NYC Journal

I’m back. It only took nearly two months to get my password reset but it finally happened. Last post on here I read was on page 23, so I’ll catch up this week. Not much new here. Just about finished with building up a cargo bike with the goal of putting the car in mothball while also increasing my own fitness. Lots of little gear stuff, all bike related, which I’ll have to mention. Aside from that it’s just work, work, work.
Phil Forrest
 
Phil,

On the Tour De Bronx I met a very tall lean guy that I suspect was from the Caribbean that was the current Cargo Bike Champion. He was using his cargo bike, and that was how he made his living.

He mentioned that the Championships were held in Philly. Pretty much they loaded them with cargo to deliver on a route, and one was a 300 pound load that involved hills. Kinda brutal.

I’m condensing a lot of stuff, going through things to make space. I’m working on the porch so I can set up my Concept 2 rowing machine (ERG) so I can build or rebuild a base. My base kinda got destroyed with Covid.

They are saying that further south of us that spring is coming about three weeks early, and that suggests that spring for us will also start about 3 weeks early. My Lilac bush is already starting boom bud, and I’m seeing things green up already.

Cal
 
Expected 62 degree high tomorrow, Wednesday, and again 62 degrees for Thursday, and its only the middle of February.

A cool thing about my enclosed front porch is that my Concept 2 rowing machine fits nicely, and the slightly cooler temperature allows for me work out everyday without the weather putting me off.

The porch also could be a good play room for the grandkids, so they don’t destroy our house or break all the antique furniture (Victorian and Eastwood).

I’m kinda staging areas by moving stuff around, condensing to open up space, and gathering up stuff to get organized.

Porch build out started about a year ago when we ordered a new custom door and sidelights. Floor will get leveled. I’ll build two sets of window frames: one screens; the other double panes of glass; with the idea to use one or the other depending on the season. I have a new table saw already.

I’ll insulate the roof and put up a bead board ceiling that likely will get painted blue in a southern tradition to let out ghosts and evil spirits.

I’ll insulate the floor so this kinda migrates to the porch basement and my darkroom.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Expected 62 degree high tomorrow, Wednesday, and again 62 degrees for Thursday, and its only the middle of February.
Cal
Click to expand...
Enjoy it while you have it Cal !
Here in Colorado Springs (elevation 6100 feet above sea level) it will be 18 degrees tonight and that will be the high for Wednesday.Hope it does not head your way and spoil your early spring. Mine will be here along about mid May 🤪
 
Austin,

The update is now 63 degrees and it might rain today, but a chance of rain is pretty much every day in the Hudson Valley. Like out west the weather can be a bit unpredictable…

Tomorrow is expected to be 62 with rain still, but this means it could be sunny.

The early spring prediction is for the southeast and east. I spent more on heating oil last year, even though oil was cheaper.

The house is a lot tighter now that the missing ceilings have been replaced and the dining room has been insulated.

I will start wearing my 3 season uniform of Patagonia Knickers that are well tailored for me that also work great for biking in anticipation of the milder weather ahead.

The electric radiant heat in the new bath already has spoiled me. Once stepping out onto a warm floor. Also the small display for programming the temperature serves as a perfect night light. How cool is that?

The dining room detailing is a project for me. I have in my basement all the original moldings to recycle, but they have to be stripped. The white paint is not leaded. “Maggie” wants to add these wood panels about 3/4’s up the wall to add a craftsman detail, and she wants me to build two built ins for storage.

Lots of problem solving required because of woman-factor, but she has a good design sense.

My culling, condensing, and organizing are a bunch of baby steps that are becoming great leaps forward.

In reading the news, I’m reminded of a documentary I saw called “When We Were Kings.” Pretty much a story about Mohamed Ali going to fight George Foreman, when George Foreman was able to destroy a heavy bag in just one workout.

There is a huge amount of speculation, and pretty much Ali was not favored Against the reigning Champ.

Ali had speed and agility, but George had brutal power. For the first two rounds Ali was getting the snot beat out of him. Really brutal. They show Ali in his corner with terror and fear on his face, as if he was going to cry out for his mother.

