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Typewriters

Typewriters have always been a part of my life. For example, the first typewriter I encountered was my grandmothers old Swedish Halda. It was large, heavy and painted in the typical green hammerite colour that was popular in the early 1940´s. It was a really nice machine that had been around for quite a while, and for me as a kid it was a impressive machine with all levers, knobs and shiny parts. After a few years my grandmother decided she did not have any need for the old typewriter any more so she gave the old Halda typewriter to me. Suddenly, 12 year old me was owner to my very first own typewriter.

Today I realize that it was a rather fatal mistake to give a 12 year old kid an machine like that. A 12 year old that owned a screwdriver, ready at his disposal with an interest in technical gadgets and machinery. After a few weeks of writing notes and having the machine as decoration. I decided to see if my screwdriver fitted onto the screws of the machine. It took me about 30 minutes until the entire Halda was completely dismantled, down to its smallest component. One hour after that, the old typewriter was in the trash bin.

From that day I had a fascination about typewriters. Preferably the old ones made in metal with their design and function, all levers that were connected to different rods and springs. My mother, who had attended secretary school sometime in the 1960´s, owned a grey 1970’s plastic typewriter that I was not allowed anywhere near with my screwdriver and curious mindset. But my mothers typewriter did not attract me, it felt – plastic, not genuine, almost modern, in a odd way.

Typewriters became a part of my life in another way to. When I was in 6th grade, we had typewriting lessons on the schedule in school. We were a group of kids trying to figure out our fingering – our placement of our fingers on a typewriter keyboard. We had to learn to write on keyboards, it was mandatory. I guess no one of the kids was paying much attention at those lessons. Neither did I, since I even today can not use the correct fingering on the keyboard. In fact, my writing skills and speed reminds more of an old police constable writing a report in a 1950’s movie. Slow and steady so to speak, not always correct, but still. We had to sit in class, lesson after lesson, fingering the old Adler typewriters without any symbols on the keys. We were supposed to find our way without looking at the keyboard. Not the most exciting exercises for children.

I guess the reason for the typewriting lessons in school was that back then, people received and sent official letters and forms to and from government officials and other red tape departments. All official letters that were written on typewriters in those days. They were most likely written by grey bureaucrats in grey suits, hammering away grey letters on bulky grey typewriters in the clinical light of fluorescent lights, casting with grey shadows on the walls. Sweden was like that once, grey and filled with typewriters. You had to use a typewriter in conversations with the bureaucracy, hand written letters will simply not due.

Many years later when I was a adult, I visited a second hand shop for vintage technical gadgets. There were an entire bookshelf filled with vintage typewriters. Since my own hand writing had more and more started to resembled the handwriting of a doctor riding a roller-coaster. I thought that buying an old typewriter rather cheep, would be a nice aid for me in my writing. I looked at all the machines in the shop they all were rather cheep, since no one wanted those old relics any more.

The typewriter I chose was an Royal, manufactured in New York back in the 1930’s. It was a all metal machine in a glossy black finish with shiny stainless steel parts. After bringing it home and preforming some service to it, the old machine worked like a charm. I started to write short stories and journals all the time just for fun. Since the personal computer had just recently made it’s entry on the scene, I used the old typewriter less and less. Few years later there was a young girl who loved old things, so I simply gave her the old machine, she was happy as could be and everything could ended there.

Fast forward many years until the time I started attending Urban Adventure Leagues different bicycle challenges, such as Midnite Bicycle League challenge. It was then I realized that I could not use my computer to fill out the physical journals that was included in the challenges. My hand writing skills had not improved at all in the last 20 years. Once again I needed a typewriter, after asking my mother if she still had her old plastic typewriter, I got the vague reply that she hardly remembered that she had owned a typewriter at all.

