802 Single Speeding

After working around the house all morning and big storm moved through the area with tornado warnings across the spectrum going out and I slept through it all during a midday nap. A tornado actually struck in Woodstock, VT and caused quite a bit of damage. I awoke to blue skies and sunshine and went out for a ride on the single speed.

Tighthead Brewing Company

I didn't ride Tuesday because it rained again in the morning and I had dinner plans with my uncle and his family.  On Wednesday, after work, I headed out on the singlespeed to ride to the Tighthead Brewery.  It was pretty hot, nearing the 90s but again the slight breeze that seems to be always blowing and the lack of humidity made riding here very enjoyable - what can I say, I like the heat.

Singlespeed Tour de Chicago - Bonked

I have always wanted to ride my singlespeed through a city and today I was going to ride through Chicago.  From her house and back it was around 65 miles and despite a little early unpleasantness it turned out to be a really nice day.

Cock Sizing

My front brake cable was acting funny on the Waltly so I rode the singlespeed this morning to the Northbrook Veldrome

Thankful, Blessed and Grateful

I took two days off from riding for Christmas and then Sunday, went out on the singlespeed for a 30 mile ride on wet roads. I was a bit overdressed and by the time I was 15 miles into the ride I was sweating.

New Handlebar Day!

Finally got some bull horns, aka pursuit bars, for the singlespeed!

The leverage is great and it makes climbing so much better

 

Selling the Sex Machine

After purchasing the Waltly I found myself in a bit of conundrum - do I need three gravel bikes?  With the CAADx now my most favorite gravel bike since giving it a makeover and the Waltly being an any road bike, did I need my REI Adv 3.1 anymore? 

A 3 Handle Ride

The temperature on Thursday topped out around 70 degrees and it was too nice to pass up. I headed out on Just Good Beer wanting to get a 3 Handle because I took a rest day on Wednesday. Granted it was worth it because the last brake I took from cycling was one day off in mid March.

Getting Bolder

I am finding that riding dirt on skinny tires is not as bad as I imagined

and I find I am doing it a lot more now

 

New Bike Day: Vassago Verhauen 29+ Singlespeed

Last spring I got the itch to build up a monster cross, which is a mountain bike with dirt drop bars. It took me about 6 months to scrounge everything that I wanted for this bike. My other goal was to try and use as many parts that I have laying around as possible but before anything could happen I needed to find a frame. A friend of mine knew I was looking for a frame and he knew someone selling a beat up, distressed (intentional) steel Vassago Verhauen frame. 

I always wanted a Jabberwocky but this would do. There are couple design elements on this frame that I found frustrating. The head tube has a 44mm diameter requiring a larger headset. I had one from an old Cannondale mountain bike #roadscore that I took for parts but it turned out to be a piece of crap. So I went out and got one from FSA.

The same friend who told me about the frame for sale contacted me later and wanted to if I wanted to try a 29+ wheel that had QR adapters. Since I would be riding rigid I thought it would be fun and make the ride a little softer.  

Gearing right now is 34x21. I bought a replacement 34t chainring for one of my other bikes that didn't workout so rather than send it back I kept in hopes of another application. I used it here but it makes it tough for climbing so I am going to have to get a bigger rear cog.

   

With the exception of climbing really steep stuff the bike handles really well and is really maneuverable, something that I have found to be always the case with a 3 inch tire. After the first ride, though I felt like I had been through the ringer.  

 

Life is good with a happier stem

Finally got the new stem. Same pitch, only 110 mm instead of 70 mm

Morning JoeSS

The intention of this morning's ride was to take the flattest route to Bethel and stop at Molten Java for a cup of coffee and then ride back. Unless you are riding with 3 miles of the coast there is really no flat riding around here.

First Ride on #JustGoodBeer

I picked the flattest route I could find from my house for the inaugural ride of #JustGoodBeer. 

