Cycling a classic single-speed in an exotic location...also, Jan Heine content
06-18-23, 07:52 PM
#1
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Cycling a classic single-speed in an exotic location...also, Jan Heine content
Just spent some time in Maupiti (an off-the-beaten-track part of French Polynesia. No hotels, no credit cards, no ATMs, no supermarkets, few cars, only one small restaurant. However, they do have some classic and extremely rusty single-speeds to loan out at the various pensions (bed-and-breakfasts). We did two complete circuits of the island, and I even careened down a signposted 20% grade (though I would say that it was only about 15%). Shockingly, the high performance rust-coated steel wheels were shod with Compass tires. Check it out!
Yours truly atop a custom single-speed at Tereira Beach
Compass tires! Jan must have been here.
Ready to brave a death-defying "20%" descent with only a rusty coaster brake to avert disaster.
Paradise, cycling and otherwise.
Gotta finish a strenuous bike ride with an appropriate beverage!
Yours truly atop a custom single-speed at Tereira Beach
Compass tires! Jan must have been here.
Ready to brave a death-defying "20%" descent with only a rusty coaster brake to avert disaster.
Paradise, cycling and otherwise.
Gotta finish a strenuous bike ride with an appropriate beverage!
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06-18-23, 08:08 PM
#2
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Steep descent with only a coaster brake? "Repack hill" from the origins of mountain biking, anyone?
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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06-18-23, 08:41 PM
#4
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Looks like the perfect training site for Cino, Dave.
06-18-23, 09:17 PM
#5
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-----
what is causing the texture to the water's surface in this photo?
boat wake? wind? tide? other?
-----
what is causing the texture to the water's surface in this photo?
boat wake? wind? tide? other?
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06-18-23, 10:27 PM
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06-18-23, 11:10 PM
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The lagoon is so shallow here (1 to 4 feet) that I think the waves on the surface act like lenses that distort the view of the white sand bottom and produce lighter and darker bands The waves are caused by big waves breaking on the fringing reef that propagate into the interior lagoon.
06-18-23, 11:57 PM
#8
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Just spent some time in Maupiti (an off-the-beaten-track part of French Polynesia. No hotels, no credit cards, no ATMs, no supermarkets, few cars, only one small restaurant. However, they do have some classic and extremely rusty single-speeds to loan out at the various pensions (bed-and-breakfasts). We did two complete circuits of the island, and I even careened down a signposted 20% grade (though I would say that it was only about 15%). Shockingly, the high performance rust-coated steel wheels were shod with Compass tires. Check it out!
Yours truly atop a custom single-speed at Tereira Beach
Yours truly atop a custom single-speed at Tereira Beach
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"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
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06-19-23, 08:52 AM
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I think you need to organize a TdTahiti combined with a clunker challenge. Everyone flies in without a bike, buys or rents what's available, and off we go.
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06-19-23, 09:27 AM
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that is quite a destination. About as remote as it's possible to get. thanks for sharing it
/markp
/markp
06-19-23, 10:11 AM
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06-19-23, 10:43 AM
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Well, if we were to hire Milo Mindbender and start a syndicate, we could corner the market on old, rusty bikes on the island and make a profitable enterprise and pay off the locals.
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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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06-19-23, 11:10 AM
#15
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Sounds like a “bring lawyers, guns, and money” kind of tour.
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06-19-23, 11:15 AM
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06-19-23, 01:18 PM
#18
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I'm guessing that if I careened down the 20% grade without applying the brake, then skipped the turn at the bottom and headed straight into the water, I might have enough speed and the tires might have enough buoyancy for me to plane across the lagoon. Have to give that a whirl next visit.
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06-19-23, 01:22 PM
#19
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I'm guessing that if I careened down the 20% grade without applying the brake, then skipped the turn at the bottom and headed straight into the water, I might have enough speed and the tires might have enough buoyancy for me to plane across the lagoon. Have to give that a whirl next visit.
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06-19-23, 01:45 PM
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Carbon bikes are Rush and your bike is The Ramones.
Gorgeous place, gorgeous pics.
Gorgeous place, gorgeous pics.
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06-19-23, 04:56 PM
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I'm impressed that Dave had the forethought to bring his GPS unit and map the ride.
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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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06-19-23, 07:44 PM
#23
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Betcha can't wait to get home to your bikes.
Yeah, right.
Yeah, right.
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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.
