welcome to mike’s cool ass pics website.
marketing director at blade-tech
co-founder open source defense
random image dump
projects:
a guide to chasing the sun
summer in lundsville
mike@blade-tech.com
Surly Big Dummy
02/22/2021
I picked up this Surly Big Dummy for a good price used. I wasn’t totally in the market for a cargo bike, but I had always wanted one. Just wasn’t willing to pay $2200. The local bike shop owner was selling his so I jumped on it. He turned it into a 1x which is fine with me. The gearing is perfectly adequate for most things I want to do with this bike and I don’t see myself making any changes there. As with most second hand bike mechanic bikes, it has a hodge podge of parts. It has Surly Rabbit Hole rims, DT Swiss Hubs, SRAM GX Horizon, Shimano Deore Cranks, and Avid Mechanical Brakes. Overall, mostly midrange stuff but that’s all I’m really after.
I did make some changes pretty much right away. I didn’t like the angle of the stem nor the handlebars. I grabbed an inexpensive Origin 8 stem and some Ritchey Kyote bars. I threw a Brooks Saddle on and a Ritchey post.
Only a few more changes and I think this thing will be set. I’ll probably downsize the tires to a 2.3 as the 2.5s are a bit too wide. I’ll also get rid of the awful SRAM GX grip shifter.
Overall, I’m really pleased with myself on this one. The Big Dummy rides well. It’s very comfortable, and honestly handles like any other bike would. You don’t notice how long it is really besides the fact that it’s just very stable.
02/22/2021
I picked up this Surly Big Dummy for a good price used. I wasn’t totally in the market for a cargo bike, but I had always wanted one. Just wasn’t willing to pay $2200. The local bike shop owner was selling his so I jumped on it. He turned it into a 1x which is fine with me. The gearing is perfectly adequate for most things I want to do with this bike and I don’t see myself making any changes there. As with most second hand bike mechanic bikes, it has a hodge podge of parts. It has Surly Rabbit Hole rims, DT Swiss Hubs, SRAM GX Horizon, Shimano Deore Cranks, and Avid Mechanical Brakes. Overall, mostly midrange stuff but that’s all I’m really after.
I did make some changes pretty much right away. I didn’t like the angle of the stem nor the handlebars. I grabbed an inexpensive Origin 8 stem and some Ritchey Kyote bars. I threw a Brooks Saddle on and a Ritchey post.
Only a few more changes and I think this thing will be set. I’ll probably downsize the tires to a 2.3 as the 2.5s are a bit too wide. I’ll also get rid of the awful SRAM GX grip shifter.
Overall, I’m really pleased with myself on this one. The Big Dummy rides well. It’s very comfortable, and honestly handles like any other bike would. You don’t notice how long it is really besides the fact that it’s just very stable.
999 Defense and MEM Projects collab
01/10/2020
999 Defense put together this awesome zine. Mashing together our work as in a risograph looking style. I’m super happy about the way the entire thing came out.
999 Def and I have worked pretty consistantly to meld art and firearms culture in somewhat of a corrective swing or atleast we think it is.
01/10/2020
999 Defense put together this awesome zine. Mashing together our work as in a risograph looking style. I’m super happy about the way the entire thing came out.
999 Def and I have worked pretty consistantly to meld art and firearms culture in somewhat of a corrective swing or atleast we think it is.
CZ Bren 2 Long Boi
12/13/2020
Ah, the BREN Long Boi. This one isn’t mine, but given the impending doom regarding braces....I probably should have went with the 16” version.
Honestly, the Bren in this size isn’t too bad. It’s a rather lightweight rifle.
Anyways, the comment period for brace shit is open. Drop a comment. A well thought out comment.
12/13/2020
Ah, the BREN Long Boi. This one isn’t mine, but given the impending doom regarding braces....I probably should have went with the 16” version.
Honestly, the Bren in this size isn’t too bad. It’s a rather lightweight rifle.
Anyways, the comment period for brace shit is open. Drop a comment. A well thought out comment.
Seiko 5 SNK805 Automatic Watch
12/13/2020
I’ve always worn a watch, but I’ve never been a watch guy. It’s mostly utilitarian for me as I tend to scratch, crack, or damage them in some sort of way. Thus I’ve always tried to buy watches that I wouldn’t mind having to replace.
Seiko 5 fits that bill rather nicely. Expensive enough to feel nice, cheap enough to replace if I had to.
Too early to tell if I really like it or not but really it seems hard not to like. It’s easy to read. Comfortable. Has the basic features I require in a watch. Rather simple.
Oh, and most importly this watch is pretty silent. I had a Timex Weekender for a long time, and that had to be the loudest watch I’ve ever had. I’m rather sensitive to noises like a watch ticking, and I couldn’t keep it in the bedroom if I was trying to sleep.
Here are some specs for you nerds:
37mm Case
Automatic Movement (Hardlex Crystal)
Water Resistant to 30m
12/13/2020
I’ve always worn a watch, but I’ve never been a watch guy. It’s mostly utilitarian for me as I tend to scratch, crack, or damage them in some sort of way. Thus I’ve always tried to buy watches that I wouldn’t mind having to replace.
Seiko 5 fits that bill rather nicely. Expensive enough to feel nice, cheap enough to replace if I had to.
Too early to tell if I really like it or not but really it seems hard not to like. It’s easy to read. Comfortable. Has the basic features I require in a watch. Rather simple.
Oh, and most importly this watch is pretty silent. I had a Timex Weekender for a long time, and that had to be the loudest watch I’ve ever had. I’m rather sensitive to noises like a watch ticking, and I couldn’t keep it in the bedroom if I was trying to sleep.
Here are some specs for you nerds:
37mm Case
Automatic Movement (Hardlex Crystal)
Water Resistant to 30m
