Dave's Bike Garage

Yes... Dave's Bike Garage does more than mountain bike riding! Get out and ride, wear your helmet :)

The frame set build for the KARL HOFF bicycle, recently acquired is underway. Some work cannot be done at Dave's Bike Garage, and in those instances I go to The Bicycle Business (BikBiz) in Sacramento. They have pressed headsets and removed really stuck free wheels as an example. Well, I had them "chase" the threads on the bottom bracket shell of the KARL HOFF. This is always worthwhile when working with vintage bicycles. The bike now has a vintage Campagnola bottom bracket from my parts bin. I have all the other pieces for the build but am hunting for a somewhat correct crank set. I had BikBiz weigh the frame set and in scales at 6lb 14oz. I am really excited about my first ride on my KARL HOFF.
Next time, I have more from Bicycles Memoirs featuring Karl Hoff. Ride safe, wear your helmet!!

Here is the continuation of yesterdays post from Bicycle Memoirs featuring Karl Hoff.

He further clarified his reply by inviting me into his backroom which was filled with an array of machine tools. He had a massive metal turning lathe, sandblasting booth and a painting booth all used to manufacture bicycles on a made-to-order basis. The equipment looked fairly old and worn but with his experience, produced custom-made bikes.
He showed me how he turned a hub out of the 2.5 inch diameter stainless steel. The hubs were machined to accept sealed bearings, something I had never seen. I held the finished hub in my hand and commented on the heavy weight. He pointed out that the weight didn't adversely affect the bike's performance since it was not rotational weight. Karl explained that the finished hub was indestructible and popular among bike tourists. I was impressed.
I noticed also in the workshop a folding bed, compact refrigerator and a hot plate. Karl was in no hurry to close his shop because he lived there!
Suddenly, I was jolted by an awkward feeling- like being the last person at a party who had worn out his welcome.
I decided to leave and said goodbye to Karl. I pedaled towards home with the soft whine from the generator light soothing my embarrassment from the final minutes of our long visit. The clicking of my cyclometer reassured me and I began to sort through the engrossing evening.
I marveled at a man whose life appeared to be singularly oriented towards bicycles. I didn't realize when I got into my bed at a little past 1:00 AM that Karl Hoff would become my mentor and a good friend!

Here is the next installment from Bicycle Memoirs, featuring Karl Hoff.

It was almost a week later when I returned to KARL HOFF BICYCLES. Late one warm evening returning from North Mountain, I decided to detour past the store to see if it was open. There was no traffic on the wide road so for fun I rode down the center lane weaving back and forth. As I approached his store, a bright light was shining through the big front window. I stopped in front of the open door and could see Karl behind the showcase working on a bike. The warm night was a contrast to the cool interior of the store. I again, smiled at the row of neatly displayed ten speeds and paused to admire the metallic blue Centurion, before Karl noticed I had come in.
He greeted me with a smile and accented, "hello". Our conversation progressed reassuringly as it had on our first meeting. Karl continued working while we talked, but would frequently stop to look at me with his piercing eyes.
I watched everything he did with immense interest and was amazed at the speed and dexterity with which he worked. He finished the assembly of the bike. Now, the only sound other than our voices was the quietly squeaking drive belt on the evaporative cooler. We talked for a long time - Karl seemed in no hurry to close his shop.
From my vantage point, I could see only part of his back room but noticed a pile of solid steel lying along the back wall. As we talked I was trying to figure out what the steel was for. It seemed out of place in a bike shop. I finally asked and Karl casually replied, "I use it to make hubs."

More later. A little bicycle work took place here today. I added a rack to the old shop Peugeot 10 speed. Next week I am going to use it for my bike/light rail trips downtown for U S Court Jury Duty. I will add more to the Karl Hoff story tomorrow, as the break I made in it was only because of the length. The "scene" was not completed . Invite a friend or screenwriter to visit Dave's Bike Garage

Here is the next installment from Bicycle Memoirs, featuring Karl Hoff.
"He asked if I needed help. I explained that I rode past his store almost every day and just stopped by to see what types of bikes and parts he sold. I asked him about a bike he had displayed, a Centurion Lemans. Very thoroughly, he explained the features and components of the $109 bicycle. He made me feel comfortable with his soft spoken, articulate, German accented voice. I like the bike and was impressed by his knowledge and patience. His questions about my riding interests were probing and also sincere.
This man dressed in professional bike riding shorts and jersey, who owned a bicycle shop, made me feel like I was a riding buddy he'd known for many years. I hadn't been taken seriously as a bike rider before and was treated with credibility by this stranger. His piercing dark eyes must have seen something others missed. I reluctantly left the shop that day, but knew I would stop back again soon. I sensed a strong attraction towards the bike shop and to Karl Hoff. I trusted him."

