Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Anyone done anything substantial with their bikes lately?? (pt. 2)

In the spirit of November 03 and all the new members popping in, I wanted to see who is doing what. We have a really cool cross-section of messengers, commuters, advocates, rec riders and so on. Too much pie and city bashing here as of late. Think bikes. Think track bikes. And fixed-ems, single-speeds, and so on...
So my question (a la jasonyates):
Anyone done anything substantial with their bikes lately??

I have been working on wheel truing and popped a spoke in the process - go banana! I am not the wheel pro I thought I would be, but it is all part of the process.

I have also made a trip to the velodrome for the first time since my initial introduction to track racing in 1998-99, Colorado Springs. If you are near a velo, or have the means to get to one do so! The atmosphere and energy are unparalleled. ANIMALFIXED, Msngr, auk, gilby, etc - just some of people who have ridden on a velo here so you can always PM for more info, or check your local velodrome website too. Check it out - fad or not, it is quite a thing the first time you hit the banks at speed and watch the bike level to the incline angle...

I am also in the process of rebuilding an old Tomasso frame. Having fun again as building bikes is very therapuetic to me. I hope this surge in track bike interest/velodrome action does stay around as I would love to work summers at a velo repairing bikes. We'll see how that dream goes. So far, so good.

Your turn...

I am in the process of building a few new fixes, and am planning a fixed tour/trip in the near future. I helps that my primary bike is a touring frame convert, and I have the racks that came off the bike.

I just built up the roommate's new bike - a 05 Surly Steamroller on an IRO/Deep V wheelset with some of my leftover parts from various bikes. Photos to come.

Been to the track and am now mildly hooked. Of course 165, you know this. I really think there's a natural progression or tendency to lean towards this or "bigger" things. Like touring.

Which I'd like to do - that aspect of riding to some place for a while, throwing down some bedding and camping is quite alluring. What better way to do it than to get there by bike?

I've also been thinking about another bike - more classic this time. Lugged, all silver components, drops and brakeless. Just awaiting the right frame - to get something decently cheap or go crazy and keirin?

Decisions.

I'm likewise building a new bike, a Kalavinka from Mr Tanabe in Tokyo. DC doesn't have a velodrome, but I'm moving to Boston in 3 weeks, and evidently there is a running track where races are staged... it should be better than nothing.

i also have been going to the track a good bit, but have yet to get my license and the gusto to actually race. i need to install a new tubular for my rear wheel, but may just race with the ellipses with attack/force setup i am currently running... i have another slightly used 18mm tufo s3 somewhere around my house and conti glue. why the hell am i not doing something about it? because i am lazy and don't feel like digging through the clutter.

i've been helping harley (anal-o-glove) build up his new lejuene track bike. that boy finally has a real track bike! that bike is so hot everytime i go down into my basement i have to cut off my leg and shove it up my arse. next is getting him on the track and also getting him to start mountain biking.

currently, i'm beginning the process of collecting parts for a single speed karate monkey i plan to build very soon.

i still have some part upgrades i need to do for my trials bike. i can't wait to fix the rear cassette and install my front freewheel cranks. i need a stupid freewheel carrier thing that is on super backorder and need to fork over the large amount of smackers for a trials specific white industries freewheel... and i need to ride that thing more because i am terrible at trials. the guys i ride with can side hop 4 ft. walls all day long and tap even higher stuff. i can pedal kick and roll 2 ft. stuff... big whoop.

um, my mountain bike now has a real fork (z1) and a new 9 speed transmission. i'm so glad i got rid of my 7 speed 105 friction shifter setup and my toilet triple clamp sid. cheyenne canyon has been wonderous thus far this year and my new not-so-ghetto setup sure makes it more better and more gooder simo-taniously. i'm going to at least go down pikes peak again this year, and maybe up and down if i'm feeling sadistic. barf!

i bought a new bell that goes ding-dong for my cruiser. it matches the flower basket and streamers nicely.

basically, it all comes down to money and i am trying to buy a house like some sort of adult, so i am cooling my spending for a bit. i've also been neglecting bike a little too much for this art fest i am preparing for this weekend. i'm selling a crap load of pottery, so i have been in the studio fiendishly for the last two months.

well, I've made the switch to clipless again because of the "track" bug. After riding around in the streets for a few years, you really start searching for a new challenge. The velodrome will provide that. Actually it's quite a humbling experiece. You think you're fast because you can beat the local roadies but the track is the ultimate measuring stick. It opens up a whole new world. I'm also in the market for a Colnago fork with a brake hole to do some long distance touring.

