Factory Closed Down?

[Hank]

1 minute ago, cliffy said:

Bikes ? Bikes?  OH the humanity of it all!   2 wheel coffins. 

No, that would be motor bikes! That's not what Erik does, he rides a real bicycle. Several real bicycles . . . . .

[aviatoreb]

36 minutes ago, Hank said:

No, that would be motor bikes! That's not what Erik does, he rides a real bicycle. Several real bicycles . . . . .

isn't that the funny thing about the vocabulary of 2-wheels.?!

A motorCYCLE is a bike.  But a person who rides a bicycle is a cyclist.

I used to race track (velodrome) and road.  I still ride road and mtn but I haven't done a track race in 25 years, but I did do a road race maybe 3 years ago, the tail end of that being time trials which is much more polite than racing in a peloton.  Its actually very intense, and takes good timing and handling skills on the track in a mass start race with 60 guys on a 333m or 250m banked oval going 35-40mph and very very close.  Time trial on the road is more "polite" and an individual effort.  I'm unusually large for a cyclist and no one looks at me and says, hey, that guys a cyclist...but I did ok.  My sons are home with the pandemic, which has been a lovely silver lining. and the old man still rides with the young bucks.  

My other sport, crew is a lot more bucolic to watch but it is quite intense in a different way while you are in the boat doing it, and last crew race was last fall in a double scull with the university crew coach.  We were planning to do this summer too, but ..pandemic.

The common thread in all this is - the equipment - is very exciting and technical and exciting high tech stuff - the bikes and the crew sculls are beautiful.  Imagine a scull is 27 feet long,  about less then 30'bs - for an almost 30 foot boat, and, 11'' at the beam and trick to balance - they are called shells because they are very thin but strong since they need to resist and be stiff against the full powered efforts of strapping young (or old) lads.  Lots of carbon fiber.

Ill photo some of my bikes that I designed in cad myself and had built to spec in Ti at xacd.  Its the perfect sport for a tech-head.

Here's a picture from my wall - top is around 1988, at the San Diego velodrome. and those are "funny bikes" cow-horns and its right before tai-bars burst into the cycling world generally (thanks Greg Lemond for making triathlon geek cool for cyclists).  Its the 4k four man team pursue, where you change the lead every half lap by swinging up the side of the bank.  The skin suits are the method of the day which is rubberized cloth - shiny and very very smooth for aerodynamics - it was shiny rubber impregnated into lycra and they were very hot but you only had it fully on for about under 5 min of racing.  And long sleeves - for aero.  The bottom picture is quite a thing, isn't it ?

And let's not forget - the classic connection between airplanes and bicycles goes right back to the beginning with the Wright brothers who were also running a bike shop - and even today, or Mooney frames built out of tig-welded chromoly steel are built entirely of the same methods and skills as any classic steel bike frame.

 

Edited July 12, 2020 by aviatoreb

[Ross Taylor]

43 minutes ago, aviatoreb said:

isn't that the funny thing about the vocabulary of 2-wheels.?!

A motorCYCLE is a bike.  But a person who rides a bicycle is a cyclist.

And... to further complicate things, when I rode a police motorcycle we were called "motors" or "motor officers"...never motorcycle officers or bikers.  Language is funny sometimes.

[MooneyMitch]

1 hour ago, Hank said:

No, that would be motor bikes! That's not what Erik does, he rides a real bicycle. Several real bicycles . . . . .

Did someone say motor bike?

My 1980 CB750Custom (me, original owner ).

Is this possibly a new drift to this thread ?

[amillet]

18 hours ago, chinoguym20 said:

I’ve heard a few old timers talk about the races we used to have here at the airport. Looks like fun.  I wonder if the MG’s mentioned in this article I found are still around and sitting in someone’s barn?  Would be great to get hold of one. 

Getting back to Mooney’s:  Did anyone else notice the Crosley reference?

[Missile=Awesome]

I had a Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo.  Over a 100HP back in the day.  Wicked straight line boosted fast.  Used to wax 1100’s.  Speedo only went to 85MPH.  Only five gears so pegged it was about 126.  600lbs of full faring 80’s awesome.  Featured in a Bond flick back in the day with minimal modification...’cause it looked like it was from the future.  Shaft driven.  A docile cruiser below 5500rpm and then “WHAM”, “SLAM”, THANK YOU MAAM on boost.......

Best bike ever.  Stupid fun in a straight line.

[MooneyMitch]

Just now, amillet said:

Getting back to Mooney’s:  Did anyone else notice the Crosley reference?

Was the Crosley the first engine used by AL Mooney in the M18?  Or am I wrong ( again! ) 

[amillet]

Just now, MooneyMitch said:

Was the Crosley the first engine used by AL Mooney in the M18?  Or am I wrong ( again! ) 

Yes.  They were unreliable and were quickly replaced by Lycoming engines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooney_M-18_Mite

[cliffy]

None of you are old enough to remember   "ELECTRAGLIDE IN BLUE"

[MooneyMitch]

3 minutes ago, cliffy said:

None of you are old enough to remember   "ELECTRAGLIDE IN BLUE"

Are you speaking of the movie with Robert Blake? Or? 

[MooneyMitch]

6 minutes ago, amillet said:

Yes.  They were unreliable and were quickly replaced by Lycoming engines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooney_M-18_Mite

Ah ha!  I thought so.   Whoppie for my memory!!

