Here's the story of how my ride came to be:
So, I started riding again in April of 2008 after a 5 year absence from biking. At the time, my beater 1998 Specialized S-Works single speed hardtail decided to give itself a chainstay tweak. With that and constant bugging from *ahem* some members of this forum (then, msdhw) to hang up my "decade old relic"; I decided it was time to retire old yeller to the family room as a stationary trainer (where it resides now).
I was in the market again for a new bike... However, unlike before, when parts and bikes stayed the same for a few seasons -there were so many new companies and so much new product and lingo that I was overwhelmed. Plus, the prices were out of this world! (and... still going up, like Willy Wonka's Great Glass Elevator where a sugar-high Charlie pushes all the buttons). Guess the phrase "you gotta pay to play..." comes in right about here.
Okay, I understood that I had to pay toll for entry into the biking promised land. Undeterred, I did my homework and researched everything I needed to know about this "newer world" and went to try the offerings of many a bicycle company both known and unbeknownst to me. I tried both hardtail and full suspension bikes. Some would feel close to right, but none fit exactly like the geometry on my old S-Works. I was skeptical of carbon at first, but I loved the feel and decided to go out on a limb to try it... [2 months pass]
Blasphemy or not, I wasn't sure how long I'd be into riding again, so I didn't feel justified to drop wads of dough on a new ride. I decided to do the next best thing -lurk on fleabay- until something decent turned up. It wasn't long until a prime specimen a -2006 Specialized S-Works Carbon HT (hardtail)- turned up. All I had to do was win and it'd be mine -and I did! It was a close call, as I sniped that baby with 2 seconds remaining! Nu-uh, No u didn't! Not on my watch!
It was coming from the East Coast, so I had time to burn. That's when the little red guy w/horns riding a bike popped into my mind and began to tempt me. I tried my best to fend him off but my mental fencing skills weren't strong enough and I succumbed. Before I knew it, I was upgrading my bike before I had a bike. Yep, I needed carbon cranks, skeptical as I was. Might as well grab a titanium bottom bracket too while I was at it. I got some other do-dads but I don't recall what they were; probably because I never needed them in the first place. "
No point to add more weight, right?"
<---That's what it said.
Tuesday, the 24th of June was the day my bike arrived. I promptly freed it from its cardboard prison, assembled it, and gave it a good scrubbing. This is how it looked like after the strip down:
Orange liquid coming from a bike is never a good sign. That is what happened when I removed the seals on the internal headset, during the overhaul. I called multiple LBS (local bike shops) all around the Bay Area... and luckily, 1 shop had that particular part available on hand. They also told me it was a normal occurrence and these earlier Specialized internal headsets needed replacing every 1-2 years. I hauled ass -80 miles (round trip)- to make sure I could claim it first -making it with 10 minutes to spare. I was happy, because the mechanic told me to come back the next day. I would be riding again soon! Here's how it looked after I assembled it:
Rode it a handful of times in this configuration, before I got annoyed with having to shift so much -being accustomed to single speed. So 3 in front became 2, and eventually 1, after I did away with the irksome front derailleur. 34t 1x9. No hassles, the power band was just right, and as a plus: lighter! I was happy again: "
No point to add more weight, right?"
After two hundred or so miles, my back started to ache after especially long rides and mudanoman (Ivan) observed that my bike was set up all wrong. Not enough bend in the elbows, too slouched over, seat too low, etc. I swapped the 30.9 Thomson Elite Setback seatpost with the straight Thomson Elite from my old S-Works. A riser bar was also on the list to replace the carbon fiber flat bar... but the mod devil popped up again and soon enough I had an Easton MonkeyLite CNT SL riser bar in my lap. "
No point to add more weight, right?"
*yawns...baking bread in the morning break*
Hmm, then I noticed that the rear wheel was always loose even after I had the skewers hella tight because my shifting would always crap out. The culprit was indeed the skewers! Mavic Composite BX-601 to be exact! They're complete crap! Shame on you Mavic! You produce some fine wheels, but "recall grade" sh*tty skewers to hold them on your bike with! This one time I was descending, and I swear the rear wheel was going to fly off! Anyways, to cut to the chase... I ended up with a pair of 55g Carbon-Ti X-Lock's, which seem to be holding up well despite their wimpy demeanor. "
No point to add more weight, right?"
Then, I heard about the RideSFO Bike Expo and Swap and decided to check it out with my brosef, Ivan and two other friends. We ended walking out with a ton of stuff... empty wallets. I ended up with an S-Works Carbon stem which was the same length as the one on my bike that I was ready to swap out... but hey, it was $5, a pair of Sidi Dominator Fives for $65 to replace my old ass pair of El Gato Sports, and a uber light set of American Classic MTB 26 wheels w/Sapim spokes (winter wheels) for $250 -Ivan spotted me 150, cuz I was dry of green then. Brotherly love comes to save the day! (major props to RideSFO for organizing and putting together such a stand-up show! Heard good things about the raffle, but unfortunately couldn't stay. T_T)
"No point to add more weight, right?"
Winter was coming, and the weather was getting wetter and colder. I swapped out Ivan's 90mm Thomson because he wasn't riding much and installed some hybrid tires on my set of winter wheels. My ride was looking pretty disproportional to say the least. Here, have yourself a gander:
Fox's F90X Terralogic fork is amazing for absorbing small bumps when the trail gets hairy, and locking out when climbing is necessary. However, I felt that the suspension -90mm- was counter-productive to precision steering because of those traits, and that I'd be better off with a rigid fork and learn to be a better rider at the same time. So... in an effort to
"No point to add more weight, right?" I got a Ritchey WCS Carbon Mountain Fork (I'm planning to write a review) to dampen the ride quality ever-so-slightly. I was surprised how supple the fork felt. Now my bike climbs like a jet fighter on afterburners and descends like a bat out of hell as well! Perfect!
Here she is in her current configuration:
Since then, I'm pleased to say that I try to average at least 50 miles per week (
Ben's Ride Log) and take every opportunity to ride unless it's sub-zero temps or raining cats and dogs. I keep her super clean and maintained after every ride. Clean bikes seem to ride better than dirty ones as Donald A. Norman would say.
Oh yeah, the Time ATAC pedals were salvaged off the wreckage of my old ride, kind of like a tribute type deal. You see, I had this nice KHS Alite 4000 that rolled off my Yakima rack (defective they said | bullsh*t I said.) and into traffic on Interstate 280. Helplessly, I watched in seemingly slow-motion as it disintegrated after an 18 wheeler decided to accelerate and steamroll it! Talk about bad luck! I wish I had it on film, it would have been AWESOME footy!!! I have the next best thing... the aftermath pics I sent to Yakima (only got $400 compensation... for a $2,646.58 estimate -guess the little guy gets screwed by the big evil corporation again!) Anyways, you can witness the carnage on this thread after I get them all scanned.
And that's the story of my ride. Now share it with your grand kids. I finally finished writing this post after 2 days on and off! Thank God! :alcoholic
-Ben
p.s.
Glad to be back!
Linear Mode
