Sunday Bikes has long been synonymous with quality BMX builds, and the High C 29″ makes a strong case for why the brand keeps earning that reputation.
Available in a Matte Grape Soda and Matte Ice Green colourways—the latter being my preference—this ride sits squarely in the “big BMX cruiser” category—and it delivers. I’d call it Klunker-enough to warrant a slot on this site. So let’s review.
(All images credited to Sunday Bikes.)
The High C 29″ grew out of the success of Sunday’s Model C, with the brand acknowledging they borrowed some of the DNA of the Fairdale Taj to shape what they’ve built here. Interestingly, the Taj and the High C share several components—including the Fairdale MX-6 chromoly bars with a 6.25″ rise—so the kinship isn’t just marketing.
But Sunday took the Hi-C in its own direction by bumping the wheel size up to a full 29″—a meaningful step up from the Taj’s 27.5″ hoops. More wheel means more rollover ability, more presence on the road and a, really, a different character altogether. This bike will move you—it could be a totally viable commuter.
The frame is 100% chromoly, which is exactly what you want to hear at this price point (ahem, State). Yes, that’s a full chro-mo frame, fork and bars. The frame also features a shortened rear-end geometry compared to other bikes in this size class, which tightens up handling and makes tricks and wheelies a more natural proposition. There are bottle cage mounts on the seat tube, too, which is a nice touch for anyone who wants to actually go somewhere on this thing.
Drivetrain is single-speed, of course, pairing a Sunday Sabretooth v2 27T sprocket with an Odyssey 13T freewheel—working out to a 2.07:1 ratio that keeps pedalling snappy without getting punishing. Combined with the bigger wheels, you’ll have some legs with this thing.
The cranks are 175mm three-piece chromoly, and the Maxxis Torch 29 x 2.1″ tires front and rear roll fast and look the part.
Stopping power comes from a rear aluminum V-brake with an Avid FR5 lever—no front brake on this build, which is worth noting for riders who prefer the extra stopping option. And another key difference between it and the Taj. (You don’t see a lot of 29’ers without front brakes—I can imagine it getting a little hairy on a long, steep paved downhill.)
Rounding out the build are sealed hubs laced to double-wall 36-hole aluminum rims with black 14g steel spokes, Odyssey Twisted PC Pro pedals, Sunday Cornerstone grips and a quick-release seat clamp. The whole package comes in at approximately 29.1 lbs—respectable for a 29″ chromoly rig at $679.99 USD.
This is a bike that wants to be ridden hard and ridden all day. Whether it’s grinding through the neighbourhood, rolling curbcut or just steady creepin’. At about $700 and kitted out with quality components throughout, this is again a strong offering a worthy competitor to the Klunkerson or SBC Klunker, though those both offer a dirt-bias… and the Klunkerson adds disc-brakes and a few hundred dollars.
Specifications
| FRAME | Sunday High-C, 23.5″ top tube, 100% chromoly | SPROCKET | Sunday Sabretooth v2, 27T, 6061 aluminum |
| FORK | Sunday High-C, 29″, 100% chromoly, 1-piece steerer, welded pre-load | CRANKS | 175mm, 3-piece, chromoly |
| HANDLEBAR | Fairdale MX-6, 100% chromoly, 2-piece | BB | Sealed, Mid, 19mm |
| STEM | Sunday Freeze top load, 48mm | PEDALS | Odyssey Twisted PC Pro |
| HEADSET | FSA integrated conical, 1-1/8″ | RIMS | DMP-342 aluminum, 29″, 36H, double wall |
| BRAKE LEVER | Avid FR5 | HUBS | Sunday, 36H, sealed, 3/8″ axle (F & R) |
| BRAKES | Aluminum V-Brake (rear) | TIRES | Maxxis Torch, 29 x 2.1″ (F & R) |
| GRIPS | Sunday Cornerstone | CHAIN | KMC Z1 wide |
| SEAT | Sunday Badge, Railed | FREEWHEEL | Odyssey 13T |
| SEAT POST | Micro-adjust, aluminum, 27.2mm | APPROX. WEIGHT | 29.1 lbs |
| SEAT CLAMP | Sunday Quick Release | PRICE | $679.99 USD |
So if you were choosing between the Fairdale Taj and the Sunday Hi-C—which one would you go for, and why?
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Finally a big BMX-er for the tall rider with a bit of a Klunker vibe. I have been riding this model bike for close to five years and the only change to the Sunday High C since the 2021 came out is the color scheme.. Mine being in billiard green for that year and purple faded was the other option. The 29” wheels with the gearing as it comes just seem to work a touch tall but the bike is fairly light so hills seem to not be an issue for this old guy talking. As one can see the Sunday has the extra guest on the lower frame tube to the head tube. Do not let the pictures fool you as the big 29” wheels make the chain stay tubes and down ward rear tubes look a bit spindly. Those tubes are healthy in real life. I did a small amount of changes on my High C but most were not necessary. I changed the handle bars to the SE Racing Super Big Honking handle bars but really the stock bars are really just fine and my change is almost a waste of money. The High C has only one rear brake but seems more than adequate as the brake works excellent for stopping this 240 pound 🦍 monkey. Probably the Taj only needs one brake as well as it is un needed weight. The Maxxis torch tires probably got that model name because the set sounds like a lit torch once this ride get’s movin and that’s ok because the sound alerts the joggers 240 pounds of something one would not want to meet in a dark alley is au commin therefore no bike bell is needed.🤫 Less weight to add. I could ramble on about this ride about how well I get along with it so it will never be for sale therefore that shortens up all the mumble jumble. The nice chromoly frame / forks along with the big 29” wheels really make it what it is if your looking for a unique affordable little HOT ROD for well under a grand. I’ll only cry about one thing and that is the quick release seat post clamp as it is junk. For most the seat post is fine but is 300mm long so if you are six feet or over you might want to replace the post with a Easton 27.2- 350mm post. That and the handle bar I changed on my ride and later the pedals as most people change peddles as it is a personal thing normally. That’s it. But for most out side of the seat post clamp change the rest of the bike is ready to rain terror down upon the trails the side walks and the skate parks and maybe a little showing off if the ladies are around as with them 29er’s you maybe the Herd Bull 🐂.
I had missed that that the Fairdale Taj had 27.5 wheels and assumed this also ran 29” at a glance as the big Sunday. Assume also can stand for A- – out of me so I’ll own up to that. So Klunkers. D. have you ever ridden or owned a 29” wheeled bike ? I have owned four by now and sold two and lost one when the wild fire took the other. My High C fills the void but anyway you are exactly right the 29” wheels does make enough difference and that is a good thing you brought it up. I found you just cover more ground quickly over the other. It is worth having a 29” wheeled something for a change🤗.
Also I almost forgot to mention no longer made but when it comes to a 29” wheeled Klunker that I had for a while was the 2013 Felt Rail 29er Klunker. That sported a two speed coaster kick back hub. Mine was the green with the hefty chrome forks. But Felt made a red and white model that I first saw in a mountain bike test review. It looked good to me so I stumbled on one at a long time bike shop in Marin and snatched it up and became a fan of the two speed. A fun bike my first two speed and first 29” wheeled bike. Found it to do long distance rides easy with the two option’s. Really liked the bike but not being a fan of aluminum frames sold it 3 hrs. after ordering a Transition Klunker about a year after purchasing the Felt Rail. The Felt Rail is worth talking about as it is kind of a radical Klunker and really a good down the fire road slider as the crank sits well below the axles that gives it a low center of gravity but the big wheels keep the ground clearance. If it had a chromoly frame I would have never parted ways with it. Recommended to anyone to type in The 2013 Felt Rail 29”er and check the images though not many as Felt did not make many. Once you see it you’ll get it why it’s worth looking at. Probably most of you out there did not know of this ride. Kind of cool I thought.
Wow Gordon S, you are right – never heard of or seen anything quite like the Felt Rail 29er. When you mentioned it (Felt), I was reminded of my dad’s Felt road bike…didn’t expect this!