That was when I got the brilliant idea of checking out different auction sites. Suddenly, there were heaps of old typewriters to choose from. Everything form the green Swedish Halda´s, pink Italian Olivetti´s , new and old typewriters, large and small. Among all odd typewriters I even found a old Royal typewriter for sale. Not quite the model I bought many years ago, but a better one, the fancy Deluxe model with a chromed decoration trim and painted in crimped black finish. I placed a bid on the auction and some days later I won. €30 for a nice old machine, complete with case, manuals and an original brush.

After some dusting, cleaning, brushing, wiping and polishing the Royal Deluxe from 1938 was working like a charm. Of course there are some issues with such as keys sticking and finding cigarr ashes inside the machine. But to be honest, what is there to expect from a typewriter that had been used since 1930’s. Now I could fill out the Urban Adventure Leagues bicycle challenge journal so my notes were readable. Besides, I realized that it was rather fun to write on a typewriter again.

There is something satisfying by pressing down a key, feeling the rods and springs throw the type-bars on to the paper and by pressing a coloured ribbon on to the paper, printing a letter. Everything in one single swift motion. I still had some envelopes in a drawer from the time I worked in an office back in the early 1990’s, so why not writing a letter? I loaded the machine with a fresh paper and started hammering away.

It did not end there, I started to look for a spare machine, an backup typewriter. On the same auction side I later found an 1960’s Swedish made Facit, made by the same manufacture as Halda, but a bit more modern. This typewriter is a technical masterpiece. It is very advanced and well designed with its all it’s features. There is the automatic direction shifter on the colour ribbon, several settings for stops and tab distance. The plastic buttons on the keys are more ergonomic, the smaller font on the type-bars are more clean and less fancy and so on. Sadly the machine, it’s hood, case and cabinet is all in a bureaucrat grey shade so by using it I feel like one of these grey bureaucrats from back in the day.

*Facit Partner, made 1964 in Åtvidaberg*

*Rear view, very stylistic with the letters F A C I T*

*Almost unused, very clean type-bars and interior*

To really emphasis the bureaucrat feeling, I even ordered a rubber stamp with a logo to stamp on to the letters. Then we have the question of what to use as postage? Well, of course the old stamps from our stamp collection that we all started when we were kids. Stamp collections that have been collecting dust in a drawer for the latest 40 years. The stamps are still valid after all those years, it is simply a matter of adding up the postage to the correct amount and post the letter.

I can not believe what an impression my letters made. The analogue letters brought smiles to the recipients. It turns out that today, in this digital era it can be nice to sometimes take a break from all electronic and simply open and read a letter.

Every day we are bombarded with more and more digital information of all sorts. There we are, surrounded by all this electronic, trying to cope and find some balance in not being uneducated about the latest trends floating around internet and social media while simply trying to breathe.

*Enskede Tweed Society, stamp. All just for fun*

I have found that in this hectic digital age, it is relaxing to dust off an old 78rpm record, crank up the spring on the gramophone and listen to music. Typing letters on an old typewriter and just bring down the speed of everything. Making time, to take time. It is good to take it slow sometimes. To be honest I even looked up a “postage-box” so all my bicycle and photography correspondence could be in the letter format. Just to make a statement of taking it easy.

Sadly a postage-box today is really expensive, then it becomes a question of priories. But who knows, maybe it could be an investment? After all I was really inspired by the statement of The Tweed Cycling Club contact information, “If you have sent correspondence in the past six months and have not received a response, please be forgiving. The Secretary has been somewhat distracted of late“. Just keeping it analogue, writing a newsletter as back in the days. Print it and send it to those who are interested and letting it to take time. Just as back before we all had mobile-phones, computers and internet.

In the end, that is what i is all about. Tweed rides, typewriters, analogue cameras and the spirit of the olden “digital free” days. It is to reduce the tempo, things do not need to happen right away. Just like riding vintage bicycles when riding upright and enjoining the scenery around you. Stopping for a while, having a rest, a cup of tea and listening to the chirping birds.

Letting go of all electronic shackles and the pressure of the modern world for a moment. Just by simply writing a letter will make you reduce stress and disconnect your mind for a while. It can not be that bad?