I'm patiently waiting for my new keirin frame from the Framebank to arrive. I bought a full NJS grouppo awhile back with nice Dura-Ace hubs, Suntour Superbe cranks, Superbe Pro pedals, Nitto stem/bars/seatpost etc. The new wheels are being built by fine folks at Freewheel on Hayes here in SF. I've built my own wheels in the past but the confidence factor is low, and I hate to be riding around with some loose ass janky wheel build. Thus, I'll leave it to them. I'll definitely post some snaps as soon as I get it.

I recently re-glued some tires on my old Wolber/Campy wheels and am dying to get down to Hellyer to give them a proper break-in. Not too mention Mr. De Rosa is ready to leave the stop and go city traffic.

getting very very close to putting the track bike together again, with the correct (or most nearly correct) bottom bracket to get that durn chainline under control, and of course the fresh, blindingly white powdercoat finish which will help me go fast too. will be taking it to the bloomer park velo (200 meter/44 °) by gosh and by golly (excuse the language, i'm just excited).

interesting to see folks talking about touring. when i started to get serious about bicycling again a number of years back i got this mad idea about riding up to copper harbor sometime before i turn 50. i haven't hit all the intermediate milestones (like short overnight trips) i planned on, but there's still time. the idea still intrigues me as well. if nothing else, i don't really have a touring bike per se, so that would mean another bike-building project.

substantial? y'all can be the judge...

I'm waiting for a new 3t mutant classic stem to land in my mailbox from Italy. Big ups to the Rotofixa crew for hooking me up. I'm pretty sure that some Syncros Stratos horns are going to be next up to go with it... other than that I finished building my new bike about two weeks ago and it's awesome. I like my new wheels. I like looking out of my office into the lobby and seeing it propped against a Studer 1/2" 2 track machine. The only thing I'm not sold on is the headset... a huge-ass FSA Duron I got on the cheap via eBay. It works fine but looks kind of heinous.

m.

just completed my first fixed century on my soma rush, bullhorns and brakeless. 5 3/4 hours. did you mean with or to??

I just built up a conversion from an old Maserati road frame and a bunch of junk-box parts. Its pretty shnixy, and looks great with its spiderless 52T chainring. Very cheap too, I've hardly had to buy a thing for it (just the cog, oh, and some glow in the dark bar tape as a splurge ;) ).

Talked to a few folks here in town about time on the track... I might have to give that a try sometime. I'll get schooled, but I bet it'll be a blast.

Oh, and I was eyeing a karate monkey frame at the LBS the other day... Very cool frame, its got every damn braze-on you could imagine, clearance for HUGE tires, and a geometry that just screams, "do whatever you want to me, and I will beg for more". I love that attitude in a bike... Maybe an SS urban assault scorcher is in my future.

peace,
sam

I want to sell my bikes and buy a '65 Vespa GS.

while waiting the next 6 mos for my jonny cycles frame (wait... so... painful) i'm pondering and collecting shiny things to put on it. i'm pretty sure i'll go with campy record cranks, phil hubs, deep v's, king headset, nitto pearl stem, nitto bullhorns. but, ah, decisions, decisions...

Like modmon I just finished my first century (fixed nontheless, and brakeless to boot). I then went out to Cali and spent some time biking around LA and SF, both were a new experience, I'm not used to downtown gridlock traffic, and wasn't used to the hills in SF.

All of you SF fixed riders...lots of love. You must be real strong from riding those hills every day. Of course, I'm sure there are better routes than the ones I chose, but that's my trademark, horribly inept path finding. Towards the end of my SF trip I found most/all the hills ridable, but some I just couldn't summit from a dead stop at a light or stopsign. Oh well, there's always next time.

Right now I'm back home and am thinking about throwing a huge gear on and zooming around town. After seeing the hills in SF I realize that there's no need for me to be worried about "climbing" here. I just need to make sure that I can still stop the bike brakeless.

I had been riding way too much for work, so I've handed off several shifts and started riding for fun and wrenching again.

I'm almost done with the Masi 3V road fixed conversion...just waiting on my next shipment of phil hubs so that I can build up the final wheels.

