What makes a man?: July 2011

Sunday 31 July 2011

My Latest Trip To Sweden

- Or How To Turn a 330 km Run Into An Exhausting 460 km Voyage.

I just spend the weekend in my parents' derelict cottage in Sweden. Actually I spend quite a great deal of the weekend on the swedish roads and it was great. I will try to share my recipe for a nice trip beyond.
It's actually just three easy steps:

Step one: Ignore all weather reports. Decide not to let the weather settle if you go or not. If the reports say it's gonna rain; ignore them. A litlle bit of rain won't hurt you the least. Wear your jeans instead of the full leather or even waterproofs. Remember you can always stay sheltered at the gas station whilst trying to start your bloody machine.

Step one: Ignore all weather reports.

Step two: Make sure your bike is not suited for long trips. You know you haven't yet been able to kickstart your bike when it is hot. So what? You will have to stop to fill it up underway - even more often if you're not going the direct route. So what? You will run dry and stop if your try to postpone tanking. Well...

Step two: Make sure your bike is not suited for long trips.

Step three: Ignore all directions. "I'll just follow the highway untill I see an exit I recognise". Now thats the way to do it. Especially if you like to see something new. And arrive very late and very wet, in a very dark forest.

Step three: Ignore all directions.

If you do like I did, and follow my easy steps above, you are sure to have all the prerequisites for sincerely enjoying that your wife (who was in the car and arrived three hours erlier) has lit the fireplace.
At least I learned two things here: I can go exactly 210 km on a full tank, no more. And I can actually fill it up while idling.Yay!
I also got some time to practise my aero position; feet on the pillion pegs, chin tugged behind the instruments - Ton up, you say? Childs play.

The boots were still wet after two days drying.

Grenson boots and japanese gaiters

This is the look of swedish summer.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

My wife didn't like this. She thinks a car like that is a case of compensation and I tend to agree. But I have always liked the exaggerated curves of this particular model which also happens to be one of my favourite matchbox cars when I was a kid. Furthermore it's a well-held classic and one you don't see too many of around here so not putting it up here would be a shame.
The engine was still warm when I took the photos. No sign of the owner though so I had to leave a note under the windscreen wiper.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Sunday 17 July 2011

A Starters Shoe Polishing Kit

Based on some advise I've picked up here and there I decided to expand my shoe shining kit. I already had shoe polish in black, brown and natural which I guess are the most basic colours so all I really needed was a leather cleaner, a set of quality brushes and something that has gotten a lot of love on Styleforum. Saphir Medaille d'Or Renovateur - I hink this is what is called a leather conditioner in english...

Some places have starter sets offered in nice wooden valets with everything you need. I was tempted, but since I already have some of the stuff and don't have lot's of money I figured I could do without the valet.

Instead I stuffed all that new junk in one of those bags you get with your boots, tossed it in the broom cupboard and now rest assured that I'm at least equipped to take proper care of my footwear. Money can't buy you technique and experience - so time to get buffing.

I must say I still struggle on the last point. It's not that I want a complete mirror like finish or anything. just a modest shine to the toe box seems pretty hard for me to achieve at the moment.

My sort of new shoe shining kit

Friday 15 July 2011

A Potty Sweet Moped

I've got no clue about what this is, but it looks cute and fun.

A Potty Sweet Moped

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Honda CB 400 Four

This looks like an ongoing project. Since the last time I saw this it has gotten new pipes, seat and sidecovers. I don't remember what grips it had the before, but the GTs look new. Man I have to get those grips for my project, but I'd pair them with a matching brown seat. pure hipsterbike style. I really like the mix of grimy and shiny too.

Tuesday 12 July 2011

This is How We Roll

Yay! First HPV in 'Local Rides'. I have a deep passion for bicycles so this sight really warmed my heart. Respect for putting the entire family on two wheels and thank you again for letting me take your pictures. Also notice the matching helmets, nice detail.
Sorry for the extremely lousy photos, I am not a photographer and I certainly can't photograph moving objects.

The whole family on one tandem

Monday 11 July 2011

A Thought or Two on Belts

As one of the most crucial aspects of looking good is wearing well fitting clothes, belts should purely be worn out of aesthetic sakes. If you are particulary tall and slim for instance, emphasising a horizontal line might make your appearance more well-proportioned.
The exception from the above sentiment and where a nice belt really comes to its right, is heavier casual trousers like jeans, cords and heavy twill chinos.
My newest craze in this department is belts with a single hole only. This is a bit impractical, but looks way more elegant and really shows off that your belt is custom made to you. I commisioned my tan bridle leather belt from Equus Leather a few months ago and I must say the quality of both the leather and the craftmanship is superb. Ihad the pleasure of having Charlie from Equus help me with my own design for the keeper. The belt was finished with no holes so I could punch in a hole on my own once I was sure on the measurements.
Next time I'll get a simpler verion in brown and with a blue coloured edge.

Custom single hole bridle leather belt from Equus Leather

Sunday 10 July 2011

Yamaha SR500 Semi-Bob

Saw this one outside a local café yesterday. I expected the owner to come rushing when i stopped to eye it up and take the snaps. But they didn't and I didn't feel like asking around so i didn't get to chat with them.

Yamaha SR500 Semi-Bob

Saturday 9 July 2011

Handmade Mother of Pearl and Silver Cufflinks: A Prototype

A while ago I got an idea stuck in my head and have since been spending quite some time hunting for the right buttons for this project. By coincidence I just found some nice ones in the perfect size - merely around the corner.
I got some off cuts of silver chain from a local jeweller and managed to actually make my first set of cufflinks. Now to test the durability of my craftmanship.
I bought plenty buttons so hopefully I will offer a few sets of cufflinks up for sale here in the near future. Let me know if you're interested.

Handmade sterling silver and mother of pearl cufflinks

Thursday 7 July 2011

Kawasaki KZ650

Found this old Kwak in pretty good condition. I wonder what's sitting under the covers around it.

Kawasaki KZ650

Kawasaki KZ650

Friday 1 July 2011

A Challenge: Learn To Polish Your Own Boots

To me a part of being a grown up 'Real Man' is the love for lasting goods. But what is a pair of premium quality goodyear welted boots worth if you don't know how to take care of them? Few things are as nice as a pair of beautifully aged, well cared for boots. Yet few things are as sad as dry, cracked and disregarded quality footwear.
So one of my goals in my quest for becoming a 'Real Man' and the kind of dad I'd like to be, is to learn to take care of my boots and shoes.
I have been talking to my cobbler, searching the web and trialled and erred a bit. But i still have to find a method that is simple enough to do repeatedly in the hectic existance of a parent to a little kid, but still effective.
There is a very comprehensive discussion right here. So far I have found that black and brown polish, clear conditioner, a brush and old underwear all are essentials in your shoe shine box. And never ever polish your shoes in your white dress shirt!

Boots by Paul Smith and John Varvatos