*Writing letters as I did in the 1990´s, a small glass of wine and a towel underneath the typewriter to dampen the sound of typing.*

4 Comments

by schneebremse on December 29, 2022 • Permalink

Posted in A bit of this and that, Articles, column, Journalism, reflection, tweed, Uncategorised, Uncategorized, vintage, weusetweed

Tagged deluxe, facit, royal, typewriter

Posted by schneebremse on December 29, 2022

https://schneebremse.wordpress.com/2022/12/29/typewriters/

Norwegian Diamant

Today is the 17th of May, Norway’s constitution day, or Nasjonaldagen as they say in Norwegian. What better way to celebrate the day for me, rather than to tell you the story of my latest bicycle project from Norway.

A while back, for those who follow me on Instagram, I posted some images of an odd racer bicycle that I just acquired and was riding home in the snow. It was a 1930’s Norwegian Diamant that I rode home in December. The interesting thing about this bicycle might not be the bicycle it self, but more the interesting and rather special story behind it and is a large reason why I will not rebuild or refurbish the bicycle.

*Lots of nice details like the leaning frame, side wall mudguards and the “G” on the chain wheel*

*Most likely original Diamant saddle and saddle bag*

First of all, let us start from the beginning about the brand. Back in 1901 a successful Norwegian competition rider named Aksel Gresvig, started a bicycle and sports equipment shop in Oslo, the capital of Norway. A few years later he started manufacturing his own bicycles that he sold in his shop. The brand names where Diamant and Thor. Along the years the shop expanded more and more and even survived the economical difficulties during the 1920’s. The business went so well that he acquired other shops along the years and grew to become one of the largest sport retailer in Norway.

*A sticker on the frame with a list of achievements made by Diamant racers*

The bicycle manufacturing went rather well and the company had over 150 employees in the 1940’s and manufactured well over 10.000 bicycles yearly. But after the war the bicycles heydays were over, the manufacturing declined and finally after a fire that destroyed the Oslo located factory in the 1970’s, they stopped making bicycles completely. But the Gresvig brand continued as an sport equipment retailer up to 2020 when they filed for bankruptcy.

My bicycle is most likely made in the mid 1930’s. With the frame rather light weight and slightly leaning forward it is a rather sporty everyday runner. Or as what we in the Scandinavian countries say, a tourist or half racer. This particular bicycle has the typical drop handlebars with soft curves, freewheel gearing on the rear hub, toe clips on the pedals and no lights more than a cats eye reflector mounted on the rear fender. The bicycle is now just as I bought it, and the previous owner had not changed a ting on the bicycle during his time as owner as I understand it. The tires seems to be the original Viking tires, made by Askim Gummivarefabrik but are all cracked due to old age and standing on the rims with deflated tires. The original saddle and saddle bag are i good condition, after a rub of leather grease they look a bit more lively.

*Askim Gummivarefabrik, they made all sorts of rubber items, including rubber boots. Just like Finnish Nokia.*

Here comes the interesting story about this particular bicycle. I was told that this bicycle was used as an model for a statue on display in Oslo called “The man with the bike”. The reason of this being a historical event that occurred in the early morning of 9 April 1940.

That was when operation Weserübung started, the German invasion of Norway. There is a famous photo from the 9 April 1940 where German troops are marching down the main street in Oslo, Karl Johans gate. On the photo there is a bicycle with its owner standing as bystanders and looking at the marching German troops. Right from the start of the invasion, small groups of resistance was formed and one of the main transports for the resistance was the bicycles. Bicycles were rather inexpensive, needed no fuel, were quiet, fast and you could transport items over a large distance quickly.

The man on the photo is not known, but Gunnar Sønsteby aka. number 24 or Kjakan, one of the most famous resistance fighters during the war, was known to ride a similar bicycle during his actions in the resistance.

