Minus Ten Review- 50

Limited edition Rainier Beer CX bike. Single speed, of course.

Ten years ago on the blog I was reporting on a new frame and fork I had just purchased. It was a Rainer Beer themed cyclo cross bike, single speed, of course. I needed it like I needed a hole in my head. But it was super cool and, well........ Anyway. I got it.

It ended up being built, ridden very little, and eventually I got rid of it. So, it was just a curiosity, more than anything. Had I not been diverted off into the whole 29"er mtb thing for several years and been the gravel road riding fiend I always wanted to be, well maybe then. Maybe I'd have ridden that bike more. Hard to say........

Then there was winter. We actually had snow back then, and plenty of it. This always brought up the "Curse Of The Fat Bike'. What's that, you might ask? Well, it was this thing I wrestled with every Winter for five years. Ever since I had seen Dave Gray's prototype Pugsley at Frostbike, I wondered and fretted, and thought and schemed about fat bikes. How could I get one? What could I do with it? Did I really need one? Maybe I was dreaming. Well.........I definitely was dreaming! I definitely was broke at this time of year, and I was definitely not thinking straight. Witness- The Raleigh here........

Of course, when it was 85°F, Sunny, and everything was green, including the paper in my pocket with pictures of dead presidents on them, I never was thinking about fat bikes. Why would I? I had too many irons in the fire with testing bike stuff, Trans Iowa, doing a few gravel events, and just raising a family.

From a December commute to work in 2008.

Then the above would happen. I had to hoof a LOT of my commute route back then. You see, 29"ers don't roll over stuff like that too well. I would be grousing, bummed, and fat bike curious as all get out.

Looking back I should have just done it. A purple Pugsley and then I would have been over it all. I would have been there and done that and I probably wouldn't have three fat bikes of my own and four in the house over all. Or I would have twice as many..... But yeah- I should have just pulled the trigger in 2006.

Minus Ten Review- 50

Limited edition Rainier Beer CX bike. Single speed, of course.

Ten years ago on the blog I was reporting on a new frame and fork I had just purchased. It was a Rainer Beer themed cyclo cross bike, single speed, of course. I needed it like I needed a hole in my head. But it was super cool and, well........ Anyway. I got it.

It ended up being built, ridden very little, and eventually I got rid of it. So, it was just a curiosity, more than anything. Had I not been diverted off into the whole 29"er mtb thing for several years and been the gravel road riding fiend I always wanted to be, well maybe then. Maybe I'd have ridden that bike more. Hard to say........

Then there was winter. We actually had snow back then, and plenty of it. This always brought up the "Curse Of The Fat Bike'. What's that, you might ask? Well, it was this thing I wrestled with every Winter for five years. Ever since I had seen Dave Gray's prototype Pugsley at Frostbike, I wondered and fretted, and thought and schemed about fat bikes. How could I get one? What could I do with it? Did I really need one? Maybe I was dreaming. Well.........I definitely was dreaming! I definitely was broke at this time of year, and I was definitely not thinking straight. Witness- The Raleigh here........

Of course, when it was 85°F, Sunny, and everything was green, including the paper in my pocket with pictures of dead presidents on them, I never was thinking about fat bikes. Why would I? I had too many irons in the fire with testing bike stuff, Trans Iowa, doing a few gravel events, and just raising a family.

From a December commute to work in 2008.

Then the above would happen. I had to hoof a LOT of my commute route back then. You see, 29"ers don't roll over stuff like that too well. I would be grousing, bummed, and fat bike curious as all get out.

Looking back I should have just done it. A purple Pugsley and then I would have been over it all. I would have been there and done that and I probably wouldn't have three fat bikes of my own and four in the house over all. Or I would have twice as many..... But yeah- I should have just pulled the trigger in 2006.

Thursday News And Views

<===I call it "Vitamin R"

The single speed Rainier cyclo crosser is complete, (minus pedals). I got my Salsa Cycles Crossing Guard Wednesday and finished up the build. Those are 42mm IRC tires on there! I'll probably run something lighter and less wide when it comes time to throw down next fall. But for now, this will do.

