Bouncing on pavement

 

I headed out Tuesday on the Jamis for a little test ride after finally getting around to installing a few upgrades, namely an 11:34t cassette and a Shimano 105 medium cage rear derailleur. I also picked up a new front blinky that I got that mounts between my garmin and the GPS mount.

Online shopping fiasco

I had some leftover credit on Amazon so I used it to buy another pair of Serfas Seca's, this time for the Schwinn Paramount because I was loving the tire on the Synapse.  I found an offer on Amazon for two tires for $50 and that looked like a steal, so I pulled the trigger.

  

Surly Cross Check tweaks

After a few rides on the Cannondale I went back to the Cross-Check for a commute last week and found that I was cramped in the cockpit.  In fact, I could just feel the difference and knew exactly what I needed to remedy the situation.  A longer stem obviously but also one with a little angle to, too.  The 35 mm stem I had would make the bars higher but wouldn't move them forward and what I needed was for them to move up a little and about an inch forward.

I ended up with a 17 degree, 130mm stem that I got off Amazon.  I got my money back from the FSA Seatpost debacle and used that to pick up this new stem.  Angle and size were perfect but the only funny thing was that the company logo on the stem was upside down.  Looking back at the order the picture has it right but then again that was the same picture as the 100mm stem which I bought for the Spot a couple of months ago.  Frankly, I don't care because it works for me and that's all that matters.

Beware of Knock Off Bike Parts

I picked up this FSA K-Force Carbon Fiber seatpost for a mere $38, saving around $100, on Amazon. I have gotten lucky in the past on deals that crop up so I didn't think much of it.

The surprise came when I tried to install it.  I got it, maybe 1/4 of the way into the seat tube on the Bianchi San Jose and it wouldn't go any further.  Getting it out was a little easier but not by much.

Whipping out the trusty micrometer I measure the post at 27.7 mm.  So that marker there that says 27.2 mm is complete bunk!

I went to my Amazon ordering page and immediately filed a claim.  Really can't tell if this is a knock off or it failed QC and wound up in the hands of some reseller.  Looks like I am back to my aluminum seat post for a little while longer.  

Got Fork?!

Just picked it up today but got the notification that it arrived two days ago. Funny how anything coming from outside the US has to go through our postal system and no offense if you are a postal person but our postal person is the laziest person in the world which means things like this have to be picked up at the Post Office. Of course, lovely New England winter weather pre-empted an earlier pick up.  Where is Brown Santa when you need them?  With all the snow we have I think I am going to leave it in the box until the middle of March.