PurpleFrog":tpr5cmvz said:
It's nice to see practical working bikes.
Thanks!
You might want to try the Almotions when they reach a sane US price; they're amazing. Big Ben volume, lots of grip and top of the range anti-puncture technology but racing tyre rolling resistance.
I'll have to look into those, I haven't heard of them before.
...How did you get the bars that high? Steerer extender? If I can ask, which one?
I
am using a steerer extender on the bike I'm building up to replace the one pictured above, as the "new" one is threadless (the '94 GT Corrado), but in this case, my LBS hooked me up with a really long stem as the '93 GT Outpost has a threaded steerer. IIRC, it is made by Sunlite. I'm sure that is at maximum safe extension, so that's as high as it goes. A quick internet search isn't turning up that exact one, but I'm seeing a very similar (all silver, no black) one that is 250mm long.
I'm running swept bars myself with ergo grips - I'm using Phorm g510s, which are designed for swept bars. Works very well!
Ah! Hadn't heard of those either! Might have to give them a try if I end up unhappy with the grips I'm putting on the new commuter. Glad to hear someone is making grips for swept bars!
I've been thinking of doing this myself and doing some research. Interestingly, the most important places to hit on the bike are those that are low down - they catch dipped headlights - and which move. Hitting all 4 sides of the crank with tape works very well, supposedly. The other good tricks are said to be tape as spoke reflectors and, for rear visibility, on half the inside rim - this makes the wheel flash at drivers behind you.
The stays actually light up quite well from the rear since they are wrapped in reflective tape too. I'll have to dig up a picture. I had started to do my wheels with the "Lightweights" spoke reflector stickers, but only made it is far as my front wheel and then I killed it! (Wore through brake track) Doing the spokes on my new commuter is on the list. I did do a modified version of what they recommend, only putting the reflectors on about half the wheel to produce visible motion, should've took a vid of it...
You know, it's funny, I'm sure lots of people think my bikes are ugly and couldn't imagine doing what I do to them, but not only do I (mostly) like the way they look, I do actually have some aesthetic lines I don't want to cross, and covering the cranks in reflective tape is one of them!
If anyone has any tips about polishing the ball burnish GT frames, I'm all ears. This bike could really shine.
Do a forum search; you'll find lots of stuff. I'm against it - polishing means thinning the hardened ball burnished layer.
Ah! Interesting. I'm glad I asked. I'll have to do some research on the ball burnishing. I'll try to search for those threads. I assume you've chimed in there with your preferred technique for caring for ball burnished frames?
Suggestions:
- If you're anywhere rainy and not already doing so then you might want to install Koolstop pink or dual pads
Yeah, I'm in Seattle, I run wet weather Kool-Stops in the rainy season, I've still got my summer pads on there at the moment, but not for much longer!
- It could be worth trying out v-brake boosters, especially at the front. These are horseshoes shaped braces for the brake pivots. They can give a surprising increase in modulation as well as ease of braking - my avid v-brakes now feel like they're hydraulic.
They're cantis!
(and that's the way I
like it!)