Twelve years and still going
Sun, November 12, 2017 
Twelve years ago on this day November 12th. 2005 the first post appeared here and “Dave’s Bike Blog” was born.
Blogging was still relatively new in 2005, probably a few million of them. Today it is tens if not hundreds of millions.
However, how many blogs that started back in 2005 are still going today? Not many, I would guess. In fact on August 25th. 2008, I quit writing here.
I was writing two, sometime three articles a week, and that is tough to maintain, and I had self-doubts that it was even worthwhile.
I recall, people were so kind. My post, “The Party’s Over,” drew 88 comments. No criticism, just thanks and well wishes. It was people’s kindness that would bring me back six months later in February 2009. A group of people got together and presented me with a “Tribute Bike.” Built with one of my rare custom frames
I was deeply touched, and could not let the occasion pass, without writing a thank you post here, and that was enough to get me restarted. Quitting was a huge mistake, I lost the large readership I had built and had to start over. It left me with a resolve never to quit again.
I will keep going until A.) No one reads it anymore, or B.) My health does not allow me to continue. Even then, I would hope someone else would take it over and continue.
I am amazed to think that this blog has lasted longer than my California business. I started in San Marcos in 1982, later moved about 60 mile north to Temecula and was forced to quit in 1993. That is only eleven years. Because of the Internet and this blog, more people know of me as a framebuilder now, than when I was actually building bikes.
In August 2010 I opened a Bike Registry. Wow, that’s been seven years already. I have a few bikes short of 500 listed. Not many really when you consider I built 2,400 of the Fuso Brand alone, plus all the others.
There is a Facebook Group for owners of bikes I built. With 910 members there, they are not all ‘Dave Moulton Bike’ owners. but, that is okay, some are future owners.
Over the years I had tried to get a group like this going, there was a short lived Google Group, and a Forum that went the same way. This Facebook Group was started by Texas DM Bike enthusiast Mitch Pullen. Mitch also started an ‘American Built’ group. Please take a moment to check these groups out and possibly join.
I think back 30 or 40 years when I was building some of these frames. I never could have envisioned the Internet. That people would be corresponding with me thirty or more years down the road, sending pictures of these very same bikes I was working on at that very moment, and asking questions.
The same when I started this blog twelve years ago, I was a young man just 69 years old, today I am… Well you can do the math’s. I never thought about where it would lead. It is all part of this strange and mysterious journey that is life, where it takes us, no one knows?
So I wonder as I type these words and post them here, where will they go, how many will they reach, and how long will they last?
I would love to hear your experiences via your comments, were you here in the early days, or have you found the blog recently? What would you like to see from me in the future?
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Reader Comments (20)
Thank you ! Thank you for starting up the blog and sticking with it through the years ,I personally want to thank you for allowing me to start the Dave Moulton Bikes Facebook group , it has been an absolute joy to do that for you . Let's keep them both going for many many more years !
Hi Dave,
I have been reading your blog for years (and commenting occasionally). I come by regularly to see what new wisdom or old tales you have for us. Always interesting and thought-provoking.
My own blog has sadly lapsed as I just don't feel the urge to write nowadays.
Keep it up, you have so much to share.
Regards,
Johann (South Africa)
Dave, I've followed your blogs since the beginning. Keep it up!
August 2016 my wife and I decided to start cycling again. I knew that I wanted a Fuso and you and Mitch Pullen were the first people I reached out to. Yesterday I took #384 out for a 48 mile ride, our longest yet. Here is what I had posted to the Facebook page:
Dave Moulton and Mitch Pullen here is how the blog has impacted me. I now run front and rear lights during day rides. I have increased the uninsured motorist coverage on my insurance. I used Dave's formula to set my seat height. My Fuso is built up with a modern groupset. I know my RMR. I use a pair of Giro shoes. The blog and this page have been very impactful and the fact that we can interact with the man himself is a special benefit.
Dave. We spend our whole lives, MAKING memories. Now is the time to reflect and enjoy what we have left, the bloody MEMORIES!!!! The things we did and did NOT do, that we now have no control over are all just that, memories. It is great that you have such a good memory and can retell all the wonderful events that you have been involved in and have caused to happen. Keep writing mate, great stuff I am real chuffed to have met you and can share all this with you and the blog group
As I've told you before, Dave, every time I go for a ride on my Fuso I think about the unique, special quality of the ride and the person who made it possible. Somehow, your personality comes through those angles and welds and the beautiful paint and design. Being able to keep in touch through your blog, your So Cal visit, and now with other people on Facebook who appreciate you and your talents have made that experience even more special. Keep writing and we'll keep riding!
