Expansion of Bike Trail Systems

 Here's a photo from a ride the other night - 1950 Schwinn Superior 3 speed bike on a newly opened bike trail. 

I'm generally positive about new bike trails, but with a few caveats. First, the trail has to be reasonably surfaced. Most trails are OK, with some being very good and some being bad. I like paved and marked trails the best, with gravel trails being a decent second choice. I like rail trails because they tend to be flatter than other trails. 

 The trails, once installed, need to be kept up because tree roots, wheel ruts, and debris can make them difficult to navigate if they are neglected. The trails also have to be reasonably well marked and the signage has to be adequate, especially when they cross roads or where cars are involved. The three trails of which I am a big fan are the Farmington River trail Collinsville-Burlington-Canton, Connecticut, as well as the Capital Crescent Trail in Montgomery County, Maryland and Northwest, DC and the Mount Vernon Trail in northern Virginia. I especially had many hours on the Capital Crescent Trail when I lived in Bethesda, Maryland.

The downside of trails (and this goes for bike lanes as well) is once the trail or bike lane is installed, there is a fair number of drivers who expect all bikes to be on the trail or in the bike lane at all times. If you have to venture outside the bike lane or trail (say to avoid debris or blockage), these drivers become irritated and aggressive because you are not "in your lane".

 I had someone driving a car yell at me a couple of weeks ago in an area with a new bike trail nearby (something borderline insane about "all these bicyclists" and the motorists not being able to turn left at a particular intersection - it was on the edge of being gibberish).  I used to have this happen more frequently when I lived in the Washington, DC area, but it is the first time in several years it has happened here in Connecticut.

Spring Evening

 

We finally had another nice, spring evening here. The temperatures jumped from colder than normal, to warmer than normal, and finally back to something approximating spring. It was a little cooler than average for this time of year, but it was still very comfortable this evening. We're in for some hot weather ahead though... Above is a very nice, 1964 Schwinn Traveler 3 speed.

Custom Wheels - 1949 Schwinn New World

 After some poking around, I found that the premium wheelset on the 1949 Schwinn New World project is homemade or at least a bike shop made set. The rims are Dunlop Stainless 26 x 1-1/4 (597mm), the hubs are BH Airlyte mixed steel/aluminum front and Sturmey Archer AM medium ration (late 1948 production) in the back.

Here's the strange thing, both hubs were laced with heavy duty type spokes. The fronts were straight gauge, heavy-duty spokes and the backs were double-butted heavy-duty spokes with washers at the hub flange. The holes in the hubs may have been enlarged a bit to take these spokes. The spokes are kind of rusty and probably should be replaced.

The rims do not appear to have been modified at all.  They really, really nice rims.

So the bottom line is it's a nice set of hubs and rims, but certainly not something put together by the Schwinn factory. My guess is that someone wanted an upgraded wheelset and did it at home or had a local shop do it.

So I get to make some choices. I do have a very nice, freshly made set of Schwinn 3 speed wheels with new-old-stock (never used) S6 rims, double-butted spokes, and a 1955 Sturmey Archer AW hub. That may be closest to "original". Though I will admit that using those high-end Dunlop Stainless rims appeals to me still. It's all something to consider... I'll have to see where the project takes me. 

And I think that is the lesson - don't assume going in that you know exactly every outcome of a project. Allow success to take an unexpected or even an improvised form. Let the project develop a bit as you work, and make decisions as you go based on what you find as the project progresses.

Warmer Weather

 

Finally some warmer weather has arrived. A couple shots from my most recent ride: 1964 Schwinn Traveler and a pair of beavers by the side of a road.

 

1964 Schwinn Traveler - Spring Ride

The weather this spring has turned tough. We've had only a handful of warm, sunny days. We've had quite a few days of cold, cloudy, wet weather. Today, for example, it got no warmer than the low 50s, with total cloud cover and very strong winds. The rest of the week was pretty much like that, though some days had rain.

Thursday past was the only good, warm day this week. So I took advantage by taking this very nice 1964 Schwinn Traveler three speed for a ride. Here's hoping next week has more sun and more warmth... we shall see.