Bicycle thread

[Mr Head]

Thinking of heading over to the Red Hook in the morning and go for a ride.
http://www.cascade.org/EandR/Activit...?eventID=14683

[zippy]

my pretend to be fast guy bike Salsa Pistola

[pilot]

I saw a Surly at the LBS yesterday. The one for traveling. I drooled.

[Flaco]

Move over, Fargo...



Lugged steel...

[SeaBass]

Originally Posted by Jeffy

Got another question. Although I haven't even ridden my bike yet, has anyone done a single-speed conversion? I've read some stuff on it and it looks tempting.

As I mentioned earlier, I converted my '90 Rockhopper to SS. 34/20 is the magic gear and you wont need to use a tensioner.

[zippy]

[QUOTE=Flaco]Move over, Fargo...

Sojourn - one came up on cl for $700 - very tempting but I have way too many now.

Raleigh has a very nice lineup - the clubman and port townsend look sweet as well

[TheYeti]

Originally Posted by pilot

I saw a Surly at the LBS yesterday. The one for traveling. I drooled.

You mean like this one.

[TheYeti]

Originally Posted by zippy

my ride to work bike '94 trek 520

Two things 1) Are those Honjo fenders, 2) What is that rack pack, looks like a hard case.

[Jeffy]

Originally Posted by SeaBass

As I mentioned earlier, I converted my '90 Rockhopper to SS. 34/20 is the magic gear and you wont need to use a tensioner.

Ah, thanks!

I got my tires mounted and it wasn't too bad. The slime thorn tubes are thick! The tires are Conti Gravity 2.3's. Conti is very optimistic with their sizing. It's more like a 2.1. Fits the frame easily. I was able to get all of the shifters and brake cables adjusted as well. Ratchet straps over the exposed rafter sure beats working on it on the ground.

I rode it a whole mile and almost died. Never stopped but my muscles didn't like it. I need to build up the muscles again. 15 years of lounging has taken their toll. I had a guy offer me some new wheels and V Paul Brakes if I wanted to go SS. I think I'll take him up on that offer. I know I'll have to buy new levers but that's not a big deal. I want to get some bar ends and I'll definitely need some bar plugs. I don't need to be taking any core samples.

The bike looks a lot better with some decent tires on. At 50 PSI they roll pretty fast. I've scrubbed 90% of them but need more seat time before I can feel confidant cutting turns.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by zippy

my pretend to be fast guy bike Salsa Pistola

When I first saw one, I wanted it just for the colors.

[TheYeti]

Originally Posted by Jeffy

Ah, thanks!

I got my tires mounted and it wasn't too bad. The slime thorn tubes are thick! The tires are Conti Gravity 2.3's. Conti is very optimistic with their sizing. It's more like a 2.1. Fits the frame easily. I was able to get all of the shifters and brake cables adjusted as well. Ratchet straps over the exposed rafter sure beats working on it on the ground.

I rode it a whole mile and almost died. Never stopped but my muscles didn't like it. I need to build up the muscles again. 15 years of lounging has taken their toll. I had a guy offer me some new wheels and V Paul Brakes if I wanted to go SS. I think I'll take him up on that offer. I know I'll have to buy new levers but that's not a big deal. I want to get some bar ends and I'll definitely need some bar plugs. I don't need to be taking any core samples.

The bike looks a lot better with some decent tires on. At 50 PSI they roll pretty fast. I've scrubbed 90% of them but need more seat time before I can feel confidant cutting turns.

Looks like it came out pretty good.

[pierce]

Originally Posted by Jeffy

I had a guy offer me some new wheels and V Paul Brakes if I wanted to go SS. I think I'll take him up on that offer. I know I'll have to buy new levers but that's not a big deal.

you live where there's lots of hills, right?

why would you want an SS

The bike looks a lot better with some decent tires on. At 50 PSI they roll pretty fast. I've scrubbed 90% of them but need more seat time before I can feel confidant cutting turns.

looking good!

for dirt, you likely want them a lot softer than 50 psi. 30psi or less, even, unless you're on the heavy side.

[ducnut]

Originally Posted by TheYeti

Looks like it came out pretty good.

^^^ +1

[Jeffy]

Originally Posted by TheYeti

Looks like it came out pretty good.

Originally Posted by pierce

you live where there's lots of hills, right?

why would you want an SS

looking good!

for dirt, you likely want them a lot softer than 50 psi. 30psi or less, even, unless you're on the heavy side.

Originally Posted by ducnut

^^^ +1

Thanks! I think it turned out well for a modest investment and a lot of TLC.

There are rolling hills around here. Some roads are kinda steep as well. SS would be a little crazy but then again people think fixies are crazy too. I'm not sure what I'll do just yet. Maybe gather some parts and see what happens. The one thing I'm wondering is if I'll like the bike enough not to buy a new one.

I pumped the tires up to their rec pressure since it was just around the block. I had them at 35 which felt pretty good still.

[pierce]

if you have (or get) a chain punch, you can shorten the chain your existing sprockets and bypass the rear derailleur and make it into a temporary fixed gear.

first, open the chain, then wrap it around the middle sprocket in front, and try different sprockets in the rear til you find one where the chain links line up when you hold it tight. punch the excess chain off on that link, and put it back together as a fixed speed... you likely have something like a 22/34/42 front, so 34 and one of hte middle gears should hit the sweet spot. me, I'd remove the rear derailleur, and tape the cable back temporarily to try it out, but ou could probably leave it on there. also of course, set the front shifter on MIDDLE! and don't touch them.

now go ride it. do you like it? then find a 34 or so tooth front that will fit your crankset and a rear wheel with exactly whatever sprocket worked, and remove the shifters, derailleurs, and cabling....