I'm also working on another super-sexy bike whose details will remain secret until the unveiling!

Though I've never really been into racing-type things (other than alleycats and roundups), input from friends and from this forum has sparked an interest in trying out the track. I'm also working with some friends to put together a brevet ride all the way around the SF/SanPablo bays now that bikes are allowed on the new carquinez bridge!

Just built up my new Bridgestone Keirin frame this weekend. I got mine through Reload so I probably paid a premium over you guys ordering from framebank, but I also have mine in hand so thats a tradeoff ;) Most of the componentry is cheap stuff right now just to get the bike on the road. Just in riding the past few days I am already starving for some improvements. My BB is too wide so my chainline sucks. I have some (1/8th turn) slip in my rear cog that gives way during hard accelleration or skidding, (scary ****.) The nitto drops arent taped yet but I think I am going to switch back to profile bullhorns soon. The drops only have two flat handpositions: Right up next to the stem and down on the drops. I like having the wide stance bullhorns provide, makes climbing much nicer. In the end I feel like I might replace just about everything to nice it up, but I need some time. I'll take some show and tell pictures soon.

Torn between building another street fixie for commuting and bar-hopping, converting the bianchi roadie that I just got (riding a road bike around town is really fast, really boring), or scrapping everything and making the Gios more street ready: new wheels, bullhorns, maybe a break (yikes). I wish I could just make up my f#ckin' mind already.

I'm top ten in the Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware BAR (Best-Area-Rider) competition for category 4. I'm 7th. I guy who is leading has been kicking it real good the last three weeks, I'm convinced this is the weekend I can beat him.

Riding fixed put this over the top for me. It gave my road fitness that extra edge of strength, finess, grace, and speed. I'm planning on doing the district track championships in September, anything to get more BAR points. Unfortunately I'm over 3 hours from the Leighigh (sp?) Valley, so going up there more than once in a blue moon is out of the question for me (and my family).

My goal is to win the Cat. 4 BAR and upgrade on points at the end of the year. And I aim to win the district criterium championship and for a top 5 at the Tour de Toona (www.theinternational.com I think or www.tourdetoona.com). For that matter, I should shoot for Cat 4 district track champ. The Calfee Luna I have isn't really a track bike, it is a purpose built fixed bike with cross angles so it will be a little weird on the track...but it should be ok.

building a new bike. thinking about starting a thread devoted to its trickness. crappy frameset, SuperHardcore(tm) parts. Yeah, i think i'll start a thread. mwah ha ha

also, studying for the bar, which means staring at my bike and not being able to ride.

I just kinda finished my Soma. I finally got the cash together to buy my front wheel. Bye-bye langster stock crap front wheel, hello Pauls and OpenPros handbuilt. What a revelation! The old wheel's bearings were very very sad and rough to turn and the new hub is sweet. Plus now my spokes match. :)

So the last thing I need to do is get a King headset and then she'll be finished and needing a name. It is a good feeling to finally have the bike that I spec'd out in my head a year and a half (and $1500 yow!) ago.

up to volunteering at the bike collective 3 days a week, just swapped out the crankset on my bike, buying a new frame tomorrow, riding everyday, having a great time...glad to hear everyone is up to something...

-jason

Great thread start 165.

As 165, and others have said, the first few times on the track is addictive. The feel, the speed, the overall sensations are a must to try. The banking beckons.

Bike wise, I just finished rebuilding my Superbe Pro hubs onto a new set of non-machined Velocity Aeroheads. These will be my track wheels along with a set of Veloflex Pave's.

I've been on a bit of a wheelbuilding frenzy in the last couple of months. The aforesaid Velocity's, a set of CXP30's laced to AC road hubs, a set of Ambrosi rim/Ritchey hub road wheels for my nephew, a couple of 650c TT front wheels for the Slingshot (one tubby and one clincher). Wheelbuilding is, after much practice, a hobby that I truly love. Lots of parts on the stand and then magically a wheel is born and you go ride it.

Just finished butchering a Brooks B17 the other day and am still suprised by the difference in ridability. Very comfy. It does draw a few strange looks when coupled with my Slingshot (as if the frame doesn't do enough of it as it is).

