I NEVER STOPPED LOOKING.

Weeks flew past.

It’s been such a long time since I posted anything on here. My reasons are always excuses and saying i’ve been busy is boring. The truth is that it’s been a small time of complete non-inspiration and I’ve had to think about many a things and starting a new job with new people etc has really taken my thought and focus.

From now on the subject matters of this bike will be more than just bikes and more general with what is going on in my life. Hope these shots still please your eye and give you a little glimpse as to what it is to be a simple man with simple hopes in a simple nordic capital.

One of my best friends @houlou (instagram) riding in late summer sun

The whip

Spotted on the streets of HKI

Anders. My multitalented guitar building hero of a friend.

SELLING: My baby— Pelago San Sebastian 56cm

I’m in a pinch here to get something else to help me lug around a bit more stuff so my beloved Pelago has to go on sale:

PARTS LIST:

Frame: Pelago San Sebastian 56cm
Stem: Nitto 80mm
Bars: Pelagon + Brooksin bar-tape
Keskiö: Campagnolo Centaur
Kammet: Sugino 75 + 47t Sugino
Polkimet: Fyxation Mesa + Holdfast x Pedal Consumption
Seat: Brooks Swift
Wheels: BLB King Hubs + 19t surly cog + H+Son TB14

Asking price 930€ and can ship if needed!

contact me at: ineverstoppedlooking (youknowwhat) gmail (dot) com

THE REST OF THE PICTURES ARE HERE!

Greener fields.

Seems like summer is finally around the corner.. After some heavy rains and being locked in a dungeon for work after I got around I was amazed by how green and beautiful the nature was around my commute. 

But since I am no nature photographer I had to add my baby into the mix. She’s gotten a few updates since you last saw her. The risers fit my commute ride perfect. This bike rolls like a dream and none of my other machines compare. She’s a beaut!

Greatthings on her Sparton ST-500

I recently helped Susa (greatthings on instagram) build up this bike. Finding the frame was the hardest deal and it’s a 49cm Sparton ST500 I found on ebay from Hungaria with a Suntour Superbe chainset from New Zealand :D. Continental Gatorskins on Ambrosio Excursions laced up to BIA Dura-Ace hubs. MKS pedals & toeclips with custom toestraps. Flatbar with some brooks tape, a nice Tange NJS headset and a Rolls finishes the build up.

All in all this bike just like greatthings is a beauty! Rides smooth and really  I’ll try to snap some more photos when the light isn’t almost out but here’s some pictures of the bike doing what it’s meant to. Rolling.

Waiting for the winters edge.

It’s now been way too many months of snow for me and each coming morning I wait for the temperature to rise a bit above 0°C so the snow would really start melting.

It’s been a good winter though that it really hasn’t been too cold at any point to bike and the roads have actually been ok where I live for the most part (except the past  few weeks).

I do miss the summer though and look forwards to it every day. When I look back on photos like these from last summer they just make the waiting even harder knowing the wait is definitely going to be worth it :)

So here some things that keep me waiting for the winters edge when we cross over into spring.

(Spot yours truly in the second last photo as the pillar of a gymnastics stunt ;D )

The winter commuter for REAL. (NS Bikes Analog 2011)

A week ago Helsinki got hit by a bunch of snow that then during the week melted and froze into an covering of messed up, uneven ice allover the roads through which I commute everyday to work. My route takes me through some forest parks which save me like 3km in distance as opposed to the main roads.

 I went out on my Olmo in the beginning of the week and made it about 40m before crashing and having promised myself that this year I wouldn’t let the winter defeat me in my commuting, I decided to take my trusty NS Bikes Analog FGFS bike and turn it into something that could tackle the hazards of winter. The geometry of FGFS bikes are laid back enough that they make great winter bikes when set up properly. Add the benefit of fitting bigger tires and we have a winner.

All that was really needed were some fenders (snap-ons) and a set of Nokian Rollspeed W friction all season tires. I first thought of getting some proper studded versions but due to the constant change in weather, I got persuaded into tires that could do well on street, gravel, forest, snow and ice. So far after a weeks worth of ice, they’ve held up well and proper!

I’m still thinking of getting some mustache bars and a longer stem for the winter (yeah I know, total style mess up;) ) cause they’d allow me for even a more upright position and take more weight of the front wheel and make the ride even steadier. Well we’ll see.

Without further ado my winter warrior.

Missing the days.

As the snow piles gather and biking on ice gets more treacherous each and every day, I find myself praying and hoping that summer will come around soon again. Man I miss those days.

In the works.

I haven’t yet taken the time to take proper pictures of this bike. It’s now finished, built up and ready to ride.. The wheelset, seat, bars etc have already changed and I gotta say it’s looking real nice in it’s current state! More to come soon!

The workhorse

For some unintentional reasons I’ve actually never posted pictures of the bike that I ride the most. This is my trusted workhorse geared up for rainy days. 

The heart of my workhorse is an Olmo Olli Erkkilä modified Pista which started out as a road frame and through the hands of Olli, ended up being an amazing track frame that rides like a dream. 

Other parts are no nonsense parts that I can trust and that can take the rain and dirt that this bikes gets hit with daily. 

Sram Omnium drivetrain, Halo/On-One wheel set with white Vittorias, Brooks Swift, Nitto on the steering.

So here’s my workhorse all dirtied up after my morning commute. :)