Niiiiice.
30 April 2008
Thank goodness for eBay
Just as the Kuwahara Apollo came and went, so too did the Giant STP2 (which was also Christina's B'day pressie). I decided it's not the best bike for her, and will look for something more suitable soon. It's a bit embarassing to give my suga a pressie, then take it back off her but it's bought me more time and I'll be sure to get it right next go.
AGDA First Five Out
I'll be speaking at this event next week. Looking forward to it! I love public speaking :)
29 April 2008
KMC SuperLite X9SL
Going down! New chain came in the mail today. It's a KMC SuperLite X9SL which weighs in at 211g (old one was 290g).
28 April 2008
Suga's B'day drinks
Not sure why, but we ended up at Fox Studios again the other night. Hilarious as it made pub crawling damn easy :) Fox and Lion for dinner and beers, the Bavarian Cafe for Lowen Brau's and shots, then the Strike bar for some drunken bowling. Highlight of the night was when Suga beat everyone on the breath test machine with a .182 reading (lol).
22 April 2008
Kona Paddy Wagon
This morning I took the Kuwahara Apollo out for a good spin and found that I just didn't like it. It's lazy geometry felt just that, lazy. The bike just felt slow. I went for a quick spin on my single speed straight after and found it so much more enjoyable (apples and oranges though).
Tonight Ben rocked up to a JDMST meet in his new B'day pressie to himself. A Kona Paddy Wagon, single speed with a flip flop hub so you can choose fixed, or freewheel. He had it in freewheel and I got to take it for a spin. It's awesome. 42/16 gearing but even that was too light and I found myself spinning out. It's a heavy bike but it's so fast you can't tell it's weight when you're rolling. All in all I'm impressed and it further justfied my dislike fo rthe Apollo this morning. Good thing then as I put the Apollo on eBay and it sold for $250!!! (inc shipping).
21 April 2008
20 April 2008
STP2
Also bought this off eBay for Suga's B'day. Not sure if it's the right bike, sure she can fit on it alright (she's a shorty!) but it's pretty hardcore! Some shorter rigid forks could be a good move to bring everything back into proportion.
Kuwahara Apollo
Just picked this up today, an old Japanese Kuwahara Apollo which MWG spotted for me on eBay. I wont it for $70. Bargain!
19 April 2008
15 April 2008
Chris King Cogs
In my mailbox today: 16tooth and 17tooth cogs by Chris King. 16t is metal, 17t is alu. The metal cog is smaller, heavier and more expensive. Go figure.
Pace RC39
Ultralight rare Pace RC39 100mm travel carbon/magnesium suspension fork with handlebar mounted lockout control for the Titanium frame. Let the madness begin!
13 April 2008
Return to Loftus
Jing bought a Reign this weekend so we went out to Loftus to test it out. We did the awesome little single track a couple of times, stopping to do the technical little climb (near the stream). We both had a fair bit of trouble getting up it without putting a foot to the ground (my shins copped a beating), but practise makes perfect. A thunderstorm ended our little session but we were satisfied to call it a day. We get better each time we go out, it's awesome. More pics here
12 April 2008
White Industries Eno Hub
I've read about these for some time now. My mate Ben said I had to get one if I want to run single speed and ditch the ugly tensioners on my frame (which has vertical drop-outs).
This hub allows you to ditch the tensioner as the eccentric axle allows the hub to pivot to tension the chain. There are a few local lads willing to source one, and build a wheel for me, but it's been complicated. I found an eBay store in the states that sells the hub, and they're more than willing to build be up a rear wheel around an eno hub for around $400 shipped.
It's sad that everything is cheaper from overseas. As much as I want to support local, it's hard when local bike stores charge, at times, 100% on top of the prices found on eBay. Even some Australian designed and made products are cheaper through international eBay than buying in a local store.
09 April 2008
08 April 2008
07 April 2008
Selle Italia SLR Flite Kit Carbonio
Selle Italia SLR Flite Kit Carbonio (125g) 2nd hand eBay item, bit worn though but it's a lot more comfy than the ass killing Tioga I had on there, lighter too.
Shit keeps coming in the mail. Got to stop drinking and then hopping onto eBay late at night, it's fucking my bank account over.
06 April 2008
Getting toight
Spent some time today refining the brake cabling. I got rid of the XTR cables (which are your typical silver cable which fray easily) and I fitted some sexy black teflon coated Alligator cables, cut down the lengths by over 10cm for a cleaner look and also have an exposed cable route to the rear. Here's a before and after, massive difference I reckon, the hard work was well worth it! Also blacked out the Maxxis logos on my tyres.
Semi-Permanent
Suga and I missed the Friday, but we rocked up to Semi-Permanent on Saturday, we caught a few talks, but we were there primarily to dunk a few cold beers and catch up with a few old timer designers, which we did! Ran into MWG and Ash, who had this wild Bridgestone Transit which he brought back from a trip to Japan. Carbon fibre frame, dual suspension and no chain to be found. I also had a little go at MWG's sexy fixie, scary stuff to not have brakes, it's definitely something else!
Also checked out the Kingsford markets today, the best junk markets and so close to home. I picked up a mint Yamaha PSS-450 programmable synth for $30, what a score!!!
04 April 2008
Mr. Colnago and Pope John II
The first bike I wanted when I walked into a bike store when I was a kid was a Colnago. Expensive taste!
03 April 2008
01 April 2008
Midnight ride to Oporto's
Felt great, the furthest the single speed's been from home! (I didn't eat that shit of-course, Jing did though lol).
Avid BB7
OK, final update on the single speed for a while. The bike's finally semi-finished!
Avid BB7 brakes came in today. They were an absolute pleasure to install and the a2Z rear disc caliper mount worked perfectly.
I rode it around the block, it's awesome. I do miss not having clip ins, would suit the bike a little more perhaps, will just have to try it now that I have a spare set (or 2) of clipless pedals. The steering is damn fast, almost twitchy, but I like it. Brakes aren't working too great. I assume they need some bedding in/adjustments. Grips are a little strange, chunky, soft, but not sure if I like them or not. Still not used to working hard on a single speed, but I love it, it's fast and simple.
A few things to do:
- Lighter wheelset to get her into the 9kg's
- Try to remove tensioner, or at least shorten chain with half link
- Red Chris King headset
- Comfier seat, this one hurts!
- Figure out a sexier way to route rear brake cable
Bickerton!
Well, first I find the Hardrock under my house, then I find this under Christina's house! One mans junk is another mans treasure!!!
Mr Lock was telling me he had an old folding bike which a good friend of his had asked him to store, but never ended up shipping overseas. It was in the shed, in a bag, it's moved from house to house and they had never opened it. Of-course I was itching to check it out, and that we did.
It's a Bickerton! The bag was covered in mould and bits of bike were sticking out. We took the folding bike out of the bag and assembled it, took us all of 5 minutes. Funny Christina, her father, sister or mother had never seen the thing before!
It's awesome, like an old school roadster, light, aluminium frame and alloy parts, 3 gears too. I'm really looking forward to restoring this one. A little TLC will go a long way I'm sure. Photos here.
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