Raleigh Super Course fixed gear at Colson Park, Billings, Mont.

My first fixed-gear conversion is a fun around-town bike. It started life as a 12-speed Nottingham-built Raleigh Super Course from about 1980. It was one of the last Nottingham Raleighs before the iconic cycle maker went bankrupt and manufacturing migrated to the U.S. and later Taiwan. My Super Course featured Suntour/Weinmann components and was my road bike for more than 20 years. I built the fixed wheel myself using an Origin8 flip-flop hub and a Mavic rim. The cranks are also new, Sturmey-Archer 165mm single-speed built for 1/8th-inch chain. One thing I had forgotten about this bike: the handlebars are really narrow, about 38cm wide, compared to 42cm-wide bars on my current road bike. I’ll swap out the bars when a good deal comes my way.
Earlier today, I was visiting the cycling blog Off the Beaten Path by Jan Heine, publisher of Bicycle Quarterly. One rider posted about riding Paris-Brest-Paris on a fixed gear. Crazy!

My goal for March: Ride my bike every day of the month. Commuting counts. I’m crossing my fingers for weather that’s conducive to outdoor training rides, But when the weather sucks, mounting the bike on the trainer will have to do. Trips to the grocery store, the gym and even Carters Brewing Co. count, as well. Wish me luck!

It’s starting to resemble winter again here in the Gallatin Valley. We had about 4-5 inches of snow on the ground yesterday morning (2/11) in Belgrade, and the temperature was 18 degrees when I got up.

No,  I didn’t ride this afternoon. Instead, I  enjoyed cycling-related memories of a previous period in my life, when I got my first and only look at “ordinary” (that is, penny farthing or high wheeler) bicycles. This experience occurred in the early 1980s, during the year I spent as editor of the weekly Frankenmuth News in the lovely southeastern Michigan town of the same name.

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Sheldon Brown

Sheldon Brown, whose encyclopedic knowledge of bicycles inspired thousands of amateur and professional bike riders and bike wrenchers, died four years ago.
I stumbled upon Sheldon’s writing a few years ago while consulting the Internet for information on bicycle maintenance and repair. Not only was he a highly regarded cyclist, he understood the potential of the Internet long before most of us were still learning about computers. The Boston Globe’s obituary is here. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/08/homepsun_wisdom/
Also, check him out at http://sheldonbrown.com

“It’s all about the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels” by Robert Penn

My friend Ira Idelson recommended this book to me. I finished it Sunday night. It’s a must read for anybody who has ever dreamed of building up a one-of-a-kind dream bike.

A good read for cyclists of all varieties

Penn, a Brit, is the veteran of many epic cycling adventures. The book follows him through the process of choosing a frame builder and all of the components, from headset to drivetrain to wheels and tires. He includes many fascinating details of cycling history and the evolution of bicycle design.

It’s a good read if you’ve ever tinkered with bikes, if you’re thinking about building your dream bike. For that matter, it’s fun to read even if you’re perfectly happy with the bike you have.

We take many freedoms for granted.

In my case, it’s the freedom to work in a profession I enjoy and to live in a place I love – Montana’s magnificent Gallatin Valley.

So it seemed an appropriate time to say thanks to someone who did his part in safeguarding those and many other freedoms: my dad, who turned 85 today. He’s a World War II veteran, a member of the aptly named Greatest Generation.

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A fine mid-winter afternoon in the Gallatin Valley, with the Bridger Range in the background

When will real winter (think deep snow and the mercury struggling to climb above zero) return to – or even make its initial appearance in – our part of Montana?

Not wanting to guess or wait, I pulled my legacy bike out of the garage and notched another pleasant January ride this afternoon.

On a sunny outing with the temperature hovering at about 42-43 degrees, I rode about 45 minutes and logged about nine miles.

My route took me north out of Belgrade, gave me a stretch of gravel roads and then brought me back into town on paved Dry Creek Road.

It was a great feeling to ride again at a time when many fellow North Country cyclists are in a sort of hibernation state. And it certainly makes the thought of returning to my indoor cycle trainer (aka the gerbill machine) more tolerable.

That’s not necessarily because of the weather – Saturday’s predicted high temperature in Belgrade is a balmy (for mid-January) 42 degrees although the wind could gust to 40 mph.

No, I’ve been waylaid for a few days by years of neglecting to properly protect and take care of my face and scalp.

The result: pre-cancerous spots that I hope were largely eradicated today at the dermatologist’s office. I underwent the Levilan®PDT/Blue Light treatment and now must avoid sunlight and bright indoor light for 48 hours.

Lesson learned and passed on: cover your head and use sunscreen with a high protection rating. Then take advantage of mild Montana winter days and hit the road.