And, I am in the process of building a frame. I have all the tubing, lugs, silver, flux, and motivation. The seat stay will be a wishbone so it should have a nice elegant look along with the non-oversized tubing. I have the tubing mitered and lugs smoothed, just need to commit a long evening to sitting down and firing up the torch. It could be a bomb or a bust, but it will be from my hands. And yes, it will be fixed.

And finally, I still want to make it up to the great north to ride with the DCC. Perhaps a track session with the requisite refreshments afterwards. :)

I'm starting to research the process of building my own track frame. Right now I'm collecting old broken lugged frames to practice on and shopping around for the right (read cheap) torch and gas setup. I'll probably stick to a standard track geometry and sizing but I'm also looking into other optons. If anyone good links and info please PM.

Just lost my fave bike.
Recently got some 36cm nitto 123's for my Condor, just got to import a nitto stem and that bike will be setup right. Built the wheels on it, first ones ever and they're standing up to some pretty hard abuse so far. I think everybody who works on their own bike should learn how to build wheels.

Entered an alleycat the other week, got too drunk before it started and crashed into myself before the first checkpoint!

Our local velodrome (http://www.hernehillvelodrome.co.uk/pages/news.html) is in the process of either being demolished or saved, it's still there but under lockdown right now.

Putting in 90+km (I'm guessing since I don't have a computer on my bike) a day and still lovin it...

I've been waiting for my Gunnar frame to come back from the powdercoater's for about a month now. It has a pretty new Kelly Bike fork waiting for it allong with an all black set of Deep V's/IRO hubs.

I've been commuting to work almost everyday. I even built up a Surly Pacer for the 30 mile round tripper. I've logged about 1000 miles since April on the commute. I set the Pacer up with a rear derailer only, but I'm thinking of just making it a single speed with an extra wheel I have laying around. Can a Suzue Promax (sealed version) be respaced to 130?

My Bianchi Pista is turning into a rad frankenbike. I put a some knobbies on it and a cyclocross disc fork, so I could ride some easy trails with a friend of mine. I'm waiting for the Surly Disc hub/Salsa Delgado Cross wheel to arrive from the LBS. Another week I'm told. Fixed off-road should be fun.

Finally, I need to get off my ass and pedal around my BMX. I can barely manual anymore.

My bike is undergoing a radical overhaul.... My '89 Trek 600 frame is currently being powdercoated black while a Goldtec/CXP33 front wheel is built to match my rear. There is also a silver Woodman headset waiting for me at my lbs for when the powdercoat is done.

I also picked up a set of Mavic tt bars and an old Shimano 600 stem for the new build.

Being without my bike for a week is killing me and making me think again about building a backup so this doesn't happen again.

I'll be sure top post picks when the rebuild is complete, hopefully this weekend!

Well I've been doing some work on my geared bike, but its in disrepair right now as I bent/broke some spokes because of the derailer going too far and dropping the chain between the spokes and the cassette. Ugh.

My singlespeed project turned into a fixed project last night when I threaded up a 15T DA cog and lockring. I also got some 105 clipped pedals that aren't on it yet, and some sweet purple anodized bar ends that are pre-scraped up. So now its just a matter of riding fixed and getting used to the experience. I do need new cranks for it though, and harris cyclery has some sweet sugino RD's for $80 that I've got my eye on. Its also going to get a new wheelset eventually, but for now its golden. After I get cranks, its also getting a Honey B17. So, its almost done. If they're ever done, that is.

i just got back on my (other) bike this week after spending a month recuperating from being hit. i'm slower than usual because: 1. i lost some fitness after 4 weeks off the bike, and 2. i'm definitely a little gun-shy being back in traffic. so i put a brake on the bike, and i'm re-acclimatizing. it's nice to be back in the saddle.

a portion of the taxi cab's insurance settlement will be paying for the new keirin frame i'm having built for me in tokyo. this bike will be pure sex, and i look forward to the build and subsequent riding of it. looooooooovely.

hopelessly hunting for oldish steel touring frames...still...

(YES, you should PM me if you have one for sale. i need a 55ish and a 61ish)

Just won my bid on a Sugino 75 crankset and BB on Ebay. These are going to replace the stock stuff on my '04 Pista. Slowly but surely, she will improve. Until I buy a new frame, tranfer everything over to that, and put the original components back on the Pista. Also, going off of the comments by some folks on this forum, I recently put some new Vredstein Fortezza SE blue tires on. Good ride so far.

