But I am not stopping there. I am going to try to use stuff that is from the 2000's as much as possible. Things like the current tires, disc brakes, bags, racks, or even GPS computers are not going to be considered here.
So, one of the items that will be employed in this project is an NOS Cat Eye Velo 9 computer. Now this may be an item which cuts across my self-imposed border of 2010, but it's close to what we would have used back in the day, and I don't think anyone will really quibble about this wired computer being representative of the era.
I happened to come across this when it was donated to the Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective. I purchased it and will now be attaching it to the Karate Monkey. This will be part of my old school navigation system. The other part will be a cue sheet holder made from an old water bottle and a clip for office files. It's a design I actually used several times before in the past, and was what I used when I completed Gravel Worlds in 2016.
I'm still weighing my options when it comes to hydration. I could use a hydration pack, and I happen to have an older Osprey pack and a few bladders. They will need serious cleaning though so I do not get sick. Those nasty growing things!
OR - I may use a half frame bag like my old Revelate Tangle Bag and stuff water bottles in there or again - a hydration bladder with the hose clipped to my stem. OR - I may use clamps and put bottles on the fork, but that is my least favorite option.
Then it will be on to some adventures on the set up,which should start happening yet this month. I also want to try this set up in Kansas, if that trip pans out.
Stay tuned....
8 comments:
I think this is a great thing, bringing ping a loved bike back to the rotation, and fun! I love the idea of pulling the ride back together to remember the past, and see if the future (today) really is that much better than then.
I still think the essence of what most folks want is a little more stack/height and plenty of room for tires. Axle standards, drivetrain, brake type is all a side dish compared to more upright and some 50+ tires and a sweet steel frame. Thanks for sharing and letting us know about the plan!
@tntmoriv - Thanks! I am excited to see how I get on with the bike and current set up.
As for your comment regarding "what most folks want", I agree. The thing is, most folks don't know that is what they want because much of the cycling media pushes low stack height, aero, and racing, which makes most folks think that "this is the way". It ends up being a struggle for Fun vs suffering for speed.
Lemme know if I can be a part of the Kansas equation…
Speaking of the “low stack height, aero…” etc, did I hear NY Roll lament that Salsa missed out by not making the Fargo and Cutthroat with those and not being appealing to the pros?
I saw that as an asset because they were/are bikes that more riders would ride in comfort
@MG - I need to call you this week. We'll talk about this Kansas thing.
@shiggy person - Yeah, I think the context there was that - given what has occurred in gravel and racing - Salsa would have been on the minds of racers as a bike that was desirable had those geometry things been addressed. I cannot speak for Mr. Roll, but I would assume he feels similarly to you in that for "most people" that what they have done in terms of the bike geo is better. But then you have the marketing gaffs that Mr. Roll also mentioned which left him less than impressed with the brand. That has nothing to do with the bikes but everything to do with why he'd buy one or not.
Perhaps Mr. Roll will chime in.....
Yes, Shiggy is correct. Of course we are doing a post analysis. Other than the Carbon Warbird, they never really went for the knock out punch. Is that because their success? Who knows? Will we ever know? Is it for us to know? But yeah, the general feeling is Salsa missed the timing of owning the market around 2018. Kodak with instant film and also digital cameras. I will go one step further, once they went in to REI a lot of people stopped buying their products. For the exact reasons I stated in the podcast, it was no longer a brand you had to research to get to. It lost it's appeal to the "Retired Hipster" community. I am not dumping on REI, what I am dumping on is the fact that QBP turned its back on the LBS in my opinion.
And maybe I should be giving them the free press of negativity, but they use to make awesome mid-west XC bikes. El Mar, Spearfish, and even the Dos Niner. Yes some things are fadish, but I do not understand their line up of bikes. Sometimes I feel, like the old expression, "A camel is a race horse design by committee." In short, either people left that had the vision or others saw money and went it an re-directed the vision?
I still use more or less that exact bike computer on all my bikes to this day.
Post a Comment