The Beautiful Bicycle
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Adventures in the world of vintage cycling. A blog by Tucson-based writer and bicyclist Scott Calhoun about collecting, fixing, and riding old (and sometimes new) lightweight bicycles just about everywhere.
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
In 1978, I got my first job as a paper carrier for the Arizona Republic. I was a skinny twelve-year-old. My first morning, a Sunday, I struggled with the heavily loaded ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
When preparing for vintage cycling events like Eroica, there is no substitute for training on the same vintage bike you’ll be using in the event. The 2017 edition will be my ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
This video says a lot about why I love vintage bicycles and the stories they tell: they don’t come much better than John’s. I’ve been lucky enough to ride a bit ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
It was still dark outside in Paso Robles. Greg and I were milling around in the kitchen of our rented cottage drinking coffee. We already had on our matching red and ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
As cycling sub-genres go, randonneuring is an obscure and geeky one, probably less familiar to Americans than BMX riding and unicycling. Typical randonneuring rides, (they are not races but there are ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
In a color combination that recalls pumpkins, charred wood, and Eddy Merckx, Motobecane’s top mid-70s model in orange and black livery is a lusted after machine. To see one is to ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
I suppose you could call me an Eroica California veteran, and maybe even an unofficial ambassador (although not in the social media sense of that word). In the four years of ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
For a number of years, I’ve been obsessed with a very specific kind of French bicycle: the randonneur or, more correctly the randonneuse. In American usage, this is most often reduced ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
Note: The information in this essay was gathered in part with my intermediate and somewhat dubious Spanish language skills. I’ve been unable to reach Rodrigo Otero for clarifications and corrections, but ..read more
The Beautiful Bicycle
2y ago
With its Land Rover green color, honey leather saddle and matching amber shallaced bars, it is a bike that looks borderline matchy-matchy. I’m guilty of fetishizing the build a little, although ..read more