The build consists of the following: Raleigh Rainier SS frame, size 59cm, Easton EC-90 carbon fiber fork, Sante' crank on a UN-54 square taper bottom bracket, ACS Claws 17T freewheel, 38T Origin 8 chain ring, SRAM PC-830 chain, (to be changed out for a different chain soon), Origin 8 single speed flip flop hub with a 16T cog and lock ring, KORE white cantilever brakes, de-badged Weinman DP-18 rims in "lager gold", Wheelsmith spokes and alloy nipples, IRC Mythos 42mm tires, Bontrager saddle, seat post, and stem, Midge Bars, Sante' levers, Bontrager tape in red, and a Salsa Cycles Crossing Guard chain ring guard.

First ride after I get me some pedals!



<===What happens when you are nice to people.

I had an old Sony turntable given to me. Turntable? Yes.....one of those thingies folks used to play "records" on so they could hear music. Well I had big plans to start playing the 500 LP's I have laying in a box somewhere, but of course, never got around to it and the record player sat under my bench at work for over a year.

Well, apparently vinyl records are making a comeback, and Brian, a co-worker I know at work knew about this turntable, so he asked me if I would sell it to him. I figured that since I didn't pay anything for it, why should he? Well, Brian gifted me this beer in return. I love it when everybody is happy!



<===I'm baaack! I'm back for more! (Hair band reference)

So I click on Salsa Cycles website yesterday and what do I see? Wool! Right on!

The old red and black Salsa "Classico" jersey had been discontinued for a few year, so this came as a complete surprise. Nice, and in short or long sleeves. Yeah, the price is big time, but this is made by EWR and they are top notch jersey makers. Nice ribbed collars, nice weight Merino wool fabric, and all tailored very well. I have lusted for an EWR jersey for a long time, but now that there is this Salsa Cycles version, I will definitely be getting one. Nice job Salsa Crew!

I did do some riding yesterday. It wasn't too bad in the morning. Not much wind and the temperatures above freezing. It sure was muddy though! I rode the Misfit Dissent back to back with the steel Milwaukee Bicycle Company 29"er. Definitely a difference between the two bikes. The Dissent, being aluminum is nice, not super stiff. The fork, also aluminum, is amazing. Very smooth! The bike is agile, playful almost. I do know it has a shorter wheel base than the MBC 29"er. Then I rode the steel rig next. Wow! Steel be good when it is made out of the pipes that the MBC is. Smooooth! Of course, this rig has a Cadillac ride and a '75 Eldorado wheelbase to go with it. She's a long legged gal, but sweet and super forgiving. I like the ride and it is a mellow, laid back feeling rig compared to the Dissent.

Man! Bicycles are just too much fun!

Thursday News And Views

<===I call it "Vitamin R"

The single speed Rainier cyclo crosser is complete, (minus pedals). I got my Salsa Cycles Crossing Guard Wednesday and finished up the build. Those are 42mm IRC tires on there! I'll probably run something lighter and less wide when it comes time to throw down next fall. But for now, this will do.

The build consists of the following: Raleigh Rainier SS frame, size 59cm, Easton EC-90 carbon fiber fork, Sante' crank on a UN-54 square taper bottom bracket, ACS Claws 17T freewheel, 38T Origin 8 chain ring, SRAM PC-830 chain, (to be changed out for a different chain soon), Origin 8 single speed flip flop hub with a 16T cog and lock ring, KORE white cantilever brakes, de-badged Weinman DP-18 rims in "lager gold", Wheelsmith spokes and alloy nipples, IRC Mythos 42mm tires, Bontrager saddle, seat post, and stem, Midge Bars, Sante' levers, Bontrager tape in red, and a Salsa Cycles Crossing Guard chain ring guard.

First ride after I get me some pedals!



<===What happens when you are nice to people.

I had an old Sony turntable given to me. Turntable? Yes.....one of those thingies folks used to play "records" on so they could hear music. Well I had big plans to start playing the 500 LP's I have laying in a box somewhere, but of course, never got around to it and the record player sat under my bench at work for over a year.

Well, apparently vinyl records are making a comeback, and Brian, a co-worker I know at work knew about this turntable, so he asked me if I would sell it to him. I figured that since I didn't pay anything for it, why should he? Well, Brian gifted me this beer in return. I love it when everybody is happy!



<===I'm baaack! I'm back for more! (Hair band reference)

So I click on Salsa Cycles website yesterday and what do I see? Wool! Right on!

The old red and black Salsa "Classico" jersey had been discontinued for a few year, so this came as a complete surprise. Nice, and in short or long sleeves. Yeah, the price is big time, but this is made by EWR and they are top notch jersey makers. Nice ribbed collars, nice weight Merino wool fabric, and all tailored very well. I have lusted for an EWR jersey for a long time, but now that there is this Salsa Cycles version, I will definitely be getting one. Nice job Salsa Crew!

