1st annual Sacramento Cyclefest at Fremont park. July 18, 2010.
Behind Bars, Inc. is a collaboration between TwentySixInch custom
bicycles and SouthSydeCycles. The two joined forces in 2002 or so to
organize one of the best custom bicycle shows to ever hit Northern
California. As well as hosting bicycle shows, Behind Bars, Inc. is also a
creative effort which will bring you apparel and goods for ANYTHING
with a set of handle bars
Critical Cycles is a new kind of fixie company. They state on their website that:
"What matters to us most is getting as many people out of cars, off their sofas, away from their desks, and onto a bike. That’s why we offer many sizes, colors, and the best prices anywhere on the web."
Yeah, that pretty much nails it! I agree all the way, and that is one of the reasons that I was so stoked to come into possession of a Critical bike of my own a couple of months ago. I had been wanting a single speed urban ride for a number of months and had started a conversion and bike build in my head when this flat black Beauty showed up in my life. I just couldn't resist keeping this one for my own personal ride. This Critical was just the fixer upper that I needed!
"Fixie style bikes are fun and very simple. They blend the speed and efficiency of a track bike with the flat or upright handlebars of a mountain bike to make the ride a little more comfortable. They are generally the preferred mode It was this simplicity that I crave! I really like the sleek look of a bike with little or no cables and over the years of riding various mountain bikes and road bikes I have come to detest deraileurs and their constantly failing or breaking completely at the worst possible times. I am going to be honest with ya' here. I am just not "hard core" enough at my current age to ride a fixed gear bike on a daily basis. I prefer the casual ride of a single speed, but that is just my preference.
The Critical bike has a distinct fixie style with it's BMX style handlebars. These fixies use a steel frame and fork, and come equipped with Protek cranks, Sunrun freewheel, KMC chain, Well-Go pedals, and Promax brakes.
Brake: Rear Promax Brake with 22.2mm brake lever clamp diameter
Bottom Bracket: NECO 68x110 Cartridge Sealed
Pedals: 9/16” Chrome Well-go Pedal with Leather Strap and Chrome Toe Cage
Saddle: Critical Cycles Pista Saddle
Not a bad line up, but I immediately discovered that a few upgrades were in order to make this ride truly mine.
The Critical also came with the factory flip-flop rear hub with the option of using the included freewheel if you are not into the true fixed gear thing like me.
So far it all sounds good right? How about when the rubber hits the road?
I have to say that the Critical is one of the more comfortable bikes that I have ridden. It is a fast bike, like you would expect from a road style track bike, but more comfortable and sleek.
This bike is also relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver in tight spots. Good for the concrete jungle! A fast maneuver saved me from being side swiped by an SUV just today!
The gear ratio is a little tall for climbing hills but I never had a problem with standing on the pedals and it cruises along the flats comfortably. Speaking of pedals, the cheap strap pedals that come stock on a Critical are sh*t! The pedals are not completely flat on both sides, and it would be nice to have that for people that are not using the toe clips and straps. I personally don't care for the straps or clips at all, but again that is just my personal preference. Overall, the handling of the bike was quick but still comfortable )other than the pedals)— not wobbly or loose but not too tight.
The frame welds looked clean, and they were representative of a well built bike.
The brake pads were wore out. I will need to replace those with haste!
Other than minor issues this is just the type of minimalist and fun bike I was looking for. I think it will be perfect for my next bike build and for my personal ride as well!
I know that receiving 500 business cards from Vistaprint is hardly blog worthy to most people, but I am totally stoked. Seeing the logo in print on business cards is like some kind of affirmation in reality for me! I am so anxious to get to the part that I really want to do, and that is build and work on bikes!
Love them or Hate them, Roadmaster Bicycles have come to be considered a piece of American history. While they never gained in popularity like Shwinn and Huffy, there were times when the bikes were extremely popular, especially because they were inexpensive. Unfortunately, they were often referred to as nothing but ‘a piece of junk’ by many bicycle efficianados. Roadmaster Bicycles have had to battle many uphill climbs , but honestly earned their place in the hearts and minds of nostalgic cyclists. Roadmaster Bicycles were first introduced by the Cleveland Welding Company in 1936. In 1950, after purchasing the Roadmaster line of children's and youth bicycles from the Cleveland Welding Company, AMF entered the bicycle manufacturing business with its newly formed AMF Wheeled Goods Division. In 1953, after a prolonged labor strike, AMF moved bicycle manufacturing from the UAW-organized plant in Cleveland, Ohio to a new facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.The new plant was heavily automated and featured more than a mile of part conveyor belts in six separate systems, including an electrostatic induction painting operation. Taking advantage of the increase in its target markets in the aftermath of the baby boom, AMF was able to diversify its product line, adding exercise equipment under the brand name Vitamaster in 1950. As demand for bicycles continued to expand, the company found the need for a new manufacturing facility to keep up with demand. As two-wheeled bicycles are increasing in popularity a new production plant is built in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1951. In 1962, the company moved its operations to Olney, Illinois, where it built a new factory on a site that would remain the company's principal bicycle manufacturing location into the 1990s. BMX bicycles, mopeds and exercise bicycles are introduced in the 1970s. After two decades of consistent growth, the AMF Wheel Goods Division stalled under the long-distance management of a parent company bogged down in layers of corporate management and marginally profitable product lines. Manufacturing quality as well as the technical standard of the Roadmaster bicycle line - once the pride of the company - had fallen to an all-time low. Bicycles made at the Olney plant were manufactured so poorly that some Midwestern bike shops refused to repair them, claiming that the bikes would not stay fixed no matter how much labor and effort was put into them.
