Comments on: Dave’s Balloon Bike… http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/ musings on cycling, photography, Life, the Universe and... well, U know! Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:44:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: mikesimagination http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-1598 mikesimagination Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:35:54 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-1598 I mailed Dave, he says: The rack is from a Dutch company called Johnny Loco, it seems they have it made by Steco who are famed for making those heavy duty front cargo racks you see mounted to Amsterdam clunkers. http://www.johnny-loco.com/ It took me ages to find it and I wasn't sure if it would even fit as its made for a bike with a smaller wheel diameter. http://www.johnny-loco.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=12&Itemid=113 The fitting was a bit of a challenge but worked out great in the end, after removing the wheel I was able to carefully encourage (bend & return) the rack top mount area over my forks and and behind the crown, the clearances are zero. I then used an extended mud guard fixing bolt at the top mount and two 'P' clips on the forks for the two lower mounts to make it a factory look fit. The 'P' clips were sourced from a local electrical factor, they are used to retain large diameter cabling or pipe/conduit and are conveniently fitted with a rubber gasket to protect the powder coat on my fork legs. I mailed Dave, he says:
The rack is from a Dutch company called Johnny Loco, it seems they have it made by Steco who are famed for making those heavy duty front cargo racks you see mounted to Amsterdam clunkers.

http://www.johnny-loco.com/

It took me ages to find it and I wasn’t sure if it would even fit as its made for a bike with a smaller wheel diameter.

http://www.johnny-loco.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=12&Itemid=113

The fitting was a bit of a challenge but worked out great in the end, after removing the wheel I was able to carefully encourage (bend & return) the rack top mount area over my forks and and behind the crown, the clearances are zero.

I then used an extended mud guard fixing bolt at the top mount and two ‘P’ clips on the forks for the two lower mounts to make it a factory look fit.

The ‘P’ clips were sourced from a local electrical factor, they are used to retain large diameter cabling or pipe/conduit and are conveniently fitted with a rubber gasket to protect the powder coat on my fork legs.

]]> By: claire http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-1592 claire Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:23:10 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-1592 Hello, Could you tell me if the front rack comes from retrovelo too ? I didn't see this option in their website. Best regards, Claire Hello,

Could you tell me if the front rack comes from retrovelo too ? I didn’t see this option in their website.

Best regards,

Claire

]]> By: mikesimagination http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-863 mikesimagination Sat, 03 May 2008 06:54:22 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-863 Hey Luke, thanks for the input ;o) Hey Luke, thanks for the input ;o)

]]> By: Luke http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-859 Luke Fri, 02 May 2008 01:43:23 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-859 Retrovelo bikes are available in the US. There's a shop in Portland, Oregon that just started carrying them. The shop's called 'Clever Cycles.' I accidentally ran across their website (http://clevercycles.com/) while looking for a Surly dealer in the Portland area. I drove over there one evening a few weeks ago to check 'em out. The fit and finish on the Retrovelo bikes is just amazing. They're so nice, I'd probably buy one to park in the living room. They're not cheap. Try US$1995.00 for a powder blue unit. Retrovelo bikes are available in the US. There’s a shop in Portland, Oregon that just started carrying them.

The shop’s called ‘Clever Cycles.’ I accidentally ran across their website (http://clevercycles.com/) while looking for a Surly dealer in the Portland area.

I drove over there one evening a few weeks ago to check ‘em out. The fit and finish on the Retrovelo bikes is just amazing. They’re so nice, I’d probably buy one to park in the living room.

They’re not cheap. Try US$1995.00 for a powder blue unit.

]]> By: Dave’s Balloon Bike, Teil Zwei*… « Mikesimagination Unplugged… http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-189 Dave’s Balloon Bike, Teil Zwei*… « Mikesimagination Unplugged… Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:00:49 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-189 [...] Dave’s Balloon Bike, Teil Zwei*… October 8th, 2007 Remember Dave’s lovely retro machine from a couple of weeks ago… well, he’s been busy with the spanners again and taken his [...] [...] Dave’s Balloon Bike, Teil Zwei*… October 8th, 2007 Remember Dave’s lovely retro machine from a couple of weeks ago… well, he’s been busy with the spanners again and taken his [...]

]]> By: mikesimagination http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-182 mikesimagination Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:47:43 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-182 Hi Chris, I think they soon will be: http://urbanvelo.org/retrovelo-is-coming-to-america/ cheers Mike Hi Chris, I think they soon will be: http://urbanvelo.org/retrovelo-is-coming-to-america/

cheers
Mike

]]> By: Chris Sanford http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-181 Chris Sanford Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:36:28 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-181 Oh... what a beauty! I wish they were available over here in the states... sigh. Oh… what a beauty! I wish they were available over here in the states… sigh.

]]> By: mikesimagination http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-156 mikesimagination Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:10:47 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-156 haha, cheers, yep - a very peculiar form of self-hurt.. ;o) haha, cheers, yep – a very peculiar form of self-hurt.. ;o)

]]> By: 2wheelchick http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-154 2wheelchick Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:25:22 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-154 Good luck with the hill-climb Mike. It sounds tough. The Bec and Catford hill climbs, near me will soon be on. Just thought of doing them makes me feel sick ! Good luck with the hill-climb Mike. It sounds tough. The Bec and Catford hill climbs, near me will soon be on. Just thought of doing them makes me feel sick !

]]> By: mikesimagination http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-153 mikesimagination Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:02:36 +0000 http://mikesimagination.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/daves-balloon-bike/#comment-153 Blimey, you lot afraid of your keyboards or something? Nobody got a word to say.... I'm disappointed ;o) Blimey, you lot afraid of your keyboards or something? Nobody got a word to say…. I’m disappointed ;o)

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