2014-08-23 Frankenbike

This bike showed up as a hashed up fixie conversion. Salient points included:

• No brakes.
• Stupid hipster drop bars.
• Fixed gear on a dedicated hub (i.e. not seemingly possibly to make it just single speed).
• Bent up and broken single speed chain.
• Bald rear tire.
• No pedals.
• Single front chainring.
• Front quick release cranked down by turning the lever side, not by using the lever.
• Weird non-matching chunky forks with threadless steerer.

The frame is a pretty nice thing so I found a possible owner for it.

It needed a bunch of stuff to get it in the state seen above. Specifically

• Cool old adjustable centering Dia Compe 500 brakes with later hooded aero levers.
• Modern alu bars.
• A couple of non-matching BMX pedals.
• Shimano 600 derailleur.
• Special frankenchain pieced together from some leftover bits of chain I had.
• Random 6-speed rear wheel, new old stock, with nice Michelin tyre.
• Some cleanliness.

It is now a great ride, really quick and agile. Maybe too nice. If the prospective new owner likes it I will finish off things like bar tape and other bits and pieces.

2014-08-16 Instep Jogger

A random Instep Ultra double jogger in perfectly usable condition. No apparent reason for discard. Certainly needs a quick clean (note it is already soaking wet as part of that process) but will be good to go soon.

2014-08-14 Bianchi Hybrid

A nice Bianchi Advantage with a moronic previous owner. The evidence of their stupidity:

• The front wheel quick release was cranked down by turning the whole flip nut.
• Both of the Presta valves on the tubes had been terminally manhandled by some fat-fingering klutz.
• It has not been ridden much and is a great useful ridable bike.

Two new tubes, some oil and all round cleaning and it is a rather nice machine. 700C wheels but a smallish frame. Also, can't short people just ride bikes with 559 wheels? It makes more sense to me.

2014-07-26 Knives

A couple of Henckels knives, one with a cracked handle. We may or may not fix that handle by custom making a new one out of ipe wood but we will see. Both available, though somewhat blunt at present.

Also present at the scene were these extra items of weaponry. Some of those shotgun shells had a pin mark in the cap, seemingly implying they are misfires. Some upstanding and responsible gun owner dropped those into the scrap metal.

Needless to say we did not bring those home. We left a bunch of crappy knives also.

2014-07-22 Bugaboo

This Bugaboo Chameleon, picture as found in situ, is in OK shape but a little neglected. Weirdly the two fron wheel bearings are seized, possible reason for discard, we shall have to have a look at that. The other stroller visible in the pic, a cheap jogger, was also discarded but that may stay that way.

2014-07-19 Tools

A strange assortment of tools, mostly junk or peripherally useful. Notable this very interesting hammer:

This nice little adjustable wrench, shown here after dressing the jaws and some oil:

And some other crud.

2014-07-19 Peg Perego P3

A Peg Perego P3 stroller discarded by some bins in a duplex rental. I picked it up on the cargo bike, as you can see. Reason for discard seems to be one popped rivet under the seat that retains the seatbelts, easy fix.

2014-07-19 Lodge Skillet

Yet another Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet, somewhat used. Shown here out of its natural element, obviously. This will probably get a stripping and reseasoning before becoming available. Yay for scrap metal.

2014-07-19 Babytrend Stroller Frame

One Babytrend stroller frame thingy complete with pretty recent Peg Perego infant seat. The seat may or may not be any good but somebody will want the frame.

2014-06-22 Two Child Solutions

A selection of devices purporting to be effective at transporting two children at once. First a Schwinn double jogger with missing front wheel. We will almost certainly be able to fix that problem in short order and render it functional again.

Also a Babytrend double snap-and-go stroller frame thingy. A useful item in these times of increased infertility treatments.

Matching the previous, a Babytrend Sit-n-stand style thing. All present and correct.

Lastly a Joovy Caboose, same basic form factor as the Babytrend above.

Spiffy selection.