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Thursday, March 14

Of bikes, and cabbages, and (not) kings

The final piece of the puzzle arrived yesterday.

The Cane Creek 110, SHIS identification ZS44/ZS56 color: silver

Why silver?

Because if I woulda waited for black or red, I wouldn't be riding my new bike in the mountains this weekend.

Did it all go smoothly?

No.

The headset has an insertion depth of 10mm.  The Carver was reamed 10mm deep... almost.  The ID tapered inwards near the 10mm mark, thus not allowing full insertion. 

Meh.

This makes the second headset (not the fault of the headset) I had to take a Ryobi sander to in order to make great bike.  Maybe it's time to invest in a reamer.  I only had to take off a hair, but lacking an accurate caliper, it was sand, insert, eyeball, remove, repeat... until it went all the way in.

Once that was done, I was able to toss on the pre-assembled cockpit, shorten the rear brake line, and go out for a test ride.

The critical driveway wheelie test?  Just about put me on my ass.  Short top tube, short stem, slack angles, short chainstay, and a low gear all combined forces to create a wheelie machine.  The ridiculously high top tube makes it feel like I'm on a bigger bike, although the ETT is shorter than my other bikes by @ 1/4".

Bottom bracket height?  Unless I'm riding over a patch of unusually tall English school children, I don't think pedal strikes will be an issue.  More than 13"... much more.

Weight?   For those that care, it sits at 23.1lbs with 140mm Fox fjork, bottle cage and XT Trail pedals (nothing Awesomely Strapped to it).

From this point on, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating... although I'm on a diet.  This weekend, the Faster Mustache crew will be heading to Pisgah for a camp/ride birthday bash, and I have reason to believe that the Dirt Rag clan will also be down for a clandestine visit and test bike trashing.

Oh yes...

The surprise that Thad "The Conniving" Marsupial alluded to?


It happened.  Am I a "happy boy?"

Yes... and as always, no.

A meeting was had, stand up style, in a parking lot.  A re-meeting, as it were.  Time was short, an idea tossed out, my mouth agape.

I have been presented with a possible opportunity that has its rewards, a chance to perfect an idea, a way to connect all I have learned and put it into a pile and have it exalted from up on high.

Something like that.  If it pans out, it will be some time before it comes to fruition and will not be something I can discuss in an open manner, so even if it does happen, it will happen quietly until the ultimate thrilling climax.

Or nothing will come of it at all.  Just an idea right now.  My mind swirling with the possibilities and the knowledge that this could be a year long endeavor.

Could be fun, what with all the wringing of hands and sleepless nights.

20 comments:

Chris said...

Your own signature line of headset sanders?

Unknown said...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Park-Tool-HTR-1B-1-1-8-Head-Tube-Reamer-and-Facing-Set-/400338569314?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3609c862

Park tool head tube reamer and facing set. $580.00.
So there's that anyway.

dicky said...

Only $580?

In. It will look better on the pegboard than my Ryobi.

Anonymous said...

The way you go through new bikes, $580 might be worth the investment.

john parker said...

and it's name shall be Brutilicus Maximus bronto 140 version 2.4? or may be one dam fun bike?

Rob said...

" it was sand, insert, eyeball, remove, repeat... until it went all the way in."

If I had a nickel....

Junk said...

Dibs on the Kindle book version of "101 things to do with a Dremel tool" by Dicky.

The Los said...

Kenneth- Unfortunately it's useless on a 44/56mm tapered head tube.
I think Dicky is being asked to design matching sleeveless, midriff exposing jersey and armwarmer combos for Primal Wear.

Los

A.Ron Burgundy said...

Thank you for saying "the proof of the pudding will be in the eating" and not just "the proof is in the pudding." That shit drives me bananas. Also, good luck with the book deal!

wrepsher said...

No need for reamer - measure ahead of time (a dial caliper can be procured quite cheaply through Harbor Freight or Enco) then have your LBS do the reaming.

dicky said...

I was going to say " "the proof is in the pudding."

But then thought better of it.

And then thought again.

But then thought better of it.


dicky said...

Don't know many shops that have a 44mm or 56mm reamer BTW.

dicky said...

That they wanna tear up reaming a ti frame.

bz truewheel said...

Would you rather face a headtube or a bottom bracket?

dicky said...

I would rather take a table saw to a bottom bracket. It's all about power tools.

bz truewheel said...

I get uncomfortable with a dude even thinking about my headtube or bottom bracket...

wrepsher said...

For power tools best get yourself an old Bridgeport mill, rotary indexer and some carbide tipped tools. Ti, headset or BB - nothing will have a chance.

Unknown said...

shoulda just got the Honzo this bike tires to copy. I guess you get the weight of Ti, but at the cost of $$ and stiffness. And at 13"+ bottom bracket height, sounds like it would make a better 650b.

dicky said...

Kona Honzo has a 12.2" BB height with a 120mm fork. Jack it up some with a 140mm. Stiffness? I haven't even ridden it yet.

Haters gonna comment.

Unknown said...

Not hatin...I haven't ridden a Carver to speak about either, but I know the Honzo will be stiffer than Ti. Jack it up to 140mm and BB is at 12.5". Check out those short chainstays too. And with you coming off a Rigid Aluminium, I think you'd find it just right. Then again, it isn't fancy enough for you to like.