To be continued... here is a bonus tidbit about Karl, I found on a bike forum. "After some cool communication with Mr. Karl Hoff about his experiences as a road bike builder and Cat 1 racer ( category 1 bike racing level).....
....the writer of this went on to have Karl make a BMX frame. Besides road bikes Karl did some BMX as it became popular and made custom machined wheel hubs as well.

As I mentioned recently I was going to post a few stories about my bicycle mentor Karl Hoff. These excerpts are from "Bicycle Memoirs of a Middle Aged Man" by yours truly.
"The summer of 1973 passed slowly and purposefully. I worked full time at Aaron Brothers and rode my bike every chance I had.
I was promoted to picture framer and also had the opportunity to work at the newly opened location on Indian School road.........every day I worked there my route took me past a small bike shop. (On Encanto Blvd) I became more curious about the plain, yellow building with "KARL HOFF BICYCLES" painted over the front door.
I stopped one day on my way home from work. Stepping into to shop I smiled at the neat row of ten speed bikes on display. There was a glass showcase at the end of the aisle filled with gleaming parts, tools and accessories.
A medium built man appeared from the backroom and greeted me with a polite, " hello".
I said, "hi!" in return to the man I assumed to be Karl Hoff. His facial features were striking with a chiseled chin and forehead, thick black eyebrows and thick ,neatly cut, black hair."

Stay tuned for more posts as I share Chapter 11 - "My mentor" , from my memoirs.

A bike sale is coming soon to the Bike Garage consisting of some of my own personal collection including a 1974 Mondia Special original condition, a 80's Vitus n.o.s. frame up build, a Motobecane cafe century pro full carbon cycloross, and an assortment of ATB, MTB bikes. Many others coming, a Schwinn fixie, Raleigh 14 n.o.s. 1973 Schwinn Continental...... stay tuned

Recently did an overhaul on a 1970's Peugeot. These old bikes ride really nice and are easy to maintain. Good as a city bike. A new frame set has been acquired with historical interest for me. A 1973 Karl Hoff steel frame. Karl was my mentor in that year when I was a green horn in bicycling at age 16. I visited his shop which was in my neighborhood often, and bought bike stuff from him and most important rode with him. More on this as the project progresses with some notes about Karl Hoff.

Things have been very quiet here the Bike Garage. I did do a major tune-up on a Scattante road bike which I originally did as a frame build on 10 years ago. It is still a solid 20 pound bike, now with a complete cleaning, wax, l**e, and adjustment. In addition to that my son visited recently with his girlfriend with a bike in a box. We did an assembly and adjustments on a decent hybrid, and shared some pizza and a pack of Sierra Nevada. A good time was had by all!

Here is follow up on the last two off road bikes fixed up in the shop. Both bikes did a good job on the lower American River trails out to Paradise Beach. I rode the disc bike and Chrissy on the one speed. We had no problem in sand, wooded, twisty, narrow, single track. and gravel. I must say as a life long rider that too many people get wrapped up in big dollar multi speed bikes which may never be fully utilized. The one speed Chrissy rode is a modified Mongoose running a 53 inch gear. She had very good results. Riding is more about the rider and their skills and condition, and less about a big dollar bike. She is also a very conditioned bike rider, but a newer
entry to off road riding. I am new to off road riding and did fall over once because I hit some soft stuff going to slow. As always, ride safe and wear a helmet!

It has been a good week at Dave's. The one speed MTB is off the stand and ready to get muddy. The gravel bike now has disc brakes and will test ride soon along the American River. Also did a quick spruce up on a Fuji Alpha road bike, and donated one bike. Also rode my own Raleigh 14 "show bike" to College Cyclery on Saturday night for their Renovation Celebration. Their shop looks fantastic and you should check them out!! My son and youngest daughter visited tonight and we spent some quality time in the shop along with Jessie Lightfoot~

Since it fall and winter I prefer to Mountain Bike. Doing some conversions and modifications, which make most bikes more practical for off road are being done here at Dave's. An older Mongoose turned into a single speed, and a 2 X9 speed gravel bike is getting disc brakes. I can advise on making most bikes more practical for the riding style and abilities of the rider. Ride safe, wear a helmet!