Biking to Sherrard Point (Larch Mountian's Summit)
Wednesday, August 25. 2010
The summit sits at 4055 feet, its parking lot is where the Portland Astronomy club meets to study the night sky. The viewpoint is worth the ride, or drive; on a clear day, you can see four major mountians, with a ~270 degree field of view. As for climbing this hill on a bike...we'll, you'd better be reasonably fit, or the screaming legs of exhaustion will turn you around.
From my house, Google says that this ~36 mile trip:
By car, would take 1.25 hours.
By bike, 4.5 hours.
I did it, by bike, in under 2 hours and 15 minutes. Of-course, I have no ordinary bike; I had help. Google assumes your average speed would be around 8MPH, mine averaged 16MPH.
The assent was fun and brisk, the good company and screaming fast descent were worth the trip. The cougars...well...I could have done without them.
Continue reading "Biking to Sherrard Point (Larch Mountian's Summit)"
How to make a TailSock frame for less than $10
Tuesday, August 24. 2010
Our local recumbent parts and accessories manufacturer sells some awesome TailSoks & frames. Although I'm not ready to purchase one of their admittedly well-made aluminum-tube based TailSok frames.
TerraCycle recently started making making their TailSoks with retro-reflective fabric, and so that means they're currently clearing out their old inventory of non-reflective soks, for bargain at $39/each.
So, after picking one of their clearance soks...
TerraCycle recently started making making their TailSoks with retro-reflective fabric, and so that means they're currently clearing out their old inventory of non-reflective soks, for bargain at $39/each.
So, after picking one of their clearance soks...
Continue reading "How to make a TailSock frame for less than $10"
A hotbed of creative engineers: Portland, Oregon
Saturday, May 22. 2010
In the past few years I've met some amazing engineers, many are local folks...there must be something in the water.
The list grows daily, and I can no longer track them all manually. So...now comes a wiki page:
http://gregg.berkholtz.net/wiki/diyprojects
Examples:
Three-wheeled leaning vehicle:
Electric Motorcycle:
My list is absurdly-long...keep an eye on the new wiki page
The list grows daily, and I can no longer track them all manually. So...now comes a wiki page:
http://gregg.berkholtz.net/wiki/diyprojects
Examples:
Three-wheeled leaning vehicle:
Electric Motorcycle:
My list is absurdly-long...keep an eye on the new wiki page
Tired of flat tires? I have a solution
Sunday, May 16. 2010
An update to my Feburary posting; the airless Kenda inserts are working great.
Yes, I do feel just a little bit slower off-the-line...but...over the past couple of weeks I've realized that I'm no longer scanning the roads for glass, nails & other crap anymore. Only the largish potholes and other uneven surfaces.
Combined with the fact I no longer haul around pumps, tire wedges and patch-kits. Is it worth feeling slightly-slower off-the-line, yet never worrying about flatting again?
Hell yes!
Yes, I do feel just a little bit slower off-the-line...but...over the past couple of weeks I've realized that I'm no longer scanning the roads for glass, nails & other crap anymore. Only the largish potholes and other uneven surfaces.
Combined with the fact I no longer haul around pumps, tire wedges and patch-kits. Is it worth feeling slightly-slower off-the-line, yet never worrying about flatting again?
Hell yes!
Experiences with Airless Bike Tires - www.airfreetires.com is just a scam site now
Sunday, February 7. 2010
After being stuck in outer-SE Portland, fixing a flat, during a dark freezing midnight downpour...and then solicited from a tweaked-out overweight older man (musta been the bike shorts) :o ...I turned to airless tire solutions; I've always hated flatting, and found it silly that a good chunk of my randonneuring kit was in pumps, tubes, tires and patches. My first venture was ordering one-piece tires from AirFreeTires.com, my first order arrived with no issue, and while the tires were a bit quirky, they were alright. My second order took months, and a series of public/online complaints before arrival. The third order never arrived...and that order was placed in October of 2008.
Continue reading "Experiences with Airless Bike Tires - www.airfreetires.com is just a scam site now"
250 miles on one gallon of gas
Thursday, June 11. 2009
Yes, in today's world it is still possible to travel over 200 miles on a single gallon of gasoline.
My trip took me from downtown Portland Oregon, into Astoria Oregon, then Seaside, down to Tillamook, and then back into Portland. To get an idea of my average speed, the Portland to Astoria leg took roughly 4 hours...and I pedaled the entire way
My Bike & the route:
View Larger Map
My trip took me from downtown Portland Oregon, into Astoria Oregon, then Seaside, down to Tillamook, and then back into Portland. To get an idea of my average speed, the Portland to Astoria leg took roughly 4 hours...and I pedaled the entire way
My Bike & the route:
View Larger Map
Hi, I'm Gregg, and I'm addicted to ICE... :-)
Sunday, April 19. 2009
58 miles, 1/4 a gallon, over ~3 hours...WOOT!
