Alex Singer Cycles and culture
05-28-22, 07:05 AM
#151
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I had enough time for a quick ride this morning before starting the weekend stuff. I will be heading out tomorrow for work, but wanted to get in a few miles.
What would that be worth without pics?
Taken at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial and Cemetery, remains of the fallen Americans who were the first combat pilots in France in WWI are interred in the crypt below the monument. A fitting place to visit the day before Memorial Day.
This is the spot in Versailles where I had my negligent spontaneous sudden stop in 2020.
The Pershing/Lafayette memorial just outside Versailles. Even Pershing salutes a Singer.
Cool spot in the Bois de Boulogne.
Bagatelle park gates in the Bois, a small park full of carefully groomed plantings and flowers.
What would that be worth without pics?
Taken at the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial and Cemetery, remains of the fallen Americans who were the first combat pilots in France in WWI are interred in the crypt below the monument. A fitting place to visit the day before Memorial Day.
This is the spot in Versailles where I had my negligent spontaneous sudden stop in 2020.
The Pershing/Lafayette memorial just outside Versailles. Even Pershing salutes a Singer.
Cool spot in the Bois de Boulogne.
Bagatelle park gates in the Bois, a small park full of carefully groomed plantings and flowers.
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05-28-22, 08:33 AM
#152
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If you haven't already, take a roll out to the Parc de St. Cloud and see the Grande Cascade, just a little further SW from your ride above. While not on the "B" list,
in the spring/summer there's a seasonal cafe at the base of the cascade serving salty fatty snacks and Kir. The Parc is huge with many paths all sans cars.
You very well may run into more chrome under veteran rollers out there...In addition, although it involves traversing the city, surface or metro, the bois de Vincennes
is another lovely large bikable Parc that is home to the velodrome. Though few were made, AS made track bikes too, Olivier used to have one he bought from a client, maybe he still has it ?
in the spring/summer there's a seasonal cafe at the base of the cascade serving salty fatty snacks and Kir. The Parc is huge with many paths all sans cars.
You very well may run into more chrome under veteran rollers out there...In addition, although it involves traversing the city, surface or metro, the bois de Vincennes
is another lovely large bikable Parc that is home to the velodrome. Though few were made, AS made track bikes too, Olivier used to have one he bought from a client, maybe he still has it ?
I'm very excited to get back to fitness and get this thing out into its native environment on the tiny farm roads far from cities in the pre-dawn gloom. I want to see that spear of light from the Edelux punching its way onto the road in the Vosges and the Pyrenees. For now it's base work and then stretching and ice, but I can dream big.
I'll have to ask Olivier about the track bike... and look up how to say that in French.
Last edited by poprad; 05-28-22 at 08:38 AM.
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05-28-22, 09:19 AM
#153
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This thread is kind of addictive and incredibly enabling.... Thanks!
05-29-22, 08:57 PM
#154
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Lafayette wanted to be buried in American soil, and indeed he was. An American flag waves over his grave. And during the Nazi occupation of Paris, the caretakers of his grave flew the American flag! Many thanks to Lafayette.
06-03-22, 01:44 PM
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Update: with Olivier's blessing Jen Green is working her magic
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06-03-22, 09:57 PM
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Very nice!
Cloisonne infill next?
Brent
Cloisonne infill next?
Brent
06-03-22, 11:38 PM
#157
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06-12-22, 05:47 AM
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Just because I can't stop taking photos of this bike:
View of Paris from St Germain, the Eiffel Tower is the tiny stick behind the hill on the right.
Jean De La Fontaine approves
View of Paris from St Germain, the Eiffel Tower is the tiny stick behind the hill on the right.
Jean De La Fontaine approves
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06-12-22, 05:57 AM
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And in case anyone is interested in the fox/crow thing:
The great fable is all about vanity and how important it is to not be obsessed with your looks and yourself. A raven is perched in a tree and holds a delicious and giant cheese in his mouth that he will soon enjoy. A fox passes by and starts telling the raven how beautiful he is, how incredible his voice is and how he is the most majestic creature in all the forest. The raven opens his mouth to sing to the nice fox but drops the cheese. The fox catches the delicious cheese and warns the raven that if you say what the person wants to hear then you’ll probably get what you want from them.
Not so bike but very classic.
The great fable is all about vanity and how important it is to not be obsessed with your looks and yourself. A raven is perched in a tree and holds a delicious and giant cheese in his mouth that he will soon enjoy. A fox passes by and starts telling the raven how beautiful he is, how incredible his voice is and how he is the most majestic creature in all the forest. The raven opens his mouth to sing to the nice fox but drops the cheese. The fox catches the delicious cheese and warns the raven that if you say what the person wants to hear then you’ll probably get what you want from them.
Not so bike but very classic.
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06-12-22, 09:26 AM
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Looks like some morning mileage.
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06-12-22, 10:25 AM
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06-12-22, 12:22 PM
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06-12-22, 10:37 PM
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Revolution Cycle
The one she's making will adorn my Singer, that is without question.
