Fuji Superia 400 36exp
Today I learned that my favorite, and pretty much the only 35mm film I use, was discontinued about 3 weeks ago. I bought the last rolls I could find. Gonna look for more tomorrow.
I love this film. very good, and a good price. sad now.
I was getting this for under $3 a roll
There are other options, the 200 speed in 36exp for a few cents cheaper. Or the 400 speed BUT in only a 24exp for about the same price. Still confused about why Fuji cut the 400 36exp??
Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700×38 wire bead
Because I’m having a new frame built I am mirroring a tire choice on a good friends bike. These will act as the largest tire I’d want to run, with fenders, and let my frame builder use them to make sure there will be clearance.
I like the pattern of the tread. Not liking the reflective strip, I may try to remove it. Probably won’t get any miles on these until after the build is complete so it’ll be a while before I really get to test them.
Made in Indonesia
Paragon Machine Works DR0045 – Rear, 70 degree, eyelets
Spotted in NYC. I’d ride one of these. So many great things on this old bike.
Slightly longer chainstays, double eyelets on the front and rear drop outs, rack mounts front and rear.
Double Rainbow by Tarp Tent.
I don’t have one of these tents but knowing there is a made in USA option is good.
Today I saw one of these and spoke to the owner about the build up. It had Salsa woodchipper bars, barend shifters, Thompson set-back seat post, a Tubus rear rack, triple crankset, and a nice Tange fork. Over all a good looking bike. I should have taken a picture. He said he was real happy but had it only for a week and was planing to ride to Montauk, NY. This bike, with a thought out build, looks very tour worthy.
House of Hades + Colossus of Roads tile seen in NYC.
I like tile art. I like art that is for everyone. Some good info about Colossus on never came back.
Some details not quite right. Need to add some features. But turned out good. Next one will be better. Also thinking about re-doing my rear panniers with revised pockets and more features. But that needs to be done in black 500 Cordura or I’d have too much camo.
2009 Specialized Tricross Comp 58cm
This is the bike I rode on my third tour. It did fine. Better than fine, it did great! And is an aluminum/carbon non touring specific bike at that. With a double crankset.
I had a sponsor at the time and the bike was a quick decision. I set it up about one week before leaving on a 60 day bike tour from NYC to LA. I did change the wheels to 48 spokes, added a rear rack, front fender and my pedals. This bike was not a cheap bike to buy new. I think i remember it costing $2200(i think most of that is in the carbon front a rear and the lighter weight parts group). So I was very lucky to be allowed to ride it. But what I’m thinking is this isn’t really a touring bike and it did all I could ever ask for in a bike. 4000 miles and no problems. It baffles me that people believe they NEED a Surly long haul trucker to do a bike tour. It’s just not true. You don’t need a bike as costly as this one either but it’s what i had. There are some things i would maybe change.. the carbon fork(but it held up fine) and the low spoke count radial front wheel (i did swap for a 4 cross 48 spoke) but who cares?
Get a bike that fits and ride it. Add some racks and the do-dads you need and then just go.
Shimano Dura-ace FC 7803 30-39-52 tooth 172.5mm arm length
These arrived today with bottom bracket and wrench. I will prob get a 50t ring for these because thats what I have on my 105 crankset these will replace and i’d like to keep it the same.
NOS on ebay: $249 shipped
Made in Japan
A small, light, infinitely reusable, coffee and tea filter with lid. I might ditch the lid and also drill a hole in one side of the handles so i can attach a key ring & mini carabiner.
After some tea and coffee testing ive learned this works really well with tea. Using this for coffee is good but attention to the grinds coarseness is at least a little important. I drink coffee because it is coffee not because i care much about what kind or style it is. So if this thing is light weight and durable but doesnt correct for variations in grind fineness or coarseness, well i can live with that.
On a short bike tour it might make sense to just buy $2 coffee whenever. On a longer tour saving a few cents or a buck on each cup will add up to something. And with that, the trip could be a extended little longer.
– after some use.. boil water, add grinds into pot, let sit and stir lightly, pour thru the mugmate into coffee cup(s). Most of the grinds stay in water pot. Can make as much or as little coffee as needed in one go.
Weight 1 oz
Cost: $16
Made in Germany
Test phone post
Today I was riding home and saw a guy riding one of these and chatted a bit. He said he just got it from Bianchi because he had a much older Volpe and kinda put it through hell. After writing a long winded letter about a cracked drive side chain stay drop out Bianchi sent him a new one. Must have just been the frame only because all the parts look different than this.
This is just the reason I want to get a new touring bike. As good as a bicycle is new, after years of miles on the road, loaded touring and being up & down coast lines the frame wont last forever. I worry that if I went out on another long ride the my frame would be the most likely to fail. Probably the drive side drop out because that spot endures the most stress.
I’m thinking about going the custom frame route and swap most of my parts over. But if i didn’t have a bike to tour on this would be the one I’d want to buy.
An Argus C3 is not my first film camera but this is the camera that made me want to shoot 35mm film regularly. Unfortunately, the copy that got me hooked was only a loaner and I was again taking pictures with my only camera at the time, a Canon DSLR.
At some point I figured out that my DSLR lenses would fit onto an older Canon SLR, so i found a used Canon EOS 3 to shoot film again. Auto focus, light metering and auto film advance is all good but there is something really nice about a 60 year old, all manual rangefinder.
I did finally find an Argus C3 for sale on the street in Brooklyn. I knew what to look for to be pretty sure it worked. The seller was asking $20 but took $15.
Mine has a 50mm f/3.5 lens. All of them are really heavy. I like having black and white film in this camera.
Pros: 35mm film, no batteries, 50mm lens, made in US, conversation starter(rare-ish, looks cool), low cost, very tough build, the feeling of shooting thru a 70 year old lens and getting rad pictures back.
Cons: heavy, very small viewfinder, difficult to focus, max shutter speed is 1/300th, no light meter, must wrap up to carry or it will win in a backpack fight with whatever it rustles around with (they dont call it “the Brick” for nothing)
Made in USA