After the first two rounds of beating, it was hard to imagine a third, but Ali had a visible change of attitude, you saw him submerge his fear/terror and a new fresh Ali emerged.

At the very beginning of the third round, the bell rings and the first punch thrown was by Ali, a right, also known as a Sucker-Punch, which infuriated Foreman.

Enraged George corned Ali and started a rather brutal assault working over Ali like a heavy bag.

The fourth round was kind of a repeat of the third, where Ali Sucker-Punched Foreman with the first punch of the round. Out of all the training Foreman did he had not prepared for the unlikely Sucker-Punch. This enraged Foreman.

The fifth round for Ali was kinda the beginning of the fight. Foreman was tired from rounds 3 and 4, and Ali’s speed and agility took advantage of George’s tired state. George had fired a lot of ammo, while Ali had saved it.

”Time is the best weapon,” is a Chinese expression.

Now reports say the Russian spring offensive has begun, and the one year anniversary has yet to happen. They say the Ukrainian offensive will happen in the spring/summer…

Pretty much today’s future will I hope is the same story. Ukraine has to survive a brutal assault and hopefully does not get overtaken or overwhelmed. Pretty much for Russia I think it has to be like a street fight.

Cal
 
I need to add that this cargo bike is not an E bike. The only motor is my legs. E bikes have their place, but at this time, that place isn't in my house. A friend of mine used to be a bike-everywhere, car-free person. Wouldn't take public transit, often wouldn't even hitch a ride if it was convenient (because a return trip meant public transit). Anyway, he was a really strong mountain biker who regularly rode up to his hometown north of Binghamton, NY to visit family. He got an e bike and now complains that his fitness is shot. I'm not saying the e bike is to blame, but he went from riding 500 miles round-trip when he wanted to see family, to not even taking a 20 mile ride with a non-powered bike. I guess if the e bike helps him get around, that's cool, but I think they aren't more than heavy bicycles that limit one's independence. Anyway, enough of my griping.

Phil Forrest
 
Phil,

The Cargo Bike Champ rode no electric bike. His build was that he was a lanky skinny guy, all muscle and bone, except taller than me. I was impressed knowing how fit and strong this guy was. BTW he was young.

I have been walking trails and exploring Blue Mountain Preserve on trail runs and hikes. I think I found a way to create a loop for me that I could actually ride my old retro mountain bike without getting beat up so much. At this point I just want to go slow, stay on the peddles, and be safe.

Right now the steel IBIS Mountain Trials is set up with a Rock Shox Judy SL that has been set up with “Speed Springs.”

I think I’ll set up the Ti IBIS as a kinda gravel bike for mostly road riding: XTR 2x11 with 1.7 inch wide tires.

I have to build up or rebuild my base at this point. One thing is that I’m still a skinny bitch, and I did not get fat, but I guess you could call me “chubby-butt.”

Cal
 
It hit 65 degrees today. I am starting to see things starting to bud like my Lilac bush and some other stuff greening up that are perennials.

The step-grandson had a rough night sleeping last night so I put him in the luxury stroller “Maggie” bought at this second hand baby store and went for a stroll at Blue Mountain Preserve to put him to sleep to catch up. I met a man who was a remarkable 80 years old, works out every day, walks at Blue Mountain for an hour every day, and was forced out of the Army after 41 years of service at the age of 70.

Anyways he was in the shape I want to be in at age 80. His name is Clayton and he lives not far from me.

The takeaway is that he does it every day. Hmmm…

POST SCRIPT: Albany set a temperature record today and hit 61 degrees. Previous record high for February 15th was 55 degrees. They say that temperatures are 20 degrees above normal.

Cal
 
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66 degrees today. Took the step-grandson on a stroller excursion wearing Patagonia rock climbing knickers, a T-shirt, and slippers with no socks.

In my wandering I found another Preying Mantis cocoon, so now I have two like last year.

Also found a pile of dried out cut flowers that had long stems about 30 inches long. There were these seed crowns that were once the center of a cultivated flower. The shape of the seed cluster is shaped like a miniature Strawberry, and I have two sandwich bags full of seed crowns.