Great idea for a thread.

As for me...

Got the KHS aero all dialed in, been commuting on it, brakeless, as of late. Will try to hit the track on Saturday with the Walker. Speaking of which, I'll be having lunch with Don tomorrow and picking up some rims and hubs from him for my new project, which will remain a secret for a while.

A friend of mine's bike was at the end of it's life and I had a frame I hadn't ridden in a while so, consequently, I'm no longer a member of the IRO club. Which is a little sad, because I really liked that bike, but at least it's getting ridden every day again, and my friend has a nice reliable frame instead of the crapbarge he was riding (come get your frame dude, it's sitting in my garage).

I've been trying to get more hills in on the weekends. During the week I just do my standard commute, which doesn't really have any substantial hills, so I have to go and find them, fortunately I live in SF. My goal is to get in shape to race next season at Hellyer. I've pretty much written this season off, as I need to drop about 10 more pounds before I can really be competitive. So, ride, ride, ride, it is for me.

Other than all that, I'm just doing my thing. If anyone is in SF and wants to go for a ride, hills, pub crawl, whatever, let me know. I'm always down, and if you're visiting from out of town and want to ride, I might have a bike you can use too.

just trying to keep the bikes on the road. Commuting over 50 miles a day now, 5 days a week.

Well, after my recent crash (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=108259), I took three days off (the crash was on a Thursday, I called in sick on Friday, and didn't ride again till I went to work Monday), then switched to the three-speed while the fixie was under reconstruction (the front wheel and brake caliper were thrashed). Luckily, two different people within three blocks of my house threw out old ten-speeds in the week after my accident, providing me with a new front wheel (w/ tube and tire) and a new Weinmann center-pull brake. The LBS had some cool moustache bars with a slight angle for $12, so I ditched the bullhorns for those and had my beloved no-name, electrical tape masterpiece (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/apr/JoshMichtom.htm) up-and-running again within a week. This past weekend, the wife and a friend of hers (who has a baby the same age as ours) thought it would be fun to take the kids to a petting zoo about 17 miles out of town, so the husbands rode bikes there while the wives and kids took the train. It was my first long ride of the season, and I was definitely hurting by the time I got home, but it felt good to be on the fixie again.

Mr. Ya Tu Sabes, what LBS are you talking about?

my bike update ... keep in mind i'm a huge procrastinator and start a lot of projects without finishing them, so chances are all this will not be finished.

at this point i am in the process of converting my converted raleigh fixie into a crummy weather, fully fendered amalgam of leftover seconds. i'm putting my bb/crank from my steamroller on it, will delve into wheel building a bit and try to get a front wheel made sometime soon (i have two NOS hubs to mess around with). i want to weld (wee for welding!) some sort of contraption ie covered basket for the front so i can load my cat in there. i want to be one of 'those' crazy people.

the steamroller is slowly growing more trackish although i don't think it will ever get there because i like riding it on the street and feel that, were i to have a nice track bike it would be solely for the track. anyway, i will finally be putting on the grand mighty cranks today or tomorrow. the champagne against the brown looks really really pretty. i debated taking the brake off but like going fast way too much and value my life (finally!). i don't really care that i'm riding a brake and all the purists, brake-less enthusias$es can really kiss my as$ if they think i'm less of a person/rider because of it.

as for road bikes ... if you care about them read on ...
my merckx is cleaned, saddled and ready to go. i am going to get a brooks team pro for it and the pinarello. as for the pinarello, it's a 1979ish red lugged fully campy record beauty that i acquired from a wonderful man in ohio last year. i'm trying to make it look especially pretty by taking off the cracked yucky gum hoods but realized that those darned things (if i want them to stay campy) are pretty darned expensive. and picked up some nice straps last week. really the upgrades on those two bikes are purely aesthetic because they are in perfect order and look perfect in all their vintage glory. and i think i will be spending a little more time with them this year and a little less time with the surly.

and to end it all ...
i have an old trek frame that i want to convert to a hauler/crummy weather alternative, leaving it geared. i have it in my apt. now but haven't really looked at it out of fear because it's so dirty and gross and will take a good afternoon just to clean. i also have a 51cm-ish old univega that i need to do something with. it's too small for me. and actually it's sort of been picked apart (by me) for parts.

and last but not least ...
when i graduate in two years i have a verbal agreement with my parents that they will contribute to the val's touring fund from which i will extract $$$ for a touring bike that will take me around the US and world (eventually). look for pictures (probably in the touring section but i'm sure i could sneak them in here too) in about 3 years.

happy riding/building/tweaking/welding all!
val.