*German troops marching on Karl Johan in Oslo 9 April 1940, notice the bicycle to the left in the photo. Foto, Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum*

My Diamant has many features that matches with the bicycle on the classic photo. The soft curved handlebars, the brake leavers, the position of the bicycle bell along with the chromed lower parts of the front fork along with the drum brake in the front wheel. The chance of being exactly the same bicycle are miniscule, if not impossible. But, it is the same style or even perhaps the same brand of bicycle. An half racer with typical Norwegian traits such as drum brakes and the placement of the bicycle bell.

*Dropbar handlebars with odd brake leavers, the one of the right is most likely not original*

*Close up on the left brake leaver with an arrangement that might missing some parts*

*What I can tell an original bicycle bell, with the same placement as on the statue “The man with the bike”*

*On the chain wheel there is a G – as in Gresvig. The pedals have pedal cages for even more race experience*

Further more about the bicycle. As I am told, it was owned by the owner of an local Oslo bicycle shop and was used as a model for the statue “The man with the bike”. A statue made by the artist Per Ung in 2007 portraying Gunnar Sønsteby with his bicycle. A nice detail is that the location of the statue today is about exactly where the young man was standing with his bicycle in the photo from 1940.

*“The man with the bike” Photo – T . Hansen*

There is some differences, for example the statue bicycle have a luggage-rack. My bicycle do not have any luggage-rack. But that is an part that might have been lost along all the years. Age is an factor for different wear and tear, parts come and go, and as I mentioned earlier the tires are cracked and rotten due to old age and bad storage.

If I would like to renovate the bicycle, but there is problems right from the start. The tires are in the just as old as odd sport dimension of 28″ 1 3/8. It is rather impossible to find new tires in that dimension today. I think there is a shop in Italy that have them, but I guess those Italian tires are not made by Askim Gummivarefabrik. Then we have the brake leavers which are two different types, one original rather old looking and the other seems to be a motorcycle handle of some sort.

Then we have the mystery of the English made drum brakes. First of all, it is rather counter productive to have heavy drum brakes mounted in the wheels of a light weight racer if you ask me. But the part that really surprised me was the rear brake linkage. It is clearly designed as an “pull to brake” brake with an arm that manoeuvrers up and down when applying or realising brakage. But here we find on the end of the rear braking wire, a strange solder-less barrel nipple that were way to large to fit the brake leaver so it could apply the brake pads in a sufficient manner.

In short, the rear brake have not been working for really a long time. Lastly there was the mystery of every spoke in the front wheel was loose. I have seen one, two or even three spokes. But all of them, every one? I have never experienced that.

*Braking cable and barrel nipple on the rear hub*

*I do not know what maker had that symbol*

*I guess it is not an original design, but a cool hack from 1930’s, use twine*

What will I do with the bicycle? I have no idea at all, it is such a unique bicycle with such powerful and interesting lore about it that I might just keep it as is. Just refurbish the bearings and other ware and tare parts, only to make it a fairly usable bicycle again. Will I buy new tires to replace the old ones?

No, I think they are a part of the mojo of the bicycle. The look now is just like it would have been in Oslo back in the 1940’s, without headlight due to the restrictions of travel and blackout during the war. The bicycle is ready to be used to deliver pamphlets, underground news papers and other dangerous items.

Just what is needed in the resistance, a quick and quiet orderly bicycle.

Midnite Bicycle League Challenge 2022

What exactly is the charm of riding a bicycle in the middle of winter? Not only winter in general, but the Nordic winter to be specific, at the night as well. Bicycle paths are over flowinging with snow, ice and slush. Zero degrees along with wind factor creates temperatures that more reminds of Alistair MacLean´s novel “Station Zebra” than at pleasant bicycle ride.

Riding a vintage bicycle in those conditions is not only something for the hardcore endurance explorers experts, with their ultra modern dual dampening suspension and super strong grip snow tires. There is a few odd tweedians that firmly believes that a brisk bicycle ride is good for you. Alas, with summer tires mounted on a rusty old bicycle, there are certain room for debate on that point of view. Tally-ho!

