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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Blue Steel: Earth to Meekus Edition

After graduating from college and moving to the big city (DC), I was riding on high on the wave of hipsterdom.  No so much in the tight jeans sense or unkept facial hair sense.  Never got into flannel.  Never enjoyed craft beer.  Come to think of it, there was only really one hipster element:  I wanted a fixed gear.  Bull horns...deep Vs...horizontal dropouts... Oh, I wanted all of that.

Like a slave to both practicality and the Man, I continued riding my geared bikes, but started eyeing up every half-abandoned looking bike in town.  Luck have it, I ended up finding a viable candidate right in my apt building's bike rack.  A Motobecane Mirage.  Half-striped.  Totally unlocked.  I "acquired" the frame after it lingered in a disassembled rusty mess for a year and a half in the apt building bike rack.


Even as a casual hipster, I felt the need to take hip, slightly-crooked pictures of my bike.

No "before" pictures exist, but as I recall it was blue.  But not a cool blue.  And that had to change.  I made the decision to strip it down and repaint it faster than you can say "The foamy circles in my latte remind me of my first Appleseed Cast concert."  First challenge:  Stripping a frame in a small apt with limited ventilation.  Second challenge:  Painting the frame in a small apt with limited ventilation.  All of these obstacles were remedied by the typical solution to the challenges of city life - I took it to the suburbs.

Yep, off to my parents house in Harrisburg area.  Every trip home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, etc. became a chance to strip, prime, or paint.  Hours of environmentally friendly paint stripper, intricate sanding, 3 layers of primer, taping off sections, more rattlecanning and - in the spirit of its Frenchness - VOILA!  it was done.  


Chopped and flopped some old bars.  Asked for the paint for Christmas.  Rest of the parts I had around.  The odd French sizes (BB, seat post - 25.4) were inconvenient, but not too much of a hassle.  Project was at a hefty $0 until I had to buy a rear wheel.  Putting me at a grand total of about $120.  

The blue paint job was not part of a master plan, just looked good at Home Depot.  Once I had the paint job down, I was left some large white panels.  Fortunately, I just watched Zoolander.  Quicker than I can take my underwear off without removing my pants, I bought some labels and Blue Steel was born.  


Decided brakes are for people that had braces in high school and have straight noses.  So instead me and my crooked nose and imperfect teeth just ride really slowly and avoid hills.  
I enjoy it, but ride it more as a novelty, like a statue of Jason Schwartzman as Rushmore.  Mostly just fiddle around in my driveway.  Got decent at track stands and backwards circles.  

Still haven't donned flannel (here in PA, people just assume you're a farmhand) and tight pants (assumed you're a gay farmhand).  Nevertheless, Blue Steel is a constant reminder of my time as a semi-devoted hipster enthusiast.  On that note, Mer-man and goodnight.


Monday, June 18, 2012

I bought a Biggest Loser themed scale from Bed Bath and Beyond using gift cards from my wedding.  It changed my life.  Not because I was fat or a loser*, but because now I could weigh my bike parts.

If you're interested in getting your 11 lbs bike down to 10.99 lbs, you've come to the wrong place.   I'm a weight weenie on a budget.  I weigh what I come across, and that's usually pretty run of the mill stuff.  Feel free to add a comment if you have any questions.  I'll update this list occasionally as I weigh more stuff.  So without further ado...


Component Weight  
Shimano Tiagra Rear Hub 9-speed FH-4400 (no quick release) 363  
Shimano Dura Ace Rear Hub 8/9 speed 7403 (no quick release) 369  
Shimano XT rear derailleur RD-M750 245  
Huret from Austro Daimler (code 4077) 173  
Bontrager MTB Pedals 344  
Shimano Dura Ace BB-7700
109.5, English, 68
173  
Deore FC-M510 Left Crankarm
(no hardware)
200  
Ritchey Seatpost 27.2 Black 278  
Shimano FH-M475 rear hub
(no skewer)
448  
Rolf Vector Rear Wheel
(no tape and no skewer)
1123  
Rolf Vector Front Wheel
(with magnet and tape, no skewer)
870  
Rolf front skewer 49  
Cane Creek front skewer 56  
Athena Seatpost 257  
Lemond Buenos Aires seat binder 22  
Lemond Water bottle cage 62  
Lemond water bottle boss bolts (each) 7  
Lemond stock seatpost 27.2 shiny aluminum 240mm 245  
     
