Every now and then I get a posting to this blog such as the one below, and I'm prodded by guilt to give some explanation by way of response. Usually, I'm too lazy to actually do so, but just so you know, I do feel bad.
But today, I'm going to break the cycle of laziness!
First of all, thank you, Chris (and anyone else who's posted in the last few years). I really don't think about this blog often but it's still out there floating in internet-space and it makes me happy to know that a few folks are still able to get something useful/interesting from it. Now, for the crappy part...
There is no new website, unfortunately. I just stepped away from bike restoration for what I thought would be a brief hiatus. As it does, Life stepped in: I started a new job, leaving me with a lot less time to devote to hobbies, I had to rent out what had been my work space, and, most importantly, I decided it was best to stop wrenching and biking for a while for the sake of my chronic tendonitis (knees and wrists).
I definitely miss the hobby, although I still tinker with my personal bikes and even build up the odd frame here or there. But all in all, I think the change was for the best as it had become something of an obsession. For about three years there, nearly all my free time went to bikes. I'd spend hours a day on craigslist and ebay, checking them compulsively. My apartment was always super cluttered. All my money was tied up in bikes in various states of restoration, so that I had very little in the bank in case of a rainy day. I often had to sell a bike or two at the end of the month just to pay my rent.
These days I read a lot more and consequently am at least slightly more well informed. I get to the gym at least a couple times a week. I've got money in my savings account and the time to travel. I wish I could say I'd left my injuries behind, but at least I'm well enough to ride my bike as much as I need to -- I haven't owned a car in nine years and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as I can.
I don't expect to resume restoration work anytime soon (although one never knows), but I'm happy to respond to questions for those who have them. Your best bet is probably just to email me directly at jar351@gmail.com, since new posting notifications from this blog automatically go to an inbox that I rarely check. To those of you riding or working on vintage bicycles, or thinking about doing so, more power to you. These bikes are great and by continuing to use them instead of new ones (or instead of cars) we're contributing in a small way to a world in which there's less waste and less pollution. Okay, maybe that's a tad self-righteous, but that doesn't make it less true. Ride on, folks.
