Black & White Photography

 

I love photography and taking photos - my dad bought me my first Canon camera aged sixteen when I took up black and white photography classes. Ever since then, I have had a camera in my hand and hundreds of albums to prove it! My husband is also a keen photographer so it was a match made in heaven! I love the natural, beachy feel of these photos that I have collected for future inspiration - they all have a nice, summery vibe to them. 

Melissah xox

Images via Vanity Fair

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Burnout

It used to surprise me when cyclists talked about burnout. Oh no, it could never happen to me. Cycling is my refuge. I need it. I crave it. But of course, that's just the thing: When we feel that way about something, we want to do a whole lot of it. And when we do a whole lot of something, it is possible to overdo it - to burn out.

It's happened to me three times so far. Each case was fairly minor, but felt catastrophic at the time. To look at my bike and not want to ride is a dreadful feeling. What if I never want to ride again? I cannot continue that train of thought. 

The first two times it happened were nearly identical. They were working vacation type of situations at the end of summers 2010 and 2011. I could only take one bike with me - a bike that would be used for everything from recreational rides, to commuting, to hauling equipment. I took the touring bike I owned at the time. Diamond frame, drop bars, racks, bags. Technically speaking, it did everything I needed it to do - from metric centuries to schlepping equipment back and forth over hills to riding through dense in-town traffic. But after a couple of weeks of this... It's hard to describe the feeling, but it was as if cycling felt heavy and tedious instead of light and liberating. I didn't want to look at drop bars or a diamond frame again. I didn't want to ride up hills with heavy bags again. It was just too much, I was sick of bikes! This state of mind lasted no more than a few weeks, but still it was horrible. After the second time I vowed not to repeat whatever had caused me to feel this way. Clearly riding a loaded touring bike long distances is not something I enjoy. Commuting on a diamond frame bike with drop bars is not something I enjoy. Combining the two, day after day, for weeks, is not a great idea. Lesson learned.

But then it happened a third time, and it was entirely different. Roadcycling. In retrospect I was probably pushing myself too close to my limits, but whatever warning signs there were I missed them. One day I was on an ecstatic high after yet another draining ride, and the next day I suddenly crashed, emotionally - exhausted not so much from the riding itself, as from being in pain every single day and realising that it would never, ever get easier. Suddenly the eagerness to ride just was not there, and in its place was depletion. I know, I could have used self-motivation tactics. But that is not how I view cycling. It should not get to the point where I need to motivate myself to ride. If it does, I don't ride. And so I didn't: For an entire two weeks. Then the sense of depletion left as suddenly as it had set in and I was back on the bike. But the experience changed me; I am more cautious now. How far is it safe to push myself without this horrible thing happening again? This is always in the back of my mind.

When cyclists talk about dealing with burnout, it is mostly about prevention. Some try to identify what it is that makes them overdo it, so that they know what to watch out for. Others take intentional breaks from cycling altogether. Once the burnout sets in, the solution is less clear. For me, focusing on a different type of cycling and/or bike does the trick - that and trying to remind myself that it's just a temporary state! 

Holiday Wardrobe

 

We have just decided we need a holiday to gorgeous, warm, tropical Queensland. 

A trip has been planned for early October

So now all the fun begins in booking flights, accommodation, car hire and

making lists of what to pack.

That's always my favourite part of the holiday - I'm big into lists!

I am loving this fashion inspiration,

with their cool cottons and pretty swimwear ~

just perfect for a relaxed holiday in Port Douglas!

