littlecircles » bikes

Flat Bar Fargo

mb — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:30:17 +0000

Finally had some wrench time. Converted the Fargo over to flat bars and will be running 1×9 this winter. Nokian Extremes will go on when the temps start to drop.

Monday Mojo

mb — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:29:25 +0000

Since my bikepacking trip I’ve been looking for some mojo. Lots of rain here in VT, lots of damage and flooding from the hurricane, and lots of cold, wet, weather settling in. I always go through some downtime as the seasons change… and being in the cold and rain for the VT Fall Classic last week seemed to reinforce that the body needs time to acclimate each year. Come spring I’ll be shedding layers in this morning’s temps…

Have to find some time for some bike maintenance. The Fargo’s rear derailleur was tweaked somewhere along the Fall Classic. Shifting suffered over the final 12 miles. My chain wouldn’t drop out of the largest cog without some persuasion on the pedals, and it never dropped down into the smallest. Looks like the replaceable hanger is bent – but no adjusting with cable tension nor limit screws seems to help. I’m likely to swap to flat bars and 1×9 for the winter – so it seems this fix will just speed up that process.

The Pugsley is going to get my Titec H-bars. I have cable ready and waiting – just need the time to focus. The bars on the Pugs will go to the Fargo for the winter. Also need to re-pack the rear wheel, and check all the bearings, etc. Want to be ready to roll when the snow flies.

The IF needs a cleaning. And I’ll mount up my spare wheelset with my trainer tires for indoor roller duty. This bike has been ridden maybe only a handful of times since the Fargo arrived. Sad, maybe. But I’m just digging the fat tires now, for pretty much everything…

Woodchipper Setup

mb — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:56:36 +0000

Finally getting the drop bar dialed on the Fargo for trail / gravel / dirt / road. Stem is a temp (thanks Aaron!) – its close – so I’ll ride it for a week. I think I need ~2deg more of rise.

I need to pull the tape and slide the levers down just a bit on the bars – but bar angle seems to be right on. I’ve also been playing with SRAM’s lever reach adjustment (why don’t all brakes / levers come with this feature?) – currently riding in the middle position – but may slide them in a bit closer for a week.

Creative Parking

mb — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:52:08 +0000

Met the wife downtown for lunch. No bike parking at Magnolia’s? Burlington’s first ‘green’ restaurant? And one that sells t-shirts about riding a bike instead of driving…

Recent Snaps

mb — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 13:38:56 +0000

Mellow weekend. Farmer’s Market, morning rides, flowers in bloom, some industrious kids up in the woods, flood damage, more rain, gray skies, good fun.

Recent Snaps

mb — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:19:36 +0000

Of the puddle rider and blueberry theif…

Fargo

mb — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:24:11 +0000

Some snaps of the new Fargo. She was christened on a rainy 45 mile paved, dirt, mud, and trail ride last Sunday. Only way that seemed fitting was to get her dirty. No pics from the ride worth posting – these are from a tour of the local parks.

Stock everything at the moment. Cables are long and steerer is tall while awaiting the wider of the Woodchipper bars. Still working on position. The current pics show a great dirt road / mild trail setup. If this were to be single track only I’d rotate the levers down to make the drops my primary position.

Not sold on the Thudbuster – have to put it through its paces to see how it shakes out on my normal rides. Certainly nice on there for singletrack, although it is odd that I have some cush on the rear and nothing up front…

Really enjoying the SRAM 2×10 drivetrain. Pleasantly surprised, and if money weren’t an issued I think I’d replace the Campy on the IF with the Red or Rival group.

Long range plans include a tubeless wheelset with a dyno up front to run a Supernova E3 and a custom frame bag. I may move over a Brooks or decent WTB. So far the stock saddle is unremarkable but comfortable.

Something new…

mb — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:43:00 +0000

3 or more years in the making…

Quiver is now full. IF, Fargo, Pugsley.
(although I do miss a SS/FG bike…)

Soma Juice29r SOLD

mb — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:26:20 +0000

Sold, thanks for the interest.

Wreck

mb — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:08:31 +0000

The little one took a full on downhill wreck on the bike path this weekend. Part lack of experience going fast, part helpful stranger trying to catch her. She freaked out turning hard to evade the guy who stepped into her path trying to slow her down and ended up with a skinned knee and some scratches on her hands. Lots of crying, but resumed the running and playing with a friend withing 15 minutes.

I almost cried when I picked her bike up – I remember the first time my bike broke when I was a kid – I was devastated. I’m thinking about making a new bar out of a piece of maple… I can unbolt the existing bar and trace it. I’ll just have to get creative with the bar ends.