller than contemporary shifter cables.  I was about to file down the cable end when I remembered I had a stash of cables I purchased from a shop back in the late 80s.  They were clearing out stock and I bought all they had – about a dozen or so.  I came across them recently while cleaning up.  On one end of the cable is the smaller barrel end and the other is the smaller disc shaped end that fits Huret shifters.  These are getting harder to find.

As I previously mentioned, the dynamo wiring is run inside the frame and tucked neatly into crimped edges of the fenders.  For those familiar with French bicycles, this was pretty common on city style bikes of a certain vintage.  It gives bikes a nice finished look.  No stay wire hanging about.

Next up… the Moulton!

Picture
Vintage French-end derailleur cables
0 Comments

Alex Moulton Rides On

12/11/2012

1 Comment

 
The world lost a great bicycle designer, innovator and inventor this past weekend.  Dr. Alex Moulton died Sunday at the age of 92.  Not to make this about me, but I've been on the hunt for an old "F" frame Moulton for the past few months.  The Sunday previous to his passing I found one.  I am very much looking forward to restoring it.  We're even considering a run of bags to fit the Moulton racks.

Rest in peace Dr. Moulton.

Picture
Picture
1 Comment
    Picture

    Brian Loring


    Archives

    December 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010

    Categories

    All
    30th Century Bicycle
    650b
    Airbnb
    Albert Finney
    Alex Moulton
    Amf Bicycles
    Amish
    Amusing Bicycle Stuff
    Art
    Back In Stock!
    Back To Earth
    Beer
    Benelux
    Bicycle Chain
    Bicycle Travel
    Bike Culture
    Bike Expo
    Bike Friday
    Bike Friday Partnership
    Bike Library
    Bikes
    Bikes And The City
    Bike To Work Week
    Bill Walton
    Bluemels
    Bobbin
    Brian Eno
    Brompton
    Brooks Flyer
    Budget Bicycle Center
    Cambridge
    Campeur Racks
    Cargo Bikes
    Christmas
    Classic Rendezvous
    Claus Barbie
    Cognition Caps
    Collector
    Condor
    Copenhagen
    Customers
    Cycle Goods Catalog
    Cycle Truck
    CyclingTips
    Cyclocross
    Dapper
    Daughters
    David Byrne
    Decaleur
    Defeet Duraglove
    Derailleurs
    Dew Point
    Dia Compe NGC 450 Brakes
    Dolliver Sale
    Dolliver Trunk Bag
    Donkey Bike
    Dr. Science
    Drycycle
    Dutch
    Dutch Carriers
    Dynamo
    El Zumpango
    Evel Knievel
    Fenders
    Fillet Brazing
    Films
    Frame Pump
    France
    French
    Front Bag
    Gb Brakes
    Gilles Berthoud
    Giveaway
    Groundhog Day
    Hand-Painted Signs
    Harris Cyclery
    Heel Strike
    Hooks
    Huret
    Iowa Bike Expo
    Ironweed Retailers
    Ironweed Stuff
    Japanese
    Jingle Cross
    Kalona
    Kids
    Kurt Vonnegut
    Kuwahara
    League Certified Instructor
    League Of American Bicyclists
    Leather Straps
    LED Light Bulbs
    Lighting
    Lygie
    Lyon
    Made In Usa
    Madison
    Malartre Museum
    Mercian
    Mick Jagger
    Mixte
    Motobecane Mixte
    Moulton
    Mud Flap
    Mudguards
    Mulberries
    Music
    My Bicycles
    North Road
    Orpington
    Packing
    Pannier Size
    Paris-Nice
    Park Tool
    Pashley
    Pathé
    Paul Charrel
    Peugeot Nouveau Style
    Peugeot NSL-40
    Photos
    Planet Bike Cascadias
    Porteur
    Practical Cycles Uk
    Practical Cycling
    Prototype
    Racing
    Racks
    Ragbrai
    Raleigh
    Raleigh Roadster
    Raleigh Rsw
    Ralph Sampson
    Rando
    Rapha
    Repurposing
    Reynolds 531
    Rhone River Valley
    Rides
    Rubberizing Hooks
    Sakae/Ringyo
    Schwinn Sports Tourer
    Schwinn Tiger
    Scooter
    Sculptures
    Shifting
    Shilling
    Shimano Crane
    Simplex
    Six Speed Bar-End
    Soma Tradesman
    Sr
    Sugino
    Surly Long Haul Trucker
    Swept Back Handlebars
    Tennessee Williams
    Third Hand Tool
    Tiller Effect
    Touring
    Touring Bicycle
    Trailers
    Training
    Transportation Alternatives
    Treadmill
    Trek 728
    Trunk Bag
    Tweed
    Umbrella
    University Of Iowa
    Var
    Velo Orange
    Velo Vitality
    Video
    Vintage
    Viviers
    Wabi Woolens
    Wald Basket
    Wallingford Bicycle
    Water Bottle
    Waterproof
    Water Resistance
    Weight
    Wet Socks
    Wheelhouse Detroit
    Winter Bike
    Woodrup
    YORR
    Youth Off Road Riders

    RSS Feed

Picture
The time is now - load up and ride!