Author: Joshua A.C. Newman

JIT JAAA GAAAAAA!

Wheee!

Good part first!

Jet Jaguar, all done!

It’s called Jet Jaguar. Thanks, R!

Matte bosses

I went over these cable stops with Scotchbrite (distinct from Scotchlite, the tape) to make them matte. I also brushed the knobs.

The barcons and brake levers.

It took me forever to confirm that you can do this. You can. That’s a Tektro “cyclocross” inline lever with a bar-end shifter.

Proof

It’s not your project unless you bust your thumbnail!

I said a hip, a hop, a hip hip hippy dippy

Wrapper’s paradise.

Running the shifter cable

Finally putting on the shifter.

I took it out for a spin today. I’m very happy about it. It’s got a pretty aero position, which is just what I want, I think. It’s pretty short and hoppy. The brakes were a litty rubby, but things are pretty much ironed out now. Nine speeds on a single ring is a bit much (and noisy in the lowest gear), but it works niclely anyway. It’s geard pretty high, but I really like the ass-hauling.

(Part 1, Part 2)

Sleek and Frightful

OK, let’s see if I’m getting my blog fixed here with a project update.

I’ve been working on this bike for about a month since I found the frame. It came from the basement of Northampton Bikes and they sold it to me for a song, seeing that it was going to a good home. Now, I’ve wanted one of these frames since I was a teenager and I used to ride the MS150 bike ride (which looks to be a much larger event now than it was in 1988 or whatever.). So when I found this frame, I knew this was a golden opportunity. It’s a 1992 r900 with downtube shifters (so quaint!) and short but practical geometry.

I started buying parts for it when I got the frame. I’ve been getting used stuff and trawling Ebay for parts, but it’s still coming in pretty spendy. The project means a lot to me, though, so I’m willing to do what I need to do.

Now I’m going to try my newly upgraded blog’s gallery function. Let’s see if it works! Pics and details follow the fold.

Continue reading “Sleek and Frightful”

Shangri-La: The Eightfold Path of Submission

Shock: Shangri-La

In memory of a Shock: game at Dreamation last, I offer this, the flag of Shangri-La, a totalitarian state based on government-controlled reincarnation.

(I can’t for the life of me find my notes. If you could let me know that you were in that game, it would be great. I gotta give credit for the awesome creativity at that table.)

Rob and I Get Gravely

The Independent Insurgency and Shock: Social Science Fiction

 Rob Bohl, podcaster of The Independent Insurgency, just put up (well, OK, a few days ago, but I forgot to announce then) Independent Insurgency #6. We had a fun time talking about stuff from about 2 AM until around 4 at Dreamation 2008. You can hear us get gravelier and gravelier over the course of the conversation.

We talk about all sorts of fun stuff! We talk about publishing, we talk about giving and receiving critique, we talk about making design decisions and why I made some of mine. Give it a listen. It’s about an hour long, and you should count your blessings, because that’s edited down from about two.

Calling All Sarahs

Renowned game designator and enthusiologist Malcolm Craig has just posted his groundbreaking thespio-entertron based on the above audio-visual stimulon entitled “I Lost My Heart To a Starship Trooper.”

It saddens me that the science fiction game experience of Shock: is so totally overshadowed by this incredible piece of interactive speculative fiction, but I have to bow out graciously.