Hats Off!

Because quite a few of you have ordered hats from me as part of barter deals via the Trading Post, I wanted to announce that: (1) I am now done with all the ones I promised thus far and they are going out in the mail on Monday, and (2) My waiting list has cleared and I am ready for more trades. Thank you for your interest in these, and I am happy to make them. I have problems with the nerves in my hands and knitting is a good form of physical therapy for that - so it's great to be "forced" to do it. While I am not looking to start selling hats, I am more than happy to trade them for bicycle components and whatever other stuff might appear on my Trading Post "want" list. Since I've received a lot of questions about the hats, I thought I'd provide some details here, and link to this post whenever someone has a question. Please feel free to skip if this is not of interest.





Materials and Patterns: I use a soft 100% Peruvian wool. I have a very good source for the wool now and can get pretty much any colour you want. I don't use patterns, but make up my own designs.





Styles: I can make three basic type of hats in many variations: a ski-hat ("beanie"), a rounded Scandinavian style hat, and a slouchy beret. I don't make hats with ear flaps or visors.





Texture: Most of my hats have some textural variation to them. This adds structure to the hat, as well as visual interest - especially when the hat is all one colour. If you prefer them to be smooth, that is fine as well.





Extra warmth? By default, the hats are warm and wind-proof. But if you want one that is extra warm, I can do that by using stitching that makes the hat thicker.



Summer hats? I can also make a summer weight beret using a delicate cashmere blend.





Colour combinations: Hats can be made single tone, or in various colour combinations. I like stripes and organic forms. If you have something specific in mind, let me know!





Which hat for under a helmet? If you want a hat specifically to wear under a helmet, I recommend opting for a ski hat with no textural variation. The colour combination of course does not matter.





Trade value?No idea. So far I've traded for things like handlebars and vintage camera equipment, and multiple hats for a (new) wheelset. The more complicated the pattern, the more time consuming a hat is to make, but I have no concrete value system in place. I am not looking to start a hat business or to market these. It's just a fun way to trade and thanks again for the interest!

Beautiful Old Tree

Aurora Avenue

Last night before going to bed, I looked at the spaceweather.com website just in case there were any reports of aurora activity. As luck would have it, an interplanetary shockwave had just arrived and was sparking aurora activity. The source of the shockwave was unknown, but researchers say it could have originated in a transition zone between high and low speed solar wind streams. The shockwave ended up generating nearly 15 hours of geomagnetic storming. I took this photo directly in front of our house at 11:30 PM. Just minutes after making this photo the clouds moved in and almost completely obscured the view of the lights. I spent the next 4 hours searching for openings in the clouds and ended up finding a few here and there.

Campobello Island :: Sunset

Thursday, September 20th - - Another very nice day was coming to an end. I was driving around Campobello Island looking for a good spot from which to view the sunset. The weather had been as close to perfect as you can get for this time of year and clouds had developed in the western sky, foretelling of the rain that was forecast for tomorrow.





Do you see that streak of color on the left? I had seen something like that a few days before but had not been in a place where I could stop to photograph it. Today I was able to pull safely off the side of the road... It wasn't a rainbow since it wasn't raining and it certainly wasn't in the shape of a traditional rainbow. The streak of color remained in the sky for about 10 minutes then gradually faded away.



And the sunset? Oh, yes. It was magnificent. As an old man I spoke with the next morning put it "The sky just went ballistic!" He was so right. And the photos don't really do it justice.

















I couldn't resist taking a panoramic shot, which included the moon (that little white streak in the upper left-hand corner). You're gonna have to double-click the image to view a larger version.





I moved to a location a little further along the road for a slightly different viewpoint. A few minutes later the color had disappeared from the sky.



My one day on Campobello Island was
almost over. The next day (Friday, September 21st) I would travel
west, back to Belfast, where I would spend 3 days with my cousin
Anita (my dad and her mother were brother and sister) and her husband
Tom. We got caught up on everything since my
previous visit 3 years ago. We talked about so many things during
our time together, reminiscing about our younger days and discussing
various family members (both living and dead). Yes, it was a very
good visit. Thank you, Tom and Anita! I treasure the time we had
together.

