If you put lipstick on a pig

It's still a pig!

I think this makes my second or third commute on the Trek and to be honest I am not a fan of the hybrid.  I think what bothers me the most about it is how you sit upright like riding a mountain bike but not having the same geometry as a mountain bike just makes it feel off.  It's still a good bike but in this current configuration I don't think it's something I want to be spending a lot of time riding.

About half way to the office is when it hit me, this bike needs the Gary I bars that i put on the Qball and combined with lower stem, this would turn this pig into a pony!  Of course, you know what means?  The Gary I's are purely a singlespeed handlebar because you can't get bar end shifters into the ends.  The only drawback is that this bike has vertical drops so in order to go singlespeed I would need a tensioner but then I found this website called FixMeUp!  It's an online gear calculator that will let you calculate the gearing combination you need so that you have enough tension on your chain.  By the time I got to the office, I got it all figured out:  Get a fixed gear wheel set, mount the other fenders I have and voila, I will have a new singlespeed, all weather commuter!

I really don't want to thin the herd ...

but I think I have to.  I initially put the Qball up Craigslist but my Bike Guru saw the ad and immediately chastised me.  He was right, though, I can't sell the Qball because it's basically what got me seriously in to mountain biking and as a result of that has lead to an even more profound involvement in cycling.  In fact, maybe to assuage my own guilt I created a page on this blog as an homage to one of the most versatile bikes that I have ever owned.

Configured for sale

That leaves me with removing a duplicate.  I half heartedly put the SX800 up on Craigslist a week ago and also added it to a Facebook page, too, that actually got a response but the kid low balled me I it wasn't worth it.  I would rather keep it then sell it for what he offered, even if I could have negotiated him up, it still wouldn't have been worth it.

Pre-sales configuration

Last night, I made a more serious attempt at selling it by listing it on other Craigslist locations.  As you would expect, I got a flood of scammers who can't read directions and promptly deleted their inquiries.  I really don't have to sell it but it would be nice if I could so then buy a road bike (did I just say that?) because what's the point of having two cross bikes?

I had always envisioned on selling the Trek and I put up an ad, too, but again now that I have it set up as a dedicated commuter, I am not so sure.  The flat bars really make a difference on this frame and now I am contemplating trying even a wider flat bar and upgrading the right hand shifter to a Shimano LX to match the left side.  This bike has turned into a diamond in the rough.

I might, temporarily, throw in the towel on Singlespeeding if I am able to sell the Kona.  Here I have it set up with the Blunts wheelset, but it might go easier if I throw the Stans Arch & Crest wheels on instead and keep the Blunts for a rainy day.  That rainy day could be purchasing a full suspension frame with the Kona proceeds and making the Spot a Singlespeed with an adapter.  Ironically, space is no longer an issue because I found a way to hang the last bike in the garage.  The real dilemma these days is just trying to figure out what bike to ride.

Commuter Update

Here is what the Trek looked like when I picked it up from my neighbor.  Just your run of the mill, 700c Hybrid that was occasionally ridden around the neighborhood and local rail trails.

The is what it looks like now.  I switched out and added the following components

1. New front wheel
2. New Stem
3. Avid Single Digit V-Brake front
4. Shimano STX Cantilever Brake rear
5. Planet bike fenders 
6. Wider flat bar
7. Clark, lock on Grips
8. Avid FR-5 levers
9. Terry Saddle
10. Seat Bag
11. Banjo Brothers Pannier (not pictured)

 

It rides really nice and I can't wait to get it back on the road to work.  Since the frame is somewhat smaller than I am used to riding, the new stem stretches the cockpit out so that it's more comfortable for me.  As I have mentioned before it's a lot like riding my Burley Tandem.  The Captain's position is very similar in size but even so, it's still a pleasure to ride as is the Trek.

You might also recognize that I reverted back to my old GarminEdge 705 mount.  That's because the Edge800 only allows you to have 5 bike profiles so that puts the Trek and the Burley without slots so I am using the 705 on these bikes now.  If I can sell the Cannondale then maybe the Trek will be added back onto the Edge 800 play list.  One last change I might still make is get an even longer stem that will hold a 31.8 bar and try my Sunlite 762 wide bars.  That could be a lot of fun.