Urban Adventure League had an success back in 2020 with the fin Midnite Bicycle League Challenge. An adventure where riders all over the world were able to join an club and do some missions, all in the spirit of riding bicycles while solving challenges. The event was successful, so in January 2022 it was time for a new Midnite Bicycle League Challenge. The time frame set for the challenge was between 1/1 and 14/2 – 2022, also this tome the rules were slightly changed.

Ride your bike at night
Each ride at least 3 mi/5 km
Three times during the Challenge
You can do a maximum of two rides in a week

Even before I read the rules, even whilst doing the 2021 version, I decided to join the event. I think it is an fun and good thing to do, having an excuse to get out and about no matter the weather or time of the year.

I paid the fee to join the challenge and later on received a letter with some nice stickers, postcards, the journal it self and an small note welcoming me to the challenge in my letterbox. The main rule states that the ride must be made at night after sunset. Well, here in the cold north the sun sets early in the afternoon, so that was no problem. Doing a 5 kilometre ride, no worries. Creating three rides with a maximum of two rides a week during the challenge, easy.

*One advantage by riding in the night is that it is quiet, you can really enjoy the stillness*

This time I planed every stage rather well. The first ride was on the first day of the new year, January 1st. First checking the old Rex if all parts were secure and in good order, checking the tires for air, no strange sounds or play in any bearings. I do not use studded tires because the city does a fairly good job ploughing and sanding walkways and bicycle paths during the winter. By taking it easy and ride carefully with slightly less pressure in the tires there are no problems riding a bicycle during the winter. If there were a blizzard and about one metre of snow, well then it might be slightly complicated anyway, not only to ride a bicycle. But with a regular winter as of now? Easy as pie.

Equipped with a heavy pea coat, woollen scarf and a tweed cap I headed out on the first ride. I decided to visit the forest cemetery as usual. That is the closest place I can visit, riding on winding narrow roads with large pine trees on the sides. I have an longing to live in the countryside, riding my bicycle on gravel roads, listening to the nature, whilst the birds are chirping cheerfully in the treetops. Enjoying the relaxing sound of spinning bicycle tires on gravel roads. Visiting the forest cemetery makes me fell that I almost could be on the countryside. An bit of escape and meditation at the same time.

*Photo opportunity somewhere along one of the rides*

The ride went along without any problems. The old Rex kept up and worked like a charm in the snow and darkness of the night. The old ASEA dynamo whined and skidded along on the tire, making the bicycle lights flicker in the dark. It was fun to meet riders on their modern bicycles with halogen lamps and ultra sonic traction deluxe tires along the ride. They could not believe their eyes when they were meting me peddling along with an flickering fading front-light on a rusty bicycle from early 1940´s with regular summer tires.

The second ride was a ride with a purpose. I had bought an vintage hallway lamp on an auction. Only to discover that there were a part missing on the lamp. I had to go to the shop. But instead of going straight to the shop I went and made a visit to a relative at the same time. A quick visit, some parts and an ride. All at the same time. That is effectiveness.

The third and last ride was an adventure in pointlessness. The had been thaw weather for a few days and all snow had melted away. It was a perfect moment for me to wash away all the grime and salt residues that had accumulated on the bicycle during the rides. Better to clean it off before it makes more permanent corroding damages on the bicycle. There is a gas station located a bit away with washing possibility, the self service style complete with high pressure wash, shampoo, wax and all that. The old bicycle is worth a luxury treatment after riding around in the snow all the night.

Besides, it is always fun to take up an entire booth with one bicycle while all cab drivers are standing in line waiting to wash their cars. When I finally got to the gas station, it turned out that they had removed all the self washing sections, they only had the automatic car wash left. Personally I do not think it would be a good idea to put the bicycle through the automatic wash. It might cause some problems in the process. So I passed on the wash that day.

