Bikes about Town

I was "cleaning out" the photo file on my phone the other day, and realized that I've taken a lot of pictures of bikes over the last year or so.

What can I say?  I like cool bikes.  Here are some of the more interesting ones that I've come across.

This looks like an old garage find that someone - who knew what they were doing - modified practically and tastefully.  The bars look to be new and not original to the bike.  Thank you for not bolting anodized Canadian Tire bar ends on like so many urban outdoorsmen do in this town.  A set of no nonsense knobbies and the most serious trailer hitch not mounted on anything with a V8 round out this utilitarian hog.








Another classic, dusted off and brought into daily use.  At first the new grips (which work well with the otherwise, mostly stock setup) seem like they were a conscious decision, a whimsical addition to an otherwise stodgy stalwart.  But then you notice the ill-fitting fenders, and its likely that the grips were whatever was available at the time, just like the fenders. 

Trade those eavestrough looking mudflaps for a pair of hammered silver fenders, and this bike's a looker.








Flat black terror with whitewalls and a basket.  You couldn't make this dude care.  (that's a compliment)
 




Chewed up seat, fixed gear, acrylic pedals with straps, no bar tape and just a front brake?  Straight Gangsta.

This thing looks ill proportioned and heavy.  But a big bike with whitewalls and coaster brakes isn't supposed to be efficient.

I haven't seen many belt drive bikes in the wild. and I don't know too much about them, but this Spot, with its toe clips, bullhorns, and single front brake, makes me wonder if that is a fixed gear or flip flop hub? 

A department store bike with the craziest aftermarket ape hangers ever?  Approved!

Grey and orange is a cool colour scheme.  But I wonder about the clipless pedals combined with a riser stem and mustache bars, deep v rims and a computer.  Hey bike!  Do you want to go fast or slow?

These old Bianchi's are beautiful.  I saw one in a pawn shop window a few years back for $200.  I have no idea what they're worth, but I had to seriously restrain myself from adding another bike to my collection. 
Pretty cavalier leaving it unlocked though!

Here's a completely un-retouched garage find.  Now a Detroit artist's daily driver.

I'm curious about the fact that someone went to the trouble to remove the rear brake lever altogether.  I just figured that if the rear brake stopped working, you might take the trouble to fix it or, I don't know, just ignore it.  Getting rid of the lever is probably as much work as fixing the brake.