Some asshole took a really cherry vintage Colnago Super and hung a set of big-ass snow tires on it! Then actually rode it in the snow and salty slush! What a jerk.
My daughter had a slight altercation with our car over the holidays. While it is in the body shop, Lorna has appropriated my Ranger pickup as her work car. As I no longer work, I prudently bit my tongue. The whispered mumblings from the insurance company are indicating probable totaling of the vehicle. Even prior to the roll-over we have discussed getting down to a single vehicle after Lorna hangs up her teaching clogs in the spring. We put a couple hundred miles on our neighbor's Honda Ridgeline taking Addy to the airport. It rides very "car like". It's not a heavy real truck, but I just need something to take camping or hauling bicycles. We'll see. In the meantime I've become a bicycle commuter.
The Colnago is an unlikely candidate, but it was the easiest to get rolling in a short time. It has a ti Phil BB, Campag pista crank, Campag Nouvo Tippo high flange hubs, 1984 Dura Ace 7400 shifters, dérailleur and brake. Hardly a beater. So far so good. I'm slowly getting my snow and ice balance up to speed. I am considering a rear brake and taking it back to single-speed if I can get a lower gear setup. Naw, I'll just let it freeze up while it's on the big cog. Front brake only on ice is an adventure though.
12 comments:
That's Use not Abuse. Ask any Tipsy Vegan.
The Hamms drinking vegans in question don't have to deal with salt slush. It's abuse. And now I have to leave it in the garage, alone in the dark, because it's covered with melting snow mush. And damn that saddle's cold, even through warm clothes.
Is he really full-blown vegan? No Brooks saddles? That's....unnatural.
Last April I picked up a 2008 Rocky Mountain Vertex Team (Easton scandium/aluminum alloy tubes) mtn bike cheap from the Vancouver area sales rep. He had already upgraded to the 2009 full carbonfiber version, and needed money to repair his Saab.
In the pics he sent, he showed a little salt damage to the beautiful hand lacquered paint job.
I did the transaction totally by Internet from Venezuelan and when I finally got home in NM to see the bike, there were paint bubbles in several places on the frame, wherever it was exposed to road salt last winter. The dropouts are particularly bad. I was really disappointed.
Oh well...I got the frame dirt cheap, and it still rides great but probably be selling it this summer to a Venezuelan friend (I want a Seven Expat S).
What I am trying to say, is to wash your bike after riding in the salty slush. It doesn't take long to wreck a nice paint job and a steel frame will really suffer.
Good luck with the insurance company.
that Colnago really looks like fun, but I have a hard time following the logic behind leaving off the rear brake. . . I mean, sure if it's a fixie, but duh, maybe I'm missing something here. otherwise, though, I am actually envious of the snow thing and all. I strongly believe in enjoying bikes by riding them.
mw
Yeah Gunnar, What's Up? ;]
I am a Jack Vegan. _uck orthodoxy. And I'll not only ride a Brooks, I'll ride the hell out of it.
I was getting all steamed up for the first paragraph until I realized the asshole in question was you, Gunnar. Then it made perfect sense.
I am surprised you don't have some fendered/singled machine for such abUse though...
Desperate times call for desperate measures.. But what? Do you think you're 19? Laurie commuted 10 miles each way to work on a bike in Minneapolis back in the day....
Mr, White,
Of course your're right. It should have a rear brake. This was a stripped down single for year and didn't have a rear brake. Then I laced on leather grips. Now I have to redo that to run the cables. I will. I just needed this bike right away or I was walking. It was all I have that would clear the 700 x 35 tires which I had. Logical would put smaller tires on another bike.
Considering all the snow piled around there, you appear to be walking on some thin ice.
Actually the snow was a foot deeper before the wind and general settling. I heard you had a nice Chinook the other day. You hit 60 degrees there? We're pretty happy with the mid to high 20s the last couple of days. I took a spin on the bike again today (a spin?) then washed it down per Mimbres Man's strong suggestion.
Washed the bike in the big whirlpool tub in the guest bath. No evidence left - company coming this weekend.
Neil nice Colnago! Where is the wine and baggette rack. Looks as if you having a heat spell in the great north. Nice time for a cruise.
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