Rarely buy a bike . Just by chance, or price into account, along the bicycle collection. This interesting LADIV mount components EFS was one of those cases. Offer two bikes for a lady colleague of MTB (thanks Sergio), one of which was in turn was offered again! This, it seemed good to be a companion of my bike, despite being a Russian salad components Portuguese, English and German.
Let's get to it:

• Frame and fork EFS
• EFS brake lever
• Handlebar Ladiv marked with EFS (yet to be tricked up to mark the metal!)
• Electrical assembly Miller
• Pedal Raleigh universal
• Torpedo 3 speed rear hub
• Front hub Union
• Selim EFS
• Rims peckish

I was missing the selector Sachs, and its power cord. Came from Germany and arrived just in time for Enba VIII .

For now the photos are the original state of the machine:

Interesting? Continue reading Alternative Motion Bicycles 2011

So I will not. As many know and others will know, I manage a small forum of cycling 's oldest, the Friends of the confectioner. Now, since long ago that there was the idea of ​​a meeting of members like you normally do after a certain period of existence of an online community. I knew beforehand, experience in other forums, that the moment of truth there are few members that appear. Nothing special or very surprising, is part of the human condition. But still had some hope that we were still to complete the challenge and we thought we called The Classic . Until there was a handy bonus. After all was not the case and only three members of the board gained courage.
It is that our meeting was not well within the framework of the many meetings that are outside the country. Did not want just another meeting, just did not want a full table. The board existed but ultimately, as a reward for effort and not as the main reason for the gathering of lovers of bicycles. Inspired by the encounter L'Eroica , a distance of 60kms defined by roads that look as much as possible with those of our ancestors, dirt roads and potholes. Of course there was also an alternative to the classic bikes road. Not scared so much. The old bikes that are comfortable to handle this challenge comes without great pains. On top of the course, Gafanha of Nazareth - Mira - Gafanha of Nazareth is completely flat.
The result: the three members of the forum joined by other friends of yeye , other ways to see the bike and the morning was magnificent. What happened there is, will have to believe what I say and start tuning machines and legs to the 2011 edition. Yes, despite the low membership, the distance is not reduced and the land will not be tamed. Because more important than restoring, is pedaling.

Interesting? Continue reading Alternative Motion Bicycles 2010

The is no shortage of bicycle s old. We live in a country of rich and garbage containers are filled with everyday objects perfectly usable. Not to mention the very good food that we waste. But let us just bicycles. Are really old bicycles?
It is very difficult to find bicycle leaning against the bin that would only have the old age. Tyres and lubrication and are ready to contribute to the salvation of our small planet, ready to contribute to a better life.
Imagine: a town where nearly everyone in cycling, but that belongs to no one. Imagine that there are so many bikes that can grab one to go from A to B, B to arrive, park, go to our life and when we returned there is no longer the first bike because someone took it but it will be any other! The amount of old bicycles that send scraps to give to make sure something like that. The problem will not be the bike. The problem is people, as always. The problem is the sense of superiority that the people associated with vehicle ownership. It is a poison that people do not mind taking. Portuguese society is not ready for sharing and socializing. The funny thing is that in the days when no one dreamed of cars, my grandmother has the people, the society was open to sharing. In the automobile age is the new age of darkness and the individual has in himself the King, the landlord and the executioner.

In recent weeks I have been working in the beautiful city of Alentejo Montemor-O-Novo. I had never visited this place and hoped to find enough bike s. After all has the potential architectural and landscape use of this inviting. It could not be more wrong.
In-The-New Montemor pressure to use the car is huge. Parking is abusive and practiced by all. In the days that I went there I saw four people to use bicycles. But there are marks on the floor marathon mountain bike . It's such a fashion d mountain bike that has nothing to do with who really enjoy cycling.
Note that we are talking about a city that crosses in 15 minutes on foot. I'll try to take one of my folding bikes to use in moving from the hotel to work. I'm sick of taxis, so much that he'd rather walk, even a little painful.
After complaining that tourism has not ... because who wants to make tourism centers filled with historic cars?