The only thing that I noticed is that the chain line appears to be off somewhat because it sounds like the front ring is hitting the chain on one side. I might try a smaller chain but for now I just going to make sure the rear wheel is aligned properly.

Two other things that I don't like is the stem and the bars.  The angle, 17 degrees is right, but length is not so I will have to get a longer stem. Theses came with the Voodoo and short of going to Carbon are a weight weenie's wet dream.  They are, however, too narrow and that's why I replaced them on the Voodoo and that's why I am going to replace them on this bike, too. 

Other than that, it rides really nice and smooth. That's what you get with the steel. Climbing is tough with city gearing 42:16 but it just means I need to get stronger. This was a great test but what I am really looking forward to riding is a Metric and America century on this bike.

State Bicycle Co Carolina Singlespeed Build

For my birthday in February, I purchased this singlespeed frameset from State Bicycle Co. My company added a new cycling team event in addition to the CT Challenge this year, the 5 Boro Bike Tour of Manhattan, and I decided I would build up a singlespeed for this event and other charity rides that I like to do throughout the year that don't have an insane amount of climbing.

It came with a headset and a seatpost collar. The selling point for me, however, was the drops because they have built in tensioners. There were a few drawbacks to this frame. The steering tube came pre-cut and since it was a 59 cm frame with a lower profile it meant that I was going to have to run a longer stem and one thing that I didn't realize is that I would need a stem with a greater rise. It also only comes with one bottle cage mount but I plan on riding some distances on this bike so I am going to have to figure out the best way to add cages without spoiling the look.

My plan was to try and use as many parts from my box of tricks as possible and then upgrade things as needed.

Singlespeeding the Bloomin Metric

I brought my tandem down to Westport for my brother-in-law, Will and his daughter Julia to ride this year since my oldest son is no longer interested in staring at my fourth point of contact for 26 miles. I decided to ride my singlespeed again, only this time I kept it free wheel.  Have ridden 130 miles two days ago I didn't want to take any chances straining anything. 

We set off at a brisk pace by my father's standards.  Granted he is 75 and mostly rides rail trails but he still rides!  Some of the hills on the course were too steep for him and he walked a few of them. He was able to ride up Burr Street, though. On the singlespeed I had to attack every hill otherwise I would be walking.

Captain Lawrence Singlespeed Metric Century

After last week's True to Brew ride I got the bug to ride to another nearby brewery, the Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford, NY.  Being located near the southern terminus of the North County Trailway I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. Ride to another brewery and pedal down the entire length of the North Country on a singlespeed. No one from the LunArtics were available but Karl from True Cyclery was definitely interested so we planned to meet at the trail head in Southeast, NY and ride the Putnam Trail (the Old Put line) to the North Country and then to the brewery!

Our start got delayed because I should have done a better job posting the parking lot location for Karl and then right before leaving I realized I lost my pedal magnet and we went searching for it but to no avail. Despite the windy conditions it was a perfect day for cycling.

Riding on the old railroad bridge over the New Croton Reservoir was cool








Next time I do this ride I think I want to try riding it fixed!



9 miles from the Brewery was when the first mishap occurred



Karl got a flat! It would appear that a very sharp piece of acorn cap must have punctured his tire.



I went and checked the vicinity where it popped and all I found were pieces of acorns.
Karl lined is tire with a ten dollar bill and then we took off.

Further down the trail it got really leafy and the next thing I new I was off the trail and riding in the gravel. I tried to pull back onto the trail when the leaves caused me to slide and I went down on the deck. Getting up my right hip hurt and figured I was going to have case of road rash by the looks of abrasions on my best tights.  My right knee hurt from the impact as well, along with my right elbow and hand. What hurt the most, however, was my left thumb. Somehow I jammed it and that could be a problem as I learned later while trying to climb on the hoods to the brewery. Otherwise, I felt pretty good. 

