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.

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