So pretty much I have a bounty of these seeds. Kinda excited to discover what I have, and pretty much I can do something crazy.

While I have a dumpster, I decided to get rid of some shingles I used as weights to hold down tarps in my war with knotweed.

Also used a CVS coupon to buy $20.00 worth of stuff and save $4.00. Got a $6.00 off to use on my receipt and some coupons from CVS also came in the mail.

Cal
 
I went to Home Cheapo and bought these tough guy heavy duty saw horses that allow 2x4 longitudinal bracing, to build out a work table.

I bought a small 8 inch table saw that currently has no stand, and this work table will be kinda heavy duty, but also collapsible into a compact breakdown that can be stored.

There are other woodworking power tools I want to accumulate, but I want to be able to store and be able to have a mobile capability that also can be stored away. Don’t forget that I have a 1966 C-10 pickup…

My thinking is to always have a side hustle just in case. You never know… I might want to buy a farmhouse… But mostly this lightweight woodworking shop would support my photography by allowing me to make my own frames.

Know that I’m a proficient glass cutter.

I figure I could store the woodwork shop in my basement, and I could use my driveway and or garage as a studio space.

My current priority is to build a built in for the upstairs bath for linen storage. After that two built ins for the dining room.

Cal
 
Bought about $200.00 worth of clear pine to build a thin but tall cabinet for the upstairs new bath. There is a nook to the left of the entrance, and originally it was going to be a built in, but now free standing.

Drove around doing errands. “Maggie” needed a printer, returned a box of unopened tiles, bought some grout sealer…

Even stopped at “Rudy’s” in Scarsdale to buy some heavy guitar picks.

I set up the tough guy saw horses in the garage to see how heavy duty they are. “Mucho strong and sturdy” I say.

Also bought some pony clamps to add to the C-clamp collection I have. Probably have about a hundred pounds of clamps.

A pretty relaxing, but productive day just running errands…

Cal
 
I finished building the cargo bike today. I bought it for the frame and capability of hauling up to 440lbs. So I got it 95% together and out on the road on a test ride for a couple hours. It is RIGID! I can feel every bump so im going to have to figure out a lower tire pressure. This is the case where the bike is overbuilt and feels jarring when unloaded, but will smooth out with some more weight. This can become my grocery-getter and general utility bike. Speaking of a side hustle, back in 2015 I was mulling about the idea of a bike-based bike shop, a sort of AAA for Philly bicycles. The idea has some legs and everyone I asked in and out of the bike mechanic community, said it would be a great thing to see happen. Now I have both a cargo bike and a trailer. I can tow a bike if needed or I could just have most of the equipment with me to fix most bikes. I already own most of the tools and I can start a small-scale relationship with one of the more local wholesalers of consumable parts. 95% of what bikes need are tubes, tires, brake pads and cables. That’s all small stuff and a tuneup right there. Everyone uses Venmo and PayPal, so I won’t have to worry about carrying cash. I think it can be done and be successful.
Phil Forrest
 
Phil,

I think your idea has “Legs.” Your idea also “stands-out,” which I learned from “Maggie” how if you want to gain traction standing out makes a huge difference. When she first started her blog, I only had my MM as my only digital camera, so all the photography was in B&W. It stood out and launched her.

I also think it displays and personifies the hard-core ideals of biking: fitness; sustainability; green; low footprint…

Not to mention that for many the personal service of going to the location, or picking up a bike; use of existing infrastructure (tools, equipment, skills, knowledge).

I don’t see how this can’t work.

The woodworking tools I’m assembling are lighter duty and are made for portability. I have that 1966 C-10, and my current thoughts of why it is a mucho cool truck is that it is a barn find that remains OEM. I think that it is best to just pull the head to get the valve seals addressed that got destroyed by using unleaded gas; replacing the rear main oil seal that is leaky; and check if the clutch got wet from the oil leak.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I’m alright with keeping the drum brakes, and I will limit the truck driving to fair weather and local driving. I’m cool with that. For long trips, foul weather, and safety I have the Audi…

I’m a skinny bitch, and now kinda old, so I don’t intend on hammering my body anymore doing heavy construction. There is a labor shortage, and small jobs abound… Not that I need a job: just in case…

You and I are similar in many ways… We are simple guys…

Cal
 
I’m rethinking my darkroom, and I’m keen on the idea of building a free-standing room again in my main basement near my oil tank that would have an insulated floor (Devil Christian highly recommends) that would have a taller ceiling.