First Ride on the Trek 720

A storm front rolled in Wednesday night bringing a little more rain to the area and with that warmer temperatures so despite the wet weather I headed off to work on the Trek.  Right off the bat the first thing I noticed was riding the Trek was a lot like riding the Burley.  The similarity in both bikes is that they are both smaller frames and to compensate I have to raise the seat and the bars to find a comfortable position to ride.

Regardless of the size issue, it's a really smooth ride, hence the saying "Steel is Real!"  The Fme bars are actually a nice compliment.  The having two different shifters, though, is interesting.  I did try out the granny gear when I rode up Papoose Hill and the LX shifter shifts like a Shimano LX Shifter.  However, the starboard side shifter, while Shimano, is really like a SRAM X-n shifter where up and down the gears is controlled by just the thumb. 

  

 I am going to try a different sized stem and play around with the seat and bar height but overall, this bike is definitely a keeper.  Also, I have to replace the front wheel but I think Jolly Old Saint Nick will be bringing me a new wheelset for the Cannondale which means I can transfer that wheelset to the this bike!

Trek 720: My new commuter bike

While the frame size is not ideal sliding the seat back as far as it will go and using a 130 mm, 60 degree quill stem I had laying around makes the cockpit pretty comfy.  I wanted to use my Gary I Bars but my available choices of gear shifters made that choice not feasible.  Then it dawned on me, my Fme bars!

The front deraileur shifter was fried so I replaced it with a brand new LX shifter I had laying around.  The existing levers were absolute crap so I replaced them with some Avid FR-5s, that I had laying around.  Avid Single Digit 3 V-Brakes replaced on the fork, from the brake box.  Shimano STX cantilever brakes in the back and I think they came off the Burley Rock & Roll.  Not shown is a rack on the back that I snagged off the Burley as well and now I will be able to bring my lunch to work. The front wheel I got in trade for the Lambert but it has a dent in the rim.  I am going to ride the wheel anyway for the time being until I can replace it with the wheelset from the Cannondale.  The only thing I am going to buy for the bike are fenders.

Trek 720, the saga continues

I spent an hour riding the Trek the other night on the trainer but it didn't feel quiet right so changes will be in order.  I am going with different bars, Gary I Bars but not sure what I am doing with the shifters.  The OEM shifters are crap and I would like to do thumbies but the ones I have are for 25.4 bars and the Gary Bar requires a 26 mm mounts, so I am scrounging for those right now and so far haven't found any that are not friction shifters, yet.  Brakes are getting an overhaul and I have a wheelset when I am ready to take this on the road for commuting but will need a 7 speed Shimano cassette but for now it's perfect for the trainer.

Treks are for Trainers

Wet weather means no trails and with the temperatures nearing
freezing staying off the roads in slick conditions is paramount.


I finally decided what to do with the Trek I found on the side of the road
a few months ago.  Glad, I didn't throw out the wheels after all.
Tube in the front won't hold air but it's not like I need it too, either.

Jacked up the seat and replaced the bars for a few more hand positions.
The bike has a nice a feel to it.  Future enhancements will include bar end shifters,
better brakes and probably mustache bars and this will be a fun bike.

1990 Trek 720 Mult-Track

Was it my destiny or fate that I should find this bike on the side of the road Sunday with a free sign attached to it?  Been awhile since I have had a project bike and I have been thinking about a different winter commuter than the Fredmobile.  Measuring the frame, it looks like it might even fit me, even though it looks small I believe it to be a 20" frame.

I can't do a fixed gear conversion on it because it has vertical drops but I might have some fun with it, like some mustache bars or drops with bar end shifters.  It doesn't need much work, just have to clean it up a bit and get a new chain.

 

Definitely have to replace some cable housing.  I tried to fit some 42c tires in the front fork but there was a slight rub.  Some fenders and a rack for panniers and this could be a really nice commuter.

Nothing really impressive in the parts list with the exception of the crankset.  This might be a good candidate for a retro-shift conversion!