Schwinn World Sport Seatpost (26.6) 323  
Schwinn World Sport Seatpost (26.6)
w/ aluminum clamp
305  
Schwinn Seat 394  
Schwinn World Sport Fork 882  
1989 Schwinn World Sport frame (completely bare) 2391  
Total Schwinn World Sport weight 3273  
     
1988 Schwinn World Sport (completely bare) 2462  
1988 Schwinn World Sport fork    
     
Schwinn Typhoon '64 Fork 1396  
Schwinn Typhoon '64 entire BB and crankarm assembly (incl cups) 1517  
Ritchey Vector Rail Plus Seat 300  
     
nishiki Olympic frame 2365  
nishiki Olympic fork 739  
Total Nishiki Olympic weight 3104  
     
Dura Ace 7700 crankarm NDS  172.5 (no hardware  187  
Ultegra 6400 172.5 crankarm (no hardware) 213  
Deore M510 crankarm  175 199  
Super Maxy crankarm 170 189  
Dura Ace 7700 driveside crankarm (including bashguard, 44t chainring and hardware to attach them) 416  
Dura Ace 7700 172.5driveside crankarm (no hardware)    
Ultegra 6400 172.5 DS crankarm with 53/39 rings 460  
105 5500 crank arm 175 (no hardware) 203  
     
Ultegra 6600 crankset with 39-53 rings 744  
XTR BB drive side cup 40  
Dura Ace 7800 BB 97  
Dura Ace 7900 BB 90  
     
     
     
Specialized Rockhopper fork  912  
Specialized Rockhopper Frame (completely bare, not even water bottle bolts!) 2653  
  3565  
     
Kinesis cyclocross fork 894  
     
     
     
Ritchey Girder front wheel, with no name hub, no tape or QR 1003  
Ritchey Girder rear wheel, no QR or tape 1226  
     
     
     
Ritchey Girder rim 622x18 no tape  544  
     
     
     
     
     
8 speed chain speced with 2011 Sirrus Elite - KMC -Z 318  
     
HG-53 chain 285  
     
     
Bontrager Select front wheel (no skewer, includes tape) 826  
     
     
Blackburn water bottle cage 55  
     
Giant Liv seat from 2012 Escape 2 W 349  
     
Mavic Cosmos wheel with 24H Open Sport rim (no skewer or rim tape) 860  
     
Mavic Krysium Elite (No skewer/rim tape…and doesn't require rim tape) 964  
     
Mavic A719 rim (no tape) 540  
     
     
     
Sirrus Elite Speced Cassette (CS-HG30 8I) 418  
Sirrus Elite Specced front wheel (with skewer and rim tape) 1017  
Sirrus Elite Specced rear wheel (skewer and rim tape) 1230  
     
     
     
Ultegra Cassettee 9 speed 230  
     
Shimano 5500 Left Brifter 251  
Shimano 5500 Right Brifter 242  
Shimano 5500 Rear Derailleur (long cage) 236  
Shimano 5500 Front Derailleur 106  
Ultegra 6500 Rear Derailleur (long cage) 223  
     
Steel black riser bar originally on Schwinn World Sport 518  
Aluminum black riser bar (Dimension) 270  
Sakae Randnner 335  
     
     
IRD freewheel 331  
Original Simplex freewheel from Dad's Raleigh 369  
Sunrace freewheel on AD 464  
     
     
Specialized Pro Gel seat 301  
     
     
     