The porch basement has a low ceiling, and the floor has a step-up as well. The floor also has some plumbing obstruction in one area.

Right now the porch basement is used for storage like a walk-in closet that is a kinda pantry for bulk items, stuff I hoard because of sales. Because the house is small and the kitchen also, this location for hoarding and storage should be maintained.
Now I’m keen on the idea of building out the porch basement in a finished manner as my “warehouse.”

”Maggie” being a woman buys all this stuff that ends up not getting used that pretty much gets dumped into Calvin’s domain as if his space is a landfill. A lot of this stuff she says she will one day get rid of, but pretty much about 3/4’ers of the 6x15 space is filled with this stuff that she says will be garage sale, a flea market, or recycled is some manner that is really her junk/garbage.

Know that I have all this ELFA modular storage left over from when I dismantled the “high-rise” I built in my 650 square foot luxury apartment In Madhattan. Kinda perfect to set up a warehouse for no cost other than new anchoring screws once i build out and finish the porch basement.

I can really make the porch basement into a wonderful finished long-skinny walk in closet. I can also heavily insulate the porch basement which is a big heat leak and cold spot.

In my full basement the design is a “center-chimney” because back in 1912 this “Craftsman” house that was bought as a kit from “Sears” had a coal stove and a heating grate in the hallway. That was the heating system back in the day.

Now I know why a newer hardwood floor was installed on the second floor: for access to run the plumbing for a heating upgrade to hot water radiators.

So I have an oil tank in my basement, a center chimney, and all this hot water manifold racing around the perimeter along with only a 7 foot ceiling. Oh-well.

The only salvation is an open area underneath the living room (parlor) and dining room which only have one obstruction and that be a natural gas pipe. I figure that I could allow this three inch black iron piping that is the supply and return on the hot water manifold to be a kinda corner/ceiling radiator to heat my darkroom that would be mighty clever.

Know that I have to keep about 5 feet away from the oil furnace to comply with building code. I figured out that I have enough pitch for the plumbing.

Evolution takes a lot of time, but it seems this outcome took a lot of time to “stew,” but it is a good one that will be satisfying.

The two car garage might remain a two car garage for a while. I have my vintage truck, and the Audi so they will be sheltered. To add a mini-split, insulate, upgrade the two windows, and finish at least half the garage, or perhaps the full 20x21 Into a workspace that likely would involve dividing it into half to have a “clean-room” and a more raw work space.

Cal
 
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Phil,

I also like the low overhead and low capitol expense to support a good risk/reward ratio.

I’m also cool with trade/barter and in my case want to make my side hustle small enough to be a cash business.

”No one ever got rich by paying taxes,” the rich say. Just keep that in mind.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Phil,

I think your idea has “Legs.” Your idea also “stands-out,” which I learned from “Maggie” how if you want to gain traction standing out makes a huge difference. When she first started her blog, I only had my MM as my only digital camera, so all the photography was in B&W. It stood out and launched her.

I also think it displays and personifies the hard-core ideals of biking: fitness; sustainability; green; low footprint…

Not to mention that for many the personal service of going to the location, or picking up a bike; use of existing infrastructure (tools, equipment, skills, knowledge).

I don’t see how this can’t work.

The woodworking tools I’m assembling are lighter duty and are made for portability. I have that 1966 C-10, and my current thoughts of why it is a mucho cool truck is that it is a barn find that remains OEM. I think that it is best to just pull the head to get the valve seals addressed that got destroyed by using unleaded gas; replacing the rear main oil seal that is leaky; and check if the clutch got wet from the oil leak.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I’m alright with keeping the drum brakes, and I will limit the truck driving to fair weather and local driving. I’m cool with that. For long trips, foul weather, and safety I have the Audi…

I’m a skinny bitch, and now kinda old, so I don’t intend on hammering my body anymore doing heavy construction. There is a labor shortage, and small jobs abound… Not that I need a job: just in case…

You and I are similar in many ways… We are simple guys…

Cal
Click to expand...
Cal, you're making me nuts again...it's the Valve SEATS that need redoing. Running a engine made for leaded gas on unleaded causes the valves to hit and the pound the seats until they won't work right. The cure according to 4 Wheeler magazine is to have Stellite inserts installed to replace the factory valve seats. Stellite is a cobalt alloy used in areas of high heat and impact. It was most famously used in the barrels of M-60 machine guns to extend barrel life.

I find the fact that your house is one of the Sears kit houses very cool. If you look you might find "Sears & Roebuck" branded into a beam somewhere in the house.

And I would replace at least upgrade the front brakes to disc-bad or weak brakes can get you hurt or killed. Take it from a guy who's 1st car was a 1974 Valiant with 4 wheel manual drum brakes!
 
MFM,

We were in Brooklyn and the owner of a Row House explained to me how Sears sold house kits. You should know that these Craftsman homes were small and modest. Pretty much for the working class.

Evidently Craftsman homes were very popular in California.

I forgot how the brakes were on my 67 Mustang convertible. Pretty much I used both feet and did a leg press.

Had a 1960 4-door Falcon and also a 1967 4-door Falcon, both were Rat-Rods before the term was coined. The brakes on them were not so bad, but I get the point that good brakes are a safety issue, especially with all the crazy drivers out there.

Thanks for making the point.

Also thanks for the correction. You can tell I’m a bit ghetto. LOL.

Cal
 
Spent the day using a heat gun to strip white non lead paint off of a 5 panel wooden door.

Oddly one side is painted white, and the other has a reddish mahogany like stain with either shellac or a varnish.

I have an industrial quality heat gun that is about a 1000 watts, and my hands are tired from holding a scrapper and the heat gun.

So in a ways stripping paint is a lot like developing film because it involves time and temperature. Also I learned about radiant heat transfer and that the heat penetrates best at a right angle. Proper technic is maintaining the nozzle about an inch away, and it helps if the scrapper is warmed also.

I thought that this stripping would be mucho long and tedious. I had tried a modern paint stripper, but now that they made them safer and not so damaging to your liver and kidneys, they don’t work hardly at all.

I think in my case the shellac or varnish is my friend because the heat seems to work like a mold release for the paint.

I’m ready to start sanding, but first I have to remove the hardware.

Cal
 
MFM,

”Maggie” strongly disagrees and says our Baby-Victorian is an “Arts and Crafts” house and not a Craftsman.

Seems that you could mail order a Craftsman kit from 1908-1940. Sears sold over 70K of them and had a selection of 370 different houses. Most of the Craftsman homes were sold in the Northeast and Midwest.

Maggie says that the guy in Brooklyn who said his row house was a Craftsman was mistaken because on her I-phone she only saw free standing house in her brief look. She says I was given bad information.

So maybe I’m wrong, but maybe not. Kinda funny that when Maggie did a search on the Internet using her phone using “Craftsman houses Peekskill” a house came up on the next block from our Baby-Victorian. I kinda find that funny… But what do I know?

The house a block away was listed in 2016 for $299K and is stated to be a 1930 Craftsman home.

The Arts & Craft homes were popular in California, and many neighborhoods that have Arts & Crafts homes are historical. I was mistaken about Craftsman homes being populated in California.

Know that the Arts & Crafts homes are elevated over Craftsman homes. Maggie says Arts & Crafts homes are of higher quality.

Oh-well…

Cal
 
Cal, Is this your house ? Certainly not a craftsman, perhaps an arts & crafts but homes with a turret on the front are sometimes called
Queen Ann style homes. Here is a link to Sears archives showing all the kit homes they offered.

Sears Archives, History

Sears has opened the doors to its vast archival collection and invited the public to peek inside. More than 100 years of stories, product and brand histories, photographs, catalog images and more are now available online.
www.searsarchives.com






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