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06-17-22, 10:30 AM
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07-23-22, 08:13 AM
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Headbadge arrived
So, I finally found a time when I could link up with Olivier at the shop. He was very pleased with Jen's craftsmanship and quality of materials. If not I would've had a nice desk ornament but I wouldn't have put it on his bike. He was proud to install it, and we also watched the end of the Pyrenees stage together. He hooted loudly while Pinot was still in the lead group and acted crestfallen when he finally cracked on the Hautecam. Watching a stage of the TdF with Olivier in his shop office; that's a memory I will cherish forever.
My bike, headbadge just installed
A pleased Olivier
I endorse Jen's work without reservation. She's a class act and her artistry is top notch.
So, I finally found a time when I could link up with Olivier at the shop. He was very pleased with Jen's craftsmanship and quality of materials. If not I would've had a nice desk ornament but I wouldn't have put it on his bike. He was proud to install it, and we also watched the end of the Pyrenees stage together. He hooted loudly while Pinot was still in the lead group and acted crestfallen when he finally cracked on the Hautecam. Watching a stage of the TdF with Olivier in his shop office; that's a memory I will cherish forever.
My bike, headbadge just installed
A pleased Olivier
I endorse Jen's work without reservation. She's a class act and her artistry is top notch.
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07-23-22, 08:18 AM
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A trip to Alex Singer wouldn't be complete without a few shots of tools and the like:
Drillpress from an era of solid materials and solider men
Another shot of the lead sheets covering the vice jaws; he uses this as a frame holder when he's building.
Drillpress from an era of solid materials and solider men
Another shot of the lead sheets covering the vice jaws; he uses this as a frame holder when he's building.
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07-23-22, 08:20 AM
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How do you like the generator?
07-23-22, 08:23 AM
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And finally, yet another super cool old steed in for minor tweaks and repairs. This one is ridden daily. A Jaques Anquetil (known for asking for a woman and champagne after each stage mid-tour) with Shimano Arabesque. Lovely in its patina of decades of hard use and accumulated grime. I would dearly love to strip this down and clean every bit, then carefully reassemble it keeping every scratch and rub mark intact. Sadly, not my role here.
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07-23-22, 08:24 AM
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I have to admit I haven't gotten up early enough to try it yet. The sun's up at 5:30 these days in Paris, so....
07-23-22, 08:28 AM
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A couple more of the JA:
Love, love, LOVE the hand done line work
I don't know if Shimano made these cranks or if this was a mod, but it's cool AF
Love, love, LOVE the hand done line work
I don't know if Shimano made these cranks or if this was a mod, but it's cool AF
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07-23-22, 08:28 AM
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07-23-22, 08:34 AM
#174
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For those fond of history (so yeah, basically all of you):
https://erenow.net/biographies/sex-l...ar-tape/20.php
https://erenow.net/biographies/sex-l...ar-tape/20.php
07-23-22, 11:32 AM
#175
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For some reason I had never seen your Flickr site, now it's on my "follow". Such wonderful pictures, and knowing you spent some time in Portlandia years ago makes me happy.
On a business trip many years ago to Aix-en-Provence (did you know they make semiconductors near there?) I had some time to visit Cézanne's atelier. I knew then that I wanted a place to tinker and make things, just didn't know what I'd be doing there. Fast forward to today, looking at the Atelier, wondering when I'll ever take the time to clean up the chaotic mess it's in...but seeing Alex's shop, perhaps it's supposed to be that way?
The personal connection with the framebuilder, riding in an intimate club of fellow riders with a common amour du vélo is a special thing. Switching to Italian, it's cosa nostra, something outsiders wouldn't understand.
I dream of retirement and having the time to be a cyclotourist exploring Europe on a classic randonneuse. On a day that I'm recovering from a mild bout of COVID my adrenal glands are kicking in from reading your thread. Thank you for that.
Oh, and that cream colored Singer that @northbend posted earlier? When I first saw it several years ago I told Matt that if he ever was wanting to sell it to keep me in mind. Several weeks ago he emailed me and told me it was time for someone else to be the caretaker.
On a business trip many years ago to Aix-en-Provence (did you know they make semiconductors near there?) I had some time to visit Cézanne's atelier. I knew then that I wanted a place to tinker and make things, just didn't know what I'd be doing there. Fast forward to today, looking at the Atelier, wondering when I'll ever take the time to clean up the chaotic mess it's in...but seeing Alex's shop, perhaps it's supposed to be that way?
The personal connection with the framebuilder, riding in an intimate club of fellow riders with a common amour du vélo is a special thing. Switching to Italian, it's cosa nostra, something outsiders wouldn't understand.
I dream of retirement and having the time to be a cyclotourist exploring Europe on a classic randonneuse. On a day that I'm recovering from a mild bout of COVID my adrenal glands are kicking in from reading your thread. Thank you for that.
Oh, and that cream colored Singer that @northbend posted earlier? When I first saw it several years ago I told Matt that if he ever was wanting to sell it to keep me in mind. Several weeks ago he emailed me and told me it was time for someone else to be the caretaker.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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