Helped by the increasing popularity of Mountain Bikes, Roadmaster experienced a 72% increase in bicycle sales in 1993. A new bicycle production plant was built in Effingham, Illinois to keep pace with the growing demand. Roadmaster acquired Flexible Flyer Company, whose history dates back to 1889. It changed its name to Roadmaster Industries, Inc. and positioned itself as the leader in the fitness equipment and junior toy industries. Itin and Fong took the company public through an IPO in the end of 1987. Itin and Fong acquired over 20 companies in the sporting goods field. Roadmaster grew from $40,000,00 in unprofitable sales to over $800,000,000 of highly profitable sales. Under the symbol of RDMI it went from small cap on NASDQ to large cap on NMS to the American Stock Exchange and then to the New York Stock Exchange and became a Fortune 1000 company.
In 1997 the Roadmaster bicycle division was sold to the Brunswick Corporation. However, it had already become evident that production of low-cost, mass-market bicycles in the United States was no longer viable in the face of intense foreign competition, and in 1999, all U.S. production of Roadmaster bicycles ceased.
Brunswick sold its bicycle division and the Roadmaster brand to Pacific Cycle, which began distributing a new Roadmaster line of bicycles imported from Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Pacific Cycle still uses the Olney facility for corporate offices and as a product inventory and distribution center.
Below are pictures of the classic Roadmaster Bicycle that was recently saved from the scrap heap and then rehomed to a nice young lady who wanted it so that she could bicycle to and from her classes at Indiana University. The bike had been given to a "houseless" man who I am acquainted with by the name of John. A student who was moving out and who had seen John, offered it to him. John took it and thanked the young man for his generosity. The next time that I stopped to talk to John on one of my bike rides, he approached me and explained how he came across the bicycle and asked me if I wanted it. "Look here! It came with a gosh dang combination lock so you know that it ain't stolen or nothing." John said defensively, as if I had accused him of such a crime. Which I had not. Knowing the abundant bounty of bicycles that are left behind and abandoned by students every semester first hand.
I agreed to take the bike on one condition. That condition was that I would make sure that it was in good shape to ride, then find it a new owner and split the profits with him. Despite his circumstances, John is a man with pride and at first he tried to argue the conditions with me. "Nah! I am GIVING it to you." He argued. "I see you a messing around with bikes all the time and I figured you might want it." He went on to say. "And besides I got Bear!" He said pointing at his canine companion. "I can't ride no bicycle with Bear so I ain't got no use for it." I have never seen John go any where that Bear could not go with him. They are inseparable as far as I know. "Can't you just let a guy gives you something?" John said cocking his roughly wrinkled head and coming across looking like Popeye. He is one hell of a character for sure. I told him that was fine and that I accepted his gift graciously, then I asked him his question right back at him. "Now, can't YOU just let ME give you a little something back in return?" For me it was more about giving this great little ride a second chance than it was about making a dollar, and it was also a way to do something good for my fellow people. Reluctantly he agreed and, after taking the small piece of paper with the combination to the accompanying lock scrawled onto it, I pedaled off on this little beauty.
I was really surprised by how well taken care of the bike had been. According to the front badge it was manufactured at the Olney, Illinois plant. That would date the bicycle at 1997 or earlier, making it at least twenty years old. The gear shifters were the old school metal type that I never have been fond of (not fond of any gears at all these days!) and the saddle was not the most comfortable to me, but the actual ride was S-M-O-O-T-H! I held onto the bike for about a week. Partly to make sure that it was in good shape, but partly out of nostalgic fondness for the bicycle and it's history. I finally listed it online and, not surprisingly, a number of individuals contacted me wanting to purchase it. It was the young college student that showed up first to have a look at it in person and take it for a test ride, and it was her who bought it!
The next day I went to People's Park and found John, with Bear resting next to him, sitting on one of the wooden benches. I gave him his cut and despite his reluctance to agree to the initial condition, he smiled and thanked me.
I will forever have a fondness for that Roadmaster. It was one of the first bikes that I flipped after moving back to B-town and it felt great doing it!