Melissah xox

Credits: Olivia Grahram Photography

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Assessing The Trek 330 For Light Restoration / And I Try Clipless Pedals For The First Time

Hello and Welcome, Please Help Support This Blog by simply shopping for your bicycle needs or countless other products using the "Amazon Search". It is located in the right hand column just below the Face Book logo/link. If you have never shopped Amazon dot com, You will be amazed at the vast selection of goods available. You might also be surprised to see some of the suppliers who offer their goods on Amazon. I will receive a small commission for any sales that originate from this blog. But you must access Amazon from this blog. Many of you have told me how helpful this blog has been for you. Now you have an opportunity to help Keep it Going. If you would like to make a donation but do not want to shop Amazon. There is a Pay Pal donation gadget at the bottom of the right hand column. Thank You for Your Support, Hugh

Above: The Trek 330 as I found it at one of my favorite bicycle hunting spots. The first thing that impressed me about this bike were the Shimano clip less pedals. This will be my first experience with clip less pedals. I can hardly wait to find out if they can live up to all the hype.

Above: Another thing I could not help but notice are these white brake lever hoods. These are extremely difficult to find and they demand a premium price. If they do not clean up well, it may be cheaper to just replace them.

Above: The Shimano EXAGE brake calipers look to be in fine condition. These will clean up nicely. And look at the tread wear or "lack there of" on these Bontrager Select K road bicycle tires. I have a hunch these are a recent replacement but that will take closer inspection to confirm.

Above: They must have sold a million of these Avocet touring bicycle saddles in the 1980's. This one is badly scraped on the right side. The right side pedal is scraped as well, but the damage appears to be only cosmetic. I noticed the right side cork tape was scraped as well. This bike has obviously been down, but does not appear to have suffered any serious damage. I am happy to see the micro adjust seat post. This one appears to be of decent quality and is in really good shape. That is a big plus.

Above: The rear derailleur is also scratched but the alloy looks good. and I do not see any real damage. I can probably touch up the metallic paint if I can locate a color match. The chain appears to be good quality. If it cleans up well and is not stretched or worn I will probably re use it. I do not see any teeth missing on the free wheel sprockets and they do not look to be excessively worn. But seeing how I missed that on the Teton the first time around I`ll check it very carefully.

Above: That's what I am talking about! My favorite road bike crank set the Shimano Bio Pace, and it spins straight! Sweetness! And the Shimano EXAGE front derailleur looks ok. It appears that the clipless pedal took all the damage in this area when the bike went down. Also it is good to see the entire Shimano EXAGE package in tact. I have a set of pedals in mind for this bike already. Similar the the pedals on the red Centurion Accordo RS I did a few years ago. Just the prettiest little red road racer I ever worked on.

Above: I had to slip this in here, the Centurion Accordo RS. Damn that was a pretty bike. I will keep this bike in mind while I am restoring this red Trek 330.

Above: What are the three words I love to see engraved on a vintage alloy racing wheel? If you said MADE IN BELGIUM your right on the money. And they spin pretty straight as well! This just keeps getting better and better! Am I excited to be restoring this American classic? Is Bradley Wiggins having a good year? LTMS Yes to both of course!

Above: The drop handlebars are in fine shape. I`m not surprised as the scraping on the cork handlebar tape was minimal. The threaded Headset is super smooth and should be an easy service. (clean & lube) And the stem looks fine and should (like the bars) polish-up nicely with a little Mother's.

Above: Did they put these water bottle cages on every bike built in the 1980's? These are going to have to be replaced for sure. The down tube mounted shifters are in fine shape and will just get polished up a little. I ran the bike through all the gears and I am pleased to say, The index shifting is still "dialed in". No chatter in any gear but the shifting is a little sluggish. I am sure cleaning and lube and new Jag Wire shift cables will solve that problem.

Above: I have now had a chance to clean up and closely examine these tires. The tread appears to be all there and I can find no damage or chunks missing. And the side walls are very pliable with absolutely no cracking whatsoever. I will be removing the tires to check the tubes for patches and or creases. I will fine tune the wheels on the truing stand and remount the tires with the valve stems centered on the labels or tags.