Yeh Mike kind of Rad I thought but it still looked or had the vintage miss-teak about it. Almost forgot I had it because at that time I had almost thirty bikes . I kept 21 of them In Mill Valley at my parent’s house in Marin County Ca. Where I would spend two days a week and nine in Hollister California where I spent most my time. I use to take the Felt out at 4: am cross a street and down a short hill and off I’d go down a nicely paved bike path that would two miles latter end up In Sausalito Ca. and on the way if I took a short detour used to meet up with a Coyote that like to run a long side and keep pace from a cross street to the Mill Valley rec. center and then he or she would brake away at the same spot for what ever reason. It used to wait for me every week and if I left on time we would meet. Over time this end up being a weekly race. That was always fun along with almost two Cities that for a few hours I owned as the whole place was asleep 💤 . No cars to deal with no foot traffic so basically I had all of Southern Marin County to my self. The Felt was my first two speed that came in handy racing the Coyote may I add. So why the 4: am ride? If you have a Klunker and you hit the City Streets that are lit up enough to go flat out you can turn the whole place into a free style park doing what ever you want wheelies down the main streets side walks with driveways become a place to catch a little air slides around the base ball diamonds as the local school is closed you own it along with the City of San Francisco in plain view all lit up across the bay. So if you set your Klunker up properly that’s what you do. The right tires like a 50/50 are a must. So back to the Felt it really did it well but one thing I noticed as it was running the early Stermey two speed a 2A is that in thirty and bellow temperatures would not always shift when out in those cold December 4:am rides as the grease in the Stermey hub would become sticky sometimes. All my later model Stermey 2C hubs seem to be improved and really shift like butter all five hubs just work grate. Never the less the Felt gave me the bug to covert many bikes over. So as I’d be sprinting across the empty parking Lot’s for the Golden Gate Ferry on the Felt the Fishing Party boats would motor by as I’d finish up coasting figure eights as the sun began to rise and the the sound of the first commuter bus would pass and that was the signal to get out of Dodge City as the Rat Race was beginning to join in. Time to hit second on the Felt and do the two mile Sprint home take a nap and hit the Marin Trails in the afternoon. Marin County has a ton of places to ride along with lots of scenic bike paths that mostly keep a rider from dealing with auto traffic and China Camp mountain bike trails and Fairfax has trails as well as the Marin Headlands has miles of trails and fire roads where you have views of the Golden Gate all the way down Ocean Beach and on the clear sunny days see the Fairilon
Island about 33 miles west of the gate and the bike path from Mill Valley to Sasualito is just feet away you as you ride along Richardsons Bay / no cars to deal with🤗. A bike friendly County with many bike shops to choose. So the bike hobby can explode rapidly or get out of control. It is not about owning a bunch it’s about the bike experience and the journeys behind each outing and when you look at a bike you have had a while the memories and stories will always be there. Certain bikes your favorites become a old friend. Now living up the Nor Cal. Mendocino Coast the Klunker bike does the job for the average ride with a little stile as you smoke by many pushing to much bike with flat type bars that you only see fifty feet ahead hunch over looking like they are at work. Not for me. A burley balloon tire bike with some pulled back flat track Flanders handle bars is for me taking in the views of the sea birds and the Pacific Ocean with the sight of the Whale migration in the month of March yearly is the ticket five minutes from home for me. A single two or a three speed is all you need I found to do it all on a simple classic retro. Speaking of that how bout the Breezer Repack Klunker🤠 at least finally someone mated some Flat Track Bars on it one less thing to buy to make it right. Looks good but the crank the same as the State Klunker has to go or ride with the proper Allen wrench for the crank arms and a bottle of blue loctite. Out side of that a good option like the color choices – classic. There are pluses and minuses on both the Breezer and the State bike but they are very similar what one has the other does not on both either way you cannot go wrong or just get both as you’ll have it all for a bit over a grand and that will stop ya from over thinking 🤔. Put a new hub on one .
Geez Gordon, you need write a Zen of Klunking book with your encyclopedic knowledge and voluminous biking adventures!
Put me down for a couple of copies!!
Just need a good title!
Mark P
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To Mark P. You really grew up in Maine? I almost bought a beautiful classic home not far from the Light house of all Light houses in Maine or the most photo graph.
The one near Cape Elisabeth September of 2008 but the whole economy flip that week up side down. For months banks would not give out even small loans such as twenty five thousand that’s all I needed to buy it but a no go. Crazy huh? Anyway you mention changing the type of tire on your Avenger when worn out. Have you looked around or done any homework on the type of tire yet? All street or a 50/50 tire? If you go 50/50 and can put up with a very small /thin reflex sidewall then the Schalbe Marathon Plus MTB may a grate option. That is what I am running on the more street friendly Avenger however it is a dirt tire that is worthy. The Marathon Plus flows like the wind on the pavement over the tires the Avenger is furnished. The reflex striped side wall gives the Avenger a touch of a Rat Rod look as it fits right in with that satin gray paint. If I had a third Avenger for strictly the street a set of Thick Slicks I think would be hella fun and perhaps little bit taller gearing. I almost went that route but still wanted a tire you can still sneak a few short cuts in on a ride. So I went with the Marathon so the bike has a large operating range to ride. No complaints. Please post what you choose and why when the time comes if the tires you went to make you feel like you just struck Gold.
Mark I did forget to mention when getting shuttled around looking at house’s between Portland and Cape Elisabeth Maine stopping at some place for lunch that served Lobster roll sandwiches where you order but eat outside at a picnic table. Out of nowhere when the clock struck twelve the whole place turned into a movie scene 🎬 taken out of the Hitchcock film ( The Birds ) with Seagulls maybe fifty of them swooping down and pecking , grabbing Lobster Rolls right outta peoples hands chasing everyone while trying to grab your last bite of a twelve dollar sandwich before surrendering the thing while fleeing to the car hoping it ain’t locked. ( Ridiculous ) some were riding on shoulders with wings flapping. I barely made it to the car I was laughing so hard. No one hurt just robbed. “ Man! “ the whole place looked like a war zone , feathers everywhere sandwich rapper rolling with sea breeze sandwich baskets scattered about with the ground covered in French fry. Seagulls scraping over a fry when there were plenty to go around. Yep (Ridiculous). The funny part is it reminds me of Christmas when Apple releases their new and latest phone at a store front. A yearly event. Anyway spent yesterday sticking around home riding a few different bikes for about and hour and the Avenger included. That’s what brought up the tire subject. It felt good like growing wings again riding the favorites. Had been seven months since the knee injury surgery etc. Took so long to get to this point you get doubts that riding a bike will ever happen again. A good day. A luxury in this world of things. A few hours of freedom on two wheels will clear that negative energy the world is now running on and can cleanse the mind. Even if you spin for only fifteen minutes.🦍
Gordon,
Thanks for the tire recommendations. The only one I had been considering so far is the Maxxis Hookworms. Do you have any first hand experience with them?
Yes I lived in Maine from 1965 through 1978. Went to Tech School in Bangor, and the University of Maine in Machias, Maine, graduating in 1978. My first single speeds and Klunker / newsboy bikes were JC Higgins / Sears labeled.. ( maybe a FlightLiner model or such) never researched it. Solid frame handled weight, had two rear side baskets and chrome fenders, chain guard. It was my horse, 4-wheel Drive, Jeep, motorcycle, and we put these bikes through the paces. NO HELEMETS.
So Bath, Maine where I grew up through high school is about 31 miles north of Cape Elizabeth.
We were back two years ago for a family reunion and went up to Acadia. My brother has a literal barn full of bikes and parts and we had a grand time.
Have you had a lobster BLT? Or a Whoppie Pie!
I will keep in touch as I further ponderate the tire situation!
Stephen King is up in northern Maine around Bangor
Gordon,
RE: The Schalbe Marathon Plus MTB
What width, size are you rocking on your Avenger or other bikes? 2.10, 2.35, 2.50 or 2.60??
The two three fives as they seem to be big and light enough and don’t cause a lot of rolling friction as well but still are off road capable. I think they are a good fined that carry the best of both worlds if you want to rip the streets too. The reflex sidewalls clean up easy unlike anything white wall and are a small enhancement to give your rig that Rat Rod look as you flash the town in a little style. The only other cheap to do thing to make your ride pop and it really will and looks good with the tire swap and such a small mod is to get some green plated stem bolts to match the two green stem spacers and the green crank bracket caps if yours came dressed in that color like mine through Dans Competition sold as a set that should make ya smile. I went with the hollow very strong but notably lighter. Also those tires have a flat resistant belt that can save the day if you did not read that on who ever is carrying that tire you plan to buy from if not posted. The stem bolts are flashier then the supplied frosty green trim but when the install is complete when you stand back and take what you’re looking at all in it works. The contrast is needed. That and for me with them Race Face Atlas Pedals it looks so good 😊 I often jump on it and take a sneaky quick sprint down the street in the middle of the Honey Doo take out the trash chore and back. So far I haven’t been caught. A game of Russian Roulette I tell ya. Oh what fun it is to break a rule huh? Kinda like cutting school to ride BMX. Klunking will bring out the kid in all of us especially the coaster brake Klunkers . You gotta bomb into a massive skid on a coaster or your missing the whole point. Make mine a one eighty🤪. Mark if you want a Klunker running big tires then your State Klunker out there that sounds like it’s looking like a neglected dog may be your ticket. Those Surly tires on Cat Nip are some big two fifties if you take a second look at the rear shot of that ride they kind of trail as a two sixty but they fit . Sounds like the tread pattern would fit for what type of riding you like to do also. The Surly tires aren’t cheap . Are they worth it (HELL YEH🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩FIVE STARS MAN). We’ll Mark it being Saturday and all it might be a good Idea to take the trash out before I get Yelled at right? Gotta go🚵♀️.🦧
(Mark ) Remember If you ever plan to run a 250 width tires first see how adding a half link in your chain to see how that works out for future chain adjustment and brake for the Avenger. The front looks to have room with the forks. Like I said I did see one image of the Avenger 27.5 with what would be 27.5- 2.50 ‘s . The half link will be the only answer to do so. I don’t ever see anything above that size working. The good thing is if the 2.50’-owe’s don’t work well then your State Klunker will be more than happy for the hand me downs as it runs the same size wheel that just came to mind. Either way you can’t go wrong. You got opinions. As I said some where in past writings Dans Competition .com is where I had got my half links or maybe Retrogression bike .com that has parts for fixie track bikes should have half links. Yesterday I snuck out a quick (honey do )take out the trash mile plus ride on the Sunday HI C for the first time in seven months since the knee injury and surgery. The Knee seemed to work but is still a little stiff on the peak bend but after two minutes the knee loosened up which helps with gaining more flex range after knee surgery. Anyway came back with a big smile. That says it all for the Sunday say no more. Also put in for when the Breezer Repack when is available. Will be interesting how that plays out. Fact or fiction. For most of us including me it took so long for the WTF Avenger 27.5 to show most comments began to move in the Fiction direction. Of course the the ghost will show after we all give up and spend money on something else. Never forget Murphy’s Law. We walk in it’s shadows. It never fails. A day later a dollar short. Murphy’s got your back.🧙Always!
Mark You are making me wish I had a Summer house in the area I almost bought with a Large garage or a classic barn. Ninety nine percent of California homes no matter the cost to me look like government housing to me after looking at the classic vibe I saw in Maine. The Victorians are cool out here but far and few now. A ten million dollar house in California newly constructed with the best of everything would still make me feel like White Trash and plenty of crime and Taxes to go with it. For me all California has now is weather and biking out side of that at sundown hide and lock your doors. I go with a moderate house with a good neighborhood these days to keep the home invasion factor down that a group of four attempted on me in Hollister California. To any reader out there are better places to take a vacation.California is now overrated. A Gang Land. A Prison With No Doors unless you live in Marin. Marin is not the real world. A county of denial and way too expensive. Look up real estate in Marin the first word that follow will be (Are You Kidding Me) guaranteed. Yep as it stands under the currant leadership in California everything one would see bad on YouTube is completely true. Hope Colorado is better than here and you can sit near a window safely. Went to Disney land once and fell asleep in the shuttle van only to wake up to was similar to a movie set shoot to the movie Colors , Holly Jesus. I cold hear Ice Tea Rappin as we drove. No Really.
Gordon S.,
Maine use to be idyllic and politically sane and conservative. Now it had gone the way of the spirit of the age and lost its mojo.
There are still pockets of resistance and sanity so all is not lost.. Cape Elizabeth and Portland is nice but would be the largest metro area.
Northern Maine and out toward the Rangely Lake region which borders central and Northern New Hampshire, is nice.
Biking was always more seasonal and is not for the faint of heart. Definitely fertile Klunker Territory and probably where the true Fat Tire woods and trail bikes were birthed. tote road, woods trails, corduroy road, bog buggy’s!
Similar to the debate between Crested Butte or Marin County being the home of Mountain Biking 🚵!
I personally lean toward Marin and Mount Tam being mountain biking Mecca!
Any ways, with a good old time local Maine real estate broker and looking in the right regions of Maine, or even Northern New Hampshire, a rural respite can still be found.
Live Free or Die.
Mark P.
From film and pictures Crested Butte looks brutal. That is Surly Ice Cream Truck territory. After owning one I swear that bike was the Monster truck of bicycles. My first time on the Truck I got lost on a trail that was not marked for hiking on the Marin Headlands. Deep into it I encountered stairs climbing a big hill over and over. Stairs then no stairs then more. Well from the first set on I decided the hell with walking the bike up the stairs. I road up them all and never fell but came close a couple of times. I passed some hikers going the other way. You should have seen the look on their faces. Quite entertaining. I guess he did not expect a 6’3” 240 pound guy wearing a full face down hiller helmet cranking up a 800 foot hill on a huge bike XXL with just shy of 5” wide tires plowing up stairs on a mission to the top. After that ride I was sold on the Surly. You feel like you’re driving Grave Digger. Surly VS Crested Butte ? I might put my money on the Surly. The Surly is really something. It’s a brawler. Point and pedal and everything in front look out.🐗
Gordon S.,
The Surly Ice Cream truck sounds
like the old 1941 Dodge Power Wagon’s of bikes.
I always wanted to get one [Power Wagon] and restore and rebuild one.
I was backpacking in the Arapahoe National Forest one time and someone had one in there on the side of a mountain, stealth camping!
I was seriously impressed!
Speaking of helmets, what is your position on them? Wear one all the time? Only on sketch stuff? Not when casually Klunking?
I have gone back to mine primarily because of crazy, unfocused drivers.
Almost got taken out three times in March using crosswalks and walking lights with full on right of way.
Wish the USA was more like Amsterdam toward biking culture.
Just picked up two KinetiCore Lazers for the grandkids visit. They seem good and have the new head bucket technology. Might grab a new one for myself. Still have a nice Bontrager Helmet ⛑️.
As long as I have not crashed in one, I use well past the recommended expiration date as I figure it to be a marketing and sales ploy vs reality.
Like kid car seats expirations..
Any other thoughts on head. buckets?? False sense of safety, necessary All the time, every single ride?
Mark P
My son has a friend that I bumped into at the Honda dealer where I took delivery of The Pig . (XR 650L) . We were catching up on the acquired new toys when he brought up his fully cab off frame restored Military 41 Dodge Power Wagon. Suddenly my 2021 3500Super Duty regular cab duelly with the big Hemi special ordered a Kind of sporty looking and very fast truck. It’s a 4×4 but has kind of a 69 Elcamino stance Lost its cool factor. Even though a brand new Pig was just loaded in the back. 41 Dodge Power Wagon. If one don’t want one of those there is something wrong with them. Wish you just go to a dealer and buy one. Wouldn’t a 41 Dodge Power Wagon be fun to drive up a Forest logging road loaded up with a pile of Klunkers a crew of riders in Levi’s flannel shirts and a Beer keg in the back. Yep we should take a vote if the 41 Dodge Power Wagon should be the official KLUKER TRANSPORT. (Classic as the bikes themselves) The ultimate rowdy weekend machine. Aw bed pans? I’m busted. I Never wear one on a Klunker. The Ice Cream Truck always. I had too much confidence on the beast and took some major risk catching big air at highway speeds on the decent. I wish I remembered the brand of helmet. A quality one the company was out of San Jose or Morgan Hill Ca. Almost the same as I wear riding the Pig but lighter some what for bicycle work. Back in the day for motorcycles Bell Helmets were the thing. That is what I used or you were a nobody . High School was clicky ya got to fit in right? Anyway Bell went into the toilet for awhile but they had made a comeback when I viewed some around 2015. Specialize makes some good ones but won’t brake the bank. I do wear one when riding my track bikes. Yep for a regular bike helmet Specialized is my choice and common. But the full faced helmet like the Surly was lost in the wild fire . I see Aspen has one as I type. I lost a lot more than just bikes in the fire . The Hot Wheel Collection dating back to 1968 where it all began. A die cast toy that originally cost a buck now can bring up to five thousand dollars for just one. There are some Hot Wheels that bring over a hundred thousand. Go figure. If you had them all and sold them at auction you could holler (Good Morning To President Trump Down In Florida As You Get Your Morning Wall Street Journal.) And feed the Alligators. 🐊 Then the Collection of electric guitars 🎸 Amps as well. A 1931 Model A 2 door coupe street rod and my first Dodge 2017 3500 duelly big Hemi TRK. The last is the Collectable Classic engrave lever rifles and and the Dangerous Game Rifles that are meant to face a animal the size of a Volkswagen Beetle at ten paces or larger about to turn you into a pile of Goo. Fun to play with and collect . Like Hell On A Stick. In a Custom House . Collectable bikes etc. Millions sitting there. So here I sit in the office down stairs in the middle of Summer in the peak of fire 🔥 season. Looking at the Hot wheels and other stuff I paid almost nothing for but saved it all as a kid now worth a ton. But that is not why. The stuff was just cool like that 41 Dodge mentioned above or the rare finds like the HUMA Bike the stories behind them is the big deal not the dollar worth. But the street value is worth mentioning because it is so bazaar as the story that’s about to unfold. So I’m sitting there thinking how (Bazaar) . I have a third grade education basically though I did pass high school and trade school to be in the Auto Body trade. I took shop classes in high school that landed me work career from the get go into Skilled Labor Day one. A idiot like me. Even flew Helicopters until my eye sight would not pass the commercial medical. A Idiot sitting on top of the world thinking I made it . I need no more everything I wanted is here even a boat . I began to have a bad feeling looking at the aquired like saying good bye to it all as I ventured through my saved flight log books. Two weeks later on a Monday the first summer rain of 2020 in Napa Ca. Lightening all over starting fires. A real bad one about 20 miles away. You start feeling like a sitting duck you could see the hill sky line glowing in the distance not knowing the direction it’s heading. The next morning after sleeping with one eye open ready to spit a a drop of a hat. The fire looked like it is being contained. Grate we made it right? Not so fast buster but I didn’t know what was about to happen . So I had a deck to paint at what I call a bug out house in Lake County Ca. Just in case of the above . I took the cat with me the wife went to work . On my way to Lake County the wife calls . Did you pass any fires. I said no but saw some smoke but thought it was left over stuff floating around from the day before l replied. Ok Good! ( Now comes the twist. ) Minutes later she made it to work and gets a message From Cal Fire saying to evalcuate the Napa Headlands immediately she calls to inform me. So we can’t go home and glad kitty is with me but I forgot my wedding ring (bummer)in a safe I almost took with me. You know that bad feeling that started two weeks earlier had brought that on ,onthe way out the door. So that day there was a fire 98 homes burned and that bad feeling came true mine was included. Everything gone so two weeks earlier my thoughts as I was looking at everything is this is to good to be true and it will be taken away soon so say good by to it as you cannot take it with you. Bazaar! The story get’s more strange. Three days later I get to the remains . The site looked like a rain storm of bicycle frames came down on the place. Klunkers my Transition all toast many no longer made as the good old days faid. All the safes fell through the non existing floor. My son starts busting open the safes as he had the skill of fighting in the streets of Irac and a Fireman. As quick as he got into them I realized safes are not safe. Huh? He digs through the ash everything inside made of steel destroyed when he pulls out a perfectly in tacked wedding ring just a little dirty , diamond sitting snug as a bug go figure wow. So we went through All The Motions. Insurance Claims that we’re not enough to cover the belongings as that stuff was worth more than the entire property and the site clean up as well. So eight months later Spring is here 2021 . Putting the lot up for sell but have to weed eat the lot as Napa freaks out about that stuff . So all this time passes and I think the house burned because of a Lightning fire that some how got un noticed until it was too late right? So after weed eating my lot on my way out I said hello to a survivor who was getting ready for open house on the way out. They wanted out of there ,can’t blame em. So the neighbor tells me how the fire really started . Some person murdered two sixty something year olds in Vallejo Ca. In Solono County next to Napa County and took the bodies a mile up wind of my neighborhood and lit them on fire. 🔥 Bazaar. Here is the creepy part. As I was passing by a then Smokey area on my way to Lake County I must of been just passing by the murder beginning to burn the bodies and had no clue . I did see a un attended car parked off the road where the Smoke was. If you are still awake that’s my lost KLUKER STORY. Al true and hope it was a good read . SEE YA!🦧
Well Mark are you sorry you brought up the Dodge. One thing leads to another gee wiz’s .🥱 Happy 250th be safe everyone and 😊.
Forgot to mention the killer was caught. But worth mentioning is the dark history of the area Napa and Vallejo historically is that was the playground of the Zodiac killer. If one gets on YouTube look up the 10 most dangerous places to live in California Vallejo I guess didn’t want to be left behind. Who’ed think moving there would think their Klunkers would be put in harms way? Well for all you boys in Canada 🍁 I don’t recommend if you visit the San Fransisco Bay Area to ride or visit or anything in Vallejo Ca. Rooms are five star cheap. If you go cheap on a budget better leave the Klunkerson home and bring the Sully.
Gordon S,
I would love to see that 41 DPW!
And that is one crazy bunch of stories. True Detective or Twilight Zone kinda of stuff. I was out in your realm headin to Napa for some wine tasting a few years back. We had stopped by to pick up some friends who know the lay of the land. They had said that the Zodiac Killer had taken out a couple up behind their home on hill. Kind of creepy .
I will check out the Specialized line of helmets as they seem to be priced reasonably for the new MIPS Technology.
Been klunking early as Colorado has been getting some hot weather 96 – 103 degrees predicted through this week.
I keep switching back between the State and the WTP Avenger.
Riding is the raison d’être, and which scoot I’m on is secondary.
🎶🎵That’s why I’m easy
I’m easy like sunday morning
That’s why I’m easy, so easy
That’s why I’m easy like sunday morning…🎶🎵
Or Sunday Bikes
Mark P
(Well Mark )All true . Check out the (lot) 1098 Headlands Napa Ca.94558 The House that was there every room except the office had a killer view of the lake. There should be three pages that pop up attached to the address on the first page the image Pinterest shows as it was when I brought the house. On the third page some real estate company has a image a bit better with my silver Rubicon on the driveway and a new Bay Runner Baja 19’6” I used a whole two times parked under the front deck off to the side of the garage. Unclear why they took a picture of the house at that time as it was sold to me and off the market. If you find a big gray house with white trim that’s it. So full of bikes so many the living room had three vintage nicely built lugged framed track bikes as they were truly art and looked so right on the hardwood floors on display. So I forgot but I saw the listing at more than 3,400 square feet. Most my life I am used to 1,400 to something 1,500 hundred square foot house. So here is the catch. Yah it’s cool to have a big custom home with a oversized garage with all the toys one could want and a nice view of a lake to look at with a elevator we added but after cleaning and vacuuming the dam place after two years as it was at least twice the size I was used to cleaning some one did me a favor in a twisted way. Having a big house is where the saying goes (The Grass Always Looks Greener On The Other Side.) I miss the toys and collections but not the house. Though just up the street about three blocks if you check out other listed lots for sale on the Napa Headland Drive you see better pictures of the area where the street dead ends and the Klunking begins. Seeing all the fires going in Colorado Kinda makes me relive the past or anywhere else. The Mendocino Coast is less stressful Summer time as the Fire Danger is less. The town I live in has a ten mile bike path right along the ocean very scenic ride. The movie (The Russians Are Coming ) with John Candy was film here as a fun fact. Be safe out there.🦧🦍🦍🦍🦧
Forgot to mention that The Breezer BiKe Company e mailed me and the Repack Klunker I was told is now in stock. They posted me the Blue model. All colors may be available as well. Thought about picking one up long and hard but decided to pass as for me the crank would need to be change and would be putting on a crank that cost more than the bike. Plus the frame is a tad smaller than the State Klunker. Kind of foolish to put out money for a color change as it really close to what I got. But for a first time buy it looks to be a good choice or two have a second.
(The Breezer). Every time I see all images of the three color choices l feel like a barking Hound Dog 🐕 on a chain with a Cat sitting above on the fence. I ran my mouth getting tired of looking at black bikes. But but black is not a color nore white either, therefore it goes with anything you bolt on to it the sky is the limit kind of right? I keep wondering about the handle bars as shown as they are wide like the ones I run with no cross bar. Are they stiff like the Flanders Bars I run? Hope so for the consumers. I really like that the Breezer runs a 27.2 seat post as it would accept the Easton post I’m running on the Sunday. It is a grate looking strong fully adjustable post dressed in black at 40$ will give a Thompson post a run for its money and offset. With the Gold Breezer lettering a set of Mone handle bars may be a nice addition as they are a darkened raw bar with a braised cross bar with the braise being gold in color may be a nice complement to the gold Breezer Logo. Not to mention they pull back a bit like a Klunker handle bar should be. A vision. A extra 1,200$ vision the more the imagination runs , cranks stems tires hubs who knows the deeper the pockets get. I don’t need another project but I need to see another. Like what what the bike could really be and bring the beast out in it. No space and a quest for a 63 Fender Telecaster guitar with pickups with the bite of German Shepard got me in them chains called money with the cat above.🐈⬛ Are there any takers? What would you do to one of three to make it yours? The look and performance . State Bike Co. has a new color addition (Purple)in there Klunker Line to check out also. Yep both got me Barken. 🐈🐕
Gordon S.,
I saw that there are a couple Carver Bikes Titanium Newsboy 29’er Bicycle Frame 19.5″ NEW!.
On sale, one model being a Thru axel and one standard model.
$999.95 / $1,099.95 (thru ax)
Yard Sale
Estimate $50.00 shipping
I can check with my contacts if you are interested.
Is a 19.5” enough frame for you?
They probably won’t last!
The thru ax
Comes with 12 x 142mm Paragon Machine Works Thru Axle Post Mount Disc Brake Sliding Dropout Kit
Mark P
Hey Mark! Thanks for the thought but I think I’ll take a pass. I have my hands in a lot of things since my effort to get back what was took from me from the fire that took it all. The electric guitar thing kinda has been a dominant priority in my life lately as this was my previous plans to master as I looked ahead at the age of forty. This is to anyone out there think ahead . Ask your self what are you going to do to pass the time when you are too old to Jump out of a plane- water ski- snow ski race a car, boat- etc. You know the wild and free thing. Are you gonna sit in a broken Lazy Boy held together with duck tape and watch the world self destruct on Fox or CNN (OR) just rott while you suck air through a straw? Well? Luckily I can still ride my bikes it looks like after being laid up with a torn meniscus and surgery. Has been an eight month ordeal. So for me the replacement guitars saved the day thank god rather than sitting there waiting for (BUTT RUST) what ever that is.🙍♂️ 💩💩Something to do when can no longer do the other. Just yesterday I climbed aboard my big Honda Thumper for the first time in months and with it being a huge torque monster the wheelies soon followed while disturbing the peace with that Dry Lightening Cracking Out Of It’s XRS Only header and Super Trap Pipe. It reminded me of leaving the Hella Pad on the controls of a Bell Jet Ranger. Yep. Anyway the the Klunker thing is back and the world of two wheels but I think I’ll wait to see how well my knee does before I invest any more as my time is shortening. Right now I have my eye on a reissue 1963 Fender Telecaster electric guitar in surf green. Not cheap. But I’ll use it till (GOD SENDS ME A CAB👿🔥👺🤡🎃💀🧛♂️🐈⬛ ) Or Maybe Being a ghost is a better option what dose CNN say? But for now a ride on a Klunker with them Flanders Flat Track Bars is the goal today. Ever since I went back to those bars I stretch the rides much longer as it put the Klunkers back to what they were originally a blast. Big tires Flat Track Handle Bars on a Swhinn variant with 27.5 wheels your good to go. Just throw one of them set up that way into a corner dirt or street you’ll get it. If not trade it in on a European three speed with a basket to put the lap top in for your radical trip to Star Bucks to burn a day on free Wi Fi and watch the traffic of E E E bikes and Mopeds pass by . Oh don’t forget that European Man Purse 👜 over your shoulder. Good Lord Please Send The Cab. (Well Mark )sorry for the short answer I just lost my train of thought. No Country For Old Men Is About To Start . Gotta Go and you have a A1 Day🚵♀️🍺🍺🥃🍺👍🥴🥴🥴🥴. ENJOY Gotta Like The Journey Of The Coin Scene At The Gas Station In That Movie with that WTF look On The Owners Face. (Classic.)
Gordon S.,
In the Book of Ecclesiastes it says;
Of the making of many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Unfortunately, the same can be said of bikes.
Glad to hear that you live a balanced and multi-faceted life.
Sounds like you are a modern day Renaissance Man to the max!
I concur, that I am currently at my bicycle stables max, unless unload a few, as I promised my wife I would.
I also play and collect ukuleles so I can relate to your guitar 🎸 playing and the Strat. Playing music can calm the savage beast within.
Between klunking, ukulele’s and chess ♟️ I don’t need any more pursuits, except excellence in these.
That’s one reason I stopped all bicycle magazine subscriptions as they constantly seek to woo you and create dissatisfaction with what you already have.
Dirt Rag was one exception and it has ceased to exist!
For me, like many things, bikes can become a golden calf 🐮 if not balanced.
A question of balance indeed.
Bryter Layter,
Mark P
Gordon S.,
I forgot to ask you if you picked up a copy of Wende Cragg’s Camera Corner Book when it launched?
Would you recommend it? I have seen it on several websites and blogs I get. And at the Marin Museum of Bicycling. Were you at the launch party?
I do have a copy of Charlie Kelly’s
Fat Tire Flyer: Repack and the Birth of Mountain Biking.
I had the Fat Tire Flyer book when it came out and bought a few extra to give to my riding buddies as we road both dirt bikes and klunked starting in 1969. There are details missing in the book kind of valid about the subject but the Kelly crew were kind of late bloomers. However the down hill event down Mount Tam behind Fairfax and how organized it was and how big it was they really take total credit. Kind of mind blowing. When the program that ran a half hour hosted by Mikel Fox called Evening Magazine did a story on Repack I think it showed around December of 1978 that popped up on the TV while I was eating dinner I new right then and there the event was (Toast Big Time ) as Marin was rapidly changing to a negative when it came to real out door fun. Socialist with money had moved to Marin and then came the regulations . A 15 mph speed limit on the trail. Then the Marin Independent Journal did an article on how the bicycles on the trail were creating an environmental hazard . In the end Klunker riders were painted as (Terrorizing The Mountain bombing down the fire roads at high speed.) So the Kelly Crew got smart and came up with the Mountain bike to explore the trails more technical type of riding at a slower pace . Hay it caught on and kept the riding on Tam leagal at those speeds. More power to them. You know the rest on the Mountain bike thing. Sorry but I hate Mountain Bikes. The Big Surly Ice Cream Truck is as close as I’ll ever get but that’s a whole different animal. It is clear that the Stick In The Muds that Moved Into Marin Love Their Mountain Bikes and Whole Foods Stores and popping Prozac before they leave the front door in case they meet up with some one like me who Rides a speeding Klunker on a mission with terrifying wide handle bars and drives a American made truck. Yep Bring On The White Trash. There goes the neighborhood. 🤠 🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠 Mark just look at that Klunker crew they may be inbreeding. Anyway a Klunker rider showing in the new Marin may cause a Elite Melt Down and send them to the local pharmacy for theirProzac. Anyway my copy burned in the fire with everything else. A good read for a new comer. What I did like about the book but should have been talked about a bit more or at least at my time discovering this building that had it all in the late sixties but mentioned in the book called (You And I Trading Post) . A old building on a side street in San Anselmo Ca. I was about twelve years old looking for a second Klunker bike as I walked in it was very dark and quite with no one around. As I walked through the business there were binds and binds and binds of Old Original Schwinn balloon tire type bike parts or Klunker parts. Every dam springer front fork ever made just sitting in binds. Frames hanging all over the place wheels you name it . All there yes even a good size collection of those fifties frame tanks. As I went deeper in the place I came into daylight and a yard with completely assembled vintage 30’s to60’s early Schwinn’s about fifteen of them ready to go. When out of nowhere a husky built man with a giant cigar and a dirty shop overcoat dark blue stood there and said nothing . He looked like something out of Hollywood used in a movie as a Russian Hitman . As a twelve year old to me he looked scary. When I got the nerve I pointed at a bike and said how much ? He just stood there and said nothing and starred back as if I owed him money from a old gambling dept. His teeth started showing as he bit down on his cigar and his head wrinkled like he was angry for asking. Seemed like forever to get a price when he politely said eight dollars . I had ten luckily for a striped down racy looking 50’s Schwinn eight dollars I coughed up the eight before he could change his mind with a thankful smile and out the door I went before he might pull out a double sawed off twelve and use it . Gee do you thick I was watching to many gangster flicks on prime time? Like the Untouchables. At that time every night. So the place is mention in the book where I think Kelly and Fisher bought up the inventory to produce Klunkers at the get go had quite the parts. I thought (You And I Trading Post )was worth bringing up in more detail as the inventory was unreal in the late sixties. Beyond imagination. I was lucky to see it all. Well I don’t have the book on camera corner but saw the documentary on YouTube. Good Doc. Very enjoyable. There are a few familiar faces in the flick and in Charlie’s book also. I read his book even though I knew the story . I bought the book mainly as a picture scrap book as it reminded me of the great times in my life growing up in Marin before it lost it’s Identity. A time and place where everybody kind of knew everybody one way or another. Even if you went to different schools. The good Ol days. Like a eight dollar Klunker ready to roll. There is more to why I went to the You And I Trading Post which will bring the the story more full circle as I had to hand back my first Klunker back to one of two of those guy’s lined up in the repack crew photo that sport a frow . I found my first Klunker abandoned in a field below my neighborhood with a totally destroyed rear wheel all bent and extremely loose spokes . I walked by the bike for three weeks and no one claimed it. So I decided to Carry it home and gave the Klunker new life. Took the wheel to the bike shop . For just five bucks the shop did their magic and all brand new spokes included. Hard to imagine these days. All my State bikes hub included for the rear wheel run four fifty. So up and running the bike I really was enjoying for eight months and took second place with in a race that took place on the back side of Alto School during the Alto Fair May of 69 Mother’s Day weekend where probably three hundred people saw us racing our Klunkers in a Cross Country Sprint event our crew called it as the fair carried on of all of a hundred feet away at the starting line. The terrain very and ran a mile and a full on sprint . For twelve year olds that was a cross country race. A few weeks later I was riding my found Klunker around the field where I discovered the abandoned bike with a obstacle course with whoops when two guys in a Dodge Valiant beige called out hay that’s my bike! I rolled up and said what? The guy with the burr head repeated that’s my bike. I told him I found it months back laying in the field for weeks and I pointed where I found it and told them the rear wheel was a mess and put money into it. The guy with the frow offered me five bucks for the wheel repair that didn’t include a new tire or tube but after all it was his bike he told me it was stolen off his porch. So I turned the bike over to him and went looking for a new Klunker as you guest it ( AT You And I Trading Post.) Alto School was in Mill Valley where we had our race where Charlie Kelly and Joe Breeze grew up I often wonder were they at the fair when us kids had our race or the Larkspur crew just over the hill maybe attended the fair and got the Idea to bomb the fire roads just above after watching us. Those guys are a few years older I think that’s where the modification of gears on these single speeds was born from one of them. The first time I saw a Klunker with gears was later seventies I thought was dam cool at the time with drum brakes.
Killer stories Gordon,
As previously stated, you should write your own book and get it published through and small indie publishing house like the Ten Speed Press out of Berkeley!
Ever read the books Tom Cuthbertson wrote back in the day!
Better Bikes!, Anybody’s Bike Book, Bike Tripping.
They capture the joy and heat & soul of biking creatively and not selling out to the current state of vanilla Stepford Wives Biking!
Lockstepping to the Pied Piper tune of whatever the current trend is of corporate bicycle industry juggernaut.
Dare to break away from the confinement and restrictions of the peloton! Ride free and originally!
Sean Connery in the Untouchables was true art!
How about Miller’s Crossing!
Been riding more and more on my We The People Avenger on the early am out and back to the Chatfield Res. You were absolutely right on the speed and increased kinetic power potential of this bike… “ like a submarine in a shipping lane” or something similar as I reeled in three road bikers this morning. I love having a little more horsepower when needed and the bike is a work of art with upgrades potential as desired!
I never outrun this bike with the 42T sprocket and the 18T Cog.
I can out cadence my State now pretty quickly if I am getting after it!
Toying with changing my State Klunker’s cog to a 18T to up the speed capability now that I’ve put some real miles on
My Avenger!
What is your opinion on the perfect gearing for an all purpose Klunker if you could only have one bike??
I am leaning toward the 42/18 but lack your experience with a larger variety of bike history and terrain variations..
Do you think WTP will reissue this rig soon? I saw another color frame out there …yellow like, but maybe that was the original 26” bike.
It is confusing as the website shows the new color on a 27.5” bike, but underneath states the frame color as Matt Phosphate, which it obviously ain’t! I may need to reach out directly to WTP
Mark P
Correction = heart ❤️ and soul!
Although heat & soul kind of works at a secondary level!
I got to thinking and the Evening Magazine Host first name was (Steve ) Fox not Mike . Had to back check my brain and far back as I could remember he (? Might be related to Ronny Howard )??? But not sure.🤔
(Gearing) well Mark if it is too tall you can have a very bad day. Back in the day when I found that Klunker in the field one of the things I really liked about it was the gearing. But had no idea what it really was because it had the vintage skip tooth cog and chainring. But as I remember how it was the State Bike Company kind of nailed it. If you live where winds can get frisky plus maybe some inclines where you ride the 18 cog will become a drag on those windy days. I live near the ocean where the winds can get Farious in March and on and off through July off the Pacific. To this day I have never had to stand on the pedals to climb a hill or buck a head winds with the 42-22 on 27.5 wheels or get off and push the bike ever. So that is something to consider before you change it. As a single speed it is not fast but it can do it all as is. That’s why I kept one of them in stock gearing as it’s my windy day Klunker ride. The eight dollar Klunker I bought from (You And I Trading Post )had a 44-18 on 26” wheels . Was not fun riding in those situations or riding the gravel beds next to the rail way from Mill Valley to Sausalito the City just North of the Golden Gate on my way to Klunker the Marin Headlands. For some unknown reason the Avenger seems to get away with the taller gearing if you noticed . I did a review for the bike shop in Santa Cruz Ca. by their request under my nickname back in the day related to my wheel standing 55 Chevy . Anyway I stated the WTP Avenger is Magic for what it is as a single speed. It’s fast enough on the flats but it does some good hills with not much of a struggle and not bad in a headwind but yet the gearing is tall. It is also the smoothest bike I have ever ridden in it’s class even with aggressive tires. Kind of UNIQUE. I don’t know any other way to describe the Avenger but one word Magic. When I want something different that’s the bike I grab. The State Klunker is a beefed up Schwinn and in a different ball park and this is where or why I built two with the 2 Speed hub as 42-22 as I was able to keep the first as it is the do all gear and have the taller second and yet no cables required 🙂. I know when you go from the the Avenger to the State you feel like a trip to nowhere but I often find after a mile or two my brain readjust to that slower pace and it doesn’t seem like your riding a turtles shell. But I get it. If you ever put a three speed Stermey hub Coaster the the (18)- 42 is the way to go with the 27.5’s. You will find 1st is a touch lower than it is now (😃 WHEELIES 😀😀😍😃😄) 2nd taller but not a lot then your Klunker is as it sits and third winding out in the 20’s and keeping up with car traffic around town on the flats or decent or having fun making them Spandex guys on their road bikes looking behind saying WTF that CLOWN 🥳is making us LOOK BAD.🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵😡😡 If you can put up with the one cable as shown on the Widow State Klunker posted on the 333 reviews easy to find no as they moved it up to page (two ) tap and scroll it blends well on black . The three speed has it all but still fairly clean and simple and remember everyone it is wise to shift a three speed hub while coasting and avoid pedaling as you can damage the internals shifting under a load. Well there it is in a nut shell. Overall it is wise to keep the gearing in the (do all ) unless you want to limit the bike to be a specific job that limits it to one thing under ideal conditions. That’s when you have a fleet of bikes but a few then the do all makes the most sense. Anyway it’s embarrassing pushing a bicycle where everyone knows you in town driving by. Every one starring and a teenager hanging out the window of Mama’s car hollering looser. Good lord . Not for me . I get enough of that when I look in the mirror as old age is running on rush hour. Harr- Harr- Harr L👀ser says the talking mirror. Every morning . Think Captain Kangaroo can take the talking mirror back but I’ll keep Grandfather Clock. The clock is more polite than that mirror.
Mark Have you ever considered the Mandolin? Kind of similar to the Ukuleles I think. Never own one but they sound kinda cool . That and a National resonator guitar as well. I should have bought a National when they sold for a bit over a thousand. Now three grand and near a year wait. I have a couple of good strats but when I was replacing my lost guitars I tried the worlds ugliest instrument as Blues Player Robin Ford called it the Telecaster. I agree . My story is the same as his. For many years I looked at a Tele as the last thing on earth I would buy. A step above a cigar box guitar it appears. Well Robin stumbled in to a San Francisco guitar shop and there it was a 1963 Fender Telecaster hanging on the wall the last thing on earth he would ever consider playing. Like pulling permanent teeth he decided to try that ugly guitar. Well he walked out of the shop with the Telecaster that ended up being his go too. As the saying goes you always find what you’re looking for in the last place you look. A Modern Blues guitar player/ big time collector Joe Bonnamossa I think that’s how you spell it stated with the right Telecaster you can Concur The World. Well Keith Richard’s sure did. The king of opening riffs. Anyway I’m Hooked. Just Shoot Me.🤠
Gordon,
I think you are right on the gearing for my needs. Keep the Avenger at the stock 42/18 and the State K at the stock 42/22 for wind or coming back after a few back after a few days off riding if I am traveling and don’t bring or have access to a bike.
When I started riding Klunkers as my daily carry, I started realistic so as not to blow out my knees until I got figured out and dialed in. Now my typical daily is about 22 – 25 miles including moderate hill work or sustained sprints. Fun times!
I also may take your advice and convert the State in the Fall to a Sturmey Archer S2C Kick-Shift Hub Kit with Coaster Brake. Probably start with the two over the three speed.
Have you ever ridden the old Bolinas Turkey? Bolinas to Jewell??
RE: A mandolin. I like the sound for sure. I currently have three sizes of ukes. Soprano, Concert and Tenor.
I lean toward the concert but am considering a Baritone uke which sounds the most like a guitar 🎸.
I can play about anything genre wise, but am not a huge traditional Hawaiian music fan. Folk, Rock, and Blues are my focus, some classical.
May get back into lessons for the discipline and to accelerate my fingerpicking ability.
My son has a Strat..
Do you l know if We The People are coming out or have started shipping 2026 Avengers ?? Seems like I am seeing some rumblings. Confusing. I had heard they lost their USA DISTY and things needed to get reworked.
Later
Mark
Gordon,
Apparently, I am seeing a remnant of the original 2021 production run of the 27.5” WTP Avengers with the Matt Cinnamon Metallic finish.
Mine is the Phosphate Grey finish.
How about your two?? Phosphate?
Mark it might be the lighting that gives the photo that cinnamon/ bark tone. To my knowledge all are gray but depending on the year the only change was the trim color between the years blue / purple/green with the green being the 2021 model. That being the crank bracket caps and the two stem spacers. I hated the green until I installed a set of plated stem blots in green and stood back and looked. At that point I had a brain fart that sounded off ( Oh Yeh That Kinda Works ☃️). I do like the big pedals so that’s why I Ordered the Race Face Atlas pedals to be the same width plate form to lay the horse power down. Boy the cleats are sure big on them though , real shin shredders but we love em anyway. Just got a text from my kid he might have Retro Tech build him a Klunker. Think Retro Tech is some where in Napa Ca. Close enough to meet and tell the builder what he wants and the frame would fit like a glove. Kind of exciting. The bike yes the price I’ll hold my breath.
Gordon,
The only color I ever found in stock was the Phosphate for sure but the WTP website recently started showing the Cinnamon Matt which doesn’t match the reality of what was actually available. Could be lighting .
So is that Retrospec / Curtis Inglis frame builder extraordinaire?
Probably for steel a $3,500.00+ ride!
If it’s a Titanium frame cha-ching….
5k + ?
Custom ? A One of kind, unicorn 🦄 bike!
Ledgendary!
