the pianists

The kids getting in a week's worth of practice, the day before their lesson.

My Steeds: Number Two: The Single Speed

This was my first bike build.
 
My cycle commute involves no real vertical challenges... and on my road bike there was no need to ever shift gears; I quickly realized it was "too much bike" for such a simple route. Meanwhile, I spent six months intrigued by the notion of a fixed gear bike, reading about its aesthetic, philosophical, and practical benefits. I agonized over whether to buy one... including an internal struggle on whether I had the right reasons. In the end, I thought it best to take on the challenge of building my first bike as a fixed gear. It was, at first, an intimidating prospect, but I committed to the project in April 2015 with the acquisition of a 1970s Sekine frame for 40 dollars. And through hours of Youtube videos, internet how-to articles, helpful blogs, and much trial and error, my first bike was built in the summer.

Doing some research on the now defunct frame maker was a great way to feel an affinity with the bike even before I built it -- a Japanese bike manufacturer operating in the hinterlands of the Canadian Prairies. Despite its modesty, the frame is well crafted; it's an emerald green, lugged steel frame with beautiful chrome fork ends. The rest of the bike is a mishmash of new and used parts -- new Tektro brakes (they needed to have long reach because of older rim sizing) and 700C wheelset, with the remainder being whatever second-hand stuff I could get my hands on. Most of what I learned about the mechanics of bike-building (and I don't profess to know that much... quite yet) was from putting together this bike.

On my first test runs, I ran into major problems: first I realized my rear cog was too small, then the left crankarm fell off, and finally the bottom bracket suddenly seized up. The fixed-gear thing was uncomfortable too. Modifications followed, and I settled on a flywheel. I've not looked back. It became my default commuter through the whole summer, and I've appreciated the bike's practicality, elegance, and sense of sheer freedom that comes not only from the way this particular bike with this particular setup handles, but also from the satisfaction that I can build and power my own means of transportation.

My Steeds: Number ?: The Hardtail Bike

Actually, this is not my bike. It belongs to my wife, who (compelled by me, of course) bought it second-hand at a bike swap in the spring... a Kuwahara mountain bike with front suspension and a rather small frame. It was still a little large and I modified the bike  by cutting the steerer tube and changing the stem to a shorter one.

I am, by personality and inclination, the type that chooses the harder way over the easy way on certain things... for aesthetic reasons. Suspension on bicycles is one such thing --  that's what legs are for! My wife, being a much more practical person, wanted suspension. After being on some pretty rough trails this fall, I could be convinced...

That means I have to add another bike to my collection.

My Steeds: Number One: The Road Bike

In my mind, 2015 was the year of the bicycle.

In late 2014, I had in my possession, two bicycles that had been lying dormant, neglected in my garage for well over ten years. A year later, it's grown to a collection of six bikes, plus 3 more obsolete frames and a box full of old miscellaneous parts. None were bought new, and all except two were built up or significantly modified from old frames and a hodgepodge of new and used parts bought on the internet or at the local community bike shop.

What started as participation in a charity bike ride quickly became my primary means of commuting, and then blossomed into a hobby, an infatuation, a way of life, a philosophy... and all I could think about was bicycles through most of 2015. To my surprise, I became one of those crazy guys riding in Edmonton's dark mid-winter through slush, ice, and snow. I am now in the business of converting others into this cult. I see it as a healthy expression of middle-aged-ness.

Although I haven't been able to ride as much as I would like, I spent more than enough time learning how to tinker through Youtube, stealing away to look at bucket-loads of parts at the shop, and drool over vintage steel frames and folding bikes on the internet. However, surprisingly, I didn't sketch my trusted companions that much... so here begins another series: My Steeds.

One: The Road Bike

This bike, a Viner "Special Professional", is the spiritual descendant of my first road bike, a Panasonic DX-1000, which I rode in high school but which I regrettably parted with a long time ago. I've had this bike for just over 15 years now, and it's one of the two bikes that lay neglected for the most part of the last 10 years. I believe it's from around the early to mid 1980s, and has a combination of Shimano and Campagnolo parts, including Biopace chainwheels.  As the one I've had the longest, and because of its vintage, handling, and ride quality, I have a special affinity for this bike (it got me through the 4-month long 2001 Vancouver transit strike!), and remains my go to road bike for summer weekends. I wish I took better care of it... an overhaul is in order this spring.

watercolour tubes

Holbein watercolour tubes, bought yesterday, along with some older ones that belonged to my father.... on the fifth anniversary of his passing.

pencils

 

Boxes of pencils, bought at a community flea market. Acquiring packets of them by the dozen gives these ubiquitous drawing instruments a whole new sense of respect. I am not sure whether the red-blue, dual colour pencils are common outside of Japan, but encountering them in an unlikely place was a bit of a treat. The regular lead pencils, apparently intended for Japanese "calligraphic" writing exercises has a nice thick lead, and at 5B, probably great for softly layering tones or drawing dynamically on larger sheets while retaining a good sense of control.

winter shoes

I wanted to draw all the shoes at the school... but realized I forgot my faithful fountain pen (actually, I was not faithful to IT). I was therefore forced to draw with thick Sharpies, which were all I had in my bag... You can't dawdle and linger with your line; Sharpies really force you to make some quick decisions, and you can't focus on details. Otherwise, you end up with permanent marker spots 3 sheets deep. I felt a bit handcuffed and a little high from the smell... the results: a little clumsier than I would have liked, but the discomfort of a challenge is always a good thing.

学芸会にて

Watching students perform their class plays...

books at a school

Book carousels at an elementary school library...

a long weekend in Banff: part 3

Some other mountains... Mount Bourgeau and Norquay. 

a long weekend in Banff: part 2

Three "urban" scenes in the town of Banff... Mount Rundle and Cascade always in view.

a long weekend in Banff: part 1

Five views of Cascade Mountain over four days (mostly mornings), with the much smaller Stoney Squaw Mountain to the left... from the hotel room, from our extended Thanksgiving weekend in Banff.

sleep...

It's been months since last drawing the sleeping kids... I missed doing this.

summer holiday epilogue...

These drawings by my 5 year-old son -- impressions of Vancouver Island, drawn using a twig and ink during one of my sketching sessions at Sunnyside Camp (I told him he could be my assistant) -- seem to convey a concise summary of our summer holiday experience... sky, ocean, mountains, trees... these are some impressive lines he has drawn, and once again I am inspired by the way children see and convey their experiences graphically.

a trip to BC: part 7

On the journey back home... waiting for the ferry in Nanaimo, and on the windy ferry deck with other passengers looking towards the Vancouver skyline.