First and only ride on the Crawford?

Got some air to hold in the front tire so decided to go for a quick ride...based on what I've learned about the possible value of the bike, it very well could be my last, as well. Don't want to break a wood rim or anything else.

 1902 Bicycle, 2001 Honda taken by 1955 owner. Connecting the past with the present.

1902 Crawford

Well, I pulled the trigger and invested in a vintage bike. I first looked at it last summer. A work friend from 25 years ago came back into my life last year and in passing he said he and his brother had an old bike their dad had salvaged from the Virginia, MN dump back in the 60's.


They've been sharing storage duties for it since then, occasionally riding it in parades when it was still ride able.
I'm pretty excited to get it cleaned up and back on the road.
My plan is to use it in a parade or 2 myself maybe and to also allow different bike shops that want to display it keep it for a period of time. I have a few friends that want to show it off, as well, so will allow them to house it.

Updates will appear as I work with it.
One of the coolest things about the bike is that it's shaft drive.
I need tires to start with. Single tube.

 

Friend Tony

Cheq 100 2012

Had a blast at the Cheq 100. I did the metric 100 (62 miles) after doing or attempting to do the 100 miles in the inaugural year and last year.
62 was plenty, pace is everything.
The day started out nice and sunny but we got a fair amount of rain on an already somewhat saturated trail so it did get a little muddy, but mostly on the firetrail roads. The single track help up very good. The folks at CAMBA made some damn nice trails up there!

After starting at a pretty good pace for me, my seat came apart some when a screw came out around half way through, mile 30-35 or so, so I had bit of a struggle sitting and pedaling. Then, from the mud I developed some chain-suck that eventually casued my chain to break cranking up a steep section.
That all conspired so add to my time. I, like everyone I think, was pretty well cooked after the race which was spent at Three Rivers Eatery in Cable, WI. Great people that treated all of the participants fantastic.
Winners were Drew Wilson in the 62 mile and Mark LaLonde, in the 100. Both great guys that I've been able to get to know through the mtn biking community.

Friday heading up to the race on BOB (bike on bike) 

 The CORP crew, Madison, WI.

 Erik, MN.

 Bob, MN.

 100 mile start line.

 Charly Tri, Last years winner. Listening to the race instructions, or getting raptured.....sun rising behind him.

 Tim and Joe, last minute instructions.

 Ryan, MN.

 Mark, 100 miles winner.

 Erik, again!

 Giving the chain/gears a bath in a pond off the trail to get some mud and sand off to ease chain suck.

 Kev, Nate and Jin, Madison crew after the race.

 yours truly, my frankenbike rider inpression

 Mark washing off his bike

 damaged seat

 BOB doubling as a clothsline.

Grand Island, Munising, MI

After friend Tom and I decided to postpone our river kayak trip on the Peshtigo River, I figured I should do something with the kayak, after all I was in Munising, MI which is right on Lake Superior.
I had been wanting to see what the biking was like on Grand Island, for a few years, so I combined both....
About a mile total in kayaking (out and back) and a little over 20 miles biking to circumvent the island with lots of opportunity for pictures.
Pictures from the day.

Getting the bike on the yak. First time I tried this, it went well. Glad I had 3 bungees in the jeep. But, not a big surprise on that....my BIL said years ago I could live out of it what with all the crap I have in it usually.

Lake Superior temps are in the high 40's right now in Munising from what the National Park Service person told me...if you dump, you better get out pretty quick or it's all over. Had my farmer John wet suit on as a time buyer just in case. The waves were small although the tire broke a few that came over the front. Biggest concern was I had to cut them at a 90 degree angle, but the Prijon Yukon Expedition is a very stable boat. It's not a skinny sea kayak. I don't think I've ever heard a bad review on this boat. Only recommendation I'd make it to make sure it has a rudder. Makes things a ton easier, especially fishing from it!

 Grand Island beach.

 
Hummm.....is this where Gary Fisher got the material for my Paragon frame? Windswept White Birch.

Where's that fat-bike when you need it?? ;-) I just pushed the 2.3's into the sand it stood all by its self. The trail follows the edge of the island, so there is a fair amount of up and down....stretches of packed dirt mixed in with some fall line wet loose sand, mud and rocks. Anyone that does singletrack won't have a problem...but causal paved bike path riders will have to broaden their skill set.

Recognize this shot? As soon as I saw this page in the Grand Island website I knew it looked familiar.

 Island was logged off in the late 1800's...a few big ones still out there, though.

 Cemetery on the island. Still used by the family that originally owned it. States there are a few unknown sailors in it that had washed up on the island way back when.

 Sea cave.

 Veins of different rock or scouring from the glaciers?

 90% of the trail is under a canopy. Which keeps it wet with no direct sun.

 The End....kinda....hummmm what about a kayak/bike combo trip?