fixed impressions

Albatross Bar!

Bad Ass!  I think I’ve changed bars five times on this bike since my dad passed it to me.  I’m thinking that this is where it’s at for casual riding now.

G

Very excited to finally be getting my Albatross bars from Rivendell today.  Being a uber-geek about bike stuff eventually makes you want to run things others don’t have, even if they are not better.  Just to be different.  In this case I’ve arrived here after extensive testing of non-traditional and traditional bar shapes.  I started with drops, then chop-and-flops, then the ubiquitous Nitto moustache bar [which I don't get, even though they look really cool and I ran it for 18 months]… now have Salsa flared Bell-Laps [best yet] but don’t think they are relaxed enough.  Hell they look fast, which is all wrong for me.  The Nitto Albatross should evoke thoughts of Raleigh Sports and the ease of a commuter/casual rider.  And on top of that it’s a Nitto product, which any one with any salt knows means the highest quality.  Set to arrive via brown santa, along with a uber-nerdy Rivendell cycling cap.

Yeah.

Peace out.

Well, I started my “summer” season officially on Memorial Day by crashing on the bike path due to negligent headset maintenance.  While falling is an inevitable part of MTB life, I usually am able to stay upright on the pave.  Well, this time I applied a good amount of skin, knee, elbow, palms and shin to the pavement. Since I sit at a keyboard 50+ hours a week, those deep bone bruises at the base of my palms are sweet, NOT.

The Univega fixed gear is just about to get a proper handlebar change-out.  I first had chop and flops on there that were part of the original bike, then I tried the ubiquitous moustache bar.  I don’t know about you folk out there, but in spite of looking cool-as-hell, those bars just hurt my hands and required a really awkward stubby stem.  Next I went to a drop bar that came of the GX [r.i.p.]  The GX was a beloved TIG-steel bike built for me by Wade at Vulture Cycles.  Most regrettably, the GX succumbed to the vagueries of east coast road salt and corroded out from the inside.  Very Sad.  Well anyway the old Salsa cyclocross bars that were on the GX are now on the Uni.  Next up though is an Albatross bar from Nitto.  I have wanted to get to this English 3-speed style bar for a while and finally ordered one from Rivendell.  Not quite sure why, other than their good nature, but Rivendell’s price is much better than others I saw on the net.  They sure are cool g33ky folk so I always try to support them anyway.  Very excited to get the bar on there for some weekend slow riding around town.

Side note:  your’s truly is buying his first house next friday and this is all very exciting.  Will have excellent opportunity to move the bike shop and all my bike storage into the house.  I’ve got gear across three locations and darned if the part/tool/cable I need is always at the location I’m not at!

Please come back soon.

G

While no one would probably get down on me for my early season enthusiasm this year, I have to admit I over-cooked it and have had to be mostly horizontal with back spasms for the last 4 days.  I did a nice hour long single speed coaster ride in the Sunny Hollow/Camp Johnson zone.  It’s pretty good early season terrain, not too much mud, not too many long or steep climbs…great trails.  That seemed like a good pace, then I went out on the roadie on Thursday and put in a good 2  hours with lots of 1/2 mile and shorter climbs and just had a great time.   My back felt weak by the time I was stretching at home, still seemed like no big deal…until Friday morning when I didn’t get up.  Doh!  Made it through work ok, but had to miss our end of season party/ride day at Stowe.  Bitch.

Well anyway, I was lucky that it was the weekend, and I was able to mostly just chill, watch some flicks and listen to a bunch of new music.  It’s so hard to sit still, damn, when you put so much in during the week to get that one day of free time on the weekend….doh!   I’m over it.  Monday is a whole new ballgame.

Trying to finally wrap this house thing I’ve been trying to pull together since January.  That will be resolved Weds. AM.  Stay tuned.

G

I got out for just under an hour of fine April singletrack today.  I am reminded what a little bit of fitness does to improve your riding.  Today was a small payoff of sorts for the slavery I’ve endured on the stationary bike and stair mastah this spring.

It was dreamy.  So many riders, more than I’ve ever seen in summer or fall.  Not sure whether it was collective spring fever or what, but folk were out.  Lots of mechanicals and flats and all of us trying to help each other but not having good glue in the patch kit or a second extra tube…those things you always have in droves by mid-summer.  Ah, the rites of spring.

I was doing laps with two quick grunts and on the the fourth lap just got knackered.  As CuJo said, getting wonked on your single speed is a great way to start the year…why ease into  it, that just prolongs the suffering.   Go right for the single speed specific fitness, screw the road bike and the fixie and all that:

• TRAIL
• SINGLE SPEED
• RIDE
• BREATHE
• SWEAT

Simple?  Yes.

Rock on and over and out.

My Vulture SS

G

i took the MKS pedals i picked up from the Old Spokes Home and put them on the univega.  it really looks good now with the brown brooks saddle.  put in about 2 varied hours just riding easy around town.  like the 46×19 for now.  i have a front fender on there that my dad installed back in the day.  it has a trick fender flap made out of some sheets of rubber he found somewhere.  i’ve cut the fender stays a bit too short and the rubber drags on the tire and even binds up occasionally—a little sketch.  I just need to buy a couple of new stays.

it was great to be out and nice to have a bit of time to post.  looking for it to be a good year on the bike.  been out to play bike polo already once this year, wednesdays on the waterfront roller hockey rink behind the skatepark.  write to bike...@mac.com to get on the mailing list.

my winter ratio: 46×19T.  Cruise Cool

yes, i want you to become an editor and start posting your madness here.  the goal is to rule the world of fixed gear blogs by hosting the best content.  you are the one to help make it happen.  ping me and let me know where you get your stuff and what you want to show/write and we’ll begin world fixed gear blog domination.

g5

Fixed 2 is the latest video from Charge Bikes. Follow fixed gear riders Juliet Elliott and Super Ted around the streets of London. Featuring interviews with Juliet. Filmed and edited by Alex Rankin.

Fixed 2 from Charge Bikes on Vimeo.

Full photo shoot at maven

Here are some pictures from this last Saturday’s race.  Nice stuff. photos by Blotto Photto.

Aaron

This was a benefit for a local food drive, so of course shopping was involved…cans.

Re-mount

Awesome.

G