Prototype Camera Bag
I got a new camera a while back. My old Nikon was starting to act up and I wanted something smaller and lighter. I ended up going with a Sony and I have been delighted. After a few months of taking it on rides, I still haven’t really decided how I like to carry it. I got a stabilizer strap made by PS Bagworks (it’s awesome to support other makers!) and it does a great job of keeping the camera in one spot on my back. The down side is that the camera has no protection from the elements and I tend to be a sweaty guy. Sweat tends to fog up the eye piece pretty good. I decided I would try out a stem/bar mounted bag and see how I like it. This also presented the opportunity to try out this beautiful golden colored waxed canvas that has been sitting on my bench. This was a quick and dirty prototype that turned out way nicer than I planned or expected. I love when that happens. I used the rough idea of a BirdFeeder bag and gave it the shape and dimensions of the camera with my fav 35 prime lens. The bag is constructed with a 3/8” layer of foam padding sandwiched between the waxed canvas and a protective layer of Gridstop. A LOXX snap keeps the flap in place and Cordura webbing holds down the mounting points. I got a quick test ride with it today. Still not sure if this is a good idea with the way I ride in the dirt. We’ll see how it goes. I’m not sure that this will become a production item or not yet. That’s the fun of prototyping.
Coffee-outside
For me, coffee is a ritual. Coffee outside is extra special. Today I managed a short ride to a special spot to make some very good coffee.
- D2R2 -
Adult responsibilities are no joke. Over the pasts few years we had a kid, moved across the country and bought a house. I started Yellow Bird and made a huge jump from working in bike shops to working in aerospace machine shops. There has been a lot of change and a lot to learn on all fronts. Family and work have been my priority. Everything else has to fight for my remaining time. Unfortunately, miles on the bike frequently don’t make the cut. When I do get to ride, it’s often at odd times or short rides between responsibilities. I make it work the best I can and I try to stay grateful. However, there is something so special about doing a long ride with a bunch of other like minded folks. It really lights me up. I look forward to these rides and the camaraderie and joy stays with me for a long time. If you know, you know. For the past three years it’s been the Nutmeg Nor’Easter. It’s a weekend of alt cycling love. This year I decided to add another event to my calendar. I just registered for D2R2. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this event and it seems like there will be a bunch of familiar faces there. I’m very excited. So, i’m going to keep working hard and focusing on my adult responsibilities. On the days where I’m itching for a bike ride but it’s not in the cards, i’ll let my mind wander to these events. I can find some pease and joy just looking forward to the good times. Hope to see some of y’all out there.
Here again.
New Frame Day
I just finished building up my TwinSix Ti Standard Rando. As you can see, it has a nice curved top tube so I am excited to make a custom frame bag for it. I guess that means I need to decide on a color scheme. I feel like I should probably go with something more interesting than black, but I guess we’ll see.
Voile Straps
It appears that I’m not the only one who’s excited about YELLOW BIRD THREAD WORKS Voile Straps. I’ve had a number of people asking for these now. So I have decided to offer the YellowBird branded 15in Voile straps on their own. I got these for the TRUE TOOL ROLL (more available soon and I’m working on a second size option). If you are unfamiliar with Voile straps, they were originally designed for binding skis together. Then people started to realize they can bind all sorts of things together! Super useful! Super durable! Super simple! You will never regret having one or two of these in your pack. Check the web store to get your own.
Jan 1. Foggy solo cruise.
I got my covid booster shot and my flu shot yesterday. Feeling a little worn out today. It still seemed better to go struggle through the woods on a beautiful, foggy and warm day than to sit on the couch and feel crappy. Here’s a few pics from my first ride of the year.
