Abandoned GT Pulse
#26
Banned.
Indeed, and he'd commit another two by days' end (as do we all).
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonie.../dp/1594035229
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonie.../dp/1594035229
#27
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 14,058
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Liked 4,248 Times
in
2,841 Posts
I would post up a note. Couldn't hurt but that tape job is terrible. They must have tried to wrap it realized they failed and said I am going to leave it somewhere and hope it never ends up anywhere and just bought a new one with better wrapped tape.
#28
Senior Member
Last edited by StirFry; 06-23-19 at 02:32 PM.
#29
Member
The bike is chained to the Trek. It appears that the Trek tires are still pumped so it's likely being used. A note on both that you're interested and want to talk with the owner could help.
You say that the GT hasn't been moved...has the Trek been moved?
You say that the GT hasn't been moved...has the Trek been moved?
#30
Senior Member
Leave a note at all apartments.
__________________
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
#31
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This building has well over 100 apartments
#32
Senior Member
That complicates the challenge!
__________________
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
nine mile skid on a ten mile ride
Likes For PeopleAreIdiots:
#34
Senior Member
#35
aire díthrub
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: chatham-savannah
Posts: 553
Bikes: Raleigh Competition, Pashley Roadster Sovereign, Mercian Vincitore Speciale
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
35 Posts
Im not advocating wrangling out a “finders keepers” ownership of the bike, but considering the potential ‘prize’, that seems like relatively little effort, to be completely blunt. Especially if the owner still resides there, and could be open to selling it.
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Update 10/11/20
For those of you interested in the conclusion of this story, here it is:
So in the original post of this thread from june 2019, I said that I had been periodically checking up on this seemingly abandoned GT pulse in my appartment building's bike room.
After the discussion we had in the thread above, I ended up taking a conservative approach to avoid making the owner feel harassed if they were just storing the bike down there and hadn't used it in a while. I just left a note on the bike itself with my number and an offer to buy the bike from the owner if they were interested.
Another year goes by and nothing. I asked the management company on multiple occasions if they had any info about the owner or any policy about clearing out abandoned or obviously disused bikes and they basically told me to get lost.
Then COVID hit...
I'm sure most of you have noticed the extreme uptick in new bike riders in the last few months. Well the COVID bike craze hit my building hard. Suddenly there were a bunch of tenants who used their stimulus checks to buy a new bike and had nowhere to park it in our overcrowded bike room. Finally, I get an email from the management about a month ago informing the tenants that they are finally doing a bike room audit. Any bike that was not claimed by the end of the audit would be disposed of.
I bet you can see where this is going. Audit ends and it turns out that the GT was abandoned after all. I went to the management and asked them if I could have it and they just gave it to me! FOR FREE!!!
Here's a picture of the bike in its original state right they cut the lock and let me take it:
Looks to be a size 54, perfect size for me. Weird cushiony saddle, strangely tall stem, and janky bar tape but the bike is in fantastic condition, just quite dusty. Its only got a few minor scuffs and paint chips on the chain stays, no dents. Coming from steel, this feels incredibly light. Under 17lbs using the bathroom scale (w/ pedals.)
As you may have seen from the original set of pictures I posted, the bike is outfitted with all Dura Ace components, right down to the bottom bracket and the headset. The drivetrain still runs very smoothly. I may replace the chain but its not immediately necessary. The ratio is 49/15.
This is definitely a bike built for the track. Tubular tires front and back. Dura Ace hubs still run buttery smooth.
3t pista bars. Nice but I'm not a huge fan.
To my surprise, the tires took air and had no leaks so I took it out for a little ride to the lake!
I replaced the saddle with the one that was on my beater, a rock hard selle italia racing saddle I got from my dad's parts bin (my taint is not a huge fan). I lowered the stem as far as it would go and put on my crappy chop and flops since they're the only non-31.8mm bars I have at the moment. Finally I just stuck on my beat to crap track pedals with duct tape straps (again from my beater) just for that ride. The thing rides like a hot knife through butter. Definitely a different beast from my wabi. I'm so pumped!
Future plans:
So far I'd like to replace the saddle with something more comfortable but still befitting of the bike's 90's racey looks.
I also want to replace the cockpit. The stem is too definitely tall and I'd like some nicer bars. I'll be riding this bike on the street so I don't need the aggressiveness of track drops. Bullhorns ride nicely on there from what I can tell so far. Lets see.
Finally, as much as I love the tubular tires, I'm concerned about their durability for non-track use. It seems like I'd be able to fit at least a 28c tire on the rear so I might go with a nice durable 25 or 28c gatorskin or something at least.
And thus concludes the abandoned GT Pulse story! I'm still pinching myself. I can't believe I got this lucky! Do you guys have any thoughts on how I should build this awesome bike up? (I mean honestly its already close to perfect if you ask me).
So in the original post of this thread from june 2019, I said that I had been periodically checking up on this seemingly abandoned GT pulse in my appartment building's bike room.