Above: I did ride the bike as soon as I was 100% sure it was ride able. The brakes felt very strong and also very quiet. Upon inspection I found the shoes appear to be new. There is no apparent wear and the rubber has not hardened at all. I cleaned the shoes and I have no reservations about reusing them. Please spare me the comments about how you always replace the shoes no matter what. If you saw and felt these shoes (like I have) you would be a fool to replace them... period! I have also found other clues that tell me this bike was recently overhauled before it was parked. I have spotted some paint chip repair and fresh grease as well. And let's not forget the newer tires. Someone took very good care of this bike. And I like the choices they made as far as tires, shoes and pedals go. All good quality but not too pricey.

Above: With all the money I am saving on tires and brake shoes and inner tubes I was able to purchase better quality water bottle cages and better quality cork tape as well. Although they look fine I will be replacing all the cables with new Jag wire. I will also be installing a bicycle head and taillight set. And a new saddle, wedge bag and bicycle tool kit. I was considering a rack, but that is not the look I am after. And the Head Set and Three Piece Crank will be serviced as well. And the front and rear hubs will be serviced as always. And everything dirty will be cleaned and everything dull will be polished. I will also be doing paint chip touch up. The next post will be about the Trek 330 restoration.

Above: After a quick internet search I learned the Shimano clip less pedals are actually for a mountain bike. I thought "perfect" I have just the place for them. Before installing the pedals I took one with me to Cycle Therapy in Waterford. I needed to find out exactly what I was going to need in the way of shoes and cleats. It turns out they had the cleats but the shoes were pricy in my size. But they did explain to me what I needed in the way of shoes. I checked REI on the net because I had a 50.00 gift certificate. After I saw the shoes online I wanted, I called the store to check for size. They had my size plus a couple sizes larger and smaller. So off I went to REI of Troy Mi. The store was nice and well stocked , but a little to "Lah - Dee - Dah" for me. So after convincing the cashier I did not want to "join the club" I paid for my new shoes and headed for home.

Above: To play it safe I watched a short instructional video on You Tube about how to properly install the cleats. During which I pointed out to my wife that the guy was using the exact same wrench that I have. You can only imagine how excited she was to hear that...lol... Afterwards I installed the cleats with no problem. So Here's To You! Mr U-Tube Expert Cleat Installer Guy! (did that remind you of a beer commercial?) never mind

Above: To me it just made sense to get "Shimano cycling Shoes" for my "Shimano Cleats" to fit my "Shimano Pedals." Why go looking for trouble? In all I spent about 110.00 (less a 50.00 gift certificate) for shoes and cleats. Lets Ride!

Above: Ok let's bleed!.. lol... Ok! This had nothing to do with the cleats. This was more of a bad tire selection problem. The ride actually went great. I did feel like I was going farther with less fatigue. I practiced clicking in and out of the pedals several times with no problem. So what happened. When I got home I decided to take a victory lap around the house. I had to front wheel hop over a fallen tree limb that had that shiny half rotten slippery look to it. At when the tire came down I turned right and the tire broke traction on the damp dirt and plowed to a sudden stop. Putting these road type tires on my old Specialized Rock Hopper FS was STUPID. I ride on the pavement 99% of the time. It is that 1% on grass or sand or sandy pavement that keeps getting me into trouble. I have "biffed it" 3 times this summer. Each time loosing traction unexpectedly.

Above: These Kenda K West tires are not bad tires. They are just the wrong tire for me. I will probably switch to a shallow or short knobby tire. Something that will roll smooth but still give me some much needed traction during that 1% of the time I spend off the pavement. Is that a Lucky four leaf clover sticking out of my tread? I guess that only works if your Irish.

Above: A few of the new tools I have picked up this year. Until next time Please RIDE SAFE (not like me) and Remember to Always...RESCUE, RESTORE & RECYCLE!! Cheers, Hugh

Tahitian Beauty

 

This beautiful Tahitian wedding shoot epitomises everything that made me fall in love with Tahiti :- tropical flowers, perfect white sand, coconut palms hung with hammocks gently swaying in the breeze, jewel coloured waters, thatched huts, friendly locals and a simple, relaxed way of life. 

