Singlespeed & Fixed Gear"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five.
Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)
When I was reading your rant on State bicycle about your wife's bike I was thinking, "Just dump the darn fenders man." I know, I know, she wants that Dutchie look. Gotta keep her happy.
When I was reading your rant on State bicycle about your wife's bike I was thinking, "Just dump the darn fenders man." I know, I know, she wants that Dutchie look. Gotta keep her happy.
Actually... We dumped the fenders. And all is well with the world. I'd still not buy another State, but I'll be damned if seeing her bike sans-fenders and seeing that awesome green machine of yours doesn't make me want a more relaxed cruiser...
Actually... We dumped the fenders. And all is well with the world. I'd still not buy another State, but I'll be damned if seeing her bike sans-fenders and seeing that awesome green machine of yours doesn't make me want a more relaxed cruiser...
Chartreuse.
I enjoy fooling around on bikes, so drop bars don't work for me and Bullhorns put my hands too far forward of the steering axis for my taste. Plus I get a better workout with upright bars because I create more drag in that position. He he he.
I enjoy fooling around on bikes, so drop bars don't work for me and Bullhorns put my hands too far forward of the steering axis for my taste. Plus I get a better workout with upright bars because I create more drag in that position. He he he.
Ahem... Chartreuse. My apologies, sir.
What frame is that, by the way? I love these "Townies" and think I may have to build one sometime.
What frame is that, by the way? I love these "Townies" and think I may have to build one sometime.
It's an unidentified garage sale special. After looking at a jillion frames on line and IRL and comparing measurements, I'm reasonably certain it is a State. It was rattle can matte grey when I faound it. After stripping it and examining it I didn't think the quality looked too bad. I wanted to build another bike with a more subdued theme, and State's prices on frame/fork sets was dirt cheap at the time, so I ordered one. Three frames later, each one more crooked and f'd up than the one before, I gave up.
I'm still on the hunt, though I've changed what I am looking for. I want a lugged frame and a curved blade fork for a more traditional look. And I'd like a couple inches more wheel base at the rear, with room for 35mm tires. The Chartreuse bike has 32s and it's a TIGHT squeeze at the rear and I had too file the fork about 4mms just below the brake hole (not the blades) too accept the tire vertically. I like comfy tires.
My townie bike is a Trek Earl that I found on craigslist. I've made quite a few changes, mostly with parts I had on hand:
Origin8 Citi Classic bars
Vintage Shimano cranks
Vintage Shimano XT pedals
Vintage Takagi 40T chainring
Shimano 18T freewheel
SRAM chain
Kalloy aluminum seatpost
Some new parts were added too:
Charge Spoon saddle
Vittoria Randonneur 700x32 tires
Kool Stop salmon pads
Wald 137 basket
I find this setup much improved over stock. Just swapping the bars, seatpost, and crankset took a noticeable amount of weight off the bike (stock bars/post were steel, and stock crankset was surprisingly heavy), plus they're just better components. The replacement pedals, tires, and brake pads were also a significant step up in quality. The bike rides much better all around now. More info here.
IMO, it would look better with the stem lowered and the bars flipped upright or switched for bars with zero rise (but not mustache) and the bell mounted on the side of the stem. Oh, and alloy fenders!