In today’s economy the last few months I think it’s time to put the brakes on buying a new toy or exotic stuff at least for me. Not fun. I’ll stick with a quality frame that will last and performs. That being said chromoly is really the best material to build a bike or motorcycle frame for weight and strength that has the best ride quality. Even tinsel steel or I call it mystery metal may make the second best choice for a Klunker as it is light and strong for a bike frame. Somewhat lighter than regular carbon steel anyway and budget friendly. If the welds are good you’re good to go. I really had a very hard time in my head to put the kind of cash I did into every State Klunker bike I built because of the tinsel steel thing. I thought long and hard about the Idea as the cranks alone I’m running cost more than the entire bike off the shelf. Just the headset really just some fancy bearings cost almost half of the whole purchase of the bike it self these days but not at the time I built mine but still wasn’t cheap. That’s why I say to the young if your gonna do it,do now as wages are not keeping up with inflation. So why did I put the cash into the State bikes . On mine the welds overall are really pretty good. Inspecting the frames and the weight of them , the argument in my mind said why not in the end the builds will be what I always dreamed a Klunker should be with those 27.5 wheels. So I went ahead and took the plunge because the frame fork and wheel set aren’t bad. The new Breezer Repack if the welds are good may be a very good option for some one around six feet or shorter as the seat post tube is a bit shorter than the State frame. A few days back I had just got out of P.T. to rehabilitate the Knee range of motion from knee surgery months back and was feeling good so I grabbed one of the two speed State Klunker builds and finally took a long ride into town with some hills involved along the way. When I returned home I took time out to think about how the bike performed on the hills with the knee still not a 100% the handling plus the overall weight that the high end crank offsetting the extra weight of the two speed hub that makes this simple machine speedy but maintains the weight of the single speed configuration made me smile inside my hart. The bike is light for it’s class strong and much faster than anything on the shelf you can buy as the finished product . So in the end was it worth putting in the money into it ? (Yes ) It’s everything I wanted . You could spend a couple of thousand or more on a frame made of expensive material but in the end you might save half a pound. That was my back checking this week. Just be happy with the builds. They all turned out right as I visualized in my head but for the last year and a half I have been beating my self up for putting the time and money into a frame that you can buy from State Bike for less than two hundred dollars. To me that makes no sense at all until I go for a ride. If State bike is still keeping up with the Quality that my frames have a custom frame in the end is more about bragging rights than the real significance. I really hate to say it but I find that to be true. If the Breezer has nice quality welds as I said before than that is the best way to go with either one or the other in todays economy unless money comes easily. If this Commuist surge takes over in the United States we all will be building bicycles from parts out of the Junkyard just as my dad did during The Great Depression. Yes my dad Built his first bike out of the junkyard . A old Swhinn with those classic pulled back bars ballon tires skip tooth sprockets and all. Now that’s a real Klunker. Him and his buddies road them Junkyard single speeds from San Francisco to Santa Cruz and back. Now I know why that generation was successful and won W.W.II Makes me feel like a failure when I think about it. Now we all cry about doing dishes powder puffs . Just turn on the tv and watch the commercials / end of argument. If building a bike out of the junk yard sounds good and living the rest of your life like that sounds good then you the reader know how to vote but first do fly to Cuba and attempt to build a bike. Then you will be wise which way to swing. I personally rather have the option to by new parts from a store even if money is tight. My dad and the generation before him and so on fought for those freedoms and handed them to us as a gift. My son fought the War on Terror and now has arrived on our front door. California is a example of what happens when you go the direction to Communism. This little space I write is about getting the bang for the buck and why it is wise to go that route. In the next two years you may start thinking about pulling your money out of the bank depending on which way we swing. When the money runs out a socialist country will seize your money . This happened to my mother in law in Columbia along with her pension as she worked for the government. They stopped paying her. So if anyone stumbles on to a good quality Klunker manufacture that fit into today’s economy please share the Klunkerson is the only other option that fits or the big BMXers not quite a Klunker but has the DNA / affordable and fun. Yours Truly Debbie Downer🤦. Had to replace my washer this week and that’s what you get these days for thinking about buy a new toy these days I guess . If you want to make God laugh make plans. WAH-WAH💩😡. Nothing like a appliance taking a dump in the middle of a bright Idea. Thinking back today what a stupid Idea. Well Mark after last week the thought of a 3,500 .00$ frame is terrifying me. This year the water heater blew then surgery now the washer last week a car broke down. It happens with every bright Idea like that 63 Fender Telecaster.( Murphy’s Law) My Buddy he never let’s me down.
Gordon,
How is your knee rehabbing anyways? Glad to hear you’re starting to increase your range and miles again.
I have had a good week of riding and get up and out before the heat and trail traffic and activity increases.
I am thinking very seriously of converting my State K into a Sturmey Archer S2C Kick-Shift Hub Kit with Coaster Brake this Fall.
I have been flipping back and forth between the State Klunker and my We The People Avenger, now getting in about 5 rides a week.
I think EVERY generation has had its own unique economic windmills to joust with and dragons 🐉 to slay !
The nice thing about owning a bunch of bikes and a cache of parts is if the economy hits the skids, we will have the opportunity to leverage our fleet of bikes as a potential small business venture (rentals, transporting, or other creative activities). Not to mention support family and friends.
Good quality Bicycles will retain value and utility.
Case in point…
It is simply amazing to me the per capita bicycles I see in the possession of the so called “Homeless” population along the river camps in D-Town. They have more rolling stock than your typical retail bike shop. Guess they must have invested wisely before things went south for them!
I’ll see a guy riding one bike and towing another at his side.
Point being, they use them for currency and there seems to be a huge burgeoning underground economy.
Not talking about budget, box store bikes either. I have seen bikes that cost more than all mine combined in some of these ⛺️ camps. Bikes are maybe only 2nd to the number of repurposed grocery carts 🛒 out there.
So, you have made wise choices on what to invest your hard earned denaro’s in and quality steel bikes hold their value and are a hedge against inflation, energy crisis and failing infrastructure.
Maybe buying the best bicycle locks 🔐 out there is also a smart investment too.
Instruments 🎸 also fall into this realm. Music is also the soundtrack of our life and times.
At the end of the day riding Klunkers can help keep you healthy and sane in an increasing insane world.
It is therapeutic and a balm for our souls.
I am well acquainted with Mr. Murphy and his antics. Tree removal, refrigerator, car shocks and struts.
But have been richly blessed and thankful for all that God has given me.
Bryter Layter
RE: Book 📕 recommendation.
On a recent trip to the local library I saw a copy of TWO WHEELS GOOD
THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY OF THE BICYCLE by Jody Rosen
It is an interesting and mind expanding read. An extensive and world inclusive snapshot of all things bicycle.
Definitely a read for anyone interested in expanding their vision and understanding one of mankind’s greatest inventions!
I think you will like the two speed hub? I find it to add a little fun without the cables or things to adjust and keeps the bike looking clean. I think the 22 cog comes standard with the hub 18 is an optional but don’t recommend the 18 as hills and a head wind will make the rid a chore. All of mine came with the 22 cog. I am not a hindered percent on this but first seems a tiny I mean tiny bit taller but it’s moot can hardly tell or maybe the tiny taller gearing comes from the huge Surly extra T 250 tires as they may be taller than the average 250’s out there . That would make the most sense to me and does hills just as well as stock. The only thing to get used to in city riding at signals is to make sure as you approach a signal that your briefly in second so when you hit the brake to a complete stop you are automatically in first to start up again. Adjust like you would a car. After a couple of rides you will not even think about it. You will do that automatically. If your bike is black metallic the polished hub makes the bike pop. Black and chrome or polished aluminum is always a seller. How ever black is available. Now the only thing you may run into is the hubs brake arm may line up directly under the brake arm mount on the frame that I did not run into with the three speed on the Widow bike. So a very simple fix that takes a but twenty minutes is to make a drop bracket out of some flat stock steel you can readily by at the hardware store . I had a little fun doing that as I made a card board template out of shoe box type of card board and made the bracket sit at a angle and used a little imagination to to get the look and get what you need for adjusting the chain forward and aft. Mine is a three system I came up with with polished stainless Allen bolts and acorn nuts that face the outside that kind of match the look of the furnished axel nuts with the hub. The Cat Nip bike does not show my bracket but but under The State bike Klunker section the frame fork set reviews titled under( don’t forget the bottle opener ) there are three shots of the other two speed I built tap and scroll. But the first shot shown is the left side if you can enlarge the picture the you can easily see the simple bracket I made. You can play with the length of the bracket you may have to make to get the look you may want. All you need is a drill a hacksaw and a vise plus a rattle can of pant fit before you paint of course. The longest part of making the bracket is watching paint dry😡. The figuring and the making of the bracket was less than a half an hour and a bit fun if your a garage guy. A garage is where many dreams come true. Some time millions like the creator of the POOL SWEEP by Howard Arneson that lead to many other things like his outdrive for offshore power boat racing his true passion. He was a Marin – Nite as well. His first boat that I know of was called the Sea Sweep. Cool stuff . I got to watch his boat hobby grow. He kept his boat that was powered by a jet helicopter engine next door next to a shop I worked at. All of it started in his garage and a imagination with somePVC. So my advice is use your garage wisely and don’t use it to store yard sale Junk. I tell the wife the house is yours but don’t get any ideas with my garage that’s where the line get’s drawn in the sand. Nope ! Don’t even think about it.😡🤦
If you look up the Klunker frame build section on the State bike Site to see the bracket I made for my Klunker under the tittled don’t forget the bottle opener you’ll ready see the polished stainless acorn nuts that match up or dress up the ride to match the axle nut. It is unclear where or how the location came up as L.A. but that’s my ride. Below it the image of the same bike stating the 250 width tire fits this bike with no problems to correct their add that claims (May Fit Up To 2.4 Width Tires) With the those tires the clearance in the rear is at least as much as how your WTF Avenger has. So there is room with the 250 or a bit extra if you tweak a wheel. I tend to ride the two speeds more than any thing else and all of the Electra single speed beach Cruisers including my Wife’s are now running the 2c hub as well. It is nice to not wind out on the down hill as well if you have a brisk tail wind. But yet it’s still a coaster and still kept reasonably a simple bike. If you ride the same route often it can become boring for me I found the two speed adds a little spice without the hart burn.
