what was that? is that all there is? who is this? this is it.

Up on upon its first test ride I had the rear brake only laced up to Ye Olde School Suntour cantilever lever. It felt like nothingness. It felt like a rainsoaked super saturated nerf ball on a trampoline. It felt like a stress dream where you’re trying too hard to look like you’re not trying too hard. 

It did not inspire confidence. 

Then I slapped on some XT levers and the brakes felt better. I rode it around the block a few times trying to burn off all the BikeWorks greasy grease on the rotors. It started to feel a little bit better. 

And then I thought of Steve Maluk scolding me for building up a bike with canti levers on V-brakes. It works. But it’s half-ass. And we don’t sell half-ass bikes here. Those were not his words but they’re my summation of the situation. Lesson learned. 

On these XT levers you can switch the cable pull from canti to V-brake. Quick as a wink.  If you’re cable actuating disc brakes you want to be in V-brake mode and pull more cable. Not until today did I realize I was test riding in cantilever mode. When I switched them over, the fine red bicycle finally felt rideable. 

take your bike to work day #1

take your bike to Big Time time 

3 Comments

those marathon tires get about 13,000 miles before theyre down to the first thread layers

word. they're as heavy as the day is long. but a little cost benefit analysis goes a long way.

weighed this thing at the mothership yesterday. it's 26lbs as is. with a Surly fork and full fenders it'll be 2 stone +

Add Comment

Your Name: (Required)

Comment:

Please enter the 4 to 6 character security code:

(This is to prevent automated comments.)