The Keweenaw Peninsula :: Fort Wilkins

Sunday, August 7th - - It was an extremely cloudy and overcast day on Saturday with a forecast of rain in the afternoon. The rain didn't materialize until Sunday morning but I spent a leisurely day Saturday getting caught up with everyday tasks – grocery shopping, laundry, etc. And, of course, working on the computer and writing blog posts. You not only learn to take advantage of the “good” days (the pretty ones with blue skies and sunshine) but also the “bad” days that are somewhat dreary and sometimes a little depressing.



Sunday morning I headed northwest, catching US 41 and following it all the way to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula and stopped at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park for the night. The further north I drove, the nicer the weather got. The rain stopped and the sun came out. Blue skies returned.



In the 1840s when the copper rush took place the US Government built Fort Wilkins due to a concern with possible disorder and violence amongst the miners and local natives. The Army built 27 structures, including a guardhouse, powder magazine, seven officer's quarters, two barracks, two mess halls, a hospital, storehouse, sutler's store, quartermaster's store, bakery, blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, icehouse, four quarters for married enlisted men, stables, and a slaughter house – all to house the operations of two full-strength infantry companies. Several of the original structures still survive while others have been reconstructed following archaeological excavations.



It was an interesting self-guided tour. Apparently they have costumed interpreters on-site during some periods of the summer, but not while I was there! However, there are plenty of informative displays all around that provide a good deal of information.





The Officer's Quarters and another building reflected in the old glass windows of another building.





I thought it was interesting that the four buildings housing the married enlisted men and their families were outside the gates of the fort!





One of the other things that I thought was really interesting is that they displayed copies of original documents – some census records, muster rolls, etc. and they have documented the lives of most of the men who served at Fort Wilkins!



This graphic, with reflections abounding, tells the tale of the soldiers stationed at Fort Wilkins. Wouldn't it be neat if one of your ancestors had served there?



In total, two hundred seventy-one enlisted men served at Fort Wilkins between 1844 and 1870. Records for all but ten have been found. What became of these soldiers after they left here?

• One of every twelve died in the army – half of them from natural causes.


• One of every ten serving here in the 1840s was a battlefield casualty in the Mexican War.


• One of every nine enlisted men to serve here left the army by desertion.


• Less than 4% (one of every twenty-six) re-enlisted.

More photos of Fort Wilkins via Google Images.

Day 2 of the Season

After a day of rest, I decided to head back to Meadow Run and take on some more early sesaon punishment. We pulled into the lot and were greeted by Regina and Felipe a newer partner of Regina's that had only been on ice 2 previous days at the end of last season.

Phillipe and Regina enjoy some pre climbing nourishment

We spent the day on a new line to the right of Hemlock. It had a rock start up until the end of the route which has a short easier section of ice. Its seemed to bea nice warmup line and I think will make a nice addition to the numerous routes at this easy access crag. We then moved onto Season Finale which went pretty smooth, then Laura and I each took a turn on Main Pillar right which wasmostly verglas androck moves up toa final short pillar. Laura thentook alap on the Main Pillar left, which Regina and Phillipe were running laps on. Laura smoothed it. I finished my day by taking a run on Captain Caveman. Again the climb went smoother than expected. The final curtain isn't very well formed, which makes the exit moves considerably easier than when the curtain is low enough to get on. I took out most of the serious daggers and by next weekend it should be in good shape.

NOTE: The fixed draws on all Lower Meadow Run routes were nabbed over the summer, so make sure to bring draws if you're planning on doingthese lines.

