Commuters and Mowers
02-15-11 | 12:27 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 207
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From: Dallas
Bikes: 2013 Carve with Rigid Salsa Fargo & 2005 Allez
Commuters and Mowers
Has anyone started treating their mower like a project bike?
My wife and I have always had an agreement that she does laundry and dishes and I cook and do lawn work. That has always worked out to my advantage as we have been living in a condo with no yard.
We just bought a new house (with a lawn). I'm going to go with a used reel mower from Craigslist. Of course I'll probably spend some money on some accessories.
Mower:
https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/grd/2195000838.html
with these:
https://www.amazon.com/ACTION-GRIPS-M.../dp/B001ILZMQM
My wife and I have always had an agreement that she does laundry and dishes and I cook and do lawn work. That has always worked out to my advantage as we have been living in a condo with no yard.
We just bought a new house (with a lawn). I'm going to go with a used reel mower from Craigslist. Of course I'll probably spend some money on some accessories.
Mower:
https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/grd/2195000838.html
with these:
https://www.amazon.com/ACTION-GRIPS-M.../dp/B001ILZMQM
02-15-11 | 12:31 PM
#2
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
No. Haven't put the snowblower away yet...
02-15-11 | 12:42 PM
#3
This bike is cat approved
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Lincoln, NE
Bikes: To many to list...
Well I kinda started collecting reel mowers like I collect bikes. Of course there are fewer reel mowers out there and I only really need 1, but have 2. I have had 4 total over the past 3 or so years. One I gave to a friend and another I sold on CL.
That Scotts mower will serve you well. I need to sharpen the blades on the one I have becasue they are all jacked up possibly from some "sharpening" in before I got it. I haven't bought anything for my reel mowers, but I have considered rigging up a grass catcher. These mowers are fun and a great conversation piece.
That Scotts mower will serve you well. I need to sharpen the blades on the one I have becasue they are all jacked up possibly from some "sharpening" in before I got it. I haven't bought anything for my reel mowers, but I have considered rigging up a grass catcher. These mowers are fun and a great conversation piece.
02-15-11 | 12:53 PM
#5
LET'S ROLL
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: NEW YORK, NY - USA
Bikes: 2014 BMC Gran Fondo, 2013 Brompton S6L-X
When I got my first house 5 years ago, I bought a push mower from Sears.
Wasn't really happy with the performance, it would leave clumps of grass uncut.
The year after that, I got an electric mower from Costco. Much better performance.
Very little noise, no exhaust. Still have it. This is the corded version, not the battery
model.
Wasn't really happy with the performance, it would leave clumps of grass uncut.
The year after that, I got an electric mower from Costco. Much better performance.
Very little noise, no exhaust. Still have it. This is the corded version, not the battery
model.
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02-15-11 | 02:43 PM
#7
02-15-11 | 02:58 PM
#8
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From: Plano, TX
Bikes: 1968 Falcon San Remo 1973 Raleigh International, 1974 Schwinn Suburban, 1987 Schwinn High Sierra, 1992 Univega Ultraleggera, 2007 Dahon Vitesse DH7G
I have that mower and love it- but you will never get those Oury's on there.
I have bar tape on my handle.
Reel mowers are great - I wish I could get a bicycle based riding reel mower.
I have bar tape on my handle.
Reel mowers are great - I wish I could get a bicycle based riding reel mower.
02-15-11 | 03:26 PM
#9
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: State College PA
Bikes: Cannondale T2000, Dean el Diente
I used an old Scotts until last year when a frame weld separated, and rather than making it a project, I just bought a new Brill, which has been fantastic. But last year also marked the transition to paying my stepson to do the mowing, so now not only do I not get to enjoy pushing the mower around, but I have to fork over $10 a week. 
02-15-11 | 03:37 PM
#10
02-15-11 | 03:41 PM
#11
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Sweet mower. I keep thinking I need to buy one like that.
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02-15-11 | 07:37 PM
#12
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
Oh you mean like this badboy I built up, at the time it matched my commuter. When i got the mower it was red and beat the hell up, went with a sweet black and gold paint job.
02-15-11 | 10:00 PM
#13
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From: Dallas
Bikes: 2013 Carve with Rigid Salsa Fargo & 2005 Allez
02-15-11 | 11:24 PM
#14
Not safe for work
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,123
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bikes: KHS Town and Country 100 & Jamis Durango Femme 1.0
We have a 30 year Huskvarna reel mower I found hidden in the garage. Before I found it, I think it was sitting forlornly and rejected for a lawn service for the last 12-15 years. When I used it last summer I liked how quiet it was compared to the neighbours' gas powered mowers.
My question: how do I sharpen the blades?
My question: how do I sharpen the blades?
02-16-11 | 09:30 AM
#16
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From: Columbus, OH
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Downtown highrise == no lawn to deal with == more time for riding.
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02-16-11 | 10:00 AM
#17
This bike is cat approved
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,531
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From: Lincoln, NE
Bikes: To many to list...
To sharpen the blades you backlap them. Basically you put some type of compound (I bought valve grinding compound at the autopart store) on the blades and spin them backwards. You can order a sharpening kit or you can DIY something to spin the blades with a drill or some other machine so you don't have to turn a handle yourself. It does take time, but from what I have gathered its the best way to do it.
Fizzaly that lawnmower cracks me up. Nice work. =)
Fizzaly that lawnmower cracks me up. Nice work. =)
02-16-11 | 01:31 PM
#19
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Raleigh, NC
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I put cork bar tape on my lawnmower handle. Really. It works nice to minimize vibration.
I've been thinking about buying a reel push mower because our lawn is not very large and getting smaller. Main issue for me is that we have a lot trees that drop sticks that would jam up a reel mower if not picked up. Also, you can't let your lawn get too high or a reel mower won't cut well.
I've been thinking about buying a reel push mower because our lawn is not very large and getting smaller. Main issue for me is that we have a lot trees that drop sticks that would jam up a reel mower if not picked up. Also, you can't let your lawn get too high or a reel mower won't cut well.