Taking the Strong

It seems that the approaching strides the 4th stage of the MTB Challenge Series, this time to the sides of Povoa de Santa Iria on the 14th of November: Taking the Strong. Interesting? Continue reading MTB Challenge Series Stage 4

Oh but when the people are convinced that electric cars are not the solution for anyone. Certain that the portfolio will have a few more pennies left over from the gasoline that can not be bought. Certain pollutants that are not ... wait, then how are they manufactured? Its construction does not pollute? Sure! And much! And what to do with the batteries in the long term? The car will not cease to exist, nor should it. Be that fuel is moved. We can not look at it is as a solution to urban mobility. Must be stored in the garage for travel where public transport does not arrive. Must be used in a real need (in my case to visit the family living in villages do not get otherwise). It should be used as a last resort and not as the day our daily bread. We all know, or at least aware that an electric car, even small like this, will not only cause traffic jams, stress and even a few ailments. The city does not need a car!
That said, why the hell is that Peugeot makes a video advertisement of your future electric car surrounded by bike s fixed gear? In what can compare? Perchance the bike uses batteries? By chance the car is moving the body in order to prevent diseases such as bike do? I swear I do not see this video. All I see is a marketing ploy very low level.

By the way, for those who are questioning, fixed gear bike is a bike without a freewheel or with a direct transmission. The acceleration and braking are both made with the strength of our legs. Needless to say you can not stop pedaling like a normal bike. It is the epitome of simplicity in human transportation. Thing that will never be a car.
Does anyone feel the same when I see the video?

Fixed Gear

But already for some time who walked with the idea of using the bike pastry on a journey of some miles. Not only because it is an old bike but being the conveyance of my grandparents. I wonder how it was. Do not get GPS or proper clothing, do not count on support car nor do not know how many changes to facilitate all obstacles. With the approach of the National Meeting of Ancient Bicycles in Burinhosa thought to have both. So at 5:15 in the morning of day 26, the head cap, backpack in support, I became the road.
The start took place on the outskirts of the village of Louriçal , village dating back to the twelfth century and which has as a main tourist interest seventeenth-century convent and an aqueduct that brought water to this. Unfortunately it is not in top condition and reportedly the convent will gradually losing much of its beauty for lack of funds. Not that you can see, it is an active monastery Clare and only a privileged few can enter, I think.
Well ahead. It was still dark and my dynamo and headlight are just embellish. But that hour would be little danger. Only a baker or someone who left the disco afterwards. Apart from these, only bats and hedgehogs crossed me.
The first difficulty arose in the ascent to the hill of Louriçal , which as the name indicates is a lot. With another bike would be a challenge. However with the bike pastry estimated to weigh about 20kg had to ride a good bit of walking and sweat began to want to fight the fresh breeze of the morning. A dog chasing solve my legs helped. Exceeded the rise, I quickly put on the N109 just to go a few meters to cut to the Carriço .
It was time for a new challenge. The national road in the forest is quite bumpy. Although the bicycle frame and saddle absorb enough vibration seem more a couch, the floor is enough to truly bad. Even so the bike is pastry queen in comfort! By this time the scenery changes little. Pines and more pines, either rabbit crossing the road. Fun with the path or my thoughts did not seem later when I saw the sea from a small high. The path, though in poor condition, is mostly flat. A fall and saw me again involved in pine trees with the sea on my right.
Suddenly I see a pond. I think 'good, I'll stop here.' But as soon as I stop 'pond ... where the pond, I do not want to go through any pond.' It seems I was wrong and went to the pond Ervideira . Well, now was to follow for Pedrogão. The road much worse before they get there and it was a relief to see the road.

Bicycle path

Now in flat floor was just rolling. The road from Praia da Vieira Pedrogão and can be dangerous for cyclists in the morning hours but that was still almost alone. Despite only having three changes pastry bike moves well on tar and weight pack it on the descents so you can make good averages. And actually I wanted to enter the bike path that would make me feel safer. And she was there!
This bike path, if I am not mistaken, named the Atlantic League to Praia da Vieira S. Pedro de Moel while much of the landscape over the pine forest to plant sent by King Dinis. This bike path is a huge line that follows the main road, almost empty, lined with wildflowers, stopping every few kms consisting of a bank and a map, all still in good condition. A trip is recommended.