Some Random Photos

Phillipe - third ice day ever

Regina enjoying her first day of the season

Wake up Timmy... Time to climb

WHAT... There's still ice

Just when I thought it was over. Ice season had ended. Low and behold there's (a little) more. We were given a bit of good news the other day. Laura caught wind from a good friend of ours that there was still some climbable ice if we were interested. Of course we were. He told her of a still fat 20' pillar tucked away in a shaded little nook. She called to tell me right away. Other than somemixed stuff with poorly bonded "snice" we really haven't had much climbable ice in a few weeks due to the heavy rains and unseasonable warm temperatures. Eagerly we made the half hour approach to see if we could squeeze in one more ice climb. Sure enough there was a short 20' pillar with a mixed exit that was still in good condition. Granted it wasn't a rope stretcher by any means, but it sure was fun to get on a little more ice. It was smooth and lovely (a little hollow), but amazing compared to anything I'd seen in a while now. Not to mention that it was a beautiful day for a walk in the woods. A much appreciated thanks goes out to the searching samurai that gave us the tip on this little beauty. Here's a few pictures of our fun outing.

As we set out. I'll admit I was doubtful

a little break for the passing trains, will there be ice?

Here's what we found. Hard to believe!

Laura finishing a screw unaware of the muck that lies ahead

On the ride home we stopped to check

out other ice enthusiasts

Purple Wild Flower

This purple wildflower is blooming all over the desert. This one is right by my house. They are such a lushish shade of purple but if you look close you can see the hair-like stickers that they will have when they are through blooming. These will go right through cotton gardening gloves and are as bad as cactus stickers to remove for the glove or your skin.

Gritty to Pretty: the Lovely Donation Bike!

I am pleased to report that the refurbished vintage donation touring bike - also known as "the roadbike for women who fear roadbikes" - is ready! As often happens with these things, the project took longer than I anticipated. In the end we did not have time to put the bicycle together ourselves, and I entrusted the job to the saintly Jim at Harris Cyclery - which contributed the labor pro bono and donated the remaining parts my build was missing, thus becoming a sponsor of this project along with Velo Orange. My sincere thanks to them, as well as to all readers who contributed parts and funds to this effort. This is not yet the official give-away announcement, as I first wanted to show off some pictures and describe the bicycle in detail. I hope you like it!

So what exactly is this bicycle... It began as a vintage Shogun 400 touring bike that looked like this when I picked it up, but has been rebuilt from the frame up. When I spotted the original bike, I immediately thought it had potential. The early '80s Japanese cro-moly frame with relaxed geometry promised a comfortable, "Rivendell-esque" ride. And, despite the fairly small size (52cm), it looked like there would be no toe overlap, even with fenders. As many know, it is extremely difficult to find a roadbike in a small size, with relaxed geometry and no toe overlap - be it modern or vintage - which is what makes some of these unassuming vintage Japanese frames special. My idea was to start with such a frame and build it up with comfortable, functional components - ending up with an unintimidating "starter" roadbike that a beginner would be able to learn on without undue nervousness or discomfort.

The biggest priority was the handlebar set-up. When women tell me they cannot ride vintage roadbikes, much of the time this turns out to be because the handlebars are uncomfortable - lacking a sufficient "shoulder" area. Those who are new to drop bars often assume that they are all the same, but in fact there are dozens of models, with subtle variations in shape. I chose theNitto Randonneur handlebars for this bike, which have long, flat "shoulders" and a slight, ergonomic flare to them that most cyclists find extremely comfortable, particularly on long rides.



I also chose modernTektroshort-reach brake levers, which are easy to squeeze from the top, even for those with weak hands.



Finally, I chose Silver bar-end shifters, which are much, much easier to use than downtube shifters and less awkward than stem shifters.



The leather handlebar tape is by Velo Orange. I had never tried it before and was glad to discover that it has a softer, more matte texture to it that Brooks leather tape (which I personally find a little too slippery).



Velo OrangeModel 3 touring saddle. Saddle comfort is one of these things that is different for everyone, but I have to say that (somewhat to my surprise) I found this one more comfortable than the Brooks B17s I once owned. The leather is very different from Brooks leather, and I cannot speak for its longevity or durability. But for me, there was no "breaking in" period, and no pressure on sensitive body parts. I will soon write a review of this saddle with additional details.



Velo Orangehammered fenders, their pattern of indentations resembling a honeycomb. Later I will also post a comparison between the VO and Honjo versions of hammered fenders.



