Additional to yesterday’s put up, this afternoon I took the newest components bike out for a shakedown journey:
[Believe it or not this bike is steel. Even aluminum bikes are like, “Those are some fat frame tubes!”]
You’ll be happy to know that I lastly solved my disc brake points…by switching them for rim brakes:
After I returned to the bike this morning, the brakes had gone all spongy once more. I figured I’d simply bleed them, however I additionally couldn’t align the rear brake in a passable style. The tabs enable a bit forward-and-backward adjustment, and the caliper itself permits a bit outboard-inboard adjustment, however with the caliper all the best way outboard the rotor was nonetheless making fixed contact with the pad, and I noticed now method to compensate for that wanting submitting or bending stuff. And even when I did handle to get it aligned, why fuss with that another time anytime I modify the gearing or no matter? I don’t wish to should futz with alligning the wheel to the millimeter or something, I simply wish to crank the bolts and go:
So I extricated the v-brakes from the mostly-stripped body of the now-badly-rusted Ironic Orange Julius Bike, breathed new life into them by way of liberal utility of lubricants (together with that Dumonde stuff)–and, better of all, discovered sufficient brake cable and housing to finish the set up, permitting me to maintain to my $0 price range. Positive, the brakes have some rust patina, however they work nice, and are completely applicable for such a boneheadedly easy bike:
Certainly, all the bike felt actually good:
It doesn’t have the sumptuousness of the Engin, which is plush and sproingy in a manner you wouldn’t anticipate from a inflexible singlespeed bicycle–a consequence little question not simply of tubing and match, but in addition the a lot lighter tubeless wheels. Nevertheless, just like the Engin it’s fairly nimble in a manner newer, slacker bikes don’t appear to be anymore, and which is very essential on a singlespeed since by definition you’re nearly at all times within the “mistaken” gear and whenever you’re grinding up a tough or twisty climb it’s actually irritating when you may’t change route shortly whereas sustaining momentum.
All of that is to say it’s plenty of enjoyable to journey. However what easy bike isn’t?