After the discussion we had in the thread above, I ended up taking a conservative approach to avoid making the owner feel harassed if they were just storing the bike down there and hadn't used it in a while. I just left a note on the bike itself with my number and an offer to buy the bike from the owner if they were interested.
Another year goes by and nothing. I asked the management company on multiple occasions if they had any info about the owner or any policy about clearing out abandoned or obviously disused bikes and they basically told me to get lost.
Then COVID hit...
I'm sure most of you have noticed the extreme uptick in new bike riders in the last few months. Well the COVID bike craze hit my building hard. Suddenly there were a bunch of tenants who used their stimulus checks to buy a new bike and had nowhere to park it in our overcrowded bike room. Finally, I get an email from the management about a month ago informing the tenants that they are finally doing a bike room audit. Any bike that was not claimed by the end of the audit would be disposed of.
I bet you can see where this is going. Audit ends and it turns out that the GT was abandoned after all. I went to the management and asked them if I could have it and they just gave it to me! FOR FREE!!!
Here's a picture of the bike in its original state right they cut the lock and let me take it:
Looks to be a size 54, perfect size for me. Weird cushiony saddle, strangely tall stem, and janky bar tape but the bike is in fantastic condition, just quite dusty. Its only got a few minor scuffs and paint chips on the chain stays, no dents. Coming from steel, this feels incredibly light. Under 17lbs using the bathroom scale (w/ pedals.)
As you may have seen from the original set of pictures I posted, the bike is outfitted with all Dura Ace components, right down to the bottom bracket and the headset. The drivetrain still runs very smoothly. I may replace the chain but its not immediately necessary. The ratio is 49/15.
This is definitely a bike built for the track. Tubular tires front and back. Dura Ace hubs still run buttery smooth.
3t pista bars. Nice but I'm not a huge fan.
To my surprise, the tires took air and had no leaks so I took it out for a little ride to the lake!
I replaced the saddle with the one that was on my beater, a rock hard selle italia racing saddle I got from my dad's parts bin (my taint is not a huge fan). I lowered the stem as far as it would go and put on my crappy chop and flops since they're the only non-31.8mm bars I have at the moment. Finally I just stuck on my beat to crap track pedals with duct tape straps (again from my beater) just for that ride. The thing rides like a hot knife through butter. Definitely a different beast from my wabi. I'm so pumped!
Future plans:
So far I'd like to replace the saddle with something more comfortable but still befitting of the bike's 90's racey looks.
I also want to replace the cockpit. The stem is too definitely tall and I'd like some nicer bars. I'll be riding this bike on the street so I don't need the aggressiveness of track drops. Bullhorns ride nicely on there from what I can tell so far. Lets see.
Finally, as much as I love the tubular tires, I'm concerned about their durability for non-track use. It seems like I'd be able to fit at least a 28c tire on the rear so I might go with a nice durable 25 or 28c gatorskin or something at least.
And thus concludes the abandoned GT Pulse story! I'm still pinching myself. I can't believe I got this lucky! Do you guys have any thoughts on how I should build this awesome bike up? (I mean honestly its already close to perfect if you ask me).
Last edited by PeopleAreIdiots; 10-12-20 at 01:23 AM.
Likes For PeopleAreIdiots:
Likes For jack pot:
#40
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 112
Bikes: '14 Leader Renovatio, '96 Trek 1400, '88 Fisher Montare XT
Liked 69 Times
in
34 Posts
Now, what do you do if its former owner spots you out riding it? With your luck, they've certainly moved to Antarctica and are currently frozen for all of eternity in a massive glacier(assuming global warming is a myth).
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
its too good to be true right?!
I mean this thing was dusty and full if cobwebs even back when I moved into this building 2.5 years ago. I always kinda assumed it was a track rider's old bike that they had since replaced with something newer and nicer that they kept in their appartment or something. But I guess not. The management company didn't just send an email too, they posted bulletins on everyone's door. So, in my mind, the owner has definitely moved away.
My guess is that they were a track rider before they had kids (the bike was locked to a womens bike and a little kids bike) and then they either got a new bike (no pedals on the GT) or just stopped track riding. If I remember correctly, there used to be a velodrome in the area that closed a few years ago.
I mean this thing was dusty and full if cobwebs even back when I moved into this building 2.5 years ago. I always kinda assumed it was a track rider's old bike that they had since replaced with something newer and nicer that they kept in their appartment or something. But I guess not. The management company didn't just send an email too, they posted bulletins on everyone's door. So, in my mind, the owner has definitely moved away.
My guess is that they were a track rider before they had kids (the bike was locked to a womens bike and a little kids bike) and then they either got a new bike (no pedals on the GT) or just stopped track riding. If I remember correctly, there used to be a velodrome in the area that closed a few years ago.
#42
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Update 3/14/21
Been swapping around some parts this winter. Just took it out yesterday for the first time this year as the roads are finally dry!
Been swapping around some parts this winter. Just took it out yesterday for the first time this year as the roads are finally dry!
Likes For PeopleAreIdiots: