New Bike Day: 2006 TREK 1500 SLR

 

I acquired this frame to replace the Voodoo and while I had a lot of Ultegra parts from the last bike I also had pair of SRAM Rival shifters that I wanted to use so I decided this would be a SRAM Rival build.

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!

Going 29'er!

I have decided to pull the trigger on the 29'er. I put the Trek up on Craigslist and hopin to see maybe two hundy for it. So, this is what I am thinking. This bike replaces the Trek, so it means it will also be the family bike that will pull the trail-a-bike and the soon to be purchased kid carrier. In fact, I might get a second seatpost that is a little more durable with the spring loaded post and double wide saddle for my fat fourth point of contact for riding with the kids. Hey, I might as well be comfortable!

I am going to start out on the low end, meaning, cantilever brakes, single speed, and rigid fork, and then over time probably build it up into more of a racing bike. The key to all this is of course choosing the right frame, in which it has the ability to convert from Single Speed to Geared. Still, if I never do anything with it, I will still have a fun bike to ride and I won't have to bring two bikes the next time I go on vacation for those times I want to ride alone.

Unless I find another frame, I think I have narrowed it down to either the Surly Karate Monkey or the Voodoo Damabala. Then there is the Soma Juice, that I really like the bent top tube configuration and I like the horizontal dropouts. It looks like the Dambala has a vertical dropout and I can't tell at this point if that is better or not. I am still learning what the differences are.

Then there is the Raleigh, that my LBS, wants me to look at. They are getting a demo that I think I am going to have to wait and ride before I decide to see if I am indeed worthy of Single Speed. Of course, I don't know if the Raleigh is capable of going geared. If not, then its out of the running. Of course their Web Catalogue makes no mention of their 29er and they don't want product questions via email so looks like I need to call them.

Happy Bikeversary!

So, here it is. One year later.
Some stats:
1. 316 miles ridden to date and this month I have topped out the most miles I have ridden in a single month, which is 61 miles. Of course, if you subtract the 15 miles from the Cockaponset ride it still works out to be a net increase in riding by 118%!
2. Dropped 15 pounds and consitently keeping my weight around the 200 to 205 mark. Pants fit much better and I gained another hole on the belt!
3. Two and a half bikes. The Trek 3700 was fun and still has a purpose in life - trailer biking and riding with the kids. Once Katie can ride on her own I am getting a rear seat for Elliot. Not sure if I am going to get the kid trailer. I can just imagine Elliot squeezing Brodie's hand too hard, Brodie crying, and me not going any where. The half bike is Katie's trailer bike. And then there is the brute, weighing in at around 37 pounds, the Giant AC. This bike has performed beyond my expectations.
4. Established a presence in the Connecticut Mountain Biking community, with some spillage into Westchester County. Joined NEMBA and am now on the Board of Directors.

So where do we go from here? More miles, more riding, more Cross Stuntry, within reason of course - don't need anymore Boomer-itis statistics for the medical community, and definitely want to start racing. I think I want to get the 29'er for that. That will be my venture into realm of clipless peddles and who knows, maybe I will convert the AC to clipless as time goes on.

Recap of today's ride in the Upper Paugussett State forest (map above). I decided to follow a notion that the current layout for the Polly Brody Forest Road wouldn't make any sense a hundred or so years ago so I decided to follow the connector on the White trail and found that there is a road, approximately the same width that continues on into the forest heading towards the lake. I followed the trail about 100 yards in to where there were a lot of trees down and it seems to continue on.

Below is my approximation (blue) of where this road would have continued if my theory is correct because where I pick it up on the dropzone leg (red track line), it appears to head into the forest, in the approximate same direction. My guess is that it follows the contours and climbs as little as possible, curves around the hill to meet up with the section near the white trail.

Also re-rode what I called the Equestrian Trail that I rode last fall with Lame NYer and found all sorts of Newtown Open space markers, so the "Yellow" trail which is NBLA's first attempt at a trail through this part of the forest definitely crossed into the Town's openspace property and that is obviously a no-go. Even with the proposed changes that we walked (Cindy and Paula) a couple of weeks ago, the climbing is such that the trail would not lend itself to be a good mountain biking trail. So, it looks like the Multi-use trail that we were planning for the forest might have to take alternative route, especially if we can't get CFPA let us traverse their hallowed ground.

What a beautiful day for a bike ride!

Getting here was easy, my daddy does all the peddling!
Oh yeah, look at meeeee! (Ms Hambone)
The Kid Rig. Adam's Trailer Bike. Only we need a mud flap. By the end of the is ride, Katie was covered in mud and loved it, of course.
End of the line! Oh, and by the way, check out the muddy shoes!

50 degrees in January

Given the expected high for today, I loaded up the Saris with the Trek and Katie's Trailer bike and Katie and I headed down to Monroe to take another ride on the the rail trail. It was beautiful out!