The route roughly consisted of...
The route roughly consisted of...
Continue reading "Hi, I'm Gregg, and I'm addicted to ICE... :-)"
Gas...it's so dirty, but oh so much fun!
Sunday, April 12. 2009
It's dirty, but it feels oh-so-good!!
The short-story, is that over the past few months, while the electric setup continues to make progress. Waterproofing the electronics is proving far more challenging than I bargained for. This is the pacific-northwest, so one can hardly ignore the chance of rain! So, with a 300-mile solo ride planned for late June, I needed something better-tested. I swallowed a bit of pride, and as a part of me withered away...the idea of a gas motor was solidified. Only ~$350 + a weekend, and the deed was done...and yea, it works great in the rain, no waterproofing necessary.
I just completed the 1st test ride tonight, and while going /uphill/...
The short-story, is that over the past few months, while the electric setup continues to make progress. Waterproofing the electronics is proving far more challenging than I bargained for. This is the pacific-northwest, so one can hardly ignore the chance of rain! So, with a 300-mile solo ride planned for late June, I needed something better-tested. I swallowed a bit of pride, and as a part of me withered away...the idea of a gas motor was solidified. Only ~$350 + a weekend, and the deed was done...and yea, it works great in the rain, no waterproofing necessary.
I just completed the 1st test ride tonight, and while going /uphill/...
Continue reading "Gas...it's so dirty, but oh so much fun!"
BGE Mirror Setting
Tuesday, February 17. 2009
Awesome! I knew I wasn't crazy; a guy I used to work with, who trains police, competitive racers, and other professional drivers, once explained a mirror adjustment technique. Since them, I've used it to effectively eliminate blinds spots. Until today, I didn't know what it was called...
Continue reading "BGE Mirror Setting"
The Recchetta - my eBike project
Saturday, January 31. 2009
I think I finally figured out a decent use for my blog, at least for another six-months or-so.
Lately, I've received a steadily-increasing volume of questions regarding my "simple" electric bike setup. While the wiki details the "final" product...or, more accurately, the project's /current/ state. The design continues to evolve...and improve. There's just not much room for commentary, or quite-simply, folks to ask the questions I value so much (as they help me better-explain details, and force me to think about possible design revisions...and have great ideas themselves!).
So, here it goes...
Lately, I've received a steadily-increasing volume of questions regarding my "simple" electric bike setup. While the wiki details the "final" product...or, more accurately, the project's /current/ state. The design continues to evolve...and improve. There's just not much room for commentary, or quite-simply, folks to ask the questions I value so much (as they help me better-explain details, and force me to think about possible design revisions...and have great ideas themselves!).
So, here it goes...
Continue reading "The Recchetta - my eBike project"
Smart Car + Bike Rack = Cool
Sunday, January 13. 2008
I've been using a Yakima rack on my G&K imported 2006 Smart ForTwo Passion (glass roof) for ~8 months, and have been very happy with it.
It was installed by RackAttack in Portland OR, and these guys already had installation instructions (including which clips were needed, etc...) in their internal database. Though one source for me was ClubSmartCar.com (search their site for "Roof-top Yakima Rack").
In summary, use #34 Q-Clips, and make sure its installed TIGHT, and I mean so tight that when a 200lb guy yanks on them, they don't even hint at budging. I went with the steelhead "fork mount" bike holder, and recall needing to sign a waiver - as the rack is not approved by Yakima or Smart. Speeds upwards of 80MPH were no issue, though I personally would avoid putting a box up there for anything above ~60MPH.
It was installed by RackAttack in Portland OR, and these guys already had installation instructions (including which clips were needed, etc...) in their internal database. Though one source for me was ClubSmartCar.com (search their site for "Roof-top Yakima Rack").
In summary, use #34 Q-Clips, and make sure its installed TIGHT, and I mean so tight that when a 200lb guy yanks on them, they don't even hint at budging. I went with the steelhead "fork mount" bike holder, and recall needing to sign a waiver - as the rack is not approved by Yakima or Smart. Speeds upwards of 80MPH were no issue, though I personally would avoid putting a box up there for anything above ~60MPH.
Recumbent bikes & crashing
Wednesday, November 21. 2007
Crashing your bike on a recumbent often means a sore tush, not a broken collarbone...I'd post a picture, but instead just imagine a palm-sized road rash on my butt. :-/
Smarty in Portland Oregon!!! Whoot!
Saturday, December 16. 2006
Yep - the car's not even a month old:
