My Bikes

I was born in post-war Germany where bicycles have always been recognized and respected as a valuable form of transportation, sport and recreation.

While growing up and going to school in Canada during the 50’s and 60’s, bicycles were viewed more as children’s toys and riding a bike as a teenager was generally looked down upon, if not met with outright derision, as WASPish North American society embraced “The Age of the Automobile”.

Nevertheless, my trusted bicycles provided a high degree of freedom, mobility, cost-effective transportation and, in light of the dawning recognition accorded the importance of physical fitness, a regular form of exercise.

Devastated after my souped-up single-speed CCM clunker with its brand-new coaster-brake wheel was stolen one day from its usual parking spot at the local bowling alley where I was working after school setting up pins at 2-cents a line, I had the incredibly good fortune to obtain a matchless replacement — a black, virtually brand-new, Raleigh 26-inch “All-Steel” bicycle with 3-speed internal dynamo hub, Sturmey Archer shifter, Brooks saddle, built-in fork lock, steel fenders, rear rack, lights, enclosed chain and hand brakes!

A colleague at my father’s place of work heard of my loss and sold me this bicycle which he had brought to Canada from England twenty years earlier, thinking he would use it for commuting to work. But living in Oakville and working 60 kms away in Toronto in the late 40’s, he quickly realized that Canadian distances, long winters, lack of bicycle infrastructure and a corresponding absence of driver respect did not lend themselves to commuting by lowly bicycle, so he parked his brand-new Raleigh in his garage where it stood unused for 20 years!

After some dusting, oiling, new tubes and tires, this bike rode (and still rides today after 70+ years!) like a “Rolls Royce” of bicycles. It served as my trusted steed all through high school, standing outside year-round in sun, wind, rain, sleet and snow. Aside from some superficial corrosion, dulling of the original paint lustre and several tube/tire/cable/brake-shoe replacements, the only permanent casualty of these many years of youthful neglect was the Brooks saddle, with its well-worn and weathered leather eventually cracking due to lack of appropriate TLC.

My formal education includes a B.P.H.E. degree from the School of Physical & Health Education (University of Toronto, 1969) and after graduating, I embarked on a variety of health and fitness related projects including the research, production and distribution of motivational-instructional sport & recreation books, films and videos.

Inspired during the 70’ and 80’s by the growing appreciation in North America of the bicycle as an environment-friendly transportation, sport and recreation vehicle — “man’s greatest invention” — I joined the League of American Wheelmen which opened for me a window on the wide world of cycling in North America and some of the trends developing at the time.

In the spring of 1984, a friend recently returned from Vancouver treated me to a life-altering experience — a thrilling bike ride over, along and through some verdant Niagara Escarpment fields, trails and forests. The latest cycling movement initiated on the West Coast in Marin County, California, was migrating east — mountain biking!

Having already produced a couple of motivational-instructional films on the increasingly popular canoeing and kayaking (Paddles Up!) and cross-country skiing (This is Cross-Country!), I undertook to make a lyrical-motivational film depicting some of the leading-edge practitioners of off-road cycling in the mid-80s (Freewheelin’).

During that time and in the interim, my stable of trusted steeds expanded to include:

a 1984 Trek 720 touring machine for all-purpose riding and commuting;

a 1984 Trek 850 mountain bike (featured in a couple of Freewheelin’ scenes and doubling as camera mount) for off-road riding;

a 1980s Tom Ritchey mountain bike (with oval Biopace crank) converted into a “Bicycle-Made-For-Three” with cast-off car child seats mounted on front and rear racks for riding with our twin boys when they were 3-4 years old;

And most recently, “Mia Bella”, a Bacchetta ATT LWB recumbent machine which I tricked out for long-haul touring (see “Mia Bella” Bachetta Modifications for Touring, “Mia Bella” Bachetta Modifications for Touring II, “Mia Bella” Bacchetta Modifications for Touring III, “Mia Bella” Recumbent “Stealth” Camping) and “Mia Bella” Shake-out on the Trans-Canada and Waterfront Trails.

In May of 2014, I completed a 1,200 km trip up the Rhine Valley from Amsterdam to Schaan, Liechtenstein on Mia Bella.

UP THE RHINE WITHOUT A PADDLE — On Mia Bella, My Road Canoe is posted in www.wolfruck.com and at CrazyGuyOnABike.com.

Still rollin’ along …

1970 RALEIGH RECORDIn December, 2023, rescued this bike from a curbside throw-away in the neighbourhood. Underneath the mud and grime, I discovered it was in excellent condition save for a bent derailleur with a jammed chain.

For its resuscitation, I opted for a real bike stand to make the job less taxing on the back. The components are dated, but in excellent condition. After realigning the gear shifting, adding fenders, rear reflector, front light and new handlebar tape, it rides beautifully.
Even the original Continental gum tires and tube remain airtight after 53 years !!!

Size Information

Size (Center-Top)	57 cm
Top Tube	56 cm
Head Tube	15 cm
Standover	83 cm

Details