After a brief absence from the world of skinny tires, im going to build up a new bike. My commute is going to go from 10mi R/T to about 35mi. A black surly cross check with black everything including spoke nipples. The only thing that wont be black is the braking surface on my rims, the bolts holding the bike together, and my freewheel. Some super strong 29er rims and hubs all 36h. SS/Fixed. Built up with mtb stem and flat bar, mtb cranks, and v brakes. The SS side will have the white industries dual freewheel. And when i want to go trail riding, I'll put on some 45c tires. Im going to call it the death star.

Im going to call it the death star.

niiiice.

niiiice.

Its gonna be my wedding present to myself

hey inkd, remember the synchronicity thing we talked about? well, i'm also getting married in a few months, and also building up a black (not ALL black) cross-check (as soon as i can afford it). i suppose i could consider it my wedding present to myself.

doodoodooodooooo

I am designing a new fixed frame and messing with different geometry and tubing. Just trying to go back a bit to old school.

Tony

I am designing a new fixed frame and messing with different geometry and tubing. Just trying to go back a bit to old school.

Tony

This is truly the most exciting thing I've read on this board in a long time.

This is truly the most exciting thing I've read on this board in a long time.

truly.

Summer for me is all about projects! I am sad to announce that this summer I can no longer commute by bike and instead stuck inside my car for a 90 mile roundtrip commute. Ouch. My bike (my valentine) and I are having some relationship issues as a result, and she has chosen to punish me by having some headset issues. But that also because I have two new projects distracting me.

Project #1 is the creation of my "flashy bike" aka my glossy IRO which I am using as an excuse to buy hot parts - custom color phils, matching king headset etc. I decided the frame wasnt that important, just needed to be pretty (as opposed to expensive) because I will probably be too scared to take the bike out for fear its hot parts will get stripped in SF, which is why the parts arent going on the trek.

Project #2 is the creation of my beater. I rescued an old Univega from the trash (which was strangely my size - im small, its a rarity) and I am throwing it together so I can have a bike at my parents house in LA. That way I dont need to worry about traveling with one.

As for riding, since I am not commuting I am trying to focus on endurance and distance on the weekends. Doing a half century in a couple weeks and plan on working my way up to a century. Also, headed to the 'dome for the first time in the next week or two.

ALSO, my man and I are putting together a SAN FRANCISCO ALLEYCAT in July which is going to be awesome (see flyer in alleycat thread)

-- I also went Mountain Binking last weekend for the first time in a year. Weeeee (I kept shifting the wrong direction too since I was so unused to gears)

Let's see, where to draw the line...

Well last week I picked up a roadie with gears and all. Retro 105 all around with that smooth DT shifting which was just the thing I was looking for. It's been a long time since I've been geared and it's wild. I think it's going to be a weekend rider because after a few days of getting used the shifting, I'm not any faster than fixed and it's just kind of a hassling worrying about shifting. But I dig it. A lot.

Meanwhile, my campsite's booked, I've got everything but a tent and a friend says she has a two person I can borrow. Everything will fit on a rack or in my bag. I'm gonna spin 40 miles down to Myles Standish State Forest, camp for a night super-light, then roll over to Plymouth to see some friends and catch the train back or ride depending on how I feel about the ride down there. The only question is which bike to take: the mountain bike means I can go exploring the park once I get there but it's geared pretty low, even the road gear (40/17) and has knobbies. The conversion will take the rack but it's gearing may be a bit tall for hauling gear and certainly for offroading. Plus 23c tires don't like unpaved trails that much.

So lets get this right, you kept the bike from the raffle AND bought a roadie?

And the old lady didn't kill you?

Nah, the raffle bike's gonna go. I posted an ad on CL just yesterday (though the only bites so far are a scammer and a guy trying to lowball me). I decided the components are low-end enough (Sunrace and Shimano Altus grade stuff) and the bike is just a wee bit too big.