Upon arrival at the address we wandered around till we realized the brewery was in the back of the building. While I came prepared with a bike lock I was pleasantly surprised to find ample and secure bike parking. In fact, we weren't the only cyclists there. There seemed to be two or three groups there as well.

Captain Lawrence doesn't sell flights, rather you buy a sampling glass and then poker chips. One chip for sampling beers 6.5% ABV and below and 2 for anything above.  That's a great system.  Karl and I split a 10 pack of chips.

I sampled the following beers:
Freshchester Pale Ale
Hop Commader IPA
Centenary IPA
Effortless Session IPA
Brown Bird Brown Ale

Karl had:
Effortless Grapefruit IPA
Liquid Gold Belgian Gold Ale
Effortless Session IPA
Double Fisted Double IPA (7.5% ABV)



We also had the Bacon Truffle Mac and Cheese and it was UFB!

I bought a 32 oz growler of the Freshchester and it fit perfectly in my Banjo Brothers Trunk Bag. In fact, it looked so roomy in there that when I got home later I tried putting in a full size growler and it fit perfectly so you know what I will be doing on the next brewery ride!  Karl got a 22 oz bomber of the Apricot Sour and it fit perfectly in his back pouch. Something to remember for the next time as well if I don't bring a bag to hold a bottle.

Being a railfan, I had to stop on the way back and take some pictures of these tracks.

We were 9 miles from the end of the ride when Karl got another flat on the same hole.  What ever got him this time went right through the bill and got him again.  Fortunately I had a spare tube (I always bring two) and we were shortly on our way.

Despite the flats, crash, and the brutal head winds, it turned out to be a great day of riding and sampling beer. Where to next?

The unhappy stem

I switched out the Bike Nashbar stem and went to a shorter necked, flatter angled Nitto stem to see what the difference would be.  As I mentioned in my previous post, the happier stem didn't feel right and I knew I needed something flatter.  I got everything put together, threw on my cold weather riding kit, and rode up to town to vote on a referendum on how best to use free money that was given to the town post the Sandy Hook Massacre.

Schwinn Paramount Single Speed makeover

I finally mounted up my new Serfas Seca 23mm tires on my old Mavic CXP 33 rims after a 3 week Online Shopping Fiasco with an Amazon.com retailer called OutdoorEquipped.  I love these wheels because the hubs are Shimano 105s and they roll for evah and I just knew they would look really hot on the Schwinn.

1992 Schwinn Paramount Series 7 PDG OS: Fixed!

Before

After

The only Fredding to the bike, besides throwing on a pair of flats

is a different set of bars

The proper use for Origin8 Gary I Propulsion Bars is on a fixie

I tried three different stems but went back to the original

My next fixie project: 1992 Schwinn Paramount Series 7 PDG OS

The first thing out of the seller's mouth when I said I might make a few changes is not to Fred it Up. Moi?  It's going to be ridden like a fixie it needs to be enhanced, so I might do a little Fredding to it.

I picked up this 1992 Schwinn Paramount Series 7 PDG from the same person I bought the Cannondale SX800 from. I have to say, for an Old Crappy Ten Speed Fixed Gear Conversion it's got a sweet mix of components on it worth way more alone than what I paid for the whole bike!

  Selle Italia Flite Saddle with titanium rails

There is a plethora of information on Schwinn Bikes and this model, the PDG Series, too.  The Waterford Bikes website has an extension amount of information on this bike, as well on all Schwinns.  According to the Waterford site, the original grouppo for the bike was Shimano Ultega but the parts on here are a mix of high end, quality parts put on over time.

Shimano 105 levers

Ritch Stem

Shimano 600 headset

Somec fork

Durace Front Brake

Surly flipflop rear hub with 16t fixed and freewheel cogs

Mavic cranks

Shimano Ultegra rear brake

Mavic rims

It's super light and really solid

The only planned changes are going to be new bars and tape

Crankbrothers Pedals

And probably some commuting tires