It bothers you aesthetically? But your ok with running all modern components with the exception of downtube shifters?
wtf

Right now its a Shimano RS10 modern wheel set on there. Im running a 7 spd cassette spaced. The shifters are set on friction so it works perfectly. Eventually I will might want to run something with a larger gear range. The STI's do give me the option to go 10 speed. Im not positive how high you can run friction. Partly because I have never tried it or thought to look into it.

As for everyone else, yep its a weird build, the way I see it, it will work both ways flawlessly. So the next thing to base the decision on is aesthetics. I just feel the down tubes are a cleaner look.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...55386618_o.jpg

Sprint Double Sprint at Chicago Velo Campus. It was a sprint clinic taught by Jon Fraley and followed by a sprinter's omnium. Lots of fun.

IMO 8 speed is the the most you should go. I ride 8 speed friction and it isn't all that different from 6 speed, but 9s is too finicky.

Thanks man that is super good to know!

couple from a tour in Maine we just completed

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...96847668_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...32023091_o.jpg

broken rack mount? add more zipties
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...24563451_o.jpg

I agree. With modern cassettes that shift so easily, if you get the derailleur perfectly placed it will continuously shift between cogs and the shift is so smooth and quiet you don't have the crunching noises to tune out.

first outing with the Surly 1x1 along the local Erie Canal trail, both the gravel and grass/mud portions.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/9...f1d481cd_o.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9...dff8f32a_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9...6714b786_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/9...df61c018_b.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2864/9...53895287_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/9...94ec8912_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9...4a405cba_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/9...61c6e29c_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/9...4048ac4e_o.jpg

For a while I was using a small "Mini F9" HD bullet cam to record some of my rides to get some test footage before putting it in the air. I stopped for a break once and got a few shots of the bike itself with the terrain in the background. I bike around this complex quite a bit. Notice the lake in the 2nd photo - and I've ridden from there, around the lake and further many times. :thumb:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...2520AVATAR.PNG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y.../s818/Bike.PNG

Also - notice the trail on the left of the fields, leading out of the view of the cam. I rode down that once, don't have the footage from it though.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...W_g/s912/7.PNG

Charger

From yesterday:

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps819bea76.jpg

damn.

ive only done one ride in nj outside of the usual 9w/river road nonsense and i gotta say, it was the best ride ive ever done.

gotta find some more goodness out your way

Sup, Bruce Willis. Nice bike.

swerious sweetness on this swage.

Rained most of the ride,didn't shoot many. New friend and noob mtn biker (he had...gasp...24 gears on HIS bike :p ). Big ol inexpensive bikesdirect.com Gravity G29 (with all my higher end parts swapped on,next swap is the On One Inbred frame being delivered tomorrow via UPS) and a self portrait...
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps151cc873.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...psdcef7e57.jpg

Good friend Joshua on his near (non-SS) bike...
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps4843d903.jpg

:lol:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...66324101_n.jpg
yesterday

That looks like such a nice ride. Dig the bike too.http://goo.gl/9cfbY
Got home from work and utilized the extra sunlight to race sundown home

is it hot in chicago yet? how do you manage with all that long hair (is that you)?!??!

Yeah it was pretty hot. Hair is going before state championships.

These have been sitting in the camera for a bit.
North Simcoe Railtrail
http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/...psba7c2aa5.jpg
local road
http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/...psc0bbb30f.jpg

Headin' into Burbank.
http://i.imgur.com/ClgppgX.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...66549178_n.jpg

http://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws...0aa80174_7.jpg

Team Pursuit at track night. We had the fastest time of four teams. Kayce is the one with the beard.

On Saturdays ride.

Photos by Alex Chiu.


http://i.imgur.com/xmxlpvCl.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/KZsRYSdl.jpg


shoopdawoop.

So we gave one of our club GoPros a trial run today. Pretty rad:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9...a674dfa2_c.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9...7fea18d6_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/9...4b029ede_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/9...3c27c1fc_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/9...ca3a5a8f_c.jpg

(beers at the top for my birthday - a growing sfcyclingclub tradition)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/9...0536037b_c.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2810/9...1dc91c17_c.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/9...27b31a43_c.jpg

DAT LEAN

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7286/9...349ba00a_c.jpg

Ok that's it. Sorry for the spam!