A rainy spring day in Vermont - still, what a wonderful ride!

From Velo Vermont Vintage
What a ride, what a day! 

We had about 30 people show up despite the dooming weather forecast for the weekend and everyone who came out to Red hen Baking in Middlesex, VT had a great time. We had some 'energy food' from Red Hen, in form of Anis/Walnut Paninis, and a little history lesson, getting to check out an original Schwinn Paramount Track bike from 1948! Wool jerseys from SideShow Cycles and Velo Vermont Vintage Spring Classic T-Shirts (both still available!) were your entry 'fee' to the ride. Fearlessly, folks headed out into the dark clouds and South into the Mad River Valley. We stayed on paved 100B for a little and hit the dirt roads in Moretown, climbing up Pony Farm. With the rain 'hanging out' over the Western Mountains, mostly holding off, it was just a little chilly once we were decending into the covered bridge of Waitsfield. We added in a little beer/food stop at the local general store, and that made the second half of the ride even more enjoyable, as we stopped by the side of the road for a a sip of 'sunshine' every time the sun came out. Passing some beautiful spots with awesome views on the way back made us forget about the drizzles all together, and heading back past the swimming holes along Lovers Lane and into the parking lot of Red Hen, we were greeted by more vintage bike talk, a parts swap and some red wine, baguettes, and a cold beer.

What a day, what a ride, and thanks so much to our sponsors: Red Hen Baking, Nutty Steph's chocolates (raffle!), Hardwood Softgoods, and Sideshow Cycles! 

We even got talked about on the Behind the Handlebars Podcast! Listen Here

Thanks for all the kind words, and thanks to all who came out despite the Vermont "summer" weather!

Stay tuned for more New England Vintage Events by Velo Vermont Vintage. 

True Love!

Teaming up again: Hardwood Softgoods and SideShow Cycles

We are doing it again: SideShow Cycles and Hardwood Softgoods are teaming up for another event: Presenting to you the Velo Vermont Vintage Mini L'Eroica Spring Classic Road Ride.
Saturday, April 30th, starting in Middlesex, Vermont at Redhen Bakery at 1pm. We will head out for about 30 miles of beautiful paved and dirt roads that will take you back in time! The fall classic Vintage Ride in September 2015 was such a success and so much fun that we decided to do it all over again.

Here's the official 'release':

Join us on Saturday April 30th 2016 for Velo Vermont's second Mini L'Eroica Vintage Road Bike Ride. 

Leaving from the Parking area at Red Hen Baking in Middlesex, VT at 1pm. 

The (uninforced) equipment requirements for this ride are - as last time: bicycles older than 1990, non-aero brake cable routing, friction shifters, preferably mounted on the downtube, gum wall tires, pedals with clips & straps, wool jerseys, classic shoes, .....

The route will take you through the beautiful Mad River Valley, and up along the tucked away dirt roads with spectacular views. This ~30 mile long ride is again fully unsupported. A $25 'donation' is suggested, to cover the organizer's expenses. This donation will get you a second edition of the Velo Vermont Vintage T-Shirt, some delicious, local post-ride-chow and beverages from our sponsors, etc....

Please be advised, that you ride at your own risk. Helmets are required for all riders. Be safe!

This year we would like to set up a little vintage parts/accessories market after the ride, so bring a couple of the bins of stuff you have at home and get ready to swap, trade, sell, buy..... The older, shinier, weirder, the better.

We are looking forward to seeing you out in the spring. 

Check out all the pictures and reports from last fall HERE. 

true love, 

Velo Vermont Vintage

-- hardwood softgoods / sideshow cycles --

Two Touring frames later

UPDATE: now unfortunately, Dan alreayd made his way out west and the frame wasn't quite done being painted, but never the less, I just received these pictures and the thing looks really pretty:
I'll post more as I get the see the frame!




.... things are starting to thaw out here in the Green Mountains and us riders are getting excited to go out and ride, camp, get lost, make fires, etc. etc.
On the list for this spring and summer is definitely a couple of Sub24hOs. I did a little write up on one to Groton State Forest over night last year. Check it out here. And stay tuned for more to come.

Speaking of Touring: Dan and Chloe's Touring frames are done, and are awaiting some layers of paint now. Dan is flying to CA next week to ride back east across the country. I am excited to hear his verdict on the frame and obviously, all the things he is going to see along the way!

Here's a quick photo dump on those two frames.

Touring Duo

Headbadge options

68MM THRD. As simple as that.

Check out this wonderful post from the Retrobikegrouch


It was just over a month ago that I wrote about the T47, a new threaded bottom bracket standard designed to solve the problems associated with press-fit BB systems. I actually went so far as to express optimism (rare for me, as I haven't been honestly optimistic aboutanything since 1992) that the bike industry could get behind T47 and settle the issue for good.

"It's nice to point out that the T47 is an 'open standard' - which means that anyone can use it freely." I had written. "That speaks well to the possibility that it could be adopted widely around the industry, and restore some meaning to that currently meaningless word 'standard'."

BWAAAA-HAAAA-HAAAAA!!! (diabolical laughter)

Yep - just over a month after the introduction of T47, some are already on the verge of declaring it DOA.

Retrogrouch throws hands in the air and stomps out of the room . . .

BikeRadar's Angry Asian, James Huang, says of T47, "Sorry to be the killjoy, but I wouldn't go celebrating just yet."

Dropbar Touring!

Moving on to two new projects here... next up: two touring frames, for Dan and Chloe, potentially attempting to ride across the country. Now, isn't that exciting. I will call them 'Dropbar Touring', since that is what you're going to be doing on them.
It's going to be a fully loaded bike, little longer chain stays, (not as extreme as an Long Haul Trucker) and bottle cage mounts x3, on the down tube, seat tube and underneath the down tube by the bottom bracket. Also, rack mounts, and front rack, on a Surly fork.
Check it out so far.

First ever: Velo Vermont Vintage Road Ride!

What a day!! Presented by Hardwood Softgoods and Sideshow Cycles, this past Sunday 9/20/15 marked the first ever Velo Vermont Vintage Road Bike Ride. A Mini L'Eroica Vermont!

We met up in the parking lot of Onion River Sports in Montpelier, VT, and had invited to ride dirt roads in the area on vintage bikes including wool jerseys, classic cycling caps..... Welcoming all bikes in working condition, we got sponsors like Red Hen Baking and Alla Vita Olive Oil and the Alchemist on board. After the ride we offered a pasta and home-made pesto dinner with some red wine and IPAs and sold a bunch of awesome limited edition T-Shirts and Hardwood softgoods hand-made Musette bags to cover our cost.

Over 30 people showed up and brought some truly stunning bikes and attire. Oldest bike to tackle the 28  miles long course on this fully unsupported ride was a 1939 Dawes, best in Show went to a 1976 full chrome Schwinn Paramount and the person that traveled the furthest to the ride came all the way from Connecticut!

This is not the last you will hear about Velo Vermont Vintage, so stay tuned. And this ride is sure going to be an annual happening. Check out some pictures below (courtesy of TvD Photography).