I did do some riding yesterday. It wasn't too bad in the morning. Not much wind and the temperatures above freezing. It sure was muddy though! I rode the Misfit Dissent back to back with the steel Milwaukee Bicycle Company 29"er. Definitely a difference between the two bikes. The Dissent, being aluminum is nice, not super stiff. The fork, also aluminum, is amazing. Very smooth! The bike is agile, playful almost. I do know it has a shorter wheel base than the MBC 29"er. Then I rode the steel rig next. Wow! Steel be good when it is made out of the pipes that the MBC is. Smooooth! Of course, this rig has a Cadillac ride and a '75 Eldorado wheelbase to go with it. She's a long legged gal, but sweet and super forgiving. I like the ride and it is a mellow, laid back feeling rig compared to the Dissent.

Man! Bicycles are just too much fun!

"Tease Me", He Says.....Rainier Pics

Somebody wanted some teaser pics of the Raleigh Rainier. So...........I'm obliging them.

It's not done yet, but it's getting close. I've got a couple more parts to get yet. A Salsa Crossing Guard for one thing.

The parts are a mix of new and old, with some Bontrager (gasp!) parts mixed in with ..........

...........modern carbon wizardry, and a dash of..................

...................old school Shimano Sante'.

Once I get my last few pieces of the puzzle, I'll post it all in it's single speed glory.

But for now, that's all yer gettin'!

"Tease Me", He Says.....Rainier Pics

Somebody wanted some teaser pics of the Raleigh Rainier. So...........I'm obliging them.

It's not done yet, but it's getting close. I've got a couple more parts to get yet. A Salsa Crossing Guard for one thing.

The parts are a mix of new and old, with some Bontrager (gasp!) parts mixed in with ..........

...........modern carbon wizardry, and a dash of..................

...................old school Shimano Sante'.

Once I get my last few pieces of the puzzle, I'll post it all in it's single speed glory.

But for now, that's all yer gettin'!

Thursday News And Views

Raleigh CX SS Update: The Rainier is getting worked on now again that I have most of my parts gathered. I started building up the wheels late yesterday, the bottom bracket and cranks are on the frame, the seat post, stem, and front chain ring is in and ready to be installed. I gt some brakes, some levers, and a handle bar. Still have to decide on tires and bar wrap along with some minor details. I hope to have this up and running by the weekend.

The Misfit : The Misfit Psycles Dissent is done and that will get ridden now that our temps are getting live able again. I know that there have been "windows" of warmer (If you can call slightly above zero "warmer) weather and some folks are riding gravels, but my timing for getting out at those particular times has been off. It looks as though it will all come together Saturday morning though, so that is my aim for now.

Public Service Announcement: If you haven't noticed, there was an individual that decided to pump up my comment count to an all time high yesterday. My advice is to not leave any comments here until I can get that cleared up. I also wouldn't bother looking at the comment section for yesterday or probably today. (There won't be anything worth reading there) I won't be checking the comments until I have regained control of the function. (Lesson: Write down your passwords for little used computer functions) After that is cleared up, I'll give the high sign here that comments will be moderated. Too bad that it has to be that way, but there it is........

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Have a great Thursday folks and ride a bike if you can. (Of whatever wheel size!)

Thursday News And Views

Raleigh CX SS Update: The Rainier is getting worked on now again that I have most of my parts gathered. I started building up the wheels late yesterday, the bottom bracket and cranks are on the frame, the seat post, stem, and front chain ring is in and ready to be installed. I gt some brakes, some levers, and a handle bar. Still have to decide on tires and bar wrap along with some minor details. I hope to have this up and running by the weekend.

The Misfit : The Misfit Psycles Dissent is done and that will get ridden now that our temps are getting live able again. I know that there have been "windows" of warmer (If you can call slightly above zero "warmer) weather and some folks are riding gravels, but my timing for getting out at those particular times has been off. It looks as though it will all come together Saturday morning though, so that is my aim for now.

Public Service Announcement: If you haven't noticed, there was an individual that decided to pump up my comment count to an all time high yesterday. My advice is to not leave any comments here until I can get that cleared up. I also wouldn't bother looking at the comment section for yesterday or probably today. (There won't be anything worth reading there) I won't be checking the comments until I have regained control of the function. (Lesson: Write down your passwords for little used computer functions) After that is cleared up, I'll give the high sign here that comments will be moderated. Too bad that it has to be that way, but there it is........