I just wish I was back there right now!

Melissah xox

Images via The Lane, Tropical Style Pinterest, Bora Bora official website

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New England Coastal Town X

New England Coastal Town X. You know the one. Narrow streets, saltwater marshes, dog-rose bushes. Windswept rocky beaches, icy currents. The natives distinguished from the tourists by their accents, the age of their boat shoes, and their ability to go in the water (watah) without flinching. Dilapidating beachfront properties, clung to for generations before ultimately being sold because money's run out or the siblings can't decide who keeps the house.

The developers from the City are good guys, thank God, not at all like those soulless predators who would have entire blocks of historical properties bulldozed for condos. Worshipful of the town's character, they only want to update, to improve. They landscape with native plant life (they've researched this; it looks natural and wild yet subtly colour-coordinated). Gingerly and respectfully they extract Jesus and Mary statues from front yards. They remove asbestos, replace yellowed wallpaper, tear down drop ceilings to expose natural beams, liberate hardwood floors. They gut those claustrophobic interiors with their myriads of tiny rooms to create an open concept layout. They install granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances, add extra bathrooms (really, a 6-bedroom house with 1 bath?...).

The updated properties are resold at prices that reflect the quality of labour, the professionalism of the interior design and the local sourcing of materials. They are bought by urban escapees. Eager to live in the quaint town for a fraction of the cost of their cramped city apartment, they long to improve their quality of life with fresh air and natural beauty and a sense of community. But the economy is terrible, and their ideas of local employment opportunities prove over-optimistic. Two years later they return to the City, keeping the property as a summer house and income-generating vacation rental.

A tiny commercial street runs through a narrow peninsula. It is home to 6 ice cream shops and 5 seafood restaurants, every single one of them with water views. The seafood is freshly caught, the ice cream home made. "There's a line, but it's worth it." A woman wearing a white beach dress and straw hat asks the high school girl behind the counter if the scallops are good. Unthinkingly the girl answers that she hates seafood, then laughs apologetically and promises they are excellent. The woman asks the girl where she is from. She replies that she lives down the road, pointing in the direction. The woman is ecstatic as she carries her food away to the outdoor seating area. She tells her husband about the exchange. "You know they're locals if they hate seafood!"

Around the corner is a string of cozy little shops selling locally made jewelry, fair trade clothing from South America, organic hand lotions, antique furniture, used books. The local Art Association operates a Co-Op. Paintings, ceramics, woodblock prints. A hand-holding couple discusses purchasing an abstract seascape. "I want the lighthouse to be recognisable without the whole thing being cheesy, you know?" They study several pieces that meet these criteria, tilting their heads.

There is a yoga studio, a book club, a historical society, a concert hall, a market stall selling fresh produce thrice a week on the Green. Artist residencies are held on a bi-monthly basis. There is a mannerism and style of dress that distinguishes the seasonals from the more casual vacationers and day trippers, establishing a hierarchy of sorts.

And then there are the locals, that elusive species. They work the counters, staff the hotels, rent out the boats. But mostly, those who remain are like ghosts. Sometimes you hear the accents at the beach, or a voice calling a child in "for suppah" from an open window.

New England Coastal Town X. I've lived in one and I've visited many, and now here I am again. Memories blend with images glimpsed from afar as I ride my bike past the rocky beaches, charming shops and impeccably renovated properties.

Hamptons Chic - Get The Look

Re-create this look

I am loving the all white look and the Hamptons influence with just a few aqua details for added colour and a sense of fun, holiday spirit. That space is full of layered textures and I've always been a fan of painting everything white for a 'beachy. feel There's lots of great details here ~ the driftwood coffee table, the chandeliers and the French antique furniture. Doing a bit of mood board is a great way of breaking down a look and highlighting your favourite elements to create the same style.

This little wardrobe would take you very nicely from polside longing to cocktails at five.
Gin and tonic anyone?

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2 + 3 by Coastal Style Blogspot 

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