tsl

Despite some flurries this morning, the roads dried out reasonably well this afternoon. Well enough that I stopped into the LBS on the way home to test ride that bike I put the deposit on last weekend.

The mechanic gave it a quick once-over, and we adjusted the saddle height. He then offered to take the Portland into the back for safe-keeping while I went for my test ride.

"Holy smokes!" he cried. (Or words to that effect.) "This thing weighs a ton!"

Did I mention I'd stopped at the grocery store on the way from work, and stocked up on canned soup? Big sale on Campbell's, 50¢ a can. I bought ten bucks worth. And some other stuff. Quart of milk, pound of baloney, even some salad.

Anyway, by comparison, the Peloton (which still has not shared its name with me) is feathery light. Certainly under 20 pounds, I'm guessing around 18. And that's with tires that are a pound apiece. I forget to have them weigh it. Monday, maybe.

As you may recall, we're talking a 1999 Schwinn Peloton here. I'd mentioned to the owner of the LBS I was looking for something in steel. I was thinking of a frame to build up, he showed me the Peloton. A whole bike for less than I was planning to spend on a frame.

I was immediately taken by the looks. I've always liked the look of a classic geometry road bike in traditionally-sized tubes.



I was especially impressed by this here little sticker:



And although I'm not skilled enough to photograph them well, I found the curvaliciousness of the seatstays and chainstays to be quite fetching.



In any event, off we went to go play in traffic. The drivetrain (full Ultegra with a Dura-Ace RD) was buttery smooth, almost like my feet weren't connected to anything at all. Yet, kick it in the ribs, and the bike leaps forward. We chased some cars a while, then took a fork for some descending. It was completely undisturbed at speed. I spun-out in the big ring and sat back to coast. Very confidence-inspiring.

My one reservation was climbing. I've always ridden a triple. This bike has a standard double. And did I mention the tires are a pound apiece? Still, pointed skyward, my tired old motor could climb back up the 6% grade at a respectable pace in the 39/24. I still had the 27 for steeper stuff.

Pleased, we tooled back home on a narrow but busy, two-lane city street where the Department of Potholes has been busily installing fresh new ones, just in time for spring. The ride was impressive, which isn't surprising given the top-quality steel frame with curvalicious seatstays, carbon fork, and 28mm tires.

All in all, I like it. My butt particularly liked the Selle Italia SLK Gel Flow saddle. It seems like an especially comfy work platform. The Easton EC30 fork smoothed out the potholes and handled the descent well. The EC90 carbon bars may have some contribution, I don't know.

I'm eventually going to want an longer stem, but this one's fine for now, given my late-winter condition and spare tire.

After supper it's getting a thorough going-over. The chain could be a couple of inches shorter, and there's tar or some sort of goop in weird places. I'm going to rotate the bars down just a bit, and rotate the levers in a bit. Finally, a coat of Bike Lust and we'll be ready for tomorrow!

They're calling for a 30% chance of flurries. It worked out fine today, so there's hope for tomorrow and Monday.

NOS88

Great looking bike. I hope you get miles and miles of great riding out of it. The Sella Italia SLK Gel Flow is my current saddle of choice. They sit on two of my road bikes. When I can find others on sale, I'm buying more.

BluesDawg

Very nice. Looks like you've snagged yourself a real winner. 853 is good steel. Why does it have such heavy tires? Are you going to change them?

tsl

I dunno. The previous owner weight-weenied everything else, then put on 28mm Specialized Armadillo All-Condition tires. That does not compute. Maybe he was deathly afraid of flats? According to Specialized they're 450 grams--close enough to a pound for sake of conversation.

I'll roll on these for a paycheck or two, then put some Continental Gran Prix 4-Seasons on it. Those are only 250 grams in a 28mm. I've gotten to like 28mm on the Portland in the three-seasons, and obviously they fit on this bike, although I have to let the air out of the tires to fit them through the brakes. I was going to get a set for the Portland this spring anyway. Now I'll just get two sets.

JanMM

Doesn't look like much room for fenders, but I guess that's not what this bike is destined for?

tsl

Nope. No rack mounts either. So it's not likely to be making many commutes or grocery runs.

