spencer rifle
Grandmaster
I just love my bicycle, and you love yours or you wouldn't be reading this.
Nothing like getting out on a country road, light winds, sunshine, few cars and a full water bottle.
Used to ride a Schwinn Typhoon growing up - black, heavy, single speed, bombproof.
Moved up to a Raleigh 3-speed in high school. In-the-hub shift, not as heavy as the Typhoon. Nearly killed me when a bunch of us high school seniors decided to go on a long trip (maybe 25 miles?). Hated cycling after that. Took that bike to college for campus commutes - never had to worry about it getting stolen.
Moved up again just before graduation to a Motobecane road bike. Not bad, lighter, better for long rides, which I did some of around the island I lived on in South Carolina. My roommate there was a big cyclist, and had a Schwinn Paramount he rode up and down the coast. Still had the Motobecane when I moved to Evansville and rode in my first organized ride - the Great Pumpkin Metric. That nearly killed me also - bike not quite up to it and me trying to push too big a gear. Research for a replacement began, mostly in old Bike Nashbar catalogs (this was in 1984, before the internet, kiddies).
When I finally made up my mind, I went into Gilles Schwinn, found a Cannondale ST400, and told them to take all the stock equipment off. Then I rebuilt it from the frame and fork up. Looked for parts that were light and mostly maintenance-free. Mostly sealed bearings - hubs, bottom bracket, jockey wheels. Built my own wheels with double-butted spokes on Mavic (set 1) or Bullseye (set 2) hubs. Dura-Ace headset. Braze-ons for a full set of panniers. Silver Silca frame-fit pump. Top normal front derailleur. Carefully worked-out the rear cluster so there were no repeat gearings. Biopace chainrings. When it was finally done, it weighed 20 pounds (light for a touring bike in the 80s) and I had about $1000 into it. Still riding it 23,000 miles later, with only a few modifications. Even after all this time it is still great to get on it and ride. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Longest ride so far - 107 miles.
BK (before kids) She Who Must Be Obeyed and I rode a lot - Horsey Hundred, Hilly Hundred, Hoosier Hills, Roscoe Ramble, LOST, FOUND, local rides. Recently got back to the Hilly with older children riding the Nashbar tandem along with us. She rides a 1985 Trek 400 17 inch frame which has even more miles on it than my bike. Three people at the last Hilly offered to buy it from her. Just rebuilt it this past winter, and now she coasts faster than me.
Someday I would like a Ciocc with Campy groupo and chromed rear triangle, but I don't want to make my other bike jealous!
Nothing like getting out on a country road, light winds, sunshine, few cars and a full water bottle.
Used to ride a Schwinn Typhoon growing up - black, heavy, single speed, bombproof.
Moved up to a Raleigh 3-speed in high school. In-the-hub shift, not as heavy as the Typhoon. Nearly killed me when a bunch of us high school seniors decided to go on a long trip (maybe 25 miles?). Hated cycling after that. Took that bike to college for campus commutes - never had to worry about it getting stolen.
Moved up again just before graduation to a Motobecane road bike. Not bad, lighter, better for long rides, which I did some of around the island I lived on in South Carolina. My roommate there was a big cyclist, and had a Schwinn Paramount he rode up and down the coast. Still had the Motobecane when I moved to Evansville and rode in my first organized ride - the Great Pumpkin Metric. That nearly killed me also - bike not quite up to it and me trying to push too big a gear. Research for a replacement began, mostly in old Bike Nashbar catalogs (this was in 1984, before the internet, kiddies).
When I finally made up my mind, I went into Gilles Schwinn, found a Cannondale ST400, and told them to take all the stock equipment off. Then I rebuilt it from the frame and fork up. Looked for parts that were light and mostly maintenance-free. Mostly sealed bearings - hubs, bottom bracket, jockey wheels. Built my own wheels with double-butted spokes on Mavic (set 1) or Bullseye (set 2) hubs. Dura-Ace headset. Braze-ons for a full set of panniers. Silver Silca frame-fit pump. Top normal front derailleur. Carefully worked-out the rear cluster so there were no repeat gearings. Biopace chainrings. When it was finally done, it weighed 20 pounds (light for a touring bike in the 80s) and I had about $1000 into it. Still riding it 23,000 miles later, with only a few modifications. Even after all this time it is still great to get on it and ride. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Longest ride so far - 107 miles.
BK (before kids) She Who Must Be Obeyed and I rode a lot - Horsey Hundred, Hilly Hundred, Hoosier Hills, Roscoe Ramble, LOST, FOUND, local rides. Recently got back to the Hilly with older children riding the Nashbar tandem along with us. She rides a 1985 Trek 400 17 inch frame which has even more miles on it than my bike. Three people at the last Hilly offered to buy it from her. Just rebuilt it this past winter, and now she coasts faster than me.
Someday I would like a Ciocc with Campy groupo and chromed rear triangle, but I don't want to make my other bike jealous!