Lighthouse

Arriving in S. Pedro de Moel chose to take the direction of Marinha Grande , yet to track and then cut to Burinhosa, my destiny, returning to the rough roads.
I reached my goal was barely 9 am. The day would be devoted to old bicycles but also speak tomorrow. 60kms were easy, with tshirt and jeans. The saddle old, authentic work of art in the comfort concerns dealt with the rest.

I have often said that this service serves no purpose other than to political propaganda. Why say such a thing often falls to me about karma and Trinity on top! I decided to try spending a day in the company of Buga , try these bike s to give more ground to what I say. Come on!
Location: The Lodge is a BUGA city's central position, which in itself is no problem. Becomes a problem when there is a single point of collection and delivery of Buga bike ! But so much of the population reaches quickly walk to the destination than go get Buga and then go to the destination.

View BUGA in a larger map

Shop BUGA before 9 am

Time is now: imagine that we live up near the store Buga. Suppose to get in the habit of going to work by bicycle. Imagine that we can not have a bike in the apartment. Imagine that, as would be natural to think of using for this purpose Buga: go to work. We can not. Unless we keep the bike at home Buga going against the rules of cycling. Oh but we could not have bikes at home was not? This is because the store Buga only opens the doors at 9, at which time most people already have to be at work.
We combine the location and time and are already two serious obstacles to the use of BUGA.

Request: just deliver a form of ID to lift the bike. In my case raised two bikes for two users, leaving the voter card. It was not always so but I think that vandalism has led to this situation. Even if some bikes come with the system type carter. Lock is provided if we need it. Then you choose any of parked bicycles. The task becomes more complicated to check the status of Bugas. Something has to be always starting, crooked, rusty.

Conduct and analysis of BUGA: Buga the bike is, in general, a very comfortable bike. Assembled by the extinct Macal (not sure if all but a large part), bearing components of good quality by striking a bicycle for public use. The characteristic picture is distinguished from a distance, or by its shape and color, billboards or by serving as the wheel skirts. Unfortunately there are few companies that participated in this type of advertising.
Let the parts making up the bike. The transmission is an excellent position with brake Sturmey Archer hub or a Shimano Nexus. Both 3-speed internal gear hubs such a bet are accurate for the type of land the city. Unfortunately whoever comes to the maintenance of Buga should not tell much about bikes and the cubes are completely drenched in oil. This problem is most severe in the hub brakes that have seen that oil and brakes do not get along very well. In fact, the bike could have chosen not freeze. Suffered only a slight slowdown. This is quite dangerous even for someone experienced and accidents do not happen in reality because the bikes are not used much.

Sturmey Archer hub

Shimano Nexus hub

Brake with signs of oil where it should not be

It's a rare bike that has the braking and running. The fact that the levers are not plastic contributes to not further aggravate this colossal failure. It should be noted once again that bikes are well built. It is also rare that the bike has no selectors change parties. Fortunately work. It is understood that the vandalism becomes impractical immediate change of each component so that part, though not without passing a negative image. More negative and the white baskets on the front wheel completely bent, broken and rusty.
The tires are different brands and various measures. They are, in most cases, under proper conditions of use. My bike has had a curious detail, the seat attached by a screw on top of the saddle ...! And yet ... a bottom bracket that seems to me a soldier. Be soldier or not, health is. Delicious contempt and overlooked maintenance that these bikes are subject!

Selector and brake lever.

Bottom bracket soldier?

Selim screw

Shopping party, twisted and rusty

Note also the lack of parking for bicycles in the city, but it serves any post. After all, is a bike that problem solvers.
In conclusion, for the Buga serving?
For systematic commuting to work? No.
For connections between the railway station and the rest of the city? No.
To connect the city from one end to another without the need for pollutant transport? No (you must first go to the store)
What are the conditions for using the Buga? Living near Buga Store, take time off ... or be a tourist with an open mind. In the past, the intention was good, the practical results do not meet today.