Jan 11 2012
An idea born from necessity (the cafe at work is closed until next month), formed in the crucible of all truely great ideas (the shower), constructed using the finest of materials (a pushbike bottle holder and cable ties) and put together at the last minute (midnight last night). When I say that I may be a genius, you may rest easy knowing that there is some fact behind it. Behold!
Dec 09 2011
Knocked up a quick addition to my wardrobe door. For those not in the know, my wardrobe is directly next to my front door, so it’s convenient. Perks (?) of a studio apartment.
It’s the side panel from an old server, you may remember the rest of it from this post. It’s screwed to the wardrobe door then covered in neodymium magnets. The idea is shamelessly stolen from series two of James May’s Man Lab, though they suggested attaching it to the ceiling and using a grabby pole to reach things. Fun!
Oct 09 2011
The latest in a long dormant series of things I have built is complete! Previewed here for premium members, it’s a plinth for my kitchen that I might place my breadmaker on, or perhaps utilise as additional bench space for cookery. The last rubbish coat of varnish was slapped on last weekend, so today it came home. As you’ll see, I couldn’t get a car for the occasion, so I went with the SEA method of furniture moving. It was super effective!
Very securely attached to el beastie.
The marble came separate, as I’m not silly. It was actually a more wobbly ride on this trip due to the weight of the slab and tools in the back.
With wheels for +10 to manouverability. Matches the desk! In fact, it was the remains of the same tin of varnish.
In place and ready for plinthination. Takes up a bit of room, but is still better than the ol’ pair of milkcrates that the breadmaker used to perch upon. All in all, great success! .. Except for the rubbish varnishing job. I’m lazy, and those slats were really hard to get into…
Sep 17 2011
The beast is back! Huzzah! Apparently some punk kids were trying to push it into the water at a local park but someone yelled out at them and they ran off. The fuzz called me down to get it, while I was there they received a call about some punk kids throwing things into the water at a different nearby park, so they went off to investigate while the forensics lady dusted for prints. Exciting stuff! She didn’t find anything though. It’s now chained up to the building and the Bonnie, so hopefully that’s the end of that.
Today I replaced the basket on the back because the old one was pretty beaten up.. it was already a bit crappy, and it seemed to have copped it a bit in its month and a bit kidnapping so now there’s a shiny new one. This time I mounted it about an inch further back and I put some pipe insulation foam on it so it shouldn’t hurt when it belts me in the small of the back so much. It’s at a height where it just gets in under the back padding in my riding jackets.
Mar 07 2011
I recently purchamachased a breadmaker, thus beginning a benign and relatively humdrum series of events entitled (with much ridiculous grandiousity) The Breadmaker Saga. Read on to learn more, bemused reader.
It was a dark and stormy moment in time somewhere in the world, but in Sydney it was sunny and humid. I decided ‘this is the day.. I’m going to buy a breadmaker!’ My travels took me to the local Breville factory seconds outlet, but they didn’t carry the model I wanted. My next few stops left me similarly empty-handed, so I gave up and went home.
The following day however turned out much more fruitful. With quarry sighted (after I asked where the breadmakers were.. nowhere near the toasters?!) and firmly grasped, I approached the register and went through the usual rituals. Once firmly ensconced into the back of The Beastie, we were off home and into a world of bread! Or so I thought….
Once Sir Breadmakerton was placed upon it’s plinth, I put it to work. Initial results were positive, and tasty! Much lunch was provided for, in sammich form. However, things soon took a more sinister turn. It seems my next attempt, with new measuring apperatus contained not enough flour, and lo – there was FAILBREAD. So aghast was El Breadmakersaurus at such a failure, it simply gave up. When I switched it back on later for another attempt, I was met with E:03. Further attempts on following days were met with a similar refusal, so an exchange for a more willing unit was arranged.
Breaddus Makerus MkII was brought home much fanfare and great hope for breaddy goodness.. and we were not disappoint! Genesis loaf the second was a definate success. One thing that has been noted during this saga is that I might need a bigger toaster. I’ll have to take a slice into some toaster stores and try some out. I’m sure they won’t mind, what good is visiting a showroom and not trying out the goods? The most recent bread has some garlic and chilli masala in it.. I’ve yet to try it out, but its inception was not without its problems.. this time there was too much rising. Ahh well – its tastyness will be measured tomorrow. For now, have some more pictures.
Jan 20 2011
Yup, it was new bike o’clock. That wonderful time in a guy’s life when he drools over a bike on the internet then goes and test rides it. Oh yes, oh yes. Ride it hard, baby.
