char1es.net » Check this out

Retro-Direct Vangari

Nathan — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:56:12 +0000

All Rickshaws and Vangari’s in Bangladesh have only a single gear. It’s something like 61 gear inches and way to stiff when under load. We adapted a vangari with a retro-direct drive system which means that if you pedel backwards you get a different gear. The upshot of this over a normal geared system with derailleurs is that it uses much fewer parts and is potentially more rugged. This first attempt has got some issues to work out but it might have some potential. Here’s the Video.

Grandma speaks

Nathan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:07:16 +0000

My Grandma, Miriam Charles, gave the message at Habecker Mennonite Church a few weeks ago. [download mp3]

It’s about to get Hot!

Nathan — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:49:21 +0000

The weather will be sunny ...

Pearl Diver

Nathan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:59:15 +0000

So I’ve been procrastinating doing this but I wanted to plug my friend Sidney’s Movie. www.pearldivermovie.com Some of you might remember that there was a screening at MCUSA Charlotte 2005. I like to see movies with anabaptist roots.

A people’s history

Nathan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:53:13 +0000

It’s good to see the other side of stories. People with power tend to spin issues to keep it. Here’s a dose of perspective.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-you-are-being-lied-to-about-pirates-1225817.html

Ridable Bamboo Bike!

Nathan — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:16:11 +0000

Finished, originally uploaded by Nathan.Charles.

The Bamboo Bike is finally ridable. I won’t say done because I think there is still some more work I want to do, but I rode it today. It rides really nice. I don’t know if that’s surprising or not. I’ve learned a lot during the process and I think I should build another one just to fix all the little things I could have done differently.

Jason from Back Alley Bikes gave me a hand by building it up. I put some pictures up on flickr

Bamboo Bike Frame

Nathan — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:57:50 +0000

Bamboo Bike Frame, originally uploaded by Nathan.Charles.

I’ve been working on this frame off and on since August. I finally got it ready to build up a few days ago. It’s not the prettiest frame in the world. But I made it, it’s bamboo, and that’s cool. This afternoon I went down the bike shop and ordered parts so I could build it. up. I’m planning on building it up as fixed gear bike. It should be lots of fun.

Free Derek Webb

Nathan — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 18:42:57 +0000

Derek Webb has released his album Mockingbird as a free download. It’s really good. www.freederekwebb.com/

Art Gish

Nathan — Tue, 09 Nov 2004 21:49:18 +0000

So Art Gish spoke at Church on Sunday… Check it out.

I Be Happy Camper

Nathan — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 21:32:57 +0000

So I put up a new site to reminisce from High School and more recently. checkit it out www.ibehc.com