Author: timcalvin

SitRep

What’s currently going on:

  • I have a new blog up and running that’s specific to cycling stuff for me. I figured most readers here would be more interested in the educational stuff (or whatever), and that keeping the bike stuff separate would be a good idea. All further bike related stuff there.
  • I’ve been writing every morning now for almost a month- and I’ve been putting in something like 250-300 words each time. That means I’ve logged 9000 words of reflection and anticipation. So far I like the feeling- I go into the day feeling considerably more equipped and centered, but now I think I’m on to the next thing: fiction. Right? That’s the next move here, I think.
  • Newsletter #71 is in progress. Still collecting the goodies, but that’s just a matter of time.

SitRep

I’m not entirely sure what to say, still. Regardless:

  • New bike frame has been ordered, shipped, and has come. Headset gets pressed in tomorrow, then a build (and maybe a ride. maybe). Pics when it’s together. I’ll say it’s steel, uses 26″ wheels, has a rear disc brake mount, and more “modern” geometry than the previous ride (which is a bit of a joke, it seems to me. But that’s a longer post).
  • New(ish) logo on this page- in the left menu, as well as in the title bar. Not 100% yet on it, but no reason to let perfect get in the way of progress.
  • I’ve started thinking about a new shoulder bag. Some of my jackets don’t really want to work properly with my backpack (anything with structured shoulders, really…), and so a shoulder bag is in the mix. I’d be pretty ok with one of these, I suspect- well, every aspect other than the price tag. So: drafting plans here. Could be a while, though. Tends to be how it goes.
  • I think I’m ready to really dive into a re-design of a trench coat I picked up. It’s a lovely thing, but it’s build as an over coat, and the layers it was built to wear over are significantly bulkier than anything I’m going to be wearing under it. And it needs some other work, too, so that’s a thing.

 

SitRep

Ah, time for another one of these:

  • Settling into a bike choice, it seems. 26″ wheels (because it’s what I have/know/love), hardtail, steel. Sticking with my initial thinking that all I really want is steel/rear disc brake/more tire clearance. Currently researching rear axle standards (9×135 vs 12×142)
  • Working on the logo more, and once I finalize it, having some patches made. Not settled yet, but thinking currently about embroidered (compared to PVC or printed vinyl)
  • The new car spreadsheet grows- I’ve opted to keep all my options open, and include everything relevant on the sheet, and I’ll narrow down from there. Anything with three rows of seats right now. I’ve got fields for MPG, cost/mile to operate, max hitch tongue weight, wheels driven, and desirable years/variants.
  • Studio 3.0 organization is under way- slowly and surely things are finding homes, storage is being purchased/built, and workflow utopia lies ahead (surely!).

SitRep

Hi all:

  • Working on a new logo/video version of said logo. I’m not a designer nor animator, so… yeah. Slow.
  • New bike frame. Early, early stages here. Currently have developed the ugliest spreadsheet in the world to manage the project. Was going to be a (mostly) entirely new bike, now looks more like a new frame with (mostly) existing parts. I’d thought I’d be into moving from my “dated” 26″ wheels to the new-school 27.5+”, but as it turns out I mostly want a rear disk brake and some fatter tire clearance. And wider handlebars, too. I’ll post up more info as I start narrowing things down.
  • Sewing: I’ve got a pair of pants nearly full disassembled for patterning- but this is a road I’ve never really gone down before. Could take a while.
  • A new shelf system going into the house to help accommodate the glut of books we own. It’ll be partner to the larger instal we did in our dining room/library here.

SitRep

New(ish)

  • 20mm to 15mm x 110mm front axel conversions for bicycle front wheels
  • Remaking a small shoulder bag to replace my existing (NF-P-126 spec)
  • Graphic Design Accessibility Standards (hints, anyone?)
  • Small tool organization
  • Movable vice mounting (casters are a terrible option)
  • 650b bike rims with an internal width of 38mm and welded seams
  • I’ve begun a shoe re-sole, but I need to build up a midsole somewhat before I continue

SitRep

Trying to do these more often.

Currently:

  • Wireless multi-monitor options
  • Cars with third row seating
  • Commonplace books (via Patrick Rhone)
  • Sewing Trousers (this is wildly ambitious)
  • Alternative PLEX hosting (via custom NAS?)
  • Potential USB3 to DVI video outputs
  • Sourcing better 100% wool felt sheets

Backpack v2.0

About a year ago, I made my first backpack for myself. I was sick of my old bags- they were great bags, but they were built for rock climbing or biking or hiking or whatever, and I needed a bag that was built for hauling my daily gear to and from work.

So I made one. It was a prototype, and so I made some choices. I made it from 10oz cotton duck cloth, with a lightweight nylon liner. I made the straps unpadded nylon webbing. I reduced features and slimmed it down until it just did the things I really needed.

Then I used it for a year.

In that time, it’s done pretty well. The top has faded a bunch, and the inside is rattier than before, but it’s mostly held up. I found out that the unpadded straps were awesome (for the loads I was carrying). That the cotton duck was easy to sew but didn’t shed water (duh) and soaked up sweat. That the internal padding wasn’t quite right. That I wanted more pen slots.

It was time to make version 2. This time, I sourced some 500d coated Corudra nylon. Most bags of this type are made from the heavier 1000d, but this wasn’t a bag for bushwhacking through miles of thorns- it was for commuting. I did the liner in 420d nylonew-bag-v2-0-complete-500d-codura-outer-lined-in-420d-nylon-8-waterproof-zipper-unpadded-straps-850-in2-14l-diy-backpack-edc-edcgear-craftedn, and used a #8 waterproof zipper. I swapped the 2″ velcro loop on the outside to 4″, and added a grab handle to the top. Added some more internal pockets, and spent some more time on the internal seams. It’s about 14.5L in capacity, and it’s pretty lightweight. I wouldn’t want to load it with 25lbs and try to overnight with it- but that’s not what it’s for.

If they don’t make what you need, it’s time to build it for yourself.

 

SitRep

Oh, summer, where have you gone?

Currently:

    • Custom rack mounting rails (parts built, assembly needed)
    • Hard disk storage & rack mounts
    • Seam-sealing coated Codura 500d
    • Human Epigenetic shifts
    • Patterning hooded sweatshirts
    • Shoe midsole foam sourcing (fiber-impregnated EPA foam?)
    • Large scale re-positionable VESA monitor mounts (via 80/20 extrusion?)
    • Backpack (NF-P-815) v2.0 (full post on this coming soon)
    • Broadcast DVR via Plex & Internet enabled tuner (beta)

 

 

SitRep

Currently:

  • External GPU chassis options
  • Highly efficient cd & dvd ripping program
    • multiple dvd drives
    • queued rips
  • Better personal digital dashboard options
  • Reconfiguration of my home studio office
  • Better modular project storage
  • Flat file storage & art archive
  • Hand-wired Mechanical Keyboard firmware development
  • Rack mounted hard drive storage

New Keyboard

My obsession with mechanical keyboards continues.

My long-awaited 60% keyboard finally showed up (after the now-standard tomfoolery of DHS + USPS for delivery), and the first thing I did was rip all the key caps off install the set I got custom made from WASD Keyboards. It looks lovely now, and I’m very happy to be using it.

V60 w/ Custom Key Caps

I’ve not given up on my hand-wired monstrosity, either. It’s wired and has an “enclosure” and whatever, but I’ve been stalled for time with building out the custom firmware it needs to run. So it’ll wait a bit on that one. No rush.