New England Yankee

次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Born and raised in Massachusetts; as such I am a true New England Yankee.

Just Google “New England Yankee traits” and you'll get an idea of the kind of people New England Yankees are:  frugal, reserved, practical, resourceful (Yankee Ingenuity), hardworking (Yankee Grit), stoic, self-reliant and independent.

Yes, we New England Yankees are famous for being frugal.
We like simple, dependable and long-lasting things, which is partly why I was attracted to vintage Japanese rod-brake bicycles.
Much like the Japanese concept of mottainai-shugi, New England Yankees don't like to waste things, and take great pride in always trying to get the most out of things.
Bicycle tires for example. 

Completely bald, no sign of the original tread.
Ride this any longer and risk a flat or worse, an accident.

Threadbare in several places.
Well, I got the most out of it so time to replace it.

This is the tire I replaced it with; NOS (New Old Stock) BE (Beaded Edge) tire manufactured 65 years ago.
It reads: Motorbike 2P (2 Ply)

Made by Mitsuboshi Belt

Stamp on the inside of the tire reads:
"Special Grade Tire"
Superior Cords, 15 Strands
MITSUBOSHI BELTING LTD.


Same tire size (BE 26 X 1 3/4) as my old tire, but designed for motorbikes/mopeds which were simply bicycles with　an engine attached.

After replacement, as expected, I noticed the difference right away.
My old threadbare tire was virtually a slick tire; no tread means no rolling resistance.
The new tire with its deep grooved tread initially provided noticeable drag which I could both feel and hear. 

In the 20+ years of riding my Sekine (a light-duty cargo bicycle) I have only had 2 punctures, but have had to replace many tires due to wear as I ride nearly every day.
The bicycle itself, unloaded, weighs just over 36 kg (80 pounds) → two-thirds my body weight 56 kg (123 pounds).
Obviously, the heavier the bicycle and load, the quicker the tread wears down. 

BE (Beaded Edge) tires are quite durable.
The size and design make riding comfortable; however, the drawback is that tire replacement is very labor intensive compared to W/O tires.
Just ask any person who has actually changed a BE tire. 
The upside is that once you have replaced the tire, it is good to go for a very long time.

I usually cut off the sidewalls and use worn-out bicycle tires as tire liners.
That may be one reason I have only had two punctures in 20+ years of riding.
However, this time, in true New England Yankee fashion, with a little Yankee ingenuity, I repurposed the old tire into a sheath for my hedge cutters.  


As my dear grandmother would always say, "Waste not, want not.", and, "Take care of it, and it will take care of you."
Oh, so true.

また寛大なご寄付 Yさん、どうもありがとうございました。

I'll be back with another English post soon until then stay trued and happy wheels. 

10年以上前、Yさんの日米富士フェザー号という珍しい婦人車の連載を投稿しました。
驚く事に2024年10月、Yさんがその自転車を寄付してくださりました。
自転車を分解し、各パーツを一つずつ丁寧に緩衝材で包んで梱包し、複数の箱に分けて送ってくれました。
無事に届くように箱に大文字で「ぶつけるな」・「押すな！」・「上面にモノを乗せるな！！」などマーカーで書いてくれたお陰で無傷で受け取ることが出来ました。

年末年始の長期休暇中に、ようやくこの希少な美しい自転車を開梱して組み立てる時間ができました。
しかし、やっと組み立てた後、困ってしまいました。
それは、自転車に付いている透明なセルロイド製のチェーンケースの展示場所についてです。
セルロイドは経年劣化で脆くなってしまいがちですが今まで大きなヒビ割れがないのが奇跡です。
狭いワークショップで、誤って損傷するリスクがなく、誇らしげに展示できる安全な場所をどうするか困りました。

悩みに悩んだ末に狭いワークショップのなかで安全な場所をやっと見つけました。
しかし、問題は高さが3メートル以上あるということです。
為せば成る！！

壁の一番高いところに滑車を取り付けて一人で自転車を持ち上げてドア上の空いているスペースに設置しました。


正直に言うと、何度かヒヤリハット・危うい状況に陥りました。
日本人の妻に手伝ってもらう選択しもありましたが、この可哀想な主人（←クリック）と同じ目に遭わないよう一人でやることにしました。
そうすれば、何か問題が起きたり物が壊れたりしても、責任は自分しかいません。

今まで、完成車、リム、サドル、風切り、ヘッドバッジ、保証メダル、鑑札、工具、カタログ、ベル、その他の寄付を頂いていました。
時折、これらの寛大な寄付のいくつかを掲載するよう努めます。

Yさん本当にありがとうございました！！！