This bike has seen some days on the track, but not under me. It's pretty chipped up and I don't know its history, but it's a pretty classic race bike. A part of me regrets doing it, but I drilled the fork for a brake since this bike is set up for training. I had a hard time drilling this perfectly and I got super lucky. The pads are as high as they can go in the brake arms and the headset crown race sits just on top of the washer that's on the brake post- it's damned snug. The pads hit the rim perfectly. I probably won't be racing on the track anytime soon so I guess it's ok. It is a sacrilege though, I know.
I'm using 170mm Record cranks with a 39t Specialties TA chainring and a 16t cog. This is a gear that I can ride pretty much anywhere. The upwards pointing Salsa stem adds to the uncoolness factor for this bike but it puts the bars where they should be for road riding. I like that stem anyway, I've had it for about 10 years. The wheels are mismatched and inexpensive, I think the rear hub is a Miche. The rear wheel is equipped with a cheap skiddin' tire. Dura Ace seatpost (NJS yo!), Cinelli 64 shallow drop bar, Record brake levers w/right blade removed. Fizik saddle, Soma bar tape, Vetta 110HR computer and blinky bar end plugs. The headset is a old school Tange that I repack with grease once a year and will probably outlast every other component on the bike.
This bike is a perfect example of a steel bike that feels alive. This thing just kind of sings as you ride it along- it's mesmerizing. I'd love to try riding it with tubulars.
2 comments:
i like the ironic use of the coasting sticker...
Ha! Good eye! I think a former owner was sponsored by Cytomax because there were stickers on the top tube that were impossible to remove without taking the paint off. The day I discovered this I also came upon those "Coasting" (from shimano's auto-shifting group I think) stickers and they covered the cytomax stickers nicely.
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