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Have a great Thursday folks and ride a bike if you can. (Of whatever wheel size!)

Bike Building......And Riding!

Well, it has been a pretty productive weekend at Guitar Ted Laboratories. I even got to ride my bicycle! Woo Hoo! With temperatures over the freezing mark, finally.....I actually rode outside for a bit. I did take it pretty easy though, since I haven't ridden in a few weeks and I needed to start out with a slow, steady pace to get back into putting some base miles in.

I rode the Milwaukee Bicycle Company single speeder yesterday. I just cruised around town this time. It was a perfect rig for the day and great for this sort of weather. Long, lowish, and stable is good for icy, wet, slushy streets. I still got off to walk a few places though. Just too sketchy to trust.

In bike building I nearly finished off the Dissent. It just needs a new chain. I'll get one at work today and probably get that installed tonight. Then it's time to ride it! It's looking pretty cool, so I'll have to throw up some pics of it when I finish it.

The next project hit the stand tonight. The Raleigh Rainier single speed cross bike got its BB prepared,a cartridge installed, (square taper) and I mocked up the rear brake. The brakes are these really cool KORE cantilevers in powder coat white. I've got some other white bits to install too like the old Sante' cranks, brake levers, a Bontrager stem, and white Jagwire housing for the brakes. I got some gold ano Weinman DP-18 rims that look like Pilsner, so that befits a bike named "Rainier" I think. They'll get laced up to some flip flop fixed/free Origin 8 hubs.

I'll have both a fixed cog and free wheel on it for some stupid fixed gear antics. I figure I may as well use this rig for training and commuting this summer. Get used to it before I try to cross race it somewhere this coming fall. Sounds like a plan, eh?

So, that's my weekend. I've got some things to do yet, but I made a lot of progress I think. Hopefully we'll have some more good weather coming up, because I kind of liked that riding a bike thing I did yesterday. I think I'd like to do that some more!

Bike Building......And Riding!

Well, it has been a pretty productive weekend at Guitar Ted Laboratories. I even got to ride my bicycle! Woo Hoo! With temperatures over the freezing mark, finally.....I actually rode outside for a bit. I did take it pretty easy though, since I haven't ridden in a few weeks and I needed to start out with a slow, steady pace to get back into putting some base miles in.

I rode the Milwaukee Bicycle Company single speeder yesterday. I just cruised around town this time. It was a perfect rig for the day and great for this sort of weather. Long, lowish, and stable is good for icy, wet, slushy streets. I still got off to walk a few places though. Just too sketchy to trust.

In bike building I nearly finished off the Dissent. It just needs a new chain. I'll get one at work today and probably get that installed tonight. Then it's time to ride it! It's looking pretty cool, so I'll have to throw up some pics of it when I finish it.

The next project hit the stand tonight. The Raleigh Rainier single speed cross bike got its BB prepared,a cartridge installed, (square taper) and I mocked up the rear brake. The brakes are these really cool KORE cantilevers in powder coat white. I've got some other white bits to install too like the old Sante' cranks, brake levers, a Bontrager stem, and white Jagwire housing for the brakes. I got some gold ano Weinman DP-18 rims that look like Pilsner, so that befits a bike named "Rainier" I think. They'll get laced up to some flip flop fixed/free Origin 8 hubs.

I'll have both a fixed cog and free wheel on it for some stupid fixed gear antics. I figure I may as well use this rig for training and commuting this summer. Get used to it before I try to cross race it somewhere this coming fall. Sounds like a plan, eh?

So, that's my weekend. I've got some things to do yet, but I made a lot of progress I think. Hopefully we'll have some more good weather coming up, because I kind of liked that riding a bike thing I did yesterday. I think I'd like to do that some more!

Tinkering Time

<====Tap, tap....face.....tap, tap!

Got out the big guns of the repair tool arsenal in The Lab the other day to get started on a couple of builds. First to go was the Dissent. I tapped and faced the bottom bracket, even though it was pretty clean anyway. Heck, with Shimano's near perfection cartridge bottom brackets of yore, this step is fairly needless anyway. (Everything is aligned within the cartridge, and doesn't rely on the BB shell faces to be parallel.) But since I have the tools, I must use them, or lose them! And who knows? Maybe someday I'll put a two piece crank on this frame, and then the facing will make a difference!



<===Look deep within for a subliminal message! (click pic to make hugeriffic!)

