vvill’s N + 1 Pointless Prize

[ShawnoftheDread]

N=7, Shogun ss. I got this from americancyclo a couple of years ago. I use it to putt around the neighborhood, leave at the park, get milk, and pull my youngest around (today’s ride).

I switched out the drop bars for a pair of VO swept back, almost like moustache bars.

It rides fairly nice considering its age and the general abuse it receives.

[KayakCyndi]

N=10
2/28/2016

Kayakpro …. Oh wait. Wrong sport.

How about

Salsa El Mar Ti and no it’s not Will’s. Although it is nearly identical right down to the squealing SLX brakes.

I also don’t ride this bike nearly enough. Last year I raced a few Wednesdays at Wakefield and hit freedom park but not much beyond that. Totally need to step it up since for some silly reason I signed up for a bakers dozen team!

[Steve O]

@Raymo853 135813 wrote:

And no, once I rebuild and ride this I will not submit it for another +1. Nor for the old blue bike that will be redone as a SS CX bike.

So you’re planning to do all that before March 19? ‘Cause after that it won’t matter…at least for N+1.

[Raymo853]

@hozn 135822 wrote:

It is just superficial. There is some scoring of at top when I rode it without lower bearings (I hadn’t realized they had fallen out when I was installing headset — very embarrassing.) The folks at Whisky said it was fine because it is aluminum up there. And a couple of rock nicks, as pictured. Just paint. Yes to islets.

Perfect. I’ll take the for your price of 40.

[Raymo853]

@Steve O 135830 wrote:

So you’re planning to do all that before March 19? ‘Cause after that it won’t matter…at least for N+1.

I may do it this week, but do not consider it valid as a plus 1. Do you?

[vvill]

n=9
2/28/16 2.9 miles
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11099[/ATTACH]

So this is actually one of my favourite bikes, mostly for sentimental reasons, so this is unapologetically long. After a typical “straddle the top tube” fitting I paid £300 for it new in 2005, easily the most I’d ever paid for a bike myself at this point, then got rear ended by one of those “quaint” London cabs on the way home from the bike shop (while stopped at a red light… it was more of a light tap actually, and the driver was very apologetic.) It’s a flat-bar road bike, a “Ridgeback Genesis Day 00”, although Genesis and Ridgeback are now two separate entities. Genesis is known now in the UK as a champion of steel and disc brake 700c bikes in particular, although according to the wikipedia article their flat-bar road bike models are what led to their success. In the USA, Genesis is a Wal-mart bike brand…

Anyway, this was also my first 700c/non-MTB and probably also the first one where I realized you go faster when you’re not riding 26″ knobbies on pavement, although I never learned that you should own/use a floor pump and keep 23c tires regularly inflated – I only owned a hand pump and rode without a spare tube or anything when I commuted on this in London. Even when I brought it over here (after serving some time in Australia) I got a bunch of pinch flats – this is before I knew what a pinch flat was, and how much higher you need to keep skinny tires inflated over MTB tires.

Since I bought a drop bar road bike in 2011, this has since served many other duties, including kidical rides (both trailer and front seat) and it’s endured experiments with fenders, a rear rack/panniers, my first forays into single speeding and fixed gear riding and thanks to hozn (who supplied the current fork), even SSCX races (it still serves as my main pit bike). The component mix is eclectic and although I did a lot of my “firsts” in terms of wrenching on this bike, I wouldn’t call it a frankenbike – it’s 19.5 lbs and rides nicely, without any weenie parts. The seat collar, headset, rear brake and possibly the chain are the only original things left. One day I might chop and change it up again into a geared road/light off-road bike.

[Raymo853]

@vvill 135851 wrote:

n=9

So this is actually one of my favourite bikes, mostly for sentimental reasons,

You story is got me thinking getting rid of my old 1994 Wheeler 2800 (bought new) or 1988 Performance Parabola (bought in 1998) is a bad idea.

[Raymo853]

Up one more N value after Sunday to 9. First ride on my Salsa Spearfish this year at all. And first time with a new wheelset, tires and dropper post. https://www.strava.com/activities/504946833

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11103[/ATTACH]

I just went through this thread to make sure I did not list any bikes twice in error. I haven’t. It helped highlight the few left I need to go ride. My wife’s Niner Air9 and her mother’s Guerciotti.

1 Salsa El Mar Ti
2 Wheeler 2800
3 Blue Parabola
4 Salsa Colossal
5. IF Deluxe 29er SS
6. Wife’s Niner Jet9
7. Wife’s Crokette
8. IF Club Racer Single Speed
9. Salsa Spearfish

[vvill]

@Raymo853 135856 wrote:

You story is got me thinking getting rid of my old 1994 Wheeler 2800 (bought new) or 1988 Performance Parabola (bought in 1998) is a bad idea.

Depends on how much you like those bikes! I don’t have the same attachment to my 26″ MTB (GT Avalanche) that I bought new in 2006 when I arrived in the US, except that I still use it in the winter and with kids. I like my Kona CX, and Wabi FG too but would part with those if I upgraded. But I doubt I’ll ever own another “Genesis”. It’s also funny for me to see that their “Day” model line has evolved into a SSCX in the same time frame I turned mine into one http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urban/cross-utility/day-one-decade

[KayakCyndi]

N=11 Gina’s Vaya
2/29/2016

Mike’s deli wasn’t open for pancakes yet when i arrived so I took Gina’s bike for a spin.

It is easy to see why the Vaya gets such great reviews as a touring bike. It is very smooth and when up to speed just rolls along. Gina’s is set up particularly well for this use with an Ultregra triple crank, lovely couplers, huge tires and fenders too. The upright position I’m sure would make it a great all day ride.

Having a bike like this in your quiver would necessitate some long tours. When do we leave?

[Raymo853]

@KayakCyndi 135862 wrote:

N=11 Gina’s Vaya
2/29/2016

What brand are those pretty fenders?

[ginacico]

@Raymo853 135869 wrote:

What brand are those pretty fenders?

Hi Raymo853!

That’s my bike, and those are Velo Orange zeppelins in polished aluminum. I gave you a quick review over in your fenders thread — love them, wish they had a quick release.

When I was outfitting the bike for touring, I actually took it out to visit the Velo Orange guys in Annapolis. With fat tires, disc brakes, and racks there were a lot of potential compatibility issues. We futzed around and gladly it all worked out. They’re solid. And pretty!

[KayakCyndi]

@ginacico 135872 wrote:

Hi Raymo853!

…. They’re solid. And pretty!

And may I add, quiet! People often complain about metal fenders rattling. These were super quiet. Granted I wasn’t riding gravel or anything but even going over the wood bridge over route 7 I never heard a peep from them.

[TwoWheelsDC]

N=2 (but sorta 3)

Cervelo R3. If I could only ride one bike for the rest of my life, this would be it.

[ShawnoftheDread]

N=8, Volagi Liscio. I rode kayakcyndi’s fancy carbon road bike with fancy carbon wheels around Hain’s Point and up Four Mile Run. Fast, nimble, light, and it fits me perfectly.

[Author]

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