The trail was soggy, though, and it was very difficult to peddle, espcially while pulling an addition 70+ pounds. None-the-less, we had a great time. During one of the many stops/breaks Katie had to get her new sneakers muddy. Oh well.

Pequonnock River Valey - Trumbull, CT

Finally rode Trumbull's Pequonnock River Valley and OMG what a place. There was quite a turn out from the CF crew, too. Quite a ride. Should have been wearing by elbow pads because I fell twice on my left elbow and have a nice couple of scrapes to show for it. Also bashed my peddle again and this time its cracked all the way thru. Lastly, I broke my GPS mount. Where its located is just not good for Freeride. Rode the rest of the way with it in my hydration pack and it wasn't too bad. Tracked pretty well.

Stripped Crank, grrrrr!

Either I am riding this bike too hard or I bought a POS! Picked up new peddles yesterday and changing them out was a snap. I made sure that they were both really tight. Even road around my back yard to test them out and did a few logs.

So I out riding today with my daughter, pulling her on the trailerbike and notice that the right peddle is turning funny. I kept thinking that strap was getting in the way (decided it was time to try clips and straps - work my way up to clipless). Got about 2 miles when I stopped to check what was going on and the peddle just fell out! Well it was fun riding home peddling with my left leg and making my daughter do much of the peddling.

Thinking back now, I recall when we went to Ninham last weekend that something on the right side was making a noise when I pushed down on the peddle on that side but I had no clue what it was - now I think I know. I think the peddle threads were already stripped.

Ninham War Wounds

Seatpost, Repost

I decided to put my the hitch to my daughter's trailer bike on my seatpost permanently so I wouldn't have to worry about it everytime I rode with her. Went on smoothly and then after some adjustments, seat was in the right spot I tighten down the seatpost clamp.

I tightening it down with a hex wrench and the wrench strips the head! WTF? Well, I decide to let sleeping dogs lie and not touch it.

Rode with Katie today, on the road - boaring! Give me a rail trail or Huntington SP with the trailer bike, but forget the roads.

Seatpost Fiasco

Earlier this week I decided to remedy my seatpost issue with a recommendation that I got from a local MTB forum. The problem is on my rides, the seatpost keeps sliding down. I have tried tigthening and tightening but during every ride, halfway through I feel like I am riding a BMX. So, the recommendation was to cut up a beer can to make a shim, put it in the tube and crank her down. The recommendation was for a Pabst Blue Ribbon can but I only had MGD. Put it in and as I was tightening it down the clamp broke! Cheap POS!

Since I was working from home that day, I figured, OK at lunch I will get a new one. Called around to the various bike shops and they said come on down, we will get you squared away. First one didn't have squat but they sold me a Suntour clamp, circa 1970, to try but I couldn't get it on. Then, I went to two other shops and they had nada.

I called the LBS where I got my ride, after vowing that I would never go back there again - they are MTB unfriendly. Talk about a lack of customer service? I guess that is what you get from a bunch a roadies. Turns out they had something that fit. I brought my bike thinking that since I bought it from them they would fix for me but looked at me like I had plague. I actually had to ask, "Do you think you could put it on for me?"

The counter doode didn't know what to do so he called in one of the mechs who just didn't want to be bothered. Finally, after looking at it and looking at it, figured out what to do and got it on. If you want to know what LBS this is, write me and I will tell you, but I will say they are in Bethel - unfortunately they are the only Trek dealer around. If I get another Trek, it won't be from them.

On my way home I stopped off at some Newtown Forest Association land, Brunot Preserve, that I have been meaning to ride. Nice place that appears to been used for ATV racing and still appears to be abused by ATVs. I would think that if NFA wants to REALLY keep them out, they would do a better job at putting up barriers on the property boundary to keep them out. Only the entrance appears to have been modified.



Its a nice piece of property for Newbie riding but its primarily ATV track riding. Not very challenging. I hope to ride there again to check out the rest of the trails and create a proper map.

Larkin State Bridle Trail

Trailer Biking - Katie and I on a 10+ mile ride from Southbury, CT to Naugatuck, CT on the Larkin State Bridal Trail. Its an old railroad bed that was converted to Bridal Path and mountain biking is permitted as well. You can ride all the way to the Waterbury City Limits. We got as far as Naugatuck.

The Snack seems to be getting a lot of traffic lately from people looking for info on this trail so as a service to you here are some links you might find useful:

History of the trail
Hand Drawn Map of the trail (from History Page)
Latest Ride with a great map
Crankfire Map

This my ride!

This is my ride. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My ride is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My ride, without me, is useless. Without my ride, I am useless. I must ride my ride true. I must ride better than another rider who is trying to ride better than me. I must ride by him before he rides past me.

My ride and myself know that what counts is not the time spent riding, the time thinking about riding, nor the time dreaming about riding. We know that it is the trails that we ride that count.

My ride is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its gears and its breaks. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my ride clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

Before God, I swear this creed. My ride and myself are riders of trails. We are the masters of the trail.