Velo Orange also provided the headset and their Grand Cru double crankset. It was exciting when these cranksets came out, because they are classically shaped yet affordable. Personally, I find the looks of chunkymodern cranksets rather depressing, so it's wonderful that these are an option.I have not ridden with them except during my test rides of this bike, but I welcome readers who've owned them to provide feedback. The pedals included are MKS Touring pedals, which I have on most of my bikes and love.



The wheels are 27" touring wheels from the early '80s - a slightly nicer and cleaner version than the ones originally on the bike. The tires are the puncture-resistant Panaracer Pasela Tourguards. The headset, bottom bracket, chain, brakes, and front derailleur have all been replaced with modern components.



The rear cassette and derailleur are pretty much the only components that were left original. They are in good condition, but the downside is that the bicycle is only a 12 speed - as bikes of its era are. In order to upgrade to a cassette with more cogs, we would have needed to get modern wheels, which was beyond the scope of this project.



Here is a close-up of the bicycle's colour: an unusual champagne-lilac that I personally find very attractive.



The frame has been left original - frayed decals, rust spots and all - and I want to make it very clear that at heart this is still a vintage bike that looks its age, despite the updated components.



I received a Rivendell "SaddleSack" as a donation from one of my readers, but I think this bike works better with a Carradice. So I will let the recipient choose - either the SaddleSack, or one of my own Carradice bags, as shown here. I will soon post a review of the SaddleSack (pictured here).



And so that's it, in a nutshell. To my eye, this bicycle looks modestly beautiful, which is what I was aiming for. It is fairly light and is easy to carry. It is not "fast" by modern roadbike standards, so please don't expect to race or join paceline rides on it. Neither is it a bike for a tour of the Alps, since the gearing is somewhat limited by current standards. It is really meant to be a low-key, introductory roadbike for those with no athletic background, for those who want to explore nature while getting a bit of exercise, and for those who don't want to wear lycra and be all "serious" about roadcycling. If you've been unable to ride roadbikes in the past, this bike may be a good alternative to the ones you've tried. It is friendly. It is stable. There is no toe overlap. Lots of room on the handlebars for moving your hands around. Brake levers are easy to reach and easy to squeeze. Frame geometry is relaxed and won't hurt your knees.Having ridden the bike myself for a bit, it handles as comfortably and easily as I hoped. I've even ridden it in a dress and sandals, and it was great - just a really easy-going, "smell the flowers" kind of bike. Bicycles with drop bars are not for everyone - but this is as unintimidating of a way to try one as I can offer. I will announce the contest rules and timeline in the coming days, and I hope this bicycle will find the right owner.



I want to express my thanks again to Velo Orange, Harris Cyclery, and the generous readers who have contributed to this project: Justine, G.E., Neighbourtease, Spindizzy, Cedar, Somervillain, and others!

Rainy Day Hike

After the rain started falling last night, I knew I would have to go hiking today if I wanted to see the moss wet and green. The rain does so much for the forest: it cleans off the plants, pats down the dust on the trail, and brings out the color in all the mosses and leaves.






















This tree was covered in a particularly vibrant moss.

Lululemon Ride On Blazer: A Modern Take on the Riding Jacket

Having recently added a cycling collection to their lines ofyoga and running apparel,Vancouver-basedLululemon sent me and a couple of other bloggers some samples to test and review.The cycling collection is called Ride On and consists of some rather diverse items, from stretch-denim shorts to exuberant raincoats. I found the blazer to be the most interesting and versatile piece overall, shown here in "deep indigo."





At its core, the Ride On blazer is a classic Edwardian riding jacket, re-imagined for cycling in the 21st century. Tailored in the torso and cinched at the waist, it skims the lower abdomen in the front, then lengthens and flares out in the rear to fully cover the derriere. As someone who rides a bike and also likes to sneak yoga pants and leggings into my wardrobe, I like this design for two reasons: (1) It is long enough to cover my lower back when I am leaning over my bike's handlebars, and (2) it allows me to wear stretch pants as street-wear without worrying how my butt looks. Just being honest here.