Hard times and transportation//// Well Mark for many years and it still may exist in Marin County is a place anyone could go to get an affordable bicycle in Central San Rafael . The Place was called Recycle . I never saw the place but heard about it. The place ran on donations and donated bicycles still very useable but needed a little lovin . They ran classes I also heard I think for free to show the young how to build a bike and the completed bike would end up on the floor for sale for a very reasonable price or if you needed a part you could hunt one down. I thought that was a cool concept. My son in high school I guess had to donate a few days as a requirement into community work so I remember he went to (Recycle) to build a few bikes to put on the floor for sale. I forget the name but there was a place in San Anselmo that was like a salvage bike part place that had a couple of bike stands you could rent and tools for about ten bucks and either work on your bike or go out in the sheltered yard and fish out parts and build your own bike for cheap. If you are facing hard times in Marin that was the ticket for your transportation as all the main cities along the freeway U.S. 101 had bike routes from Sausalito Ca. the first city north of the Golden Gate Bridge To Novato Ca. where Marin ends and Sonoma County begins. I tried the route to see if I could do it and how long it would take and there are a few climbs on the way mind you but to see if I could do it without pushing a single speed bike on any of the hills just for fun not to mention the challenge to see if this old guy still got it. I grabbed one of the S E Racing Big Rippers and off I went. This is where I really got amazed on how much real estate one can cover on a single speed bike if geared properly for the weight of the bike with not a lot of effort. The stretch was about just short of thirty miles through some traffic and signals but for the most part the bike route avoids a lot of car traffic which is really nice and safe also a bit scenic. Anyway from one end of the county to the other it took a hour twenty on a single speed Big BMX-er. I only had to get off and push the Big Ripper about fifty feet . I did it one more time on a (Felt Rail )two speed Klunker in just under an hour . Going back was even faster by a bunch as there were more declines running back to the home base. Not bad. So you really don’t need a car to do your thing in Marin Shopping/ doctor / all that kind of stuff. All you need is a bike that is geared properly that can run and cheap like a Klunker . If you plan to build a bike if in your area (if) there is a community bicycle salvage shop you might visit the place on and off . The place in San Anselmo mentioned earlier I fished out some really cool parts no longer made and high quality BMX American made handle bar stems a nice chromoly hefty straight leg forks for a 26” wheel and a nice old Swhinn Klunker frame out of a pile of frames and pulled back Klunker handle bars for forty five bucks. A deal I think. Just tons of bike parts waiting to be adopted or for a homeless person to gain transportation for Pennie’s on the dollar as the saying goes. Only one disappointing thing about the publicity the Klunkers got from the Kelly crew is that these days the old Swhinn Bomber bike frames don’t float around much and every yard sale I pass I stretch my neck to see If one is waiting for a new home only to find the Ladies models. WAH-WAH!😡
Gordon,
The old 1950’s and early 60’s Schwinn cruisers were the gold standard back in the day! Have you seen the old Phantoms and Spitfires! 26” wheels and tires.
I think we had some kind of old Schwinn 26” blue step- thru beater and another smaller red boy’s bike we all learned to ride on when we lived in Buzz Bay / Cape Cod back in my dad’s Navy days.
They were indestructible and we put em. They were our horses, 🐎 tanks, jeeps, and race cars 🏎️ back in the Walt Disney adventures days.
We were riding those things out in the woods and carriage roads before mountain biking was even a thing. Broken spokes and dented frames were the order of the day and those bikes could take a hit.
Asphalt, dirt, sand, concrete, loggin corduroy woods roads. Take a lickin and keep on ripping.
No helmets 🪖 ⛑️. Zero lube.
Crazy days.
Then came the the 1965 StingRays AppleCrates and the cheaper knock-offs..
Bird handle bars, banana seats, bendix coasters, slicks..
I had a knock off Spyder that was so light to pull a wheelie on. First time I let my younger brother take it out he popped it up so fast and far he went over backwards, scratching my pristine purple flecked frame and tearing the rear banana 🍌 seat back.
Like living a scene out of Goonies.
We have several bike shops here in D-town that refurb and rebuild bikes and make them available at very affordable prices.
I picked up a 1977 – first edition, copy of Pedal Power – In Work, Leisure, and Transportation (Edited by James C. McCullough) that would interest you. Check the online used book mavens like Abebooks, Thrift , etc. it was published by RODALE PRESS.
All about using pedal power for transport and leisure, energy cycles for power for kitchen tasks and pedal powered equipment, producing electricity for TV …
Fascinating possibilities when things hit the fan, or to power a fan!
Check it out.
Just a quick check in. Back to Klunking in the Am. Last week was a bust between rain and responsibilities.
I feel like you and I have unintentionally Commandeered this blog by default…
Feel free to jump in guys and gals.
Let’s hear about your Klunking interactions.
“On a bicycle, you’re free to pedal at your own pace. You can mosey along or catch a nice breeze. It’s pure freedom.” – Anonymous
Mark P
Want to see some Klunker prone ? Check out Low Key Motors San Anselmo Ca. Gallery and bikes for Sale. Klunker Heaven to say the least. Single speeds and ones with gears with the later being a bit pricey but valid. Would like to see the geared Klunkers with a front drum brake as we ran them back in the day. Easily could be added and the rear as well. I know Stermey makes a front I imagine they might make the rear hopefully. That would make the restorations correct plus drum brakes on a Klunker really gives em an over the top down hill warrior expression so Freaking Cool 😎😎😎😎😎 five Star Cool. Heavy but in this case who cares drum brakes are five stars cool right? Disc brakes are out of place on a Klunker but we love disc brakes anyway. Yep! But you didn’t hear that from me if anyone is asking. Anyway Check out Low Key Motors in Marin for Klunker Bikes or you’ll be missing out of a piece of what a real Klunker is. Enjoy. I made mention of Low Key in another section but put it here also so no one misses out on the historical Klunkers restored or maybe looking for a original one.
Love the phrase Back in the Navy Days. How many times have I heard that . Dad was in the big one in the South Pacific . A electrician and drove a LC . Had a boss that was in the Navy during Nam. They both would use those same words Back In The Navy Days and then suddenly they would stare out as they talked like there was something incoming like a birth of a battle. God knows what was going on in their heads. All things said both were successful at what they did and being in the Navy and the Navy mind set helped my dad and my boss in life to be the best
At what they did. Just an observation. Back In The Navy Days. Every time I read or hear it a grin follows and the echo’s of those stories that put you there. I also know a Tunnel Rat that blew up munition weapons etc in Cambodia that did three tours during the Veitnam conflict . The stuff mostly stored in caves. He did three tours because when he got State side he could not relate to the surroundings or a civilized world. In short any obstacle in life the answer was the unthinkable. He figured the world was safer being sent into Cambodia. He worked Napa County Ca. Road Repair. Was a neighbor up the road when I was running a cattle ranch. He’d drop by and bought some hay I grew Yearly. I don’t think he ever left Cambodia. Only his body did. His mind was left in Cambodia that really put the ZAP on him. You could only imagine the stories he told I believe to be true. A nine yard war his favorite tools was a good running flash light a Colt 1911 and a Grease Gun. Both in 45 ACP. WOW best describes what he told me and my kid. We were all ears . Fascinating stuff. The bizarre. Scary he’d put ya there as we listened. So why even mention this on a Klunker bike site . Well then ! Here we go back when I was a kid in the late fifties and early sixties I do recall seeing the old Klunker Bomber Bikes like limited additions with Millitary type theme’s/ graphics Stars and Stripes 🇺🇸 Uncle Sam hat style red white and blue decorated seat post frame tubes . Some old ballon tire bikes had images of jets on them. Some bike models called Flyers etc. Look up the image if you can find it the fifth year anniversary of the Electra Bike Company’s Klunker Model called the Flyer . A limited run of the Red White And Blue thing of yester years. Nicely done paint job and they got it right as I had seen bikes back when jazzed up in the same fashion. I bought it on sight. That was the bicycle I learned to carry a wheelie on in one of the wide open abandoned airplane hangers at Hamilton Air Force Base of all places on a bike called the Flyer. Electra also made a Klunker called the Sunny Garcia a known Surfer 🏄♂️ . In the nineties Electra had quite the Klunker fleet. Trek bought Electra years back and every year the line shrinks. Sadly Electra is hardly recognizable anymore. Definitely a sign of the times. Currently I have two discontinued Electra Steel framed Beach Cruisers way cool before they vanished. I could see the writing on the wall. To bad . They had some neat basic fun bikes that were great transportation. Real grocery getters with a little style and affordable.