*Snow, ice, slush, grime, salt and gravel. Everything gets stuck on the bicycle. A wash is needed*

Now to the fun part of reporting. Due to the fact that my hand writing is worse than a stressed out doctor sitting on a shaking concrete mixer, I was thinking of different ways to write my report. Many years ago, before computers and such electronic devices, I owned an USA made Royal typewriter from the 1930’s. But the years went by, after moving houses and using more and more computers I finally gave away the typewriter to a young girl who wanted to have an old typewriter as a retro inspired home decoration. It was not a big deal for me and I did not think of it until holding the Urban Adventure League journal in my hand. Wouldn’t be great to write those journals on a typewriter?

So an typewriter was the answer for me. I started to check around for one, back in the day everyone had at least one typewriter in their homes. Everything from old Swedish made military green Halda’s to the 1980’s Italian plastic machines in pastel colours. But no one had kept their typewriters, they had all been given away or thrown away.

I sat down and had a look on the large auction site in Sweden for typewriters. There were several machines out for auction, large, small, plastic, modern and vintage. Sadly no Royal like the one I once had, but among all the pink, blue and creme coloured plastic typewriters I noticed a strange looking one. It was an Swiss made Hermes Baby from mid to late 1940’s, ultra compact with a metal lid. I placed a bid and to my surprise I won the auction!

*Swiss made Hermes Baby, most likely from late 1940’s. Still with the import agents tag on it*

It is a true travel typewriter, extremely compact and light weight. The best part is that it still works and is in great condition. The first thing I did was get to know the typewriter, what knob adjust what leaver and so on. Then trying with a piece of paper, the ink was good, the keys working. Even the discrete “pling” at when reaching the end of the paper worked fine. I removed the metal staples from the journal, fed each page in to the machine and wrote down my notes I made earlier from each ride.

I must say, it really look professional with a typewriter written journal. It looks like I know what I am doing (what an illusion). The most important part is that people are able to read what I am trying to write. After completing the journal, I stapled the journal back again, attached the two photos that were required and put it all in a envelope along with a note, or at least I hope I included the note, I am unsure now… and sent it back to Urban Adventure League HQ for review.

Now it up to the postal services to deliver the letter with the journal. It is just for fun, so if the journal gets lost during the way across the Atlantic it is not a big deal. But I hope it works out fine in the end and that my journal will get the stamp of approval. Time will tell.

See you perhaps at Midnite Bicycle League Challenge 2023?

Happy tweed dear readers.

1 Comment

by schneebremse on February 8, 2022 • Permalink

Posted in A bit of this and that, bicycle, bicycleblogg, bicycles, chronicle, Journalism, social media, Society, Transport, Transportation, travel, travelblog, tweed, Uncategorised, Uncategorized, vintage, vintage bicycle, weusetweed

Tagged bicycle, bicycles, challenge, Hermes baby, mblc2022, Midnite Bicycle League Challenge 2020, midnitebicycleleague2022, Schneebremse, typewriter, veteran

Posted by schneebremse on February 8, 2022

https://schneebremse.wordpress.com/2022/02/08/midnite-bicycle-league-challenge-2022/

Tweed Ride Berlin 2021

Last year, I made plans to visit Berlin. Joining Berlin Tweed Ride 2020, riding along with my bicycle, having an currywürst at the railway station at Zoologische garten or why not at Konnopke’s Imbiss over at Prenzlauer Berg later on. Ending the day with a chilled Berliner Kindl beer by the river Spree at Schiffbauerdamm, one of my favourite places, while overlooking the canal and the ferries bobbing along. But due to the restrictions and regulations following the pandemic that just had started back then, Tweed Ride Berlin was cancelled.

Before the event last year, the organizers came up with the lovely plan of having us tweedians make our own tweed rides, posting photos on social media while using the hashtag #solotweedride. That was a really great idea, creating a good reason to dress up and be active in a interactive event, by yourself or with others in small groups. Of course following local regulations, but still having fun.