The pleats at the rear have held their shape after a week of rather careless wear on my part. Despite its structured appearance, this garment is not something you will have to take an iron to.






Though visually the fabric resembles denim, it is in fact a stretchy jersey material - a cotton/poly/spandex blend. It allows for a great amount of stretch, and the jacket does not restrict movement even when worn on a bike with drop bars. The fabric is on the heavy side and I would rate it as best for temperatures between 50°F and 70°F.




Aside from the length in the rear and the stretch, the Ride On blazer is designed with a number of cycling-specific elements. The extra-long sleeves feature thumb loops that I find to be quite ergonomic both in their placement and in the shape of the opening.





If you read customer reviews of this blazer on Lululemon's online store, there are lots of complaints about the sleeves being too long. However, I doubt that those who voice these complaints ride a bike. The sleeves have to be this long, or else the thumb loops will dig into the space between your thumb and forefinger when your arms are stretched out over the handlebars. I'd say the length is appropriate if you want this jacket for cycling, and there are plenty of other jackets with standard length sleeves for those who do not ride a bike.





Another cycling-specific feature is the reflective detailing on the sleeves and on the back of the collar. The narrow scalloped ribbon used for this is very pretty, but I wonder why they were so stingy with it. For instance, why not incorporate it into the seams on the back of the jacket?





In the front of the blazer, there is a lot going on. It's mostly good, just overwhelming at first. In addition to the standard lapel design, the Ride On blazer is fitted with a second, detachable inner lapel with a stand-up collar.





Zipping up the inner lapel and then closing the outer one around it provides several layers of protection against the wind in the chest and throat area, which is quite useful for cycling. Those who don't cycle might find these features unnecessary and bulky.





There are lots of buttons and zippers to facilitate opening and closing the jacket to different degrees, as well as two zip pockets. The benefit is that everything is kept tucked in at all times; nothing dangles or flaps around in the wind as you ride. The downside is that it's a little cluttered and complicated. The exposed zippers also give the front of the jacket an edgy "biker" look that competes with the refined equestrian look of the rear of the jacket.





The two front pockets with zip closure are large enough to house things like a wallet, phone, and other small items, but they are designed in a way that keep these objects tightly enclosed - so that when you're leaned over on the bike the weight doesn't make the pockets hang down. This is an especially useful feature if you're riding a roadbike.






All things considered, the Ride On blazer impressed me with how comfortable and convenient it is to actually ride a bike in, while being wearable as everyday clothing off the bike as well. I find it flattering for my body type, though the sizing isn't perfect (loose in the abdomen and torso, but would be narrow in the shoulders had I gone a size smaller). One thing to note is that, being made of soft and stretchy fabric, this blazer undergoes wear at the rate of a jersey garment and not a traditional blazer. The hem and the sleeves on mine are kind of filthy already and need washing.




The biggest negative for me about this garment, is the faux denim print. They have other colour options, but the "black" is also faux denim and the "fossil" looks a little sweatshirty. I gather they were going for the edgy urban look, but the result is too "hip teenager" for me. I also wish the zipper-happy biker aesthetic of the front of the jacket could be toned down and brought in line with the more classic and elegant design of the rear. As it stands, the overall look doesn'treallyfeel like "me" and I am torn about whether to keep it or not, despite how comfortable it is. Most likely I will give it away to a local cycling acquaintance - lots of women here like Lululemon and want to try it [edited to add: I have now given the blazer away; the new owner loves it!].





I was never a fan of Lululemon's yoga apparel, but the Ride On collection intrigues me. The ladies at Let's Go Ride a Bike are testing it as well, and their review of the Ride On blazer is posted here. Lululemon's foray into cycling-specific designs goes hand in hand with them having become a co-sponsor of a women's pro cycling team, which I think is great. Though I'd love to see some modifications to the Ride On blazer (adjust the sizing and nix the faux denim, please!), overall I feel that Lululemon is on the right track here, and I appreciate the opportunity to test and review their products. Full set of pictures posted here.