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06-11-07, 10:40 PM
My '07 feature bike is ready for the Wisconsin tour this year. I've always ridden a different bike each year (new projects to try out each year). And last year was on a recumbent because of back problems (huge success: I gave away my 06 feature ride to another person on the trip (http://dbg.home.att.net/featurebike2.htm) and picked up a Burley Canto).
But this year an old favorite frame returns with new everything. I'm featuring a light build tourer this year and riding the smallest tires yet at 700x25 (gatorskins). 853 steel frame (older Lemond BuenosAires with a slightly stretched wheelbase), carbon fork, all new 105 lower drivetrain triple with SRAM 11-26 rear cluster for added range, ultegra shifters and brakes. I've wanted to check out the short reach ultegra shifters for a while since I've never felt comfortable braking from the drops. We'll see. Handbuilt ultegra hub wheels on aerohead rims including offset rear for more even spoke tension. 28 spoke front built by a local expert who I wanted to meet, 32 spoke offset rear built by me (note this violates my rule of "no low spoke counts on a touring bike", but I'm sticking with this). I didn't post a picture because I haven't wrapped the bars yet (not sure what color / pattern to go with) and I haven't mounted the GPS, computer, and iPod holder yet. But it rides and shifts like butter right now. I think I'll have another Guinness.
But this year an old favorite frame returns with new everything. I'm featuring a light build tourer this year and riding the smallest tires yet at 700x25 (gatorskins). 853 steel frame (older Lemond BuenosAires with a slightly stretched wheelbase), carbon fork, all new 105 lower drivetrain triple with SRAM 11-26 rear cluster for added range, ultegra shifters and brakes. I've wanted to check out the short reach ultegra shifters for a while since I've never felt comfortable braking from the drops. We'll see. Handbuilt ultegra hub wheels on aerohead rims including offset rear for more even spoke tension. 28 spoke front built by a local expert who I wanted to meet, 32 spoke offset rear built by me (note this violates my rule of "no low spoke counts on a touring bike", but I'm sticking with this). I didn't post a picture because I haven't wrapped the bars yet (not sure what color / pattern to go with) and I haven't mounted the GPS, computer, and iPod holder yet. But it rides and shifts like butter right now. I think I'll have another Guinness.