This Week's Score

Last week was a very successful run at the Panjiayuan old bike meet and I picked up a number of rarities. First were these Hengchi pedals. Super-heavy duty with braces to prevent the blocks from turning.

 

Then a neat little leather tool bag. There is a guy at Panjiayuan who custom makes all kinds of leather goodies for bikes. A lot less expensive than Gilles Berthold too!

Rub it down with some peanut oil and it is ready to roll.

 

Finally there were these little items.

A little chrome cap with a rubber insert. Can you guess what they are for? Well, anyone who has every caught the cuff of their suit on a cotter end knows the reason for these.

 

They are cotter caps. The slide over the big end of the crank and keep your pants away from the cotter.

There was one other BIG item in the score, but it really deserves an article all to itself, so stay tuned.

Comments

[Erik]

Seriously man, you gotta quit teasing me with all these practical goodies I can't get here. Cotter caps, what a great idea. Nice leather bag too! I wish someone in the U.S. would sell some of these little goodies that you keep scoring. Are cotter caps widely available in China? One can tell the Chinese use their bike for transportation because of the plethora of practical accessories they have for their bikes. Here in the states it is just carbon this and carbon that, sold to those who only ride their bikes on the weekends and like to pretend they are Lance Armstrong. Rant over, keep up the good work, I love your blog and look forward to seeing whatever it is you have in store.

All the Best,

Erik

[Rick]

Score! Cool items. The leather bag is a very classy detail to the bike. The cotter caps are smart too. I've had my pants caught not only there, but also on the frame pump bosses.

They really clean up the look of the crank arms too. Makes me wish I still had cottered cranks on my pigeon.

[James Bayliss-Smith]

Hi Jeff,

I have just moved to Beijing one week ago and was doing a bit of research as I want to buy a flying pigeon and found this blog. First of all may I say thank you so much for taking the time to write this great blog! I have just read all you entries about flying pigeons and I am very much looking forward to buying one. In England I ride a 1940's Raleigh with a 4 speed sturmey archer hub (rare) so it was with delight that I found this wealth of information about the flying pigeon models. I have a few questions about buying one. I want to get the type with the double cross bar. Am I right in thinking that this is called a PA-06? Do you think I would be able to buy a new one in this Beixingqiao area you mentioned? Can you recommend a specific shop? Also do you think I should bargin the price down? I guess that is a kind of stupid question here in China but I am new so I don't want to offend

Also can you tell me more about the Panjiayuan old bike meet. I am fascinated. I am a documentary filmmaker and I am hoping to make documentary films while I am out here. I am already thinking along the lines of bikes vs. 1000 new cars a day in Beijing. I think that a documentary on bikes would be a great way to look at the changing face of Beijing. What do you think? I'd love to make something about bikes.

Any way keep up all the good work, oh one last thing, once I've got my bike I'm sure I'll want a set of those amazing panniers you had made so any info would be greatly appreciated,

All the best

James Bayliss-Smith

p.s. check out my films on You Tube
www.youtube.com/jamesbaylisssmith

[JS]

James-

Thanks for the kind words. With regards to finding a double bar, let's just say they are very rare in Beijing. However, you are in luck. One of the pawnshops at Beixingqiao currently (as of last weekend) has a Phoenix doublebar in postal green. Must be an export model because it is dressed up extraordinarily nice and all the decals are in English.

When you get off the Beixingqiao subway stop cross to the west side of the street and head south. It is the first pawnshop you come across and is pictured in my blog post.

[James Bayliss-Smith]

Hi Jeff when is the next Panjiayuan old bike meet or is it every week? I'd love to go.

Cheers

James

[Richard]

Jeff
Nothing like finding an old bicycle with the cotter caps still attached. Kind of like scoring an old car complete iwth original hubcaps. It is interesting to note the different mechanical designs used to attach these, screws, springs, clips,etc.

http://chikutakurinrin.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/06/post-c4a1.html