Been a while since I posted any pics...

Seems that with my ever changing health and the ups and downs of that certain bikes have undergone changes as I found that riding a fixed gear is often too difficult and then found that 3 speeds and then a dual drive lacked the range I needed to keep spinning like a gerbil on crack.

Will still ride the remaining fixed gears and 3 speed whenever I can but for the day to day I need some extra gears.

Anyways...

Came across a beautiful set of vintage wheels... XT hubs with a 6 speed 13-30 uniglide laced to some beautiful Araya RM20 rims and decided to do something different and build up a Shimano equipped version of my UAV.

I have enough NOS Uniglide cogs to keep this drive running forever so there are no worries about not finding spares for this.

The original equipment on the 1988 Shasta was Exage 6 speed with indexing but I went a little retro with some Deore XT friction thumbies mated to a light action long cage with an XT front and sourced out a nearly new Sugino VP with a great 28/38/48 set up and have always loved Sugino cranks for their stiffness and excellent chain rings.

I almost went with a Biopace on a Shimano Deore crank...

So here is the UAV version 5.0... it spent a little time as a 1 by 6 (version 4) as I looked for the right triple crank which polished up beautifully.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=215970

Deore XT shifters... almost as smooth as Suntour thumbies. The 105 levers and canti / u brake provide some incredible 1 finger stopping power.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=215969

Night shots...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=215971

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=215972

I am also really pleased with the Schwalbe Silentos... running a 1.75 / 1.95 combination and at 65 psi they roll out smoothly and live up to their name... they handle wet conditions beautifully and the bike corners like it is on rails. They may not be as fast as Schwalbe Hurricanes but do not give up much speed in a trade off for much better ride quality.

Gearing is damn near perfect for touring too... 25 to 95 gear inches and I could go lower... have little need for anything higher than the 95 which is a downhill / wind at my back kind of gear.

And because I cannot comment on each and every ride that has been posted here of late can only say that you folks have been doing some beautiful work... I especially like the custom builds and the high number of mountain bikes that are seeing new life as commuters and tourers and kick ass utilitarian bikes.

Somebody's been reading EcoVelo.info! (Or if not, is a kindred spirit to Alan (ecoveloinfo)) Can I ask approx. what it cost? Sounds like my ideal commuter, too...

What is at ecovelo that is of interest ?

Bike pr0n, duh.

That's why I come here... for the "girl next door" vibe.

:D

But yes, freaking beautiful. Even though you are biting Alan's style with your build. (I would too if I had the cash.)

Who doesn't read EcoVelo?! Turns-out, I put my build order in to the LBS back in early May, when Alan was running the off-the-shelf Alfine 8, first-generation-Gates, and the drop bars. I test rode the Kingfield, and knew it was close to my perfect commuter, but that over the next few years I would essentially upgrade everything on the bike. I got home, told my partner, and got my favorite line in response: "Just get what you WANT, so I don't have to listen to you complaining about it for the next five years!" If you can believe it, I waited over three months for the CenterTrack belt components. Now, I get to see if it was worth the wait! I will post more on the bike when I have some free time this weekend.

I just got my nashbar rack and panniers on my hybrid. It took like an hour to install the rack (SO MANY FREAKING SCREWS, WASHERS AND NUTS).

http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/x...t/photo-39.jpg

Finally finish install Alfine 8 to Kona Sutra. :D

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O...e%25252002.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...e%25252003.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F...e%25252001.JPG

Decked out for commuting..

http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t...3-43_375-1.jpg

Love it! :love: Now go chase down some Roadrunners!

New handlebars :)
 

Probably just like the best bike ever. Loving this thing!
Attachment 216393

Few pictures of what has become my main commuter lately. New bar tape, champagne cork bar ends, PB rack added a bit ago. The biggest upgrade, by far, has been my addition of a Mavic CXP-22 wheelset. 105 hubs, new cassette, handbuilt rolling on Michelin Lithion 2 tires. I feel like a TdF racer now just going to work.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w...2012.51.30.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C...2012.51.55.jpg

I went to the bank between classes today and I hitched my bike up in front of my favorite burned out building in Albany. Around noon it looks rather spectacular with the sun shining out the windows because it has no roof. Some time I'll take a picture of the whole thing and post it here.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/b...d/9c85f0b7.jpg

That blue on blue works.

Sweeeeet bike. The blue on blue looks awesome! But I hate that two tone bar tape and the cork plugs. If I were you, I would buy some Bontrager gel cork tape in their dark blue color. It would look great on that bike.

From today's commute:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/...86a7ebca_z.jpg
After Hurricane Irene by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

Was there a storm or something? ;)

"I was going so fast, that the air turbulence created by my passing fell this tree."

I promise, the ladies will love it. Or maybe the dudes, I don't know what you're into. Either way...

hahahahahaha i lol'd.

What kind of statement is that, I'm into BIKES.
But my girlfriend of might argue I'm into girls,
but seriously though; I hang with bikes ;)

My apologies. I forgot to accomodate for the third option.

Apologies for the decidedly unsexy lighting. I'll try to get a better picture soon. Here's my new super-commuter/all-purpose bike. Commute is about 12 miles each way.

http://images110.fotki.com/v109/phot...1010971-vi.jpg

Thanks, though my little dichromatic tape job is probably my favorite part. When I wear it out, I will probably do that same, but I will go with a darker blue for the drops for sure. It doesn't look that bad in person, but in these photos you can really tell it was a mismatch. It DOES mount the lighter accent color on the frame though.