weltall82

hey everyone!

i've been reading threads from this site for the past couple years as they'd pop up in google searches. often, they've either been precisely helpful, or mercilessly hilarious.

so i figured i should finally join. this would be the first forum i've ever thought to sign up with.



so, i live in portland, or, since last summer, where i came from a time and place of misery and despair. that is the simplest, least painful way i can summarize it. i came to portland and discovered the strength, pride, and connectedness of the cycling community, and, well, basically cycling saved my life.

'nuff said.


growing up, i always rode bikes around the sterile suburban sprawl--mountain, bmx, hybrid, i never cared what. i didn't know squat about their construction, and i barely knew how to maintain them. i remember my dad had a couple of old touring bikes in the basement i thought were stupid looking and impossible to ride with those crazy drop bars. never did i imagine that road bikes (and track geometry) would come to be my preference.

moving to portland introduced me to an entire new galaxy of cycling, and i've since taught myself much about bike construction, a bit of history, and some maintenance. my knowledge very certainly is specialized in track and fixed-gear road bikes, at least at this time. i remember my first encounter with a friend riding his fixie, and i thought it was just pointless. "just shut up and try it sometime with an open mind. ride one for a day and you'll see."

"yeah, right. whatever," i told him.

well, he was right.

now i build them.

my next step will be building wheels.






i ride an '07 steamroller (dark charcoal, decals removed), with a cane creek headset and shimano bb, silver velocity/formula aeros, silver sugino rd cranks, silver 1/8" Z chain, geared to 2.9 : 1 via 46/16 ratio (fixed), with a pair of nitto rb-021's, half-wrapped in grey cloth, and a red evolution seat. not all the parts are top shelf, but she is beautiful for her budget.

thanks to anyone who either cared enough, or was bored enough, to read this.

happy trails!
-daniel

East Hill

Hi Daniel, interesting how one's perceptions change over the course of one's life, isn't it?

Do check out the PNR regional forum, there are a lot of members here from PDX and the surrounding area.

Your bike is quietly elegant, but we need a photo of the drivetrain!

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

weltall82

thank you!


and yes, it is quite amazing how much can change...


more photos coming once i get both my custom top tube pad and a half-link to pull my rear in a trifle.

starkmojo

Nice brakes.

(Ducks and covers)

East Hill

Now, be nice! Wait until he goes over to SS/FG, ok ?

East Hill

weltall82

come on now, guys, i have brakes - real cheap Poverty levers pulling side-pull dia compes, but i need to have the clamp bored a bit to fit the nittos. i prefer bmx levers to cross, but you have to augment them to fit the 25.4 (i think) flats just outside of the 26.0 nitto sleeve.

common problem with nitto bars, as i understand it.

East Hill

Side-pull Dia-Compes? What vintage are they?

East Hill

weltall82

i'm unaware of the vintage. i picked them up some time ago from my LBS on the cheap. they're in great condition. where on the back of the brake arms in all of that script could i find the year issued or the model series?

East Hill

Check here.

East Hill

weltall82

seems they're from may of '86, by that information.

East Hill

I'm a C & Ver at heart, you know !

Anyway, when you have a chance to get a photo with everything completed, we'd love to see one of your bike showing off the drivetrain!

East Hill

asuperstar103

Hi Daniel, glad to see you picked this one forum to join. I read a lot in here, not so much posting. I kinda dropped off this winter, but now that spring is here I am back to reading. I enjoy reading others stories and learning some about maintenance as well (although that is what my husband is for...lol). Enjoy your stay here!

starkmojo

Said in fun... but be careful. There are a lot of brakeless people who cannot stop there bikes in this town- so if you hop and skip well- keep an eye out behind you!

weltall82

thank you for the warm welcome!

weltall82

i hear ya!

i've seen em. it's ridiculous i think not to have a brake for emergencies. like it's some testament to manhood, or dare-devil style, or of respect to true track format - even though a track racer would also call you an idiot for riding in traffic without a brake.

but as long as mash makes it cool to roll brakeless, we'll have ever hipster and their mother in onitsuka's blowing through stop lights.

also, isn't it illegal in PDX to ride brakeless?

East Hill

I do believe so...that doesn't necessarily stop people though.

East Hill

weltall82

getting a ticket would certainly stop me, haha.