Photos From the Saddle

An acquaintance asked me not too long ago if I rode everywhere I went. I responded no, but that I tried. As I’m nearing the end of the year in which I rode ~175 consecutive days and then couldn’t ride for three months due to injury (and the following ginger return to riding), I’m thinking about my purpose behind riding.

Above all, it is the love of riding that gets me back in the saddle. Even now, as I’m starting over from scratch with practically no fitness and a constant reminder of my limits via a tweaked Achilles, I am inspired to ride. The perspective, too, inspires me… mostly in the sense of trying to capture the experience of riding via camera. Plus there’s the fitness and monetary benefits, along with the assumed lessened environmental impact.

And really, one can’t argue with views like this while riding…

But then there’s also the darkness that typically envelops the train most of the way each day… the views usually aren’t so great then.

I’d almost completely forgotten about this… (warning: it’s 8 minutes long):

While I have no qualms with bikes that are “off the shelf”, I must admit I hold a certain fondness for bikes that are pieced together. From frankenbikes to custom builds, it makes me pause to see a “project” in its completed (or somewhat-near completed) stages. The above is one such case… a new frame dressed up with a wonderous assortment of parts. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. There’s no beauty contest to be won… simply a collection of bits and pieces that happen to work together and resulted in what the owner describes as “a great ride”. And really, isn’t that what most cyclists are after?

Commuted a couple days on the KM this week… and while I’m still finessing a few things, it’s proving to be as great of a ride as I’d hoped. On the train, it is a bit more unweidly (as evidenced by the slightly skewed but still indicative longer wheelbase), but that’s nothing much to worry about. I was reminded of the frustrations of a headwind on a single-speed, though, and the wider hand positioning does at times make it seem like cars are a bit closer than before… but I’m still very much in love with the bike, so I’m able to ignore such things with ease.

Oh, how sweet it is.

Here’s a breakdown of the build:

• Surly Karate Monkey frame and fork, size large
• Chris King headset
• Thomson Elite stem & seatpost
• Funn Full On handlebar
• Juicy Seven hydraulic brakes
• TruVativ Stylo 1.1 crankset, 32t
• WTB Laserdisc Trail 29er w/ freehub
• Schwable Big Apple 29×2.0 tires
• Surly 13t cog, single speed spacer kit and tuggnut tensioner
• Crank Brothers Acid 2 pedals
• Profile Designs grips
• Selle Italia Max Flite saddle
• SRAM 8-speed chain

Some closeups…

Every moment I’ve been on the bike I’ve had a grin from ear to ear. So completely happy that it’s finally built and it’s rolling so well. The tires… oh, the tires… I never thought I’d be so stoked on a set of tires, but I can honestly say that I’m very happy with the Schwable Big Apples. Looking at ‘em, you would think it’d be like riding a tank… but they’re quite speedy for their size. Honestly, it feels like I’m riding a cruiser. But fast.

The 32×13 drive ends up with about 66 gear inches (which is somewhere near a 39×15, if I remember correctly). It’s perfect for my commute… I can spin up relatively quickly and the speed is sufficient enough so that I can move along at a good clip without spinning out. The single-speed route I take home is doable with this setup, too, though I expected this since I was doing it on the One Way’s 42×16 earlier this year.

The fenders… will be on shortly.

I commuted by bike twice this week, both times managing to hit every red light in the morning. I suppose I’m not as attuned to such trivialties in the afternoon since I’m not on a specific schedule, but in the morning, when I have to make a train, this is what I notice.

Swapped out the MiNewt Mini USB for the TriNewt as I’m now commuting in full darkness in the mornings and evenings. Still wonder why NiteRider didn’t build flashing modes into either light.

While waiting to deboard the train earlier this week, a guy was staring at my bike for a bit before he asked how I liked the Soma. We chatted a little bit, particularly about steel bikes, with his final words of the conversation being “It’s all I own, except for a POS aluminum mountain bike.” I’ve heard mumblings here and there re: a resurgence of steel bikes… which would be cool ‘n all, but really it’s more about what works for people. For me, with all the commuting on rough roads and riding on chipseal, steel works better than aluminum. If I were more focused on speed and racing and whatnot, I’m sure I’d be just fine with aluminum. Dunno if I’ll ever consider Ti, given the cost and my love of building up new projects every year or so. Carbon just isn’t something I’m going to consider.

Speaking of projects, the Karate Monkey is… just waiting to be assembled. Never thought I’d be so stoked about tires, but the Schwalbe Big Apples are pretty much rad. Can’t wait to run ‘em on a low psi and just float down the road. Could happen this weekend… all I need is a pipe cutter.

• Miles ridden: 173
• Miles driven: 140 (136,256)

In hindsight, October was pretty dry. I definitely have been riding the Double Cross on borrowed miles, as it’s in need of an overhaul… which will be happening this week. I also managed to get the garage tidied up a little, getting a couple bikes up off the floor and hanging along with a couple wheelsets. Stoked that I managed to drive so few miles in October—fewer than during bike to work month, at that.

Some shots of the Karate Monkey coming along…