Originally Posted by
grayEZrider
Having fun staying busy searching and building this winter. Built a (2017 Hardcore Beater Bike Challenge) machine and test rode it 5km yesterday. In the rain. Yuck. But while visiting an auto salvage yard for that I found a complete 80s Nishiki Landau (in my size!) for $10. Perfect frame, everything else locked up. But I've hung onto a too-large Ross Pro and spent today stripping the Shimano 600 EX gear for the Nishiki. Which was my second choice behind a decent Italian frame. I don't think I could deal with the large number of rainy days you folks have over there.
Congrats on Beater Challenge, will read that thread in it's entire-ity. Amazing what I learn in beater threads!
If I start a build the budget is never too exotic, but always ^^^ $100ish. Heck, every bike rides better with lightweight tubies, which breaks the budget for a pair.
As for the PNW gray days, yeah, bothers most - so you improve your various skiing muscles, snow shoe skills and crank-on damp day hikes. Kayaks help. I still gain 5-10# with the hearty winter dishes served in this household.
I vacationed and rode in flat central Arkansas this month and was uninspired. But the weather was mostly GREAT.