Into reality
If I was a superhero, patience wouldn’t be my super power or special skill. In fact, it’s much more likely that I’d be known as Captain When’s-it-Ready or Senior Want-it-now. So why is it that I tend to choose hobbies which require relatively strong doses of time-biding: fly-fishing, aquariums, surfing, film photography, a PhD, bike building?
When I started the Pacemaker II project in about October 2007, I think I knew, deep in my heart, that it was going to take time and cost money (doesn’t everything). However, I’m pretty sure I also ignored the little voices saying, “This is going to take months. You could spend the money on beer. You already have a surfboard, and a fly rod, why don’t you just go surfing or fishing instead?”.
Of course, some voices bought louder warnings - from statements questioning the general prudence of the entire venture, “How many bikes do you need?”, to those regarding fiscal affairs, “Two hundred dollars! For that?”, and the mechanics of the project itself, “If you get a paint job out of Peter in eight weeks, you’re doing well”.
Now, nearly 6 months on, after a great deal of soul-searching, my dream of a Pacemaker II is turning into a reality and my answers to these questions are here.
1. Like Jeapordy, the answer to the first question is in the form of a question: how many shoes and handbags do you need? or, for the maths inclined, n+1 (where n is the number of bikes you already have).
2. When you want the best, you have to pay for the best. But, then you have the best. Simple.
3. It was worth the wait.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
What about a picture of the finished article then?
April 15th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Not until its finished…
April 16th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Did the classic styling and vintage colour scheme look good against the backdrop of warm timber, stacked stone walls, soft lighting and rich brews of Single Origin this morning?
Um… yes.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Yes it is gorgeous. I think I have a crush now!
I felt guilty looking at the Euro when I got home. She gave me that “I know what you’ve been up to, you dirty perve” look.
I had to grease her bottom bracket to get back in the good books. Dang!
April 16th, 2008 at 10:21 am
has it been out?
April 16th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
nice work, tom!
April 16th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Greatness takes time - good effort mate
April 16th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
looks great dude! Would you mind making another one like that for me?
But I want mine with wheels, handlebar, pedals, and a seat… I don’t think I’m too much into the avant-garde wheel-less bikes.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
And Tom saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the end of the sixth month.
-1:31 Genesis of the Pacemaker II
Now you have a month of rest.
April 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
HEY PHIL!! good to see you are still alives!
April 21st, 2008 at 7:04 pm
He’s probably a chronic lurker
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Roddi: you’re probably making the right decision, they kinda hurt your bum too.
I dunno duncs, I think Phildo is just too cool for us these days?
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hello there, I am alive and have not been too cool, my comments have simply been awaiting moderation!
We are slowly thawing out up here after a 7mth winter of hell!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Tom, your bike completes the flat, all the other 10 that we have had around (including the tange, the mtb TimTim ‘found’, your bizzare Peugeot Cyclocross rust monster and all the bikes in the surprise cupboard) have just been pretenders.
Can’t wait to see it on the track duder.