A Thanksgiving Diversion

A few T-giving funnies, a former co-worker sent these to me. Good for a few yuks...

Tools, Tires, Tubes, etcetera .. $$ ..

I needed a new bike tool.

Since I was buying a 'new' fork, which of course needed the steerer tube cut down, I had to have a new tool. Of course, I read several blogs and bulletin board postings of folks saying.."You don't need a tool...just hack it off...use tape as a guide...hose clamps...mark it with a sharpie...plumbers tubing cutter...eyeball it and hope for the best...take it to your LBS...etc, etc. All great advice nuggets, but I've hacked tubing with a hacksaw before and I can tell you, if I ever cut it in a straight line it was divine providence at work. Just eyeballing it wasn't gonna cut it, at least for me. So I purchased a Park Tool SG-7 Oversized Adjustable Saw Guide. My cache of mostly working bike tools continues to grow!

It seems you need a special bike tool for everything now. I purchased a new bike take-off FSA crank (read used price, but unused part) with the 'new' style external bottom bracket, and of course you need a special wrench to tighten the bb cups into the frame. No homemade tools will cut it here, so drop the Park BBT-9 Bottom Bracket Wrench into the shopping cart. Cha-ching!

I purchased these tools from Speedgoat.com. I discovered if you spend $100 or over, you will get shipping for free. So of course I threw in some Panaracer Rampage 2.35" 29er tires, tubes, and an SRAM 9-speed chain. That easily pushed me over the $100 free shipping limit, and Merry Christmas to me!

Cha-ching! $$ :>)

Note to self: I must now purchase my lovely wife an extra nice Christmas present.

-Dwight

Slowly, I visualize

A few more parts came today.

My brake levers, seatpost, and seat showed up. What a great opportunity to assemble a few things on the bike!

I've also assembled my handlebars, grips, stem, and brake levers. Yeah, I know I'll have to remove the grips to install the shifters, but I just wanted to visualize those parts on my bike. I was standing downstairs in my combination laundry room/showering facility/bike shop holding my bars up next to the frame, seat and seatpost installed, trying to imagine myself sitting astride my latest masterpiece :>)

I picked up a lightly used 29'er suspension fork on eBay, an OEM Rock Shox Dart 3 unit. It's considered entry level, but it's also inexpensive as far as 29'er forks go and I'm sure it will work fine for it's intended purpose. Besides, it leaves room for future upgrades if I get the notion! Plus, I won't be as nervous as I would be if I were cutting a steerer tube on a $500 fork.

Once the fork comes, the steerer tube cutting and headset installation shall commence!

-Dwight

Cruising the Ramby (Pictures!)

Since the mercury hit mid 50's today, I thought I'd take the trusty Ramby out for a spin. Ya know, I don't think I've ever posted photos of the bike in it's completely finished state. So for your viewing pleasure, a few pictures of my pride and joy!

After all, I'm still calling this blog "My Rambouillet Build". Even if I've finished building it :>)

A few good parts

My first shipment of 29'er build parts arrived on Thursday.


Easton EA70 Monkey Bars (hi-rise), Easton EA70 stem, Cane Creek S-3 headset, handgrips with locking collars, alloy headset spacers, and star nut. I'm still looking for a good used fork on eBay. I was bidding on a Rock Shox Dart 3, but it got away from me at the last minute. However, several others showed up on eBay and I'm watching them intently. Hopefully my luck and my bidding skills will improve! However, I did win a bid on a slightly used Avid 160mm disc brake set, which should be arriving within a few days.

I've ordered several other parts which were shipped in two shipments. I found an excellent deal on a saddle, seatpost, seatpost locking collar, and some Avid brake levers. The shipment was divided into two parts and the seatpost locking collar, a 30mm Surly constrictor, arrived today. Fits perfectly!

I've recently received some very helpful information from a fellow blogger regarding a homebuilt headset press tool. (Thanks Gravelo!) I plan on scrounging the local hardware store tomorrow to acquire the necessary pieces. I'll let you know what I come up with.

-Dwight

Bits and Pieces

I began scrounging for parts for my winter 29'er project.

I'm hitting eBay a bit harder on this project. I'm thinking I might find some better deals on some components...suspension forks for 29'ers tend to be expensive and I won't be as picky as far as using brand spanking new components. Good lightly used components in some areas will work just fine.

So far, I've got a couple of bids in on some used hydraulic disc brake components and a used suspension fork. I'm also thinking about picking up a rigid fork as well, but I haven't yet decided. I've already purchased some discounted closeout components from Jenson's, including a Cane Creek headset, Easton handlebars and stem, grips, and a few other miscellaneous hardware items. Not high end items, but good serviceable stuff and probably more than adequate to the task at hand. I think I can build up a great bike with decent components without having to break the bank.

I'm still planning on building up some good wheels, and this will probably be my largest expense.
I found some WTB rims that look nice, and if I can find some decent disc brake hubs I'll be in business. Maybe I'll find some smokin' deals on some wheels out there, but I'm just not in any huge hurry right now.

Since I've purchased a bare frame, I'll either have to take it to my LBS to have the headset cups installed or I could be a bit more adventurous and do that particular task myself. I'm choosing the adventurous route. Headset presses aren't inexpensive, however, I've been doing a bit of internet research and some very resourceful individuals out there have been building their own headset installation and removal tools on the cheap. So I'm going to give that a try (great blog fodder, of course!)

-Dwight

Juiced!

I've been out of town this last week on business in Mosinee, Wisconsin. It's not the most enticing location in November, and it rained most of the time I was there. I'm certain if it weren't so cold and dreary, the scenery would have been much more enjoyable. I ate well, though!

I had to get up with the dawn patrol this morning to catch my flight, wheels up at 6:07 a.m. I didn't relish the thought of getting up at 4 a.m., but I did get home before noon and was able to relax a bit this afternoon.

While I was resting and relaxing, the UPS guy surprised me by dropping off a package...

...which after opening, appeared to contain a plastic wrapped bike frame of some sort

The frame unwrapped

A close up headtube shot

In my combination bike wrenching/laundry room, clamped in the stand:


After I was done unpacking my frame, I found a nice surprise in the bottom of the box. A package of organic sports chews, a.k.a. gummy 'Sharkies'. A tasty treat!

Poetry

I've written some pretty bad poetry in my life. I write most of my poems to my wife, and I call them my DPOL's (Daily Professions Of Love). She seems to like them, even if they are corny and sometimes don't even rhyme.

I tried one of Riv's poetry contests, rewriting Edgar Allen Poe "The Raven" verses. It was in the last Rivendell Reader, and the next one hasn't been published yet. I scanned it very closely to make there weren't any stray e's. Those of you who are familiar with the contest know that you are supposed to rewrite the verse without any e's, except when you use the proper name 'Lenore'. Besides that, I don't know if it meets Rivendell standards for good poetry but I did put some thought into it. Hopefully it will earn me some kind of prize or at least recognition, but I'm not counting on it.

I would think my great friend and detractor Ciclista believes that poetry is a big waste of time. After all, you'd really have to be desperate for something to do if you are actually writing poetry. Next, you'll try to learn the guitar, or take up painting, or maybe even attempt to actually create something meaningful or beautiful. So I'm going to utilize some of my vast repository of infinite time to subject you, the reader, to some awfully bad poetry.

I apologize in advance.

Oh Mr. Ciclista,
You sure make me glad,
That I'm wasting my time,
Learning to rhyme,
Writing verses that are bad, oh so bad.

Whatever happened,
To imagination, ingenuity and art,
A bit of soul,
And a lot of heart.

Gene, Gene, made a machine..oh, no!
Let's not go in that direction,
However, a dirty limerick or two,
Would bear much closer inspection!

So let's say hip hip hooray,
For writing poetry today,
Although it's not good,
We didn't print it, and saved a bit of wood,
And that's all I gotta say!

- Dwight

What? Another bike??

The 29'er is becoming a reality.

I found a brand new 20" Soma Juice frame on eBay, cheap. So I grabbed it.
Yes, it's silver.

