The Flying Pigeon Project

Fender Ornaments

In past posts we have seen how many asian roadsters come equipped with ornaments festooning the front fender. It's basically a pre-requiste for any Indian roadster, although they tend to be simple affairs.

This Week's Score: The Postman Always Delivers....Mail

 

So what is this thing in the photo? Well, as a bicycle accoutrement, it surely is NOT a thing of beauty. In fact, it is rather ugly with uneven welds and haphazard paint. However, it is virtually indestructible and something I have been looking for for months. What is it? 

Front mount package rack for China Post bicycles. That's right. The post man delivers.

Even Newer Project: Yongjiu/Forever Lightweight

What the hell is wrong with me? I've got one bike, which I really love,The Pigeon. Rides nice, and gets great comments wherever I go. But somehow that's not enough. I have to find another project so I get the Little Blue Hat:  A veritable armored personal carrier of a bicycle with multiple woes.  It needs work, of course, so that'll keep me busy finding bits and turning the occasional wrench. With both my mind and hands busy, I should be satisfied. So NOW I'm done buying bikes right?

Welllll.....

New Project: 小蓝帽, The Little Blue Hat, Part 1

It is interesting sometimes how one thing leads to another. When I went out to shoot photos for "All Gum Tire Install" I went out looking for someplace new to photograph. This lead me down some local roads which I have never taken before. That's a pretty common in Beijing as the neighborhoods can be very intricate. 

I had just finished taking my photos and was looking for an exit to the housing project I was in. This lead me down a small avenue of shops where I happened across a small delivery service: The Little Blue Hat Newspaper. Apparently they also delivered jugs of bottled water when they were done with their newspaper rounds. Regardless, The Little Blue Hat had a corral of ancient, corroding double-bar delivery bikes. Yongjiu/Shanghai-Forevers, in fact.

Bits and Pieces

This week was the first time I had been to Panjiayuan antique bike meet in months. Being it was the end of spring festival, and still winter, there wasn't the usual crowd. And the crowd that was there came late. But still there was some interesting stuff to be seen. One first timer unloaded a table of bits and pieces. A fine melange for a browsing.