No doubt you have noted the 2 posts below:
This is what the folk over at BROL are saying.
It is good to learn and to have a greater awareness of this nation’s, and the world’s history. My effort here is educate me and share my discoveries. The same is true, as it relates to my cycling experiences. Thanks for tuning in. -jim
In 1897, the U.S. Army theorized that the newly developed “safety” bicycle could replace the horse as a means of troop transport. As a result, the 25th Infantry established a Bicycle Corps to test the overall practicality of military cycling.
Twenty African-American soldiers put their bicycles, their bodies, and the Army’s theory to the test with a 2000-mile ride from Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. The Bicycle Corps: American’s Black Army on Wheels chronicles their journey through the eyes of two of the soldiers: the white Lieutenant in command and the Black sergeant who guided and motivated the men.
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The Bicycle Corps tells the story of the 25th Infantry’s bicycle trip from Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri in 1897. The African American infantry took the trip to test a theory that the bicycle would replace the horse in transporting men for the army. With archival film, photographs and interviews with historians, this program also examines the life of the African American soldier at the turn of the century, in particular First Sergeant Mingo Sanders, the main motivator of the enlisted men.
From the Xtracycle Website [picked up from an Xtracycle tweet on twitter]. Visit the Major Taylor Association & Major Taylor Society websites.
It’s hard to imagine in our car cluttered culture of today, but before the turn of the (20th) century, bicycles ruled the day. Bikes were, with the exception of locomotives, the fastest vehicles on earth. Among the fastest riders was one of the first black athletes to go head to head with the white athletic establishment. Major Taylor.
The fever around bicycle racing in the late 1800’s can probably only be compared to modern day pro-sports like Football, Baseball, Basketball. Congregations of tens of thousands of people would amass to cheer on racers as they spun around the velodrome night after night, in every major city in the US. A grueling race called the Garden 6-Day happened each year in New York. Lapping the velodrome hour after hour, day after day, the top riders covered nearly 2000 miles in 6 days, and by the end of the race were in varying states of hallucination and fatigue. Something of a mix of the horrors of the Roman Coliseum and Olympics drew massive crowds and honed the finest athletes.
Brakes: Magura HS33 Hydraulic Rim Brakes [Magura Site]
Why not? Again, I’m building up a unique RANS Crank Forward. Now, the question is: Will the rear brake work on this bike? …and Nanda, the answer is…
Rims: I learned of these rims as I’ve researched the build-up of the Surly Big Dummy. Surly’s staff says a 2.25-2.3 tire is the smallest tire they like on this rim. The maximum tire width for the Magura H33 brake is 2.5 inches. Now, the question is: Will the Citi frame take a 2.3" tire?
VikB [BROL member] has these rims [with the Shimano Alfine Hub in black ~ way to GO!] on his Surly Pugsley. Vik has a Big Dummy [on my wish list] and writes about both in his "The Lazy Randonneur" blog as well as having lots of pictures in his flickr photostream. Pay him frequent visits. He always has lots of information there and has consolidated several blogs into one.
Tires: Schwabe Big Apple LiteSkin
Feather light Balloonbike comfort. Depending upon size the LiteSkin version is ca. 150 to 200 g lighter than a conventional Big Apple tire. The weight reduction has been made possible using folding tire technology and the specially light LiteSkin side wall. There is no reduction in puncture protection!
Bottom Bracket, Crank, and Chain Ring: I have no particular preference other than color–black. So, Nanda, what do you recommend to go with what I have described? Components from the Alfine Group look interesting.
Chain: SRAM Hollowpin chain.
Again, I look to Nanda [BTW, Nanda is also a BROL member ~ Stradavarius] for the sanity check: Will these tires fit and how will large wheels/tires look on the Citi? Schwabe Specs: Article No ~ 11633439; Size ~ 26 x 2.35; PSI ~ 20-55
The other components are discussed in my 12/26 Just for knocking around–cruzin’ post.
You may have noticed this cycle [RANS Citi Crank Forward] on my wish list. The Citi has that clean, retro look. It’s one that I’d like to add to my stable. If it should happen, setup will be fun. As compared to several of my other cycles, this setup will be simple. This bike has no front derailleur, thus no derailleur post. In keeping it clean, I will not use a rear derailleur either; rather a SRAM i-Motion internal hub. If it were possible, on this cycle, I’d use a Gates carbon-belt drive instead of a chain. There is currently no way to get the belt inside the chain or seat stay. So, chain it may have to be. The cycle color theme will be red & black.
Citi Frameset
Citi comes in Metallic Red & Ti Rose–note: the ’09 decals are black. I want to use the Crank Forward carbon fiber fork and seat, with black handlebars; black seat post [preferably carbon fiber]; black wheels; spokes; hub; steering riser; etc. I’ll use rim as opposed to than disk brakes.
Zenetik Pro Frameset
Preliminary coordination for this cycle was made with Nanda Holz at Spin Cyclz in late October ’08. Nanda has me queued for sometime in the spring. Now, if I can integrate this with my photographic, and Catrike upgrades, that will be great. If not, the other two have priority for now. I want to start shooting panoramas and I want to make the Catrike Rally, with a few new gems.
It’s a cycle folks–a tricycle known as a velomobile. In this case, a Glyde from Greenspeed of Australia. Now, I’d love to have one of these–wish I had the money and a nice place to ride such a machine. It is beautiful!!!
Will the Glyde be on your 2009 Christmas wish list?
Rider Impression after riding the Hostel Shoppe Glyde Prototype [12/03/08].
It’s a faired Velokraft NoCom. Now this is a lowracer…
This photograph is posted in a BROL thread on tail boxes.
Yet, another one [from PoiterH~BROL]
…and now a 3rd [see cmt #2~a former BROLer~Mikael]