The next step will be headset installation, facing the bearing surfaces and chasing BB threads. I think I'll leave that to a willing LBS, provided they aren't too pissed about me not buying the frame from them. I was considering a Salsa El Mariachi but frame and rigid fork would have been around $850 from the LBS. Yeah, I already have a Soma Double Cross but it's been a wonderful bike, so I expect this will be a nice frame as well. Plus, it's steel!

I'm going to take my time with this build, one component at a time. I think the wheel build will follow headset installation, once I figure out which hubs and rims I'll want. Disc brakes, 3 x 9 drivetrain, SRAM components.

I'm thinking about taking a shot at Leadville next year, and this would be the bike I'd use.

I expect the frame to show up next week, so look out for pics!

-Dwight

Wintertime and bike dreams

Winter has officially arrived. Temps here are in the 30's, and tonight winds are 20 mph +

No bike commuting tomorrow, and definitely none next week since I'll be out of town on business. I've got a bad bike jones and the weekend weather looks none too promising. Looks like I'll be off the bike for a while.

I've got a good taste of some bike commuting before the weather turned bad, though. Gives me something to look forward to. I can spend some time cleaning and tuning up the bikes this weekend, amongst a few other chores of course. I like tinkering with them almost as much as I like riding them!

I'm considering building up a 29'er. I'm leaning toward a Salsa El Mariachi frame, size LG (steel of course!), and I'm doing some research on componentry. If anyone out there reading this blog has this particular frame built up please tell me about your bike and how you like it.

If I decide to build up another bike, one will have to go. Just not enough time and space to build the stable beyond the seven I already have. My old Diamondback 'bakfietsen' mountain bike will most likely be up for grabs. I don't think I'd miss it a whole lot if I had a nice, shiny steel 29'er mountain bike to ride.

First things first, however. Of course, I'll need to buy my lovely wife a VERY nice Christmas gift! I owe her, big time :>)

-Dwight

Radfahren Verboten!

Took a ride over the pedestrian bridge, but instead of heading towards work I took a left and headed toward the Heartland Of America Park. The centerpiece of the park is a small lake (or large pond, if you prefer), with a nice fountain smack dab in the middle. Since it was 70 degrees again today, the fountain was in full spew.

I upgraded my cell phone yesterday. It's an LG Dare, a super nice touch screen phone and yes, I like it a lot! The phone includes an excellent 3 megapixel camera with an LED flash, so I decided I'd try it out on my ride today. And what better bike to take on a photo tour than my trusty orange Quickbeam.

As I looped around the 'pond', I noticed the path really wasn't built to accomodate bicyclists. Lots of twists and turns, 90 degree bends, etc. But there were other cyclists riding the path so I really didn't give it a second thought. Here are a couple of photos I snapped using the fountain as background:

A nice fountain shot with QB in foreground

A shot from another location and angle, with a nice view of the bike, some great fall colors, fountain in background, my left leg, and my right foot. Ansel Adams, I'm not.

...and, another shot same as the first, but at a different angle

Note the prominent sign to the right of the picture...

BIKING
PROHIBITED

I didn't really notice any signs when I hopped on this loop around the pond. And there were other bikers on the path, and I also didn't notice any bike path police...at least not in the general vicinity. I envisioned Omaha bike cops chasing me down, one hand on the handlebars and the other clutching a taser gun. Spread eagle against a tree in the park, patted down, cuffed and stuffed. Was there video surveillance in the area? I started to feel a bit paranoid about big brother watching, writing me out a big fat ticket and corresponding fine.

I felt bad about breaking the law, at least briefly. But then I felt a twinge of indignation. What's wrong with biking on the pond path? Maybe the pond path was meant for walkers and not bikers, but I felt a bit discriminated against. And why was the pond path designed for walkers only, and not cyclists as well?

And another thing, they call the new bridge the Bob Kerrey PEDESTRIAN bridge, not the Bob Kerry Pedestrian and Cycling Bridge. So am I banned from riding there as well?

Then my wave of angry paranoia passed. It was Sunday, nobody cared and neither did I. The Five Man Electrical Band tucked their hair back under their hats again looking like fine upstanding young men, and we finished our ride :>))

-Dwight