Suntour ARX rear derailleur 247  
Shimano FH-2200 rear hub (no skewer) 380  
     
Stronglight 7D crank (DS) 52/42 rings - 170mm 447  
Stronglight 7D crank arm NDS 170 159  
     
Rock Shox Judy TT  2304  
     
     
     
Austro Daimler complete with fenders, XTR 953 rear, Ultegra 6600 crank, Dura Ace 7800 external bb, Marin flat bar, front and rear lights, Specialized saddle, Athena seatpost, Bontrager front wheel, 105 rear 10,400  
     
     
Raleigh Technium 420 frame (with headset cups) 2148  
Raleigh Technium 420 fork 817  
     
     
     
BB-UN51 Bottom Bracket 1.37     73 333  
     
     
93 Trek 950    Sz 22in 2657 SN:  961416
     
     
1987 Trek 400D Elance 2129 SN: 299547
1997 Scott Vail  17.5 2333  
     
Deore FC-M560 DS crankarm (no rings or bolts) 175 297  
     
1993 Trek 720 MultiTrack Sz. 19 bare frame (White) 2535  
1993 Trek 720 MultiTrack Sz. 19 fork 863  
     
     
Trek 26" 1 /18 full chromo MTB fork w/215 mm (incl. threads) steerer tube     
     
Columbia Trailhead 17.5 (w/headset cups) ~2000  
     
Shimano pedals FD-M737 (weight includes both pedals) 506  
     
Shimano 105 brake Front BR-1050 165  
Shimano 105 brake Rear BR-1050 162  
     
     
Bianchi "Chromo Double Butted" fork with 700c cantis 855  
     
DiaCompe Cantis (set of 2) w/mounting hardware, but no cable 133  
     
     
1994 Trek 720 MultiTrack Sz. 19  Blue fade to green at front 2486  
1995 Trek 720 MultiTrack Sz 19 fork (with crown race) 832  
  3318  
     
Headset cup/race set (the stuff that goes in the frame) 53  
     
Ross Signature 290S 58 TT CtC; 62 ST CtC (with DS BB cup) 2547  
Ross Signature 290S fork (crown race and 240mm steerer tube) 924  
     
Raleigh Technium 400   57 TT CtC; 57 ST CtC 2491  
Raleigh Technium 400  fork (with crown race) 895  
     
1987 Schwinn Traveller stock except no pedals 11.3kg/23.6 lbs  
     
AlexRims ID19 700c  511  
     
AlexRims AL-DR13 6061-T6 622x13 410  
     
Early 80s Specialized Allez - Built by 3Rensho - 56 TT C2C
Includes seatbolt and dropout adjusters
1985  
     
1982 Fuji Monterey Sz 23 bare frame 2287  
     
     
Specialized S-Works Purgatory 2.2 tire 680  
     
Shimano Ultegra 6500 cassette 230  
     
Michelin Lithion 2 700x25 251  
Michelin Lithion 2 700x23 (red) 229  
     
     
     
DT Swiss quickrelease  52  
Specialized Stout 28h disc hub w/ DT Swiss 420SL rim 26" (no skewer or rim tape) 790  
DT Swiss 420SL rim 26" 429  
     
     
Bontrager FCC 28h disc hub w/20 mm through axle w/Bontrager Duster 29er rim (no skewer or rim tape) 1157  
     
Velo Orange Grand Cru 1" threaded headset complete 98  
     
Mongoose Deception 29er (bare, no derailleur hanger) 2191  
Mongoose Deception 29er suspension fork (with crown race) 2478 Axle to Crown:  490
     
Sram Rival 2012 shifters (f/r) (no cables) 326  
X9 Rear Derailluer (10 speed) 212  
     
