Pieces and parts

Well the Proflex is getting closer. I ordered some brake levers and shifters that I needed. I had a little time and figured that I would start the big swap. I have parts from three different bikes getting shifted around to make 3 different bikes, but at the same time the same bikes I had. Go figure.

I had done some of the work that is needed to be done last week some time. I pulled the Girvin fork off of the Proflex, pulled the Palmer fork off of the SS and put the rigid fork back on.

This next step was started by putting the carbon riser bars on the SS because I will be using the riser bars on that for the Proflex. After that was done, I put the Girvin fork on the Caloi and took off the brakes and stem. I basically finished up the Caloi except for the rear brake. I need to get some new hoses for the rear Magura rim brake.

After a quick test ride on the rollers, I pulled the Proflex down and started working on that. I put on the fork, stem, bars and brakes. I need to wait for my parts to come in and have some cleaning to do, but it is much closer to being ready to ride.

Lunch Lady

Since my Wed. night rides have been canceled and I have had so much fun on the rollers, when I heard a few guys were riding at lunch yesterday I knew I could not pass it up. For some reason I didn't really want to go, but knew I had to.

Wed. night I put in 9 miles on the rollers because I was trying to talk myself out of riding Thursday. Well, I tried, but I knew what had to be done. So I packed my bike up and went to work. I was a little concerned because it did not get as warm as it was supposed to and the sun did not shine. It actually looked like we would get some rain. The rain held off and we had a great ride. It was a little cooler then I thought it would be, but nothing I didn't bring clothes for. So in 45 min or so we put in 12 1/2 miles. Not too bad for the first time on the road in a long time. We were not trying to kill ourselves, but over all it was a good ride. Much better then the rollers!

Are we there yet?

Just when I thought I was actually starting to do something, the weather comes along and messes everything up. I have been on the rollers a few times, but not what I really wanted to do. Now I am stuck in between the its too cold to ride or its too wet to ride rut.

I have been trying to figure out exactly what I will put on my new/old bike. How much will I steal from my NRS and how much retro stuff I will use. I was bidding on some old school thumb shifters, but they went out of my current budget. I was planning on keeping the 8 spd that is on there and just making it work. I also need some V-brake levers. I have thought about almost stripping the NRS to get this thing working, but I am just not sure.

I am sure there are several people that would wonder why would I stop riding a 2004 bike with disc brakes for a 1997 bike with V-brakes. Well, the brakes are not the reason. I have come to like disc brakes, but my old frame does not have the mounts and neither does my fork. I have thought about putting the new fork on my old bike, but that is part of the reason I don't want my new bike. The fork just moves too much for me. I know it is some spv set up that the harder it is compressed the better it works, but I don't want it to move that much when I am not doing anything. More then once it about threw me over the bars on a big tree crossing. When the front wheel hits the ground I usually expect it to stop, but not with this fork. It keeps dropping....

The big thing that pissed me off about this bike is the fact that my rear shock had blown its seals just sitting in my basement. I know, it was almost a year since I rode it, but hey I was having fun on the SS. I refused to pay $100 to rebuild a shock that did not get enough usage. I found the same thing on ebay for 1/4 the cost, but I had to come up with some spacers to make it work with the frame. It does not look the best, but it held up for Fruita and Moab.

Here is a sneak peek at the new ride.

more changes in weather

This weather is really starting to suck. Why can't it just make up its mind. Last week the Wed. night right was bailed on because of the temperatures, it was 31 and dropping when it was time to head to the trail. This week it has been doing nothing but raining all week and it is too warm to snow, so the trail is mush. No ride tonight either.

This has left me with my rollers for the only company I could find. The only problem with that is I have not been on them near enough to really make a difference. I have a lot of catching up to do to get back to where I once was.

I started working on my other bike. I can't wait to get it riding. I am putting together a '97 Proflex 857. This will be my main geared mtb to ride. It will have a green Palmer fork on it and some hi-tech 8 speed grip shifters if I can get them to work. This thing should be a racing machine! The frame is light since it has the carbon rear end. I had always loved how it climbed too. I am just getting tired of new technology. My NRS has too much stuff that goes wrong with it. I am still riding on a rear shock that has washers for spacers. I also don't like how much the fork moves. I kind of like the old school boingy boingy forks.

I will post pictures as soon as I get something together.