? Changing body | Main | Bike Adventure 2 ?
July 5, 2009
Lovin your fixie!
I built a new fixed gear bike on a 1984 Motobecane Super Mirage frame. I built the wheels from Weinman DP18's and Dimension hubs, DT Swiss double butted spokes.
I replaced the bottom bracket, regreased the headset bearings, put on new cane creek road and cross levers - this is a cool setup by the way, I love being able to brake from the top!. And I put on Tektro long reach brakes. Crankset is Origin-8. The seat is by Fizik. Here are the pics.
Now for the ride. Yesterday I went on nice ride on my new bike. I headed south out of St. Paul along highway 13, to the mendota bridge, past fort snelling, past the VA hospital to Lake Nikomis, up the west side to Lake Harriet and Calhoun, then on to the Midtown Greenway, Lake Street, Marshall avenue, with final stop at Sibley Bike Depot. And finishing my ride at 3pm was perfect timing, because the skies opened up in a torrential downpour, which I completely escaped. What a beautiful fourth of July adventure!
A couple highlights:
I discovered this unique, interesting, packed full bookstore and owner; "The Book Trader" I love books anyway, so how can I not love the self-proclaimed mistress of books, the great Fluffy! She's an interesting person I'd like to get to know better. A sign on her door stating her "New hours," basically every day of the week, has a statement at the bottom which says something like, "Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."
Very true given I found her quite alive and kind of feisty. Especially when talking about Wally world. Fluffy claims that through informal polling she discovered that the same people that shop at Wally world do not read books. I didn't admit to having shopped at Wally world, but I have and she knew it. And I do read books. And books she has. Fluffy also knows where everything is in her store. Amazing since there are five or seven rooms full of books floor to ceiling, and stacked up in the isles. This is a cool place. But hm. I was supposed to be out for a ride. I didn't want to carry books on my ride so I left the store promising to come back a different time to explore.
Posted by carl1236 at July 5, 2009 7:29 AM | Bicycles
Comments
Looks great. How did you get hold of the 1984 Motobecane Super Mirage frame?
Posted by: Dual Sim at August 3, 2009 3:44 AM
A friend had it in his garage. I have been having a lot of fun with this bike. Riding a fixed gear is an interesting experience.
Posted by: John Carlson at September 25, 2009 11:45 PM