Of the many things I have picked up here, my favourite tip was to place something, such as a dowel, across the brake hoods and line it up visually with the handle bars to get the brakes level. I use it a lot and can't remember what I did before. I can date my reading history to before you change to squarespace, what year was that? I have only been blogging intermittently since 2009 https://refurbishforfun.blogspot.co.uk/ this is a live project and I go back and update it.
If you can keep up the effort hope to be reading this for many years to come; thanks.
Ran across your blog about 3 years ago. Always find it very interesting no matter what you post Dave, don't comment if I can't add anything to the conversation.
Future posts, whatever you feel like writing.
Best regards from Canada.
Keith
I have enjoyed your blog for these many years and would appreciate your comments as to how your performance ( average speed, length of average ride etc) has changed over the last twenty years. As a senior citizen, I have noticed a slowdown and just would like to compare this to other members of your "blogistsphere".
Hi Dave,
I stumbled upon your blog a few years back and have read every post since then.
There seems golden nuggets in every piece. Initially I had your site bookmarked in the "cycling" folder. Later on, when it seemed that the writings are more on life than on the bike, I moved the bookmark to the "life" folder.
I think I have learned a lot on life from reading your posts, and that is the reason I keep reading.
Thanks.
- Jian
I reached this blog through another one dubbed "The Retrogrouch". Oddly enough, I'm only in my 40s yet I have to admit I'm a retrogrouch when it comes to bikes and music. No carbon frames or auto-tune for me, thanks.
I got in the habit of reading Dave's bike blog quite regularly, and thus have amassed a wealth of knowledge that's hardly available elsewhere. So I'd like to say: Thank you, Mr. Moulton! Keep writing and riding as long as it brings you joy!
I followed your blog until you quit back in 2008. It wasn't until early 2016 that I discovered that you were doing it again. My mentor is a few years older than you are. He was in the show back in the late 50's. He has slowed down in the last few years but still tries to get in 100 mile weeks.
I discovered your blog maybe 2-3 years ago, and have been a faithful reader ever since, and have gone through some of the archives to read old stuff as well.
I love your authoritative but not dickish perspective on all things Bicycle!
If I recall I started reading your blog about the time you came back from your hiatus. I did go back and read all of the older posts too. I read everything you have posted. I find the history of you and your bikes fascinating. I have been messing about with bikes for over 50 years, but managed to stay out of the cycling industry other than short stints as a mechanic back in the 70's. Keep up the good work!
Aaron
Just curious, Dave, is there an archive anywhere of your original blog, before you went to Squarespace?
JohnB,
Everything was copied over here to Squarespace when I transferred. Go to "Archive Chronologically" in the top Nav Bar, and scroll all the way down to the very first post on November 12, 2005
The original blog was on http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/ but it is just the same stuff that is on here and only up until the time I switched..
Dave.
I started reading about 3 years back, and made a point of reading backward through the postings while following for new ones at the same time. Was educational and entertaining at the same time.
Dave - I would like to know your thoughts on recumbent bikes. Did you ever build any? Where would cycling be today if the UCI hadn't blocked them, and had made a separate racing classification for recumbent bikes ?
Thanks Dave for all the great info you've provided on bikes and other topics of interest.
Hi, Dave. I discovered your blog through a back door, so to speak. My wife and I visited Point Reyes, CA. on our way to Yosemite National Park in 2010. We stayed in a biker-friendly bed and breakfast, and through pre-trip correspondence,the owner suggested I visit a "great gem" of a bike shop, Black Mountain Cycles, while we were in town. To prepare for the visit, I researched BMC, and discovered the owner, Mike Varley also had a gem of a blog, which I started to follow. One of his links was Dave's Bike Blog, which I also began following. After reading your posts about geometry and handling, I decided that I had to find one of your bikes for myself. In 2015, I found Fuso frame #171 on ebay. It appeared to have been built up, but seldom ridden. Wayne Bingham at Velo Classique did a great job of building the bike up with period correct parts, and I've been making up for lost time on it ever since. I'm thoroughly enjoying both your blog and the Fuso. I especially enjoy your posts that have an historical perspective. Thanks for the education! John Majors
I have been reading your blog in reverse chronological order after coming upon it by doing a search for information about steel frame bicycles. I was an avid rider in my younger days and have in the past year gotten back into riding. When I decided to buy a road bike after years without one I decided to buy an older steel frame since that is what I knew and still had tools for. I hope someday to find a Fuso to ride!
I enjoy your historical bike posts, anything on frame building, race commentary and ride reports the most! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and passion!