Weekend Project

My Father-in-law has been riding his bike more and more recently.  Mostly for fun and exercise, but with the addition of the Acorn bag, the utility aspect really came home in the last couple of weeks.  It is amazing what even a small bag can add for those who have never carried more than a spare tube.  The bike is a Univega Alpina comp in fantastic condition with a great Suntour XC Comp / Ritchey Logic build that is still going strong 20 years now.  The original knobby tire was still on front.  This weekend I was able to put on a set of Schwalbe Big Apples and reset the cockpit a little with an Albatross bar. 

The smile was instant as he took it for a test ride around the block.  It is really cool to get someone so stoked.  There is a bit more it will need like bearing repack, maybe some new brake shoes, but all in all the bike is in great shape and ready to go.

Bikes In the Garage – 1983 Specialized Sequoia 47cm

This is a recent Ebay acquisition that we could not pass up.  It is the perfect size for my wife, and happens to be the closest to mint Sequoia I will likely ever see.  Every piece is the way it was the day it rolled off the showroom floor, and it was stored indoors for 27 years and only ridden a few times.  I had High hopes, but was stunned once I put it together and wiped it down.  Superbe brakes and pedals, Avocet crankset and Saddle, Suntour derailers, Specialized hubs smooth as butter, and the tires still have the mold witness lines with skin walls in great condition. 

She will ride it for a bit as it is, but it will quite likely get a set of Albatross bars, the 650b wheels and brakes off of her Miyata.  The build quality on the frame is incredible, as nice or nicer than my Rivendell.

Now if only I coud find a 62.5 like this one.

Back On the Rawland

The Roadeo is resting in the corner while I figure out a next path of action.  I tried to realign the dropout, but it is going to need to be replaced.  I knocked the dust off of the Rawland this morning and moved the luggage over.    

While on a quick run to get the mail I rode past some big time news in a small town

Definitely not something you see every day, and drew a pretty big crowd.