Deore-ish Crankset from 2012 Superfly Elite AL (triple) (no BB) Hollowtech 2 804  
     
Kenda Blue Groove MTB folding tire 26x2.1 634  
     
Mountain King 2.4 Folding w/Protection 690 Average of 684/696
     
Deore XT front derailleur FD-M735 28.6 clamp 119  
     
Deore front derailleur FD-MT60 28.6 clamp 114  
     
Rock Shox Indy XC suspension fork 1" steerer (short) 1465  
     
1991 Bridgestone MB-2 Comp frame w/BB guide (49cm/19.3") 2169 TT 575; HT 85; ST 475; Chainstay 425
     
Jamis Dakota  2719  
     
Shimano 600 (Original) NDS crankarm (with hardware - self extracting cap) 170 190  
Shimano 600 (Original) DS crankarm (with hardware - self extracting cap - but no chainrings or chainring bolts) 170 285  
Sugino Steel Chainrings (set of 5) 26  
     
Shimano Deore(?) M510 Hollowtech NDS crankarm (no hardware) 175 191  
Shimano Deore(?) M510 Hollowtech DS crankarm (no hardware but includes 3 chainrings rings/bolts) 175 444  
     
Crank Brothers Eggbeaters (no cleats/other hardware) 284  
     
Redline 32H disc hub front 251  
     
Giant Defy 2 2011 M/L frame (with braze-on front derailleur holder, derailleur hanger, BB cable guide) and no headset parts 1493  
Giant Defy 2 M/L fork 543  
Giant Defy 2 seat collar 31  
     
     
2002 S-Works M5 disc Sz 19 (w/derailleur hanger and bb cable guide) 1564  
Exotic carbon fork 425 AC (uncut w/star nut) 793  
     
     
Shimano 105 5500 NDS crankarm 175 (no hardware) 204  
     
Centurion Accordo Tange Infinity 58? (no hardware except bb cable guide) 2247  
     
Shimano DS crankarm w/Biopace rings  170  FC-A350 (from Centurion Accordo) 680  
Shimano NDS FC-A350 (from Accordo) 257  
Shimano SIS front derailleur  FD-A350 114  
Shimano SIS rear derailleur RD-A350 (short cage) 301  
Shimano SLR brake BR-L490 (front with mounting hardware) 165  
     
"Superlight" handlebar flat (590mm width) 173  
     
Crummy stock seatpost bolt from Accordo 12  
     
Vette SL seat (80s/90s) 223  
     
Front wheel:  Campy Record hub, butted spokes (2.0/1.7/2.0), Wolber Gentlemen 81 rims (no skewer or tape) 852  
Rear wheel (see above) designed for freewheel 936  
     
Miyata 210 (Two Ten) 57 1985 Touring/Cross bike (completely bare) 2410 2425 w/BB cable guide
Miyata 210 (Two Ten) 57 1985 Touring/Cross fork (completely bare) 792  
  3202  
Jamis Durango (w/BB guide)  2401 TT: 555; ST: 460; HT: 140; CS: 435
     
     
Muddy Fox Roadrunner 2914 TT: 545; ST: 470; HT: 110; CS: 445
Manitou Answer Susp fork (1" threadless, short steerer) 1584  
     
Reflex  2488 TT: 550; ST: 445; HT: 85; CS: 425
Reflex fork (1" threaded, very short steerer) 930  
     
BR-M732 Canti brakes (set, includes mounting hardware, but no cables) 165  
     
Shimano BB-LP30 BB (73, although includes AL ring for 68 shell 354  
     
Kalloy quill 1" stem (100mm) 317  
SR quill 1" stem (100mm) 331  
     
Spectre chromo stem from Jamis mtb 272  
Spectre WonderBar 6061-T6 double butted 590mm handlebar (no rise) 174  
     
Oury grips 97  
Muddy fox mtb handlebar (no rise, some sweep) 342  
Salsa MTB chromo stem with pulley/wheel thingy for canti brakes 370  
     
Kalloy 26.6 seatpost (fairly long) 374  
     
Specialized quill stem (1" 90mm)  289  








*I acknowledge that obsessively weighing bike parts actually might tip me a little more into the loser category