Sweetbike (.org)

Grumpy hasn’t been doing so well on the docks of Shilshole Marina where I live.  Two weeks in the salty winter wind/rains here in the Pacific Northwest made short work of my 2-part epoxy topcoat.  Man, what a bummer.  Disassembled it two days ago and dropped it off to get powder coated today (almost the identical color I hope).  Hopefully I can put it back on the road in short order here.

Until then – I had to put raceblades on the Paramount.

Ugh.

More pics behind the cut, but you get the idea.

/sigh

Onward

Photo by Andre Ball

http://www.ecovelo.info/2009/11/24/andre-balls-endless-summer-entry/

This is us (.83) on our way to our annual camping trip, Ben Country 4.0, riding the dykes along Whidbey Island.  Andre took the pic and has entered it into the Endless Summer photo contest on the ecovelo blog.  Good luck Andre.

This is more or less what I always pack when I go out.  It all fits in one pannier with a little room to spare with exception of the bedroll which gets strapped under my handlebars.

Starting from the top

• Bivy Bed Roll (Thermarest, sleeping bag, bivy sack all rolled up in compression sack)
• Black Bag – Rain shelter
• Footprint
• Second grey bag – Clothes.
  • spare t-shirt
  • smart wool shirt
  • sleeping hat
  • socks
  • full bicycling gloves
• Green Bag – misc waterproof bag.  Compression ties, batteries, rope, whatever.
• Tent poles
• Collapsible Fuck-Yeah saw
• Real camp hatchet (skimp on other things, do not skimp on this)
• Cooking Towel
• Flashlight
• Green scrubby and Dr Braunners Soap
• Red Bag 1 – mechanical bag
  • brake cables
  • shifter cables
  • oil
  • plastic sacks
• Red Bag 2 – medical stuff
• Blue Bag – food bag.
  • Spork
  • Collapsable Bowl
  • 2 metal pot holders
  • Tapatio, Salt, Pepper, Oil
  • COFFEEEEEE
• Black bag – water filter
• Small black bag (impossible to see) – Fire starting bag
  • Waterproof hurricane matches
  • Lighter
  • Super handy fire starting sticks and/or pitch wood
• Blue towel
• 1 Blue metal billy* cup – Forget anything else, but do not forget this.  EVER.
• 1 Oregon 300 GPS (COMPLETELY OPTIONAL)
• Titanium cook kit.  stove, fuel, wind shield, pot and lid/frying pan

Not pictured

• Tiny little backpacking grate
• 1lb> cooking griddle
• Swiss Army pocket knife
• Head Lamp
• Tire Fixins
• Real Compass
• Camera
• Small day backpack – worn
  • Goretex
  • Gorp
  • Misc

Off picture – Scott needs to take out his recycling.  Oh how embarassing.

Onward!

Pictures worth a thousand words.  It now has gears (3×9).  And disc brakes.  And h-bars.  Wheels custom built by Niki at Mobius cycle – Surly hubs, three cross double butted spokes, DT Swiss rims.  Easily one of the most comfortable bikes I own.  Rolling on 2.35 inch Schwalbe Big Apples.  Never had a 29er before – should be fun.  Click the pic for the full gallery.

Okay seriously – I’m done buying bikes.  This is number 4, and 3 of them are Surlys.  Heh. Going camping weekend after this one – will probably bring this.  Sheldon Brown said the Karate Monkey was the most versatile bike he’d ever seen.  I believe it.

My stable now looks like this:

1. Fast Bike – LeMond
2. Daily Bike – Surly Pacer
3. Haulin Stuff Long Distances Bike – Surly Long Haul Trucker
4. 29er Mountain Bike – Surly Karate Monkey

I’m pleased.
In other news, I rode to work today.  Not such a big deal, but feels like there are a lot of reasons to not ride and I seem to be taking them lately.  It’s cold, it’s wet, I’m late, I don’t want to be sweaty at work today, I need to pick up groceries, I just don’t feel like it, I’m tired, the bus will be here in a second…  I mean, the truth is there are a thousand reasons not to ride.  There are ALWAYS a thousand reasons not to ride.  Everyone else uses those excuses not to ride.  I LIKE to ride – it’s easy to be lazy though.  I guess that’s my main point.  So I rode in today even though it was cold and raining and felt better for doing it.  I seriously need to get back to doing it 5 days a week and not like 2 days a week.  It’s not as if I don’t like it loads and loads.  I totally do.  I’m just being lazy and need to get over it.

Anyhow – riding bikes.  Blah blah blah.  Do it more.

Onward.

Not mine but a friends.  54 Green Surly Long Haul Trucker – yes exactly the same model and size as mine.  Black fenders and a black rack, decals scribbled off.  Stolen a month and a half ago.  Two days ago I was sitting at Pazzos Pizza and watched this guy roll by on the sidewalk on it.  He’d attached a black front basket to it.  Older black guy, 45-55 years with long dreads and a wide brimmed straw hat.  I walked over to him with my camera phone and was like – hey man I like your bike.  He says, yeah people like this old thing.  I say, that’s funny because that’s not an old bike.  Will you sell it to me?  I’ll give you $300 for it – and he rode off South on Eastlake.  All I could do was get a picture of the saddle – which was uniquely Brandons and by the time my shitty camera phone cycled around all I got was a bad bottom half picture.  But from the pic Brandon was able to identify the bike positively.  Yesterday the bike was spotted again near Westlake Center.

I don’t get the feeling that this was the guy who stole the bike to be honest, but if I’d been able to positively ident the bike on the spot I’d have been more forceful.  Later Brandon was able to positively ident the bike as his from the photos.

So I guess call me if you see it – or call Brandon.

Me: 206 412 3055 – cell
Brandon: 206 992 7567 – cell

This weekend – Ben Country Bike Camping!

Onward

I have problems. I really do.

From Bikepedia

Weight: 20lbs.  It’s all stock. 1999 LeMond Buenos Aires. Reynolds 853 Steel. Complete Shimano 105 grouppo (Why do they call it a grouppo? I dunno). The link says this came stock with a carbon fork but if it is I can’t see it under the paint – and I’d bet it was original. All I can say for certain is it does feel good.  The front crank is a triple – 52/42/30 and so are the STI shifters.

Wheels could use a rebuild but are not bad.  Back axle needs some work – not the end of the world. Frame’s scratched in a few places – but it’s not awful. The STI shifters work fine but have taken a beating. No dents – frame is straight. Cockpit needs some adjustment to fit me better, but overall this is a beautiful bike and I’m very happy with it. I see much potential.

Found it on Craigslist for a very reasonable price.

Because really, that’s what I needed. Another bike. Dammit.

Yeppers, the Rooster (or what was left of it) left for the Chainwhip boys house. Frame, fork, headset, cranks, bottom bracket, front and rear derailleur, stem, chain, seat post, handlebars and a rear wheel.

Have fun with it Chase. A saddle, shifters, brakes & levers, a cassette and a front wheel and the Rooster will be back on the road.

This bike and I have an intense relationship.

By “intense relationship” I mean, the fucking thing was cursed.

The day we met, it broke my arm.

So I rebuilt it while I healed.

And then I got hit by a school bus on it 6 months later.

I was back on the road in no-time

but as a result I was able to purchase Bicycle Eater with the settlement

and do a lot of very cool stuff the Rooster always struggled to do.

The Rooster has moved on, into the capable hands of Chase and Ryan. Am certain they’ll make good use of it. Damn good bike. It was just too big for me.

Now to get the the Pacer finished! Get those stupid downtube shifters off and get rid of that flatbar. Sillyness I tell you.

Onward.

- Oh, happy new year everyone. It’s been a hell of a year. Best year of my life. -

Got a short ride in today. Up to Capitol Hill to hang out with Ryan and Chase Wreyford at the King Cobra – watch a little football and get some breakfast. Rode the Pacer. Not because it was the right bike, but for chrissakes it’s been sitting in my living room for 2 weeks while we’ve been snowed in, brand new and unable to roll – taunting me. Didn’t really want to pass up the opportunity.

Weather’s been crazy.  Snow’s  been on the ground for 2 weeks making it difficult or impossible to ride, even with good tires.  And then two days ago it started to rain and now the snow is all gone.  Poof.  Just like that.

Doesn’t make it not shitty out – it’s still cold and rainy, but at least wheels have purchase whereas in the snow, no such luck.  Makes you reset your perspective on riding.  Rain?  I’ll survive it.

The cockpit on the Pacer still isn’t the way I like it.  Downtube shifters were a mistake I realize now.  The action on them is fantastic (go Dura Ace) it’s just not in a convenient place to shift rapidly, and in the city I do a lot of shifting.  Too much body movement involved – changing center of gravity, reaching down.  And the flat bar isn’t awful but it’s less than ideal – too narrow.  That said, this bike is still a real pleasure to ride, as is.  Can’t wait to get it finished out.

Side note – needs fenders.

Tomorrow, I ride.  But it’s on the Bicycle Eater.  And gratefully so.

I am sore today.  Boy.

PS- I’ve been asked what that lacquered bar is near my wheel.  It’s a light mount for my Dinotte.  Basically a piece of PVC pipe wrapped in kite string, capped with some red cloth tape, and then I shellac’d the hell out of it – like the hand grip on my top tube.  Why?  Because when I put stuff in the basket the light on my handlebars gets easily obfuscated, and I’d like to be able to both carry stuff and see where I’m going.

• 54cm Surly Pacer, 2008
• Dura Ace 7800 front/rear derailleurs – 10sp
• Dura Ace 7800 downtube shifters – 10sp
• Ultegra Triple Crankset (52,39,30) – 10sp
• SHIMANO 105 12-25 Cassette, 10sp
• SHIMANO 105 Chain, 10sp
• Thomson Stem – 130mm, 7deg
• Nitto Flatbar Handlebar, 25.4
• Avid Speed Dial Brake Levers
• Brooks B17 Champion Special Saddle
• Kalloy Seat Post
• Pauls Thumbies Brackets (unused but bolted next to brake levers)
• Front Wheel: 3cross DT Swiss rim, double butted spokes, Phil hub, 700×25 Armadillo
• Rear Wheel: 3cross DT Swiss rim, double butted spokes, Shimano 105 hub, 700×25 Armadillo
• CETMA front rack

Weight, 23lbs.  Fenders forthcoming.

Edit: These flatbars have got to go. Don’t think I like em. Bullhorns or drops, here I come. Downtube shifters I’m still on the fence about – thus the Pauls Thumbies next to the brakes in case I want to switch. Getting those grips off is a bitch. Will ride it like this for a couple weeks though. Maybe I’m just not used to it.