anyone know a good local wheelbuilder? I had a bad experience with one store, so I thought I'd ask here.

Go to Harris Cyclery, West Newton. If you want a speccific person, ask for Jim.

I'll PM you.

This may have technically been right on the Dover/Needham line, right after the section of bridge construction heading back into Needham. I'm lucky I braked when I did. The deer were moving quite fast and blended into the scenery.

That road has bad memories for me too. A couple of years ago I was involved in a minor bike/car accident at the intersection of South and Chestnut streets. That light always makes me nervous.

Another alternative is Tyler, at Paramount Bicycle Repair, Ball Square, Somerville.

rod

Did I have a Jim Muller sighting today on the rail trail?

Got out for a 27 mile ride out in Greenfield today and looks like I'll be able to get in a ride Sunday after church. Can't complain with this winter weather, back to back weekend rides make for one happy bike rider. Hope all is well with my fellow mass riders.

Went buzzing off on my old GT Karakorum winter bike, had a flat after half a mile. Wasn't carrying any of the necessaries to fix that, so walked the bike home with such dignity as I could muster. Fun. Actually, watching the tire deform was interesting, but ony for a minute. Then it was just flat.

rod

Over a dozen cars parked in the Mass Ave bike lane this afternoon. "No Parking Tow Zone" signs and a painted bike lane aren't aparrently enough of a hint that the formerly metered spots aren't new free parking. A call to the city got a nice policeman to write a row of orange tickets, but drivers continued to park in the lane until they noticed the officer actively writing tickets. Honestly if people are driving around in such an unconscious and inattentive state I'm genuinely surprised there aren't more accidents.

Go to Back Bay Bikes in Boston at Comm and Mass Aves on the southeast corner, garden level below a Danvers Bank, and ask for Alaska. Tell him Jim of the Bridgestone sent you.

Alaska is great. Probably my favorite of the wrenches at Back Bay Bikes. I bought my Cannondale there so they get most of my service business. I did have one bad tune-up there (simple mistake with a bad outcome), but otherwise I've had good experiences. They were extremely helpful when I had a SRAM shifter break over the summer. And they're usually very up front about pricing, service costs, etc.

I did get out today for a few miles around the neighborhood. I was test-riding a new build of a Masi I'm reviving. It was great!

f'n >17F commute in this morning. My finger tips are still mad at me.

Next bike?
http://pinktentacle.com/images/11/postcard_24.jpg

Bravo to pinktentacle for this image among many others.

rod

Careful what you wish for!

McLean Monocycle

You would have thought he would at least have been wearing leathers. If that had gone over on the pavement he's be picking his arms up with a spoon.

He should have worn the green coat and the purple knickers, of course...

rod

thanks all for the wheelbuilder recommendations.

new question: what sort of shop would be willing to weld a disc tab onto my folder's fork? it is the last step to building the perfect commuter. sadly, Harris didn't want to touch it.

Harris isn't a frame builder so I'm not surprised. They wouldn't be equipped to do welding or brazing, I wouldn''t think. Try Belmont Wheelworks. Peter Mooney is a highly respected frame builder so they might be able to help.

great idea, thanks Jim. gives me an excuse to head up there and see the Volagi I've had my eye on...

Back to the title of this thread "Good Ride Today?" - I did get out (thought by now it was yesterday). Took the Masi out for an hour. It sure want to go fast. My other bikes don't want to go fast like that.

Sounds frisky! Send us a picture when you get a chance.

rod

Here's an early pic of a test build, not a great pic. The frame was somewhat trashed when I got it.

http://users.rcn.com/jimmuller/MasiRideable.jpg

The saddle, bar and stem, and crank are original, I think. The brakes, pedals, and seatpost are not. Nor are the BB and headset, though they are least Campy NR. I gave it Mk1 Cyclone derailleurs to handle a bigger freewheel. This isn't Kansas, after all. The wheels are the ones I built for the black Bianchi, 32 spokes, NR hubs, MA40 rims, Pasela TG 25mm tires. I'll probably rebuild the wheels with Open Pro rims.

In the next few months I'll probably send it to Cyclart. Some things aren't settled yet, such as color. I'm leaning toward a medium dark metallic blue with yellow paint in the lug cutouts, a common Masi detail. But I'm open to suggestions.

Anybody got any pics I can see?

Nice! Looks fast, even in the basement.

rod

Got out yesterday for a quick 35 after work in shorts. Spring-like riding twice in one week and four times this month!

I am currently looking out the window, watching it snow. It'll be mid 40's again mid-week. I wish the weather would save the warm days for the weekends.

Took the winter bike out for a brief lunch-time ride to Lexington Center in The Snowstorm That Mostly Wasn't. Would have taken the touring bike, for a longer and faster ride, but the Town dumped an amazing amount of salt on the road last night--in preparation for the non-event--and it didn't seem clever to feed that to the newly tuned-up Surly. Lexington DPW seems to be making good progress on the drainage improvements to the Minuteman, btw.

rod