Kinetics – the blog…

Finally released after many trials and tribulations, this looks like it’s going to be a fantastic movie:

Kids electric bike, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

This was an interesting project – it had to be light, powerful and as tough as possible. The motor is a Heinzmann 200W low-speed one, running from two high-capacity NiCd packs with a custom controller. Fiddly to build, but fun to do…

NuVinci Hub, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

Just got a NuVinci hub to play with – it’s a CVT, a Continuously Variable Transmission. So it doesn’t have individual gears, it’s got a smooth contunuum of about 300% bottom to top.
It uses a twin-cable system similar to the Rohloff – one really neat touch is the visual graphic on the shifter. It’s got a little orange “hill” which gets steeper or shallower as you turn the shifter
I’ll build it up on a bike over the next few days and give it a try…

Everyone has excuses for not cycling – the Guardian today has a good myth-busting article on them…

Challenge Hurricane Carbon, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

I’ve just added a couple of bikes to our eBay shop – a challenge Hurricane SL which is in near-mint condition, and a part-finished Heinzmann bike.

The shop is here:
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Kinetics-Cycling-Esoterica

Statue on a tricycle, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

There were quite a few pedal-powered entertainments at Sunday’s West End Festival in Glasgow – this is a living replica of a statue in the Botanic Gardens. Common Wheel were also there in force with several sofabikes, tricycles, tandems, and a pedal-powered steamroller

Scorpion on the roof, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

This is our demo Scorpion trike which is off to do the Land’s End – John O’Groats ride for charity – the rider is Martyn Eastwood, and it’s in aid of the Haemophilia Society. Martyn would love company along the way if you’re in the area – his proposed route is as follows:

• Monday 11th – Land’s End to Bude Stratton
• Tuesday 12th – Bude Stratton to Wedmore
• Wednesday 13th – Wedmore to Bodenham
• Thursday 14th – Bodenham to Ravensmoor
• Friday 15th – Ravensmoor to Burton-in-Longsdale – half-way point
• Saturday 16th – Burton-in-Longsdale to Bentpath
• Sunday 17th – Bentpath to Bridge of Allan
• Monday 18th – Bridge of Allan to Spean Bridge
• Tuesday 19th – Spean Bridge to Lairg
• Wednesday 20th – Lairg to John O’Groats

Martyn suggests that to be sure you phone his wife Irene who’s driving the support vehicle just to make sure you don’t miss him – the number is 07833 524186. If you can’t make it, then any sponsorship or donations to the Haemophilia Society would be greatly appreciated.

Clever things, bees. They’ve found a tiny hole in the front fascia of the shop, and have set up home. They’re not violent and don’t mind navigating around the bikes outside to get home, so they’re welcome to stay. Besides, it’s fun watching them

Koga Infiniti, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

Just unpacked this – it’s the Koga Miyata Infiniti, and it’s definitely the prettiest bike in the shop at the moment It’s got Shimano’s Alfine groupset – 8=speed hub gear with Rapidfire shifter, hydraulic disc brakes, hub dynamo, alloy frame with integral headset and B&M’s new super-slim LED lights.

The wheels are amazing – they’re a special wheelset with tangental spokes, and look really, really slick.

They’re also going fast – this is a 57cm Mens, the distributors have another one of these and a smaller Ladies, and that’s about it.

Heinzmann-Brompton forks, originally uploaded by cycleologist.

…is not something I’ve had time to do today, so it had to dry unwatched These are forks for fitting a Heinzmann motor to a Brompton – it takes about a day to make each pair of forks, they’re pretty labour-intensive. Framebuilding is fun, though – but why does the phone always ring as soon as I get the oxyacetylene torch lit?