Back then we all were hoping for a real tweed ride as for this year 2021. But as it turned out, the pandemic still lingers around us and the regulations have not been lifted and travelling is more or less impossible. The organizers of Berlin Tweed Ride decided to make this years event a #SoloTweedRide as well as last year. Transforming Berlin Tweed Ride to an interactive event again was a sad, but understandable and necessary step to make. By now we have now lived with the pandemic for a year, adjusting to it in all sorts of odd ways, so there were no problem making our own tweed rides.

*Parts of Enskede Tweed Society on our way…*

Instead of visiting Berlin, me and a fellow tweedian decided to take a ride in Stockholm. But as it turned out, there were no possibility for us to ride on the set date of 17th April. I wrote an message to Kelly, one of the Berlin Tweed Ride organizers a week before the event and asked if it were possible for us to make the ride a few days earlier instead. Kelly replied quickly and said it was just fine to make the ride a few days earlier and wished us a happy ride. That was very kind and in a true tweed spirit, after all the main goal is to have fun!

We met up on the morning of our ride. Bicycles bags packed with food and drinks, polished shoes and brushed tweeds. But the first item of the day, was a minor bicycle adjustment. A bicycle stand was broken and had lost its function and needed urgent repairs. I guess after about 80 years of usage, things might just need replacing sometimes. A new, old, bicycle stand was fitted and the problems was solved rather swiftly.

After the repair we continued on our ride along the empty streets of Stockholm. The sun was shining, but an head wind straight from the north pole made it slightly chilly. Not the kind of spring weather we hoped for, but with a good tweed jacket it was not to bad. Onwards!

*Heading up to the top of the hill, the yellow building is the old inn that opened in 1762*

On our ride, we made some stops to look at locally interesting places. For example we stopped by Skansbacken and Skansberg, located just south of Stockholm city. This is a place with lots of history from the old Stockholm, ranging from buildings that are still standing to the old cholera cemetery and the Göta landsväg, the really old road I mentioned here.

The area is now jam-packed between roads, a highway, subway and tram lines and all sorts of resent years developments. But back in 1762 it was a different story. That was when the Enskede mansion, who owned almost all the land south of Stockholm, got permission to manage an inn up on the hill beside the old road. It was one of the last places for a drink before heading out on the countryside and south of Sweden.

After a while the inn got a bad reputation and was finally closed in 1838. Later on a butchery was located in the buildings, after that a miller had his residence there and nowadays it is the residence for a motorcycle club. While we were standing there, we realized that the central location and the historical providence would make it a sublime spot for a bicycle club. Imagen having a tweed bicycle club and work shop there? One can only dream.

*The modern city is right beside the old world*

Our ride continued down the hill and went along the Hammarby canal. The old harbour offers lovely surroundings for bicycles and pedestrians since its renovation a few years back. While we were riding along the canal we noticed many pedestrians and other bicyclists looked at us, men silently nodding approving, ladies waving happily and children waving with both hands. Despite the chilly wind, it was spring in the air. People are happier when the sun starts to defrost us all up here in the cold north, a bit of sun goes a long way. Perhaps the sight of vintage bicycles and well dressed tweedians are a sure sign of spring?

*Photo opportunity with Stockholm in the background*

Later on we reached our destination, it was time for lunch. Since it was Tweed Ride Berlin, the menu was really easy. If we can not have currywürst in Berlin, then we have to make it ourself, complete with German beer and a bread roll on the side. At the end of the day we had been riding our vintage 1940’s bicycles for about 20 kilometres, so some hot food and tasty beer was really nice. It was a great day, despite the north pole head wind. Soon it will be warmer and there will be sandwiches for the picnic instead of hot food.

*Home made currywürst sauce, beer and a bread roll. A nice ending of a great day*

Fingers crossed that we could meet in Berlin next year for a fun and happy tweed event. After all, Berlin is a city with something for everyone to experience and I am really looking forward to explore Berlin while riding a bicycle. Or as a fellow tweedian once said, “it is from the handlebars of a bicycle, you really experience a city”.