According to the font of all knowledge:
Engine 865 cc air-cooled, DOHC, parallel-twin, 360 degree
Power 67 bhp (50 kW) @ 7,500 rpm
Torque 51 ft·lbf (69 N·m) @ 5,800 rpm
Transmission 5-speed gearbox with chain final drive
Wheelbase 1,500 mm
Dimensions L 2,230 mm
W 740 mm
H 1,100 mm
Seat height 770 mm
Weight 205 kg (dry)
Fuel capacity 16 l
It’s so nice and smooth to ride. The seat isn’t the standard one, they call it the ‘King and Queen’ seat – extra comfy. I’ve not gone anywhere far on it yet but I really can’t wait to do it. I sense a bit of a trip in my future. I’ve not much to say about it really.. I got it mainly cos I think it looks fantastic and I love the way it rides.. the future will tell me if the purchase was wise or not. For now.. I hearts it so. Here’s some more pictures.
Oh, yes, the GS got written off curtesy of a guy in a delivery van. RIP, GS.
Ed it, for this must be made ed: It’s actually the 790cc engine, with 62 bhp (46 kW) @ 7400 rpm and 44 ft·lbf (60 N·m) @ 3500 rpm. This fact is a tad annoying as it was sold to me as the 865cc.. but I’d not be able to tell the difference anyway, so oh well.
Aug 15 2010
Time for some reviews, crew!
Inception: Really really good. Really. Ignore all the people wondering what it means and being confused, just go experience it. Worth trying to catch in the cinema if you still can. Enough has been written about it by now that I don’t want to add anything to it, so.. yea. Just go see it.
The Expendibles: Very disappointing. What should have been a tribute to all the great action films turns out to be just another action film. Pointless exposition, annoying camerawork, empty characters, no good one-liners and no swearing. Why can’t they swear properly in action films anymore? It’s stupid.. we can have people exploding left right and centre, but we can’t swear at them? So dumb.
Time for a musical interlude! Emancipator is excellent trip hop, have a listen and do the ol’ purchamachase thing if you dig it. There’s also Robot Science (great chiptuney fun) and The Evpatoria Report (not really sure).
As you can tell, I’m not much for long reviews. I’d rather just share the experience.
And now for something completely different:
Jun 19 2010
Ok, time for a full media release! I have a new bike! It’s a 2007 Suzuki GS500.. just a small step up from the postie.. Specs courtesy if the font of all knowledge.
Engine
* Type: Four-stroke, air-cooled Parallel Twin Cylinder, DOHC, two valves per cylinder
* Displacement: 487 cc
* Bore/Stroke: 74.0 mm x 56.6 mm
* Fuel System: Mikuni BSR34SS
* Ignition: CDI, maintenance-free battery
* Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
* Engine Redline: 11,000 rpm
* Horsepower: 47 hp @ 9200 rpm (34.3 kW)
* Torque: 29.5 ft·lbf (4.1 kg-m) @ 7500 rpm (40 Nm)
* Fuel Economy: 50-60 mpg (3.9 to 4.7 litres to 100 km)
Drive train
* Transmission: 6-speed
* Final Drive: #520 chain
* Front Sprocket: 16 tooth
* Rear Sprocket: 39 tooth
Brakes
* Front: Single hydraulic disc 310 mm, Dual-Piston Calipers
* Rear: Single hydraulic disc 250 mm, Dual-Piston Calipers
Wheels and Tires
* Front: 110/70-17 tire
* Rear: 130/70-17 tire
Suspension
* Front: Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
* Rear: Link-type, 7-way adjustable spring preload
Dimensions & Geometry
* Length: 2,080 mm (82 in)
* Width: 800 mm (31 in)
* Height: 1,060 mm (42 in)
* Seat Height: 790 mm (31 in)
* Wheel Base: 1,405 mm (55.3 in)
* Ground Clearance: 155 mm (6.1 in)
* Rake (89-00): 25° 30′
* Rake (00+): 25°
* Trail (89-00): 95 mm (3.7 in)
* Trail (00+): 97 mm (3.8 in)
* Weight: 174 kg (380 lb) (dry, manufacturer claimed)
* Fuel Capacity: 20.0 L (~1,220 cu in)
It’s pretty awesome! I have the oomph to keep up with traffic and more gears than I know what to do with. I’ve adapted pretty well to using a clutch again, I’ve only stalled it once so far! Went for a big ol’ ride today following El Bobovitch on his scooter (a 125), we went to a scooter place so he could test ride something gruntier. On the way back I popped in front and peeled off to find my own way back.. not that it made much of a difference with all the traffic around. Still, I’m very happy with my purchamachase. Should do me well for the foreseeable. Presuming the tacho keeps working… it wasn’t for a while today, but it cut in when I was nearly home. We’ll see..
