Category Archives: Bikes

Breaking the habit of a lifetime, I actually sold a bike this week. Well, a bike frame really.

Last year I bought a second Trek 69er Singlespeed frame and built it up with rigid forks, and then didn’t ride it. I never really got on with the fit, which was a bit odd, because the one I have with Maverick DUC forks fits like a dream. Spending money on different seatposts, stems, and bars might have helped, but then again it might not. In addition, every time I went into the cellar I’d see the Kona Unit I cannibalised to build the 69er and would remember how good it was to ride, and how much better it fitted.

So, I offered the frame to a friend who turned it down, however he suggested it to someone else, and it left today on the trip to it’s new home where I hope it gets put to better use than I managed.

Thanks to the delights of working late because of a conference call this evening I had a lazy start to the day. Up at about 9 for bacon and egg rolls, then I rode into work the long way via Bitton on the finished Singular Firebird. Well I say finished, but I still need to work out what stem to fit to replace the borrowed Ritchey Comp, if only I could find one aesthetically suitable.

For the first time this year I managed to drag myself out of bed in time to take the long route to work, 12.5 miles instead of the usual sub-1.5 mile route. It feels good to give the legs a bit of a stretch in the morning, and makes the working day feel a lot more pleasant.

After 10 months using Time I-Clic Racer pedals I’ve retired them in favour of my old Time Impacts. I never felt secure on the I-Clics, it felt a bit like pedalling on ice and it was far too easy for me to accidentally unclip when pedalling, which isn’t particularly confidence inspiring.

The only problem is I have two road bikes, and only one set of Impact pedals, but fortunately they share a cleat with Time RXS pedals, and those are still available. So provided I’m happy with the Impacts, I’ll be ordering new RXS pedals next week.

Whilst swapping pedals around I’ve tweaked the position on the Firebird slightly, saddle and stem have both been dropped 5mm or so which seems to have helped a bit, I might still fit a slightly shorter stem.

The last part for the Singular Firebird arrived from Sam yesterday. It looks fantastic, almost too good to stick on a bicycle.