[RLCarter]

9 minutes ago, cliffy said:

None of you are old enough to remember   "ELECTRAGLIDE IN BLUE"

I was 13 when it came out and had been riding dirt bikes for 4 years 

[MooneyMitch]

Just now, RLCarter said:

I was 13 when it came out and had been riding dirt bikes for 4 years 

On Any Sunday...... our dirt bike video bible !!! 

[DonMuncy]

I first started SCCA racing in an MG TD (1959). Back then we didn't have videos.

[cliffy]

Just now, DonMuncy said:

I first started SCCA racing in an MG TD (1959). Back then we didn't have videos.

And TVs were mostly black and white and the channel changer was a kid of about 10 who went over to the TV and turned the knob! Only to find 7 channels even in the BIG city. And they all went off the air at night

Lets see- British car electrics? Lucas ? The Devil's own  :-)

[MooneyMitch]

Ah!.......Mooneyspace....... where we continue to learn we all have more in common than not. 

[Blue on Top]

1 hour ago, amillet said:

Yes.  They were unreliable and were quickly replaced by Lycoming engines.

I believe that 12 of the original Crosley M-18s were produced.  They were all recalled back to the factory to be upgraded to Lycomings.  The Kansas Aviation Museum here in Wichita has one of the original Crosley engines … and a Continental M-18 on display.  I believe that Don M. may have an M-18 still with the Crosley … waiting for restoration. 

[Blue on Top]

So, on this "bike" topic, why is a bicyclist called a "rider"?  I ride on a train or bus or in an automobile.  But on a bicycle, not only do I drive (steer), I am also the propulsion.  Go figure!

As for sculling (which I too love), nothing compares to the grace, beauty and raw power.  I have ZERO fast twitch muscle in my body, so TT and sprints are not even a fleeting thought for me.  Our bodies (human propulsion) are truly amazing.

[hoot777]

Let’s get some money—-lots and resurrect it.  I think the biggest mistake ever made was not to keep the J models produced at a reasonable price. Beech did a version of the 33 years ago kind of like the MSE and they could not make enough of them.  The problem today is wall Streeters couldn’t do an honest days work if their lives depended on it !!! Think Al Mooney and Walter Beech would quit.  I know the market has changed but no one promotes anything any more. If I’m correct the Chinese own Cirrus.

[MooneyMitch]

 “Our bodies (human propulsion) are truly amazing.“

Regarding truly amazing bodies....... I cannot post photo in its entirety...... else I be chastised by management!

[Blue on Top]

1 minute ago, MooneyMitch said:

I cannot post photo in its entirety

It's not just this virus thing.  Cyclists have some weird tan lines, too.  Right @aviatoreb?   

[N9201A]

I had a Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo.  Over a 100HP back in the day.  Wicked straight line boosted fast.  Used to wax 1100’s.  Speedo only went to 85MPH.  Only five gears so pegged it was about 126.  600lbs of full faring 80’s awesome.  Featured in a Bond flick back in the day with minimal modification...’cause it looked like it was from the future.  Shaft driven.  A docile cruiser below 5500rpm and then “WHAM”, “SLAM”, THANK YOU MAAM on boost.......
Best bike ever.  Stupid fun in a straight line.

Worked at a motorcycle dealership through college and we had a used Kawasaki GPz 750 Turbo that had been breathed on: More boost, intake/exhaust, etc.

Stock, these bikes were for a time the quickest quarter-milers. That one was a streetable monster and I wish I’d just bought it instead of worrying about college and grad school. Priorities!

[aviatoreb]

1 hour ago, Blue on Top said:

So, on this "bike" topic, why is a bicyclist called a "rider"?  I ride on a train or bus or in an automobile.  But on a bicycle, not only do I drive (steer), I am also the propulsion.  Go figure!

As for sculling (which I too love), nothing compares to the grace, beauty and raw power.  I have ZERO fast twitch muscle in my body, so TT and sprints are not even a fleeting thought for me.  Our bodies (human propulsion) are truly amazing.

True - true - rider.

Another phrase amongst bike racer types is a person who can ride a high pace for a sustained period - you say - Oh that guy is just a motor.  Or dude, you were motoring!

Sculling is sublime!  I love double sculls too since it really gets pretty fast.  No kidding - you row?

Fast twitch is quite a thing - I think I used to be a decent fast twitcher.  I can see how much I have lost since the old days especially when I ride with my son....  who is Bollt 2.0 improved version.  He these days we measure watts directly.  So I know my rides power output moment to moment, and his.... as I can see how many watts I am putting out while he is dropping me faster than I can type the words MORE watts.

Edited July 12, 2020 by aviatoreb

[MooneyMitch]

48 minutes ago, N9201A said:

Worked at a motorcycle dealership through college and we had a used Kawasaki GPz 750 Turbo that had been breathed on: More boost, intake/exhaust, etc.

Stock, these bikes were for a time the quickest quarter-milers. That one was a streetable monster and I wish I’d just bought it instead of worrying about college and grad school. Priorities!

Ya did the right thing !!

[Blue on Top]

1 hour ago, aviatoreb said:

No kidding - you row?

Used to, but I would like to get back into it again.  Wichita is just completing their new boathouse.

Head races only (again no fast twitches … and I am not tall and lanky).  St. Denis Head Race (26 miles) is on my bucket list but fading … if they still have it.  "Escape from Alcatraz" Triathlon is still strong on the list, though.  My last big rowing event was at the Iron Oars in Chicago (15 miles).

I like my pain to be long and very excruciating   Sprints are for wimps   I don't measure power any more.  I did one time. It's too depressing to know that I am not worthy.