Oregon Cycling Magazine

by William F. Larabell-Ross, age 18

Some people may call me a bike enthusiast or a bike freak but I prefer to refer to myself as a bike lover. Whether riding them, building them, fixing them or just cleaning them, I love my bikes. Most of my metal and rubber acquaintances are a little deformed or outdated but to me that gives them character and style. They range from a ’73 -’74 Raleigh to a cargo tallbike of my own design and everything in between.

My tall bike is the pride and joy of my fleet and will always be thought of as my noble screaming metal steed. Her name is Joanna and I designed her myself and built her at my school, The Center for Appropriate Transport. CAT is an alternative school that offers experiential learning and a new way of life centered on bikes and the resulting culture. When I decided to build this bike I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into but I full-heartedly took on the task. At first I wasn’t sure how to begin but luckily someone else had made a tall bike the year before and so it was fresh in everyone’s minds. I needed a bike that I could commute the 13.5 miles to school every morning and back every night without wearing myself out, so I had to create a way to carry everything I would need for a full day in town. We lopped off the down tube on the bottom frame of the bike and replaced it with a large steel basket. She also has a trailer hitch and a rack for panniers. Although she isn’t as fast as I was expecting and hoping she would be, she’s the matriarch of the whole fleet and the best and most reliable, sturdy and strong bike I could ever hope for.

The second in command of the fleet is a really well aged Roadmaster from the early 20th century. Her name is Meredith and she is my in-town bike. Almost all her parts are stock, and her brakes are actuated not by cables but rods. Her brake rods are surprisingly easy to service and she has an incredibly smooth ride. She is a single speed, but it’s one surprisingly fast speed for such an old lady. I wish I knew more centenarians that are as sturdy and nimble.

The next down on the ladder is a spirited 31-year old Raleigh road bike with a really intense gear ratio. His name is Tom and compared to most of my other bikes, he’s a lightweight. At his fastest his gear ratio is something like 54 teeth to 18 or 20. He’s horribly fast and it’s a lot of fun riding to town in a little less than half an hour rather than the usual hour and ten minutes. Unfortunately, cargo capacity is limited for he is only able to go fast while unburdened and has no racks or anything to speak of.
My collection also includes a few mini bikes of my own design. They are basically children’s bikes that have been modified with a seat extension and a handle bar extension so they are relatively rideable by adult sized people. At the moment I have three named Jesse, Jake and Jasmine. All of them are in working condition and are sturdy although one is being loaned out to a friend for downhill minibike racing.

The last of my currently operational fleet is a beautiful half-electric bike named Electra. Her form is that of the classic beach cruiser but with a few big differences. Her tires are solid rubber and her frame and rack are much thicker than a normal cruiser. This, along with her huge battery pack, makes her very heavy. Luckily her electric motor is powerful enough to make acceleration a breeze. On the down side, when her energy is depleted she is very difficult to move so I tend not to ride her very often. She is a very beautiful bike, just a little too heavy for regular use.

The rest of my collection consists of about 23 oddball bikes in various stages of disrepair and disassembly. Unfortunately, they are fated to remain as such for quite a while because the money I have left over after buying food goes into parts for my main freak bikes. All in all I believe my beloved fleet is far from complete and expands more and more every day. Maybe someday I’ll finish my fleet, maybe not but one thing I do know is that this is only the beginning.

Possibly Related

• April 2008: Patagonian adventure
• September 2007: A cool old bike comes back to life
• November 2006: Making treasure out of trash
• November 2006: A new road south
• September 2008: Track racing at its best: the Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge