[CR]Snow riding

(Example: Racing:Roger de Vlaeminck)

Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2003 17:31:09 -0500
From: "Mara & Steven Maasland" <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>
To: Classic Rendezvous <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Snow riding

As most of you will already know, most of the East coast between Washington DC and New York got a severe dumping of snow over the last 2 days. Many states, including Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey even went so far as to declare snow emergencies which made it illegal to be driving your car unless for emergency purposes. Here in the Eastern suburbs of Philadelphia, we had more than 22" of snow by the time it tapered off. So what do you do when you have finished shoveling your driveway (about 2 hours worth of shoveling) and re-opened an airhole in the Koi pond (without which the fish would probably not survive)?

Why you go for a trike ride! Yes I finally have my Christmas gift, an early 50's Holdsworth conversion kit, built into a trike. Curtis and Frank over at Via bicycles in Philly were a great help in getting wheels, derailleur hanger and seatstays sorted out. It is real mix of new and old: 50's vintage Holdsworth conversion kit on an 1983 Italian Morello frame (Craig out in Southern California has the former components off the frame), a 1974 Nuovo Record RD, a 1978 Nuovo Record Chainset with swiss cheesed outer chainring, 1981 Super Record pedals (the real titanium ones), 50's vintage Regina 4-block, modern WTB rims with the front one built up on a modern Real disc brake hub. At present, because I absolutely wanted to get out to ride in the snow, I have one single side-pull Agrati brake caliper from the 60's hooked up. It was sufficient with the low snow speeds of today but will eventually be replaced when I get the custom Landshark fork (Thanks Dale!) which will be set up with an Avid road disc brake and a dual pivot rim brake (both working on the front wheel)

After 17 years off a trike, I am clearly not as agile as before, but was nonetheless able to make immediate headway. The short trial run of today makes me want to get out again with the proper brakes.

Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