The next step was to slam in the UN-54 BB with Loc-Tite and tighten that ol' dog up. Then I procured a few "necessities" from the Thin Man and those will be installed on this rig and the Raleigh Rainier, which is the next rig to get the BB faced and chased. Wheels need to be built and brakes mounted. Lots of stuff to assemble now. Hopefully a couple of complete rigs will emerge from the basement Lab soon.

And then there is always the riding part, which I plan to partake in tomorrow. Hey! We're above freezing again. Almost feels good enough to go without a coat!

Well........almost!

Tinkering Time

<====Tap, tap....face.....tap, tap!

Got out the big guns of the repair tool arsenal in The Lab the other day to get started on a couple of builds. First to go was the Dissent. I tapped and faced the bottom bracket, even though it was pretty clean anyway. Heck, with Shimano's near perfection cartridge bottom brackets of yore, this step is fairly needless anyway. (Everything is aligned within the cartridge, and doesn't rely on the BB shell faces to be parallel.) But since I have the tools, I must use them, or lose them! And who knows? Maybe someday I'll put a two piece crank on this frame, and then the facing will make a difference!



<===Look deep within for a subliminal message! (click pic to make hugeriffic!)

The next step was to slam in the UN-54 BB with Loc-Tite and tighten that ol' dog up. Then I procured a few "necessities" from the Thin Man and those will be installed on this rig and the Raleigh Rainier, which is the next rig to get the BB faced and chased. Wheels need to be built and brakes mounted. Lots of stuff to assemble now. Hopefully a couple of complete rigs will emerge from the basement Lab soon.

And then there is always the riding part, which I plan to partake in tomorrow. Hey! We're above freezing again. Almost feels good enough to go without a coat!

Well........almost!

It Only Takes One Pebble To Start An Avalanche

I think I have pretty much written off the month of January when it comes to bicycle stuff, at least personally. Besides writing about bicycles, I have hardly been able to get a ride in or had any motivation to delve into the ever shifting mass of bicycle stuff in the Guitar Ted Laboratories. But now, I'm forcing my hand and getting started on things.

I can't do much about the weather, so I went down to the shadowy depths last night and started to make my first feeble attempts at getting the ball rolling here in 2009. It's about time too.......

I've got some parts rolling in for the Raleigh Rainier any day now. That means that I had to dig out the frame prep tools, with emphasis on the bottom bracket facing tool. (Can't use the head tube reamer I have on this one- it has an integrated headset!) I also should have a project frame/fork dropping in for Twenty Nine Inches any day here as well. Gotta get things cleared aside for those things to happen.

On the ride front, I have committed to being near Waukee, Iowa on Sunday, March 8th for CIRREM. (Central Iowa Rock Road Endurance Metric) It is a 100K gravel grinder in the hilly country south of Des Moines. Maybe the single speed Raleigh Rainier will get the call for that? Hmm.....they're saying fatter tires would do better, and you know, it will be so early in the season that they just might be right. I know one thing, the weather could totally determine whether we ride in full winter gear, or ride it at all! But at any rate, it's something to look forward to, and if it does happen, it will be a great stepping stone to the Dirty Kanza 200. Honestly, it will be motivation to ride in February, if I can, and that will all be fitness in the bank for Sea Otter, which in the past has been done with zero training under my belt. Ouch! It showed last year too. Those hills they have out there are amazing. (By the way, I am not competing at Sea Otter, just demo-ing bikes.)

So, hopefully the little bit of rearranging I did last night will be the pebble that starts the avalanche of bicycle activity around here. I know one thing, I'm tired of how things are around here and ready for it to begin.

It Only Takes One Pebble To Start An Avalanche

I think I have pretty much written off the month of January when it comes to bicycle stuff, at least personally. Besides writing about bicycles, I have hardly been able to get a ride in or had any motivation to delve into the ever shifting mass of bicycle stuff in the Guitar Ted Laboratories. But now, I'm forcing my hand and getting started on things.

I can't do much about the weather, so I went down to the shadowy depths last night and started to make my first feeble attempts at getting the ball rolling here in 2009. It's about time too.......

I've got some parts rolling in for the Raleigh Rainier any day now. That means that I had to dig out the frame prep tools, with emphasis on the bottom bracket facing tool. (Can't use the head tube reamer I have on this one- it has an integrated headset!) I also should have a project frame/fork dropping in for Twenty Nine Inches any day here as well. Gotta get things cleared aside for those things to happen.

On the ride front, I have committed to being near Waukee, Iowa on Sunday, March 8th for CIRREM. (Central Iowa Rock Road Endurance Metric) It is a 100K gravel grinder in the hilly country south of Des Moines. Maybe the single speed Raleigh Rainier will get the call for that? Hmm.....they're saying fatter tires would do better, and you know, it will be so early in the season that they just might be right. I know one thing, the weather could totally determine whether we ride in full winter gear, or ride it at all! But at any rate, it's something to look forward to, and if it does happen, it will be a great stepping stone to the Dirty Kanza 200. Honestly, it will be motivation to ride in February, if I can, and that will all be fitness in the bank for Sea Otter, which in the past has been done with zero training under my belt. Ouch! It showed last year too. Those hills they have out there are amazing. (By the way, I am not competing at Sea Otter, just demo-ing bikes.)

So, hopefully the little bit of rearranging I did last night will be the pebble that starts the avalanche of bicycle activity around here. I know one thing, I'm tired of how things are around here and ready for it to begin.

Rainier Is Here! (I Must Be Crazy!)

So.........I guess I got lucky! Back in October I mentioned this. I really didn't think it would happen because it is a very limited edition rig and I was told they were all spoken for. I put in an order anyway. A couple of e-mails were exchanged. Then today, the Fed X guy walks in with a box under his arm with this in it.

I was either lucky, or crazy......or both!





<====Easton EC 90X carbon goodness.

So this thing, which was a one off show special, is now not only a limited edition rig, but is here and beckoning me to go bogtrotting somewhere. Too bad the season just ended!

Not that it would have mattered, because now I get to build it. Which is really one of the best parts of getting a new frame and fork anyway. Well.........at least for this bike geek!



<==== If it looks like a can of beer, well.....

So now comes all of the choices. The brakes, the cranks, the hubs, the rims. Wheels will need to be built. A handle bar and stem will need to happen. A seat post and saddle.

I didn't mention derailleurs? Didn't you know?


It is a single speed device, don't ya know?!!



<===Simple, classy, and white!

Yep! No gears here! Just a crank and a cog connected by a chain. No worries about shifting. No mud is too muddy! Bring it on!

Actually, the single speedness of the package is what intrigued me the most about this frame. If it had been a geared rig, I think I may have passed on it. Well, it is a single speed and it is white. I have a weakness for white bikes!

<=== The winter project is here!

So now parts acquisition mode will be in full swing. I've got my eye on some red ano bits, a single speed hub set that will be an Allen bolt on deal, and a carbon post with a white saddle, of course!

So I'll leave you with this view for now. Next time you see this, it'll be ride able. That won't be for awhile yet, so hold yer horses!

Time now to go down to the Lab and raid the parts bin.........

Rainier Is Here! (I Must Be Crazy!)

So.........I guess I got lucky! Back in October I mentioned this. I really didn't think it would happen because it is a very limited edition rig and I was told they were all spoken for. I put in an order anyway. A couple of e-mails were exchanged. Then today, the Fed X guy walks in with a box under his arm with this in it.

I was either lucky, or crazy......or both!





<====Easton EC 90X carbon goodness.

So this thing, which was a one off show special, is now not only a limited edition rig, but is here and beckoning me to go bogtrotting somewhere. Too bad the season just ended!

Not that it would have mattered, because now I get to build it. Which is really one of the best parts of getting a new frame and fork anyway. Well.........at least for this bike geek!



<==== If it looks like a can of beer, well.....

So now comes all of the choices. The brakes, the cranks, the hubs, the rims. Wheels will need to be built. A handle bar and stem will need to happen. A seat post and saddle.

I didn't mention derailleurs? Didn't you know?


It is a single speed device, don't ya know?!!



<===Simple, classy, and white!

Yep! No gears here! Just a crank and a cog connected by a chain. No worries about shifting. No mud is too muddy! Bring it on!

Actually, the single speedness of the package is what intrigued me the most about this frame. If it had been a geared rig, I think I may have passed on it. Well, it is a single speed and it is white. I have a weakness for white bikes!

<=== The winter project is here!

So now parts acquisition mode will be in full swing. I've got my eye on some red ano bits, a single speed hub set that will be an Allen bolt on deal, and a carbon post with a white saddle, of course!

So I'll leave you with this view for now. Next time you see this, it'll be ride able. That won't be for awhile yet, so hold yer horses!

Time now to go down to the Lab and raid the parts bin.........