A guy's gotta have one fun bike in the stable, right?

10 Wheels

Light Blue and so fast.
What a nice ride.

doctor j

Nice looking ride, TSL. Enjoy. Should be an interesting research project.

tsl

Hehehehee… Projecting the budget out, the N+½ 1996 Litespeed Classic frameset should be doable right around my birfday in June. Then we shall play mix-n-match with framesets and components.

Meanwhile, I must buy more GooGone. The poor thing was loaded with tar. (Fortunately, no feathers.) How do you get tar on the stem for heaven's sake?

Doohickie

Looks great. Have fun with it.

BluesDawg

I rode 28s for several years on my Bridgestone, but last year I decided to stop using it for general purpose riding and make it my fast bike. Along with lighter wheels and stripping off extraneous accessories, I put 23mm tires on it. I like the change.

cranky old dude

Sweet looking ride. Enjoy!!

ddez

Love old steel,very pretty,in a manly sorta way of course.

kr32

"". I've always liked the look of a classic geometry""

I am leaning toward this as well.
Very nice bike , looks good, enjoy. I have enjoyed the report.

Burr

Very nice looking bike Dude.
Miles of smiles ahead.

ENJOY

billydonn

Very noble of you to adopt and give a good and loving home to such a handsome stray! Who knows what awful fate might have been in store for it? You must remove those Armys and give it new shoes ASAP!

The world needs more humane and caring people like you!

rumrunn6

sweet!

wobblyoldgeezer

What a beauty. A real beauty.

Not you - the bike, although I'm sure you cut quite a dash!

Right shape, right metal, right kit, right colour. Envy's not a good thing, but sometimes it just happens

Enjoy over many happy and safes!!

rideon7

Very cool bike! Congratulations!

tsl

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

I spent the evening last night giving it a thorough going-over. Not quite to the level of detailing (the living room lamps aren't bright enough for that), but it's as shiny as it's going to get. I adjusted the brakes too. It stopped just fine, but as a personal preference, I don't like a lot of dead travel in the levers. The chain seems much happier in the small/small combo after slicing out two inches. I have another inch to play with if required.

Lastly, I swapped out the quick-release skewers for bolt-ons. I don't have the strength in my fingers and hands to remove QRs without some sort of prying tool. As long as I have to use tools on QRs, I might as well use skewers designed for tools, so all my bikes get bolt-ons.

This morning I rooted around in my bike parts box and came up with the seatpost mount for my DiNotte taillight. I moved a DiNotte headlight and two battery packs over from the Portland. Yellow Bike is graciously lending its second-bike kit for the cyclometer, and one of its blue water bottles. Finally, I installed the Mirrycle Road Mirror for STI (Quelle horreur!) that I bought for it yesterday. We're ready to rock.

Conspicuously absent are a pump and seat bag. I had to order a saddle clip for my Topeak seat wedge bag, and I have to find out if I can order a Road Morph mount so the bikes can share a pump. Meanwhile, knowing I'm jinxing myself, I'll rely on the Armadillos.

The forecast for this afternoon is mid-30s (F), partly-cloudy, with the winds quietening slightly to the mid-teens (MPH). So I'll have a nice, leisurely brunch, putz around the house a bit, and head out for 20 to 30 miles in the mid-afternoon.

Louis

Wowsers, tsl! That's a keeper.

Can we expect to see it in person at Finger Lakes?

tsl

Mebbe so.

I'll have to work on climbing with it. Thirty-nine is fine for a middle ring, but as a small ring, it has me apprehensive.

Louis

Yeah. I remember when I managed to climb all the hills in this area using a 39/23. These days it's a triple with a 30/26 low.

stapfam

Those tyres have to go- such a good looking steed needs better colour co-ordination.

With the lighter weight- The 39 might be ok- providing you lose another lb or so from the tyres.

But have to agree with you- Run as is and find the bugs. Until you know what they are- you can't adjust or change them

big john

Nice bike and great color! Another vote for 23mm tires. Try them.
That gearing would be trouble for my lard-butt.