BY (the only) POPULAR DEMAND (this blog has ever had)

Current bike setup, moosehorns and all

That there’s the bike. I’m tempted to call it “ox” or “moose” instead of “La Pulga” (which I’ve decided is its name, since that’s where I found it). I’m enjoying this bike quite a bit, which is good, since Mr. Bikey, my 2003 Xtc2, needs new bearings and a new race cup (sounds more personal than it is). [Note: I finally (!!!) got hold of someone from Giant customer service (I used the phone number 800-874-4268, and got transferred several times; it is HARD to find any contact info for the largest bike manufacturer in the world), and they told me a new headset is $40, ordered from my LBS. I'll probably do it, because they said there's no technical manual or specs available (unsaid: to me)] .

I am seriously considering going singlespeed on this, since there are no hills around here, and I mostly just commute (2 freakin’ miles) anyway. But I have no real complaints with the gears or the weight of the bike. I rarely shift (note where the shifters are), which removes most of the hassles of a geared bike, but it’s nice to shift down in a headwind or up on an open stretch.

Okay. Back to work. More pictures after the cut.

That’s actually the original stem, extended to its full height. I think it’s pretty. I may go a little higher (although the other stem is heavier) if I keep these bars (however, the new stem actually has more reach). See how huge those monsters are? I’m kind of getting used to them, although I may chop them off right above where the current brake lever clamps are. I don’t use the rest (too far forward; no hills to climb around here), and these levers won’t work any farther up, anyway. You can see from the first pic that I ride them angled up significantly, right now.

Speaking of brake levers, I may get these, instead. They’re only $20 at Pricepoint. On the other hand, I like the looks of the current Shimano 600′s, and they don’t cost me anything. On the other other hand, the cable routing is ugly and potentially hazardous.

Okay, more pics:

See how huge they are? I kinda like the width, though. Yes, that is really the carpet at work.

Olé!

Note ugly bar plugs that leave marks on everything. Where did I put Alex’s Mom’s wine corks? I could have sworn they were in my luggage.

The foam grips and weird boogers, before I cleaned them up.

The previous bars are aluminum, very light (<200g), and about 36 or 38cm wide. If they weren’t so narrow, I’d keep them around for a skinny flop-n-chop. The industrial mucus came off with a few minutes of toothbrush scrubbing in denatured alcohol. I felt special because that was the first solvent I tried :)

The Bontrager seatpost was on Mr. Bikey when I got him, shimmed from 27.2mm to 31.7 (or something like that). Anyway, it’s a fairly nice seatpost and has now been cut down and put in this bike. Note the old seatpost: not a bad little guy, either. Aluminum and lightweight; but too short. Also note the B&W enlarger in the background, wearing my Taxco hat. The enlarger is for sale, along with the rest of my darkroom. Best offer.