We are excited to participate in the “Let’s Talk About Bikes” exhibit at the Boston Society of Architects. The exhibit opens on Tuesday, June 12, with a party at the BSA from 6-8pm.
“Let’s Talk About Bikes” was conceived by the folks at the design firm, over, under to celebrate the history of framebuilding in Boston, and to explore the role of the bicycle in an urban environment:
“The expansion of urban biking raises broader transit-related questions about the relationship of bicycles to urban and environmental public policy. The exhibition examines this theme, from the Complete Streets movement to advocacy activism to concerns raised in Boston’s larger community about roadway use. Let’s Talk About Bikes presents many stories and outlooks in order to raise awareness and questions about the role of the bicycle in cities today.”
Seven Cycles was asked to loan The Berlin Bike and Seveneer Mike Salvatore’s Elium to the exhibit. Each bike represents a specific type of riding: the Berlin Bike is a commuter bike and Mike’s Elium was build specifically for track racing. Parlee Cycles and Friefly Bicycles also have bikes in the exhibit. In addition, Rob V. conceptualized and edited a family tree of Boston bike building for the exhibit. Many Seveneers are included in various aspects of the show: Matt O’Keefe’s and Jonathan Henig’s photographs will be displayed, and bikes built by Saila, Royal H., and the SCUL gang will also be part of the show.
We hope that if you’re in or around Boston over the summer, you’ll stop by the BSA to have a look at the craftsmanship on display. “Let’s Talk About Bikes” runs from June 12-August 31, 2012.
“My first project bike was as basic as my development, a fixed gear with tubeless tires and a slammed stem.”
Nine months of confinement would break a lesser man’s spirits, but pile another four months of New England winter on top of that, and only a select few have the will power to avoid insanity. The day was December 21st, 1977, winter had just begun and so had I. Forty-six days later the blizzard of ’78 covered my world in white and I credit that storm with my profound imagination. Swaddled in a crib, next to the fireplace, I dreamt up my very first project bike.
For those who have experienced a perilous winter, you can probably relate to my fragile little mind’s wanderings, and may have even dreamt up a project bike of your own.
If you are reading this 7, surely you are aware of the “project bike” phenomenon, but just in case it’s news to you, I define a project bike as such:
Project Bike: (n. proj-ekt bahyk): A bike that is contemplated, devised, planned, or implemented over a harsh New England winter. Traditionally a large or major undertaking; especially one involving considerable money, personnel, day dreaming, and at times outright lusting. So long as the bike has been theorized, the project can be considered “underway” irregardless of how many provable steps have been taken in the bikes physical creation. Project bikes have shown to help maintain the sanity of those trapped indoors for multiple months out of the year.
My first project bike was as basic as my development, a fixed gear with tubeless tires and a slammed stem.
I suppose that it should come as no shock that on the day of my thirty-forth birthday, and winter underway once again, that I have begun another project bike. This bike, unlike the thirty-three before it, comes from a place that none of the others have, raging jealousy. In a recent 7 entry, John Lewis discusses the late night cross ride in which he and others have been participating. Well, he failed to mention that they have also been going on morning mountain bike rides too, in bigger numbers. What feels like every other day, I listen to the glee and general jubilance of my office mates laughing and sharing stories from their early morning mountain bike ride. “Do you remember when Neil crashed!?” Followed by uproarious laughter. “Or when Dan’s wheel spun out?” They even refer to it as “shredding†which sounds even more fun. It goes on all day, and I just know I am missing out on good times. I love good times.
My issue, at least the one I’ll discuss today, is that my stable is missing a mountain bike. Just yesterday my jealousy reached new heights when John took delivery of his brand new Sola SL, much to the delight of the rest of the group.
So consider my 34th winter project bike officially underway. I have determined a few things thus far, including:
Frame: Sola SL
Fork: Shock, but which make/model is still undecided.
Wheels: 650b
Bar: Flat, but the 90’s are calling and you best believe I’ll be rocking some stubby bar ends. Count on that.
Brakes: Hydro disc with humongous rotors. Make/Model are still undecided.
The real issues?
Geared or single?
44mm head tube or standard?
Set back or standard post–I’m still up in the air on the aesthetic.
Cable routing locale, though I’m leaning towards under the top tube.
Time frame.
As you can see, I am well underway, though I have nothing to show for it at the moment. Unlike thirty-two of my previous project bikes, I think this one has a good chance of coming to fruition.
How about you readers, any exciting project bike’s this year, any good stories of projects bikes from the past?
