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.