|   My New Van Dessel - Country Road Bob | ss-nyc
May 27, 2003 4:07 AM | | My first single speed was backed into by a car or truck while locked up at the New York Auto Show (how is that for irony) a few weeks ago and bent in half. I have been missing the freedom of the bike especially since it now costs $2 to ride the subway. Anyway, I found a great deal on a CRB on eBay, used some parts from my old Motobecane single-speed, and got some new parts and had a great new single-speed city bike built:
Country Road Bob Frame/Fork with Ritchey internal headset
Nashbar Stem (new)
Nashbar Handlebars (new)
Nashbar Seatpost (new)
Bontrager Race Day Saddle (from my parts box)
ProMax V-Brake calipers (from my parts box)
BMX V-Brake levers (new)
Shimano 600 Bottom Bracket (from Motobecane)
Shimano 600 Triple Crank (from Motobecane)
BMX Gold chainring 110 BCD (from Motobecane)
Izumi Gold track chain 1/8" (from Motobecane)
Wellgo BMX pedals (from Motobecane)
Blackburn Mountain Bike rear rack (from my parts box)
GT Confort Streamline Cruiser 700c x 40 Tires (new)
Mavic T221 36h 700c x 17 Touring/Cyclocross rims (new)
Shimano DX BMX 36h 100/110 spaced cassette hubs (new )(longer axle and spacers installed to get rear 135mm spacing)
No-name Handlebar grips (new)
Black electrical tape (new)
My Motobecane before it was bent in half. I used some parts from it.
It has been raining constantly in NYC so it has been difficult to get much of a ride in on the new bike since I picked it up on Saturday. So far it is really smooth. Nothing like an aluminum frame with bent stays, PHat tires, and a carbon fork to give you a nice ride. The 36h Shimano DX BMX hubs and Mavic Touring/Cyclocross rims should stand up to even the nastiest potholes NYC has to offer.
The bike and wheels were built by BikeWorks NYC. This is the 3rd bike they have built for me and I always have had great luck with them. Not to "pimp" my local bike shop but they deserve it so... If you are ever in NYC you should really check them out. They do great work, support the local track scene, and love to build single-speed and fixed-gear bikes.
http://www.bikecult.com/works/index.html |
| Ahhh, the taped up bike.... | Mitch2
May 27, 2003 5:37 AM | | It's been a while since I saw a taped up bike. I lived in NYC for a year and moved to Brooklyn and lived there for 4 more. I miss the Central Park & Prospect Park rides. Nothing beats riding the streets at full rush hour:) Cool ride! I almost bought one but I was unsure about the integrated headset. |
| The Headset | ss-nyc
May 27, 2003 5:54 AM | | It is an "internal" headset as opposed to the "integrated" headset.
As far as I understand, an internal (or zero stack) headset which the CRB ships with has cups for the bearings but they are "internal" to the headtube. An "integrated" headset does not have cups and the bearings rest against the headtube inner wall which will cause problems in the long run.
Chris King has a very good article about the differences:
HTML -
http://www.chrisking.com/tech/int_headsets_explained/int_hds_explain_1.html
PDF -
http://www.chrisking.com/pdfs/Int%20Headsets%20Explained.pdf |
| Why the black electrical tape? | GotMojo?
May 27, 2003 5:43 AM | | |
| The Tape | ss-nyc
May 27, 2003 5:57 AM | | Basically it is to protect the frame if you ever want to sell it or take it out of street duty and put nicer parts on it for upscale use.
Another reason is to hide the type of frame from would be thieves but that point is moot with a neon green frame. Most thieves are going to know that it is a VDS CRB so I just use a really good lock. |
| As a New Yorker.... NIce City Bike...... | Mackie
May 27, 2003 6:22 AM | | The bolt ons, cahined on seat, and tape are enough to discuorage the amateurs.....
I like that frame..... I hope that your good lock is a Krypto New York.
Good luck with it. |
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