Old bike, New life (it's a work in progress)

Yep, a new bike project: a 1979 steel Shogun (made in Japan) with Shimano components. This is a basic road frame (58cm) with 90% of original components. Nothing super valuable or collectible - just a great project bike for experimental* purposes. I'm thinking art frame here. I'll post pictures as the progress continues: Here's what the bike looked liked when I bought it from the previous owner. All matte black, in keeping with the Shogun "Ninja" concept. Not a great paint job, so I knew something needed to be done. Several parts came in boxes. Again, a project bike.

Brutal! I sawed off the braze-ons! Not going to need gear cables on this project. I apologize in advance to the purists out there.

Took off the parts and sanded the sucker down. Need to remove that crank spindle from the bottom bracket.

I started thinking about getting this thing powder-coated, and happened to meet someone who assured me that "yeah, I've done tons of bikes, and I can powder coat it for you for $60. As long as it's black. If you want color, it's an extra $30. 

I should've listened to my instincts here. But I was willing to take a risk on this guy. To make a long story short, I ended up paying $40 for a sub-par paint job. And that really bothered me. This photo doesn't show how bad the paint job was. And the color did not turn out as agreed upon. 

So I started stripping it down, thinking that I can do better myself.

Step 1: Use Mar-Hyde Aircraft stripper (spray can works fine) and wear plenty of protection. This stuff is strong! Be prepared to do some scrubbing. I tried the Rustoleum brand, and it didn't work as effectively.

Step 2: Let dry thoroughly and make sure all paint is removed. To prime, I used this Zinsser Oil-based Primer. A couple of coats with #220 sandpaper sanding in between. You just want to make sure you have a good, even coating of primer everywhere on the frame and fork.

Here's the frame with the final primer applied. I found that it's best to hang the frame from the head tube so you can have easy access to all sides of the frame. Mask out the head tube and/bottom bracket and seat post so paint won't get on there. And please don't forget to wear protection (mask/respirator).

Step 3: Paint with your favorite color. I found a Valspar spray paint color that I really liked from Lowe's — #85039 Smoke Infusion -- a light gray with a hint of green. 

I applied several coats (took about 4 cans total). The trick was to get it smooth, but without any drips. Start with light coatings to cover the primer. If you spray too far away, the paint will adhere with a rough surface. You have to be VERY patient with this part of the process, as it does take several coats. Ideally, low humidity, moderate temperature and little to no wind helps. 

Painted frame after about four coats — still has some "rough" spots, but overall pretty clean. Hoping that after a final sanding and a lacquer coat, the rough spots will not be visible.

Wet sanding the fork with glass cleaner.

Step 4: The photo above shows the "wet-sanding" process. Sand with #1000 grit sandpaper with glass cleaner. This removes the gloss from the paint and allows one last time for smoothing the surface and allows something for the lacquer to adhere to.

*This is where it gets crazy. Being a designer/artist who loves type, I wanted to customize this frame and fork — I thought it would be cool to add some of my favorite typestyles to the bike prior to the final lacquer. I happened to find some old rub-on press type that was perfect for the job (Futura Demi Bold). This is a tedious process, and I hope that the outcome is a good one. So far, so good. After I finish applying the letters on the fork, I will try the lacquer to make sure it all works out. I have also a nice slab serif (Rockwell) and some Helvetica. If I could only find Hobo type in presstype! Oooh!

The Golden Ratio: where design and mathematics coincide

The golden ratio (also known as the golden mean, golden section or divine proportion) is a height to width ratio that measures 0.618 and manifests itself in nature, art and architecture. The Parthenon in Greece incorporates the ratio, but it’s unknown whether or not the designers actually used the principle. The human form has this same basic geometric relationship — DaVinci studied this and created drawings that illustrated the proportion in his Vitruvian Man (below). Piet Mondrian used the golden ratio in much of his work in  the 1920′s. Even Twitter uses the golden ratio principle for it’s screen design.

The Golden Ratio looks like this:

It's defined as the ratio between two segments such that the smaller (bc) segment is to the larger segment (ab) is to the sum of the two segments (ac), or bc/ab = ab/ac = 0.618.

And can be calculated like this (adding 1 to the ratio is phi, yielding the same basic geometric relationship):

More examples of the Golden Ratio:

Fascinating! Is it an inherent aesthetic preference or is it a design technique turned tradition? How do you explain the proportion found in nature? However you decide to answer those questions, it’s hard to argue that it has had an enormous impact on art and design over the years and continues to influence design today. Next time you see something that just “feels” right, or that you just can’t take your eyes off of, take a look at the proportions and remember – Ahh, it must be the 0.618!

- Ryon

Library of Congress and Bill of Rights detail

I found this beautiful version of the Bill of Rights on the Library of Congress site, which has an amazing collection of images: A Bill of Rights as provided in the Ten Original Amendments to The Constitution of the United States in force December 15, 1791. http://www.loc.gov  http://1.usa.gov/Ha5LQY

Pain at the Pump

Type Observed: Hobo

I see the typeface “Hobo” in a lot of different places — labels, signs, posters, logos – the list goes on. I once thought that this was one of the ugliest type designs out there, but I now realize that it’s not the design itself, or even the terrible name — it’s mostly because of how it’s used and misused. Of all the type crimes out there (thank you Ellen Lupton: http://www.thinkingwithtype.com/contents/extras/#Type_Crimes), you’ll often find Hobo as a nearby accomplice. And I’ve certainly made my jokes about this “awful” typeface over the years, but once I studied the origin and the history of this design, I’ve become much less critical.
Stylistically, Hobo looks like something crafted from 1970′s, but was actually designed in 1910 towards the end of the Art Noveau Movement. It was designed by Morris Fuller Benton, one of America’s most prolific typeface designers. After closer examination, the letters are actually well-proportioned (when typeset properly) — every part of each letter is curved, which gives it a decorative effect, but with a modern twist. It’s lowercase letters are unique — descenders that do not drop below the baseline. Yeah, it’s weird — but it’s designed to be a display type. Fairly progressive for 1910, considering that most typography from that period was very decorative and ornate.

So I’m no longer a Hobo-hater. I just hate seeing it being misused.

Note: If you’ve seen examples of Hobo type out there (good or bad), please send  some pics my way – I’m starting a collection of images and would love to include yours! Thanks.

Soda Wars

Looks like Coke has held up a little better than Pepsi. Wait, is that an ashtray in the middle?

The Rural Route

Traveling the backroads of our state is a visual treat for me — I'd choose that over the I-XX Interstate any day, assuming time allows (which isn't often). I suppose that many prefer to haul-ass down the interstate, with the only priority being their ETA. But isn't it nice to slow down a bit and soak in some of the rural areas and the small towns along the way? There are untold stories and unknown history. Old buildings and new neighborhoods. Abandoned warehouses and rejuvenated businesses. Communities that are close-knit and neighborly. Sometimes, you see things that appear so out of place in our modern, connected world, yet connected in a more human way. Here are a few shots from my day trip not far from home (which included a bike purchase and a great mountain bike ride at Lynch's Woods Park in Newberry, SC).

I love the hand-painted, unintentional layered type.

Specialized Stumpjumper Comp and SE Racing OM Flyer.

My favorite shot.

Nice rusty patina on this old gas station sign.

This just seemed right in sepia tone/black and white.

Somewhere along the way (Kinard)

Beautiful homesite with nice pecan trees.

Riding at Lynch's Woods Park in Newberry, SC (Part of the Palmetto Trail)

Panoramic shot of the Park (using Photosynth app).

 

Christmas Parade in Prosperity.

Prosperity, SC

SE Racing OM Flyer.