Meanwhile my century training has been canned. I was gonna go last weekend to the cape but I had a meeting I couldn't get out of until 3, so it wasn't good timing. That and the rain. So I decided this camping thing is my replacement. I'm not feeling too bad about it. It's much better to have a good reason like getting to the campsite.

Let's see, where to draw the line...

Well last week I picked up a roadie with gears and all. Retro 105 all around with that smooth DT shifting which was just the thing I was looking for. It's been a long time since I've been geared and it's wild. I think it's going to be a weekend rider because after a few days of getting used the shifting, I'm not any faster than fixed and it's just kind of a hassling worrying about shifting. But I dig it. A lot.

Meanwhile, my campsite's booked, I've got everything but a tent and a friend says she has a two person I can borrow. Everything will fit on a rack or in my bag. I'm gonna spin 40 miles down to Myles Standish State Forest, camp for a night super-light, then roll over to Plymouth to see some friends and catch the train back or ride depending on how I feel about the ride down there. The only question is which bike to take: the mountain bike means I can go exploring the park once I get there but it's geared pretty low, even the road gear (40/17) and has knobbies. The conversion will take the rack but it's gearing may be a bit tall for hauling gear and certainly for offroading. Plus 23c tires don't like unpaved trails that much.

If you have not ridden that approximate route before, it is awesome in that area. I ride out that way from Providence all the time. I was out at Miles Standish on Saturday, it's about a 50 mile ride from here. If you don't already know, there are 15 miles of paved bike paths in the woods there, suitable for a road bike. There is plenty of exploring in the local area for either a road bike or a MTB. While you are there, be sure to check out the cabins and all the nice campsites at Curlew pond. An old friend of mine was raised in one of those cabins when he was a young child, we're going out there soon to take a look at them. You will also be in easy riding distance of Edaville railroad. The dirt roads there are so long that you can go in one direction on a motorcycle until dark. They go out into the surrounding wooded area. Bring a compass. There are maps available there. My thoughts are that the geared bike is a LOT easier on the rolling hills with a load on the bike. If your load turns out to be heavier than you thought, consider the geared bike.

Coming back from Plymouth if you want to add miles think about 106 west just past 138 to north on Bay Rd. That goes into 138 just below Blue Hill

Have fun, I'm way jealous.

i'm saving up my money, either to....

1. get some nice wheels and components for the sannino, or

2. sell the sannino and buy a complete iro mark v pro, or

3. say "****itall" and build up some old banana-seat-sissybars-
summer-lowrider. for, like, fifty bucks.

I might actually take the Panasonic except it's of the new breed with nary an eyelet in sight. I've taken Friday off, so I'll take off here around noon and roll however fast the road takes me. I just need to make camp by 8am the day after my reservation.

But I was talking to one of my friends down there about the trip and realized that part of the fun is the strategery involved. I only have so much cargo space. What's essential, what's nice, what's a luxury? You have to make some choices. If I'm doing fixed, do I want to have a good road gear or be able to do offroading when I'm there? It's the fun of struggling with the one (or two) gear fits all.

I might actually take the Panasonic except it's of the new breed with nary an eyelet in sight. I've taken Friday off, so I'll take off here around noon and roll however fast the road takes me. I just need to make camp by 8am the day after my reservation.

But I was talking to one of my friends down there about the trip and realized that part of the fun is the strategery involved. I only have so much cargo space. What's essential, what's nice, what's a luxury? You have to make some choices. If I'm doing fixed, do I want to have a good road gear or be able to do offroading when I'm there? It's the fun of struggling with the one (or two) gear fits all.

I know what you mean about the strategy, it is fun. I just bought a Rubel Bike map of that whole area. So far I have about five routes marked in different colored markers on the map to try out.
Saturday I rode across the bottom of Miles Standish on the way to the Cape Cod canal and back. Here are some photos from that ride.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dad02915/album?.dir=/3097&.src=ph&.tok=phGGOHDBAbUf97sn

About two weeks ago I rode out to Plymouth with another forum member and came back through the middle of Miles Standish. Here are some photos of that ride.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dad02915/album?.dir=/9ca6&.src=ph&.tok=phrIOHDB.k8j48ai

What about the mtb with a flip flop hub with two diferent cogs and two different chainrings mounted on the crank? One big ring for the way down and one for off road ? Pre cut some chains in advance or exta pieces? Four possible gears,all fixed.