Tschüß, bis zum nächsten mal.

1 Comment

by schneebremse on April 21, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in A bit of this and that, Articles, bicycle, bicycleblogg, bicycles, chronicle, column, Journalism, social media, Society, Transport, Transportation, travel, travelblog, tweed, Uncategorised, Uncategorized, weusetweed

Tagged beer, berlintweedride2021, bicycle, currywürst, solotweedride, travel, vintagebicycles

Posted by schneebremse on April 21, 2021

https://schneebremse.wordpress.com/2021/04/21/tweed-ride-berlin-2021/

Where did the Pelago go?

Long ago, I bought a bicycle frame from the Finnish Pelago bicycle company.
You can find the old post I wrote, here.

The vision I had was to build an racer, somewhat inspired by old racers from 1920’s and 1930’s. Black frame, turned down handlebars and clean look. After talking to Pelago I bought an Bristol frame. Then I started to gathering parts from here and there, mostly there. An truly international bicycle. Some weeks later I got all parts that was needed to build my vision bicycle.

My finished version

After a day of building and adjusting, the bicycle was complete. The Pelago Special sure looked amazing with all the details I had got for it, first the glossy black frame, the chain in gold, all chromed parts like stem and pedals, the front break and creme white tires. Not only looking great, it was riding like a dream. It was first after a while I discovered a problem. The problem was not with the bicycle, it worked perfectly. Good breaks and riding smooth. The problem was with me! Leaning forward and riding fast for a long period of time was simply not my thing any more. Perhaps I was untrained (more likely getting old), but it should be comfortably to ride an bicycle. I did not feel comfortably at all.

In fact I did not use the bicycle as I expected to. Instead the Pelago was left standing in the basement, abandoned for weeks at end. One day I got the idea of why not rebuild it to an regular standard roadster instead? Complete with mudguards, dual kickstand, springy saddle and with the handlebars turned in a more traditional way to achieve an more upright seating position. I ordered some parts online from Classic-cycle in Germany that would fit and suit the black Pelago frame.

The second version, chain guard, mudguards. An more upright riding position

After that I started to rebuild the Pelago, from the cool racer it was, to an more regular standard bicycle. After that conversion I used it for a bit, but by that time I had bought an vintage bicycles that I was using instead. So the Pelago Special was left standing in the basement again.

One day a co-worker who also was interested in bicycles, asked my about the Pelago and if it was for sale. He liked the style of my path racer build very much. The look with the glossy black frame, creme white tires and overall clean lines. He told me that he had some visions for it, turning it into a racer once again but with a twist. One day in the summer later on we made the deal. Money exchanged hands, an hand shake after that he rode away on my Pelago.

That was when the Pelagos third life had begun. My co-worker quickly removed the black standard mudguards that I had mounted along with some other parts. The standard chain wheel was replaced by an custom made chain wheel from Bespoke Chainrings in Australia. The handlebars was replaced by an vintage Reynolds deep drop handlebar that he bought from eBay along with an old refinished Major Taylor stem.

The new look was really amazing. With few changes it became a different bicycle all together. Later on he asked me to help him with some details, I went home to his place and there in the kitchen, was the bicycle leaning against the dishwasher. That must be one of the oddest and cosiest bicycle workshop I have visited in so far.

Kitchen workshop. Notice the Reynolds deep drop handlebar and the refinished Major Taylor stem

Beautiful custom made chain wheel

Clean and stripped down look

He used the Pelago like that for a while until my he got an new idea. He wanted to change the bicycle from a racer to a more porteur inspired bicycle. He found a new made luggage rack in the porteur style, he also mounted mudguards with an hammered finish and changed the handlebars. The fourth incarnation of the Pelago Special has begun.

As for today, I think the old Pelago is still being used as an everyday bicycle around the streets of Stockholm. But with unique parts fitted to the former Pelago Bristol frame. Truly a Pelago Special.

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